Mid Atlantic World Wide Wrestling March 21,1979

[@scottmoore1614]

Classic! I used to watch this on Saturday afternoons after a morning of cartoons. The good old days!

[@jefferydrake5706]

Mid Atlantic was early world wide comes on late night

[@Artessnow]

We had NWA Pro at noon, World Championship Wrestling at 6:05 and Worldwide at midnight. Those were the days.

[@theoelliott4649]

Classic’s

[@terencebuie2158]

@@jefferydrake5706 yup yes sir in virgina it use to come at 2am on Sat and midatlantic. At 6pm

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

Me to

[@TurnAaronNow]

Me and my brother use to try to stay up late Saturday night to look at this

[@davidtoney8399]

It was Friday night for my brother and me.

[@delvin681]

Me 2.

[@tonydavis2936]

Yeah 1130 pm was late lol

[@tonydavis2936]

Saturday nights

[@MrChristopherHaas]

i know i absolutely would have just like i did in the summer of 75’ when IWA suddenly started appearing on my tv every Saturday night after midnight thanks to my thorough reading of each weeks tv guide. 7 glorious summer nights after i got home from the race track one mile away.

[@oxcarthabu]

Watched Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Wide Wrestling on TV almost every Saturday when I was in college near Charlotte, NC, from 1973 to 1976. Loved it!!

[@floridagator1765]

I wanted to see Mid Atlantic growing up in NJ as a kid. WWWF was not as good. Wrestling magazines kept me up to date Thanks for the post!

[@scottmoore1614]

I grew up in NC in the 1970s so I was very lucky to be able to watch this on weekends when I was a kid (watched with my grandfather because my dad couldn’t stand pro wrestling).

[@pulsarlights2825]

Yea, Backlund was soooo boring, they should have kept Superstar Billy Graham around longer

[@mkl62]

@@pulsarlights2825 Graham and Sammartino fought each other at The Spectrum in Philadelphia right before the switch to Backlund. When Billy told Bruno that he was going to drop the belt to Bob, Bruno said that he looked at him and said, "Backlund? Are you serious? BACKLUND?"

[@pulsarlights2825]

@@mkl62 I heard Billy tell that story before, I also remember Bruno saying it was bullshit, so who knows..

[@mkl62]

@@pulsarlights2825 Bruno told it in a shoot interview. As they were going over their match, Billy told him that this would be the last time that they would face each other for the title. He then told him about dropping the belt to Backlund that would occur on 2-20-1978 at MSG. Bruno was tempted to ask him to throw the match to prevent that. Don't get me wrong. Bob Backlund was a good wrestler, but was a bore on the mic. You have to have someone that can talk fans into the arena. Ole Anderson, Ric Flair, Ken Patera, Tommy Rich, Mr. Wrestling #2, Billy, Michael Hayes, Ivan Koloff, Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard and Bobby Heenan were good examples. You wanted to see them get their butts beat, especially the heels.

[@tchallaomoro8281]

That music intro!

[@williamnelson502]

Yes love that music intro!

[@scottmoore1614]

1979..Funky!

[@mbp7060]

RIP Rich Landrum.

[@theoelliott4649]

Ricky Steamboat one of my all time favorites!

[@pulsarlights2825]

He was a good worker and in great shape but terrible mic skills

[@AnthonyStJames]

@@pulsarlights2825 True. And he never went heel, so he never even had the opportunity to have a manager do his promos.

[@williebowen2965]

@@pulsarlights2825 Ricky Steamboat Wrestling abilities is important. I don't care about the mic skills. I look for Wrestling abilities in the ring

[@pulsarlights2825]

@@williebowen2965 Mic skills are more important because that's what get the fans into the arenas to pay for that bullshit...Especially in Ricky's generation when most of the fans didn't even know it was a work.. It's all show biz after all, trying to get the public to spend money to watch choreographed fights...lol

[@williebowen2965]

@@pulsarlights2825 The wrestlers ring abilities puts people in the seats. Not mic skills.

[@trentaccid2177]

I LOVE THER FACT EVEN IF THE OPPONENTS WERE NOT NAME STARS THEY STILL BATTLED EVENLY IN THE RING WITH THE OTHER GUY.

[@Keethsteel]

WTVR channel 6 out of Richmond VA.

[@stephengreen5865]

im from richmond va 12pm 1:00pm inliving room watching mid atlantic

[@UNCNCAAChamps]

Really wished they had the angle of Blackjack and Flair with the cowboy hat and the robe. It was great

[@charleybarley914]

Ladd and Stud? Not too shabby

[@scottwarren1007]

Not at all.real Giant s of wrestling.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Who’s taller, Ladd and STUDD...or the Skyscapers? I suppose that Andre teamed up with one of these guys somewhere along the long long roads they traveled

[@mclees4593]

One of my favorites The Baron!

[@scottmoore1614]

The CLAW!

[@mclees4593]

@@scottmoore1614 " And thats all you have to know"!

[@mkl62]

@@mclees4593 Zat iz all you need to know. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

[@stephenbianchi7141]

1:14 this is some high end production for 1979 studio raising. Great stuff.

[@elland37]

Rich Landrum : "Swede Hanson, a former ex boxer". Does that make him a current boxer lol?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

If anyone could tell me how many years this show was taped in this building id be much obliged. Theres something majestic about the place just like the tingle i always got watching NWA Saturday show in Georgia studio. The flags. In both cases they left those buildings behind and, in my view, the products suffered. These buildings were perfect showcases and when a new wrestler debutted and got to fight a jobber it represented progress for him, you know hes made it to top level.

[@TheBillionaireMindset2]

I use to watch this late Saturday night

[@shawnhensley4884]

Someone tell Hogan that Ernie Ladd will teach him how to do a real leg drop.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

They were both sad

[@trentaccid2177]

JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS THIS WAS THE START.

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

Great posting

[@tonypastor705]

I think Solid was the best wrestling commentator. He made it look real and invented sayings like Peer six Brawl,and Crimson mask,etc.

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

Solie

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Holy CRAP! Keep THESE COMING! How far back does the theme music go, anyhow? THANK YOU

[@MrChristopherHaas]

“Herb Gallants favorite move is the shoulder stretch”. Well that might explain why i barely have heard of him 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MrChristopherHaas]

I wonder what it would take to get this library along with awa library out of McMahons hands. Both, heck all territories back then, priceless. Waaay better than today

[@jonathanwhite1265]

My thoughts exactly.

[@HoustonIsImmortal]

Rich Landrum looks like a game show host here... 🤔

[@trentaccid2177]

YEAH SORRY HES NOT A GOOD HOST OR ANNOUNCER. BOB CONNELL WAS THE BEST YOU JUST FELT LIKE YOU KNEW BOB YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

[@JeffMitterling]

Plus sonny Fargo is our referee for this episode of worldwide wrestling from 79

[@east2west493]

Very likely the only footage that remains of the famous hat and robe angle between Ric Flair and Blackjack Mulligan is on the intro to this show.

[@jefferydrake5706]

I'm from Richmond ric took blackjack hat so blackjack took his robe

[@MrWrestling2]

Greatest angle in wrestling history, and no footage

[@tjl4041]

I wonder when Swede Hansen moved from New Jersey to Slaughters Creek, SC.?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Brute Bernard would have been my nwa heavyweight champ for a decade. The MAN

[@MrChristopherHaas]

“Ramblin’ Ric”. Thats one i hadnt heard before

[@williamnorthrup2335]

Interesting that it's not mentioned that Pedro Morales is a former WWWF world Champion that he held for over 3 years.

[@orangepeel1366]

he was pretty much washed up by this point i believe he was mid 40,s just was never exciting to me

[@waynethompson6667]

Lots of interesting things here: John Studd announced at 6’9” rather than 7’. He also sold quite a bit and went with the arm drags. Steamboat more muscular than in later years. Is this the same Steve Regal who later wrestled in the AWA? The announcer giving Zodiac signs and announcing Steamboat as 26 years old. Flair announced at 270 when it’s pretty obvious he isn’t even 250. A reference to “Rambling Ricky”? First look ever at Brute Bernard.

[@jasonpdsi]

So since Weaver technically lifted Studd and placed him on his back, does that mean he wins the 15 grand? (I kid, he wasn't doing the gimmick at the time, obviously)

[@jefferydrake5706]

Flair was in his late 20s

[@jefferydrake5706]

I'm trying to figure out what title did john stud have

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Steamboat was more muscular here because Crockett encouraged both him and Tony Atlas to enter bodybuilding contests in the area as publicity for the promotion.

[@JoeWashburnUTI]

Big John Studd was Mid Atlantic Tag Champ with Ken Patera at this time. He is holding the belt and no mention of it?

[@UNCNCAAChamps]

Thought the same thing

[@jamie.777]

Some excellent commentary ! Rich Landrum!

[@MrChristopherHaas]

I like him but i like his replacement even better

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

@@MrChristopherHaas Are you sure? His replacement was David Crockett.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

@@MisterBeauJanGels first off let me say that im a midwesterner that has experienced a very painfully small sample size of Mr. Landrum, only what you tube has. Having said THAT…..my man….BOB CAUDLE. I would put Caudles head on the Mt. Rushmore of announcers.

[@119Agent]

@@MisterBeauJanGelswas it Crockett or Solie? Crockett was color.

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

@119Agent Rich Landrum was the ring announcer in Richmond for many years. He was more closely tied to the Murnick family (local promoters in Richmond) and George Scott (booker) than he was to the Crocketts. They started bringing him to Raleigh every week to do TV. Raleigh isn't that far away and the Murnicks were also the local promoters there. In 1981, Jim Crockett replaced Scott with Ole Anderson and also moved the tapings from Raleigh to Charlotte. Not only did Landrum lose his ties to his patrons in the process, he wasn't compensated for the extra travel every week, so he eventually quit. Johnny Weaver had already been brought in as his color man, though I don't remember exactly when. Your confusion about his replacement may stem from footage of WWW not resurfacing. There's a bunch of low-quality, fan-recorded clips from 1984 on YT which show David Crockett as host. Gordon Solie only worked for the Crocketts on Starrcade broadcasts.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Mid Atlantic one of the few territories that would provide viewers ppv worvthy matches for free. No real jobbers here

[@FranBushardt]

@@MrChristopherHaasDeCarlo was Not a Full Jobber especially in the Hamilton/ Toronto Maple Leaf Wrestling Territory which did a Co Promoting with Mid Atlantic Areas, DeCarlo did Win Matches Regularly in the Canadian area!

[@MrChristopherHaas]

@@FranBushardt since i ledgered that i did indeed see what you are referring to. thus i will erase

[@jasongaylor2232]

This is extremely rare. Apparently this was recorded in 1979 by a wealthy person who could afford a VCR at that time. In The Mid-Atlantic area. The Mid-Atlantic wrestling tv shows from the 1970's don't exist as they reused the tapes and deleted the shows. It was done as a cost cutting measure. It's a real shame because so much of Pro Wrestling history - especially Ric Flair's development of his craft in his early years - is lost forever. Crockett did not start saving and preserving the Mid-Atlantic tapes until 1981. And that is what you see on the WWE Network/Peacock.

[@DabsDad]

It could have been a Beta Max. My neighbor had one around this time.

[@jasongaylor2232]

@@DabsDad It's possible.

[@dxrulz4life]

Does anybody know the name of the theme song?

[@DCMcNeilJr]

why is Mr. TV Announcer man listing everyone's astrological sign?

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

It was the 1970s. You just have to be old enough to understand.

[@119Agent]

It really matter in the 70’s. People were nuts.

[@carlosdanger947]

Lol.... this commentary sounds like a dating profile ....his astrological sign is Virgo favorite sport football hobbies include hiking 😂😂

[@jamie.777]

Also likes quiet walks on the beach...

[@jaywilson4520]

0:13 Herb Tarlek called, and wants his tuxedo back.

[@trentaccid2177]

THE GREATEST WWWF CHAMPION PEDRO MORALES NEVER CHANGED HIS BUILD OR HIS SAME COLOR SHORTS HIS ENTIRE CAREER.

[@williamnelson502]

Morales was a good WWWF Champ, but better than Bruno Sammartino? No way! The numbers don't bear this out. Bruno had the WWWF Championship for 12 years total, longer than ANY WWWF/WWF/WWE Championship ever!!! The only reason he ever lost the WWWF Championship to begin with was because he wanted to give it up to spend more time with his family.

[@libertarian500]

So what was the major difference in World Wide Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling other than name?

[@StarCityAudits]

None

[@jefferydrake5706]

Mid Atlantic came on after noon world wide came on late night on Saturday's

[@Artessnow]

I think both shows were recorded mid week in Atlanta.

[@mkl62]

@@Artessnow No. They were recorded in Raleigh NC and later in Charlotte, then on the road. Mid-Atlantic was taped first, then World Wide.

[@Artessnow]

@@mkl62 I heard they shipped the tapes via Greyhound bus, was that true?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Baron raises RATS for SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES in his spare time says the announcer.

[@harristonrichardson4754]

I was too young to remember when Danville Va would have Wrestling matches at it,s auditorium and wrestlers like Paul Jones Johnny Weaver, and others from the 70,s came to town and a guy i used to work with said He went to a card they had one night, and after it was over , he said he saw Paul Jones, Weaver and all the other wrestlers that were on the card that night got in to 2 big station wagons and left together , he said he saw them when they were getting IN the cars . He said the way they were acting in the ring you would think they hated each other but they were laughing and carrying on, Went on to the next town i guess,

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Ramblin’ Rick? Lol thats a new one on me

[@kelsonlopez1583]

this grainy shitty video from 1979 pro wrestling blows the ultra-produced WWE shows completely away!!

[@JuliusC1973]

You have an awful lot of Wrestlers on this Show in the early parts of their Careers and many Championships and Future Hall of Fame Inductions await them. I am blown away.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

If anyone out there could give me some information on the STEVE REGAL wrestling with Pedro Morales vs. NUMBER ONE (damn straight) and HEIR BARON...nothing in wiki on him, overused name

[@RickJW-OSM]

Yeah aka 'Mr. Electricity.' Wrestled a lot in the mid-west and Florida, mostly in the A.W.A., that's where you'll find him on video for the most part. Held the AWA World Tag-team titles with 'Gorgeous' Jimmy Garvin.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

@@RickJW-OSM thanks

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Yep, Mr. Electricity. Light heavyweight AWA champ.

[@wr70beh]

To me this was the Snuka I knew.

[@jefferydrake5706]

Before snuka came off the cage in Madison square garden he came off the top of the cage at the Richmond coliseum I was there go to gateway when he was in the mid Atlantic

[@pulsarlights2825]

Snuka was old then, he started wrestling in 1969, his career was winding down by his 1982-83 WWF run. Backlund said in his book that Snuka's knees were so bad they could only do the cage match once in New York, so they had different finishes in the other towns in the territory. Jumping off that cage at 39 or 40 was not an easy thing to do..

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

Agreed 👍

[@MrChristopherHaas]

This episode features Ladd and STUDD TOGETHER. I wonder who had the most overall height...Ladd/STUDD...or....Skyscrapers?

[@Fang_Face]

Rich Landrum sure talked like Mean Gene, or should I saw the other way around?

[@marktorak5578]

Paul Orndonff and Jimmy Snuka 1979 tag team champions

[@StarCityAudits]

How bout' Roughouse as the ref !!

[@JeffMitterling]

Rich landumn is no David Crockett and Tony schiavone from the 80's

[@jackprecip5389]

Catch the 10 seconds of action starting at 16:26, WTF?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

That was pretty lame, yes. There were other highly questionable moments in match for sure. Announcer does proclaim Swede was “playin’ possum” but…

[@johnebejer]

Brute Bernard and George The Animal Steele would have made a great tag team.

[@blackbirdsvolume1366]

Brute Bernard was about 58 here

[@tonypastor705]

Solie,not Solid ,sorry. Gordon Solie.

[@jameshart6839]

Snuka looks like a normal guy here, and not like a roidfreak.

[@jonathanwhite1265]

Same with Orndorf

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Brute Bernard and George Steele would have made a great tag team. Why doesnt wrestling find any more men who look like WRESTLERS like BRUTE

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Brute and The Angel works, pretty sure ive seen them pairing up somewhere.

[@scotthubbert]

Nice:)

[@MrChristopherHaas]

So helpful to learn each wrasslers astrological sign 🙄

[@scottmoore1614]

Gotta love the 70s!

[@MrChristopherHaas]

@@scottmoore1614 SO much better than it is today!

[@TBone2000Man]

Wow this is great wrestling action do you have anymore from this year

[@altilley2694]

😳😎😉

[@MrChristopherHaas]

LOOK at STEAMBOAT! Muscle BEACH

[@trentaccid2177]

YEAH RICKY WAS ALWAYS SMALL IN THOSE LOWER REGIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED HIM VERY SMALL UNCUT PUNCH.

[@trentaccid2177]

JIMMY SNUKA BEFORE STEROIDS AND BEFORE HE WOULD BREAK HIS DOOR DOWN AT HIS HOME IN HADDONFIELD N.J. AND BEFORE HE BECAME A MURDERER KILLING GIRL FRIEND NANCY ARGENTINO.

[@trentaccid2177]

WHAT IS IT PUTTING THE WRESTLERS IN SQUARES AS THERE INTRODUCED..

[@trentaccid2177]

THESE MUST BE THE ORIGINAL MASTERS WITH ORIGINAL SPACE FOR COMMERCIALS.

[@trentaccid2177]

RACES RATS FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES ? 😲😲😲😲😲😲