Jobber to Idol: Austin Idol's Journey In Wrestling

[@j-mac7401]

Im so stoked i came across this video. Growing up in Memphis in the 80s, Chanel 5 wrestling every Saturday morning was everything to Memphis. Young/old, black/white it didn't matter, we all tuned in. And my favorite reoccurring wrestler was this gentleman _ Austin Idol. Usually it was either teaming up or vs Jerry Lawler. Best moments for me has got to be when the 2 had their matches vs the Road WARRIORS...

[@CNormanHocker]

There needs to be more conversations like this. The history of the business needs to be preserved. I enjoyed this very much.

[@jamie.777]

Billy is a class act and a wrestling historian. He spent a lot of his money to save the nwa. Much respect 🙏

[@alwilson3204]

I loved the character Austin Idol, he still looks great, and we almost got to see the photos! I also have to say (hint, hint) I'd like to hear McCord talk more than about one third of the time and, frankly, I'm not watching to hear about the Brisco's, the Infernos, or the midgets. On other interviews we get questions about his career - how novel!

[@josephgeorge789]

I'm not going to stop being a real fan of Austin Idol

[@twilliamspro]

Austin Idol Out of character is so interesting This could be the best thing you guys have done since the 10lbs of gold series

[@dirkjewitt5037]

I can't believe Idol is still alive! He's outlasted a lot of legends his age.

[@isaacschoenberger3827]

He’s doing good, I just talked to him yesterday, great guy

[@jammiebooker6489]

I hope he raises the debt limit 😂

[@Lurvy1963]

One of the best interviews I have seen in the NWA in a long time. Austin Idol takes a break from managing by sharing fond memories of how he got started in pro wrestling and many of the wrestlers he knew back in the 1970s. Jack and Gerald Brisco. Dusty Rhodes. The Funks. Eddie Graham. Ernie Ladd. Jos Leduc. The Spoiler. Andre The Giant. Harley Race. Paul Jones. Gary Hart. Bobby Shane. Buddy Colt. Mr. Wrestling 2. Don Leo Jonathan. Bob Roop. Sonny King. Wahoo McDaniel. Tommy Rich. I miss that wrestling crowd of wrestlers. Tradition needs to live on with the NWA.

[@timfrederick9305]

@Sub if you are against antifa and BLM Nice to see a fellow Southeastern-Continental fan

[@traceywoodward1354]

A little piece of useless info: southeastern championship wrestling rights are not owned by the wwe...that's why you will not find any southeastern footage on the wwe network or whatever streaming service they have nowadays

[@jamiecombs3359]

I don’t think anyone owns the Southeastern or Continental footage. Not even Ron Fuller. He’s uses it on his streaming channel but still doesn’t own the footage. Pretty sure it’s public domain.

[@timfrederick9305]

There’s a lot of Southeastern on here

[@kevinburnes3216]

There are great channels here on youtube that show all of these 70 and 80s wrestlers!

[@MrBeavis84]

Austin Idol is still amazing

[@abcstardust]

I’ll be gone when it’s on. But I’m absolutely catching it later today!! NWA RULES!

[@ArmbarsAndSidebars]

I can't speak highly enough of this interview. This was fantastic!

[@ROIDEDCAPS7868]

THIS IS NWANIACS APPROVED!!!

[@toma.4808]

Austin Idol! One of my favorites growing up! Great guy, he could talk, he had the moves and the right charisma. A legend

[@stephenmccauley6138]

Awesome 😎 just awesome; this is why the NWA is truly the premier wrestling promotion to me. Legacy, Tradition, the way Wrestling is meant to be 💯💪🏻

[@timfrederick9305]

The thing about Austin Idol is that he could generate a ton of heat as a heel,but turn him baby face and the fans would be solidly behind him and he would easily be one of if not the most popular guy in the territory.The ladies in particular would be out of their minds over the guy and the men liked him too and the kids loved him as well.Takes talent to be equally over as a face or heel

[@JET-Photo]

Brings back a lot of memories growing up in the 70’s watching these guys. Just hit me who Austin Idol was. I remembered the name but seeing him it finally hit me. Loved this era.

[@kevinburnes3216]

There are great channels here on youtube that show all of these 70 and 80s wrestlers!

[@JET-Photo]

@@kevinburnes3216 yeah I’ll be caught up in yet another KZbin vortex 😂

[@johnnydynamite7153]

Such a good person very down to Earth. Also amazing trainer

[@joshsizemoremusic]

My dad would imitate Idol on the regular!

[@johnnydynamite7153]

Keeping that wrestling world alive

[@Dr.Serious1970]

Greetings. I have found this to be a very excellent chat with the universal heart throb and mr.corigan. I watched mr.idol on wtbs many times,as well as Memphis on KZbin. I've been a wrestling fan for nearly 51 years and love to listen to the greats speak about the golden era of wrestling. The nwa was and remains about tradition. My best from Vermont.

[@joshsizemoremusic]

The NWA brought the spirit of fellowship my father and I shared! Welcome fam!

[@garydavis476]

I love to sit and hear people talk about the territory days. When I became a wrestling fan in the mid 80s, they were still around but they were soon to be bought up Keep doing these interviews because I love to hear their stories

[@ROIDEDCAPS7868]

AWESOME WORK NWA! LOVE IT

[@joshsizemoremusic]

Anybody else stoked to have the NWA as regular programming now? This icon merch brings back feelings.

[@joshsizemoremusic]

Idol is the MAC!

[@joshsizemoremusic]

The Weaver Lock , Paul Jones- Hair VS. Hair!

[@kevinfowler1218]

I grew up in South Carolina, so I didn't get to see Austin much, but do remember him from magazines. I always thought of him as a New York guy. Great interview.

[@kevinfowler1218]

He speaks of Johnny Weaver and Rip Hawk. I watched them battle each other for years in Spartanburg Memorial Autotorim on Saturday nights. As a kid, I always looked forward to seeing Mid-Atlantic Wrestling.

[@SWAN021]

This is awesome great information and entertaining

[@jeffreyk5734]

This is awesome. I was a huge fan of "The Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol. In-fact, I knew Idol before I knew Ric Flair. I remember his feud with Tommy Rich around '79-'80. I mention this because when I first got to know Flair he reminded me so much of Idol. We were lucky. My dad bought cable TV way before many people did. I think around 1978-79. I would have been 12 or 13 years old. There weren't allot of channels yet, but you could pick up what I believe was called WTCG out of Atlanta which later became WTBS. They had NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling on every Saturday afternoon for 2 hours. Austin Idol blew me away with his strong promos. Later I got into acts like The Fabulous Freebirds about 1980. The Georgia area had so many great wrestlers that came in and out of promotion Plus they had "The Dean" Gordon Solie on the mic. By about the middle of 1982 or so they changed the name of the touring promotion to World Championship Wrestling under the NWA banner due to the National Cable access. And they didn't just have shows in Georgia but worked with other NWA Promoters throughout the south. It was great times. It seemed amazing that a kid from the middle of Nebraska could watch this awesome wrestling program from half-way across the country. Something that would not have been possible only a few years earlier. In any case, I always thought that Austin Idol should have been a much bigger name. He stayed mostly in the Memphis/Louisville and Alabama areas as the 80's wore on.

[@raybee5574]

You and I started watching Georgia championship wrestling about the same time back in 1978 that is when we first got cable I lost my mind because I could get Mid-South championship wrestling Georgia championship wrestling Texas wrestling got the WWF out of New York the AWA and sometimes Florida championship wrestling

[@jeffreyk5734]

@@raybee5574 Do you remember Bad, Bad Leroy Brown in Georgia? He was one of my favorites. Great Big Black Dude in jean Overalls. Guy should have become a much bigger Star. Tons of charisma and the fans loved him. I first saw Bruiser Brody, Paul Orndorf, Rick Steamboat, Kevin Von Erich and even Owen Hart on Georgia Championship Wrestling before anyplace else.

[@ghostface216]

My favorite wrestler

[@ScottJames1971]

Such a good idea - think of all the knowledge and genuine history has been lost with the passing of time.If only more of this was done in the past. I know it is a business but VKM would never do this Billy - your LOVE of the business show through. Thank you.

[@sitcom1971]

This was such a great interview!!! WOW One of my all-time favorite's Austin Idol!!! IDOLMANIA!!!

[@ericjones6599]

So many of the stars from this era are gone now, it's good that Idol is willing to share how the business once was. Even better that a guy like Idol is still willing to train the stars of tomorrow. Great job NWA and who's up next week?

[@jasperscott5426]

Total joy listening to Idol regale his beginnings in wrestling.

[@anthonylott2047]

Idol has paid his dues to professional wrestling.

[@jesspinkston2533]

grew up watching this man in the Memphis territory

[@mandy018]

Love Austin Idol. This was a great interview and I enjoyed it. I just wish those cool photos were zoomed in more. Would have been nice to see it displayed on the screen behind them maybe.

[@Jason-si8iu]

Met him as a kid, super nice guy

[@Methadone4Life]

Austin is one of the best and I feel he should get far more props and attention as a legend than we he gets.

[@allaroundarbiter4809]

This is a great idea and a great concept and I would like to see more interviews of the old timers and legends of professional wrestling to share their perspectives. This is brilliant. Austin Idol is a great storyteller

[@gwgdog66]

I actually enjoyed this interview with Austin Idol.

[@brenthenshaw3585]

Great interview. Going back to his start as Iron Mike McCord and that history with Florida. What's interesting is the parallel between Idol's career and Ric Flair's: Both started about the same time, both were in plane crashes about the same time. The fact that he and would lose weight, get healthy, and adopt similar gimmicks at about the same time. Although Flair stayed with the Crocketts and Idol worked in Florida, Georgia, Memphis. A lot of history to his career.

[@michaelrose3101]

Strangely enough when he came to Australia, it was either 1972 or 73 he was Dennis McCord. I had a photo of him he signed along with many other guys back then on the promo pictures they sold of them.

[@chadharger9323]

Great? Most of the time Austin couldn't get a word in.

[@greenelockhart6359]

I been a wrestling fan for st least 55 years going back to the WWWF days I remember Mike McCord before he became Austin Idol he had the dark hair and a stocky build I was shocked to see as a new character Austin Idol

[@qaenos]

Awesome! Now please let us buy/watch the NWA Houston 1970s footage with all those great stars!

[@twilliamspro]

I think a lot of the old stuff Went to WWE with the WCW purchase

[@ashtonhaggitt216]

@@twilliamspro unfortunately, you are correct. Almost all of the classic NWA footage is owned by WWE. And it shows barely any of it on the network.

[@delmerjunior]

Thanks, NWA! Another bullseye! Thanks Austin Idol! 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎 💎

[@nicholasanthonyderusha]

This looks so good! Thanks for this! Woooooo! 😎👍

[@JohnnyEdwardsMusic]

I love the NWA

[@abcstardust]

It’s my Favorite Company

[@jerronmoone8243]

I remember Austin.Tommy Rich and Rick Flair all fighting to be the dominant blonde hair guy in Georgia when the Omni always had the big cards.

[@abcstardust]

Great show! Not only did Austin Idol share details of his career but Some very important aspects of wrestling’s history came out. Love the Set too!

[@tyronespivey1982]

One of the greatest of all time. Loved him in Georgia Championship Wrestling. Should have been World Champion in one of the major three promotions preferably NWA Champion

[@kissforever1970]

Austin idol is a badass

[@MIKEMARIOinCrises]

Idol mania this guy's still a badass survives anything , my goodness Hahahaha what a gamer in his 70s

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Only Idol can pull that look off at his age and no one would think twice ! What a legend though ! I got so many memories of watching him as a kid . I even bought the vhs of the Hair Match with Lawler . And it was like 60 bucks in the 80s ! For a VHS tape lol !!! I hpe you keep this series going . Im loving every second of this one . Thanks !

[@freddyjefferson5164]

Austin still is in great shape

[@daveschannel747]

Mike McCord.... Crowd favorite... Epic battles for the CWA championship... AWESOME IDOL

[@sgtblackrock4997]

Loved the deal in Memphis where Lawler and Dundee were trying to convince Idol that Jimmy Hart was working against him as his manager....classic..

[@timperdue4311]

Great interview and story telling. Wished we could have heard more about his wrestling career as Austin Idol

[@mikefitchNYC1971]

I love this new series. This was a great interview!

[@johntucker3750]

There are times when Billy is putting out the best wrestling content. Well done. Thank you.

[@mikewalters8047]

@Billy Corrigan You may have thought there were two deaths because even though there was only one actual death (Bobby Shane) Buddy Colt was forced to retire because of the injuries he sustained in the crash so in essence Colt's in-ring career was "dead" but he himself survived the crash.

[@michaelrose3101]

Bobby Shane was one of the best, great heel promo.He was great in Australia when he wrestled and managed and refused to wrestle on TV he generated great heat.

[@simonkeegan5580]

Great interview

[@dwightsmith2918]

That was really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@s.mas.w]

❤️💯❤️💯❤️💯❤️💯❤️💯❤️💯Billy thank you so much! You are saving Wrestling!!!!!!❤️💯💯❤️💯❤️💯❤️💯

[@MIKEMARIOinCrises]

Jesse Ventura was definitely inspired by Austin Idol, and Superstar Billy Graham them 3 were similar gimmickery

[@BourgeoisBuffoon]

Fantastic. No question. Makes me resent the product that's out there now. I've tried to watch some of it, both WWE and AEW, and makes me miss the years I watched, from the late 70's to mid-80's. Today's product reminds me of the clown show WWF had in the 80's.

[@JoeGalliNews]

Great conversation!

[@lane0763]

I totally enjoyed this interview. I could listen to this stuff for hours because it brings back stuff from the earlier years (my era anyway) of wrestling. I hope that you do more of these in the future ! Great job guys !

[@co2addicted788]

What an amazing video what a career Austin idol you da man bro love nwa love ❤ all you guys and love all in comments god bless everyone ❤ 🙏🇬🇧🍻

[@MiloPantone]

Absolutely love this interview. I would love to have more interviews like this. Thank you!

[@josueacosta8950]

Amazing interview

[@michaelmanning8099]

Really interesting and enjoyable interview with Austin Idol. Loved it.

[@J4ckieD]

This is awesome. Definitely need more content like this on NWA. Always like hearing Austin Idol talk anyway 👍

[@bryanpeloquin3890]

I remember Iron Mike McCord, managed by Captain Lou Albano in the WWWF, early 70s. Lou had a fake cast on his arm and Mike used it on a top face then, can't remember who. He was pretty over. Early memories. Great interview!👍😎

[@kamala2111]

Great interview always enjoyed the universal heartthrob

[@michaelrose3101]

Austin Idol wrestled in Australia around 1973 as Dennis McCord.

[@robertathey8504]

I grew up in Pensacola Florida in the 80's. Huge wrestling fan. This small town was a huge wrestling area. Watched matches live and on tv. Saw wrestlers at the beach or just out and about. Saw Austin a few times. Honestly, a prick. 10, 15 years ago, we trained at the same gym. By then, he mellowed out and was a cool guy

[@leesalyer8944]

Saw him in the grocery store this morning . Gracious guy . He can still talk the talk !!😊

[@Methadone4Life]

In my opinion one of the best ever on the mic! The Universal Heartthrob the lady's pet...the men's regret, I mean how cool of a line is that??? Wonderful interview and I would love to hear more from the Idol!

[@alwilson3204]

And less interruptions from the interviewer.

[@timperdue4311]

This should def be part 1 of a 2 part series!

[@PilgrimPiper]

One of the greats from my earliest childhood memory of watching wrestling. I remember he had this certain bit of mystery with his persona. I was always mixed about whether I cheered or boo-ed him, but I knew I liked watching and listening to him either way. Hard to explain. Well done, leaving something to the imagination

[@mikewalters8047]

@Austin Idol The Infernos you were referring to were Frankie Cain and Richard Smith.

[@m.8444]

Cool (and interesting) stuff! 👍🏻

[@jameshowell8282]

The American heart ❤ remember him from the fueds he had with the tennesse stud down in continental in Dothan

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I love the Smashing Pumpkins. But I really love Billy’s love of pro wrestling.

[@ziskokid1]

I remember all these guys Austin Is talking about from 50 yrs ago. Used to buy the wrestler and inside wrestler magazines all the time. Good all days.

[@traceywoodward1354]

Austin idol was great...could do awesome interviews...get tremendous heat as a heal...great support as a fan favorite...if he hadn't been in the plane crash he would've gone throughout the country and been a big time star

[@basssix1]

Thank you for this interview!!!

[@arthurseay4706]

One of my all time favorites!!!Bham, Alabama loves you brother!!!

[@rashidshah5641]

I started watching and enjoying wrestling during WWF Hulkamania era and saw some AWA stuff. Whatever I saw of Austin, I felt there was a superstar who could have been part of the top mix of WWF, AWA and JCP, a top talent with great charisma and athleticism. I tried to get more of Austin through the PWI mags. Anyhow talking to people from Asian countries, Austin Idol is an international phenomenon and is viewed through videos.

[@davidstronach3261]

I dont know why but I really want to see one of these interviews with Sting if you can get him

[@AmateurJoeski]

Great interview !!!... I wish he would have let Idol continue his thoughts and stories several times instead of interrupting him and changing direction.

[@michaelrose3101]

Idol goes to talk about wrestling in Australia, Corgan interrupted wanting to hear about the territories, mentioned Paul Jones who wrestled in Australia in 1965 as Al Fredericks and then Bobby Shane, who was one of the best talents of all time. The guy knew how to draw heat managing George Barnes an Australian wrestler while also wrestling himself. I loved it when he refused to wrestle on TV because people weren't worthy of seeing him. Bobby only small in stature was one huge talent.

[@kenedephynce]

Awesome job guys! YOU KNOW WHY

[@brandongorman560]

NWA ❤️

[@rsww]

WOW, i love the interview, eye opening, flash to the past. Some of the people that was mentioned was before my time, I remember most of the wrestlers and managers and owners not all. Austin Idol is a good interview hopefully there's another episode with Austin. I have an idea about these interviews when showing the picture or memobilia you should share the picture full screen on the screen tot show what is being shown as the interview goes on, can i make a request, please try to interview Tully Blanchard and or the Kevin Von Erich, please would love to see them, by far i watched both wrestlers and loved every minute of watch them perform. I a fan, always been always will be NWA fan.

[@IrishMikeShea]

A weekly or biweekly show about talking the territories. History of the NWA territories.

[@greatesttoysevermade3693]

Back in the territory days, I believe most all female wrestlers were booked through the Fabulous Moolah and the midget wrestlers through Lord Littlebrook. Austin Idol is a living legend.

[@bullettoothjosh]

Fantastic interview. More of Billy with legends taking the lead like that and keeping the interview on track and to the point. I hate when wrestlers ramble on or stay partially in character or repeat the same stories in every interview

[@jonathandarwin3368]

I know the name of the other gentleman in the Blue Inferno's photograph. The other wrestler is Gypsy Joe Gene Madrid (Gilberto "Pepe" Melendez). I had the privilege of calling some of his matches for a promotion in West Virginia (NWA Mount State Wrestling) a few years ago. I will post some links to matches if anyone is interested.

[@JJMcHurt]

Other than Flair this guy was one of the coolest heels in the GA territory back in the day.

[@CollectingCardboard]

Growing up on early 80's wrestling in NJ, the vast majority of my exposure to.... "non-WWF" wrestling talent.... came by way of the Apter rag mags (Inside Wrestling, The Wrestler, etc.) I didn't get to see _much_ of Idol, but I did manage to catch a handful of his matches on TBS. And I was totally,....a fan. He had it all; the physique, the showmanship, the charisma, the crowd, _AND_ ,....the gift-of-gab/ability to cut a promo/carry a convo. And I agree with most comments; it's not to take _ANYTHING_ away from the talented performers of this generation. *NOT AT ALL* !! But if given the choice, I'd _certainly_ take _OUR GENERATION_ of wrestlers/wrestling,....without a doubt!!

[@coreysmorgan8488]

I'm 51 and Austin Idol was my first favorite wrestler, our of the Georgia Territory in late 78-79 later to be replaced by Tommy Rich

[@billgreene321]

thank u for leting me see things i havn't seen befor

[@wayned.ashford1704]

Verne and Greg Gange. Billy Robinson. 'Mr. X'...MY generation.

[@deanbibb3680]

Billy did one of the best interviews with Eddie Van Halen that I read, several years back in one of the guitar magazines. I think it was Guitar World. It was an excellent read.

[@timmc8444]

GREAT Interview!