The Wrestling Mummies of Memphis
Apr 27, 2020 2:45:51 GMT -5
Phosphor Glow, sabretooth, and 1 more like this
Post by Joe Neglia on Apr 27, 2020 2:45:51 GMT -5
We all know the Yeti from WCW and we all know the deal with Rick Rubin insisting Smokey Mountain having a mummy, resulting in the debut of Prince Kharis. But they weren't the first. Pedro Martinez did a Mummy gimmick as far back as 1941, while Benji Ramirez had some success with the gimmick in the '60s. Even WCW jobber Roadblock did the gimmick for years in Mexico and the indies. There's been a ton of them in various lucha and Japanese promotions as well. But here's one I'd never seen footage of before - the Memphis version:
I've often believed Dr. Frank was the first Memphis wrestling monster, but the Mummy precedes him. Their first Mummy debuted in 1967 and was portrayed by future matchmaker Eddie Marlin. I have had no luck finding footage of this version of the gimmick. The territory's second Mummy - seen in the footage above - first appeared in 1970 (the same year Lawler debuted, so I wonder if that was a coincidence), but would disappear for a few years before showing back up around 1974, under the command of Sam Bass (Lawler's ex-manager). At the end of the feud, this Mummy was unmasked to reveal Ron Wright. A third Mummy would arrive the following year in 1975, played by Bob Alebi, aka Count Drummer. A fourth Mummy would show up a few years later for one show, helping Nick Bockwinkel retain his title in a match against Lawler before unmasking to reveal himself as Andy Kaufman (as seen in the footage below). I'm sure they had at least one or two since then as well.
I've often believed Dr. Frank was the first Memphis wrestling monster, but the Mummy precedes him. Their first Mummy debuted in 1967 and was portrayed by future matchmaker Eddie Marlin. I have had no luck finding footage of this version of the gimmick. The territory's second Mummy - seen in the footage above - first appeared in 1970 (the same year Lawler debuted, so I wonder if that was a coincidence), but would disappear for a few years before showing back up around 1974, under the command of Sam Bass (Lawler's ex-manager). At the end of the feud, this Mummy was unmasked to reveal Ron Wright. A third Mummy would arrive the following year in 1975, played by Bob Alebi, aka Count Drummer. A fourth Mummy would show up a few years later for one show, helping Nick Bockwinkel retain his title in a match against Lawler before unmasking to reveal himself as Andy Kaufman (as seen in the footage below). I'm sure they had at least one or two since then as well.
