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Post by willywonka666 on May 22, 2007 16:25:28 GMT -5
In the early 1980's Tommy Rich defeated Harley Race for the NWA title and lost it back in about a couple of weeks, I don't suppose you could call him a transitional champion because he lost it directly back to Race, and it seemed to have hurt his career more than anything becasue he was always known as the guy who held the world title for a couple weeks-although he was very successful in memphis-so why'd they do it?
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Post by Munkie91087 on May 22, 2007 16:26:46 GMT -5
Wasn't it because of a sexual favor? (I'm trying to be funny here, but wasn't that the rumor?)
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Post by jcdenton on May 22, 2007 17:04:36 GMT -5
Wasn't it because of a sexual favor? (I'm trying to be funny here, but wasn't that the rumor?) Thats what that site with all that wrestling hearsay said, I beleave it too, VERY short (for the time) reign, jobbed right back to the same guy.
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on May 22, 2007 17:40:14 GMT -5
How did he win? Very fluky or what.
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Post by hutter on May 22, 2007 17:41:39 GMT -5
What I've heard from the inside was that it was in appreciation for Tommy Rich's popularity (and yes, he was wildly popular before he got his title run) and was never intended to last more than a couple of weeks because the promoters knew Tommy wasn't a technically sound wrestler (back when that was a requirement for a NWA champion) but was done to keep the fans happy. All those rumors about Tommy taking in the pooper for a run are just that...rumors.
And no, I'm not a fan of Mr. Rich (in fact, I despise the man for damn good reasons) but let's be accurate here. The pondslime has enough real-life misdeeds to stick to him...why go back to one that has been proven over and over to be a lie?
Was James Barnett light in the loafers? Yes. Did Mr. Rich have a thing with Mr. Barnett? Who knows (doubtful, IMO) but he did not get his miniscule run from being humbled by the promoter. Okay?
Instead, let's trade some violent-drunk Tommy Rich stories. At least most of those are based in RealityLand.
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ICBM
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Post by ICBM on May 22, 2007 17:57:42 GMT -5
I heard that about Rich as well but if it's true eh...oh well his thing man. Oh and DID SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT GETT'N FIIIRRREDD UP IN ATLANTA?
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Post by Dr. Marzvon Zombie M.D. on May 22, 2007 19:19:22 GMT -5
Wasn't it because of a sexual favor? (I'm trying to be funny here, but wasn't that the rumor?) Thats what i read too, but don't know if its true or not but rumor has it sucky sucky for the title title lol
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Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on May 22, 2007 19:23:39 GMT -5
I don't know, but that's not what a lot of people remember "Wildfire" for, anyways. I'll personally always remember him for his AMAZING matches against Buzz Sawyer.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2007 19:24:07 GMT -5
I heard the title exchange for favors years ago, long before that lame thread that must not be spoken of.
That being said it was probably a lie anyways.
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Post by Dr. Marzvon Zombie M.D. on May 22, 2007 20:46:33 GMT -5
I don't know, but that's not what a lot of people remember "Wildfire" for, anyways. I'll personally always remember him for his AMAZING matches against Buzz Sawyer. I WISH TO ALL THAT IS WARRIOR, THAT SOMEONE HAD A COPY SOME HOW SOME WAY OF THAT (why am i screaming?) cage match between him and sawyer.
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NIXON
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Post by NIXON on May 22, 2007 21:09:18 GMT -5
He doesnt need to have gay intercourse for a title run, he's a Don! He probabky had some of his Paisan rough the guy up to get his title reign. I hear Tracy Smothers can be very convincing...
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Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on May 22, 2007 22:37:41 GMT -5
I don't know, but that's not what a lot of people remember "Wildfire" for, anyways. I'll personally always remember him for his AMAZING matches against Buzz Sawyer. I WISH TO ALL THAT IS WARRIOR, THAT SOMEONE HAD A COPY SOME HOW SOME WAY OF THAT (why am i screaming?) cage match between him and sawyer. Dude, same here. I've only ever seen pictures of the match, myself.
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sabu
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Post by sabu on May 23, 2007 14:17:11 GMT -5
Instead, let's trade some violent-drunk Tommy Rich stories. At least most of those are based in RealityLand. I want to hear some of the drunk Tommy Rich stories
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Post by darthpipes on May 23, 2007 23:19:37 GMT -5
I WISH TO ALL THAT IS WARRIOR, THAT SOMEONE HAD A COPY SOME HOW SOME WAY OF THAT (why am i screaming?) cage match between him and sawyer. Dude, same here. I've only ever seen pictures of the match, myself. That's how stupid they were in the old territories. No one thought to make a copy of that match.
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Post by hutter on May 25, 2007 13:03:33 GMT -5
Quote: Scott Bowden " Because of the circumstances surrounding the title change, years later a rumor emerged insinuating that Barnett — a known homosexual — arranged the switch only after blackmailing Rich to sleep with him. I address this because it’s not only a frequent topic on message boards such as KAYFABE MEMORIES’ Georgia section, but it’s also a rumor that has again picked up steam with the publication of CHOKEHOLD, the memoirs of disgruntled ex-wrestler/pro football player Jim Wilson (best known for appearing with Eddy Mansfield on 20/20’s expose on the biz in 1985). It’s simply not true. Most of the rumormongers don’t understand just how much Rich was over at the time. Think Race would have dropped the strap to Rich otherwise? No way. " Source - moviepoopshoot.com/wrestling/60.html
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Dr. T is an alien
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Post by Dr. T is an alien on May 25, 2007 21:19:17 GMT -5
Quote: Scott Bowden " Because of the circumstances surrounding the title change, years later a rumor emerged insinuating that Barnett — a known homosexual — arranged the switch only after blackmailing Rich to sleep with him. I address this because it’s not only a frequent topic on message boards such as KAYFABE MEMORIES’ Georgia section, but it’s also a rumor that has again picked up steam with the publication of CHOKEHOLD, the memoirs of disgruntled ex-wrestler/pro football player Jim Wilson (best known for appearing with Eddy Mansfield on 20/20’s expose on the biz in 1985). It’s simply not true. Most of the rumormongers don’t understand just how much Rich was over at the time. Think Race would have dropped the strap to Rich otherwise? No way. " Source - moviepoopshoot.com/wrestling/60.htmlThis sounds about right. He was still fairly over for a while after the title run as well, but his demons made him too unreliable and eventually they eroded what skills he did have to make him quite useless to any promoter.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2007 10:52:51 GMT -5
Instead, let's trade some violent-drunk Tommy Rich stories. At least most of those are based in RealityLand. I want to hear some of the drunk Tommy Rich stories A drunk Tommy Rich is the reason NWA senior referee Tommy Young had to retire. Broke his leg when he stumbled over a soused Rich. And he was the one face who always wrestled 10 minute matches against jobbers, while everyone else took 2-3 minutes, tops.
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Post by hutter on May 26, 2007 12:24:48 GMT -5
Tommy Young's injuries were far more serious than that. Interview with Tommy Young from Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Gateway: DC: On a much more serious note…Tommy, you had an unfortunate injury in the ring that really ended your career in 1989. Please tell us about that. Tommy: We were doing TV that evening at Center Stage where we were taping at the time, and it was Tommy Rich versus Mike Rotunda. When it happened, it wasn’t even the finish…it was a high spot. They were supposed to do a deal where Rich is pounding on Mike in the ropes…I was pulling Tommy back and walking him back to the other side of the ring. At the same time, Rich is looking over my shoulder at Rotunda getting to his feet. Rich was supposed to just slap me in my back telling me to get out of the way, which would have left me where I was and then he goes charging at Mike. Then Mike would have back dropped him over the top rope for an automatic DQ if I caught it. But since I was off balance from the slap and would be a couple of seconds late, I wouldn’t see it. All I would have seen was Mike standing in the ring. DC: So this was basically just a spot? Tommy: Exactly. What happened was that when Rich shoved me he also raised his foot, which was about as big as this table, and he tripped me. I lost my balance, and when I lunged to grab the ropes to protect myself I missed, and went through the ropes. The middle rope hit me right between the eyes and my neck just snapped. Everything jammed together. I heard this God-awful sound when I fell. Then I heard this humming noise. I knew I was in real trouble…no pain but I couldn’t feel anything from my neck down. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m in big trouble.’ The lights had gone out before this happened. We still had the camera lights but it got noticeably dimmer. Whether that caused me missing the rope, I’ll never know. In my opinion Tommy Rich was impaired that night. But I could never prove it…so we dropped the lawsuit. But suffice it to say, it was Tommy Rich’s carelessness that cost me my career. It was just one of those things, but Rich clearly caused it. Rich tried to deny it…said it was my fault! But he was just trying to protect himself then. DC: What did they do for you medically? Tommy: I had to have surgery immediately, or risk going quadriplegic. When the feeling did come back, I had no strength in my left side, because fragments were pushing up against my spine. All they could do was lay me open from the base of my skull and simply remove all that damaged vertebrae. When they can go in from the front you can usually come back, but when they have to lay your spine open like they did me, it’s over. To look at me now, you wouldn’t know that I have a 25% disability. But, that protective covering of the spine—I don’t have it anymore. So that’s why it’s extremely dangerous for me to ever get back in the ring. DB: What are your thoughts of Tommy Rich now? Tommy: I’m not bitter at Rich anymore, because it’s history. But, you know, I don’t ever recall him even apologizing. He never wrote me a letter…nothing. But he was probably advised not to…because that would imply guilt. Source: www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/interviews/young/tommy_young01.htm
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Post by fabulousfreebird on May 26, 2007 16:17:53 GMT -5
He was champ for 4 days. 4 days! No lie, I was working in a gas station over nights just outside of Boston back in 1997 and ECW was doing a show at Wonderland Ballroom that night and lo and behold who comes into the gas station at around 1 AM sloshed out of his mind but Tommy Rich, looking for his friedn , The JYD, who happened to go off with a woman they met at the show. Even though he was shitfaced drunk, he was a very nice guy and wasn't disruptive or anything.
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Post by willywonka666 on May 27, 2007 9:57:20 GMT -5
Tommy Young's injuries were far more serious than that. Interview with Tommy Young from Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Gateway: DC: On a much more serious note…Tommy, you had an unfortunate injury in the ring that really ended your career in 1989. Please tell us about that. Tommy: We were doing TV that evening at Center Stage where we were taping at the time, and it was Tommy Rich versus Mike Rotunda. When it happened, it wasn’t even the finish…it was a high spot. They were supposed to do a deal where Rich is pounding on Mike in the ropes…I was pulling Tommy back and walking him back to the other side of the ring. At the same time, Rich is looking over my shoulder at Rotunda getting to his feet. Rich was supposed to just slap me in my back telling me to get out of the way, which would have left me where I was and then he goes charging at Mike. Then Mike would have back dropped him over the top rope for an automatic DQ if I caught it. But since I was off balance from the slap and would be a couple of seconds late, I wouldn’t see it. All I would have seen was Mike standing in the ring. DC: So this was basically just a spot? Tommy: Exactly. What happened was that when Rich shoved me he also raised his foot, which was about as big as this table, and he tripped me. I lost my balance, and when I lunged to grab the ropes to protect myself I missed, and went through the ropes. The middle rope hit me right between the eyes and my neck just snapped. Everything jammed together. I heard this God-awful sound when I fell. Then I heard this humming noise. I knew I was in real trouble…no pain but I couldn’t feel anything from my neck down. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m in big trouble.’ The lights had gone out before this happened. We still had the camera lights but it got noticeably dimmer. Whether that caused me missing the rope, I’ll never know. In my opinion Tommy Rich was impaired that night. But I could never prove it…so we dropped the lawsuit. But suffice it to say, it was Tommy Rich’s carelessness that cost me my career. It was just one of those things, but Rich clearly caused it. Rich tried to deny it…said it was my fault! But he was just trying to protect himself then. DC: What did they do for you medically? Tommy: I had to have surgery immediately, or risk going quadriplegic. When the feeling did come back, I had no strength in my left side, because fragments were pushing up against my spine. All they could do was lay me open from the base of my skull and simply remove all that damaged vertebrae. When they can go in from the front you can usually come back, but when they have to lay your spine open like they did me, it’s over. To look at me now, you wouldn’t know that I have a 25% disability. But, that protective covering of the spine—I don’t have it anymore. So that’s why it’s extremely dangerous for me to ever get back in the ring. DB: What are your thoughts of Tommy Rich now? Tommy: I’m not bitter at Rich anymore, because it’s history. But, you know, I don’t ever recall him even apologizing. He never wrote me a letter…nothing. But he was probably advised not to…because that would imply guilt. Source: www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/interviews/young/tommy_young01.htmTommy Young is the best ref I have ever seen
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