May 24 in the Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Evan "Strangler" Lewis 1860
Ricky Romero 1931
Happy Birthday:
Selina Majors\Nambi (58)
Elijah Burke\D'Angelo Dinero (44)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Al Karasick 5-24-1965 at the age of 75
Vincent J. McMahon 5-24-1984 at the age of 69
Rusher Kimura 5-24-2010 at the age of 68
"Cowboy" Frankie Laine 5-24-2016 at the age of 73
Paul Christy 5-24-2021 at the age of 82
Select Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling Match Flashbacks:
52-Year Flashback: 5-24-1973: Harley Race defeated Dory Funk Jr (CH) to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
Pictured: Referee Richard Moody raises Harley Race’s hand in NWA Title Win in Kansas City over Funk, Jr.
This is the title switch that had originally been scheduled for March 2nd, 1973, for Funk Jr to drop the World Title to Jack Brisco in Houston, Texas. Due to a pickup truck accident on the Flying Mare Ranch in Umbarger, Texas on February 28th, Funk Jr sustained shoulder and other injuries. Funk Jr reportedly rolled the truck on Texas Highway 168 near the Buffalo Lake Dam. Dory Funk Sr was also in the truck and was admitted as well to the hospital in Canyon, Texas. When the hospital doctor was interviewed by the Amarillo newspapers, he reported that Funk Sr was not seriously hurt, but Funk Jr dislocated his right shoulder along with neck and back injuries.
The Texas Department of Public Safety officers who were called to the scene said the truck was traveling on Texas 168 when it overturned, pinning the younger Funk in the vehicle until Funk Sr was able to free him from the wedged truck. So, the truck accident happened late Tuesday or early Wednesday and the title switch with Brisco was supposed to be in Houston two night later in Friday night at the Sam Houston Coliseum. The main event was changed from the NWA World Title with Funk Jr and Brisco to a two out of three falls match between Jack Brisco and Fritz Von Erich which Jack won taking 2 falls of the match.
Meanwhile, NWA fans at the time are confused since in most of the NWA Territories, a major rule enforced by the organization is the 30-day rule, which always stated, whether in storyline or in the actual written rules, is that a champion must defend his title every 30-days for forfeit the championship, which usually resulted in some kind of tournament. During the time of Funk Jr's recovery, which lasts from February 28th until May 24th, nothing about this rule is ever mentioned. If this entire episode interests or intrigues you, I'll pause here to mention I will explore this in much more detail in my upcoming book, "The Life and Times of Dory Funk, Sr and the West Texas Wrestling Territory."
Commenting briefly on the flashback match, there was the illusion of the Funk camp being screwed over at the end of this title bout as the Referee, Richard Moody missed what would have been a pinfall by Dory, Jr. This "missed pin" spot left the fans believing Junior should have retained the title, while Race suplexed Funk jamming his shoulders to the mat for the win and the title, putting Race on top as the new NWA World Champion. Race would hold the belt fifty-seven days before being defeated by Brisco at the previously booked title switch location of Houston, causing the previously turbulent political waters of the National Wrestling Alliance to calm for a brief period of time.
41-Year Flashback: 5-24-1984: Ric Flair defeated Kerry Von Erich (CH) to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at the General Gymnasium in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Pictured: Ric Flair gets his hand raised in Japan by referee Joe Higuchi as the new NWA World Champion to begin his 3rd title reign, Kerry Von Erich is crouching in the background
"I'll be back", those were the three words Flair told Von Erich immediately after the pinfall that gave Von Erich the prestigious NWA World Title. When people wonder if Vin Erich's Title reign should have or was scheduled to be longer, I suppose that's possible. Also, in play at the time, was a super show being planned and already being advertised at the Meadowlands Arena just outside New York City as an NWA-offensive move to strike back at the heart of WWF country. The advertising featured Flair as the Champion vs Ricky Steamboat in the Main Event. Here's the question, did the power brokers at the time know that Flair was losing the title to Von Erich and they knowingly advertised Flair believing the fans would be forgiving with the kayfabe nature of pro wrestling at the time? Or was Flair going to be in the main event against Steamboat without the title? Because at the time, those two could have pulled that off. Or did they know Von Erich's title reign would be over in plenty of time and the title would be back around Flair's waist in time for the Meadowlands show? Personally, I believe the latter.
The Meadowlands show was scheduled for May 29th, and I believe the NWA power brokers didn't think they could launch an effective attack on the WWF in New Jersey without the World Heavyweight Title being at the top of the card. Japan, still being somewhat traditional at this time in their wrestling product, the match was booked as a 2 out of 3 falls match. In the first fall, Von Erich caught Flair coming off the top rope with the claw hold and pinned him. Flair used the figure-four leg lock to pin Von Erich in the second fall. In the final fall, Von Erich used a roll-up on Flair, but the forward momentum carried over with Flair going on over to pin Von Erich for the third fall and the title. Ric Flair is now a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History:
Chris Adams & Tom Prichard were the NWA Americas Tag Team Champions for NWA Hollywood in 1981 in Los Angeles, California.
Thank You for Reading
I'm Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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Wouldn't be easier to advertise a Flair vs Kerry Von Erich title match in the Meadowlands and do the title switch in the NYC area instead and hold off the Steamboat vs Flair match for the NWA's NYC area return that summer or fall?