Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Charlie Haden 1914
Mitsu Arakawa 1927
Silento Rodriguez 1933
Donna Christianello 1942
Windham Rotunda\Bray Wyatt 1987
Happy Birthday:
Alex Shelley (43)
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.
Ray Candy 5-23-1994 at the age of 42
Owen Hart 5-23-1999 at the age of 34
Chief White Owl 5-23-2008 at the age of 72
Hana Kimura 5-23-2020 at the age of 22
The Life and Career of Don Kernodle
Don Kernodle was a standout professional wrestler in the National Wrestling Alliance’s (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic territory, and later a dedicated law enforcement officer in his home county in North Carolina. Known for his reliability, amateur wrestling background, and ability to connect with fans as a hometown hero turned villain, Kernodle embodied the territorial era of wrestling. He achieved championship success in tag teams while remaining rooted in his Burlington, North Carolina, community.
Born on May 2, 1950, in Burlington, North Carolina, to Donald and Kathleen Kernodle, Charles Donald Kernodle Jr. grew up on the Ridge in a working-class environment. He attended Eastern Alamance High School, where he excelled in amateur wrestling as a heavyweight. He continued at nearby Elon College (now Elon University), lettering four times in wrestling. Kernodle also competed in powerlifting, practiced judo, and became a two-time national arm wrestling champion. These diverse physical skills—strength, technique, and grappling prowess—later proved invaluable in professional wrestling.
From a young age, Kernodle was captivated by professional wrestling on television. At age 7, he told his father it was what he wanted to do when he grew up. He attended local matches faithfully and never “outgrew” his fandom. This passion, combined with his athletic credentials, set the stage for his entry into the business.
Photo credit: Chris Swisher, CS Classic Photos
Kernodle’s entry into pro wrestling came dramatically in 1973. He approached Jim Crockett Promotions officials about an opportunity and accepted an open “shoot” challenge against Olympic wrestler Bob Roop at a WRAL-TV taping in Raleigh. After signing extensive release forms, the 23-year-old faced Roop, who had been dispatching challengers quickly. Kernodle lasted nearly the full 10 minutes before submitting, impressing observers with his resilience despite exhaustion.
Ole and Gene Anderson, the respected Minnesota Wrecking Crew, noticed his potential and offered to train him for free at the Charlotte YMCA. Training was grueling—running miles, rope drills, and intense workouts—but Kernodle persisted. He debuted officially on August 31, 1973, in Richmond, Virginia, wrestling to a time-limit draw. The Andersons’ mentorship was pivotal; Kernodle often credited them for launching his career.
For the first decade, Kernodle was a dependable mid-carder and tag team specialist, honing his craft in the Mid-Atlantic while venturing to other territories like Memphis (where he won his first tag titles with Randy Fargo), Atlanta (facing young Randy Savage/Poffo), Amarillo, Knoxville, and more. He appeared in Sylvester Stallone’s 1978 film Paradise Alley alongside wrestlers like Terry Funk.
He teamed with veterans like Johnny Weaver, Abe Jacobs, and others, often putting over stars. A highlight came in 1981 in his hometown of Burlington, where he teamed with Ric Flair to defeat Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine at a high school gym event. His local popularity and work ethic kept him steady, though main-event pushes were elusive until the early 1980s.
Kernodle’s breakthrough came with Sgt. Slaughter’s “Cobra Corps” military-themed stable. As Pvt. Don Kernodle (initially with Pvt. Jim Nelson), he captured the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship twice.
Pictured: Sgt Slaughter and Don Kernodle at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina with Bob Caudle
The “Cobra Corps” was a military-themed heel stable that played a pivotal role in elevating Don Kernodle, creating memorable tag team rivalries, and contributing to the territory’s strong storytelling during the early 1980s. Led by the no-nonsense drill sergeant Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus), the group emphasized discipline, intimidation, and the Cobra Clutch finisher, drawing heat as a dominant, authoritarian force against popular babyfaces.
The Cobra Corps excelled in tag team divisions. Kernodle and Nelson formed the primary tag unit, winning the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship twice in 1982. Their style blended Kernodle’s solid grappling and amateur base with Nelson’s emerging aggression, complemented by Slaughter’s interference or post-match Cobra Clutch applications.
When Slaughter needed a higher-profile partner, Nelson departed and he elevated Kernodle (removing Nelson from the top tier). Slaughter and Kernodle “won” the NWA World Tag Team Championship in late 1982/early 1983. This run marked Kernodle’s breakthrough into main-event territory. The duo’s chemistry worked well: Slaughter’s charismatic, over-the-top heel persona paired with Kernodle’s reliable, athletic in-ring work and hometown sympathy-turned-heat.
Their feud with Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood culminated in a legendary steel cage match on March 12, 1983, at the Greensboro Coliseum—“The Final Conflict.” The bloody, brutal bout drew around 15,000 fans (with thousands turned away), set attendance records, and helped inspire the first Starrcade later that year. Steamboat and Youngblood won the titles in the cage. This run elevated Kernodle from journeyman to territory star and showcased his ability to work intense, story-driven matches.
The team briefly appeared in co-promoted WWF cards, where Kernodle won the NWA Canadian Television Championship and competed at Madison Square Garden.
Pictured: Kernodle in the corner with Bob Orton, Jr.
After losing the titles, Kernodle stayed heel. He teamed with Bob Orton Jr. (managed by Gary Hart) before aligning with Ivan Koloff as a “Russian sympathizer”—a controversial gimmick that generated strong heat. They won the NWA World Tag Team Titles. When Nikita Koloff debuted, Kernodle helped train him. The Koloffs eventually turned on him after losing the titles to Dusty Rhodes and Manny Fernandez. Kernodle feuded with them alongside his real-life brother Wally “Rocky” Kernodle and aided the Rock ’n’ Roll Express at Starrcade ’85. He also held the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with the Koloffs earlier.
Pictured: Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle, NWA World Tag Team Champions
Kernodle left Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA around 1986 and largely retired from full-time wrestling, though he returned sporadically for independents in the Carolinas (including CWF Mid-Atlantic in 2002 with his brother) until his final match in 2006.
Championships and Accolades:
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times): with Sgt. Slaughter, Bob Orton Jr., and Ivan Koloff.
• NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times): with Jim Nelson.
• NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time).
• Later honors included induction into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2021) and recognition as a top tag team in PWI rankings.
After wrestling, Kernodle returned to Alamance County roots. He worked as a Sergeant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, served on Geoff Bodine’s NASCAR crew, and acted as a bodyguard for Tanya Tucker. Most notably, he became a deputy sheriff with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, where he was beloved for his kindness, compassion, and community engagement. Colleagues described him as a friend to everyone; he recently retired before his death.
Pictured; Rocky Kernodle
Kernodle remained close to his family, including brother Rocky. He enjoyed wrestling reunions, fanfests, and sharing stories. He was known for his generosity and love of the business.
Health issues, including reported CTE from wrestling, affected his later years. On May 17, 2021, at age 71, Kernodle died by suicide (self-inflicted gunshot) after a doctor’s visit. His passing prompted tributes from the wrestling world, WWE, and the Sheriff’s Office, highlighting his dual legacies.
Don Kernodle represented the best of territorial wrestling: a skilled, hardworking athlete who rose through dedication, gave back to his community, and transitioned successfully into public service. As “the Pride of the Carolinas” and one of the last true territorial stars, his story endures through classic Mid-Atlantic matches, championship reigns, and the lasting impact he made on fans and colleagues alike. His life illustrated how wrestling dreams could coexist with rooted, service-oriented values in his beloved North Carolina home.
One Thing I Learned About Chief White Owl
n July 1971 while working for the National Wrestling Federation, Chief White Owl (George “Hootie” Dahmer) mixed up two upstate New York towns with similar Indian-sounding names and showed up for a match in Oneida instead of Oneonta. Once he realized the error, he rushed back, arrived in time, and beat Mr. X in front of 2,000 excited fans who chanted “Go, Chief, go!” in unison.
This mix-up added a humorous, human touch to the career of the stocky Ohio-born grappler, famous for his tomahawk chop, war dance (sometimes set to “Mustang Sally”), and popularity across the Great Lakes territories, WWWF tag runs with Wahoo McDaniel, and NWF tag title reigns. It highlighted his reliability and fan connection even off-script.
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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