11-9-1975: Terry Funk defeated Paul Jones in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA United States Heavyweight Championship at The Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina
This grueling one-night spectacle, organized by Jim Crockett Promotions under the Mid-Atlantic banner, drew a record crowd eager to witness the crowning of a new champion after the title was vacated due to a tragic plane crash. The crash in October 1975 had sidelined reigning champion Johnny Valentine, leaving the belt in limbo and forcing promoter Jim Crockett Sr. and booker George Scott to assemble a star-studded 16-man field.
Amid the uncertainty, Texas outsider Terry Funk emerged victorious, defeating local favorite Paul Jones in a hard-fought final that shocked fans and set the stage for Funk’s ascent to wrestling immortality.
The NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, often regarded as a stepping stone to the prestigious NWA World Heavyweight Title, held immense significance in the 1970s wrestling landscape. Defended primarily in the Mid-Atlantic territory, it symbolized regional dominance and drew massive gates through heated rivalries. The title’s vacancy stemmed from the aforementioned plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina, which not only injured Valentine but also cast doubt on the futures of emerging stars like Ric Flair. With the original belt temporarily unavailable—still in Valentine’s possession amid the chaos—organizers improvised, heightening the drama. To fill the void, Scott curated a tournament featuring a mix of Mid-Atlantic mainstays and imported talent from across the NWA territories, including heavy hitters like Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, and Ray Stevens. This cross-promotional flair elevated the event, transforming it into a “big pyramid” of competition where diverse wrestling styles clashed, building prestige and fan investment.
