The Glory Days

* I’m going to use column to think back on the glory days of wrestling in Memphis, Tn.

* For those of you out there who do not know, every major star in wrestling either started his career in Memphis or hit it big once he got to Memphis. Today I am going to think back to the first ever card I attended at the Mid South Coliseum.

* I was six years old and thought wrestling was so real. I was there to see my favorite wrestler, Tommy “wildfire” Rich take on “precious” Paul Ellering in the main event. The undercard featured Jerry Lawler taking on a wrestling bear, “handsome” Jimmy Valiant and Bobby Eaton against the Moondogs, Bill Dundee, Austin Idol, and Dutch Mantel against the Sheepherders(that was their name before they were the bushwackers and there were three of them) and a father/son tag team match featuring Buddy and Ken Wayne against Tommy and Eddie Gilbert.

It was the greatest day in a six year old’s life. The biggest thrill was getting to go behind the arena after the show and get autographs from people who were more than happy to sign them.