TV Wrestling on May 1, 1965

Championship Wrestling with host Big Bill Ward on WBTV 3 in Charlotte, NC. Championship Wrestling on WGHP 8 in High Point, NC with host Charlie Harville. This is one of those nights when the tv channel knob received a lot of wear and tear between 6:30 and 7 because we did not want to miss any of the action. The Clancy/Kozack vs Murphy/Bernard was a real Pier Six brawl.

George Becker & Johnny Weaver

George Becker and Johnny Weaver held the Southern Tag Team belts in Jim Ctockett Promotions multiple times between 1965 and 1969.

My first look at Championship Wrestling from Florida

        On Saturday morning May 29, 1965 Johnny Weaver flew down to Tampa, Florida to face Big Bob Orton in a televised match. Near the end of the match, Johnny Weaver rolled Bob Orton up. At that point Bill Dromo jumped up on the side of the ring. At the count of two Bob Orton pushed Johnny off causing Johnny to collide with Bill Dromo. Bob Orton was then able to pin Johnny Weaver. On July 31. 1965, Charlie Harville interviewed Bob Orton while showing the tape of this match from Florida. This was my introduction to Championship Wrestling from Florida and Gordon Solie. By the end of the year the CWF show started airing on WBTV 3 in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday nights at 11:30. My brothers and I would go to bed early then get back up in time to watch the show with the tv volume turned down low. This worked pretty good for quite awhile until our parents caught us up that late on a school night. Luckily  for us the show later moved to another Charlotte channel and aired in prime time on Saturday nights.

Lou Thesz teams with Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson

Lou Thesz made a title defense against Johnny Weaver in Asheville on November 3, 1965. Though the paper did not provide all the specifics, it did say that other wrestlers on the card got involved and the match was a "no contest". Whatever happened that night must have set up this match.

May 13, 1965 in Winston-Salem, NC

This was my first live event.

November 25, 1965 in Greensboro, NC

Ware Shoals, SC - June 18, 1965 at Riegel Stadium

Ware Shoals, SC - October 2, 1965 at Riegel Stadium

Ware Shoals, SC - August 27, 1965 at Riegel Stadium

Ware Shoals, SC - July 30, 1965 at Riegel Stadium

Spartanburg, SC Oct. 9, 1965

Penny Banner beat Betty Boucher this night in a rare match between these two ladies.

Championship Wrestling - March 13,1965

Tv matches taped in the channel 8 studios of WGHP in High Point,NC on Tuesday March 9,1965.

Championship Wrestling - WGHP 1965

TV Wrestling - March 13,1965

Crockett Southern Tag Team Belts

These are the Southern Tag Team belts that were used in Jim Crockett Promotions from May 1965 until May 1969. Even after Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson brought the Atlantic Coast belts to the territory in 1968, George Becker and Johnny Weaver defended these belts for almost another year before winning the Atlantic Coast belts from Rip and Swede.These belts disappeared shortly thereafter.