Gene Gordon in Wrestling Guide Magazine

Longtime JCP photographer, the late Gene Gordon, wrote this letter to editor Tommy Kay. At that time Mr. Kay worked for Wrestling Guide, Official Wrestling, Big Book of Wrestling, Complete Wrestling Round-Up and several other sports publications. Note: Swede Hanson was out of action from the end of July 1973 until early November 1973. Bobby Shane came in to team with Rip Hawk while Swede was out of action. They were managed by General Homer O'Dell.

Saturday March 31, 1973 on WRAL 5 in Raleigh, NC

May 23, 1973 in Raleigh, NC

I have always remembered seeing this match on the WGHP 8 High Point, NC show. I believe the reason for that is the tape of this match aired on that show the following week building to Greensboro matches between the two teams, This confirms that Jerry Brisco and Thunderbolt Patterson won the the Atlantic Coast Tag Team belts from Gene and Ole Anderson on Wednesday night May 23, 1973 at WRAL channel 5 in Raleigh, NC. I saw the Anderson brothers win the belts back from Jerry Brisco and Thunderbolt Patterson in Greensboro, NC on Thursday night July 5, 1973.

September 28, 1973 in Richmond, Virginia

Jerry Brisco defends his new Mid -Atlantic Heavyweight Championship belt against Bobby Shane.

Asheville, NC City Auditorium

                   The city of Asheville, NC has a rich history in professional wrestling. The construction of a new city auditorium began in 1939. The new auditorium received a final inspection on Thursday January 4, 1940 and a dedication ceremony was held on Saturday January 6, 1940.

                    The wrestling promoters I have found mentioned in the Asheville newspaper for the city auditorium are Scotty Dawkins (former wrestler) in 1941. Wrestling in Asheville was sparse during the war years. In January 1946 the promoter for Asheville is listed as Mickey Baarnes assisted by Johnny Bowers. The paper also sometimes spelled his last name as Baarns or Barnes. Mr. Baarnes would also promote shows  in the Asheville City Auditorium during 1950, 1951 and 1952.  On the shows that Mickey Baarnes promoted in Asheville between 1946 and 1952, wrestlers from Nick Gulas' office in Nashville,TN were featured.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                   The city auditorium would become a weekly wrestling venue when in October of 1952 retired wrestler Chief Osley Bird Saunooke became the Asheville wrestling promoter booking his wrestlers out of Jim Crockett's Charlotte office. Chief Saunooke remained the Asheville promoter until July 1963 when an article appears stating that Paul Winkhaus had purchased the Asheville wrestling office from Chief Saunooke. The last city auditorium show for Mr. Paul Winkhaus was on September 5,1973.

Jim Crockett Sr.

Jim Crockett Sr. passed away on Sunday April 1, 1973. His service was held on Tuesday April 3, 1973.

November 15, 1973 in Aberdeen, NC

December 13, 1973 in Elizabeth City, NC

February 22, 1973 in Elizabeth City, NC

March 26, 1973 in Pulaski, VA

Jim Dillon and Big Boy Brown face off against Freddie Sweetan and Mike" The Judge" Dubois in the main event.

July 30, 1973 Colonial Heights, VA

Lexington,NC - March 31,1973