The first contender to Stud's title reign came in the form of "Beautiful" Buddy Landel. Landel would capture the title in March in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Landel was also doing double duty in the promotion as a manager to the Headhunters and newcomer Shogun. The Hunters left the area soon after coming out on the short end of a series of stretcher matches to the Stud, Jimmy Golden, and Robert Fuller.  Shogun became involved in a feud with Alabama champ Wendell Cooley, which meant Cooley had to deal with Landel as well.

As April rolled around Ron Fuller was making fewer appearances and the focus of the Continental Championship shifted towards champ Landel and Alabama champ Cooley. The first battle between the two men on CCW TV was a bloody battle that had Shogun helping out Landel and Cooley being assisted by the returning Mr. Wrestling II. II had been a guest of Gordon Solie on the set, but by the end of the show had announced that he was just passing through but now saw a need to stay in the territory. Cooley would win his first Continental title April 27 in Birmingham, Alabama during a broadcast of CCW.  During this same show it was learned that Continental Championship Wrestling was no longer associated with the NWA and would recognize the AWA World Title and its champ Nick Bockwinkle. In April Cooley was also awarded the Wrestler of the Year for 1986.

With Landel leaving CCW in May Cooley began defending the title against different opponents with no real feud ongoing.  One such challenger came in the form of the Masked Grappler (Len Denton). Innocent enough sure, but the background to Grappler being in the area would affect the teams of the Nightmares, Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden, and Continental tag champs Jerry Stubbs & Tony Anthony (longtime friend to Denton and his partner as a Grappler and the team of the Dirty White Boys). During a televised title match between Cooley and Grappler Anthony came out of nowhere to help his former partner double-team Cooley. Before the match Danny Davis and Ken Wayne had come onto the set complaining to Gordon Solie that Grappler had no business being in the area as he had lost a loser of the fall leaves town match in which Denton was teamed with Anthony against the Nightmares. During the Grappler - Cooley match Fuller & Golden also came to the podium with the same set of grievances towards Grappler. I think this was the first time I had seen something like this occur as everybody was outing Denton as the Grappler. More on this when I look at the tag team scene in CCW later on. Also during this period Cooley's cousin Scott Casey had entered CCW. The popular Texas performer became involved in a short feud with Southeastern Champ Dutch Mantell that would segue into a year-long feud between Cooley and Mantell. The whole thing started as Cooley had come to the ring to help Casey during a televised Southeastern title match between Casey and Mantell when Mantell was attempting to hang Casey from the top rope with his trusted bullwhip, "Shu Baby". As summer began to heat up so did the Cooley - Mantell wars.

Adrian Street and Rip Rogers continued into 1987 the feud that had started several months earlier over the Southeastern title. Their battle would continue until April of '87. This is when Dutch Mantell re-entered CCW. Mantell won the title upon his debut in the area and immediately challenged Street to a loser leave match which Street lost. The early highlight of Mantell's title reign was not matches in the ring, however it was his antics outside the ring that were hilarious. Right off the bat, Dirty Dutch hated the Southeastern title belt, which Street had dyed pink. During an interview with Joe Pedicino that was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia (supposedly) Dutch destroyed the old belt with a sledgehammer and wanted a new belt from the promotion. For his actions Mantell was barred from competing on CCW TV but he would be allowed to show vignettes that Dutch taped from throughout the Continental region called "On the Road with Dutch Mantell". Mantell's first real program as Southeastern champ came against fellow Texan Scott Casey. Their series was short and was really used as a setup for the upcoming Mantell - Cooley feud. At this time both Cooley (Continental champ) & Mantell (Southeastern champ) were often talking of unification of both titles.

Even though the Southeastern title lost steam in 1987, the Alabama Heavyweight Championship was still on the burners for CCW. Chris Von Colt and Wendell Cooley picked up '87 as the combatants over the title. Colt would come up short in a loser leave town match in March to Cooley. Next up was Buddy Landel's Shogun in the sights of Cooley, however it was really Landel that Cooley wanted more than the masked Ninja man. In April Cooley would become the only man to hold both the Alabama title and the Continental title at the same time when he defeated Landel for the Continental title. The following week on CCW TV newcomer Mike Golden appeared on the scene as the new Alabama Champ, with a chip on his shoulder towards veteran masked superstar Mr. Wrestling II. By the end of May Wrestling II had gained the title off Golden, only to lose it back after a short reign to Golden, with the help of Tom Prichard, during a match held in the old stomping grounds of the masked man, Marietta, Ga. At this point Golden had formed a partnership with Tom Prichard and returning to the area Sheepherder Jonathon Boyd. The three men called their group the Wild Bunch. The trio's adversaries: The Armstrong family of Scott and the returning Bullet and Steve.

The U.S. Jr. title can be summed up in two words the first six months of 1987. Tom Prichard. Whether a bad guy or a good guy, Prichard was right in the middle of the title picture for the Jr. Heavies.  The good Dr. was just coming off his feud with Roy Lee Welch that saw Prichard very popular with CCW fans from Knoxville to Dothan and all points between. A new competitor to the lighter weight division had entered to some fan fair and quite the hype from Gordon Solie… Tampa, Florida native Larry Hamilton. Hamilton had wrestled in the area in 1982 and was an integral part in the Michael Hayes - Terry Gordy feud at that time. Hamilton had also had a reign as US Jr. Champ already under his belt around 1983 defeating Rip Rogers with the help of Ken Lucas. Gordon Solie really played up Hamilton's AAU amateur wrestling career, a fact that Prichard took some exception to, though not too terribly. As the new top contender to the US Jr. title Hamilton's first match against Doc was a non-title affair which went to a draw. Okay, think nothing of it. Next time out another draw, this time a little tension could be sensed on behalf of Prichard. Now all of a sudden there was serious animosity between the two men and to top off Prichard's full heel turn the Dr. walked away from the ring during a tag team battle royal in which he was partnered with Adrian Street. After winning the title from Prichard Hamilton boasted not only being the better wrestler but also a better dresser than Doctor. So of course a "Best Dressed" contest was held on CCW TV between the two, problem was Hamilton came out styling but Prichard came out just wearing his tights and ring jacket. When Larry had his attention diverted Prichard attacked him ripping his clothes to shreds. The next week Prichard comes out dressed to the nines bagging of his jewelry and all, even taking off his Rolex for Gordon to see when Hamilton suddenly attacks Prichard from behind and in the melee ends up with the Rolex. After much badgering from Prichard, Gordon asks Hamilton to PLEASE return the watch. Needless to say this just heated up the feud even more for several more weeks. As things cooled down in the aftermath of the Prichard - Hamilton feud Tom started making many a derogatory comment towards the entire Armstrong family, and in particular a certain Scott Armstrong, whom had been out of action some 9 months due to legit surgery. While out of ring action, Scott was doing the ring announcing and was serving as Events Coordinator for CCW. Finally Scott had enough of Prichard's goading and the first altercation saw Dr. laid out on the ring canvas after a super kick during a CCW TV match. In July Scott would win the US Jr. title from Prichard and with the return of Bullet and Steve Armstrong began an exciting summer series of matches against the Wild Bunch of Prichard, Mike Golden, and Jonathon Boyd.

Wow! The tag team scene in CCW was the hottest it had been since maybe 1984. I can count maybe around 10 different teams that competed in CCW just during the first half of 1987 alone. Already mentioned was the Armstrong family, the Wild Bunch, the Stud Stable - Headhunter battles, plus the Nightmares - Continental tag champs Jerry Stubbs - Tony Anthony feud that was still going on as '87 rolled in. As January came upon us however the top team and holders of the Continental tag titles were the Nightmares - Ken Wayne & Danny Davis. Jerry Stubbs was serving a "30 day suspension" due to taking a title belt that did not belong to him that was against CCW rules. Early into the year one formidable team stepped up as challengers to the 'Mares, the Sheepherders - Luke Williams & Butch Miller. The two teams faced off in one televised title match with the 'Mares coming out on top in a very bloody affair. Williams & Miller left the area as quickly as they came in to the area however. Next up was foe Tony Anthony and his reformed partnership with Len Denton. Anthony's CCW regular teammate Stubbs made his reappearance in the territory during the match in which Len Denton was the losing man in a loser leaves match rekindling the feud between the Nightmares and Stubbs & Anthony. As this was going on another team was getting attention as well, Jimmy Golden & Robert Fuller whom actually were awarded the CCW Tag team of the Year for 1986. This was a distinction that did not sit well with tag champs Anthony & Stubbs, thus the feud over the tag belts switched gears with the Stud Stable taking the place of Davis & Wayne.  The Nightmares still remained very popular though and engaged in battles with Buddy Landel's masked Shoguns and a very large Russian team of Yuri & Vladimir Goryenko. Now adding to the mix of the Stubbs & Anthony - Golden & Fuller wars was that during a two-ring Triple Chance battle royal Anthony had left Golden to fight on his own only to come back to get his split of the purse. This feud also saw the "cake in the face " angle as Stubbs & Anthony were celebrating an anniversary as tag champs only to see the Stable ruin the party. Next would come several angles that eventually intertwined with the tag scene in CCW. First off we have Len Denton returning to CCW as the Grappler to contend for Wendell Cooley's Continental title. Now both the Nightmares and Fuller & Golden were outraged by this and politicked heavily on CCW TV to get Denton ousted from the area as he had lost the loser leaves match earlier to the Nightmares. Of course Gordon Solie would defend the Grappler saying it had to be proven first that Grappler was indeed Denton. Well, it became even more obvious as to Grappler's identity as Anthony would come to Grappler's aid whenever the masked man was in trouble, coupled with Grappler's boasting that Anthony was the only man in CCW he could count on. Finally the stage was set: Fuller & Golden vs. Stubbs & Anthony on CCW tv for the Continental tag titles. During the match Grappler and Stubbs have a bump that allows Fuller & Golden to gain the titles. During the post match interviews Grappler & Stubbs go at it with Anthony trying to calm both men down. Finally after a bloody brawl Stubbs gets the upper hand and motions DWB to make a 3 count on a now unmasked Denton, only to see Anthony turn on Stubbs and help Denton destroy his now former partner Stubbs. Now while this is going on Fuller & Golden are at the podium wanting all 3 to destroy each other and they are getting what they deserve. The Nightmares however see things differently and come to the desk, say they don't understand the attitudes of the Stud Stable but they can't sit by and watch and then go to the ring to help Stubbs. The next week it is announced that Danny Davis has won a tournament that was being held in CCW for a 1987 Iroc Z. His opponent in the finals - Jimmy Golden. I'm sure this match was played out around the horn but I know in Dothan this was one of the better tournaments I can remember seeing. A great turnout in the Farm Center and a very good match between two good wrestlers in Davis and Golden. The finish? Fuller has come to the ring to help Golden, leaves the ring thinking the pinfall is imminent, only the ref is still down. While Golden is atop Davis, this gives Ken Wayne the chance to come off the top rope with a leg drop, put Danny on top and gain the pinfall to the chagrin of Robert Fuller. The following week on CCW TV the Iroc Z is awarded to Davis by Solie, but while looking at his hard won prize Fuller & Golden come out, Fuller thows Davis in the trunk of the car and Golden uses a baseball bat to not only damage the car but hits a homerun with Ken Wayne's abdomen as a baseball. So now in just a matter of 2 to 3 weeks we now have the breakup of Stubbs & Anthony, the Grappler is gone from the area, Fuller & Golden are now the tag champs and also now hated by the fans and are feuding with the Nightmares who are now back again the main threats to the tag titles. Pretty damn good booking I would say, and in the end it all made perfect sense. Oh, now Tony Anthony now had a man gunning for him as well, no not Jerry Stubbs but rather Mr. Olympia!

 All this and the summer is just heating up....

NEXT MONTH: