While the Von Brauners also had runs in Florida and Georgia , among other places, it was rare for Yamamoto to appear outside the area. In Amarillo , Yamamoto appeared billed as TY Chung. In Yamamoto's absence, Akio Yoshihara stepped into a major heel slot. Upon his arrival he was billed as "better than Tojo Yamamoto". Another area veteran, Sputnik Monroe, also spent time in Amarillo during 1968.

Interestingly enough, the Amarillo territory was home at the time of a wrestler billed as The Mummy. Hundreds of miles away in Tennessee , a wrestler billed as The Mummy also wrestled. In Texas , veteran Benji Ramerez was under the mask while in Tennessee , Eddie Marlin was The Mummy. 

Title changes and controversies during January-March 1968

January

Len Rossi & Gene Dundee are briefly recognized as World tag champions. 

March 14

The Masked Mighty Yankees unhinge Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto to earn the World tag titles in a Chattanooga match. 

March 21

The World tag titles are held up after a Chattanooga match pitting The Masked Mighty Yankees against Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto. 

March 28

The held-up World tag titles fall back to the Masked Mighty Yankees as they down Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto in Chattanooga . 

Spotlight on area cards, January-March 1968

Memphis , TN , January 8, 1968

·        Texas tornado death match:  Corsica Joe & Herb Welch vs. Shinya Kojika & Motoshi Okuma

·        Joe Sky & Bill Sky vs. Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow

·        Joey Corea vs. Akio Yoshihara

·        Al Greene vs. Jose Morella 

Memphis , TN , February 19, 1968

·        Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow vs. Herb Welch & Corsica Joe

·        Jackie Fargo vs. Don Greene

·        Rip Collins vs. Kenny Mack

·        Joe Sky & Bill Sky vs. Motoshi Okuma & Akio Yoshihara 

Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum, March 20, 1968

·        No time limit, no DQ, Kenny Mack handcuffed to Rip Collins: Frank Dalton & Jack Dalton over Len Rossi & Gene Dundee

·        Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall over Motoshi Okuma & Shinya Kojika

·        Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow over Rip Collins & Buddy Wayne 

April-June 1968

The Masked Mighty Yankees reign supreme as World tag champions during this time of 1968. In June, the masked meanies drop the titles to former champions Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto.

Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow appear in April billed as Southern tag champions. They are billed as winning the titles in a tournament in Tampa . A few weeks later, Carson & the Shadow lose the titles to Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall. The two teams would then swap the titles a few more times right through June.

The second quarter of the year saw the area treated to the talents of stars such as Gene Dundee, Jack Dalton & Frank Dalton with manager Kenny Mack, Rip Collins, Akio Yoshihara, Guillotine Gordon, Buddy Wayne, Jackie Fargo, Lester Welch, Eddie Graham, Corsica Joe, Mitsu Katayana, Rowdy Red Roberts, Bob Armstrong, Tojo Yamamoto, Saul Weingeroff, Eddie Sullivan, Chief White Eagle, Darrell Cochran, Rocket Monroe, Sugi Sito, Mack York, Rip & Slim: The Scufflin' Hillbillies with Cousin Alfred, Rocky Cookson, Johnny Long, Phil Tyler, The Sundown Kid, Matt Jewell, Herb Larsen and more.

Also stopping by in the area at the time were such attractions as Sherrie Lee, Bonnie Watson, Sylvia Hackney, Ann Jeannette, Mighty Atom and Cowboy Lang.

One of the area's mainstays for years to come was making waves in other territories at this time. Stan Frazier, who would be known under at least a half dozen names in the territory over the next twenty years, was headlining cards as The Convict, in Los Angeles . Frazier would work for Gulas-Welch later in 1968. 

Title changes and controversies during April-June 1968

April

Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow are recognized as Southern tag champions. Announcements introducing the team claim the titles had been won after a tournament in Tampa . 

April 25

Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall down Don Carson & The Red Shadow to win the Southern tag titles in Chattanooga . 

May 2

Don Carson & The Red Shadow level Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall in Chattanooga to take back the Southern tag championship. 

May 9

In Chattanooga , a match between Don Carson & The Red Shadow and Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall leaves the Southern tag titles held up. 

May 16

Don Carson & The Red Shadow down Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas to capture the held up Southern tag titles in Chattanooga . 

May 27

Don Carson & The Red Shadow lose the Southern tag titles in a Memphis match against former champions Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas. 

June

Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto are recognized as World tag champions. 

June 24

Don Carson & The Red Shadow are victorious in a Memphis match and win the Southern tag titles from Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas. 

Spotlight on area cards, April-June 1968

Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, April 13, 1968

·        Jackie Fargo drew with Tojo Yamamoto managed by Saul Weingeroff

·        Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow over Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas

·        Gene Dundee & Eddie Sullivan over Jack Dalton & Frank Dalton managed by Kenny Mack

·        Kenny Mack over Gene Garcia 

Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum, May 29, 1968

·        Don Carson, The Masked Red Shadow & Corsica Joe over The Scufflin' Hillbillies & Cousin Alfred

·        Len Rossi over Mitsu Katayana

·        Tojo Yamamoto & Sugi Sito drew with Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas 

Birmingham , AL City Auditorium, Monday, June 10, 1968

·        Yankee III handcuffed to Tamaya Soto: The Masked Mighty Yankees (World tag champions) over The Scufflin' Hillbillies: Rip & Slim managed by Cousin Alfred

·        Title vs. mask: Len Rossi (Southern Junior Hvy. champion) by DQ over The Masked Mighty Yankee III

·        Tamaya Soto & Gene Dundee over Buster Gordon (substitute for Al Spider Galento) & Phil Tyler

·        Attendance: 5124 

July-September 1968

The Masked Mighty Yankees trip Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto to regain the World tag championship. The Yankees then lose the titles to the hot team of Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall. A couple of weeks later, the Yankees regain the titles only to lose them to Len Rossi & Johnny Walker .

Len Rossi drops the Southern Junior Heavyweight title to Tojo Yamamoto in this time frame.

The Southern tag titles were a hot potato during this time period. Don Carson & The Red Shadow drop the titles to the superstar combo of Jackie Fargo & Lou Thesz for a week before regaining them. Carson & Shadow would then drop the belts to Lester Welch & Buddy Fuller (uncle-nephew team) before regaining the titles again.

The summer months saw plenty of stars in the area such as Corsica Joe, Saul Weingeroff, The Sundown Kid, Tamaya Soto, Rip & Slim: The Scufflin' Hillbillies, Sugi Sito, Bobby Burns, Rowdy Red Roberts, Jesse Morales, Danny Dusek, Johnny Walker, Johnny Long, Silento Rodriquez, Luis Garcia, Cyclone Atlas, Roughhouse Fargo, The Masked Silver Streak, Les Thatcher, Pepe Lopez, Tony Barbetta, Tarzan Tyler & Brute Bernard with manager Dandy Jack and others.

Also in the area at this time was Mighty Atom, Cowboy Lang, Darling Dagmar, Ann Jeanette, Diamond Lil, Sarah Lee, Joyce Grable and Patti Neilson. NWA champion Big Thunder Gene Kiniski also came through the area for some appearances at this time.

The Amarillo territory remained hot during 1968. At this time of the year the Amarillo promotion fell under the reign of terror of Esquire J.C. Dykes and his masked team called the Infernos. Under the masks were Rocky Smith and Frankie Cain. Smith and Cain were longtime regulars for Gulas and Welch before pairing with former Gulas-Welch referee Dykes to create havoc as a trio.

Boxing legend Joe Louis made his presence known in the wrestling business during this time frame. Louis would often appear throughout the various stops in a territory as a special referee. Louis' appearance on a wrestling card as a no-nonsense referee who no doubt could hold his own inside the ropes if tested, combined with a territory's hot out of control feud, helped spike attendance on many cards throughout the U.S. 

Title changes and controversies during July-September 1968

July 9

Len Rossi & Tamaya Soto travel to Birmingham only to lose the World tag titles to The Masked Mighty Yankees. 

August 3

A Chattanooga match sees Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas lift the World tag titles from The Masked Mighty Yankees. 

August 13

Memphis fans are treated to a Southern tag title change as Lou Thesz & Jackie Fargo win the belts from Don Carson & The Red Shadow. 

August 17

The Masked Mighty Yankees get their revenge by regaining the World tag titles in a Chattanooga match against Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas. 

August 20

Don Carson & The Red Shadow recapture the Southern tag titles with a Memphis win over Lou Thesz & Jackie Fargo. 

September

Len Rossi & Johnny Walker are recognized as World tag champions. 

September 9

Lester Welch & Buddy Fuller whip Don Carson & The Red Shadow in Memphis to win the Southern tag titles. 

September 19

Tojo Yamamoto topples Southern Junior heavyweight champion Len Rossi to lay claim to the title. 

September 30

Don Carson & The Red Shadow regain the Southern tag titles by tripping Lester Welch & Buddy Fuller in Memphis . 

Spotlight on area cards, July-September 1968

Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum, July 3, 1968

·        Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow (Southern tag champions) over Len Rossi & Corsica Joe

·        Ten rounds of boxing: Saul Weingeroff was DQed against The Sundown Kid

·        Tojo Yamamoto was DQed against Ken Lucas

·        Dennis Hall drew with The Masked Mighty Yankee

·        Tamaya Soto over Carlos Cruz 

Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, August 24, 1968

·        Les Thatcher ( Chattanooga debut) over Johnny Long

·        Lumberjack match: Tojo Yamamoto & Sugi Sito managed by Saul Weingeroff over Len Rossi & Roughhouse Fargo-Lumberjacks were advertised as Les Thatcher, Johnny Long, Luis Garcia, Dennis Hall, Ken Lucas and Corsica Joe

·        Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow (Southern tag champions) lost to Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas

·        Corsica Joe over Luis Garcia 

Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum, September 11, 1968

·        Gene Kiniski (NWA champion) over Tamaya Soto

·        Len Rossi, Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall over Tojo Yamamoto, Sugi Sito & Saul Weingeroff

·        Tarzan Tyler & Brute Bernard managed by Dandy Jack over Les Thatcher & Corsica Joe 

October-December 1968

Len Rossi & Johnny Walker lose the Southern tag titles to Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff. Yamamoto & Long would then lose the titles to Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall. By the end of the year, Yamamoto & Long would regain the titles.

The Southern tag titles fall into some controversy that research has yet to uncloud during the last quarter of 1968. One report has Don Carson & The Red Shadow losing the titles to the Masked Mighty Yankees. Another report has Carson & the Shadow losing the tag titles to Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall and then later, Lucas & Hall losing the titles to the Yankees. It is possible that the promotion held two sets of Southern tag champions at this time. By November, the Yankees are recognized as Southern tag champions throughout the territory. By year's end though the team of Bobby Fields & Lee Fields upset the masked team to become champions.

Working the territory the final three months of the year were such stars as Len Rossi, Johnny Walker, Les Thatcher, Jesse Morales, Sugi Sito, Saul Weingeroff, The Sundown Kid, Herb Larsen, Ronnie Paul, Ken Farber (future referee in the Amarillo territory), Bobby Whitlock, Jim Dalton, Mack York, Bob Hamby, Don Greene, Al Greene, Mitsu Katayana, Bobby Jones, Rowdy Red Roberts, Tony Russo, Giant Frazier, The Scufflin' Hillbillies, Bill Sky & Joe Sky, Corsica Joe, Nick Adams, The Masked Satin Medics, Danny Dusek, Bobby Pico, Kurt Von Brauner, Lou Thesz, The Masked Blue Demons and more including Gentleman Ben the Wrestling Bear.

Joe Louis, who spent a good deal of the year traveling the wrestling territories appearing as a special referee, made his way into the Gulas-Welch territory in early December. Louis served as referee in matches mostly featuring lead heels Tojo Yamamoto, Johnny Long and Saul Weingeroff against a different set of fan favorites in each city. The end of most of these matches saw Louis KO one of the heels. The idea of using a boxing star in pro wrestling had been used for decades in wrestling as Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey and others had played along. In the late 1990s, with business struggling, the WWF worked a deal with Mike Tyson to appear as a special referee. The move, a tried and true tactic dating back decades, was part of a business turnaround for the company.                       

Title changes and controversies during October-December 1968

October 7

Don Carson & The Red Shadow drop the Southern tag titles to Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall in Memphis . 

October 10

The Masked Mighty Yankees outbrawl Don Carson & The Red Shadow to win the Southern tag titles in Chattanooga . 

November 13

Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long trumped Len Rossi & Johnny Walker in Birmingham to win the World tag titles. Yamamoto & Long were guided to their title win by their manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff. 

November 18

The Masked 20 Mighty Yankees win the Southern tag titles in Memphis by downing Ken Lucas & Dennis Hall. 

November 28

Dennis Hall & Ken Lucas slide by Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long in Chattanooga for the World tag titles. 

December

Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long are recognized as World tag champions. 

December 30

Bobby Fields & Lee Fields win the Southern tag titles in Memphis by downing The Masked Mighty Yankees. 

Spotlight on area cards, October-December 1968

Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, October 10, 1968

·        Titles vs. masks, no DQ, no time limit, lumberjack match: Don Carson & The Masked Red Shadow (Southern tag champions) lost to The Masked Mighty Yankees

·        Len Rossi & Ken Lucas over Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long

·        Saul Weingeroff over The Sundown Kid

·        Johnny Walker drew with Dennis Hall 

Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum, November 20, 1968

·        No time limit, no DQ, special referee: Giant Frazier: Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long (World tag champions) lost by reverse decision to Len Rossi & Johnny Walker

·        Gentleman Ben the Wrestling Bear over Saul Weingeroff

·        Les Thatcher over Nick Adams

·        The Masked Mighty Yankee II was DQed against Dennis Hall

·        Ken Lucas drew with The Masked Mighty Yankee I 

Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, December 5, 1968

·        Special referee:  Joe Louis:  Dennis Hall & Les Thatcher (World tag champions) were DQed against Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Long

·        Two referees:  The Masked Mighty Yankees over Bill Sky & Joe Sky-2/3 falls

·        Corsica Joe over Rowdy Red Roberts

·        Ken Lucas over Kurt Von Brauner

·        Attendance: 4500 

In Memory of

Mike York passed away on September 29, 2002 . York worked the area in the early 1970s with Frank Monte as The Alaskans. 

Mike Paidousis passed away on September 9, 2002 . Paidousis was a football star at the University of Tennessee and had worked the area as a wrestler at various times from the 1950s into the 1970s. 

Next month

1969 

Thanks

Edsel Harrison and David Williamson