The first part of 1974 saw many work the circuit including Dennis Hall, Sam Bass, Jesse James, Eddie Marlin, Tommy Gilbert, The Bounty Hunters with manager Jim Kent, Johnny Marlin, Jackie Fargo, Tojo Yamamoto, Jerry Jarrett, The Fabulous Kangaroos: Al Costello & Don Kent managed by Sir Clements, The Alaskan, Johnny Fields & Marshall Fields, The Masked Mr. Wrestling I & II (not Tim Woods & Johnny Walker), Burrhead Jones, Joey Rossi, Argentina Zuma, Tor Hayashi, Rufus R. Jones, Sonny King, Ali Vaziri (to gain greater fame years later as The Iron Sheik), Buddy Wayne, The Samoan, Mike Paidousis, Bill Costello, Jerry Lawler, Ron Wright & Don Wright, Devoy Brunson, Rocky Smith, Jim White, Tony Santos, Billy McGuire & Benny McGuire, Prince Leilani, Mike Jackson, Frank Hajak, Roughhouse Fargo, Mr. Kamikaze, Robert Fuller and more.

Also working some at this time were Ladies champion The Fabulous Moolah, Donna Christianello, Sylvia Hackney, Peggy Patterson, Cora Combs, Little Darling Dagmar, Diamond Lil as well as Bobo Johnson, Little Tokyo, The Haiti Kid and Cowboy Lang.

In February, Tojo Yamamoto turned on tag partner Jerry Jarrett and injured him. Jackie Fargo took up the banner for Jarrett and warred against Yamamoto during this time period. The Masked Mighty Yankees feuded against Lorenzo Parente & Bill Dromo in this time frame and in the end ran into a streak of bad luck as they were unmasked and revealed as Frank Morrell & Charles Morrell. Dennis Hall and Buddy Wayne, who had teamed some, had a falling out and feuded some in this time frame. Tommy Gilbert also feuded against Lou Thesz, who worked as a heel in the feud. Enemies Eddie Marlin and Jerry Lawler united briefly also to battle The Masked Infernos with manager J.C. Dykes. Lawler’s flirtation with being a fan favorite didn’t last long as the spring began he was feuding with Jackie Fargo.

The wrestling territory would never be the same as promoter Nick Gulas’ son, George, debuted as a wrestler early in the year. While he did work some in singles matches most of George’s matches at this time were six man tags and regular tag matches. George most often teamed with popular Gulas-Welch veteran Dennis Hall.

The promotional war in Georgia continued in 1974. A number of stars from the Gulas-Welch promotion worked some during the first half of the year for Atlanta’s NWA promotion which had been booked by Jerry Jarrett, who continued to book for the Gulas-Welch promotion. Jerry Lawler worked a good deal in Georgia the first few months of 1974 often teaming with Bobby Shane, Bobby Duncum and Art Nelson. Others from the territory who worked some in Georgia include Jackie Fargo, Robert & Ron Fuller, Tojo Yamamoto, Eddie Marlin & Tommy Gilbert, Terrance & Ron Garvin with manager Jim Garvin and others. The Lawler-Fargo feud played in Atlanta on February 15 just days after Lawler and Robert Fuller were co-winners of an Atlanta two ring battle royal, two of Lawler’s biggest matches in the Georgia promotion in this time frame. 

Birmingham, Alabama Boutwell Auditorium, Monday, January 21, 1974

• No time limit, no DQ: Don Greene & Bearcat Brown over The Masked Mighty Yankees managed by George Harris
• Southern junior heavyweight title match, title vs. hair, no time limit, no DQ: Ron Garvin (champion) lost title to Tommy Gilbert
• Lorenzo Parente & Argentina Zuma drew with The Alaskan & Ali Baba
• Dennis Hall over Tor Hayashi

Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, January 21, 1974

• The Masked Infernos managed by J.C. Dykes (Southern tag champions) vs. Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett
• The Fabulous Kangaroos: Al Costello & Don Kent & Sir Clements vs. Eddie Marlin, George Gulas & Rufus R. Jones
• The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey vs. Sonny King & Bill Dromo
• Lou Thesz vs. Jackie Fargo

Nashville, Tennessee, Wednesday, February 20, 1974

• Titles vs. leaving town:  Lorenzo Parente & Bill Dromo (Mid-America tag champions) lost titles to Charles Morrell & Frank Morrell managed by George Harris
• The Bounty Hunters managed by Jim Kent were DQed against Jackie Fargo & Tojo Yamamoto
• Ten rounds of boxing:  Dennis Hall over Buddy Wayne
• George Gulas (Nashville wrestling debut) over Tony Santos
• Jim Kent over Rufus R. Jones (substitute for Burrhead Jones)

Evansville, Indiana, Wednesday, March 27, 1974

• The Bounty Hunters managed by Jim Kent vs. George Gulas & Dennis Hall with Bearcat Brown
• Haiti Kid & Bearcat Brown vs. Cowboy Lang & The Alaskan
• Frank Hajak vs. Roughhouse Fargo

Title changes and controversies during January-March 1974

January

• The Masked Infernos with manager J.C. Dykes are recognized as Southern tag champions.
• The Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey are recognized as World tag champions. During this time period, the promotion ceased using this title on area cards.

January 12

• Don Greene & Bearcat Brown lose the Mid-America tag titles to Dr. Ken Ramey’s Masked Interns in Chattanooga where Greene & Brown put up the titles against the masks of the Interns in a Texas tornado match.

January 21

• Tommy Gilbert socks Ron Garvin in Birmingham to capture the Southern junior heavyweight title.

February

• Lorenzo Parente & Big Bill Dromo are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.
• Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo are recognized as Southeastern tag champions (not the Knoxville version).

February 10

• Chattanooga fans witness the wrestling debut of George Gulas in their city. George teams with Bearcat Brown & Tommy Marlin to whip Sir Clements & The Fabulous Kangaroos: Al Costello & Don Kent in a six man match where George placed his hair on the line against the Kangaroos leaving. George had actually started wrestling in some other cities in the territory in January.

February 20

• In Nashville, Frank Morrell & Charles Morrell, the unmasked Mighty Yankees, with manager George Harris win the Mid-America tag titles by defeating Lorenzo Parente & Big Bill Dromo.
• On the undercard in Nashville, George Gulas debuts in-ring as a wrestler in his hometown by defeating Tony Santos.

March

• Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.

March 18

• In one of their first solo battles that helped redefine area wrestling for many years, Jackie Fargo battled to a no contest against Jerry Lawler in Memphis in a match where the ring was surrounded by wire.

March 23

• Frank Morrell & Charles Morrell managed by George Harris upend Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo in Chattanooga to win the Southeastern tag titles (not the Knoxville version).

March 27

• The legendary Lou Thesz clocks Tommy Gilbert in Nashville to win the Southern junior heavyweight championship.
• Ali Baba wallops Don Greene on the same Nashville card to win the U.S. junior heavyweight title.

April-June 1974

Lou Thesz began this time frame as Southern junior heavyweight champion. Tommy Gilbert stopped Thesz to regain the title. Gilbert then lost the championship to Jerry Lawler with manager Sam Bass. This win was Lawler’s first major singles championship win in the area. 

Steve Kovacs dethrones Ali Baba to win the U.S. junior heavyweight championship. Kovacs loses this title to Jerry Lawler and it appears that the U.S. junior heavyweight title is forgotten for a time.

The Masked Infernos with manager J.C. Dykes were recognized as Southern tag champions for some of this three month period. By June, Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne with manager Sir Clements, who replaced George Harris as manager for the team in April, were wearing the belts. How they passed from the Infernos to Fulton & Mayne isn’t clear although there is some evidence to show that Bobo Brazil & Bearcat Brown may have held the titles.

Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo drop the Mid-America tag titles to Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze before regaining the titles.

Territory regulars during the year’s second quarter included Roughhouse Fargo, Bearcat Brown, Earl Maynard, Dennis Hall, George Gulas, Don Greene, Joey Rossi, The Samoans (Tio & Tapu), Sam Bass, Mike Jackson, Tony LeDoux, Gil Shelby, Al Greene, Melvin Kimball, Al Ramsey, Buddy Wayne, Phil Hickerson, Tony Santos, Johnny Fields & Marshall Fields, Tor Hayashi, Jerry Jarrett, Cowboy Frankie Laine, Pepe Lopez, Devoy Brunson, Bobby Jones, The Alaskan, Mike Paidousis, Ricky Gibson, The Masked Red Shadow, Rick Sanchez, Derrick Lewis, The Bounty Hunters with manager Jim Kent, Eddie Marlin, Bobby Mayne, Bobo Brazil, Ronnie Blaystein, David Spencer, Rick Renaldo, Ron Wright & Don Wright, Bobcat Brown (billed as the brother of Bearcat Brown), Lorenzo Parente and more.

Also in the area during this time were Sylvia Hackney, Paula Kaye, Sandy Partlow, Peggy Patterson, Heather Feather and Jungle Jane. Bobo Johnson and Sonny Boy Hayes also made appearances at this time.

Hottest feuds at this time included the continuation of the Tommy Gilbert-Lou Thesz battles. Jerry Lawler made some hay in his feud against Jackie Fargo by injuring the popular star. In Fargo’s absence, Lawler feuded against Steve Kovacs, Tommy Gilbert and Ricky Gibson. Tojo Yamamoto’s heel turn didn’t last long as he soon mended fences with Jerry Jarrett.

It is interesting to note that some homegrown talent began making the rounds for the promotion during this time. Alabama natives Mike Jackson & Tony Ledoux worked for the promotion low on cards and sometimes even made it to mid-card status. The two were on the small side physically even by 1974 standards. While Ledoux quickly faded away, Jackson would toil for years, even into the new millennium, in Southern rings. While rarely making it to main events, Jackson made himself memorable in many fans eyes in the 1980s on the nationally televised Atlanta-based wrestling show by making others look great as enhancement talent. 

Memphis, Tennessee, April 8, 1974

• Sam Bass over Rufus R. Jones-Jerry Lawler interfered

• Charles Morrell, Frank Morrell & George Harris lost to Dennis Hall, George Gulas, & Mike Jackson
• The Masked Infernos managed by J.C. Dykes (Southern tag champions) over Don Greene & Bearcat Brown
• Jerry Lawler & Lou Thesz managed by Sam Bass over Tommy Gilbert & Sonny Roughhouse Fargo

Chattanooga, Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, April 27, 1974

• Titles vs. masks:  Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo (Southeastern tag champions) with one cuffed to Steve Kovacs vs. Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze with one cuffed to Roughhouse Fargo
• No time limit, no DQ:  Charles Morrell & Frank Morrell managed by Sir Clements vs. George Gulas & Dennis Hall
• Steve Kovacs (Junior heavyweight champion) vs. The Alaskan
• Roughhouse Fargo & Mike Paidousis vs. Ali Baba & Buddy Wayne
• Bobo Johnson vs. Sonny Boy Hayes

Chattanooga, Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Sunday, May 12, 1974

• Titles vs. hair:  Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze (Southeastern tag champions) lost belts to Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo
• Lumberjack match:  Dennis Hall, George Gulas & Don Greene vs. Charles Morrell, Frank Morrell & Sir Clements
• Bearcat Brown & Joey Rossi vs. J.C. Dykes & Jim Kent
• Pepe Lopez & Rick Sanchez vs. Mike Jackson & Tony Ladue
• Jerry Lawler (U.S. junior heavyweight champion) vs. Jerry Jarrett
• The Alaskan vs. Ricky Gibson
• The Masked Infernos managed by J.C. Dykes vs. Steve Kovacs & Derrick Lewis
• The Bounty Hunters managed by Jim Kent vs. Eddie Marlin & Tommy Gilbert
• $15,000 thirty one man triple chance ‘rassle royal also featuring Sam Bass

Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, June 17, 1974

• Jackie Fargo<<no contest>>Jerry Lawler
• Charles Fulton & Bobby Mayne managed by Sir Clements (Southern tag champions) were DQed against Bearcat Brown & Bobo Brazil
• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson over Tommy Gilbert & Eddie Marlin
• Ricky Gibson over The Shadow
• Joey Rossi & Tojo Yamamoto over The Bounty Hunters
• Lou Thesz over Rick Renaldo
• George Gulas & Dennis Hall over The Samoans
• Steve Kovacs over Mr. Kamikaze
• Don Greene over Jim Kent
• Mike Jackson & Tony Ledoux over Ronnie Blaystein & David Spencer
• Frank Monte over The Red Shadow
• Heather Feather over Jungle Jane
• Twenty-two man $2200 battle royal won by Ricky Gibson

Title changes and controversies during April-June 1974

April 10

• Tommy Gilbert regains the Southern junior heavyweight title by stopping Lou Thesz in Nashville.
• Also in Nashville, Steve Kovacs drops Ali Baba to win the U.S. junior heavyweight title.

Mid-April

• Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo are recognized as Southeastern tag champions (not the Knoxville version).

April 17

• Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze shock Nashville fans by capturing the Southeastern tag titles (not the Knoxville version) from Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo.

April 24

• Revenge is sweet for Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo as a return trip to Nashville sees them regain the Southeastern tag titles (not the Knoxville version) by defeating Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze (who may have regained it between this date and mid-May).

May

• Jerry Lawler with manager Sam Bass is recognized as Southern junior heavyweight champion.

May 4

• Jerry Lawler bops Steve Kovacs in Chattanooga to win the U.S. junior heavyweight championship.

May 12

• In Chattanooga, the team of Tojo Yamamoto & Mr. Kamikaze are billed as Southeastern tag champions (not the Knoxville version) yet lose on this night to Frank Monte & Nick DeCarlo who had put their hair at stake in the match.

May 27

• J.C. Dykes team of The Masked Infernos lose their masks in Memphis when they are defeated by Bobo Brazil & Bearcat Brown. Under the masks are Stan Vachon & Ronnie Bishop (Curtis Smith). On June 1 in Chattanooga, the masked team was revealed at the hands of Dennis Hall & George Gulas while on June 2 in Louisville, Eddie Marlin & Bearcat Brown did the honors.

June

• Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne with manager Sir Clements are recognized as Southern tag champions.

July-September 1974

Jerry Lawler managed by Sam Bass began this quarter as Southern junior heavyweight champion. A few weeks into the summer, Lawler lost the title to Jackie Fargo. Lawler would regain the title and hold it the rest of the summer. By September, the title began being recognized as the Southern heavyweight title.

The Southern tag championship is a mess during the summer. Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne managed by Sir Clements begin the time frame holding the titles. During the summer, the teams of Tommy Gilbert & Ricky Gibson and Rufus R. Jones & George Gulas lay claim to the titles. By September, the picture becomes clearer as Al Greene & Phil Hickerson with manager Sam Bass lock onto the titles.

The Mid-America tag titles reappear in August around the waists of Don Kent & Chris Gallegher (Dutch Mantel) with manager Jim Kent. Kent & Gallegher lose the straps to Steve Kovacs & Ricky Gibson before taking them back. At some point the tag titles wound up in the possession of Duke Myers & The Masked Blue Scorpion also managed by Jim Kent. There is some evidence that Johnny Fields & Ricky Fields may have briefly held the titles in the interim.

Don Greene did work some shows billed as U.S. junior heavyweight champion during the summer. 

Wrestlers working in the area at this time included NWA champion Jack Brisco, Eddie Marlin, Tommy Gilbert, Dennis Hall, Bearcat Brown, Jim Lancaster, Tojo Yamamoto, Mr. Kamikaze, Nick DeCarlo, Joey Rossi, Stan Kowalski, Pepe Lopez, Terry Sawyer (not Buzz Sawyer), The Bounty Hunters with manager Jim Kent (in August Jim Lancaster began managing this team), Bobo Brazil, The Masked Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker), Robert Fuller, The Masked Red Shadow, Danny Dusek, U.S. champion The Sheik managed by Eddie Creachman, Mike Loren, Tommy Marlin, Dick the Bruiser, Terry Garvin, Jim Garvin, Bearcat Brown, The Masked Dr. Death, Mike Jackson, Tony LeDoux, The Masked Blue Scorpions, Bill Costello, Billy Spears, Tommy Spires, The Masked Mr. Wrestling, The Great Hirohito, Rick Sanchez, Lou Thesz, Bobby Dee, Duke Myers, Harley Race, Jerry Brisco and more.

Also working some in the area at this time were Sylvia Hackney, Joyce (Paula?) Kaye, The Haiti Kid and Little Louis.

The sport’s biggest physical attraction who was quickly becoming the sport’s biggest box office attraction made his debut in the area in late September. Andre the Giant worked most of the major cities in the territory at this time.

The area’s hot feuds in this time frame were the ongoing Jerry Lawler-Jackie Fargo feud. Lawler also feuded some with Robert Fuller. The Bounty Hunters feuded against Rufus R. Jones & George Gulas. The rough combination of Al Greene & Phil Hickerson began plowing through competition but ran across stiff opposition against the teams of Eddie Marlin & Tommy Gilbert and Jackie Fargo & Tojo Yamamoto. 

Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday, July 23, 1974

• Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne managed by Sir Clements (Southern tag champions) vs. Ricky Gibson & Tommy Gilbert
• Jerry Lawler (Southern junior heavyweight champion) vs. Jackie Fargo
• Rufus R. Jones vs. Phil Hickerson
• Al Greene vs. Eddie Marlin
• Tojo Yamamoto vs. Stan Kowalski

Nashville, Tennessee, Wednesday, August 7, 1974

• Title & $300 vs. $600:  Jerry Lawler managed by Sam Bass (Southern champion) lost to Jackie Fargo
• Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne managed by Sir Clements vs. George Gulas & Rufus R. Jones
• Tommy Gilbert & Ricky Gibson (Southern tag champions) vs. Al Greene & Phil Hickerson managed by Sam Bass
• Tommy Kent vs. Chris Gallegher

Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, September 16, 1974

• Jack Brisco (NWA champion) vs. Jerry Lawler
• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson managed by Sam Bass (Southern tag champions) vs. Eddie Marlin & Tommy Gilbert
• Jackie Fargo & Tojo Yamamoto vs. The Bounty Hunters managed by Jim Lancaster
• Robert Fuller vs. Dennis Hall
• Lou Thesz vs. Don Greene
• George Gulas vs. Jim Lancaster

Title changes and controversies during July-September 1974

July

• Don Greene is recognized as U.S. junior heavyweight champion. After this time the title is not recognized in this promotion.
• Tommy Gilbert & Ricky Gibson are recognized as Southern tag champions.

July 20

• In Chattanooga, Jackie Fargo wins the Southern junior heavyweight title by downing Jerry Lawler managed by Sam Bass (this title switch likely occurred in other cities around the territory at the time). The Chattanooga match was held in a cage and weapons were allowed. Bass was also locked in a cage at ringside.

July 27

• A Chattanooga rematch sees Jackie Fargo drop the Southern junior heavyweight title back to Jerry Lawler with manager Sam Bass.
• Despite a claim to the Southern tag championship on the western end of the promotion by Tommy Gilbert & Ricky Gibson, a Chattanooga match sees Charlie Fulton & Bobby Mayne with manager Sir Clements lose the titles to Rufus R. Jones & George Gulas. In early August, Gilbert & Gibson were recognized in some of the cities where Fulton & Mayne had previously been billed as champions.

July 29

• In prematch publicity for his Memphis match against The Masked Mr. Wrestling II, Jerry Lawler makes the claim that II is actually veteran Johnny Walker under a mask.

August

• Don Kent & Chris Gallegher with manager Jim Kent are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.
• The Southern junior heavyweight championship begins to be referred to as the Southern heavyweight championship.
• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson with manager Sam Bass are recognized as Southern tag champions in some cities.

August 6

• Louisville is witness to a wild brawl between two of the business’s biggest names as The Sheik battles Jackie Fargo.

August 24

• Steve Kovacs & Ricky Gibson defeat Jim Kent’s team of Don Kent & Chris Gallegher in Chattanooga to capture the Mid-America tag titles. Match stipulations had the titles against $400 with Jim Kent handcuffed at ringside to Don Greene.

Late August

• Don Kent & Chris Gallegher managed by Jim Kent are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.

September 16

• Memphis booker Jerry Jarrett culminated a multi-week program where Jerry Lawler wrestled a list of Top Ten challengers each week in a quest for a shot at NWA champion Jack Brisco. On this night in Memphis, Lawler got his first NWA title shot but failed to lift the title from Brisco. Despite the loss, Lawler so infuriated Brisco with his tactics that brother Jerry Brisco, who appeared at ringside to thwart manager Sam Bass, would return in a few weeks to battle Lawler in a match.

September 30

• Duke Myers & The Masked Blue Scorpion are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.

October-December 1974

Jerry Lawler with manager Sam Bass ruled the roost as Southern champion. Lawler though lost the title for a time to Robert Fuller. Lawler would regain the title in short order. Not long after though, Lawler and manager Sam Bass had a falling out and parted ways.

Sam Bass also managed the Southern tag champions as this time frame began as his big team of Al Greene & Phil Hickerson were hard to get past. Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett had some success and held the titles for a time before Greene & Hickerson regained the titles. Yamamoto would then pair with Jerry Lawler to snatch the belts away briefly. Greene & Hickerson would regain the titles but lose them back to Yamamoto & Lawler by the end of the year.

The Mid-America title reemerged late in the year. Don Kent with manager Jim Kent (the two weren’t related) held the title and defended it regularly. He did lose it briefly to Rufus R. Jones before taking the belt back.

The exact lineage of the Mid-America tag championship is unclear part of October. Jackie Fargo & George Gulas though are champions later in the month. They swap the titles to Don Kent & Count Drummer before regaining the championship. The Masked Blue Scorpion & Duke Myers are billed as Southeastern tag champions (not the Knoxville version) for a show or two in November before the title is forgotten for a time.

In November, the promotion held a tournament to crown inaugural World Six Man tag champions. The trio of Jackie Fargo, Dennis Hall & George Gulas downed Juan Sebastian, Don Kent & Jerry Lawler in the finals of a multi-week tournament to claim the titles.

Working the territory at this time were such stars as Steve Kovacs, Don Greene, Billy McGuire & Benny McGuire, The Masked Medic, Billy Hamilton, The Bounty Hunters managed by Jim Lancaster, Jerry Brisco, Bobby Mayne, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, Pepe Lopez, Rick Sanchez, Jean Pierre, Pierre Bonet, Johnny Fields & Ricky Fields, Tommy Gilbert, Eddie Marlin, Charlie Fulton, Bill Costello, Bobo Brazil, The Sheik, Sir Clements, Silento Rodriquez, Les Thatcher, The Masked Dr. Death, Juan Sebastian, Jackie Fargo, Tommy Marlin, The Mummy, Bobcat Brown, Dennis Condrey, Count Drummer, Joey Rossi, Tommy Spires, The Masked Green Hornet, Joe Turner, The Masked Pittsburgh Stealers, Jerry Barber, Rick Sanchez, Johnny Grey, Joe Sky, Ron Fuller, Tex McKenzie, The Masked Outlaws, Don Kernodle, Lorenzo Parente, Johnny Weaver, Jerry Myatt, Big Bad John, Ray Candy, Tony Nero, Ed Kowalski, Rip Hawk, George Strickland, Johnny Rogers, Frank Martinez, The Masked Mr. Pro (unmasked in Birmingham as Devoy Brunson and in Chattanooga as Dennis Condrey) and more.

Also in the area at this time were U.S. Ladies champion Cora Combs, The Masked Satan Lady, Sandy Partlow, as well as Dirty Morgan and Bobo Johnson.

Ronald Welch, known to area fans as Ron Fuller, purchased the Knoxville promotion from longtime area promoter John Cazana in this time period. For some time, Cazana had loaned talent from the Gulas-Welch promotion to use on his cards. Fuller would continue this practice for a time although he began weaning the area off Gulas-Welch talent to create his own pool of talent. Jerry Lawler, Jackie Fargo, Don Greene and Tommy Gilbert were among the stars who crossed over from the Gulas-Welch promotion to work for Fuller some late in the year.

Hot feuds at this time included one between Al Greene & Phil Hickerson against Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett. Greene & Hickerson also feuded against former friend Jerry Lawler late in the year, who used Yamamoto as a frequent partner. Don Kent also had a knock-down drag-out war with Steve Kovacs. 

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, October 17, 1974

• Jerry Lawler (Southern champion) was DQed against Bobo Brazil (Chattanooga debut)
• The Shiek over Steve Kovacs
• Don Kent (Mid-America champion) managed by Sir Clements vs. Silento Rodriquez
• Dennis Hall & Bobo Johnson over Charlie Fulton & Dirty Morgan
• Tojo Yamamoto over The Masked Blue Scorpion
• Sir Clements over Les Thatcher

Birmingham, Alabama TV, Saturday, November 16, 1974

• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson over Dennis Condrey & Tommy Spires
• Rufus R. Jones over Bill Costello
• Tommy Gilbert over The Green Hornet
• Don Kent over Joe Turner

Birmingham, Alabama, Monday, November 18, 1974

• Don Kent managed by Sir Clements over Rufus R. Jones
• Boxing match: Tommy Gilbert & The Masked Mr. Pro over The Masked Blue Scorpion & Duke Myers
• Jackie Fargo & George Gulas over The Masked Pittsburgh Stealers
• Cora Combs over Sandy Partlow
• Jerry Barber over Rick Sanchez

Memphis, Tennessee, Sunday, December 8, 1974

• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson managed by Sam Bass (Southern tag champions) vs. Jerry Lawler & Ray Candy
• Don Kent managed by Sir Clements vs. Steve Kovac
• Ron Fuller vs. Tex McKenzie
• Johnny Weaver vs. Blue Scorpion
• Jean Pierre & Pierre Bonet vs. Tommy Gilbert & Eddie Marlin
• Jackie Fargo vs. Johnny Gray
• Coming in January:  Jack Brisco vs. Jerry Lawler

Knoxville, Tennessee, Friday, December 13, 1974

• Jackie Fargo with Ron Wright vs. Ron Fuller with Jerry Lawler
• Jerry Lawler (Southern champion) vs. Tommy Gilbert
• Nelson Royal vs. Jean Pierre
• Les Thatcher & Joe Sky vs. John Foley & Dutch Mantel
• Johnny Weaver vs. Jerry Myatt

Title changes and controversies during October-December 1974

October

• Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett are recognized as Southern tag champions (likely after an October 7 Memphis match against Al Greene & Phil Hickerson).
• Don Kent with manager Sir Clements is recognized as Mid-America champion.
• Jackie Fargo & George Gulas are recognized as Mid-America tag champions.

October 23

• Robert Fuller whips Jerry Lawler in a Nashville match to win the Southern title.

October 26

• The longstanding relationship between Jerry Lawler and Sam Bass falls apart on Memphis TV when Bass, Al Greene & Phil Hickerson attack Lawler after Lawler accused Bass, Greene & Hickerson of being jealous of him and by secretly placing a bounty on his head. Lawler would partner with Tojo Yamamoto after this falling out. Lawler’s turn would play out a few weeks later in some cities in the circuit. Bass would send Greene & Hickerson after Lawler but also such stars as Count Drummer and The Mummy would come gunning for Lawler.

October 30

• A Nashville rematch sees Jerry Lawler regain the Southern title by defeating Robert Fuller.

November

• Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Lawler are recognized as Southern tag champions (after likely defeating Al Greene & Phil Hickerson, who likely had regained the titles at some point in October).
• Duke Myers & The Masked Blue Scorpion are recognized as Southeastern tag champions (not the Knoxville version).
• Ronald Welch (a/k/a Ron Fuller) purchases the Knoxville promotion from longtime promoter John Cazana.

November 6

• Jackie Fargo & George Gulas lose the Mid-America tag titles to Bulldog Don Kent & Count Drummer in Nashville.

November 14

• The finals of a two week tournament in Chattanooga sees Jackie Fargo, Dennis Hall & George Gulas down Bulldog Don Kent, Juan Sebastian & Jerry Lawler in a tournament final to win the World Six Man tag championship. Also competing in the tournament were the teams of Charlie Fulton & The Bounty Hunters and Al Greene, Phil Hickerson & The Masked Dr. Death.

November 20

• Bulldog Don Kent & Count Drummer drop the Mid-America tag titles to former champions Jackie Fargo & George Gulas in Nashville.

November 25

• Rufus R. Jones travels to Birmingham and walks away with the Mid-America title by defeating Don Kent.

December

• Al Greene & Phil Hickerson managed by Sam Bass are recognized as Southern tag champions.
• Don Kent is recognized as Mid-America champion.

December 2

• Jerry Lawler overcomes the Mummy in a hair vs. mask match in Memphis. The Mummy was revealed to be Knoxville area legend Ron Wright.

Late December

• Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Lawler are recognized as Southern tag champions.

Title Histories

Courtesy of Duncan & Will’s Wrestling Title Histories and The Great Hisa’s Puroresu Dojo web site http://www.wrestling-titles.com/ 

Thanks

Edsel Harrison and David Williamson 

NEXT MONTH: 

Just a job to do…