One of the great masked tag teams ever in the area debuted during the first month of 1970. While the area had hosted a number of teams who wore masks few teams escaped their initial run without being unmasked and identified. When the Masked Interns debuted in January, it would begin a long run in the area where this team would not be unmasked. While the team was new to the area, they were hardly new to the business as they had wrestled together elsewhere as The Medics. The team, clad not only in white masks but in white uniforms, was accompanied to the ring by manager Dr. Ken Ramey. While Ramey was new to the ringside managing chores, he had actually worked some in the area as a referee. While Gentleman Saul Weingeroff had been the main ringside manager in the area for most of the 1960s, Ramey would quickly get under the skin of area fans much like Weingeroff. When his team was in trouble, Ramey would prove to be a dangerous distraction. When the team was in deep trouble, Ramey dug deep in his bag of dirty tricks and poured ether on a rag and used it on the opposition. Under the masks were Billy Garrett & Jim Starr. In a few years, Garrett left the team and was replaced by Tom Andrews. The Interns worked a number of other territories during their run but usually came back to the area for promoter Nick Gulas. The team would be unmasked in the area in early 1978 when another area legendary team, Phil Hickerson & Dennis Condrey, defeated the team for Jerry Jarrett's promotion. In late 1984 and into 1985, the Memphis promotion resurrected the Interns gimmick with Don Bass and Roger Smith (Dirty Rhodes) under the masks. Troy 'Dream Machine' Graham served as their wheelchair-bound manager.  

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, January 8, 1970

·        The Masked Spoilers managed by Saul Weingeroff drew with Johnny Long & Johnny Walker

·        Dennis Hall & Bob Armstrong over Baby Blimp Harris & Eddie Sullivan

·        The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey ( Chattanooga debut) over George Strickland & Luther Jones  

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, February 12, 1970

·        Bob Armstrong over Bob Ramstad

·        The Masked Spoilers managed by Saul Weingeroff ( Tennessee tag champions) lost to Dennis Hall & Johnny Walker

·        Johnny Walker over Carlos Montes (advertised as Ron Wright vs. George Strickland)

·        Darrell Cochran over George Strickland (advertised as Darrell Cochran vs. Carlos Montes)

·        Saul Weingeroff over Mike Pappas  

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, March 9, 1970

·        World tag title match: Ken Lucas & Bob Armstrong vs. The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey

·        Bearcat Brown & Buddy Wayne vs. Bobby Hart & Bob Ramstad

·        Cora Combs vs. Judy Glover

·        Les Thatcher vs. Mike Pappas  

Timeline

January 19

·        Johnny Walker & Dennis Hall win the Southern tag titles in Memphis by zipping past Don Greene & Al Greene.  

January 22

·        Ron Wright & Don Wright lose the Tennessee tag titles (title based out of the Knoxville promotion) to The Masked Spoilers in Chattanooga .  

February 12

·        Johnny Walker & Dennis Hall upset The Masked Spoilers for the Tennessee tag titles in Chattanooga .  

March

·        Len Rossi is recognized as Southern Junior heavyweight champion.

·        Johnny Walker is recognized as U.S. Junior heavyweight champion.  

April-June 1970

The Southern tag titles were put up for grabs in a Memphis tournament that saw Al Greene & Pretty Boy Frank Martinez come out on top. About a month later, Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown win the titles only to drop them back a few weeks later to Greene & Martinez. Johnny Walker & Len Rossi would lay claim to the titles although it isn't totally clear if they downed Greene & Martinez for the titles or whether the promotion had a phantom switch or two sets of champions in the area. In June, Dr. Ken Ramey's Masked Interns dumped Walker & Rossi to win the belts.

Bobby Hart spends some of this time frame billed as Southern Junior heavyweight champion although it isn't clear if he downed Len Rossi for that honor. Hart also had a brief run at this time billed as U.S. Junior heavyweight champion although whether he downed Johnny Walker for that title isn't conclusive.

The interesting team of Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez began being billed as World tag champions in this juncture of time. John was a giant man with dark hair and full beard and moustache. He gave the appearance of being a biker. Lopez, on the other hand, was a solid worker, although would be considered a journeyman performer by many. This unusual combination though would prove to be quite successful during 1970 and into 1971.

The U.S. tag titles were defended at this time in the area. In April, the Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey were billed as champions. The Masked Spoilers with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff were also billed as champions after they downed the Interns. The Spoilers then dropped the titles to Dennis Hall & Frankie Cain. The lineage of the title then falls in the shadows for a few months. The Spoilers would be unmasked to reveal Lorenzo Parente & Joey Corea.

During this three month period other wrestlers in the area included NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr., Bearcat Brown, Bob Armstrong, Les Thatcher, Bob Ramstad, Jerry Jarrett, Carlos Montes, Al 'Spider' Galento, Tojo Yamamoto, Jimmy Golden, Eric Von Brauner, Bill Costello, Mike Pappas, Mitsu Katayana, Mario Galento, Jim Dalton, Corsica Joe, The Mummy, Tony Russo, Tony Nero, Johnny Valentine, Ken Lucas, Mack York, Oni Maiva, Tamaya Soto, Suni War Cloud, Billy Hines, Johnny Long, Ray Duran, George Strickland and more.

Also making some appearances in the area at this time were Cuddles Anderson, Baby Salina, Black Venus and Emma Wright.

The feud pitting The Masked Interns against The Masked Spoilers continued during part of this time period with the Interns eventually getting the best of the feud. The Interns then moved into a feud against Len Rossi & Johnny Walker .

One of the business's most impressive looking stars worked a few weeks in the area at this time. Legitimate football star turned pro wrestler Ernie Ladd, standing 6'9", did work some as a fan favorite teaming some with Bearcat Brown. Ladd would work most every territory during his career headlining arenas in the WWWF, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia, Florida, Texas and Mid-South and would return here briefly again in 1976 and also in Memphis for a shot or two in early 1977.

Jimmy Golden debuted in the area during this time frame. Golden's father, Bill, had been a promoter in Louisiana , where Jimmy had debuted. Bill also had the distinction of marrying into the famed Welch family. Jimmy would often team with real life cousins, Ron and Robert Fuller and often worked cards with other family members such as Jackie and Roy Lee Welch, Johnny & Marshall (Ricky) Fields. In the early 1970s, Bill Golden would open up a promotion based in Montgomery , Alabama and Jimmy would be the star attraction. At this time, the tall and lanky Golden worked his way up cards and teamed often with Dennis Hall.  

Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, April 25, 1970

·        Masks vs. masks:  The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey over The Masked Spoilers managed by Saul Weingeroff in two straight falls

·        Ernie Ladd ( Chattanooga debut) over Mitsu Arakawa

·        Saul Weingeroff over Dr. Ken Ramey

·        Frankie Cain & Cuddles Anderson over Mack York & Baby Salina in two straight falls. This match is billed as the first mixed man-female midget tag match in Chattanooga .

·        Tojo Yamamoto over Carlos Montes  

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, May 18, 1970

·        No time limit, no DQ, US tag titles vs. $500: The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey (champions) vs. The Ex-Spoilers managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff

·        Dr. Ken Ramey vs. Gentleman Saul Weingeroff

·        Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez (World tag champions) vs. Ken Lucas & Bob Armstrong

·        Frankie Cain vs. Eric Von Brauner

·        Dennis Hall vs. Jim Dalton  

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, June 6, 1970

·        Len Rossi & Johnny Walker (Southern tag champions) lose titles to The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey

·        The Masked Spoilers managed by Saul Weingeroff (World tag champions, also listed in advertising as US tag champions) lose titles to Frankie Cain & Dennis Hall

·        Bearcat Brown & Bob Armstrong over Mack York & Bobby Hart (advertised as Brown & Armstrong vs.  Johnny Long & Hart)

·        Saul Weingeroff drew with Mike Pappas  

April

·        The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey are recognized as U.S. tag champions.  

April 6

·        A Memphis tournament sees Al Greene & Frank Martinez win the Southern tag titles by defeating Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Walker .

·        In Birmingham , African-American star Bearcat Brown receives a shot at NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr.  

May

·        Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez are recognized as World tag champions.  

May 2

·        The Masked Spoilers with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff drop The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey to win the U.S. tag titles in a Chattanooga match.  

May 4

·        In Memphis , Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown top Southern tag champions Al Greene & Frank Martinez to win the championship.  

May 18

·        Al Greene & Frank Martinez bounce back and regain the Southern tag titles in Memphis by getting past Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown.  

May 30

·        Bobby Hart is recognized as Southern Junior heavyweight champion. Hart is also recognized as U.S. Junior heavyweight champion at approximately this time.  

Late May or early June

·        It appears that Al Greene & Frank Martinez drop the Southern tag titles to Johnny Walker & Len Rossi.  

June 6

·        The Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey win the Southern tag titles in Chattanooga by defeating Johnny Walker & Len Rossi.

·        Also in Chattanooga , the U.S. tag titles change hands as The Masked Spoilers managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff lose to Dennis Hall & Frankie Cain.  

July-September 1970

While Dr. Ken Ramey's Masked Interns were billed as Southern tag champions, there is also some evidence to suggest that the team of Al Greene & Pretty Boy Frank Martinez also regained the titles. Whichever the case, the Interns would be recognized as champions in late July and would then drop them a few weeks later to Johnny Walker & Tojo Yamamoto. A few weeks later, Walker & Yamamoto would drop the titles back to the Interns.

Len Rossi would stop Bobby Hart to regain the Southern Junior heavyweight title in this time period. By August the title was declared vacant. A subsequent tournament saw Don Greene come out as champion. Greene's reign lasted one week as Johnny Walker toppled Greene for the title.

Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez held the World tag titles through the summer. In September though, they dropped the titles to Len Rossi & Dennis Hall.

The U.S. tag titles somehow end up around the waists of Johnny Walker & Oni Maiva after they downed Al Greene & Pretty Boy Frank Martinez . Whether Greene & Martinez were ever recognized as champions isn't clear. Walker & Maiva would drop the titles to Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart.

Wrestlers working area cards at this time included NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr., Jackie Fargo, Roughhouse Fargo, The Masked Spoiler I, Gentleman Saul Weingeroff, Dennis Hall, Jerry Jarrett, Mack York, Mitsu Katayana, Johnny Long, Joe Sky, Eddie Marlin, Ray Duran, The Masked Mr. Wrestling I & II (NOT Tim Woods & Johnny Walker), Bob Armstrong, Joe Flaherty, George Strickland, Gene Garcia, Jimmy Golden, Steve Clements,  Suni War Cloud, Ken Lucas, Mario Milano, Bearcat Brown, Tojo Yamamoto, Herb Welch, Gary Martin, Vic Rogers, The Masked Dr. Death, The Masked Medic, Tony Russo, Wild Man Boyette, Ken Hudson and more.

Cora Combs appeared during this time frame billed as U.S. Ladies champion. Other female stars in the area at this time included Emma Wright, Black Venus, Sarah Lee, Ann Casey, Vivian Vachon and Donna Christianello.

Big Bad John made his presence known in the area at this time. John headed the hottest feud at the time by teaming with Pepe Lopez to war against various combinations of Dennis Hall, Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown. John & Lopez also feuded a few weeks against fellow heels The Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey. John also warred with Bob Armstrong. This battle saw Armstrong enlist NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr. into the fray by his side against John & Lopez.

Steve Clements began making his presence known in the area around this time. The small Englishman was a junior heavyweight wrestler whose father had promoted wrestling. Clements would gain fame here though not as a wrestler, although he often did wrestle, but as a ringside manager. Clements, sporting a top hat and umbrella became manager to Don & Al Greene. In later years, Clements would leave the area and work other areas billed as Sir Dudley Clements. In Georgia , he was Playboy Gary Hart's assistant manager helping Hart out with such attractions as Nikolai Volkoff and Brute Bernard. From there, Clements would begin working in the Detroit territory and managed Bernard there. Clements life though was cut short by an automobile accident on April 21, 1976 .

The promotion began expanding some in 1970 as it reached north into Kentucky and Indiana . Louisville , Lexington and Evansville began hosting cards promoted by Nick Gulas and Roy Welch. These cities fell in territory owned by Dick Afflis and Wilbur Snyder who operated an office out of Indianapolis . These cities though hadn't hosted regular wrestling cards in awhile. Jerry and Christine Jarrett then opened up the cities for Gulas and Welch and paid a small fee of the gate for years to Afflis and Snyder. These cities would be key in later years as they provided a foundation for which Jerry Jarrett could open up his own territory when his business with Nick Gulas began to crumble. Almost from the start, these three cities did well at the gate for the promotion.  

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, July 18, 1970

·        Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez (World tag champions) over The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey

·        Bobby Hart & Ex-Spoiler I over Dennis Hall & The Masked Mr. Wrestling I

·        Bob Armstrong drew with Don Greene

·        Oni Maiva drew with The Masked Mr. Wrestling II (advertised as Maiva vs. Joe Sky)   

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, August 24, 1970

·        Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff (World tag champions) were DQed against Dory Funk, Jr. (NWA champion) & Bob Armstrong

·        Ken Lucas & Bearcat Brown drew with Al Greene & Frank Martinez

·        Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff over The Masked Mr. Wrestling I & The Masked Mr. Wrestling II  

·        Memphis , Tennessee , Monday, September 7, 1970
Johnny Walker & Tojo Yamamoto vs. The Masked Interns

·        Don Greene & Johnny Long vs. Dennis Hall & Herb Welch

·        Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart vs. The Masked Mr. Wrestling I & The Masked Mr. Wrestling II  

July

·        Al Greene & Frank Martinez are recognized as Southern tag champions.  

July 22

·        In Nashville , Len Rossi downs Bobby Hart to win the Southern Junior heavyweight title.  

July 27

·        The Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey down Al Greene & Frank Martinez in Memphis to win the Southern tag titles.  

July 28

·        Johnny Walker downs Bobby Hart in Louisville to win back the U.S. Junior Heavyweight title.  

August

·        The Southern Junior heavyweight title is declared vacant.  

August 24

·        In Memphis , Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Walker upend Dr. Ken Ramey's Interns to win the Southern tag titles.  

September 7

·        Dr. Ken Ramey's Interns return to Memphis and derail Tojo Yamamoto & Johnny Walker for the Southern tag titles.  

September 9

·        In Nashville , Johnny Walker & Oni Maiva defeat Al Greene & Frank Martinez to claim the U.S. tag titles. (It isn't clear whether or not Greene & Martinez were recognized as champions prior to this match).  

September 12

·        Len Rossi & Dennis Hall win the World tag titles in Chattanooga by stopping Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez.  

September 14

·        A Memphis tournament sees Don Greene down Dennis Hall to lay claim to the Southern Junior heavyweight title.  

September 21

·        Johnny Walker travels to Memphis and upends Don Greene to win the Southern Junior heavyweight title.  

September 23

·        Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart whip Johnny Walker & Oni Maiva in Nashville to capture the U.S. tag championship.  

October-December 1970

The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey dropped the Southern tag titles to Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett. The win was the first title win for Yamamoto & Jarrett as a team. By year's end, Yamamoto & Jarrett lost the titles to Don Greene & Al Greene with their manager Sir Steve Clements, kicking off a feud that would last off and on over the next few years.

The lineage of the Southern Junior heavyweight title is unclear during much of this time period. By year's end, Len Rossi would be recognized as champion.

Gentleman Saul Weingeroff ended a dry title year in October as his team of Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart smashed Len Rossi & Dennis Hall to win the World tag titles. Parente & Hart would lose the titles to Oni Wiki Wiki & Young Atlas.

The U.S. tag titles wound up in the possession of Dennis Hall & Mighty Atlas before they lost them to Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez. Oni Wiki Wiki & Young Atlas would then defeat John & Lopez for the titles before John & Lopez regained them. The titles then fell out of recognition with the promotion for a number of years.

Bobby Hart whipped U.S. Junior heavyweight champion Johnny Walker to lay claim to that title.

Regulars on the circuit during this time frame included NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr., Bearcat Brown, The Masked Outlaws, Eddie Marlin, Johnny Long, Vic Rogers, Johnny Walker, Eric Von Brauner, The Masked Super Assassin, Danny Dusek, Ron Wright & Don Wright, Les Thatcher, Ray Duran, Mack York, Jimmy Golden, The Masked Hawk, Roy Klein, Nick Adams, Tony Mendoza, The Masked Medic, Chico Mendoza, Jerry Myatt, George Strickland, Mike Pappas, Mitsu Katayana, The Masked Purple Demon, Gary Martin, Jerry Layne, Bill Costello, The Masked Red Shadows, Hans Steinke, Rip Tyler, Eli Kashey and more.

Lady stars Sandy Parker, Donna Christianello, Cora Combs, Ann Casey, Little Darling Dagmar and Diamond Lil also worked in the area at this time.

The hot feuds at this time included Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown's battles against Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart and Don Greene & Al Greene. Parente & Hart and The Greenes were also constant foes at this time for the combo of Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett. The Greenes also worked a series of matches in this time frame against fellows mat meanies The Masked Interns with manager Dr. Ken Ramey. Also, Eddie Marlin feuded against Gentleman Saul Weingeroff.

Billed from New Castle , Indiana , Dennis Hall was a clean cut babyface who was a near perfect foil for area bad guys. In ring, Hall was a solid worker. Hall often worked low on cards in his home area for Dick Afflis and Wilbur Snyder, who headed the Indianapolis promotion. Eventually though, Hall headed South and his wrestling fortunes changed. Hall was actually a real life cousin to one of the business's top bad guys of the early and mid 1970s, Nature Boy Roger Kirby. In the mid to late 1960s, Hall & Kirby worked as a team in the Gulf Coast and along with Les Thatcher were known as The Wrestling Cousins (Thatcher was not related to either Hall or Kirby). For Gulas and Welch, Hall was a steady babyface figure into the late 1970s and often was one half of successful area tag teams. After his run with the promotion, Hall settled in the Atlanta area and worked some in the late 1970s for the Atlanta promotion. While almost always a face in the area, Hall did travel to Florida in 1972 where he donned a mask as the heel Taurus and teamed with The Masked Zodiac (Bob Orton, Sr.). Hall returned to the area for promoter Jerry Jarrett for a very short stint in late 1987 as a heel with valet Dolly Parker.  

Louisville , Kentucky , Tuesday, October 27, 1970

·        The Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey vs.  Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements

·        Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett (Southern tag champions) vs. Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart managed by Saul Weingeroff

·        Dory Funk Jr. (NWA champion) vs. Johnny Walker  

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, November 9, 1970

·        No time limit, no DQ, special referee: Dennis Hall: Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown (World tag champions) vs. Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements

·        Russian roulette nine man 'rassle royal for $2700

·        Les Thatcher vs. Sir Steve Clements

·        The Mighty Atlas vs. Mack York

·        Jimmy Golden vs. Young Atlas

·        The Masked Outlaw I vs. Dennis Hall  

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, December 7, 1970

·        Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff (World tag champions) vs. Johnny Walker & Bearcat Brown

·        Indian strap ten round boxing match: Eddie Marlin vs. Gentleman Saul Weingeroff

·        Len Rossi (Southern Junior heavyweight champion) vs. The Masked Purple Demon

·        Gary Martin & Jerry Layne vs. The Masked Outlaws

·        Bill Costello vs. The Mighty Atlas  

October

·        Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett are recognized as Southern tag champions.  

October 1

·        Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart with manager Saul Weingeroff in tow trip Dennis Hall & Len Rossi in Chattanooga to capture the World tag titles.  

November

·        Dennis Hall & The Mighty Atlas are recognized as U.S. tag champions.  

Mid-November

·        Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez are recognized as U.S. tag champions.  

November 25

·        Bobby Hart trips Johnny Walker in Nashville to regain the U.S. Junior heavyweight title.  

December

·        Don Greene & Al Greene, with manager Sir Clements, are recognized as Southern tag champions.  

December 7

·        A Memphis match sees Oni Wiki Wiki & Young Atlas upset Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez for the U.S. tag championship.  

December 16

·        Oni Wiki Wiki & Young Atlas upset Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart in Nashville to win the World tag championship.  

December 21

Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez regain the U.S. tag titles in Memphis by downing Oni Wiki Wiki & Young Atlas.  

In Memory of

Gary Mize, better known as Billy Joe Travis. As Travis, Mize worked the area for Jerry Jarrett in the 1980s and beyond. He passed away on November 22, 2002 from a heart attack.  

George 'Two Ton' Harris. Harris worked in a number of capacities in the area from the late 1940s into the 1970s. Harris worked as a referee and wrestler and had ties with the legendary Welch family. Harris though is likely best remembered in the area as the pink sports coat-wearing manager of The Masked Mighty Yankees (Frank Morrell & Charlie Fulton) in 1973 and 1974. Harris passed away on November 29, 2002 from a heart attack.  

George Burrell Woodin. Woodin was better known by mat fans as Tim Woods but best known as the scientific marvel The Masked Mr. Wrestling. Woodin worked a few weeks in 1977 for Jerry Jarrett's promotion. Woods passed away on November 30, 2002 from a heart attack.  

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  

More information

On Billy Garrett, one of the Masked Interns, can be located in issue 52 of Whatever Happened to...? Information about Scott Teal's publication can be found at http://www.1wrestlinglegends.com  

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1971