Despite this, Pappas was a pure underdog due to his small size and pleasant disposition. Although he was never a main eventer for the promotion, he often was chosen to work matches against the area’s managers, who usually doubled as in-ring talent. No doubt the fact that Pappas squared off against the likes of villains Gentleman Saul Weingeroff, Dr. Ken Ramey and Sir Steve Clements made him one of the area’s most popular stars.  

Chattanooga Tennessee Memorial Auditorium, Saturday, January 28, 1971

·     Boxing battle royal featuring (advertised):  Don Greene, Al Greene, Sir Clements, Big Bad John, Pepe Lopez, Young Omar Atlas, Oni Wiki Wiki, Len Rossi, Chief White Eagle, Roy Klein, The Masked Green Shadow and Joey Corea.  Winner:  Young Omar Atlas

·     Four matches paired via royal elimination: Sir Clements over Chief White Eagle

·     Eli Kashey over Roy Klein

·     Young Omar Atlas drew with Joey Corea

·     Oni Wiki Wiki over The Masked Green Shadow

·     Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements drew with Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez  

Chattanooga Tennessee Kirkman High School Gym, Saturday, February 27, 1971

·     Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente managed by Saul Weingeroff (World tag champions) lost to Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden-2/3 falls

·     Ron Wright & Don Wright ( Tennessee tag champions) lost to Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett-2/3 falls

·     The Alaskans:  Mike York & Frank Monte over Joey Corea & Johnny Long (advertised as Alaskans vs. Corea & George Strickland)

·     Sylvia Hackney over Barbara Owens (also advertised:  Johnny Long vs. The Masked Outlaw)  

Louisville , Kentucky , Tuesday, March 23, 1971

·     Don Greene (US Junior Heavyweight champion) vs. Jerry Jarrett

·     Tojo Yamamoto vs. Al Greene

·     The Alaskans:  Mike York & Frank Monte vs. Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown

·     Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden vs. The Samoans  

Timeline

January 9

·     Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett down Don Greene & Al Greene in Chattanooga to capture the Southern tag titles.  

February

·     Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart are recognized as World tag champions.

·     Don Greene & Al Greene are recognized as Southern tag champions.  

February 6

·     In Chattanooga , Ron Wright & Don Wright lose the Tennessee tag titles to Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett.  

Mid-February

·     Ron Wright & Don Wright are recognized as Tennessee tag champions.  

February 27

·     Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett down Ron Wright & Don Wright in Chattanooga to regain the Tennessee tag titles.  

March

·     Don Greene & Al Greene are recognized as Southern tag champions.

·     Don Greene is recognized as U.S. Junior heavyweight champion.  

March 6

·     Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden stop Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart in Chattanooga to win the World tag titles.  

March 20

·     Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart regain the World tag titles in Chattanooga by defeating Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden.  

March 27

·     The Masked Avengers drop Lorenzo Parente & Bobby Hart in Chattanooga to win the World tag titles. The Avengers would unmask and reveal themselves as Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden, who had feuded for several weeks prior against Parente & Hart.  

April-June 1971

The Southern tag titles somehow ended up in the possession once again of Sir Clements’ team of Don Greene & Al Greene. Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett would regain the straps at some point in this time period.

The World tag championship would go through a wild ride during this three month period. The Avengers: Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden would begin this time frame with the titles. The titles would also be claimed by Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez, as well as by Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown. Gentleman Saul Weingeroff’s team of Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner would wind up with the titles. The team of Jackie Fargo & Jerry Jarrett would claim the titles for a week before losing them back to the Von Brauners.

Don Greene continued to be recognized as U.S Junior heavyweight champion during this time. Len Rossi would work some cards billed as Southern junior heavyweight champion.

Among those working the Gulas-Welch circuit at this time included Bobby Hart, Lorenzo Parente, The Alaskans: Mike York & Frank Monte, The Masked Infernos (not the famous Infernos of J.C. Dykes), Chico Mendoza, Buddy Wayne, Tommy Gilbert, The Samoans, Omar Atlas, Marcel Varchon, Tomas Marin, Oni Wiki Wiki, Tinker Todd, The Masked Red Demons, Eddie Marlin, Don Fargo, Gary Martin, Johnny Long, Sonny King, Frank Hester, The Masked Dr. Death I & II, Dandy Jack Donovan, Jerry Lawler, Frankie Cain, Flyin’ Fred Curry, Dick Taylor, Ray Duran, Alf Romero & Don Romero and others.

A good number of the female stars worked in the area during this quarter of 1971 including Ladies champion The Fabulous Moolah, Cora Combs, Marie Dannell, Sharon Joye, Toni Rose, Vicki Williams, Ann Casey, Diamond Lil and Little Darling Dagmar.

The hot feuds in the area at this time mostly revolved around The Greene Brothers against Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett. Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden also feuded against The Alaskans: Mike York & Frank Monte. Gentleman Saul Weingeroff brought Kurt & Karl Von Brauner back to the area at this time and as the spring wound down this time was in line to feud against Yamamoto, Jarrett & Jackie Fargo . Weingeroff, meantime, had his hands full as he ran up against Big Bad John.

The professional wrestling career of Jerry Lawler began unfolding in 1971. Lawler, a talented art student, left his studies at Memphis State University behind to pursue a ring career. Lawler had been a mat fan for a number of years and has cited the Blue Infernos, who worked the area in 1966, as one of his favorite teams ever. Lawler, a master at the gift of gab, was working as a disc jockey in Memphis , when he met Jackie Fargo. Fargo took a liking to Lawler and helped him get his ring career off the ground. Lawler apparently also did some refereeing before he actually began working as a wrestler. In years to come, Lawler would become the biggest name ever in Memphis wrestling history but as 1971 went along, Lawler was paying his dues by working low on cards and as TV enhancement talent.

Two teams began to make some noise in the area at this time. The Alaskans were comprised of Mike York and Frank Monte. Monte had worked a number of territories under the name Bruce Kirk while York had worked some as Mike Riker. As the Alaskans, York & Monte were billed as cousins. The Alaskans dressed in long black tights with heavy-looking logging boots. They wore red and black-checked flannel shirts to the ring. In the ring, they were roughhouse brawlers. The Alaskans traveled and worked many of the territories during the early 1970s including the Carolinas , Texas and Florida . Likely, both York and Monte reached their career peaks working together as the Alaskans although Monte would return here in 1974 and form a successful team with Nick DeCarlo. Jay York also worked a number of territories over the years as The Alaskan, although not at this point in time in the Gulas-Welch territory.

The other team that began to make some noise during the year was the team of the Samoans. The Samoans were also roughhouse brawlers like the Alaskans. They though were a shorter team built like fireplugs. The barefoot combo relied on double team tactics and martial arts to level their opponents. Together, Tio and Reno Taylor were the Samoans at this time. Later, Reno would leave and work in some areas as Reno Tuufuli. He would be replaced in the team by Tapu. Reportedly, Tio was Tapu’s father while some sources have reported the two as brothers. Although Afa and Sika Anoia would achieve great success several years later as the Wild Samoans, the combination working here and in later years in this territory were not the Anoias (although Afa & Sika did work some in late 1975 and into 1976 for Gulas-Welch billed as The Islanders). While the Anoias would come to be known as the Samoans, Tio & Tapu had a long career in the business. Due to their dark complexion, promoters billed them as various other ethnic teams such as The Mongolians (Mississippi, 1978) The Manchurians (Knoxville and Memphis, 1980), The Maoris (Texas 1984) and The New Guinea Headhunters (Alabama 1987), quietly making them a team with great longevity and durability.

Louisville , Kentucky , Tuesday, April 27, 1971

·     Don Greene (US Junior Heavyweight champion) vs. Tojo Yamamoto

·     Big Bad John vs. Jerry Jarrett

·     Eddie Marlin & Oni Wiki Wiki vs. Al Greene & Sir Clements

·    The Alaskans:  Mike York & Frank Monte vs. Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown  

Birmingham , Alabama , Monday, May 31, 1971

·     Winner take all, no DQ, no time limit: Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Gentleman Saul Weingeroff vs. Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez

·     Oni Wiki Wiki vs. Gentleman Saul Weingeroff

·     No time limit: Dennis Hall & Jimmy Golden vs. The Masked Dr. Death I & II

·     Omar Atlas vs. Dandy Jack Donovan

·     Flying Fred Curry vs. Dick Taylor  

Lexington , Kentucky Catholic High School , Thursday, June 3, 1971

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Saul Weingeroff (World tag champions) vs. Tojo Yamamoto & Dennis Hall

·     Eddie Marlin vs. Dandy Jack Donovan

·     Pepe Lopez vs. Tinker Todd  

May

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner lay claim to the World tag titles.

·     Also having claims on the World tag title between April and May are the teams of Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez and Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown.  

May 29

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff are recognized as World tag champions on a Chattanooga card.  

May 31

·     In Memphis , Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett get by Don Greene & Al Greene to win the Southern tag titles.  

June

·     Don Greene & Al Greene are recognized as Southern tag champions.

·      Len Rossi is recognized as Southern Junior heavyweight champion.  

June 12

·     Jackie Fargo & Jerry Jarrett smash Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner to win the World tag titles in a Chattanooga match.  

June 19

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner regain the World tag titles in a Chattanooga rematch against Jackie Fargo & Jerry Jarrett.  

July-September 1971

The exact lineage of the Southern tag titles is in disarray much of the rest of 1971 with Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements, Dennis Hall & Giant (Stan) Frazier, The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey, Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown as well as Saul Weingeroff’s Von Brauners all working cards billed as Southern tag champions during the rest of 1971. At the end of September, in Chattanooga , Tojo Yamamoto & Robert Fuller win the belts from the Greenes.

Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown whipped the Von Brauners to capture the World tag titles. The Von Brauners would regain the titles shortly thereafter. Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez are also recognized as World tag champions during this time frame although how they wound up with the belts is not clear.

The Southern junior heavyweight title grew a bit more active during the summer of 1971. Sputnik Monroe downed Len Rossi to take the title. Rossi would regain the belt only to drop it to Don Greene, who also was recognized as U.S. junior heavyweight champion. Meantime, Rossi worked some shows billed as Mid-America champion, the first mention of the title in the area since 1958.

Among the wrestlers working the territory during this quarter included Jerry Jarrett, Jackie Fargo, Omar Atlas, Mario Galento, The Masked Infernos, Eddie Marlin, Carlos Montes, Tojo Yamamoto, Dandy Jack Donovan, The Alaskans: Mike York & Frank Monte, Frank Hester, Mike Henley, Owen Henley, Danny Dusek, Johnny Long, Nikita Mulkovich, Gary Martin, Robert Fuller, Omar Atlas, The Samoans, Jerry Lawler, Tony Mendoza, Joey Rossi, Bearcat Brown, The Masked Green Hornet, Eddie Marlin, Ron Wright, Don Romero, The Masked Red Demons, Tommy Gilbert, Oni Wiki Wiki, The Masked Untouchables, Frank Martinez, Ken Lucas, Bob Armstrong, Lorenzo Parente, Suni War Cloud, The Masked Mr. Wrestling I & II (not Tim Woods & Johnny Walker), NWA champion Dory Funk, Jr., Bobby Hart, The Masked Mr. Pro, The Masked Claw (unmasked as Wild Bull Curry), Kevin Sullivan, Jim Alexi, Roy Lee Welch, Black Panther (Norvell Austin), Herb Welch, George Strickland, Mack York, Chuck & Vic: The Scufflin’ Hillbillies managed by Cousin Harliss and others.

Also working the circuit at this time were female stars such as Barbara Galento, Paula Kaye, Sherri Lee, Ann Casey, Marlene Belkas and Sarah Lee.

The hottest feud at this time centered around Don Greene & Al Greene, joined by manager Sir Clements against Tojo Yamamoto, Jerry Jarrett & Jackie Fargo. The Greenes heated up the feud by giving Fargo an impromptu haircut on the various TV shows at this time. This haircut would lead to a major feud between Fargo and Al Greene, specifically which would last for the next several years. Meantime the feud broadened as Jarrett worked a Louisville match believed to be one of the first scaffold matches ever against Don Greene. Len Rossi and Sputnik Monroe also feuded at this point. The Von Brauners and The Interns also butted heads some at this time.

Dandy Jack Donovan turned a lot of heads in the area at this time. Donovan was a ring veteran who also wrestled under the name Jack Dunnavant. Donovan though is likely best known during the 1960s for having a female manager, Verne Bottoms, who also wrestled and at the time was Donovan’s real life wife. Donovan had worked the past few years in the mid-west and had formed a formidable team with a scrappy up and comer known as Ron Reed. After the team dissolved, Reed changed his ring name and became a ring legend in Florida and Georgia known as Buddy Colt. In 1970, Donovan actually teamed with Jerry Brown and they were billed for a time as The Hollywood Blondes. Injuries to Donovan though stopped this team early in their run. Brown would replace Donovan with Buddy Roberts and they would become a major combination in a number of territories working as The Hollywood Blondes. Donovan would spend most of the rest of his ring career working in the South. For a time he worked in the Gulf Coast promotion as well as some for Billy Golden’s Tri-States promotion based in Montgomery , Alabama where he worked against the promotion’s lead star Jimmy Golden. Donovan was also a major draw in Knoxville and on the east end of the Gulas-Welch territory during the early 1970s.

One of the areas most legendary figures, Sputnik Monroe returned to the area in this time frame. Monroe helped set wrestling in Memphis on its ear in 1959 in a feud against Billy Wicks. Monroe was also a popular figure with the large African-American audience in Memphis and Monroe has been credited with helping break a racial barrier in Memphis as Monroe demanded promoters allow African-American fans be allowed to attend the Memphis matches and sit anywhere they wanted (as opposed to being regulated to sitting in the balcony if they attended). Monroe would travel the globe from that moment on and become a major figure everywhere he traveled including for promotions in Georgia , Florida and Texas . When Monroe returned in 1971 he teamed with a black man first billed as The Black Panther, but later billed as Norvell Austin. Together, Monroe & Austin were the first regular integrated heel team in the business. They would also have a great deal of success as a team in other territories outside the Gulas-Welch territory. While Monroe would pop back up in the territory from time to time, Austin would become a staple for the promotion at various times over the next fifteen years.  

July

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff are recognized as Southern tag champions in some cities while Don Greene & Al Greene are recognized as titleholders in some cities. The lineage of the title is muddled the rest of the year as Dennis Hall & Stan Frazier, The Masked Interns, The Greenes, Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown all have claim on the titles at various times. At least once in September, Al Greene & Sir Clements defended the titles.

·     Len Rossi is recognized as Mid-America champion.  

July 1

·     Sputnik Monroe visits Chattanooga and defeats Len Rossi for the Southern Junior heavyweight title.  

August

·     Len Rossi is recognized as Southern Junior heavyweight champion.  

August 2

·     In Birmingham , Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown win the World tag titles by downing Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner. The teams of Dennis Hall & Stan Frazier and Big Bad John & Pepe Lopez may have also laid claim to this title in some cities.  

Early September

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff are recognized as World tag champions.  

September 6

·     The World tag titles change hands in Birmingham as Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner with manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff lose to Dr. Ken Ramey’s Masked Interns.  

September 25

·     Don Greene & Al Greene lose the Southern tag titles in Chattanooga to Tojo Yamamoto & Robert Fuller.  

Louisville , Kentucky , Tuesday, July 27, 1971

·     No time limit, no DQ, two referees:  Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements vs. The Fabulous Jackie Fargo & Tojo Yamamoto

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Saul Weingeroff vs. Dennis Hall & Tommy Gilbert

·     Eddie Marlin & Robert Fuller vs. The Masked Red Demons  

Birmingham , Alabama , Tuesday, August 24, 1971

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

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

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

Memphis , Tennessee , Monday, September 20, 1971

·     Sputnik Monroe & The Black Panther (Norvell Austin) over Tojo Yamamoto & Eddie Marlin

·     Jackie Fargo over Al Greene

·     Jerry Jarrett over The Masked Green Hornet

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner over Jim Alexi & Oni Wiki Wiki  

October-December 1971

The various titles in the area are all suspect as far as lineage is concerned during the final three months of 1971. On various cards in various cities, the World tag title was recognized as belonging to such teams as The Von Brauners with managed Saul Weingeroff, Dennis Hall & Stan Frazier, Dr. Ken Ramey’s Interns, Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown and Sir Clements team of Don & Al Greene.

Stars working area cards during the final three months of 1971 included Tojo Yamamoto, Robert Fuller, Jackie Fargo, Jerry Jarrett, Carlos Montes, Dandy Jack Donovan, Kevin Sullivan, Oni Wiki Wiki, Tommy Gilbert, The Masked Golden Terrors, Sputnik Monroe, Norvell Austin (who also worked some cards billed as Black Panther), Gary Martin, Eddie Marlin, The Masked Infernos, Jim Kent, The Samoans, Boris Kosloff, Ivan Kosloff, Omar Atlas, Ron Fuller, George Strickland, Roy Bass (aka Roy Klein), Corsica Joe, The Masked Beast, The Masked Golden Hawks, The Masked Green Shadow, Ramon Perez, Eddie Ortiz, Ben Ortiz, Frank Martinez, Dwayne Peal, Roy Klein, Mike Pappas, Lester Welch, Roy Lee Welch, Joey Corea, Treach Phillips, Herb Welch and more.

Vicki Williams, Donna Christianello and Marlene Belkas also worked the area during this time.

The area’s hottest feud at this time likely pitted the Masked Interns against Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown after the Interns attempted to paint Brown white. The Von Brauners also feuded against Ron & Robert Fuller while Jackie Fargo squared off against Sputnik Monroe.

Tommy Gilbert began turning heads around this time in the area. Gilbert hailed from Lexington , Tennessee , about one hundred miles east of Memphis . Gilbert’s father, Arlie, had worked some in wrestling but was a regular AT show performer. Gilbert, a quick junior heavyweight, fast became a fan favorite in the area and would receive major pushes over the next few years mainly with Eddie Marlin, a team with such longevity that the success of the team from the early and mid 1970s would be used in angles for the next twenty years and even for Tommy’s sons, Eddie and Doug. It should not be discounted though that Gilbert was a major singles star for the promotion over the next few years as well. Even as time moved on, Gilbert remained one of the better on-the-mat workers in the area.

A number of young up-and-comers began making some waves in the area. Boston ’s Kevin Sullivan fit in well in the area and quickly became a fan favorite. He also worked some around this time frame under the names of Johnny West and Kevin Caldwell. Sullivan, of course, would become a major star in the business within the next few years. Roy Welch’s grandson, Ron Fuller, son of Buddy Fuller, also began working on some area cards. Ron, a literal giant for the times, stood 6’9” and had a unique charisma that also endeared him to area fans. While Ron would have a major run in the area in 1975, he would achieve most of his success over the next few years working for the promotions in Georgia and Florida . Ron’s cousin, Roy Lee Welch, also made appearances on area cards. Roy Lee was the son of Lester Welch and seemed to have a bright career ahead of him. He never though broke through in the 1970s mostly working no higher than mid-card in various Southern promotions. Roy Lee would become a mainstay in the various promotions that worked in the Alabama area during the 1980s.  

Memphis , Tennessee , Monday, October 18, 1971

·     Thirty man battle royal. Winner: Bearcat Brown

·     Eddie Marlin, Oni Wiki Wiki & Omar Atlas over Saul Weingeroff, Dr. Ken Ramey & Sir Clements

·     Ron Fuller, Robert Fuller, Tojo Yamamoto & Bearcat Brown over Don Greene, Al Greene, Sputnik Monroe & The Black Panther

·     The Masked Interns over Kevin Sullivan & Jerry Jarrett

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Saul Weingeroff over Dennis Hall & Tommy Gilbert

·     Len Rossi over Dandy Jack Donovan

·     The Masked Infernos over The Masked Golden Terrors

·     George Strickland over Roy Bass  

Louisville , Kentucky , Tuesday, November 16, 1971

·     The Masked Interns managed by Dr. Ken Ramey vs. Jackie Fargo & Jerry Jarrett

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Saul Weingeroff vs. Len Rossi & Tojo Yamamoto

·     Don Greene & Al Greene managed by Sir Clements vs. Eddie Marlin & Robert Fuller

·     Also:  Bathing Beauty Contest finals to select Miss Kentucky Pro Wrestling Queen  

Memphis , Tennessee , Wednesday, December 22, 1971

·     Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner managed by Saul Weingeroff vs. Sputnik Monroe & Norvell Austin

·     Jackie Fargo vs. Dandy Jack Donovan

·     Treach Phillips vs. Roy Klein

·     Herb Welch & Dwayne Peal vs. Corsica Joe & The Masked Beast  

October

·     Len Rossi is recognized as Southern Junior heavyweight champion.

·     Dr. Ken Ramey’s team of The Masked Interns are recognized as World tag champions.  

October 16

·     On Chattanooga TV, The Masked Interns attempt to paint Bearcat Brown white in an angle designed to create heat for Brown’s feud with partner Len Rossi against the Interns.  

November

·     Len Rossi & Bearcat Brown lay claim to the World tag championship.  

December

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

·     Don Greene is recognized as U.S. Junior heavyweight champion.  

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  

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1972