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February 24th, 2006 15:22 GMT |
 
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Topics: 121
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Post: #299253
PT: #17/131
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The greatest moment in GCW history was when Tommy Rich came back to GA. This was in '81 during the Freebirds match against Steve O & Steve Keirn. Tommy hit the scene to make the save and the whole studio erupts. It was one of those moments in time that you just couldn't believe. Gordon Solie did what he does best, sold it like a million bucks.
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| HPWKING |
February 24th, 2006 21:23 GMT |
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Topics: 56
Replies: 366
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Post: #299273
PT: #18/131
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This message was edited by HPWKING on February 24th, 2006 21:27 GMT
I grew up a fan because of Dick The Bruiser, got away from wrestling for years and then I turned the tv on channel 17 and theres Tommy Rich drivin down the interstate in the Firebird to On the Road Again talkin about comin home to GA. I became a fan again because of Tommy Rich that day. A few months later I moved to Atlanta and went to the tapings, Omni, Cobb County Civic shows and let me tell at that time Wildfire had a run as big as anybody in history. Tommy Rich was the man that fans came to see and he did put a**es in the seats. He deserved all the honors he got along with being NWA Heavyweight Champion. I became friends with Tommy and his family and have been them around them alot of times and he is a heck of a family guy to. I promote Hoosier Pro wrestling in Columbus, IN monthly for the last 8 years and everytime Tommy has been here the building is always packed full so he still can put a**es in the seats. Tommy run is up there with the Austin, Rock Hogan or whoever and I am proud to know and call Tommy Rich my friend and the wrestler who got me back to being a fan, Somebody say somethin about gettin fired up.
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Post: #299283
PT: #19/131
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Quoted from: HPWKING, February 24th, 2006 21:23 GMTI grew up a fan because of Dick The Bruiser, got away from wrestling for years and then I turned the tv on channel 17 and theres Tommy Rich drivin down the interstate in the Firebird to On the Road Again talkin about comin home to GA. I became a fan again because of Tommy Rich that day. A few months later I moved to Atlanta and went to the tapings, Omni, Cobb County Civic shows and let me tell at that time Wildfire had a run as big as anybody in history. Tommy Rich was the man that fans came to see and he did put a**es in the seats. He deserved all the honors he got along with being NWA Heavyweight Champion. I became friends with Tommy and his family and have been them around them alot of times and he is a heck of a family guy to. I promote Hoosier Pro wrestling in Columbus, IN monthly for the last 8 years and everytime Tommy has been here the building is always packed full so he still can put a**es in the seats. Tommy run is up there with the Austin, Rock Hogan or whoever and I am proud to know and call Tommy Rich my friend and the wrestler who got me back to being a fan, Somebody say somethin about gettin fired up.
He had a great regional run, but he's not 'up there' with the names in bold.
Iron Jeff
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February 24th, 2006 21:46 GMT |
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Post: #299285
PT: #20/131
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This message was edited by on February 24th, 2006 21:47 GMT
HPWKING, saying you went to the tapings and the Omni and all that makes me hate you in a way!
Kidding, I'm darned jealous you were able to enjoy that period of pro wrestling live and in person. God bless ya!
I agree with you about Rich's popularity during that period. We felt it all the way here in the eastern part of the country thanks to TBS. I would compare that short period to Austin and The Rock as well. Considering all Tommy had was cable access on Saturday evenings at 6:05 I'd say he compares very well to those guy. They had prime time major network access and a HUGE marketing department behind them. Tommy did not and yet "Wildfire" was way over in the early 80's.
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| HPWKING |
February 24th, 2006 23:16 GMT |
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Topics: 56
Replies: 366
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Post: #299319
PT: #21/131
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Moved to Atlanta in Feb. 82 and hit the tv studio the first week. Rich, 2, Ole & Hansen, Idol, Freebirds, Mike Jackson, Superstar, Flair. The Piper run, Funks, Dusty, Snake Brown, Brody, Abdullah those were the days. Tommy's run was hugh for that time just like Austin, Rock and Hogan except they have more coverage with tv, ppv's, internet, tours and a different time. But when people say that Rich's wasn't hugh sorry but I disagree. All the Apter mags and fans around the country thought that Wildfire was the top star in wrestling during that period. A Country Boy Can Survive.
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Topics: 121
Replies: 1233
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Post: #299347
PT: #22/131
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From '79 to '82 Tommy Rich was the biggest star in wrestling. For all the haters, if not Rich than who was during this time frame??
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Topics: 474
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Post: #299380
PT: #23/131
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Ok freshman I know I'm about to get SUPER SLAMMED by everyone but you ever heard of the American Dream.Yes Tommy was big but Dustys was still super popular at this time. Dusty wrestled everywhere Rich did plus many ares he didn't. Dusty did tours of Japan. He was also in the Apter mags more.Dusty played a big role in the early 80s Omni cards. For that matter I would say Flair was bigger at this time as well. I think the Dusty era ran 1976-1983.I'm ready for your nasty remarks so let me have it. Would this board be any fun if we all agreed?
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February 25th, 2006 04:29 GMT |
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Post: #299390
PT: #24/131
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This message was edited by on February 25th, 2006 04:30 GMT
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Dusty was sure hot during this period as well. So was Rich. I'm not gonna make a call as to who was more over because both were in the top 5 world wide in popularity during the early 80's.
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| HPWKING |
February 25th, 2006 05:14 GMT |
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Topics: 56
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Post: #299394
PT: #25/131
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I was at shows in Atlanta at the Omni during Tommy's run and they were packed 17,00 plus. Dusty came in and many times tagged with Tommy and the house were still full. Dusty was big but no bigger than Tommy Rich from 80-82, Flair was the Champion and a star in Charlotte and around the world. Von Erichs in Texas. But the Rich run was my personal favorite even though Bruiser Brody ranks right up ther with Rich as the wrestlers I liked best. If you will
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Topics: 121
Replies: 1233
Member
Post: #299440
PT: #26/131
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RhodesFan
Your right about Dusty, I just don't think he was hotter than Rich from 79-82. It's a very very close call.
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Post: #299597
PT: #27/131
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This message was edited by on February 26th, 2006 10:37 GMT
Quote MessageAll the Apter mags and fans around the country thought that Wildfire was the top star in wrestling during that period. A Country Boy Can Survive.
Not taking anything away from Tommy Rich. You know the Apter mags were bull shat though right?
Quote MessageI was at shows in Atlanta at the Omni during Tommy's run and they were packed 17,00 plus.
Im having a hard time finding the numbers for Georgia myself. I know they are out there though. But I know it wasn't 17,000 every show. Not even close.
Also when Ole Anderson took over as booker Georgia was turning about a 4 million dollar profit at the time. It was higher in prior years when Rich wasn't on the radar screen yet. Of course that has nothing to do with the Rich timeline. Just thought i'd toss that out there though. Georgia was more profitable prior to the 'Rich' run.
And this...
Quote MessageWhen the promoter at the time, Barnett, when asked who his big drawing cards were, said Dusty, Wrestling II, and Tommy Rich. - Dave Meltzer (Wrestling Classics)
Rich was definatley one of the biggest stars at the time due to cable television. Working for a company that had the first cable television show. A company that would of had that show whether Rich was their or not at the time. If the Turner channel was seen national prior to 79 I wonder how big Wrestling 2 woulda been in that time frame with the broad exposure, the fresh concept of seeing another territory.
I will also add that it's a safe bet that the Junk Yard Dog in Mid South was a bigger draw between 1980-84. And this is without cable television for the product. Also we know Backlund was a bigger draw up north just based on market size, working for the biggest territory of them all. Then there's the NWA Champion in late 81 thru 82, Ric Flair. Oh, Dusty Rhodes working Superdome shows and other shots here and there.
Of course Rich may have very well been the most popular, by default due to week in week out in 'his' territory which had national exposure.
Outside of JCP (Few shots) and Memphis (Mid South Coliseum) where else was Rich getting bookings? I can't think of anywhere else.
Iron Jeff
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Post: #299598
PT: #28/131
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This message was edited by on February 26th, 2006 10:52 GMT
Tommy Rich World Title run.
Monday April 27, 1981 (Augusta, GA) beat Harley Race.
Friday May 1, 1981 (Gainesville, GA) lost Harley Race.
*No television taping with the title.
*No defense at the biggest house (Atlanta, Ga) with the title. Let alone JCP, FLA, Dallas, St. Louis, Toronto, Portland, or All Japan.
*Not to mention no real press in the other territories, more then likely. Nothing in JCP from what I re-call.
What was the point of the reign?
Wasn't like he was being rewarded. If he was rewarded it would of been at least a run around the horn with the title to collect on those gates in other territories that the NWA champion was guaranteed. The true reward isn't the title, it's the money that came with being the NWA champion. The title meant money, if you could 'defend' it.
I've 'heard' they were considering giving Atlas a run with the title with an Omni victory over Race prior. But apparently Race/'NWA' wasn't hip to it.
Iron Jeff
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| HPWKING |
February 26th, 2006 20:15 GMT |
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Topics: 56
Replies: 366
Member
Post: #299688
PT: #29/131
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The main thing is like it or not Tommy Rich had a heck of run from 79-82. One that any wrestler would love to have. For the people who have a problem with the Belt run. All I can say is Tommy didn't let Vince make him look stupid by wearing black and yellow polka dots. If you will.
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February 26th, 2006 20:24 GMT |
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Post: #299692
PT: #30/131
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I'm not a numbers guy. Whether Rich drew or not is not my arena, I just know he was huge in the early 80's and a strong top 5 most popular, maybe top 3, for the early 80's. Obviously cable tv played a huge role in this.
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