Someone help me with this one...

[thegreatbolo]

I can't remember the year (many run together in my degenerating mind), but when exactly did #1 PAUL JONES retire as a full-time wrestler to become a manager?

I saw Paul put over Tommy Gilbert at a Saturday night show at the North Wilkesboro, N.C. YMCA (I was surprised when that happened.)

The very next night, I believe, I went to a Charlotte Coliseum show, and Paul was managing (Jack and Jerry Brico, I believe).

So would this be in 1983?

[RowdyRoddy]

I could be wrong, but I think that #1 Paul Jones moved from full-time wrestler to full-time manager in the February or March 1983 when he was in charge of Dory Funk Jr, Jake Roberts, and the Assasins.

[bluedevil71]

Not sure if the Assassins were there quite yet, but the timeline sounds right. Dory beat Jack Brisco for the Mid-Atlantic title around this time, and IIRC, Paul was in Dory's corner.

Here's another question along those lines: Why did Paul make the switch then? He still worked from time to time in the special matches with Valiant later on, then in SAPW in the early 90s? Was there an injury or something?

[RowdyRoddy]

How old was #1 when he moved from wrestler to manager in early 1983? Late 30s? Early 40s?

[RowdyRoddy]

And you are correct. The Assasins did not debut until July 1983 in MACW. Jones managed Jake Roberts and Dory Funk Jr.

[ncjames]

Here is the card from that night Paul made the switch. He worked the tag, then interfered for Dory to help him win the title and became a manager the following week on tv. The Assassins arrived that summer.

1/30/83 Charlotte, NC
Dick Slater D Jerry Briosco
Roddy Piper & Dusty Rhodes D Paul Jones & Red Dog Lane
Jimmy Valiant D One Man Gang
MID ATL TITLE Dory Funk Jr D Jack Brisco to win title
US TITLE Greg Valentine D The Champ
WORLD TAG TITLE Sgt Slaughter & Don Kernodle vs Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood DDQ