Rivalries that defined the area.

[Bradshaw0012]

The recent post by GarvinStomp that polls the best tag teams got me thinking of this idea.

When you think of "Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling" what is the one singles and one tag team rivalry that you feel best defined the spirit of the promotion and considering this time frame.

To me, Mid Atlantic brings to mind two things: wrestling and tag teams.

My singles rivalry is Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat. This to me defines the WRESTLING aspect. A cocky and flamboyant heel who you could despise yet envy, against the classic babyface who applies himself and is successful based on merits and performance. I have never seen a bad match between these men, and despite the ages if these two got in the ring again, I'd buy a ticket. The true "good guy vs. bad guy", hold for hold, excitement even with a headlock, and thinking each pin attempt could be the win....that is wrestling.

For tag teams, nothing had me wrapped up in just the match itself like watching Gene and Ole Anderson vs. Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel. To go two hours and still have you wanting more speaks for itself. Gene and Ole Anderson to me ARE tag team wrestling, but throw in the talent and ability of Paul Jones who was a Mid Atlantic staple, and compliment him with a man like Wahoo McDaniel which his name alone speaks for itself, and you have something special. Never mind the good vs. bad angle, the matches to me showcased who wanted to prove they were the best, and it showed.

Then agin, these are my opinions. Feel free to share yours......

[bobbyryates]

i am a HUGE anderson mark myself, but to bring the feeling on the times out to define them..i have to go to steamboat-youngblood. whether they were against von rascke-jones/valentine, snuka-stevens, slaughter-kernodle, or the briscos.. the emotion was the key to the intensity of their matchups.

[Baltimore Jack]

Overall, I tend to agree with Bradshaw. But it is so hard to pick one singles rivalry for the "Mid-Atlantic Years" of 1973-1986. I've narrowed it down to Wahoo vs. Johnny Valentine, Wahoo vs. Flair, and Flair vs. Steamboat.

Sentimentally I'd go with Wahoo/Flair, but ultimately nothing can really top Flair/Steamboat. It stood the test of time over three decades, from its early Mid-Atlantic years (1977-1978), through the under-rated battles in 1984, through the early WCW year of 1989 and the classic televised trilogy of matches that year, through their final big series in 1994.

I would agree on the tag team front: the Andersons vs. Wahoo/Jones battles were amazing, nothing like them ever really happened again. And the amazing thing is, those matches are still remembered by fans who saw them, and Ole and Paul both mention that 1975 series as some of their best matches ever, but in hindsight it was a relatively short feud, it didn't last long compared to what you typically think of as a memorable feud. It's too bad these matches don't exist on film or tape for fans to see today.

Steamboat and Youngblood were probably the greatest pure babyface team the Mid-Atlantic area ever saw, but it would be hard for any team to trump the Andersons as a team as far as longevity, teamwork, success, and being associated with that era. But a dream feud would certainly be the Andersons of 1975 vs. Steamboat and Youngblood of 1983.

[ironanderson]

baltimorejack said:

Overall, I tend to agree with Bradshaw. But it is so hard to pick one singles rivalry for the "Mid-Atlantic Years" of 1973-1986. I've narrowed it down to Wahoo vs. Johnny Valentine, Wahoo vs. Flair, and Flair vs. Steamboat.

Sentimentally I'd go with Wahoo/Flair, but ultimately nothing can really top Flair/Steamboat. It stood the test of time over three decades, from its early Mid-Atlantic years (1977-1978), through the under-rated battles in 1984, through the early WCW year of 1989 and the classic televised trilogy of matches that year, through their final big series in 1994.

I would agree on the tag team front: the Andersons vs. Wahoo/Jones battles were amazing, nothing like them ever really happened again. And the amazing thing is, those matches are still remembered by fans who saw them, and Ole and Paul both mention that 1975 series as some of their best matches ever, but in hindsight it was a relatively short feud, it didn't last long compared to what you typically think of as a memorable feud. It's too bad these matches don't exist on film or tape for fans to see today.

Steamboat and Youngblood were probably the greatest pure babyface team the Mid-Atlantic area ever saw, but it would be hard for any team to trump the Andersons as a team as far as longevity, teamwork, success, and being associated with that era. But a dream feud would certainly be the Andersons of 1975 vs. Steamboat and Youngblood of 1983.

These are spot on and really I don't believe a logical arguement against them can be made.

JV and McDaniel was a platform, Flair picked up for JV to a certain extent.

Flair and Steamer kicked it up a notch by picking it up a notch.

[gwlee7]

Of all the Mid Atlantic I watched growing up, the three things that I remember most vividly involve Wahoo. 10 The "ultimate sacrifice" involving the Andersons with Jones as his partner.
2) Wahoo stomping Boris Malenko's dentures into tiny pieces. 3) Greg Valentine breaking Wahoo's leg.

[dogthuhoops2k]

Fellas, we truly were so lucky. There was a lot of good wrestling across the country, but we had the best imo.

like a movie or book that holds up over time, MACW, if it were to appear now, from a storyline standpoint would hold and surpass anything you see from the indys to the majors right now. Yes it was THAT good.

Intense, emotional, physically exhausting, and Intimate, all these things made it a fantastic drama that if you missed it, you felt like you missed something important. Is there any wrestling today you feel you can say that about?

Dogs

[Uncle Ivan]

I always think of the Paul Jones / Jimmy Valiant rivalry. How long did that thing go on...years?

[RowdyRoddy]

Much of the 1980s!

[Baltimore Jack]

I think the life span for Jones / Valiant was 1984-1986.

[flairfanwes]

Also one of my favorites. Valient would rock the cumberland county memorial arena.