Brass Knucks Title(s)

[Baltimore Jack]

I don't know much about the Central States territory, but Rufus was as much or more of a star there as he was in Mid-Atlantic, and may have actually spent more time there in total. Either way it was close.

Diverting off topic here, but wrestling in the territory days was very different than the two-comany wrestling of the 90s and 2000s. Today, guys stay with the same company for basically their whole main-event career with some exceptions. In the territory days, 90% of wrestlers moved frequently between multiple territories. The other 10% (and that number may even be too high) might be compared to today's "franchise players" in the NFL. Certain guys, Ric Flair for example, basically stay with one territory all of their main event careers. In fact, now that I think about it, I can't think of another example quite like Flair. Maybe Lawler in Memphis, except his situation was different because he was management.

Flair spent time in other territories when he wasn't world champion (Georgia, St. Louis) but it was always spot shots; he never left Mid-Atlantic.

[bobbyryates]

steamboat was mostly stationary in MACW before he went to the WWF. i'd love to have seen him stayed and been here throughout the '80's.

[bluedevil71]

Back on subject, wasn't the Manny Fernandez-Black Bart match at Starrcade '84 a Brass Knucks title match? Or wasn't it promoted as such.

[butcher]

In regard to Rufus, somewhere I have a valuable piece of Rufus memorabilia... a 45 single with two songs recorded by the Freight Train himself. I remember one was called "Lilacs Today". They were absolutely horrible but hilarious. I bought it at the Greensboro Coliseum during the 70s. I'll have to find it. I doubt it won any Grammys.

[clawmaster]

Re: Rufus in the Central States Territory

Rufus debuted in the Central States region in 1970. He was pushed hard as a babyface and feuded with the likes of Mad Dog Harley Race, Nature Boy Roger Kirby, Killer Karl Kox, KO Kox (Bob Sweetan) and Baron Von Raschke.

Rufus was a staple in Central States rings from the 70s to the mid 80s. I'm far from an expert on this region but results and lineups show Rufus near or at the top of many Central States cards.

[Baltimore Jack]

>> ... a 45 single with two songs recorded by the Freight Train himself. I remember one was called "Lilacs Today".

That makes two Rufus R. Jones singles that exist. This one is (ironically enough) called "Boogie Man" and the flipside is the instrumental version of the same song.

Rufus R. Jones and the Freight Train Funk Band!