Are you ready for the ultimate Jim Cornette shoot interview that takes you in a time machine back to the 80’s, when wrestling was wrestling and not sports entertainment? This DVD is unlike anything RF Video has ever done with Jim before as we’ve presented him with a new concept; Wrestling from A to Z hosted by Jim Cornette takes an in-depth look at all the talent that Jim was able to share the locker rooms with in Memphis, Mid Atlantic and Mid South!
This interview is nearly 5 1/2 hours long, but wait, there’s more… This interview was conducted at Jim Cornette’s home in KY where he gives us a private tour of his man cave that is loaded with some of the rarest wrestling memorabilia ever known to man. Not only does he have so much of his own personal stuff in this man cave but he has collected books, posters, costumes, and everything under the sun! If you’re an old school fan, you’ll be amazed as Jim takes us on a tour of this huge room and tells us insider stories on so many of the pieces that he has collected, which makes this DVD worth the price alone. He also has tons of his stuff from Memphis, Mid South, WWF, Smoky Mountain, and of course, the NWA! There are pay stubs, pictures, bloody suits, tennis rackets, and so many other rare items. You will be blown away by his stories on his personal collection, as I personally was.
Grab a cold beer because you’re about to get all brand new stories, never heard before, as Jim talks about all the talent that he has shared the locker rooms with, including some of the biggest names in the business. Wrestling from A to Z leaves no stone uncovered and only Jim can tell hilarious stories on the biggest events in the business. There are tons of Jim Cornette moments throughout this DVD.
Here are just a few of the topics that were talked about with Jim on this brand new ground breaking concept that RF Video filmed at the man cave of one of pro wrestling’s greatest managers of all time!
JIM CORNETTE
MEMPHIS
The first territory you worked was Memphis. Jerry Jarrett said that as
a photographer, he realized that you were getting under his skin and if
you could do that, you would be a great manager – so we’ll start with
Jerry.
What are your memories of working for him and how he first guided and
advised your career? What was the secret to his genius?
Talk about Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler trading off when it came to
the booking position and how that prolonged the health of the territory
over time?
We want to get your overview, history and favorite memories of the
following talents and personalities who were important to the general
Memphis scene and were working there in different roles, some in front
of the camera, some behind the scenes before you debuted:
Roy Welch
Nick Gulas
Ricky Gibson
Rocky Johnson
Christine Jarrett
Tommy Gilbert
The Fargo Brothers
Buddy Fuller
Sputnik Monroe
Don and Al Green
Sam Bass
Bobby Shane
Eddie and Tommy Marlin
Tojo Yamamoto
Paul Morton
Paul Neighbors
Jerry Calhoun
Guy Coffey
Len Rossi
Billy Wicks
Jack Eaton
The Von Brauners
You debuted in Memphis in 1982. We’d like you to talk about your
favorite memories of each of these personalities from the era that you
worked with and their importance to Memphis Wrestling history:
Bill Dundee
Jimmy Hart
Jerry Lawler
Dutch Mantel
Lance Russell
Dave Brown
Dennis Condrey
Koko Ware
Sherri Martel
The Moondogs
Randy Rose
Bobby Eaton
Austin Idol
Norvell Austin
Bill Dundee
Randy Savage
Eddie Marlin
Jimmy Valiant
The Fabulous Ones, as a team and as individuals – Stan Lane and Steve
Keirn
Kamala
Plowboy Frazier
Rock N’ Roll Express as a team and as individuals – Ricky Morton and
Robert Gibson
Eddie Gilbert
Wayne Ferris
Mongolian Stomper
Andy Kaufman
Bobby Fulton
Terry Taylor
WMC-TV and their studios
What were the most important lessons you learned in Memphis? What is the legacy of the territory?
MID-SOUTH
Bill Watts brought you into Mid-South. Discuss how Watts scouted you
and made a “trade” to bring you and the Midnights to the Mid-South
territory. Talk about what it was like working for Watts, compare him
to Jerry Jarrett and what made the Mid-South territory click in
comparison to Memphis.
Again, let’s talk about some important personalities, some from outside
the ring and some competitors in the ring and discuss them and their
importance to the Mid-South territory as well as their own legacies
within the context of Oklahoma and the Mid-South area:
Leroy McGirk
Grizzly Smith
Danny Hodge
Bad Leroy Brown
Ernie Ladd
Buck Robley
Boyd Pierce
Killer Karl Kox
Dick Murdoch
Ray Candy
Andre The Giant & Dusty Rhodes as special guest stars at the Superdome
events
Junkyard Dog
The Fabulous Freebirds
Paul Orndorff
Talk about Ernie Ladd specifically as a booker and why you believe, to
date, he’s the only black man who’s been given a chance to book a major
promotion for any length of time?
You came to Mid-South in 1984. Let’s discuss some of the personalities
from that era and favorite memories of working with them:
Bill Dundee specifically as a booker
Junkyard Dog
Pork Chop Cash
Bobby and Dennis as the Midnight Express
Jim Ross
Terry Taylor
Paul Orndorff
Ray Candy
Ted DiBiase
Magnum TA
Mr. Wrestling II
The Rock N’ Roll Express
Pork Chop Cash
Butch Reed
Steve Williams
The Irish McNeils Boys Club-Shreveport, Louisiana (TV was filmed there
for years)
The Superdome
These names were after you had moved on, but you can’t discuss
Mid-South and the UWF without:
Eddie Gilbert
Big Bubba Rogers
Skandar Akbar
One Man Gang
What’s the legacy of Mid-South?
CHARLOTTE – JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS
What led to you, Bobby and Dennis moving on to work for Jim Crockett
Promotions?
Talk about each member of the Crockett family and where the promotion
was when you entered there in August 1985:
Jim Crockett Jr.
Jackie Crockett
David Crockett
Francis Crockett
Dusty Rhodes was the booker when you debuted. Talk about Dusty, not as
a wrestler, but as a booker and how he interacted with Crockett to make
the JCP machine run. Discuss your own insight into his genius and his
creativity, as well as his drive.
Now discuss Dusty as a wrestler, and how his placement as a main event
talker helped and/or hindered his booking at times – and how you, as a
main event performer later in SMW, used what you saw first hand to
temper how you may have used yourself in Smoky.
Let’s talk about some incredible Charlotte personalities who were a
big part of that territory before the era you worked in the territory:
Jim Crockett Sr.
George Scott
Rip Hawk
Johnny Weaver
Penny Banner
Swede Hanson
Paul Jones
Ivan Koloff
Thunderbolt Patterson
Sandy Scott
Blackjack Mulligan
Gary Hart
Nelson Royal
Now let’s talk about some of the amazing talent, personalities and
events from the era you worked for JCP, 1985 through 1988:
Ric Flair
Magnum TA
Tully Blanchard
The Road Warriors
Arn Anderson
Nikita Koloff
Ole Anderson
Wahoo McDaniel
JJ Dillon
Big Bubba Rogers
The Midnight Express, this time both Dennis & Bobby then Bobby & Stan
Lane
Baby Doll
The Rock N’ Roll Express, including Dusty pushing Ricky as a singles
challenger for the NWA title
Tony Schiavone
Bob Caudle
Jimmy Valiant & Big Mama
Tommy Young
George South
Ron & Jimmy Garvin as a team
Michael Hayes & Jim Garvin as a team
Precious
Sting
Lex Luger
Barry Windham
The Varsity Club – Steiner, Rotund and Kevin Sullivan as a singles
talent
Al Perez
The Fantastics
WTBS Techwood Drive Studios
The Mulkeys
The Italian Stallion
Misty Blue Simmes
Larry Zbyszko as the Western States Heritage champion
Memories of working your first Starrcade
Memories of the Crockett Cup events
Working your first PPV event – The Bunkhouse Stampede in NY
The purchase of Florida and UWF?
To close out this DVD, what killed JCP and what was it like living
through the end of it – and seeing it purchased by Turner? Do you
think there was anything, in hindsight, that could have turned the tide
and saved JCP from the end?
What is the legacy of JCP in the Mid-Atlantic region?