Tag Archives: Bill Dundee

Episode 26: Baby, He’s A Superstar

On July 4, 1977, Jerry Lawler and Billl Dundee kicked off the greatest summer in Memphis wrestling’s history as he outfoxed Jerry Lawler in the main event at the Mid-South Coliseum, winning $2000 of the King’s coldhearted cash. 41 years later, Dundee joins KFR hosts Scott Bowden and the Great Brian Last® for an explosive interview.

The Superstar will discuss Dundee’s Memphis debut; why he and George Barnes got over so quickly in the territory and skyrocketed to tag-team main events; Billy’s reaction when Barnes told him he was heading back to Australia;, Dundee’s personal feelings on Jerry Lawler; why the scrappy Aussie and ex-wife Beverly agreed to the hair match stips in ’77; the popularity of Memphis wrestling around the world today; and the story of how a young punk from Germantown got his very first autograph of any kind from the Superstar on a black-and-white publicity photo back in 1978.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

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Episode 24: Men About Town w/ Guest Jim Cornette

KFR host Scott Bowden and his extra-crispy guest, Jim Cornette, honor the 35th anniversary of one of the best bouts ever held in Memphis, which also was featured around the territory’s loop, earning one of the biggest money weeks ever for promoter Jerry Jarret.

This series of bouts featured Jarrett’s two biggest
longtime handpicked stars who worked practically the same match with the same finish to huge crowds in Lexington, Memphis, Nashville and Louisville, June 2—June 7, 1983, with a loser-leaves-town stipulation and the AWA Southern heavyweight title hanging in the balance. They all came to witness Jerry “the King” Lawler defeat “Superstar” Bill Dundee to regain his belt and finally rid the
area of his perennial rival and former ally in what many fans declared the greatest match they ever saw in the territory.

Behind the scenes, Dundee’s departure also resulted in other key names leaving the area, including Cornette, who explains not only the reasons behind that but also why this ’83 series and the ’77 feud clicked with Memphis fans while the ‘79 program between the King
and the Superstar did not. It’s no-holds-barred, must-listen edition of the KFR podcast, complete with rare WHBQ audio you won’t hear anywhere else.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 17: Fifty-One Shades of Grey

Scott Bowden is back with another piping hot edition of the KFR Podcast! Joining Bowden and the Great Brian Last™ will be Jerry Grey, who has emerged as one of the greatest storytellers in all of professional wrestling on the 6:05 Superpodcast…the Mothership!

Tonight, the Golden Boy shares his comic misadventures in the wild-and-wooly world of ’80s Memphis wrestling,  featuring Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Hart, “Ravishing” Rick Rude and his lovely valet, Angel, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Sabu The Wild Ladies’ Man from Borneo, and more!

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

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Episode 16: Jeff Jarrett

Welcome to a Hall of Fame-worthy episode of Kentucky Fried Rasslin’!

This week, KFR host Scott Bowden welcomes Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2018, to the show to discuss the former USWA and WCW World champion’s early days in his father’s territory. Double J will discuss his participation in two of the hottest angles—not to mention one of the hottest posters—to ever hit Memphis TV, along with his memories of Tojo Yamamoto, Akio Sato & Tarzan Goto, Tony Falk, Phil Hickerson and Pat Tanaka.

You’ll also discover how the founder of TNA also had a hand in creating Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ (true story)! All this and more on episode 16 of the KFR podcast!

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 15: All The King’s Men

On this week’s KFR podcast, host Scott Bowden begins his look at the angle that led to The Last Sellout: the return of the King to the Mid-South Coliseum on March 3, 1986, which would be the final time Jarrett Promotions sold out the building.

Two of Jerry Lawler’s longtime buddies/teammates who broke into the wrestling business because of the King’s influence join today’s show to discuss their thankless jobs and provide insight into one of the most memorable programs in the territory’s history: Lawler and Dutch Mantell vs. BIl Dundee and Buddy Landel. TV jobber Jim Jamison discusses the trials and tribulations of trainsitioning from the gridiron to the mat with Lawler, and shares his memories of Lance Russell, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Jarrett, and Joe LeDuc.  Jamison also reveals why he loved the job despite its obvious shortcomings and how he almost lost the Memphis gig when he worked a shot as Jim Cornette’s cousin Percy for Houston promoter Paul Boesch for a decent payday and a new haircut.

Jerry Calhoun, the most maligned official in the history of professional sports, discusses his break into the business as well as his thoughts on some of the memorable matches he officiated around the territory in its heyday—including the Last Sellout…and a certain stretcher match on Jan. 29, 1979. Will Calhoun be the unlikely hero who unmasks the Mil Mascaras Monday Night Mystery?! Find out in Espisode 14 of the KFR podcast with Bowden and co-host The Great Brian Last.™

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

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Episode 4: Game of Thrones: The Mad King

This week’s KFR is a family-sized bucket of extra crispy, original rasslin’ goodness packed with rare classic audio from the WHBQ wrestling days. Our adventure begins in February 1975, when Jerry Lawler has been forced into exile by promoter Jerry Jarrett after the King’s head had gotten too big for his crown. After a hot summer led by the silent-but-deadly Mongolian Stomper fending off pretenders to the Southern throne, attendance begins to cool as winter is coming, leading to the return of the fire-throwin’ Mad King of Memphis as a heel. Along the way, the Stomper learns a valuable lesson when he cuts an ill-advised promo without manager Bearcat Wright: Silence is Gouldie.

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 3: Today Memphis, Tomorrow the World

World’s collide on this week’s Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ podcast when investigative journalists Scott Bowden and The Great Brian Last uncover Jerry Jarrett’s plans to unify the CWA and AWA World titles in 1980.
Fresh off unraveling the Mummy last week, KFR’s crack archeologists also discover the first-ever dueling promos on WHBQ between Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee, hyping their initial monumental clash advertised as the main event at the Mid-South Coliseum on December 8, 1975.  These classic interviews have not been aired in 40-plus years!
Plus, you’ll learn the hard way that love can be a fickle, pickle-eating, overweight mistress wearing undersized Jerry Lawler T-shirts when the romance between the babyface King and the hometown faithful ends nearly as quickly as a Pat Hutchinson squash match as 1975 draws to a close.

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS