He was 74. This entire angle epitomizes that. I knew Bobby Duncum from Texas. Bobby tried talking to me about my resistance in letting The Samoans go, but I cut him off and said, “I respect you and we’re friends, but I will not get rid of The Samoans. For years, Jim Cornette (who was at ringside that night taking photographs for the Apter mags) called this his favorite match, making it required viewing for any young, budding star in the business.Longtime Memphis Wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett laughed when I asked him about the inspiration for the empty arena bout, which has become a cult classic.By ’81, I was well aware of the fact that Dory and Terry were the only brothers in history to hold the NWA title, wrestling’s biggest prize. A few words were said back and forth, and then Robert sneered, “How would you like it if I kicked your ass while your boys are out of the room?”I know it sounds like I’m picking on them – but there is a reason that I feel this way about them, and I want you to see the big picture so you can understand my mindset. But, anyway, the biggest night to run wrestling is Thanksgiving night. I think the promoters will simply switch to a different arena rather than pay us. I cannot emphasize this enough, Tua was so good he forced Savanna to change from ground and pound defensive team to an air raid 60 points a game scheme. For years, the Funks claimed that they invented the Texas Death Match in Amarillo. They looked down on wrestlers, but at the same time, the wrestlers in Tennessee allowed it.”“I don’t care,” he shot back. Let’s put a deposit down on every major arena in the United States–I pay half, you pay half–and we’ll sell the date back to the local promoters when it finally dawns on them that we’ve already got their building locked up on that date.’ I calmly explained to Terry, ‘There are probably 300 arenas that we’d have to cover.
“To give you an idea of how Terry’s mind works, he called me once saying, ‘Jarrett, I’ve got an idea that’s going to make us both a lot of money. In Memphis, fans had seen just about everything up to that point. I just brought them in with me from Texas!”The Welch’s, the Fuller’s, the Golden’s, the Jarrett’s, and the Field’s are the big wrestling families in Tennessee – and they’re all intertwined with each other in a mind-boggling Hatfield and McCoy-like fashion. When I did someone a big favor – I was never expecting a tremendous payoff, but a simple “thank you” would have been nice. Apparently, Jerry thought that sending Bobby to talk with me would change my attitude. Get out of my arena!”Remember – if the rumors are true – Jerry Jarrett would not only be Robert Fuller’s booker, but also his bastardized uncle. One of my favorite things about Memphis is the way Lance Russell would sell stuff. He also wants to use Jim … Arrrgghhh-eeeeeeee! 2.hey I saw on the flyer the second match was with Tommy Gilbert, I really don’t remember him at all being a fan of wrestling from 1990, was he a big draw in Memphis or did he ever get a push?