Rasslin 97: The 1977 Tennessee Split (Part 4 - Making a SUPERSTAR, Dusty, More)

Guest Steve Crawford returns to Regional Rasslin to discuss perhaps one of the biggest pieces of Tennessee Wrestling history. We continue our journey through 1977 as we travel through the summer months, and the MAKING OF A SUPERSTAR! We look at the entire weekly feud between "King" Jerry Lawler vs. the newly dubbed giant killer Bill Dundee. Money exchanged, pink slips traded, hair is cut... the ongoing saga that helped solidify Dundee as a true main event "Superstar"! Plus, Jerry Lawler RETIRES on top of his game? This episode is STACKED with talent and stories, our longest show to date as we talk Dusty Rhodes vs. Jerry Lawler, the arrival of (wildman?) Leroy Brown, RATAMYUS is here, a Jimmy Valiant sighting, Russian Stomper goes babyface, George Gulas headlines, the story behind King Cobra's first Memphis TV appearance, the wacky way Plowboy Frazier turns face (only in Memphis), Rocky Johnson is off to Florida while Tommy Rich leaves for his first trip to Georgia, Hollywood Blondes Jerry Brown and DICK Roberts(?), Jackie Fargo winding down as Roughhouse Fargo returns, the life & times of Mickey Poole, Jerry Jarrett talks George Gulas, the heat drawing team of Luke Graham & Ripper Collins, Arman Hussian trades paint with Homer O'Dell, shady Frankie Laine, Lawler records music and meets Jimmy Hart, Ray Candy quits, Abdullah vs. Haystacks, Paul Orndorff, Andre the Giant, Jim Garvin, The Sheik, Bob Ellis, Kentuckians, the Poffos arrive in Nashville, a Wrestling Bear, a 3 Way Dance, Plus, how close were we to getting King vs. King, Lawler vs. Elvis Presley??? All of that, and even more! Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more! WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★