Last edited on Mon Nov 28th, 2011 12:57 am by Fantasmagori

 George Becker, who probably made in excess of $50,000 a year — some say much more — wrestling for promoter Jim Crockett of Charlotte, decided that Crockett was making perhaps three or four times more money — some say- much more — than he was making.

So the popular Becker, known primarily for his tag-team role with equally popular Johnny Weaver, bolted the Crockett organization and became a promoter himself.

Evidently, the pitfalls of promoting were greater than Becker realized, and the dollars that Crockett was making with his established outfit didn't seem to flow into the coffers of the new wrestling group.  At any rate, he left the front-office end of the business and is back grunting and groaning before paid audiences again, although not as often as he did.

Crockett for years has had the wrestling business sewed up in the state of North Carolina, a virtual monopoly. Joe Murnick in Raleigh, a fine promoter in his own right, takes care of cards in the eastern part of the state, and  it was Murnick, along with his sons, who promoted the wrestling events held in Burlington. Crockett has many wrestlers under contract, and his organisation can put on wrestling programs in two or three cities on the same night. Most of the events are held in larger towns where the attendance is likely to be very good.

It was not always that way, however, for even Crockett.had to start small and work his way into the bigtime. Years ago many of the bouts were held in high school gyms before 200 or 300 people.

But the sport grew, thanks in part to the cathode tube and the huge audiences that watched the sport — if it f~~, can be called a sport — on television. Now it's hard to book a match with that organization if less than 3,000 people can be accomodated, and the days of wrestling in out-dated high school gyms are over.

The names are new, at least. There's The Bruiser, who is famous in the Detroit area. And Ripper Ox is well-known in mat circles in half the United States, says Brooks, who notes that a wrestling bear has been added to the roster (he'll be here Saturday night). One of the organization's founders: Gordon, takes to the mat as the famous Flash Gordon, and he'll probably draw the assignment of taking on the 600-pound bear at Fairchild Park Saturday night.

Last edited on Sun Mar 18th, 2012 11:03 am by Kriss