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Dennis Condrey

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Dennis Condrey
Condrey in 1979
Personal information
BornDennis Condrey
(1952-02-01) February 1, 1952 (age 74)
Florence, Alabama, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Dennis Condrey
Mr. Pro
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]
Billed weight255 lb (116 kg)[1]
Billed from"The Dark Side" (in The Midnight Express)
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Trained byJoe Turner
Debut1973[1]
Retired2011

Dennis Condrey (born February 1, 1952) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the Continental Wrestling Association, Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s.[1][2]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1973–1983)

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Dennis Condrey was trained as a wrestler by Joe Turner, debuting in 1973. He spent the early years of his career wrestling primarily for Nick Gulas's Tennessee-based NWA Mid-America promotion.

In mid-1975, in the context of the United States Bicentennial, Condrey teamed up with Phil Hickerson to form a tag team known as the "Bicentennial Kings", managed by "Kangaroo" Al Costello. In 1975, they teamed with Al Greene to win the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Between 1975 and March 1977, they held the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship three times, the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship once, and the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship twice. They feuded with teams such as Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett, Bill Dundee and Tojo Yamamoto, and Chief Thundercloud and Danny Little Bear.

In March 1977, upon the schism between Nick Gulas and Jerry Jarrett, Condrey and Hickerson left NWA Mid-America to join Jarrett's breakaway Continental Wrestling Association. From March 1977 to January 1979, they held the NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team Championship (later renamed the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship) four more times. They feuded with teams such as the Gibson Brothers (Ricky Gibson and Robert Gibson) and Tommy Gilbert and Tommy Rich.

In March 1978, Condrey and Hickerson moved from the Continental Wrestling Association to the Knoxville, Tennessee-based Southeastern Championship Wrestling promotion. They won the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship four times, feuding with Jimmy Golden and his series of tag team partners. In December 1978, they left Southeastern Championship Wrestling after losing a loser leaves town match to Ken Lucas and Kevin Sullivan.

In December 1978, Condrey and Hickerson returned to the Continental Wrestling Association, defeating Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship for an eighth time. The following month, they lost the titles to Dundee and Koko Ware. This marked their final appearance as a tag team. Condrey subsequently formed a new tag team, "the Big Cs", with Don Carson, with whom he won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship for an ninth time. Condrey left the Continental Wrestling Association once more in March 1979.

Condrey returned to NWA Mid-America in March 1979. In June 1979, he defeated Gorgeous George Jr. in Chattanooga, Tennessee to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until October 1979, when he lost to Dutch Mantel.

Throughout 1980, Condrey primarily divided his time between the Continental Wrestling Association and Georgia Championship Wrestling. In September 1980, he defeated Steve Keirn in the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title to Tony Atlas the following month.

In 1980, Condrey formed a tag team with Randy Rose that became known as The Midnight Express. In 1981, Norvell Austin joined to form a stable. From 1981 to December 1983, they wrestled for Southeastern Championship Wrestling and the Continental Wrestling Association. The stable was dissolved in December 1983, when Condrey left for Mid-South Wrestling.[3]

Mid-South Wrestling (1983–1984)

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Main article: The Midnight Express

In November 1983, Condrey debuted in Mid-South Wrestling, where he immediately formed a new version of the Midnight Express with Bobby Eaton with Jim Cornette as their manager.

At first, The Express was booked in an angle with the Mid-South Tag Team Champions Magnum T. A. and Mr. Wrestling II. The highlight of the angle saw Eaton and Condrey tarring and feathering Magnum T. A. in the middle of the ring. The Express first won the tag team title when Mr. Wrestling II turned on Magnum T. A., attacking him during the title match and allowing Eaton and Condrey to win the title without much opposition.[4]

With Mr. Wrestling II and Magnum T. A. splitting up, the Midnight Express needed a new team to defend their newly won title against. They began a long series of matches against the Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) which ran well into the 1990s and spanned several wrestling promotions.[5] The two teams feuded throughout 1984 in Mid-South Wrestling before the Midnight Express left the promotion. The Midnight Express versus Rock 'n' Roll Express series of matches were so well received by the fans that independent promoters continued to book them over a span of three decades and concluded with them wrestling the final match of the feud; Eaton against Ricky Morton. Morton won the match.[6]

Eaton, Condrey, and Cornette left Mid-South Wrestling in December 1984.[3]

World Class Championship Wrestling (1984–1985)

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Main article: The Midnight Express

In December 1984, Condrey and Eaton (accompanied by Cornette) began wrestling regularly for the Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) promotion. Upon arrival, they immediately began a feud with the Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers). At Christmas Star Wars in the Dallas Reunion Arena in December 1984, they unsuccessfully challenged the Fantastics for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. In January 1985, they defeated the Fantastics in the Dallas Sportatorium to win the NWA American Tag Team Championship. At Wrestling Star Wars later that month, they successfully defended the titles against the Fantastics. In March 1985, the titles were vacated after a controversial ending to a title match. At the 2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions in the Texas Stadium in May 1985, the Fantastics defeated the Midnight Express to win the vacant titles. The Midnight Express continued their feud with the Fantastics, but were unable to regain the titles. They left WCCW in June 1985, joining Jim Crockett Promotions that same month.[7]

Jim Crockett Promotions (1985–1987)

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See also: The Midnight Express
Condrey (bottom left) during the Midnight Express's scaffold match against the Road Warriors at Starrcade '86: The Skywalkers

In June 1985, Condrey, Eaton and Cornette signed with Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) and were given national exposure on JCP's televised programs on SuperStation TBS.[5]

In November 1985 at Starrcade '85: The Gathering, the Midnight Express lost to Jimmy Valiant and "Miss Atlanta Lively" in a street fight.

In November 1985, the Midnight Express reignited their feud with the Rock 'n' Roll Express and won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) from them in February 1986 during Superstars on the Superstation. During the course of their heated angle, Eaton and Condrey lost the title to the Rock 'n' Roll Express in August 1986.[4]

Eaton and Condrey also had long running feuds with The New Breed (Chris Champion and Sean Royal) as well as The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk). The feud with the Road Warriors included a scaffold match at Starrcade '86: The Skywalkers in November 1986, which the Midnight Express lost.[8]

Condrey left Jim Crockett Promotions in early 1987. He left overnight, giving no notice to Cornette, Eaton, or the NWA.[9]

American Wrestling Association (1987)

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Randy Rose (left) and Dennis Condrey (right) with their manager Paul E. Dangerous (center), circa 1987

Condrey would reunite with former partner Randy Rose in the AWA under manager Paul E. Dangerously. "Loverboy" Dennis and "Ravishing" Randy called themselves "The Midnight Express", and claimed the right to the name, which had since been used by Condrey and Eaton (and later by "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and "Sweet" Stan Lane) in the NWA.[3]

They would defeat Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee for the AWA World Tag Team titles on October 30, 1987, in Whitewater, Wisconsin. They would have a two-month title reign, losing the titles to the returning Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) on December 27, 1987, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[10]

Return to NWA World Championship Wrestling (1988–1989)

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After wrestling the independents, Condrey returned to the NWA in November 1988, alongside Randy Rose and Paul E. Dangerously, and now calling themselves "The Original Midnight Express".

During the November 5 episode of World Championship Wrestling, Jim Cornette received an anonymous phone call. The caller ridiculed Cornette over Eaton and Lane's loss of the NWA World Tag Team titles to the Road Warriors on October 29. Cornette recognized the caller and basically asked him to come say it to his face. At that point, Dangerously and the Original Midnight Express hit the ring and proceeded to pummel Cornette and Stan Lane, who was wrestling in a singles match. By the time Bobby Eaton showed up, it was three on one. Cornette showed up the next week on TBS carrying his blood stained suit jacket and the feud was on.

The teams wrestled at Starrcade '88, but nothing was solved.[11] The Midnights vs. Midnights would be the hottest feud in the NWA for months, building up to a 6-man tag match involving the managers at the Chi-Town Rumble pay-per-view in February 1989. The one who got pinned would have to leave the promotion. However, due to changes in ownership, the NWA was going through booking upheaval with Dusty Rhodes being replaced as head booker by George Scott. Jim Crockett, Jr. already had a problem with Condrey due to his previous overnight disappearance and Scott had previous animosity with Rose, so Scott's appearance as top booker made for the catalyst to bury both teams and the feud. The feud was cooled off and the "loser leaves town" match was going to be used to kick one of them out of the territory once and for all and continue to bury the other. At the last minute, Dennis Condrey once again decided to leave the NWA, rather than take his PPV payoff and give Crockett and Scott the satisfaction. Jack Victory was brought in as his replacement and the match went forward.

Continental Wrestling Federation and International Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)

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Condrey returned to Alabama (now known as Continental) in the Spring of 1989. On July 22, 1989, Condrey defeated Tom Prichard to win the CWF Heavyweight Championship, before losing the title back to Prichard on December 6. He would also form a short-lived tag team called the "Lethal Weapons" with Doug Gilbert. Together, they went to the New England area to wrestle for International Championship Wrestling. On December 30, 1989, they defeated Phil Apollo and Vic Steamboat, who was subbing for Apollo's partner Eric Sbraccia, who no-showed, to win the ICW Tag Team Championship. They held onto the belts until March 1990, when they left the promotion. Condrey retired shortly thereafter.

Later career (2004–2011)

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Condrey came back to team with Eaton in 2004,[12] wrestling (along with Stan Lane) as the Midnight Express in the independents and feuding with the Rock 'n' Roll Express and The Fantastics.

Condrey signed to World Wrestling Entertainment in March 2010 as a developmental trainer.[13] He was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling and worked with rookies on the NXT roster. Condrey retired in 2011, after wrestling his last match on October 15, against Bill Mulkey at the AWE Night of Legends.

Championships and accomplishments

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Dennis Condrey". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kristian Pope (August 28, 2005). Tuff Stuff Professional Wrestling Field Guide: Legend and Lore. Krause Publications. p. 93. ISBN 0-89689-267-0.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c "Midnight Express FAQ". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  5. ^ a b Oliver, Greg; Johnson, Steve (2005). "The top 20: 10 the Midnight Express". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 58–62. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
  6. ^ Patuto, Greg (August 5, 2021). Legendary wrestler Bobby Eaton passes away. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
  8. ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Starrcade". The History of WWE. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Midnight Express Profile". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  10. ^ "American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  11. ^ "Starrcade". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  12. ^ "Ring of Honor - The Midnight Express Reunion". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  13. ^ "WWE signs Dennis Condrey". Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  14. ^ "Independent Wrestling Results – December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  15. ^ "Next Official Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". Official Memphis Wrestling. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Tennessee: U.S. Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 194. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  17. ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  18. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  19. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  20. ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
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