The years 1973-1986 are wonderful years for me in pro-wrestling. Not only were these the years that Jim Crockett promotions identified their company as "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling", they were also the years that the domed-globe version of the NWA world heavyweight championship belt was defended in the ring. They were also, not so coincidentally, my favorite years to follow professional wrestling
The two eras overlap almost perfectly. These, more or less, are the appropriate dates:
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling:
Date began: 9/6/1973 - Eastern Heavyweight Champion Jerry Brisco presented with the first Mid-Atlantic championship belt in Greensboro NC. (See "
The Origin and Evolution of the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship")
Date ended: 12/27/1986 - Ron Garvin surrenders the Mid-Atlantic belt in Atlanta GA after winning the U.S. tag team championship with Barry Windham. The title is retired.
NWA "Domed-Globe" Belt:
Date first defended: 7/20/1973 - The "Thesz" version of the NWA belt is retired and the new "domed-globe" belt is presented to NWA champion Harley Race in Houston, TX.
Date retired: 2/14/1986 - Ric Flair debuts the new "bog gold" version of the NWA belt before a title match in Orlando, FL.
Below are photos of the NWA champions during the "Mid-Atlantic" era.
For more information, visit "
NWA Champions During the Mid-Atlantic Era" and "
What's in a Name? Defining the Mid-Atlantic Era as 1973-1976"
For info on the "Ten Pounds of Gold" book, visit
www.TenPoundsOfGold.com.
