Ten Pounds of Cover Gold

 @wrestlerweekly recently celebrated the Ten Pounds of Gold on their Monday Mag Memorabilia post.

Rich and Race

Great magazine cover from 1982, former NWA World Champion "Wildfire" Tommy Rich battling reigning champion Harley Race. This was Tommy Rich in his prime. The two traded the NWA title a year earlier in Georgia. 

Flair vs. Martel, Title vs. Title, Japan 1985

 

"Handsome" Harley Race with Pure Gold

This image is of a poster from a Japanese magazine in 1977, not long after Race won the NWA title in Toronto from Terry Funk. Most of the Japanese magazines featured really nice photography and fold out or centerfold posters.

One of the tell-tale signs that dates this photo is the condition of the belt. It is the third configuration, or version, of the domed-globe belt.

Not long before Funk dropped the title to Race, the NWA had the title belt refurbished. It had taken an awful beeating during Funk's reign. The globe had been badly dented and much of the black paint on the belt had come off.

The key identifier that this was the third configuration of the belt was that Canada is to the left of the main plate, the only version of the four to have that distinction. (In fact, Canada was in a different position on all four versions of the belt.)

Other notable identifiers on the belt in this picture peg it to early-mid 1977:

• cream-colored fabric backing on the leather
• black onyx panels replacing the black-painted areas on either side of the main plate
• new globe (with curved "NWA" letters)

Not long after Race won the title in 1977, one additional refurbishment took place. The leather was replaced (with a slightly different cut) and the creme-colored fabric backing on the belt (seen in this photo) was removed, leaving the leather on the back of the belt exposed. The fact that the cream-colored backing is visible in this photo means it was taken sometime in the months following Race's victory over Funk.

If little details like that interest you, check out my book on the domed globe belt titled Ten Pounds of Gold. Almost every possible detail is discussed in a chapter that outlines all four versions of the belt.

The NWA's "Big Three" (Japan Magazine)

Thanks to Scottie Richardson at Wrestler Weekly for sending us this image of a classic Japanese magazine cover featuring the NWA champions from 1969-1976. This shot was taken in 1973 as part of a series of famous photos in a hallway at a show in Japan.

Featured are NWA World Heavyweight champion Jack Brisco (front) with NWA President Sam Muchnick (back center) flanked by former champions Dory Funk, Jr. (left) and Harley Race (right.)

Classic Brisco Cover from Japan

The champ is here. Great cover shot of #WWE Hall of Famer Jack Brisco, the first World champion Jerry Lawler ever faced in Memphis. pic.twitter.com/ITXqDc1OFz

— Travis Scott Bowden (@TravScottBowden) August 4, 2017

Rare Photo of Tommy Rich During His 5-Day Reign as NWA Champion

WRESTLER WEEKLY PRESENTS our AUGUST MONTHLY THEME #wwWildfire Showcasing Original Rare Photos from the #TommyWildfireRich Collection! Day 1 pic.twitter.com/v5duFHTOz5

— Wrestler Weekly (@wrestlerweekly) August 1, 2017

Harley Race Japan Covers

Japanese Magazine Covers of Harley Race wearing the Ten Pounds of Gold.

Ten Pounds of Gold (book cover)

TEN POUNDS OF GOLD

This book is a complete history of this belt, the famous ten pounds of gold, including who made it, where it was made, how it was delivered that first night it was presented, and the ceremony that awarded it to the first champion to wear it.

Plus a look at the eight NWA champions who wore it, and a complete title history of this belt from 1973-1986.

Featuring rare photographs provided by Harley Race and champion portraits from some of wrestlings great local photographers. 

www.TenPoundsOfGold.com

NWA Champ Kerry Von Erich in Florida

When Kerry Von Erich won the NWA world title in 1984, he fulfilled the appearance contracts of the previous champion Ric Flair, which included dates in the state of Florida for Championship Wrestling from Florida. 

NWA Champ Kerry with Coach John Heath on the set
of Championship Wrestling from Florida

The magazine from Japan seen below features a photo on the cover taken during that Florida tour of Kerry sporting the Ten Pounds of Gold with Florida heavyweight champion Billy Jack Haynes.  

www.TenPoundsOfGold.com

Thanks to Brian Rogers for providing the cover image.

The Great Pretenders

...pretenders to the throne, that is.

Here are some interesting photographs of some great wrestlers who came close to getting the gold, but in the end fell short. These photos show, however, that they left the ring with the ten pounds of gold for at least a brief moment in time, and no doubt the fans in the building where this took place thought they had seen the title change hands.

Bruiser Brody

Bruiser Brody had fans in St. Louis thinking he had won the title from Ric Flair, and fans  in Japan likely thought so momentarily when they saw this magazine on their news stands.

Mr. Wrestling II

Mr. Wrestling II holds the NWA belt over his head in the crowd in Atlanta when it appeared he had defeated Harley Race for the championship. (Photo by Bill Christmas.)

Wahoo McDaniel

Wahoo McDaniel pinned Ric Flair in Charlotte and left the ring with the belt. The decision was later over turned.

Jerry "The King" Lawler

This is my favorite; Jerry Lawler not only left the ring at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis with the NWA belt after battling Terry Funk, he posed for a photo wearing it that appeared on the cover of "City of Memphis" magazine. The man is a genius. No wonder they call him The King. (Thanks to Dave Millican and Scott Bowden.)

UPDATE: 

After this article was originally posted, Scott Bowden sent along this photo of Buddy Landel with the NWA belt, which was also a part of an article he had written on his blog "Kentucky Fried Rasslin." 

"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel

Buddy Landel holds the Ten Pounds of Gold high over his head after pinning Ric Flair in Greensboro in July 1985.

* * * * *

See more posts with other photos featuring great pretenders to the NWA title:

• More Great Pretenders (featuring Jumbo Tsuruta)
• A Sure Bet to be Champion? (featuring Magnum T.A.) 
• Another Great Pretender (featuring Mil Mascaras)
• Dory Funk, Jr. and the Domed Globe (featuring Funk, Jr.)

* * * * *

I know there have to be more photos like this out there. If you have a photo similar to these of someone who came close to winning the NWA title (1973-1986) and want to forward it to us, please do so using the mail link on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway or send to us via Facebook.

Check out Ten Pounds of Gold, the book that takes a close look 

at the 1973-1986 NWA title belt:

www.TenPoundsOfGold.com

Harley Race on Japan Cover

Harley Race is seen here on the cover of a Japanese wrestling magazine. The photo is from July 20, 1973 in Houston, Texas. Only moments before this photo was taken, Harley was presented the brand new $10,000 NWA world championship belt. He briefly posed with it around his waist before handing it to the official and defending it against Jack Brisco. Brisco won the title that night.

For all the details about that night in Houston, and all the back story leading up to that night, check out the revised and expanded 2nd edition of the Ten Pounds of Gold. On sale now!

www.tenpoundsofgold.com

Domed Globe Covers

A collection of programs and magazines that featured the NWA champs wearing the domed-globe belt. (This collage is from from "Ten Pounds of Gold", found full page on p. 108 of the book.)

www.TenPoundsOfGold.com

Rich Man, Poor Man

Scott Bowden's article on Tommy "Wildfire" Rich on his blog "Kentucky Fried Rasslin'". Some relevant information on Tommy's stint as NWA World Heavyweight Champion.


Rich Man, Poor Man: How Tommy “Wildfire” Rich Burnt out much too Quickly
by Scott Bowden