My Mom who was a beautiful woman loved Austin Idol. She was not a wrestling fan. However, when me and my brothers would be watching Georgia Championship Wrestling she would always watch Austin Idol when he was on. Once his promo or match was over she could not care less about the rest of the program. Thanks Austin for bringinh a little happiness into my Mom's life!
Definition of a wrestler right there. The guy when in gimmick is almost unrecognizable to his real life persona. No one would ever accuse Austin Idol the wrestler of being a soft spoken, thoughtful and level headed communicator. Likewise no one would ever accuse Mike McCord of being a bombastic flashy loudmouth.
Cashing the check story was awsome I'd loved to seen the promoters faces when they seen he'd cashed it.idol is awsome I'd pay to see him today what a great career I'm glad to see him look so good and can still tell the great stories. Idol mania is were hulk got hulkamainia.
Love the legends from my childhood. Austin Idol takes me back to when I was a young kid going to the monthly matches. Something about the guys who worked the territories that can’t be taught today. Thanks for posting!
He looks amazing for his age, and pretty good for someone at any age. I'm guessing it's a combination of genetics and how he takes care of himself in terms of exercise, nutrition and rest. Some people show their age, or look older than they actually are.
@@chrismorgan7494 He could possibly pass for someone younger than that. I am not sure if I will get his program or not, because I have books on exercise and nutrition, but based on this shoot, his book sounds like it could be fascinating to delve into, not only for the pro wrestling portion of his life, but the other aspects as well.
Hells yea he belongs in hall of Fame. I remember seeing him in the Memphis territory for a long time. Was one of my and still one of my all time favorite dudes in the business. The good ole days of wrestling. Will not see that kinda wrestling anymore like those territory days.
The guy is do cool,an smart too,great promos,great wrestler,I love how he lived the way he wanted in the business,he got in an got out when he felt like it,an not to many can make this claim BEST WISHES AUSTIN IDOL!!
I hope you're not referring to the way he looks in this video...just because it was posted recently does not mean it was filmed recently. This video is most likely well over 15 years old.
Great interview. So neat how different he appears outside of the Universal Heartthrob Austin Idol persona. Every potential pro wrestler should watch this and listen to the process that he describes through his experience.
For such a muscular guy he has a very slim face. The face of a guy who you’d expect to weigh 160lbs. I’m 45 and a UK guy. Started watching in 90, we had USWA tapes in all the music shops on the early 90’s, I got lots Pi Yi Chu Hi, Kimala (not Kamala), Stunning Steve, Adams, Lawler etc but no Austin Idol. He’s one of those rare wrestlers that you didn’t hear about over here. Just a few years to early and retiring in 90 as the boom hit in the UK. Fascinating going back and checking him out. Most US things are similar to the UK, one thing that isn’t simple is the south, Memphis, Tennessee etc. We can identify with the big cities, African American culture, music, tech and films but we have no real link to guys like Austin Idol. That’s why I’m enjoying him so much.
Great interview. My three favs of all time were Wahoo Mcdaniel, Masked Superstar and Austin Idol. If he had stayed in a territory for a long time I think the NWA would had put the title on him. Would been a great champion and would had suited him too I think. Then a champ was all over the country. Mr Mccord you were and are the man. Thank you
I remember watching Iron Mike McCord in the 1973 in WWWF. I never realized until many years later that Mike and Austin Idol were the same man.. He lost 100 pounds and completely changed his body.
When I was about 8 years old, me and my brother (who was about 13) were bored one cold afternoon and we decided to put on a wrasslin match, he chose to be Rick Rude and I was The Universal Heartthrob Austin Idol. Long story short, he threw me into the corner of our coffee table, I split my head open and ended up getting 6 stitches. I'll never forget that lol
And a liar as well about being a tough guy, rebelling against Fritz and giving him an ultimatum concerning that pay-off. Thanks to the excellent brain of the interviewer!
I have met every wrestler probably out there in working for The Philadelphia Spectrum for so many years and became friends with so many of them and i must say Austin Idol "Mike McCord" is a very interesting person hands down.
Best Austin Idol story Wins battle royal in some southern territory and given huge $10k check (huge as in oversized) brings said check to local bank where promoter has account bank worker is a wrestling fan who was in attendance and saw Idol win battle royal gets check cashed leaves territory
The problem with that story is that Idol said he cashed it in Columbus, cashed it in Atlanta, and had the Tampa police come to his house asking for it and he had put it in a sock drawer (it wasn't a giant check) and forgotten about it so he gave it to them.....
Modern bookers and “writers” need to be picking this man’s brain. He has a lot of solid gold ideas. Along with Lawler, Dundee, etc. There is no emotion in pro wrestling today. Pro wrestling is a bad word, and that’s a big problem in itself.
This interview was spot on... with the exception of all the whispering u can hear when Idol was answering questions...not too professional in my eyes.. as if your not paying attention to his answers but instead conversating with whomever else is in the room..prob a stat guy/fact finding guy...that's sloppy!
The 87 cage match in Memphis (Mayhem in Memphis) was one of the most heated angles in the last 35 years. The level of believability being felt by the fans in attendance was off the charts and things could have gone sideways fast as the fans surrounded the ring after seeing their hometown hero Lawler get cheated and having his head shaved (into a pretty neat, close haircut as opposed to being shaved bald). Great angle, excellent match with phenomenal psychology, as well as a heated finish with some post match tension. All that being said, Idol may be giving himself a bit too much credit for coming up with every angle and idea along the way in building this match, Tommy Rich under the ring, etc. Great interview.
People seem to think because something was uploaded recently, that it must have been filmed recently. Very simplistic minded people you deal with here on UA-cam. I don't think it bodes well for humanity in general.
1974. I remember when Mike McCord fought Chief Jay Strongbow on TV and Lou Albano interfered by smashing a cast on Strongbow's head, cutting him wide open. Supposedly, the story goes like this. Chief Jay Strongbow "jumped" Albano in the locker room and broke his arm. He had that cast on for weeks and weeks. As the weeks turned into months, Vince McMahon became suspicious on television, by asking Albano when he was going to get that cast removed. Well on that night, he took it off alright, at Strongbow's expense. Mike McCord was disqualified, but the damage was done. Tony Garea and Dean Ho came out to help the bleeding Chief out of the ring. McMahon tried to get and interview from Strongbow and he cried, "Albano! You sonofabitch!" Classic! Does anyone have a link of this match? Would love to see it again.
Awesome, I was once with Kevin Sullivan in Vegas. Austin just called Kevin they talked for a min. Then almost immediately someone comes up and says to Kevin. Hey have you seen Austin? Kevin goes no he's in prison...lol I was in shook.nice rib Taskmaster! That's was cac in 2018
Austin Idol was great and his contributions in the Wrestling business were very important and historic. He had the look he could work he could talk he was very entertaining. He had a great nack of telling a story and he was especially good in Georgia and Memphis.
Met Idol at a waffle house about 1 in the morning in Nashville. He tried kayfabing us at first. Then turned into the Idol. Signed autographs and took pics while waiting on his order. Bill Dundee, Chris Champion, & Tracy Smothers came in shortly afterwards.
I've never heard a grown man brag about little league. I don't say that as a knock, just never heard that before. I respect what wrestlers do & go through, especially old school guys that went thru crazy beat downs before they were smartened up & let into the business!!
We had Turner Broadcasting System aka TBS in Kansas City in like 1979. I don’t know if they made it out to California I don’t know where they stretch to but I know we had them here in Kansas City does anybody from California I remember having TBS growing up back in like the early 80s late 70s?
I saw idol wrestle Rich at the Omni in 1980 and he sneaked up on him while he was entering the ring and just dominated him. Of course idol was DQ'd in the match. Good memories
@@bigdickdudley9119 I think I still have the picture of him somewhere and I have a flag autographed by all the Armstrongs from around the same time. It was before Road Doggs Wwe fame for sure. This was in Walton county FL and I had family all over Pensacola and all and my dad use to go watch all them wrestle over there.
@@bambam5130 started watching wwwf 79 but really got hooked on tvs Georgia champ wrest it was the best fir almost 3 yrs till black sat . Idol only wrestled in northeast for savokdis ice for bit brody also
I always wondered why he spent his career mostly in Jerry Lawlers shadow in Memphis . He must have been one of the few people who was not Lawler that made money there .
Austin Idol attended Robinson high school in Tampa Florida ! Dick Slater and Mike Graham and Steve Keirn and Hulk Hogan also went to Robinson high school. (Knights of Robinson high school)
Lawler was always way ahead of Dundee. But I don’t think the book was taken away from him. He was part owner. From his book he says he would take off and give someone else the book to recharge
Austin Idol does not fit the mold of a pro wrestler. He actually had a life outside wrestling and planned for the future and has his health. Good for him.
Lemme teh ya sumthin DAHLIN Austin Idol is one of the best of all time, great talker great wrestler a champions champion and he IS a legend jack, he's the women's pet and the men's regret and there will NEVER be another Universal Heartthrob you can make book on that DAHLIN.
Why is there periodic grunting in the background? Like someone is taking a massive beef shit or bench pressing a piano? It's not Idol or the interviewer either.
My Mom who was a beautiful woman loved Austin Idol. She was not a wrestling fan. However, when me and my brothers would be watching Georgia Championship Wrestling she would always watch Austin Idol when he was on. Once his promo or match was over she could not care less about the rest of the program. Thanks Austin for bringinh a little happiness into my Mom's life!
My Mom Was Like That When She Saw Ric Flair So I Know What Your Talking About
I'm 70 years old I've been watching wrestling probably for about 65 of those years never have I seen a better interview ever anywhere
Definitely one of my favorite wrestlers back in the day. The Las Vegas figure-four leglock baby.
Austin was ahead of his time in my opinion. If Austin would have arrived maybe 10 years later he would been a bigger star
Idol had many great rivalries BUT the feud with Jerry Lawler in 1987 is legendary.
This guy should be in the HOF just for the promo's alone that he did over the year's ! ! Keep Rocking Idol....
He will be one day
He'd better be in the HoF. It ain't legit without him.
Austin idol is not in the hall of Fame? That's a joke
He wouldn't show up
promos not promo's and years not year's
Watched him on Georgia Championship Wrestling as a kid. Wahoo, Tommy Rich, Tony Atlas, Mr Wrestling…. Great times!!
Definition of a wrestler right there. The guy when in gimmick is almost unrecognizable to his real life persona. No one would ever accuse Austin Idol the wrestler of being a soft spoken, thoughtful and level headed communicator. Likewise no one would ever accuse Mike McCord of being a bombastic flashy loudmouth.
Austin idol is a legend in Georgia .a great wrestler his matches were always great his enterviews were always great darlin.
Cashing the check story was awsome I'd loved to seen the promoters faces when they seen he'd cashed it.idol is awsome I'd pay to see him today what a great career I'm glad to see him look so good and can still tell the great stories. Idol mania is were hulk got hulkamainia.
Him and jimmy valiant are my all time favorites
The two of them were my favorites as well
This guy was playing chess while everybody was playing checkers in the wrestling business. Like that he used wrestling to his advantage.
It's good to see him on NWA Powerrr right now, too. A performer through and through.
Wow that was an entertaining interview I loved it very nice and I also love the background colors the yellow and blue and it looks good
Love the legends from my childhood. Austin Idol takes me back to when I was a young kid going to the monthly matches. Something about the guys who worked the territories that can’t be taught today. Thanks for posting!
He's the Eternal Austin Idol! He never ages.
He looks amazing for his age, and pretty good for someone at any age. I'm guessing it's a combination of genetics and how he takes care of himself in terms of exercise, nutrition and rest. Some people show their age, or look older than they actually are.
@@pbanik You're absolutely right. Austin Idol is 72 and looks 50 at the most. He is big on nutrition and fitness.
@@chrismorgan7494 He could possibly pass for someone younger than that. I am not sure if I will get his program or not, because I have books on exercise and nutrition, but based on this shoot, his book sounds like it could be fascinating to delve into, not only for the pro wrestling portion of his life, but the other aspects as well.
@chrismorgan7494 he was only around 60 when this interview took place. Still aged well though
@@VAHOSS 60? Is that all? He was older than Archie Bunker for Christ's sake. Lol
Idol is still one my favorites to watch on UA-cam.
Remember the Memphis promo with him splashing around in the hot tub…the man is a legend.
Great interview with one of the all-time greats! Man, he still seems to be in great shape after so many years!
Great to see Austin Idol after all these years good to see he’s doing well
it was filmed almost 15 years ago....you do understand that right?
I watched this guy on Memphis wrestling every Saturday. He was in the upper tier of wrestling super tough super cool. Universal heart throb baby.
I remember seeing him in the early 70s in the old WWWF. Looked much different back then. Was known as Iron Mike Mccord and managed by Lou Albano.
him and Rich..that feud with Lawler...vintage
Hells yea he belongs in hall of Fame. I remember seeing him in the Memphis territory for a long time. Was one of my and still one of my all time favorite dudes in the business. The good ole days of wrestling. Will not see that kinda wrestling anymore like those territory days.
The guy is do cool,an smart too,great promos,great wrestler,I love how he lived the way he wanted in the business,he got in an got out when he felt like it,an not to many can make this claim
BEST WISHES AUSTIN IDOL!!
Wow..I remember watching GCW on Saturdays, when his back took up the entire TV lol..great to see he is well
Thank you so much for the video I really am enjoying this
Austin Idol still looks exactly the same today as he did years ago
Years of taking care of his body.
I hope you're not referring to the way he looks in this video...just because it was posted recently does not mean it was filmed recently. This video is most likely well over 15 years old.
@@AngelEyes-bt6qp You're right. This interview is from 12 years ago.
I thought he was a new wrestler.. who am I thinking of. Austin something. I'm not a massive fan, just casual, mostly enjoy interviews & Cornette
@@stevelowe2647 you may be thinking of Steve Austin.
Great interview. So neat how different he appears outside of the Universal Heartthrob Austin Idol persona. Every potential pro wrestler should watch this and listen to the process that he describes through his experience.
Always gave great promos , Austin Idol
For such a muscular guy he has a very slim face. The face of a guy who you’d expect to weigh 160lbs.
I’m 45 and a UK guy. Started watching in 90, we had USWA tapes in all the music shops on the early 90’s, I got lots Pi Yi Chu Hi, Kimala (not Kamala), Stunning Steve, Adams, Lawler etc but no Austin Idol.
He’s one of those rare wrestlers that you didn’t hear about over here. Just a few years to early and retiring in 90 as the boom hit in the UK.
Fascinating going back and checking him out. Most US things are similar to the UK, one thing that isn’t simple is the south, Memphis, Tennessee etc.
We can identify with the big cities, African American culture, music, tech and films but we have no real link to guys like Austin Idol. That’s why I’m enjoying him so much.
Great interview. My three favs of all time were Wahoo Mcdaniel, Masked Superstar and Austin Idol. If he had stayed in a territory for a long time I think the NWA would had put the title on him. Would been a great champion and would had suited him too I think. Then a champ was all over the country. Mr Mccord you were and are the man. Thank you
Idol, Superstar and Wrestling 2 are mine RIGHT NOW being the Midwesterner I am that didn’t get a chance to see any of them until you tube came along.
I remember watching Iron Mike McCord in the 1973 in WWWF. I never realized until many years later that Mike and Austin Idol were the same man.. He lost 100 pounds and completely changed his body.
When I was about 8 years old, me and my brother (who was about 13) were bored one cold afternoon and we decided to put on a wrasslin match, he chose to be Rick Rude and I was The Universal Heartthrob Austin Idol. Long story short, he threw me into the corner of our coffee table, I split my head open and ended up getting 6 stitches. I'll never forget that lol
He looks and sounds great like He did 40 years ago. The Man is ageless, GOD bless him
YEA!!!
My favorite!! The universal Heartthrob! Austin Idol!!
It’s weird that he was in Airplane ✈️ crash 💥 with Buddy Colt, Gary Hart and Bobby Shane! He was a lot younger than them!
A very articulate, classy guy. Iconic.
And a liar as well about being a tough guy, rebelling against Fritz and giving him an ultimatum concerning that pay-off. Thanks to the excellent brain of the interviewer!
Bobby Shane was the Shawn Michaels of his era .
This is one of the best interviews I have ever watched in regards to a wrestling type shoot interview
I have met every wrestler probably out there in working for The Philadelphia Spectrum for so many years and became friends with so many of them and i must say Austin Idol "Mike McCord" is a very interesting person hands down.
Best Austin Idol story
Wins battle royal in some southern territory and given huge $10k check
(huge as in oversized)
brings said check to local bank where promoter has account
bank worker is a wrestling fan who was in attendance and saw Idol win battle royal
gets check cashed
leaves territory
It was in Georgia,Macon Georgia. It was Fred Wards check. Ward was a notorious cheapskate and no body liked him
I pissed myself when I heard him tell that story, on Jim Cornette's podcast I believe I heard it.
The problem with that story is that Idol said he cashed it in Columbus, cashed it in Atlanta, and had the Tampa police come to his house asking for it and he had put it in a sock drawer (it wasn't a giant check) and forgotten about it so he gave it to them.....
Check was for 5 grand .
Thanks for all your hard work Idol!!
I don't think I would ever fly a plane without instrument training
Good to see one of the guys made it and still has a working brain.
One of my all time favs as heel or fan fav still own mayhem in memphis VHS I got at ecw show in reverse 97
They caught him lying about telling off Fritz.Watch his face when the loser leaves town match is mentioned
What a cool dude! Looks great for his age!
As a construction worker I can tell you that scaffolds are far more rickety than you would expect .
He looks unbelievable !
Modern bookers and “writers” need to be picking this man’s brain. He has a lot of solid gold ideas. Along with Lawler, Dundee, etc. There is no emotion in pro wrestling today. Pro wrestling is a bad word, and that’s a big problem in itself.
I admired him as a kid from Las Vegas he wrestled in Memphis Tennessee
I don't even remember him being in WWF, must have been WWWF during Backlund, Sammartino.
This interview was spot on... with the exception of all the whispering u can hear when Idol was answering questions...not too professional in my eyes.. as if your not paying attention to his answers but instead conversating with whomever else is in the room..prob a stat guy/fact finding guy...that's sloppy!
One of the all-time great heels this dude could really piss people off
The 87 cage match in Memphis (Mayhem in Memphis) was one of the most heated angles in the last 35 years. The level of believability being felt by the fans in attendance was off the charts and things could have gone sideways fast as the fans surrounded the ring after seeing their hometown hero Lawler get cheated and having his head shaved (into a pretty neat, close haircut as opposed to being shaved bald). Great angle, excellent match with phenomenal psychology, as well as a heated finish with some post match tension. All that being said, Idol may be giving himself a bit too much credit for coming up with every angle and idea along the way in building this match, Tommy Rich under the ring, etc. Great interview.
These dumb comments about Idol's age is hilarious!!! This interview was done in 2008!!!
People seem to think because something was uploaded recently, that it must have been filmed recently. Very simplistic minded people you deal with here on UA-cam. I don't think it bodes well for humanity in general.
1974.
I remember when Mike McCord fought Chief Jay Strongbow on TV and Lou Albano interfered by smashing a cast on Strongbow's head, cutting him wide open. Supposedly, the story goes like this. Chief Jay Strongbow "jumped" Albano in the locker room and broke his arm. He had that cast on for weeks and weeks. As the weeks turned into months, Vince McMahon became suspicious on television, by asking Albano when he was going to get that cast removed. Well on that night, he took it off alright, at Strongbow's expense. Mike McCord was disqualified, but the damage was done. Tony Garea and Dean Ho came out to help the bleeding Chief out of the ring. McMahon tried to get and interview from Strongbow and he cried, "Albano! You sonofabitch!"
Classic!
Does anyone have a link of this match? Would love to see it again.
Awesome, I was once with Kevin Sullivan in Vegas. Austin just called Kevin they talked for a min. Then almost immediately someone comes up and says to Kevin. Hey have you seen Austin? Kevin goes no he's in prison...lol I was in shook.nice rib Taskmaster! That's was cac in 2018
Austin Idol was great and his contributions in the Wrestling business were very important and historic. He had the look he could work he could talk he was very entertaining. He had a great nack of telling a story and he was especially good in Georgia and Memphis.
Met Idol at a waffle house about 1 in the morning in Nashville. He tried kayfabing us at first. Then turned into the Idol. Signed autographs and took pics while waiting on his order. Bill Dundee, Chris Champion, & Tracy Smothers came in shortly afterwards.
I've never heard a grown man brag about little league. I don't say that as a knock, just never heard that before. I respect what wrestlers do & go through, especially old school guys that went thru crazy beat downs before they were smartened up & let into the business!!
Excellent get! What a great storyteller
Anybody get his health and work out video? Love to see him in FL when I go down in December
I remember the Austin and Tommy “matches”
Plane Crash story is Heavy
I think Idol was around 60 in this interview. Still he looks 45!!!
He was a mainstay in Pensa Cola with the Fullers
Idol still the man always will be
Wrestling was a means to make money. That's it. So he never had to compromise himself.
The man with the 24 inch biceps then came superstar Billy Graham
Great interview
We had Turner Broadcasting System aka TBS in Kansas City in like 1979. I don’t know if they made it out to California I don’t know where they stretch to but I know we had them here in Kansas City does anybody from California I remember having TBS growing up back in like the early 80s late 70s?
The universal heartthrob darlin
Loved Austin Idol in Georgia, would of been huge in WET but was a shrewd business man and knew he was box office.
would have not would of
It's hard to beleive this man is 70 + years old. Took care of himself and GTHO of wrestling ...now there's a lesson. Looks great! Glad you found him!
I loved Austin Idol when I was a kid. I watched him when he wrestled on Dothan and Ga
He didn't bump a lot .
This interview is 13 years old
This intv took place around 08 housing bust .
I saw idol wrestle Rich at the Omni in 1980 and he sneaked up on him while he was entering the ring and just dominated him. Of course idol was DQ'd in the match. Good memories
Met him when I was a kid in the mid 80s at a Wal-Mart in the panhandle of Florida
He was a big star that area with fuller's Armstrong's arn got his big break there too flair met him there .
@@bigdickdudley9119 I think I still have the picture of him somewhere and I have a flag autographed by all the Armstrongs from around the same time. It was before Road Doggs Wwe fame for sure. This was in Walton county FL and I had family all over Pensacola and all and my dad use to go watch all them wrestle over there.
@@bambam5130 started watching wwwf 79 but really got hooked on tvs Georgia champ wrest it was the best fir almost 3 yrs till black sat . Idol only wrestled in northeast for savokdis ice for bit brody also
Idol maina he was and is still one of the very best his Memphis run was legendary tommy rich jerry lawler
Austin idol is the reason my mom let me watch rasslin!
Mike McCord/Austin Idol, real smooth cat! ☺
I always wondered why he spent his career mostly in Jerry
Lawlers shadow in Memphis . He must have been one of the few people who was not Lawler that made money there .
Often Idol 😆
I kinda like it🤘🤘
he's right, Lawler would make sure ppl got paid, Jarrett wanted all of the money, and he's still the same...even with family
That was the problem between Jerry Jarrett and his mother, Christine, as well. The love of money! SMH
Austin Idol attended Robinson high school in Tampa Florida !
Dick Slater and Mike Graham and Steve Keirn and Hulk Hogan also went to Robinson high school.
(Knights of Robinson high school)
Lawler was always way ahead of Dundee. But I don’t think the book was taken away from him. He was part owner. From his book he says he would take off and give someone else the book to recharge
blackjack Mulligan would. always slap around Ole Anderson btw
Was the Dude playing Guitar Hulk Hogan ?
Austin Idol does not fit the mold of a pro wrestler. He actually had a life outside wrestling and planned for the future and has his health. Good for him.
The ric flair of Georgia
still got that charisma
Austin Idol I'll be damned!! 😂
So he’s so dense that the interviewer whispers clues to him throughout?
Lemme teh ya sumthin DAHLIN Austin Idol is one of the best of all time, great talker great wrestler a champions champion and he IS a legend jack, he's the women's pet and the men's regret and there will NEVER be another Universal Heartthrob you can make book on that DAHLIN.
He's right he screwed up leaving WWF.
Why is there a guy in the back ground whispering to Austin?
No one wanted to work with Randy for 2 reasons ...a) He may upstage you
B) he was very controlling . He wanted to choreograph entire matches .
Why is there periodic grunting in the background? Like someone is taking a massive beef shit or bench pressing a piano? It's not Idol or the interviewer either.
Hulk hogan admitted he stole the ear hand thing 👂👋 from Austin
Austin Idol looks good! Nice!
2008....
@@rowds Oh. Got it now. Thanks.