Jim Cornette on The Offer To Ric Flair To Come To Smoky Mountain Wrestling
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- From Episode 185 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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You can listen to Brian each week on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com.
Best wrestling podcast. Period.
Schiavone, Bishoff, JR, and even Jericho has a better podcast. You listen to this podcast for stories about guys who were dead 20 years ago
@@x2bannedyoutubeaccount408 shut up geek
Definitely
@@x2bannedyoutubeaccount408 lol are you serious?
@@ZBR_ProXP No, he's not. He trolls on this youtube acct, ignore him. Just click on his profile and look at his replies here, typical troll. Just report and move on.
TBH getting in with WWE was probably the best thing Ric ever did. It enabled him to keep himself relevant after the cachet of the NWA/JCP ceased to be a force in the industry.
Bobby Heenan going on TV with Ric's belt was icing on the cake.
Flair in Smoky Mountain on the regular I think could have kept Jim's promotion going longer.
They calling twinkle toes mcfingerbang the modern flair please that goof would’ve been a jobber for the territories, Ric Flair just had a love and passion for wrestling and loved being the NWA heavyweight champion Flair said himself he was having so much fun and looks back fondly at those times just a shame all our favourites get old
Maybe, maybe not. in 95 when it shut down the entire industry was on it's ass.
No way. As big of a name as Flair is, The Smoky Mountain region was dirt poor back then. They'd never big that back at the gate.
It would have devalued Flair.
@@yardape99 not so much that, as the audience would keep expecting talent of his level and bottom out.
The Cult is growing
As it should!!
@@djcease1996 Well he has 204k subscribers to your 15,for starters. And?
Cornette is truly the unstoppable force.
Subscribers as of 4.1.2021-
204K - Cornette
196K - Jericho
56K -Bischoff
44K -JR
29K -Arn
22K -Schiavone
@@megawatt9242 nice.
"If you don't like it, learn to love it." - Ric Flair
You're close its "whether you like it or not,learn to love it cuz its the best thing going today."
These shoes cost more than your house - Ric Flair
'I don't know how how much THAT cost(s?), but--!'
@@bradpaton3927 but I be ashamed to wear it wooooo
I'm sure I am not the only one but I want to say a massive THANK YOU to Jim and Brian for all their videos and hard work during the past year.
Can we get this comment as many likes as possible so that Jim and Brian might actually see it so they realise how much they have helped people over the past year.
Through these hard times you have been a constant positive that I look forward to, ironically with your negative feed back on modern wrestling 😉
They say laughter is the best medicine and you guys have never failed to deliver.
So many times have I actually laughed out loud while listening to you both.
I love to hear your opinions on modern wrestling and your stories, insight and knowledge on the history of wrestling.
Great love and thanks from London, England.
Wow! You're right. I take there shows twice a week for granted, but you are right they do deserve a lot of gratitude. Not only Jim and Brian but Travis as well.not only do we have something to look isten to but look at as well, great job Sir, you nailed it.
@@billhedstrom16 Yes Travis as well your totally right.
A handshake and head nod to you sir.
You are absolutely right about having stuff to look forward to . Every month I try and find or signal out one or two things to look possible to either short term or long term. Here was my list and my upcoming one.
Last year it was The NBA and Stanley Cup Bubbles
This year that passed it was the Superbowl and movies like Coming to America and the Snyder Cut.
Soon it will be the arrival of new bike and in June it will be the Euros and July visiting friends again and enjoying summer. Hopefully by year end the winter will involve playing a PS5. Definitely a good idea though to have stuff to look forward to for ones overall mental health.
Ric Flair was Raking in the Cash even back then ...
And was sending it right back out even faster... Child support and divorce will do that to ya
@@SpaceGhost92 And being a party-er
And spending it even faster. It's not what you make, it's what you keep to save, invest, and grow that matters.
There wasn't one lady in the hills of the smokey mountains that naitch didn't say to ..well darlin' you'll never be the first but at least you won't be last ....whoooo!
When you get off space mountain you’ll be like this cue Ric flair fake fainting
Imagine Naitch dropping the Big Gold Belt in the Knoxville Colly to Ricky Morton lol
To Jimmy Del Ray.😁
They had great matches in the NWA. Morton was over like crazy.
@@chadk890 yup very similar to his matches vs Steamboat except Ricky threw punches instead of chops... I remember there feud leading up to the Great American Bash... The one where Flair gets helicoptered in:)
@@patale1640 Exactly. Morton was actually a threat to take the belt from Ric. Great times back then.
Roof would of BLOWN off! I remember their NWA/WCW matches. Same with Ric and Bobby Eaton.
Rick Flair was larger than life.
What about the USWA? Flair could have split his time between Japan, USWA, and SMW, could compete on SMW as the Unified World Champion.
Maybe Ric went to WWF as a deliberate "F*ck You" to Jim Herd.
It was.
You think? Hes only said so himself a billion times.
Oh absolutely it was.
Flair stated many times how he hated Herd.
@@DarksaberForce I didn't like when Ric cut his hair in 91. He didn't look like Ric Flair to me. Ill never forget the We want Flair chants when Ric left that Summer
I remember going to SMW back in the day. Yeah I'm old.
They had alot of good talent. Bob Armstrong was a legit bad ASS.
@Keith1974 Smokey Mountain had better Wrestling than both AEW and WWE
@Keith1974 Exactly
Butt-Head laugh "You're old"
SMW was so good. It would had been great to see Ric there feud with Ricky and team up with Arn when he was there (though Arn was face when he was there)
The thing about SMW I love so much is how much legit heel heat some dudes were able to draw (new jack for example)
So it good it went out of business in a year or so.
@@TheFailedmessiah 91-95. Plus More legit than aew 😉
@@PaxBisonica89 Dirty White Boy n Ron Wright heel run also was very good.
@@TheFailedmessiah about four years jackass
I could have seen Cornette dancing for getting Flair to come to SMW but it is still great for the history of Ric's possible career path
I Cleared-Out a MiniStorage One Time, & *Found* a 3-Disc DvD *"NatureBoy RicFlair : TheDefinitiveCollection"* BoxSet, that I've *Always* Wanted to have *AutoGraphed.*
So I’ve known for some time about Flair giving Vince the Belt to use in promos before his debut, but it floored me to realize he just sent it to Vince through a delivery service like Fed Ex.
Now Federal Express has an excellent record when it comes to not losing packages but can you imagine if in THIS case that belt had gotten lost , even temporarily misplaced?
wouldnt have matterd to anyone except flair anyway! vince used it as a prop and could really have used anything after they started the blured image thing or even before,wcw were so clueless they shit all over the place but really they only sued because vince was useing it on tv to piss on them! Flair was the only interested party in haveing the actual belt as his security deposit was attached to it.
@@roobear78like hell it was. Flair forfeited that when he refused to put over guys on multiple occasions.
He didn't even pay the deposit, Crockett did.
@@Rjensen2 he only refused to drop it to luger and crockett sold to turner in 1988 flair left in 1991 and the belt had switched a few ocassions in that time! so like hell it was!!!!
@@roobear78 You are lying....Barry Windham has talked about it.
@@roobear78 Yeah... like you said, he refused to drop it to Luger. That meant he forfeited the deposit.
I just watched a video with Flair crying (literally) and talking about when he went to work for Vince that Vince gave him 230,000 to pay off the IRS. Apparently Cornette didn’t know that’s why Flair went to WWF.
Oh wow, what video was this? I'd really like to see it. :)
SMW would have given Flair a break from the grueling NWA champion travel schedule.
What are you on about? There was no NWA when SMW was around.
Yip. Rig was run ragged by the NWA schedule. He would have appreciated Jim's Smokey Mountain organization as it was much less grueling. Small loop around Anderson, Johnson City, Knogsville, Henderson, Louisville etc. Can do it in a car no problems and then just bank the 10k cheque. Then added to that take a first class trip across to Japan and work for Babar or Inoki and bank more cash. It would have changed the path of wrestling and the landscape would look very different today if rig had made the choice to sign with jim and Smoky
@@shaynewest8757 you are right the days of the NWA traveling world champ ended around 88. Ironically enough Corny was still in the NWA at this time with the Midnight Express . I would even argue that Flair stopped traveling territory to territory as early as 87 with the NWA essentially being Crockett territory.
it'd be crazy to be offered 120k a year for 1 day a month, for me at least
There wasn't anyone good enough to wrestle Ric in Smokey Mountain back then
Tim Horner (I’m joking)
Tracy Smothers. Terry Gordy.
Brian Lee was underrated
@@chadk890 lkl
I was glad to see all of the Cults support on the latest Danhausen videoshausen
Love hearing stories about Greenville!
Spartanburg here. I went every Saturday night from the mid 60s to the late 80's when it ended.
Bickel does such wonderful art... but his drawings of people like Flair and Vince McMahon back then makes me feel melancholy when I compare them to Flair and Vince now
_Edit: I meant Heckel. My bad._
*Heckel
Whos bickel??
2 choices!! Like it or get used to it!
Ric Flair
Howdy friends
Flair really dodged a bullet! Wooo!
Ric Flair wrestling in a high school gym in West Virginia idk.
Ric wrestled in small arenas back in Mid Atlantic Wrestling
It wouldn’t have been a highschool gym if Ric was there lmao
This is actually a cool story
What happened to the young rock reviews?
Ric Flair vs Paul Orndroff 🤔
They did wrestle in the past
How could he hire Flair? Flair's shoes cost more than Cornette's house.
Rick Rubin money
Plus I assume flair would have worked Japan.
Space Mountain nearly landed at Smokey Mountain...
Who would they have booked to wrestle Flair? Tracy Smothers or Bullet Bob?
What's wrong with that? Flair wrestled Bob Armstrong in the past.
What would the big belt have been
So Cornette was trying to give Flair the Hogan treatment?
Ric Flair in Smoky Mountain definitely would've been a win. But there wasn't anyone he could've had a good match with.
But if you got Flair, there is better chance to get bigger talents to sign a short or medium contract if you promise them a main event program with Ric Flair, Flair would have opened the door to negotiate with some better talent than they were able in Real Life.
The magic of Ric Flair is that he helped make average guys look good and good guys look great and great guys look legendary. Flair vs Buddy Landel would’ve been entertaining no matter what, but if it was sober Buddy Landel, it would’ve torn the houses down. Paul Orndorff was there at the beginning and would’ve had 5 star matches with Nature Boy. Flair vs Candido could’ve been amazing too. I would also throw Tracy Smothers and Dirty White Boy’s names in there as well.
Jims veiws are going up 14k in 5 hours ..... because hes a wrestling god
Between him and Jim Ross...... all your wrestling podcast needs satisfied
#WrestlingRoyalty
@@Dizzle645 Cornette is so much more entertaining
@@Dizzle645 something too wrestle with bruce Pritchard my friend is ace him and corny are legends
Ric Flair wanted to Strut his stuff for Jim Cornette I see ... 👀
Love to listen to Jim
"Yeah, but 10 grand is like one day of debt" WOOOOOOOOOOO
Flair's unpaid taxes were more than Smoky Mountain had in revenue in any one year.
corny never lies, no one ever proved it yet...CORNY FOREVER
Bob Caudle is underrated.
Hold up/ hang on for a second. Did I hear {JIM CORNETTE} toss around the name “RICK RUBIN” the legendary music producer who found the beastie boys, or sorry mention RR in his brief discussion pertaining to Ric Flair in what Jim C would believe would take to get Ric Flair to go to the Smoky Mountain Territory? So if this was in fact correct? Can anyone tell me a quick response to what was Rick Rubin’s actual connection to World Wide Professional Wrestling at this particular time in the Professional Wrestling history/timeline and also how much was Rick Rubin involved and in what capacity and wether or not it was more from a fan base to potentially popular rating booster to maybe a ring Valet or if Rick Rubin’s connection/business just or mostly part do to his involvement was strictly as a potential cash/money investment or did he have some kind of management role or was he a board member etc. thanks in advance
Rick Rubin was the financial backer of Smokey Mountain Wrestling, a promotion that Jim Cornette founded and booked in the early 90s .
Yeah, check out his other SMW dive ins. He mentions about Rubin backing him up.
Rick Rubin is a long time fan of wrestling. He made a fortune in the music industry and has helped fund wrestling shows. Similar to billy corgan from smashing pumpkins.
Rick rubin funded smokey mountain
Was looking for this question. Had the same exact thought. Figured it had to be a different person with the same name.
Much appreciation to the people confirming that the "Rick Rubin" Jim is talking about is the same one from the music biz! Pretty neat.
Ric Flair made his WWF debut on September 9, 1991 on Primetime Wrestling so i don't see how Jim could have made his Smoky Mountain pitch to him in October.
He made me miss remembering the details cuz you're right unless Jim didn't know about Rick being on a contact
SMW didn't debut on TV until 2/1/92. That event that Jim mentions with the matches that happened on 10/30/91.
He probably let him know very early on, while he was still setting up most details but before it was actually close to ready for a TV taping.
Slick Ric vs Tim Horner
They wrestled before
Hey Yo!
Bartender
The advertisements are getting ridiculous for this content. I love the show and understand you want to make money but this is getting out of hand. At least give us time to fall asleep before spamming us with commercials!!!!
"if you chop me again im gonna punch you in the face as hard as i can" -Bret Hart
In a weird, alternate universe, the Big Gold Belt never went to the WWF. It's the same universe where there's never been Hi-C Ecto Cooler, Surge soda, or Zima. Hillary Clinton became POTUS as well. That place sucks.
I remember seeing Arn Anderson there one time and that was kind of surprising
Lots dudes popped up there. Taker, HBK, Terry Funk.
@@connor7036 Savage.
Ric spent more money on spilt liquor than Jim Cornette made at SMW. Woooo.
I love how Rick Rueben acts like 100,000 is a lot of money for Ric Flair. lol He had to have been making 500,000 with Crockett the last few years. Remember they were way over paying people the last couple of years before Jim Herd took over when Turner bought them. Jim tells a story the first time he met Jim Herd. He knew he wanted too renogiate their contracts. All 3 were fine with it,Jim said that they had ludicrous contracts. Stan And Bobby got 400,000 a year and I forgot the exact amount Jim said for him but it was 3 something. So yeah they weren't going to start an argument until they found out what Jim Herd wanted to pay them.
$120k/year for one date a month is nothing to sneeze at.
We could have had ric flair vs Paul orndorf for the smokey mountain title....
Could have worked out pretty well for both imo
Flair couldn't go to SMW because tim horner (the biggest draw in wrestling HISTORY) white lightning couldnt be placed in a main event with a lower midcard act like ric flair! Who could be on the level of Tim Horner? I heard Tim Horner sneezed one time and it knocked out haku!
I so wish Jim and Brian watched, followed, and reviewed MMA. I can only imagine what Jim would have to say about Marvin Vettori.
I wonder what Corny would think of a prime Sakuraba doing all that crazy shit and ripping off Gracies' arms.
Vettori 😂 how random 😂
Were the (Road Warriors) Legion Of Doom {Hawk & Animal) getting ALL OF THEIR MERCHANDISE SALES at that particular time in their professional wrestling careers and or did Hawk & Animal EVER get the full cut/profits from the money their merchandise?
No they didn't..animal even mentioned that his brother lied to him about it when he brought it up one time
Alot of territory guys got screwed because they wouldn't kiss ass..rock roll Express were another team that got screwed big time
Alright, are we all 5 years old with the "first" bullshit?
Wooooo
Cool.
Corney talks about Tony kahn being a money mark and people taking advantage of him but when you hear the stories from the smokey mountain days and rick rubin I can't help think cornette is speaking from experience...
Still cannot listen to a ric flair promo... The deep inhales/gasping grinds my gears
@Ethan Gill, Ric's promos were the way heel promos should be done, he & the 4H along with Harley were the best at cutting heel promos.
@@TheSportsfan35 I'm referringto the inhale he does between his words. It just drives me nuts. I do a lot of recording and I'm of the school of thought that you avoid inhale sounds on the microphone. John Tenta AKA earthquake with a great heel dropping promos imo
Ric flair might not done it because spend too much money .i wish jim cornette ran wcw after Crockett not jim herd wcw would great shape
First to watch. Need a Cornette Toaster
Smokey Mountain wrestling was a Jim Cornette failure. :( and I am sorry for that. I'm also sorry that Jim blew out his knees at staircase because hes a mark who doesnt know how to take a bump. I'm also sorry I'm from New York. And that I'm sorry that I was never "fixin" to do anything.
"Blew out his knees at Staircase"? 😂😂😂😂
@@user-li3fr8jl3b autocorrect of Starrcade I'm guessing
Bubba was sposed to catch him, like the guy catches the cheerleader at the football game.
Nah smw was too small and a lil too outdated for the greatness of flair.
How many times are they going to cover this f****** topic
As many as he wants
Smokey mountain ⛰ wrestling sucks
Bob Armstrong was more believable than half of the WWE and AEW roster and could do a good promo. Tracy Smothers was a good worker. Heavenly Bodies were underrated ( Tom Prichard was really good). I'd take Smokey Mountain over WWE and AEW anyday
Nice story but Jim's timeline just doesn't add up.
Yea it does. Flair even verified that corny offered this to him
@@badmoon710 He says that Ric decided to work for Vince, he went to wwf in 91 before smw existed so I call bullshit.
First!
Congratulations!
@@bestguywhotellsitlikeitis why thanks. It's an honor.
@Tiger I'm ok with being a multiple time champion. You think Cena or Flair cared about losing their 16th? Nah. Ha.
@Tiger oooooooooooh. Someone got the eye of the tiger brother!
I never got any of the Ric Flair hype he always appeared to be in over-aged coked up alcoholic that was the biggest marc for his own gimmick in the history of the sport I've never seen anyone more full of themselves for not having any actual skill
How was it a gimmick?
He has more 5 star matches than anybody in American wrestling history. You are one of the typical under 30 that never saw him in his prime. From late 70s till early 90s the best guy in the business.
He didn’t take coke, he wasn’t always old, it wasn’t a gimmick and he was the greatest wrestler ever. Apart from that you have a point
@@simonkeegan5580 Noway Flair keeps that schedule using drugs.
You must not enjoy Wrestling and say that about Ric Flair. Steamboat, Sting, Funks, may disagree with you.
@@rolltide9547 Exactly. Flair vs Sting at Clash 88 (45 min)actually out did Wrestlemania 4.
First one here
You're not even the first one here to be wrong about that. I'm the best! Ha
I'm the best yet again!
Almost
@@caldwell205 this is the best day of my life!
@Cosmic Andromeda Nah. Lowly vowels don't count and sometimes y too.
@Tiger ha. Let's go!
First
I do believe the facts say otherwise. Ha. I'm the best!
My phone says I'm first so I win
@@11aiwa that's why you need to upgrade from your old flip phone from the 90s!
Never jim just got a smartphone and I'm about 10 years behind so I'm cool
@@11aiwa yeah you cool being in second. Ha.