From 1979 to 1987, few wrestling territories were as popular as Bill Watts’ Mid-South Wrestling Association. Transformed in 1986 into the Universal Wrestling Federation, Watts provided an exciting show with excellent bookings and large crowds. He too benefited from an incredible pool of talent, many young workers had their first breaks and learned the ropes of the business. Some guys were only in the Mid-South briefly but gained fame like Shane Doulgas and the Ultimate Warrior.
Before its fall and sale to Jim Crockett Promotions (which eventually became WCW), Mid-South had some fantastic workers, many of whom later went on to greater heights of success in the business. Some became world champions and some even legends of wrestling, while others were not so big but big stars. Here are the rankings of the top ten stars in the Mid-South for their then-fame and future success to show how this territory was the birthplace of future wrestling superstars.
10 Butch’s cane
For a brief time, Butch Reed was as big as any star in Mid-South wrestling. He began feuding with Jim Duggan over the nickname “Hacksaw” and teamed up with Junkyard Dog. Reed then turned on the Hound, leading to him becoming North American and Tag Team Champion with Jim Neidhart.
When JYD left for WWE, Reed changed his face and had some good fights with Dick Slater and Ric Flair. Reed had a stint in WWE and later won the NWA Tag Team Titles with Ron Simmons. While the rest of his career wasn’t as big as his stardom in the Mid-South, Reed was an up-and-coming worker in the territory.
9 bobby eaton
Bobby Eaton had been a journeyman wrestler in 1984 when Jim Cornette came to the Mid-South from Memphis. Cornette paired him and Dennis Condrey up on the Midnight Express, which soon became one of the best teams. They traveled to the NWA to win titles there, with Condrey replaced by Stan Lane, who became an even better version of the Midnights.
Eaton later had a good run with the Dangerous Alliance and even found success as a singles wrestler to become a huge Mid-South star, no matter who he teamed up with.
8 Magnum TA
Were it not for the tragic circumstances, Magnum TA would rank much higher on this list. Terry Allen had been a good fighter, but it was in Mid-South that he adopted the name Magnum TA, obviously based on the Tom Selleck series. He soon became a massive fanbase and eventually won the North American title.
Magnum made his way to the NWA, became a huge star and probably would have been NWA World Champion if it wasn’t for the car accident that ended his career in 1986. It’s a shame as Magnum was one of the best young talents of his time, thanks to his period in the Mid South.
7 Steve Williams
A Mid-South mainstay from the start of his career, Steve Williams was known for his toughness. The famous story of getting busted at an afternoon show and wrestling later that night with 138 points earned him the name “Dr. Death ”while he fought against all the rude in the company.
He finally won the UWF title in 1987, just before the promotion went under. Williams got a boost in WCW in 1992 when he and Terry Gordy captured tag team gold and were hailed as a legend in Japan. His subsequent WWE careers were poor, but “Dr. Death” is always remembered among the greatest heroes of the Mid-South.
6 jim duggan
After being experienced for a few years, Jim Duggan came to the Mid-South as a bounty hunter of the tough type. He was soon paired up with Ted DiBiase in the Rat Pack, but changed his face and started wearing his famous 2×4. He had Tag Team and North American Champion reigns and stayed with them until he left in early 1987 for WWE.
He had some good success there before traveling to WCW to become the US Champion, among other titles.
5 rock and roll express
While Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson teamed up in Memphis, it was in the Mid-South that they became the fantastic team fans know today. They perfected the trope of a guy getting a brutal amount of punishment before a hot tag for his partner.
While holding the Mid-South titles, they also began their epic war with the Midnight Express which would lead to Jim Crockett Promotions. Adding dozens more titles in various territories over the years, the pair would rock long after leaving Mid-South.
4 The Junkyard Dog
Mid-South’s WWE Blu-ray history is candid that Junkyard Dog was the promotion’s biggest star, but not its greatest wrestler. While brimming with charisma, JYD was a working poor who had to be covered by bookings and short matches. However, JYD was fantastic with the fans, packing the Superdome for the matches and his fights with the Freebirds, Butch Reed and others were amazing.
The Dog later traveled to have a good run in WWE and some time in WCW and USWA before health issues took their toll. His death in 1998 has added to his legacy, as any list of the most beloved stars in Mid-South history always has to start with Junkyard Dog.
3 the fabulous freebirds
Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy were promising wrestlers when Watts paired them with Buddy Roberts as a trio. Before long, the Fabulous Freebirds were dominating with some title wins and an epic fight with the Junkyard Dog.
After becoming famous with their feud with the Von Erichs in World Class, the Freebirds returned to the newly christened UWF with Gordy as their first champion and Roberts as their television champion. Hayes and Gordy would later go on to WCW tag team gold with other partners as Watts provided wrestling in the first cool heels to turn things around.
two Ted DiBiase
Before he was “the million dollar man,” Ted DiBiase was one of the hottest talents in the Mid-South. He started out as a face before becoming an evil villain when his Jim Duggan and Matt Borne “Rat Pack” garnered multiple titles, including DiBiase as North American Champion.
DiBiase faced Ric Flair in a brilliantly booked angle of being attacked by Dick Murdoch. He stayed that way all the way until he left in early 1987. In WWE, DiBiase achieved even greater fame, including reigns as tag team champion to pay off his initial promise.
1 Sting
In 1986, two guys from the mainland called Blade Runners appeared in the UWF. Rock would leave after a couple of months to become the Ultimate Warrior. Meanwhile, Flash changed his name to Sting and soon became part of Eddie Gilbert’s faction.
It turned around and was starting to take off when the UWF folded up. Upon joining WCW, Sting was soon on his way to stardom, the face of the company and later runs in TNA, WWE and AEW. It all started in Mid-South when Sting was a guy who survived his fall to become a superstar.