Austin Idol: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{Infobox professional wrestler

| birth_place = [[Tampa, Florida]], United StatesU.S.<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>

| billed = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], United States

McCord grew up in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]], where he attended [[Thomas Richard Robinson High School|Robinson High School]]. After graduating in 1966, he worked in construction. After developing an interest in becoming a professional wrestler, he eventually persuaded [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]], the son of [[Eddie Graham]] ([[Promoter (entertainment)|promoter]] of ([[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]), to train him.<ref name="Russo"/><ref name="Putnam2020"/>

Upon returning to Florida in January 1974, McCord resumed wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida, this time as "The Super Texan", a [[wrestling mask|masked]] [[heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] allied with [[Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)|Dusty Rhodes]].<ref name="Russo"/><ref name="Kreikenbohm1974"/> McCord was unmasked in March 1974 after losing a "[[hair versus hair match|mask versus beard match]]" to [[Jos LeDuc]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm1974"/> In summer 1974, McCord began wrestling for [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] as Mike McCord. He competed in Georgia until losing a [[loser leaves town match]] to [[Harley Race]] in November 1974, returning to Florida later that month.<ref name="Kreikenbohm1974"/>

Idol returned to Georgia Championship Wrestling in summer 1979. In November 1979, he and [[The Masked Superstar]] won a one-night tournament in the [[Omni Coliseum]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] for the [[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]]. They lost the titles to [[Jack Brisco]] and [[Jerry Brisco]] later that month. In December 1979, Idol defeated [[Ray Candy]] for the [[NWA Georgia Television Championship]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm1979"/> In January 1980, Idol was named the inaugural [[NWA National Heavyweight Champion]] (the title was vacated later that year in unclear circumstances). Idol's reign as NWA Georgia Television Champion lasted until January 1980, when he lost to [[Steve Travis (wrestler)|Steve Travis]]. Idol regained the title from Travis several days later, but lost it to Travis' ally [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] later that month. Idol defeated Sullivan to win the title for a third time in February 1980, but lost it to [[Tommy Rich]] two days later. In February 1980, Idol lost to Sullivan in a "[[street fight (professional wrestling)|Boston street fight]]". Later that month, he defeated Sullivan in a [[strap match]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm1980"/> In March 1980, Idol defeated [[Mr. Wrestling II]] to win the [[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship]] for a second time. He held the title until June 1980, when he lost to [[Baron von Raschke]]. During his reign, he unsuccessfully challenged visiting [[NWA World Heavyweight Champion]] Harley Race. Idol left Georgia Championship Wrestling in July 1980, briefly returning to the Continental Wrestling Association before embarking on a tour of Japan.<ref name="Kreikenbohm1980"/>

Idol returned to the Continental Wrestling Association yet again in June 1986.<ref name="Kreikenbohm1986"/> In January 1987, he turned on Jerry Lawler, beginning what was regarded as "the most memorable series of their feud".<ref name="James2007"/><ref name="Bowden2010B"/> In early 1987, Idol acquired [[Paul E. Dangerously]] as his [[manager (professional wrestling)|manager]]. In February 1987, Idol won a tournament to become the new [[AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion]], defeating [[Soul Train Jones]] in the tournament final. His reign lasted until April 1987 when Lawler defeated him in a [[chain match]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm1986"/><ref name="Bowden2010B"/> One week later, Idol challenged Lawler for the title in a [[hair versus hair]] [[cage match]]. Idol defeated Lawler to regain the title after his ally [[Tommy Rich]] (This was the first incarnation of the Dangerous Alliance: Paul E Dangerously, Austin Idol, and Tommy Rich)- who hid underneath the ring for the entirety of the event - emerged to assist him, Following the match, Idol and Rich beat down Lawler and shaved his head, enraging the [[Mid-South Coliseum]] audience.<ref name="Aldren2009"/><ref name="Hoops2021"/> Idol's third reign as AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion ended in June 1987 when he was once again defeated by Lawler. One week later, Idol and Rich lost to Lawler and Dundee in a [[scaffold match]]. Following this, Idol left the Continental Wrestling Association for a tour of Japan.<ref name="Kreikenbohm1987"/> The feud between Idol/Rich and Lawler was named "[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of The Year|Feud of the Year]]" for 1987 by the ''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]''.

In 2021, Idol founded the stable "Idolmania Sports Management" - consisting of Jordan Clearwater, Marshe Rocket, [[BLK Jeez]], and [[Tyrus (wrestler)|Tyrus]] - in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]. The stable later expanded with the masked Cyon, who was portrayed as being Idol's son. Tyrus won the [[NWA World Television Championship]] on the August 6, 2021 episode of ''[[NWA Powerrr]]''. In November 2022 at [[NWA Hard Times 3]], Tyrus relinquished the NWA World Television Championship to challenge for the [[NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship]], defeating champion [[Trevor Murdoch]] in a [[triple threat match]]. Stablemate Jordon Clearwater also won the World Television Championship at NWA Hard Times 3 by pinning A.J. Cazana. Cyon with his "father" at his side won the [[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] at the [[NWA 74th Anniversary Show]] in August 2022. From November 13, 2022, until February 14, 2023 (when Clearwater lost the World Television Championship to [[ThomasThom Latimer]]), Idolmania Sports Management held every singles championship except the [[NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship]].

At the beginning of his career, McCord portrayed a [[powerlifter]].<ref name="Meltzer1986"/> In 1978, he adopted the new character of Austin Idol, a verbose bleach blonde braggart who called himself "the Universal Heartthrob" and fancied himself attractive to women and wore [[tie-dye]]d ring attire.<ref name="Bowden2010"/><ref name="Russo"/><ref name="Lano"/> PriorAt tothe beginning of his matches, Idol would often make a show of removing his robe by quickly outstretching his arms in a [[crucifix]] position to reveal his physique, and would swivel his hips from side to side while slowly continuing to disrobe. The character of Austin Idol was often compared to [["Superstar" Billy Graham]].<ref name="James2007"/>

**[[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA National Heavyweight Championship#Reigns|1 time, (inaugural champion)]])

* {{officialwebsiteofficial website|http://www.austinidollive.com/}}

[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]

[[Category:The Heenan Family members]]