This is the fourth part of a series on John Ringley, a trusted confidant of the late Jim Crockett Sr. and an influential force in Jim Crockett Promotions during the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Before the Carolinas and Virginia evolved into a territory where the major emphasis was placed on singles performers and singles programs in the early 1970s, the circuit had become known as a hotbed for tag-team wrestling throughout the ‘60s.
Rare was the occasion when a singles bout headlined a show during that period. With the exception of a world or regional singles title defense, the majority of mat cards were headlined by some of the top teams in the business. Wrestling: Ringley says Crockett’s mantra was ‘promote what the fans like’ One of the many tag teams that dominated the Crockett territory during the ‘60s was the villainous tandem of Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard .
John Ringley knew both men well. “I liked them a lot. John (Skull) was very quiet if he was around someone he really didn’t know.
And Jim (Brute) was the same way. John would do the talking and Jim would walk back and forth doing those interviews. He’d see if I was there and look over at me and grin.
He was a real hoot.” John Ringley Two of the scariest and most feared heels pro wrestling has ever seen, the Canadian-born grapplers ran roughshod through the Carolinas during the ‘60s. Their notoriety, though, was known far and wide.
To accentuate the “danger” surrounding the two, promoters .
