Dennis Condrey
Dennis Condrey | |
---|---|
Muscle Shoals, Alabama | |
Trained by | Joe Turner |
Debut | 1973[1] |
Retired | 2011 |
Dennis Condrey (born February 1, 1952) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the Continental Wrestling Association, Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s.[1][2]
Professional wrestling career
National Wrestling Alliance (1973–1987)
Dennis Condrey was born in
Once in Mid-South, Condrey formed a new version of the Midnight Express with Bobby Eaton with Jim Cornette as their manager.[3] They also started a legendary feud with the Rock 'n' Roll Express that carried over into the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985.
In early 1986, Condrey and Eaton won the NWA World Tag Team Titles from the Rock 'n' Roll Express on Superstars on the Superstation and feuded with them until Condrey left the promotion in early 1987. He left overnight, giving no notice to Cornette, Eaton, or the NWA.[4]
American Wrestling Association (1987)

Condrey would reunite with former partner Randy Rose in the AWA under manager Paul E. Dangerously. "Loverboy" Dennis and "Ravishing" Randy called themselves "The Midnight Express", and claimed the right to the name, which had since been used by Condrey and Eaton (and later by "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and "Sweet" Stan Lane) in the NWA.[3]
They would defeat Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee for the AWA World Tag Team titles on October 30, 1987, in Whitewater, Wisconsin. They would have a two-month title reign, losing the titles to the returning Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) on December 27, 1987, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5]
Return to the NWA World Championship Wrestling (1988–1989)
After wrestling the independents, Condrey returned to the NWA in November 1988, alongside Randy Rose and Paul E. Dangerously, and now calling themselves "The Original Midnight Express".
During the November 5 episode of World Championship Wrestling, Jim Cornette received an anonymous phone call. The caller ridiculed Cornette over Eaton and Lane's loss of the NWA World Tag Team titles to the Road Warriors on October 29. Cornette recognized the caller and basically asked him to come say it to his face. At that point, Dangerously and the Original Midnight Express hit the ring and proceeded to pummel Cornette and Stan Lane, who was wrestling in a singles match. By the time Bobby Eaton showed up, it was three on one. Cornette showed up the next week on TBS carrying his blood stained suit jacket and the feud was on.
The teams wrestled at
Continental Wrestling Federation and International Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)
Condrey returned to Alabama (now known as Continental) in the Spring of 1989. On July 22, 1989, Condrey defeated
Independent circuit (2004–2011)
Condrey came back to team with Eaton in 2004 and,
Condrey signed to World Wrestling Entertainment in March 2010 as a developmental trainer.[8] He was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling and works with the rookies on the NXT roster. Condrey retired in 2011, after wrestling his last match on October 15, against Bill Mulkey at the AWE Night of Legends.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- 1 time) – with Randy Rose[2]
- Continental Wrestling Federation
- 1 time)
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- International Championship Wrestling (New England)
- ICW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Gilbert
- International Wrestling Cartel
- IWC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Eaton[9]
- Jim Crockett Promotions
- Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2017 - with Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane and Jim Cornette[10]
- Mid-South Wrestling Association
- 2 times) – with Bobby Eaton
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (class of 2008)
- NWA Bluegrass
- NWA Bluegrass Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Eaton
- NWA Mid-America / Continental Wrestling Association
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (9 times) – with Phil Hickerson (5), Don Carson (1), David Schultz (1), and Randy Rose (2)
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Phil Hickerson
- Al Greene & Phil Hickerson (1), and Tojo Yamamoto & Chris Colt(1)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (5 times) – with Phil Hickerson[11][12]
- NWA World Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
- NWA Wrestle Birmingham
- NWA Wrestle Birmingham Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Wrestle Birmingham Television Championship (1 time)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2019 – Inducted as part of The Midnight Express with "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and "Ravishing" Randy Rose
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (15 times) – with Randy Rose (10), David Shultz (1), Don Carson (1), and Phil Hickerson (3)
- Windy City Pro Wrestling
- WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Randy Rose[13]
- World Class Championship Wrestling
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Eaton[14][15]
- World Wrestling Council
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 219 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- PWI ranked him # 21 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with Bobby Eaton in 2003.
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Tag Team of the Year(1986) with Bobby Eaton
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2009) with Bobby Eaton as the Midnight Express;
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Dennis Condrey". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
- ^ ]
- ^ a b c "Midnight Express FAQ". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Midnight Express Profile". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Starrcade". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "Ring of Honor - The Midnight Express Reunion". Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "WWE signs Dennis Condrey". Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results – December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
- ^ "Next Official Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". Official Memphis Wrestling. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
External links
- Dennis Condrey at IMDb
- Dennis Condrey's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database