Post by Ringside Junkie on Jul 24, 2009 15:45:39 GMT -5
You can book the "Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol via www.wrestlebooking.com or www.myspace.com/wrestlebooking now!!!
Dennis McCord (born on October 26, 1949[1] in Tampa, Florida) is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name the "Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol.
Contents
* 1 Career
* 2 In wrestling
* 3 Personal life
* 4 Championships and accomplishments
* 5 References
* 6 External links
Career
Austin Idol graduated from Robinson High School in Tampa, Florida.
He started wrestling in 1972 and wrestled in the southeast promotions holding many titles in the United States Wrestling Association (Memphis), Georgia, Birmingham, Texas All Star & Mid Atlantic territories. He is best known for a long running feud with the popular Jerry Lawler. In a famed 1981 angle, Idol dressed up as a Mexican wrestler in a mask. He presented the "Top Rated Wrestler in Mexico" award to Lawler on TV, then sucker-punched Lawler in the process. Afterwards, Idol delivered a memorable interview vowing to clean up Memphis and getting rid of Lawler. Idol famously defeated Lawler in a Cage Match with the assistance of "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, who hid underneath the ring for the entirety of the match, causing Lawler to lose his hair.
McCord was the passenger on a small airplane, along with Gary Hart, and flown by Buddy Colt, which crashed in 1975 into Tampa Bay, Florida, killing fellow wrestler and good friend Bobby Shane. After a period of inactivity healing from 2 broken ankles, he emerged with bleach-blonde hair and the new moniker of "Universal Hearthrob" Austin Idol in 1978. His flamboyant personality and muscular physique led him to a successful career in the era preceding the World Wrestling Federation's emergence in the mid 1980s. Austin Idol challenged for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship several times versus Harley Race (1980) and Ric Flair (1981-84).
In wrestling
* Finishing and signature moves
o Las Vegas Leglock (Figure four leglock)[1]
o Elbow smash[1]
o Knee drop[1]
o Sleeper[1]
o Piledriver[1]
* Managers
o Jimmy Hart
o Paul E. Dangerously
o Eddie Sturgill
Personal life
He has a son, Josh McCord, works at TakoSushi, and lives in Pensacola, FL with his wife and his son. In July of 2009, McCord announced his intentions to run for mayor of Tampa in the 2011 elections. [1]
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
* All Japan Pro Wrestling
* PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Hansen[1]
* Continental Wrestling Association
* AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[1]
* AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jerry Lawler[1]
* CWA International Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[1]
* CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
* CWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Dutch Mantel (2)[1] and Jerry Lawler (1)[1]
* Georgia Championship Wrestling
* NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
* NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Masked Superstar[1]
* NWA Georgia Television Championship (2 times)[1]
* NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1975)[2]
* PWI ranked him # 193 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003.
* Southeastern Championship Wrestling
* NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[1]
* NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (3 times)[1]
* NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division) (1 time)[1]
* Texas All-Star Wrestling
* TAS Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
* World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
* NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Golden[1]
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
* Feud of the Year (1987) with Tommy Rich vs. Jerry Lawler
