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Austin Idol
Michael McCord (born October 26, 1949) is an American retired professional wrestler and current Manager in the National Wrestling Alliance, better known by the ring name Austin Idol. He is best known for his appearances in the Mid-South with the Continental Wrestling Association, in particular his recurring feud with Jerry Lawler.
McCord grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he attended 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, the son of Eddie Graham (promoter of Championship Wrestling from Florida), to train him.
McCord spent a year training to wrestle under Eddie and Mike Graham; during his training, he was stretched by Bob Roop, Hiro Matsuda, and Jack Brisco. He initially worked for Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion as a referee before debuting as a wrestler in early 1972 under the ring name Dennis McCord. McCord wrestled in Florida until mid-1972, then briefly for Nick Gulas' NWA Mid-America promotion in Alabama before joining the Carolinas-based Jim Crockett Promotions. In late 1972 and early 1973, McCord appeared in Sydney, Australia with World Championship Wrestling, where he and Jimmy Golden won a tournament to become the inaugural NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Champions (they forfeited the titles in January 1973).
In March 1973, McCord joined Vincent J. McMahon's northeastern United States-based World Wide Wrestling Federation, where he adopted the new persona of "Iron" Mike McCord and was given Lou Albano as his manager. In July 1973, McCord faced Chief Jay Strongbow in a memorable match in Madison Square Garden in New York City. As Strongbow applied a sleeper hold to McCord, Albano interfered by smashing a cast on Strongbow's forehead; McCord was disqualified, but Strongbow was cut wide open by Albano's blows. During his stint in the WWWF, McCord wrestled primarily in the mid-card, although he (unsuccessfully) challenged Pedro Morales for the WWWF Championship on several occasions. McCord remained with the WWWF until January 1974, when he left for Florida due to disliking the colder weather in the northeast.
Upon returning to Florida in January 1974, McCord resumed wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida, this time as "The Super Texan", a masked heel allied with Dusty Rhodes. McCord was unmasked in March 1974 after losing a "mask versus beard match" to Jos LeDuc. 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.
On February 20, 1975, McCord and wrestlers Gary Hart and Bobby Shane were passengers on a Cessna 182 Skylane piloted by wrestler Buddy Colt between Miami and Tampa. While attempting to land at Peter O. Knight Airport in foggy conditions, Colt crashed into Tampa Bay. Shane was killed in the crash and the other wrestlers injured, with McCord sustaining two broken ankles, several broken ribs, and severe lacerations to his feet. McCord was inactive for several months while rehabilitating. Later that year, McCord wrestled a handful of matches for Georgia Championship Wrestling, some of them as the masked "Super A" - briefly holding the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship - before going on hiatus for the next two years. Following the accident, McCord reportedly developed a fear of flying, which led him to largely restrict his future wrestling career to the Mid-South. His return from injury led Pro Wrestling Illustrated to name him its "Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year" for 1975.
In July 1977, McCord wrestled a handful of matches for Championship Wrestling from Florida before once again going on hiatus. By this point, McCord's weight had increased to 300 lbs.
McCord re-emerged in March 1978 in Fritz Von Erich's Texas-based NWA Big Time Wrestling promotion under the new persona of "the Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol. As part of his new character, McCord lost considerable weight, developed a more muscular physique, and bleached his hair blonde. Over the next two months, Idol competed in NWA Big Time Wrestling and Paul Boesch's Houston Wrestling (where he was briefly billed as "Often Idle"). In May 1978, he unsuccessfully challenged Dale Valentine for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. He left Texas later that month after losing a loser leaves town match to Kevin Von Erich.
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Austin Idol
Michael McCord (born October 26, 1949) is an American retired professional wrestler and current Manager in the National Wrestling Alliance, better known by the ring name Austin Idol. He is best known for his appearances in the Mid-South with the Continental Wrestling Association, in particular his recurring feud with Jerry Lawler.
McCord grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he attended 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, the son of Eddie Graham (promoter of Championship Wrestling from Florida), to train him.
McCord spent a year training to wrestle under Eddie and Mike Graham; during his training, he was stretched by Bob Roop, Hiro Matsuda, and Jack Brisco. He initially worked for Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion as a referee before debuting as a wrestler in early 1972 under the ring name Dennis McCord. McCord wrestled in Florida until mid-1972, then briefly for Nick Gulas' NWA Mid-America promotion in Alabama before joining the Carolinas-based Jim Crockett Promotions. In late 1972 and early 1973, McCord appeared in Sydney, Australia with World Championship Wrestling, where he and Jimmy Golden won a tournament to become the inaugural NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Champions (they forfeited the titles in January 1973).
In March 1973, McCord joined Vincent J. McMahon's northeastern United States-based World Wide Wrestling Federation, where he adopted the new persona of "Iron" Mike McCord and was given Lou Albano as his manager. In July 1973, McCord faced Chief Jay Strongbow in a memorable match in Madison Square Garden in New York City. As Strongbow applied a sleeper hold to McCord, Albano interfered by smashing a cast on Strongbow's forehead; McCord was disqualified, but Strongbow was cut wide open by Albano's blows. During his stint in the WWWF, McCord wrestled primarily in the mid-card, although he (unsuccessfully) challenged Pedro Morales for the WWWF Championship on several occasions. McCord remained with the WWWF until January 1974, when he left for Florida due to disliking the colder weather in the northeast.
Upon returning to Florida in January 1974, McCord resumed wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida, this time as "The Super Texan", a masked heel allied with Dusty Rhodes. McCord was unmasked in March 1974 after losing a "mask versus beard match" to Jos LeDuc. 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.
On February 20, 1975, McCord and wrestlers Gary Hart and Bobby Shane were passengers on a Cessna 182 Skylane piloted by wrestler Buddy Colt between Miami and Tampa. While attempting to land at Peter O. Knight Airport in foggy conditions, Colt crashed into Tampa Bay. Shane was killed in the crash and the other wrestlers injured, with McCord sustaining two broken ankles, several broken ribs, and severe lacerations to his feet. McCord was inactive for several months while rehabilitating. Later that year, McCord wrestled a handful of matches for Georgia Championship Wrestling, some of them as the masked "Super A" - briefly holding the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship - before going on hiatus for the next two years. Following the accident, McCord reportedly developed a fear of flying, which led him to largely restrict his future wrestling career to the Mid-South. His return from injury led Pro Wrestling Illustrated to name him its "Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year" for 1975.
In July 1977, McCord wrestled a handful of matches for Championship Wrestling from Florida before once again going on hiatus. By this point, McCord's weight had increased to 300 lbs.
McCord re-emerged in March 1978 in Fritz Von Erich's Texas-based NWA Big Time Wrestling promotion under the new persona of "the Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol. As part of his new character, McCord lost considerable weight, developed a more muscular physique, and bleached his hair blonde. Over the next two months, Idol competed in NWA Big Time Wrestling and Paul Boesch's Houston Wrestling (where he was briefly billed as "Often Idle"). In May 1978, he unsuccessfully challenged Dale Valentine for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. He left Texas later that month after losing a loser leaves town match to Kevin Von Erich.