Manager
Jim Cornette
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jim Cornette served as a photographer,
ring announcer, and wrestling magazine correspondent from the age of 15.
In 1982, at age 21, he received the opportunity to enter the managerial
end of pro wrestling. With his tennis racquet never far from his side,
Cornette went on to become one of, if not the greatest manager of all
time by guiding the careers of such greats as the Midnight Express (from
1983 to 1990), the late WWF Champion Yokozuna, the NWA World Heavyweight
Champion and Ultimate Fighting Championships legend Dan "The Beast"
Severn, Big Bubba Rogers, The Fantastics, Dynamic Dudes, Rock N Roll Express,
Heavenly Bodies, Tom Prichard, Jimmy Del Ray, Al Snow, Unibomb, Headhunters,
Jeff Jarrett, New Midnight Express, Salvatore Sincere, Mantaur, Owen Hart,
British Bulldog, Vader and more.
Jim Cornette debuted in Mid-South Wrestling in 1984 where he managed the
Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) and went after Magnum
TA & Mr Wrestling II (reigning Mid-South Tag Team Champions). At one
point they tarred and feathered Magnum on TV! In the spring of 1984 The
Midnight Express defeated Magnum TA & Mr Wrestling II to win the Mid-South
Tag Team titles.
The Rock n Roll Express soon spoiled the celebration party by smashing
the cake in Cornette’s face. Bill Watts reran the incident repeatedly
on Mid-South Television, which enraged Jim Cornette! Jim Cornette and
the Midnight’s gained revenge by attacking Watts the following week.
This led to a series of Bill Watts/Junkyard Dog vs Jim Cornette/Midnight
Express matches
The Midnight Express were defeated by Mr Wrestling II & III (masked
RockNRoll Express) for the Mid-South tag team titles. This officially
ignited one of the longest running feuds in the history of wrestling.
They traded the belts back and forth and eventually engaged in a series
of scaffold matches..
Jim Cornette hired Hercules Hernandez as his bodyguard for protection
from Hacksaw Jim Duggan. In October 1984, Hercules and Jim Duggan faced
off at the Superdome in a hair vs. hair match. Jim Cornette was the one
who ended up bald after all the babyfaces in the arena shaved his head!
Jim Cornette began wearing a mask on Mid-South Television to hide his
bald head.
In December 1984, Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express moved to World Class Championship Wrestling where they defeated the Fantastics to win the World Class Tag Team titles.
In February 1986, Jim Cornette led the Midnight Express (Eaton/Condrey)
to the NWA World Tag titles, defeating the Rock N Roll Express. Jim Cornette
then faced Baby Doll in a series of matches on the Great American Bash
Tour. He soon hired Big Bubba Rogers as his personal security.
Jim Cornette's new Midnight Express (Lane & Eaton) captured the NWA
US Tag Team title, in a 6-team tournament in May 1997.
In 1998 Cornette led the The Midnight Express to victory over Tully Blanchard
and Arn Anderson for the NWA World Tag Team title. Later that year, Paul
E. Dangerously brought in the Original Midnight Express of Rose and Condrey
to feud with Cornette's Midnight Express. At Starrcade, Jim Cornette's
Midnight Express defeated Dangerously's Midnight Express
Cornette went on to lead his Midnight Express to victories over Dangerously's
Midnight Express (Jack Victory & Rose), and Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas
and Johnny Ace) At Great American Bash 1989, Jim Cornette defeated Paul
E. Dangerously in a "tuxedo street fight"
In 1991, Jim Cornette left WCW to form his own wrestling group, Smoky Mountain Wrestling. SMW at the time was unlike any other wrestling promotion. The talent used, angles, booking, and the fact that they had television put them a step above the rest. SMW tapes were soon being traded among wrestling fans world wide and SMW was becoming the talk of the wrestling world.
In SMW, in addition to "running the show", Jim Cornette managed the Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane and Tom Prichard). From April 1992 to January 1993 Jim Cornette guided the Heavenly Bodies to five Smokey Mountain Tag Team titles. When Stan Lane retired and left Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Jim Cornette replaced him with Jimmy Del Ray. Some of the talent Jim Cornette introduced to the wrestling world in SMW include Chris Candido, Tammy Sytch, Unibomb (Kane), DLo Brown, Boo Bradley (Balls Mahoney) and the Gangstas. He also continued to use established talent such as Dutch Mantell, Bob Armstrong, Tracy Smothers, and Dirty White Boy.
Jim Cornette, still running his Smoky Mountain promotion, excepted a
job with the World Wrestling Federation in 1993. At Survivor Series 1993,
he signed a deal with the WWF to showcase Smokey Mountain Wrestling on
the PPV. The Heavenly Bodies defeated The Rock N Roll Express to win the
Smokey Mountain Tag Team titles. Jim Cornette co-managed (with Mr. Fuji)
the federation's champion, the late Yokozuna. At WrestleMania XI, Jim
Cornette led Yokozuna & Owen Hart to the WWF World Tag Team title
from Sunny's Smokin' Gunns.
In December 1995, to the dismay of many wrestling fans, Jim Cornette folded
his Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion, then agreed to work full time
with the WWF.
Cornette went on to guide Owen, Davey & Vader to numerous victories in the WWF. He was instrumental in introducing an NWA angle, a movement towards more traditional wrestling, in the WWF. He introduced the New Midnight Express (Bart Gunn & Bob Holly).
Jim Cornette formed Ohio Valley Wrestling, which would be used as a developmental
system for the WWF (WWE).
While still involved with OVW, Jim Cornette continues to make appearances
for several indy promotions in the US.
Thanks Jim for everything you have done for the business. Thank you for the hours of entertainment, laughter, excitement, and more.
(Written by Brett Schwan)
Additional Comments:
"Jim Cornette...the man is a great pillar of the sport and I only wish his ideas and views would be more largely accepted." - Bobby Reidell
"Jim Cornette is the best. A true master at ringside and on the mic.. Anyone who has any interest in being a manager should watch about six hours worth of Cornette tapes before they do anything else. A lock for the Hall of Fame as far as I am concerned." - Sure Thin John Shane
