[TRIBUTE] Tribute to Dick Murdock Article

[mmo...@ix.netcom.com]

Hey wrestling fans. I have a bit of bad news. In the wake of Ray "The
Crippler" Stevens dying a few weeks back, wrestling has lost another great.
"Captain Redneck" Dick Murdoch was found at approximately 4:30 this morning
by wife dead on a couch in his living room. In recent days he had been
participating in a lot of rodeo events, which some speculate resulted in his
death. As of press time it is unknown exactly what he died from. Murdoch
was one of the last of a breed of no nonsense, pure wrestler. He starting
wrestling in Texas in the late sixties as a tag team called the outlaws with
a young Dusty Rhodes. Since then he has gone on to star in just about
every promotion in the United States as well as the world. He held many
regional titles throughout the South and was one of the biggest names in the
NWA in the 70's and early eighties. He held the WWF tag team title with the
late Adrian Adonis. He was a big draw for the WWC in Puerto Rico and had
many brutal matches with Carlos Colon. He wrestled well into middle age,
teaming with Dick Slater in WCW as the Hardliners as well as the first
Slamboree. One of his last television appearances was in The Royal Rumble
a few years back. Murdoch was an inspiration for many wrestlers of today
including Cactus Jack, who fondly brought up his name in many interviews.
Dick Murdoch was 48 years old and will be sorely missed by the wrestling
community.

By Matt Burns (Editor of Wrestling Confidential) from issue 116

If you want to check out some of his appearances on tape he has matches or
interviews on Clash Of Champions 6, Bloody Bruiser Brody vs. the World, IWA
Hell Death match, USWA title tournament from 1990, Ecw Summer Sizzler 1993,
SMW house shows from March 1994, WCW Wrestle War 89, Kidnaps Missy Hyat from
her match at Great American Bash 1991, Slamboree 94 and 95 and even was a
competitor in the Royal Rumble 1995.

During his latter years he teamed up with Randy Rhodes as the Texas Outlaws.
They mainly wrestled on the indy Circuit. I remember a memorable match
they had with the Rock and Roll Express in 1995 for the finals of the NWA
tag tournament in Dallas Texas. I think the R and R won the titles as you
would expect. The match was a 2 out of 3 falls match and lasted the entire
hour. Another Memory of his I remember really well and I’m sure most of you
do to is Ted Dibiase was going to get an NWA title match with Rick Flair in
the old Mid South territory. I dont remember the exact circumstances but
Dick got mad because he thought he should have gotten the title shot. He
asked Ted To let him have the shot and when he didnt he jumped his friend
and brainbusted him on the concrete floor. Everyone thought that Ted
wouldn't be in the match and it was held off for a while to see if he could
make it. Later Ted came out for the match with his head bandaged up with
bloody bandages. He fought the match and almost won the World Title. Many
people feel that he would have won the title too if it wasnt for the
brainbuster being delivered from the hands of Dick Murdoch. He also
wrestled in Florida in 1989 when Dusty Rhodes was there and had a very good
match with Dick Slater at one point that ended with interference by Big
Steelman who came in and did a Bubba slam on him before Dusty Rhodes ran
them off.

I had hoped to get an interview with Randy Last night at the WWE house show
but he didnt come in for it. The WWE group was going to start booking him
and Randy in a week or so in a feud with the Texas Outlaws that I was really
looking forward to. I will try to get his # from a different source and
maybe do another tribute with just the interview. Scott Teal of Where are
they now is putting together a tribute with an interview from Terry and Dory
Funk about him.

Anyway this will start off with some of his interviews from different points
in his carreer and then goes into comments from people I got off RSPW and
AOL’s message boards and finally closes off with some more words of wisdom
by the Rowdy Redneck

>From SMW tv show 12/11/93:
To set this up Jim Cornette is bringing in the Rowdy Texan to help him take
out the Bullet. Dick Murdock and his wife are sitting on the porch during a
snow storm. Dick has his shirt off and his wife is covered up in a cow
design blanket or skin or something.

Dick”What else could a man ask for, Coors light, a cold beer. (Looks at his
wife with the cow skin on) What are you doing, We just killed this guy a
couple weeks ago. We ate him, what are you doing with him on?”

Wife “Keeping Warm.”

Dick “Keeping warm, my god its hot out here. Let me tell you something, its
getting warmer and warmer and warmer. Its getting hotter and hotter because
you see time is kicking down. You see we’re having a beutiful time here at
the end of the Spanish Peach in the souther foothills of Colorado.”

Barmaid “Would you like a cold Coors?”

Dick “Bring em right over, bring em right over honey. Its just perfect out
here. Looky here beutiful Texas ladies, look at this. They are flying out
to Tennessee to watch the slaughter. You see what makes Texas so great are
things like the Alamo. You see everyone goes to San Antone Texas to see the
Alamo thinking the Texans fought there. They didnt. It was a hundred
eighty-one stupid, ignorant gutless people from Tennessee because see if
they had any brains they would have ran when the Mexicans gave them the
chance, but no, they gotta stand there and get killed, all 181 of them. And
then 2 weeks later at the battle of ????? the great general Sam Houston, he
comes down and whips all the mexicans and the credit goes to the Texas ????.
Well let me tell you something Bob Armstrong, the history and the credit is
going to go to the Texans again because you see mama Cornette is paying me a
lotta lotta money to come out there to take that mask off and get you
suspended for life. But you see Armstrong, I’m not going to do that. I’m
gonna torture you, I’m gonna break bones, I’m gonna mangle you, I’m gonna
hurt you Armstrong because I want to see your ugly scaggly, stinking wife
sitting there over the holidays squabbling like a banshee and crying,
looking up at all those snotty nose punk kids that you raised who will say
‘Daddy can we help you, can we help you’ and your gonna say ‘No just get in
here because this man is my master. This man flew all the way in here and
he is doing this as an assassin’ because you see Armstrong you remember
Orlando Florida at the Orlando Sports arena years ago when you and I
wrestled and I ruined your career. Well I’m gonna ruin it again Armstrong,
right here in this stinking place of Tennessee because you see Mama Cornette
sent a limousine to pick us up. Shes flying us first class. Champaine
flight baby. When we get there the beer is going to be flowing and its
going to be pandemonium and mayhem because its going to be like that big fat
partner I used to have Dusty Rhodes said ‘Its going to get funky like a
monkey in Knoxville, TN over the holidays”

From: SLN...@aol.com
BTW my favorite Dick Murdoch moment has to be his match in the 80's against
Antonio Inoki, he just worked his ass off. It's found on the American comm.
tape "World Pro Wrestling from Japan" which I have.

From: n...@no.com (NoNo)
He got the biggest pop of Slamboree a few years back when he pulled off a
flying headscissors on Jim Brunzell (or was it Wahoo??) An old school
brawling mega-heel who could interview well. Dirty Dick will be missed.

From: Shur...@news.bigeasy.com
Dick Murdoch was found dead at 4:30 this morning by his wife. Murdoch had a
storied career dating back to the 60's and 70's when he teamed with Dutsy
Rhodes as The Outlaws. Murdoch achieved his most notable moments as WWF tag
team champ with Adrian Adonis and those in the know consider the brutal
matches Murdoch had in Puerto Rico with Carlos Colon some of the best
matches ever. For a full report on thid and the death of Ivan Kalmikoff, be
sure to get a copy of the Pro Wrestling informer by writing
<slo...@ai2a.net>
Peace

"Cap.Redneck"was one of my ABSOLUTE favorites growing up watching Mid-South.
I will miss him. I used to love when he would pull his false teeth out
during interviews! A riot!

Yeah, I heard also, it's a travesty
Dick Murdock was a great entertainer, and I, for one, hate to see him go.
He and Adrian Adonis brought me a lot of wrestling enjoyment.
Zoogs Rift “The Liquid Maomo”

From: Brad Kinder <bki...@citynet.net>
I'll remember Dick Murdoch as one of the all-around toughest wrestlers of
all-time. Guys that wrestled like him are a dying breed and I doubt there
will ever be another "Captain Redneck". One of my favorite matches involving
Murdoch was his Texas Death match against Steve Williams on the Great
American Bash '87 tour. My best wishes go out to his family and friends.
Brad Kinder

From: The Dark Cheetah <dche...@cais.com>
Dusty and Dick were at their best together, just two matter-of-fact Good Ol'
Boys in search of an ass to kick. Damn, I enjoyed them... I was hoping
this was a mistake too. Like maybe it was Dusty instead...? you know all
them Good Ol' Boys look alike. :) But that sure sounds like the way he
would've wanted to go... bull roping. *shakes head in amazement*

*sigh* Captain Redneck, you will be sorely missed. You were quite the
character, in the best sense of the word, in and outside of wrestling. I
hope that, wherever you are, they finally have enough beer for you.:.)
Lee Morey, The Dark Cheetah

From: James Alvey <jd...@ameritel.net>
Sadly, our fellow rspw'er is telling the truth. Murdoch was one of my
favorite wrestlers growing up. Capt Redneck always knew how to put on an
entertaining match without having to fly around the ring. It has been
confirmed by both Micasa wrestling page and the pro wrestling informer that
Murdoch died Friday at the age of 49.

From: TABE <ta...@rainbow.rmii.com>
Mostly I remember his WWF tag title win w/Adonis. I remember watching that
match on tv back in 1984 (taped it!) and being completely blown away by two
things: 1) That Adonis & Murdoch won at all; they were fairly unhyped to
that point, though they had been on tv a few times and Atlas & Johnson
seemed unbeatable and were VERY popular; 2) they won cleanly! Back then,
heels DID NOT win cleanly. They were a great team and Murdoch will be
sorely missed...
TABE
Same guy, new signature

From: kkf...@aol.com
Hey Mike...
Here are a couple of memories of Tricky Dick for ya...
1) I remember the old NWA angle where Dick turned on Windham & Dusty (I
think) and teamed with Ivan, Nikita, and a 3rd "Russian"...He gave a great
interview at ringside immediatly after where he tore into Dusty for turning
his back on him (Dick)...One of the great soundbites given by Dick was that
if John Wayne could see Rhodes today, he would be rolling over in his
grave...The angle was just too cool...

2) Back in '93, I met Dick at a charity wrestling card in Denver. At the
time, I was working for a new local federation, and we went to the show to
try to get some guys to wrestle for us...I met him in the lockerroom and
couldn't help but laugh at some of the things that were going on back there.
First of all, he had just gotten out of the shower and was chasing one of
the midget wrestlers around the lockerroom because the midget had supposedly
used Murdoch's deodorant without asking first. He about ran that little guys
legs off before he finally gave up on the chase. All of the other guys in
the lockerroom were ROFL....Then as he was getting dressed, he sat down to
scrape a bunch of cow or horse shit off of the bottom of the most raggedy
pair of cowboy boots I have ever seen. I can without a doubt say that he
was one of the nicest wrestlers I have ever met, and I have met many, many
of them...His death is a great loss to me personally and those who never had
the chance to meet the man in person will never know what a TRUE gentleman
he was...

From: F86...@AOL.com
I will always remember the old days in Florida when Dick and Dusty got a
hold of Sir Oliver Humperdink and worked him over. Everyone hated
Humperdink.... As I recall Humperdink ended up being Dusty's butler for a
month over some match that Hump's man lost. Dusty and Dick were going all
over Florida calling Humperdink "Rooster Humperdink"....
Thanks for all the good times Dick! You will be missed.
Walter

JJH...@aol.com
In his lifetime, Murdoch earned the respect of the fans and the boys;
probably the boys first since he was such a good heel for so long. He was a
worker in the best sense of the word. And a natural worker, so much that he
was still a legend among older wrestlers right until his death. I was
fortunate enough to see Murdoch through the best of his late stages: When he
lit up Mid South in the early 80s with a Capt. Redneck gimmick that couldn't
have found a better home than Texas and Oklahoma; when he stunned everybody
by vanishing into Vince's blackhole and coming out with the tag team belts
in a wonderful tag team that rivals with Steve Austin/Brian Pilman for being
broken up way too soon; when he ambushed Nikita--and not only was it
Nikita's first chink it could have been the first time we got to see a true
pro pop a muscle head's cherry and realized just how much better that felt;
and best of all when he did the same ambush on Ted DiBiase, turning Ted back
after all those years as Mid South's top heel, plus the ensuing feud when
DiBiase returned from Japan. Missed is an understatement. I honestly
think Murdoch would have wrestled forever if he could have, and I think
we're all sadder to know that he won't.

BATES F...@aol.com
My favorite match of Dick's was also the one against Windham. They went to a
draw on TV. The match lasted 45 minutes. It was a great old style match.
Murdoch was always one of my favorites. I could see that Dusty was about to
cry last night and that shows that Murdoch was loved by his friends and
other wrestlers. Now that is respect for a great man.

From: hb...@phish.nether.net ()
*sigh* I remember Murdoch in Watt's old UWF/Mid-South when he and Eddie
Gilbert formed a heel alliance to take over the territory so to speak. They
did some great interviews. Now both are gone. Murdoch also did some
terrific interviews and work for Smoky Mountain Wrestling in the last few
years, coming in from time to time as a hired heel for Jim Cornette. There
wont be another like him!

From: Robert Barnett <jap...@earthlink.net>
For a great early Murdoch appearance, check out the movie "The Wrestler",
approx 1972. Dusty and Murdoch clean out a bar.

From: bmcm...@aol.com (BMCMICHA)
One of my favorite Dick Murdoch interviews was about 10 years ago when he
came out with a poster board of wrestlers that he "claimed to have retired"
and it included midget wrestlers like Sky Low Low. Great stuff. Another
one of my favorite Murdoch spots was when he would argue face to face with
the ref like a baseball manager and then eventually back down. His facial
expressions were hillarious. Murdoch will be missed.

From: war...@nando.net
When I was growing up in the mid 70's in Arkansas, I used to watch Mid-South
where Murdoch was one of the major cards. I remember whn he got in a feud
with Ken Patera. One time, when Patera was doing his strength shows,
(bending bars, driving a spike through a board, etc), Murdoch came out with
three steel trash cans and an axe. He challenged Patera to a strength test.
Murdoch grabbed a trash can and collapsed it, then challenged Patera to do
the same, which he did. Patera then asked, "What's the third one for, you
want me to crush it too?" Murdoch went over to the mike man with the axe,
and said "Ever body knows what a trash can is for. It's to put trash in!" He
then beats up Patera with the axe handle and stuffs him in the trash can.
Murdoch was also great as a heel. While he was in NWA, he was doing a tirade
on the mike when Magnum TA made some comment (this was after Magnum's
accident when he only had half a shoulder). Murdoch blurted, "Well, whatchoo
gonna do about it, Magnum? Yew gonna give me a shoulder block?"

From: war...@nando.net
MURDOCH? NO!!!!
He was one of my favorites when I was growing up. He'd talk about getting
drunk, having hangovers and feeling mean the next day and wanting to take it
out on someone. He'd chew tobacco and spit it on the floor during
interviews. He was a pot-bellied cowboy who was still strong as hell and
could suplex and 300+ pounder. He was a GREAT role model for me!!!!

From: WRea...@aol.com
Someone posted in my AOL folder that the JWP ref announced just hours after
Murdoch died, to the JWP crowd at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall that he'd died, as
the crowd sat in stunned silence. Dick had wrestled Fujiwara in that very
same building just 2 weeks ago-his very last match on this planet. Whether
Murdoch was debuting as The Texas Outlaws with Dusty Rhodes for the Sheik in
Detroit in 1968, or later on thru the AWA, Florida, St. Louis, Japan for
Inoki since '73, WWF, NWA/WCW-he was a class act and one of the funniest
guys and rib players around. RIP to one of the greats and now we've lost yet
another trio of legends-Stevens, Dick and Ivan Kalmikoff.
RIP guys.
Michael Lano, Editor Wrestling Wreality Newsletter, Host/Producer
Syndicated Canvas Cavity tv show.

From: JaiAl...@aol.com
In July of 1984 there was a match at the Meadowlands with Hulk Hogan and
Andre The Giant against Adrian Adonis, Dick Murdoch and Big John Studd.
It is so sad the 4 of these 5 wrestlers have since passed on, now,
considering the match was just a mere 12 years ago. I was not a big Dick
Murdoch fan, but it is indeed been a rough year for wrestling, and it is not
even half over yet, to lose Ray Stevens, Superstar Graham, and Dick Murdoch.
They must be having one heck of a battle royale up in heaven.
Dan R.

From: Sala...@aol.com
I was very surprised to hear the news about Dick Murdock. I feel that he
was one of the premier heels the sport has ever seen. His feud with Dusty
Rhodes is unforgettable. I doubt anyone in wrestling today can even come
close to wrecking havoc as he did in his prime. He may have been one of the
precursors of this new wave in wrestling that we refer to as hardcore. Dick
Murdock even generated exitement in a tag team as unimpressive as the
Hardliners (with Dick Slater). He broke Scott Steiner's arm. Captain
Redneck shal live forever in the hearts of true fans, that apreciated the
hardships that the pioneers of modern wrestling had to endure. My sincerest
condolences to the mourning family.
Salarrue

From: WRea...@aol.com
2)In sad news reported by Red Bastien, Dick Murdoch passed away allegedly
Friday night between 10PM and midnight. He fell asleep watching tv, and his
wife discovered him after he probably died from a heart attack. From his
60's days as the Texas Outlaws with Rhodes in Detroit, to great runs in
Texas, Fl, AWA, St. Louis etc.-Dick was everywhere. Of course he later held
the WWF tag titles with Adrian Adonis and was a mainstay with Inoki's group
thru the 70's and 80's. This legend later had a bar with Randy Rhodes in
Colorodo(You Dew Drop Inn) and recently had relocated back to his native
Texas. He will be sorely missed and is one of the alltime NWA, WWF, and AWA
greats. So long, Captain Redneck.

From: Picks...@aol.com
JWP representatie Yamamoto Masatoshi announced Murdoch's death at today's
Korakuen Hall show, where some fans had seen him two weeks ago in his last
match against Fujiwara Yoshiaki. A great and classy act by Yamamoto.
Picksi

From: MMadd...@aol.com
Sad Sad News to report,
Dick Murdoch has passed away. This is all I know right now having
just heard of this today. If anyone has anymore information please post
ASAP.
Captain RedNeck was truly one of the legends of the sport. An
outstanding wrestler and a nice guy out of the ring. He will be missed.
MMadden694

From: MGran...@aol.com
Murdoch and Rhodes were a very big NWA heel tag team in their youth under
the name the Texas Outlaws. Even when they were young however, they didn't
have a well-defined muscle between them. After they split, Rhodes went to
the AWA and then Florida both as a heel but eventually he went face in
Florida and was an outstanding drawing card for Eddie Graham's promotion
there for years.

From: RMill...@aol.com
He did an extremely credible job of selling the "opposites" tag team with
Adrian Adonis when the WWF was taking off. With Rhodes, he sold the two
tough cowboys angle. He managed to work the lame Captain Redneck bit. He
worked all over the world and gave a solid account of himself. Rest in
peace.

From: Pwi...@aol.com
MY MEMORIES OF DIRTY DICK MURDOCH , HE WAS A NICE MAN AND I WILL MISS HIM,
I CAN STILL HERE HIM SAYING ' BELLY UP KIDD ' WHILE WERE DRINKING IN A
TAMPA BAR AFTER ROYAL RUMBLE IN 95. MY GOD BLESS YOU IN THAT BIG SALOON IN
THE SKY, ORDER UP A BIG MUG OF COORS, RIP DICK.

From: Cac...@aol.com
When I heard the news this afternoon, I was deeply saddened. Dick Murdoch
was one of my all time favorite wrestlers. I will never forget him at
Slamboree teaming with Snuka and Muraco against Mulligan, McDaniel, and
Brunzell. Murdoch hit Brunzell with a flying headscissor and had me rolling
on the floor.
Cactusb
Wrestling Board Leader

From: Ttoc...@aol.com
Memories of Dick Murdoch to me mean the heyday of the Watts Mid-South. He
had a great face vs. face feud with Butch Reed. He was POPULAR...enough that
a local welding school and some other places here in Tulsa had him endorse
them. He helped guys like Steve Williams get over early in their
careers....we've lost a good one. I'd hoped he'd get a bigger push from one
of the big 2 sometime over the past ten years...Hoisting a cold one for the
captain tonight.

From: WReaLano
Red Bastien reported that Dick died between 10 PM and midnight in his Texas
home. His wife found him, and suspected he died in his sleep from a heart
attack. I didn't get a chance to see what was posted, but Red told Ray
Stevens widow that Dick hadn't really had any known medical problems and was
far younger than Ray-who recently passed away at age 60. Both legends will
be remembered at Moolah's LIWA show and convention banquet this weekend at
the Palace Hotel on Fremont St in Las Vegas. Whether Dick was a Texas Outlaw
in the late 60's with Rhodes for the Sheik in Detroit or the AWA or his
stints everywhere, he will be missed by everyone. A solid pro, he was a Kiel
legend in St. Louis and had excellant matches there and around the country
with Race, Flair, Debiase and so many more. He traded the Int'l title with
BJ Mulligan in Texas ~ 77 and 78. This title is now part of AJPW's(Baba's
group) Triple Crown currently held by Taue. Rest In Peace, Dick Murdoch.
Your contributions to wrestling were great and you will be missed. Let's
hope Nitro and RAW do justice to him tomorrow night.

From: "Dory Funk Jr." <fua...@pig.net>
I just got back from the funeral. We will all miss Dick Murdoch. They sang,
"Rest High on the Mountain" by Vince Gill. He was buried with a Coors
Bottle. The reception was at the family place of business, Dick's Dive.
He was a friend of the common man. They came from far and wide. There were
three ex wives and the widow. A daughter, a son. He was a tough SOB. If
he was your friend, He'd give you his shirt. We laughed and we cried. It
was Dick Murdoch's last ride. He has drawn his last house. Thanks, Sharon,
Brandon, Sammie

fuanku - http://www.praxis.net/~fuanku/

From: kag...@aol.com
When Murdoch was working for J.E. Cornette, he told him "I'm gonna get
me a new set of teeth and court your ma." He was a classic.

>From Florida Championship Wrestling 1989 sometime.
This part of an interview he and Dusty did about their feud with Dick
Slater and Big Steel man:

Dick “You know Dusty its been a long time since things have been run like
this in the great state of Florida. You know Dicky slater, like you said, I
know we go back a long time buddy, I know you're a tough, tough individual.
I’ve seen him knock people out in the locker rooms. I’ve seen him knock
people out in the ring, in the bars, honkytonks and the saloons. When it
comes down to this showdown, Dick Murdoch and Dick Slater I guarantee are
going to get down. I guarantee that building might not be big enough. That
country might not be big enough, Dick Slater. And then I’m gonna be out
there to watch Dusty's back, you can bank on that and Dick Slater you said
one thing in that interview. You called yourself a boy sonny and this is a
mans world. Bring it on to me.
*************************************************
I hope you all enjoyed this look at the Rowdy Texan. He was a great
entertainer that will Sorely be missed.

If you would like to have a second look at Dick Murdoch I am looking for
more highlights from his career and if you want to transcribe some of his
interviews I would be grateful. I dont know if I can get the interview with
Randy Rhodes or not but if I do there will be a second look at one of the
Greatest memorable performers of all time, Dick Murdoch.

Rest in Peace.
Mmo...@ix.netcom.com