Mike Rickard
Remembering Johnny Weaver
By Mike Rickard II
Feb 24, 2008 - 1:51 PM

First off, apologies to WWI readers for not getting this done in a timelier manner.   Johnny Weaver was one of the true legends of Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) and I regret not being able to get this piece done sooner after Weaver passed away on February 15, 2008.

To fans who grew up watching Jim Crockett Promotions (aka Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling), the name Johnny Weaver was a familiar one as well as a fondly remembered one.   Born in 1935, John Meyers would hold many regional titles in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) but more importantly, he would win a spot in the hearts of thousands of fans from across the globe.

While Weaver wrestled across the NWA, including stints in Championship Wrestling from Florida and Maple Leaf Wrestling, the majority of his career was spent in Jim Crockett Promotions where he earned the nickname “The Dean of Professional Wrestling”.  During the 1960’s, Weaver began working in the Mid-Atlantic area, earning championship gold and forming memorable teams with both “Cowboy” Bob Ellis and George Becker.   Weaver and Becker became a fixture in the Mid-Atlantic promotion (a promotion that specialized in tag team wrestling), feuding with teams such as the Infernos, Gene and Lars Anderson, and Bronko Lubich & Aldo Bogni over the territory’s Southern Tag Team Championship.

When the Southern Tag Team Championship was renamed the Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship, Weaver continued his title winning ways with Becker, warring with the teams of Rip Hawk and Swede Hansen and Gene and Ole Anderson.    Weaver formed a new team with Art Neilsen, winning the Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, once from the team of the Missouri Mauler and Brute Bernard; the second from the team of Gene and Ole Anderson.

When Jim Crockett’s son Jim Jr. took JCP over, the company shifted its focus from tag team wrestling to a combination of singles and tag team action.   Johnny Weaver’s success remained steady.   On March 5, 1978, Weaver won the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship from Baron Von Raschke, one of the area’s most hated heels.    While Weaver’s reign only lasted a month, it would be one of the highlights of his singles career.   Weaver would also campaign in the promotion over its top singles title the United States Heavyweight Championship.  

As Weaver’s career continued, he became an elder statesmen figure to the promotion’s babyfaces, rallying them against the heel faction of Gene Anderson known as Anderson’s Army.   Weaver was always ready to lend his support to a babyface in need, using his finishing hold the Weaver Lock (a variation on the sleeperhold) to help win more than his fair share of matches.

Outside the ring, Weaver served as a color commentator for some of JCP’s wrestling television programs including World Wide Wrestling (alongside Rich “The Voice” Landrum). Imitating Monday Night Football 's Don Meredith    Weaver would sing Turn Out the Lights, The Party’s Over at the end of matches.   On more than one occasion, Weaver would jump into the ring when the area’s heels got out of hand, helping wrestlers from double team situations and other underhanded tactics.   

During the early 1980’s Weaver continued his title-winning ways, winning the area’s Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship on two different occasions, first with Dewey Robertson and later with Jay Youngblood.  

Eventually, Weaver‘s in-ring appearances became less and less frequent until he participated in a storyline career ending injury.    Even after his “injury”, Weaver maintained a presence on the promotion’s TV shows, participating in a memorable angle where he taught Dusty Rhodes how to use the Weaver Lock to help in his feud against Lex Luger.  

When Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions, Weaver’s career took an unexpected turn when he applied to become a deputy sheriff for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department.   Despite being in his early 50’s, Weaver made the grade and he served as a deputy for nineteen years, earning the praise of his peers.   Sadly, Weaver would fall short of the twenty years needed to retire, passing away from natural causes at the age of 72.  

Weaver’s legacy as a wrestler was celebrated by the North Carolina based CWF Mid-Atlantic promotion when it established the Johnny Weaver Cup Tournament.   For the last three years, Weaver has participated in the tournament by presenting the trophy to the winner.    World Wrestling Insanity sends its thoughts and prayers to Mr. Weaver’s family and friends.