Sound Bytes: Joe Murnick Introduces Johnny Valentine vs. Bob Bruggers

Joe Murnick was the local promoter for Jim Crockett in Raleigh NC, Norfolk VA, and other towns in the 1960s and 1970s. But he was probably more famous during that time as the ring announcer for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. 

Joe's voice and vocal style were unique and reminiscent of the classic old-school ring announcers going back decades. His ring introductions were one of my favorite parts of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling each week.

From time to time we'll post some of Joe's ring introductions as we come across them on audio tape archives. We hope they bring back good memories to those of you old enough to remember Mr. Murnick's smooth delivery. And for those of you too young to remember him, we are happy to expose you to one of the classic television voices in the history of Jim Crockett Promotions. 

JOE'S CALL - July 20, 1974

Johnny Valentine vs. Bob Bruggers for 1000 Silver Dollars

Joe Murnick

This audio is part of a feature on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway looking back at how Johnny Valentine's infamous 1000 Silver Dollars became 2000 Silver Dollars in 1974.

WGHP "Championship Wrestling" Ticket

Check out this rare original ticket to the studio wrestling tapings at WGHP channel 8 in High Point, NC. Note the hand-written alteration on the ticket of the day and date. Someone just didn't think through things very well when they printed December 25, 1973 on that week's tickets. They certainly weren't going to have a taping on Christmas Day.

They instead decided to double up the week before, having a taping on both Tuesday (normal night for WGHP taping) and a special Wednesday night. The tickets originally printed for 12/25 were honored on Wednesday 12/19. Johnny Weaver's personal journals showed this to be the case.

"Championship Wrestling", which aired on WGHP-8 in High Point, NC (a TV market which includes Greensboro and Winston-Salem as well) was taped at a studio at the Sheraton Hotel. WGHP's original studios were located inside the Sheraton Hotel on North Main Street in downtown High Point, and the wrestling tapings took place there until they were discontinued and consolidated with the WRAL Raleigh tapings in the summer of 1974. The station moved to new studios around 10 years later.