Andrew Lutzke
From Ellbow Promotions and Highspots.com
It appears the shoot is divided between Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson. (Wonder if there’s a hot tag?)
Robert Gibson
The interview starts with an unintentionally funny moment as the interviewer tells Robert to not look at the camera but look straight at him… Robert has a lazy eye. Ok maybe I’m evil and only such a thing would amuse me.
Robert teamed with his brother Ricky Gibson in his early years, and then formed a team with Ricky Morton to form what he says is the longest running team in wrestling history.
The Express went from Memphis to Mid-South and set records everywhere.
Ric Flair alerted Jim Crockett that these two young studs needed to be checked out.
Crockett warned him that the houses were down – however, the Express lit up the territory and sold out everywhere.
Gibson says the fans got a lot more wrasslin’ back in the day instead of promos and skits.
The Express won the World tag titles on their first night in. Robert remembers that it was in a high school, and the match lasted 52 minutes. He had to dump water out of his boots because of the sweat accumulation.
Ricky and Robert sold more tickets to one arena than John Mellencamp could in the same time frame.
Ivan Koloff was a machine. He couldn’t be slowed down and he was tough as nails.
Robert credits the Express leaving JCP in early 1988 as to what caused the down fall of the promotion.
He feels Dusty Rhodes was jealous of his team’s popularity.
The fans could tell the Express worked hard and the crowd could appreciate that.
Gibson pats he and Ricky on the back for making JCP so much money that Jim could buy two jets among other luxuries.
Robert figures the cost of the jet fuel and pilots was made up for in saving on commercial airline tickets for the roster.
JCP may have been better off staying in the south and trying not to spread nationwide.
Arn and Ole were tough guys. Ole would stiff the shit out of you during matches.
Ricky mocked Ole for not selling moves by over selling for Ole.
Flair is a super nice guy and had great ring psychology.
Magnum TA first met the Express in Mid-South. Robert and he developed personal issues that Gibson won’t elaborate on.
Mid-South died off when the Express left the area as no one was there to replace them.
Rhodes was upset that the Express out drew him when JCP ran split crews.
Morton was turned heel in 1991 while Robert was out injured.
Gibson blames Dusty for the move as he feels Rhodes wanted to wedge them apart.
Robert turned pro at 17 and still loves the business.
Starrcade was a sensational event until JCP decided to run it in Chicago. It was a slap to the southern fans’ face.
The Express weren’t given nights off because the promoters knew they meant another 20-30 grand to the house.
Ricky and Robert never saw the big money other guys did around the mid-late 80’s.
The Midnight Express created riots while feuding with the Rock and Roll Express.
Robert doubles down on his belief that the Rock and Roll Express being released led to the downfall of JCP.
Gibson relates a story that he visited a TNA taping and was mobbed with fans – the TNA stars were ignored.
Ricky Gibson invented the top rope dropkick.
JCP ran a tour bus that was built around the Express going to small towns – they drew 500,000 dollars in one week. They worked with Ole and Arn each night.
The only bad part of fame was the lack of being able to go out to eat or shop without being swamped.
Ricky Morton
The Fabulous Ones were Memphis’ number one babyface team and the Rock and Roll Express couldn’t surpass them. This led to the Express being traded to Bill Watts’ Mid-South.
In Mid-South, The Express popped the territory.
The Road Warriors vs. The Rock and Roll Express drew 40,000 fans to the New Orleans Superdome.
Muhammad Ali was in as a guest for the night-Ali played with Morton’s son.
Jim Crockett approached the Rock and Roll Express one night about going to JCP to be stars on national TV.
Their opponents that night were “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and Ted DiBiase and the heels made them look like a million bucks.
Morton loved being in Louisiana but the lure of national TV was too much to turn down.
Ricky’s son was born two days before the Express debuted for JCP.
The Express claimed the World tag belts on their first night in – the national TV was still a few weeks away and now the Express were primed for stardom.
The Russians had run roughshod over everyone and that made the Express’ victory all the more dramatic and made them stars in one night.
Dusty Rhodes was a great booker who understood how to use talent.
The travel schedule was crazy as the national expansion was in full swing and JCP tried to hop to as many states as possible.
JCP lost focus on the business during the expansion and that’s why suddenly JCP was millions in the hole and didn’t know it.
Dusty’s spending wasn’t kept in line.
The Express beat Elvis Presley’s record for the arena in Fayetteville.
A month after debuting for JCP, 400 fans showed up on Morton’s front yard to party.
The handsome youngsters vs. Evil Commies was a natural feud and it drew boffo business.
The Midnight Express and the Four Horsemen then stepped up as the next villains for the Rock and Roll Express to overcome.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin feels Ole and Arn vs. The Express at Starrcade 85 is the greatest match he’s ever seen.
Nobody ever worked harder than Flair to perfect his craft and display his talents night after night.
Morton tells his version of the “Rock and Roll Express Super Summer Sizzler” tour bus adventure.
Magnum TA’s accident caused JCP to lose its star of the future, yet the train had to keep on rolling.
Ricky and Flair did 17 straight one-hour draws in a row. This included doing 2 on each Sunday.
Morton wishes that the modern era would allow guys to garner real heat and not just be subjected to the whims of the writers.
Bill Watts made out on JCP buying the UWF, as JCP ended up with bills and broken dreams.
JCP should have stayed in the South and defended his base rather than try and expand nationally.
The Rock and Roll Express still draw in the Carolinas and that helps Ricky believe JCP could still be functioning.
WWE runs in North Carolina towns once a year and can’t sell out-JCP used to run the same places twice a month and sell out both.
JCP should be remembered for the great talent and great matches.
We close with a modern match of fat and balding sex symbols Ricky and Robert vs. two fat indy guys. The announcer’s hyperbole is commendable. Lots of stalling. Nothing much happens until the Express manage a double dropkick for the win.
Final thoughts:
In telling the tale of Jim Crockett Promotions, you had to have these two men in the mix. Gibson’s ego was amusing, Morton’s love of the sport is obvious. A fun shoot to watch, but nothing ground breaking or any truly fantastic tales were shared.
