Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon

-Five-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion
-Two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion
-Three-time AWA Midwest Tag Team Champion
-Inductee in both the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Halls of Fame
-Tremendous heel, which is something that I think we really need.
-Incredibly brutal wrestling style

Gordon Solie

-The "Dean" of Wrestling Announcers
-Three-time WON Wrestling Announcer of the Year and one-time PWI AOTY
-Member of several Halls of Fame, including WWE, WCW, NWA, WON, and Pro Wrestling HOF

A few quotes on Solie:

"He was the man -- the absolute best to ever call a match,'' said legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes. "Back in the '70s, the announcer wasn't in on everything that was going on in the ring and behind the curtain, so Gordon had to call it like he saw it.''

"He was probably the absolute best commentator quality-wise," said Wayne Coleman, who wrestled for more than two decades as "Superstar" Billy Graham. "He could make a guy who was a poor technical wrestler sound like a Greco-Roman champion. He was so smooth that words were like butter coming off his lips."

"From Waxahachie, Texas. Weighing 275 pounds. Dick Murdoch."



Murdoch's career spanned almost 30 years with stops in the NWA, AWA, Japan, and WWF, gaining over 40 titles in the process. A solid power wrestler, Murdoch had legendary feuds with the likes of Bruiser Brody and Harley Race. He also at some point was in tag teams with Dusty Rhodes, Adrian Adonis, and most notably the Junkyard Dog. Their feud with the Fabulous Freebirds was one of the best angles Mid-South Wrestling ever came up with.

If I don't feel like semi-recreating the Four Horsemen (I have 3/4 original members) then I think it might be a good idea to pair Murdoch with Ole Anderson. He could also certainly work as a singles wrestler too. At some point he was #1 contender for both Harley Race and Ric Flair's NWA Championships. I can go both face and heel with him and with the flexibility he provides, I think this is a very solid pick.

The Sheik



The Sheik was a crazy Syrian noble who didn’t speak any English and threw fireballs at his opponents. He was so into kayfabe that he would throw fireballs at fans who recognized him in public, and even insisted that his grandkids call him Grandpa Sheik. Rob Van Dam stated in an audio interview that The Sheik taught him to "Protect the business and then protect your opponent". He is a WWE Hall of Famer and a solid acquisition to this federation.

The Grand Wizard of Wrestling was the greatest manager in the history of the business. He was more than a decade ahead of his time- a sports entertainer whose prime was in the late 70s and early 80s.

Ernie Roth spent ten years in the W(W)WF as the Grand Wizard, managing two world champions, three intercontinental champions, and several tag team champions. His biggest success came with Superstar Billy Graham during Graham’s ten-month WWWF title reign.

Simply put, the Grand Wizard’s mic skills were the best among managers. He could talk people into the arena as well as anybody. He was great at using humor to attack the babyfaces and the fans. Here are some examples.


(after Superstar Graham beat Bruno Sammartino to become WWWF Champion): "The flags at Mama Leone's are flying at half-staff today!"

(in an interview conducted by former protégé Pat Patterson): "Oh, I didn't recognize you, Patterson! Usually you're laid out (on your back), while the referee counts one, two, three!"

(to Vince McMahon during a typical interview): "Talking to you is like trying to feed strawberries to a pig!"

(when asked by Vince McMahon why he and protégé Luke Graham hear boos whenever they appear in an arena): "I think it's the BOOZE in the fans that make them BOO us!"


For me, one of the greatest tragedies in wrestling history was the death of the Grand Wizard at the age of 54 on October 12, 1983. In just 3 ½ months, Hulk Hogan would win his first WWF title and the 80s wrestling boom would begin. But, it would do so without the Wizard. I have no doubt the Grand Wizard would have been a massive star nationally as Hulk Hogan’s primary managerial nemesis during his first title reign (a role which eventually went to Bobby Heenan when he entered the WWF in late 1984).

At 3:45 of this video, you can hear some comments, including by Vince McMahon, about the Grand Wizard.