My Grail Card - The Final Update, for real this time.

Welp, I thought the last update was going to be the final update and then I went ahead and sent my card off to PSA to get it graded.  I can now say definitively I have finally completed my grail card from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set, card #339 Four Horsemen.

Please read the past blogs to get the full story on this card, especially Update Part 2.

May 17, 2022: New Grail Card

February 11, 2023: New Grail Card Update

June 7, 2023: New Grail Card Update 2!

December 21, 2024: New Grail Card Update 3! IT'S COMPLETE!

This was my first time submitting to PSA.  It was simple enough to do, but they do have strict instructions to follow.  I paid for the 20 day turnaround and I got my card a week early!  I was happy with my grade as well, 8 on the card and 9 on the auto.  The only other card that I'm aware of that is signed by everyone as mine is that is graded by PSA got an 8 on the card and 8 on the auto.

Purchased card on eBay May 9, 2022 cost $42.20

Arn Anderson signed June 10, 2022 cost $25

David Crockett signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Lex Luger signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Ric Flair signed January 15, 2023 cost $87.89

Tully Blanchard signed May 4, 2024 cost $40

JJ Dillon signed November 30, 2024 cost $25

Various Shipping Charges for mailing card: $23.40

Shipping to PSA: $14.35

PSA Fee and return shipping: $74.98

Total cost: $412.82

I don't know know if I'll ever submit a card to PSA again, I know many that do it because they treat their cards like investments.  Perhaps I should has well, but the cost of submitting can get expensive.  For me it would have to be a special card like this one.  I am tempted to find another once of these cards and get it signed again and possibly get a higher grade.  That is VERY tempting! 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Marty Jannetty's Intercontinental Championship Reign

Marty Jannetty was an excellent wrestler and many say he was a victim of his own demons and it prevented him from climbing hire in the ranks of professional wrestling.  I'm not here to speculate about any of that, I'm here to write about his only singles title reign in a major promotion, the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Along side Shawn Michael's as The Rockers they had a successful tag team run in Central States Wrestling and the AWA where they captured the Tag Team Championships in both promotions.  In the WWE from 1988 until January 1992 when the team broke up after the infamous Barber Shop segment that saw Shawn throw Marty through the window.  This was supposed to lead to a match between the two at WrestleMania, however and arrest in January 1992 lead to Marty being released from the company.

He was brought back in October 1992 after his house arrest ended picking up wins over enhancement talent at TV taping.  Although primarily known as a tag ream wrestler Jannetty was a former two time Central States Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and even challenging Ric Flair for the NWA Worlds Championship on four occasions.

Beginning November 27, 1992 through January 23, 1993 Jannetty toured the house show circuit challenging Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental championship coming up short at each encounter.

On January 24, 1993 Marty once again challenged for the Intercontinental Championship this time at Royal Rumble in Sacramento, California.  Once again Shawn Michaels retained his title.

In a backstage interview segment Jannetty attacked Michaels leading many to believe the feud would continue leading to a match at WrestleMania that year. However, Jannetty was accused of being intoxicated during the match at the Royal Rumble and was released shortly after.

On May 17, 1993 at the Manhattan Center in New York City on Monday Night Raw Shawn Michaels was in the ring being interviewed by Vince McMahon, Michaels said he would defend the title against anyone, anywhere.  Marty Jannetty then emerged from the crowd challenging Michaels who was forced into accepting the match.  He had returned to the WWE at house shows the days before losing matches to Michaels.

  Later in the night in just under 11 minutes Jannetty would pin Michaels with a small package to capture the championship much to the delight of the the crowd.

Jannetty's title reign would only last 19 days until June 6, 1993 when he lost the title to Michaels at a house show in Albany, New York.  In total he defended the title 7 times with 6 successful defenses, with only 1 televised defense. 

May 21, 1993 Hershey, Pennsylvania, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Papa Shango with a roll up

May 31, 1993 Manhattan Center, New York, Monday Night Raw

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty with Sensational Sherri defeated Bam Bam Bigelow with Luna Vachon by count - out

June 1, 1993 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 2, 1993 Sioux City, Iowa, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 3, 1993 Des Moines, Iowa, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 5, 1993 Minneapolis, Minnesota, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 6, 1993 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York, House Show

Shawn Michaels with Diesel pinned Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty to win the championship

The June 6th house show was Kevin Nash's debut in the WWE as Diesel, and he aided Michaels in defeating Jannetty to regain the title.  I don't understand why he lost the title at a house show instead of on Monday Night Raw the next night.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time! 

Tommy Rich's NWA World Championship Run

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich made history on April 27, 1981 when he upset NWA Worlds Champion "Handsome" Harley Race to capture the championship.   He only held the championship for 5 days defending the title 4 times, 3 successfully.

April 27, 1981 Augusta, Georgia 

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich defeated NWA Worlds Champion: Harley Race to win the title

April 28, 1981 Macon, Georgia

NWA Worlds Champion: Tommy "Wildfire" Rich defeated Harley Race

April 29, 1981 Columbus, Georgia

NWA Worlds Champion: Tommy "Wildfire" Rich defeated Harley Race

April 30, 1981 Rome, Georgia

NWA Worlds Champion: Tommy "Wildfire" Rich defeated Harley Race

May 1, 1981 Gainesville, Georgia

Harley Race defeated NWA Worlds Champion: Tommy "Wildfire" Rich to win the title

Tommy won the title on a Monday night and lost the title back to Harley on Friday night so he did not appear on television as the champion.  However on Saturday May 2, 1981 he was interviewed by Gordon Solie on the Saturday GCW show about winning, and losing the title with video clips of the win.  

He did cut a promo with Freddie Miller for Georgia Championship Wrestling during his title run. I'm not sure when it aired, you can find it on YouTube.

Harley Race, in an RF Video shoot interview stated the change happened to help Jim Barnett win a power struggle that was going on in the Georgia territory.

Why did Tommy win the championship, according to Jim Cornette he won the title for rewarding him for being the hottest territory babyface in the country at that time.  He generated high ratings on TBS television which allowed him to be booked out as a big draw in other territories.  Jim Barnett had so much power in the NWA he was able to sway the board for his one week title reign.

In an Interview with Hannibal, Tommy Rich stated it was Harley Race's idea to drop the title to Rich even leaving his $10,000 deposit on the title for the swap to happen.  In a You Shoot interview Rich stated that Jim Barnett had nothing to do with the change and that it was Harley Race's idea.

Rich winning the title was a major upset at the time when the title didn't change hands and when being the NWA Worlds Champion meant something.  It is an accolade that Rich has carried for his entire career.

Me with Tommy Rich, April 4, 2024 at the WrestleCon Supershow, at the ECW Arena

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!