Tag Archives: Mike Sempervive

Episode 37: October 2, 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from October 2 1982, featuring:

* We find out the reason that Don Kernodle was summoned to Japan by Sgt. Slaughter, last week – the NWA World tag team titles.

* Not coincidentally, looking to regain their former glory, Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood have reformed their partnership.

* The very successful House of Humperdink is looking to introduce another championship into its fold.

* Dory Funk Jr continues his $100,000 Challenge, and we see a possible contender for both he – and Paul Jones – come into the forefront.

* We hear from the devastating duo of Jim Dalton and Juan Reynoso, Bob Caudle finds common ground with Porkchop Cash, and Jimmy Valiant still can’t function without his music.

* Plus, tons of historical context, important results from around the circuit, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast!

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Special Episode: The Unabridged Don Kernodle Tribute Show

Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. Mike Sempervive returns with a very special edition of the show, that pays tribute to the life and career of Don Kernodle, The Pride of the Carolinas.

As a courtesy to those who enjoy longer-form versions of the podcast, we have combined both parts of our tribute and present to you this five-and-a-half hour showcase packed with information and audio chronicling the fascinating career of the West Carolina legend.  

We cover everything. From breaking into the business by surviving the Andersons, his big break as one of Sarge’s Privates with Jim Nelson, all of the lead up and fallout to that famous night on March 12, 1983 in Greensboro, traveling to the World Wrestling Federation, finding success in Toronto, championship teams with Bob Orton Jr and Ivan Koloff, creating Nikita Koloff, Atlantic Coast Wrestling, and so much more!

Thank you for helping us celebrate the career of the last territorial star, the late, great, Don Kernodle. We hope you enjoy our tribute, and stay vigilant for the next podcast.

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Special Episode: Don Kernodle Tribute Show Part 2

Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. Mike Sempervive returns with a very special edition of the show, paying tribute to the life and career of The Pride of the Carolinas, Don Kernodle.

In this second and final part, we continue the story of how a lifelong wrestling fan became one of the most respected workers in the business. We pick up at the legendary Road To Greensboro, and follow Don through his many adventures. Over three and a half hours, we cover everything. The match and the fallout of the legendary battle against Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood, his team with Sgt. Slaughter is forced to end, traveling to the World Wrestling Federation, successes in Toronto for Maple Leaf Wrestling, brief – but legendary – teams with Bob Orton Jr and Ivan Koloff, his creation of Nikita Koloff, semi-retirement, Atlantic Coast Wrestling, and so much more!

The first part of the special looked at how Kernodle broke into the business, his wrestling education, his big break as one of Sarge’s Privates with Jim Nelson, and all of the angles that led up to the famous night on March 12, 1983.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the career of the last territorial star, the late, great, Don Kernodle. We hope you enjoy our tribute, and stay vigilant for the next podcast.

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Special Episode: Don Kernodle Tribute Show Part 1

Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. Mike Sempervive returns with a very special edition of the show, paying tribute to the life and career of The Pride of the Carolinas, Don Kernodle.

In part one, we tell the incredible story of how a lifelong wrestling fan got into the business, and the arduous journey Kernodle took to begin his career. We hear how he gets his first big break as a member of Sargent Slaughter’s Brigade, teaming first with Jim Nelson and then with Sarge himself.

The first part of our look at Kernodle’s incredible career ends with the announcement that May 12, 1983 is the date, and the Road To Greensboro is coming to a close. Coming up next week, in part two, we take you to Greensboro – and beyond – as we celebrate the career of the last territorial star, the late, great, Don Kerndole.  

We hope you enjoy our tribute, and stay vigilant for the next podcast in this series.

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Special Episode: 35th Anniversary of the 1986 Crockett Cup – Part 1

Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. Mike Sempervive returns with a very special edition of the show, celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the very first Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, held on April 19, 1986.

This is the first in a series of specials discussing the most prestigious tag team tournament of all-time. In this episode, Mike takes you through all of the lead-up and the fall-out of the show, by way of the promos aired on the television of both Jim Crockett Jr and Cowboy Bill Watts.

Some of the greatest interviews of all-time, by some of the best wrestling talent of all-time. The peak of Crockett Promotions intersects with the birth of the Universal Wrestling Federation and, over the course of four hours, we – and they – tell you how it all came together.

We hope you enjoy the show, and stay vigilant for the next podcast in this series!

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 36: September 25 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from September 25 1982, featuring:

* Don Kernodle is suddenly – and strangely – summoned by Sgt. Slaughter to leave the studio and get to Tokyo ASAP.

* After a week of resurrection, the music is once again dead for the Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant – and he’s not taking it well.

* Dory Funk Jr is on the scene, and he’s offering a staggering amount of money to anyone who can last ten minutes with him.

* We open the show with our thoughts on Hacksaw Butch Reed, who had recently passed away when the podcast was originally recorded.

* Bonus audio of Gary Hart promising a favor for Ric Flair, while Mama Cornette buys her son his first woman (client) in Memphis.

* Plus, tons of historical context, important results from around the circuit, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast!

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 35: September 18, 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from September 18 1982, featuring:

  • Last week the music died for the Boogie Man. This week, we get a resurrection as Christmas comes early for Jimmy Valiant.
  • The expansive House of Humperdink once again dominates every aspect of the program.
  • The unrecognized Mid-Atlantic tag team champions Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood reform their team for television.
  • Don Kernodle and Mike Rotundo continue to be subtly repositioned.
  • As the area readies for Abdullah The Butcher’s arrival, we play bonus audio of an ominous presence on the way to Mid-South Pro Wrestling.
  • Plus, tons of historical context, important results from around the circuit, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast!

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 34: September 11, 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from September 11 1982, featuring:

* It’s the day the music died in Mid-Atlantic, as Jimmy Valiant’s portable cassette player bites the dust at the hands of the House of Humperdink.

* Ricky Steamboat, and his old friend Jay Youngblood, gets one over on Bad Bad LeRoy Brown.

* A feature match we wanted more of: Paul Jones and Greg Valentine vs. Jack Brisco and Wahoo McDaniel.

* JIM DALTON cuts the fieriest – and best – promo of the week.

* Special bonus audio! Roddy Piper officially turns babyface in Georgia, and meets some very familiar faces along the way.

* Plus, tons of historical context, important results from around the circuit, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast!

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 32: August 28, 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from August 28 1982, featuring:

* Wahoo McDaniel finally topples Sgt. Slaughter for the US title, and we get the genesis of Jimmy Valiant hair matches, in one fell swoop.

* The burgeoning House of Humperdink brings a very familiar face back to the area – as well as a very scary new one.

* The months-long reign of the Mid-Atlantic belts as the preeminent tag team titles in the area comes to a very quiet end.

* Roddy Piper’s redemption tour continues, as he teams with another former blood rival: Ricky Steamboat.

* Plus, tons of historical context, important results from around the circuit, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast! 


The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 31: August 21, 1982

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from August 21 1982, featuring:

* Another incredible week of television keeps August red hot for Jim Crockett Promotions.

* An obnoxious Ric Flair unintentionally talks himself into an impromptu match against Mid-Atlantic Champion Jack Brisco.

* The tag team you didn’t know you needed, on the mic and in the ring: The Boogie Boogie Man Jimmy Valiant and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

* Wahoo McDaniel continues to fight a championship war on two fronts, as he deals with both Ric Flair and Sgt. Slaughter.

* The House of Humperdink continues to swell, with a higher level still yet to be reached.

* Plus, extremely important results from around the circuit, historical context, incredible promos, and so much more on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast! 


The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.