Dennis Condrey of the Midnight Express died at age 74
By Jason PowellProWrestling.web Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Dennis Condrey is useless at age 74. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that Condrey died on Friday evening. The trigger of dying was not disclosed.
Condrey made his professional wrestling debut in 1973 and labored for a number of territories. He shaped the Midnight Express tag workforce with Randy Rose in Southeast Championship Wrestling in 1980. Norvell Austin joined them a 12 months later. That model of the group led to 1983. Condrey was paired with Bobby Eaton and supervisor Jim Cornette as the Midnight Express in the Mid-South Wrestling territory the identical 12 months. Their longtime, massively profitable feud with “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express” Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson started in the territory earlier than Condrey, Eaton, and Cornette left in 1984 for a quick keep in the World Class Championship Wrestling territory.
The trio joined Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985 and restarted their feud with Morton and Gibson. Condrey left the promotion abruptly in 1987. Stan Lane of The Fabulous Ones tag workforce was employed as Condrey’s alternative. Condrey reunited with Randy Rose as “The Original Midnight Express” in the AWA promotion, the place they have been managed by Paul E Dangerously (a/okay/a Paul Heyman).
Condrey, Rose, and Heyman left the AWA in 1988 and moved to Jim Crockett Promotions in a memorable angle through which they attacked Eaton, Lane, and Cornette to launch a feud between the two variations of the Midnight Express. Eaton, Lane, and Cornette grew to become babyfaces for the first time, whereas Condrey, Rose, and Dangerously have been the heels. The feud began sturdy, however Condrey and Rose had points with Crockett and booker George Scott. Condrey and Rose have been booked to drop a loser leaves city match to Eaton and Lane, however Condrey opted to depart the promotion with out giving discover. Condrey joined the Continental promotion in 1989 and stayed there till he retired the subsequent 12 months. He finally returned to work some impartial dates. His last match was in 2011. He appeared in recent times at AEW occasions, together with when Harwood, Cash Wheeler, and CM Punk paid tribute to him on the August 5, 2023, version of AEW Collision.
Powell’s POV: I take into account the Midnight Express to be the finest tag workforce of all time. I liked the “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey and “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton pairing, in addition to Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane, with Cornette as a spectacular mouthpiece for each variations. The Original Midnight Express vs. Midnight Express feud was glorious when it began, and it is a disgrace they could not maintain it going any longer.
I usually do not get labored up about WWE Hall of Fame omissions, but it surely’s absurd that the Midnight Express has not been inducted. They might not have labored for WWE, however they belong in each professional wrestling Hall of Fame, given their legendary standing.
My condolences to Condrey’s household, buddies, and lots of followers. Dax Harwood arrange a Go Fund Me Page with permission from Condrey’s spouse, Theresa. Harwood donated $1,000, and the purpose is to boost $3,500 to assist with funeral bills and her payments.
