The Managers
Chapter Two: J.C. Dykes
#PWHS #Article #Managers #JCDykes
During the era when Managers were essential roster members, one JC Dykes became the measuring stick for many to compare the skills of all managers making a living. The stereotypical interview expertise of most managers was not Dykes’ forte, though he did very well. This flaming (fake) redhead was so entertaining, the packed auditoriums filled up week in and week out just hoping this tux-clad manager would finally get his comeuppance. His teams, and especially his famous Infernos, had multiple weapons and communication tools that fueled an audience to an igniting point.
It did not really matter if the villains lost the match or not, the crowd was there to see JC Dykes get a thrashing he deserved and see his team hopefully lose. The question would be if the good guys could overcome the odds of weapons and manpower that JC teams held nightly. Frankie Cain, the fire-hurling Inferno, once said, “We could still be beat, and hold our heat”. This was the secret of the territory days-keep the fans wanting more week after week.
Maybe there was a team that had more ways to win a match, but I can’t think of one. Rocky Smith had a built-up boot that he “loaded” with the distinctive motion of kicking the toe of his loaded boot into the mat. After connecting with his winning kick, he would then kick his heel into the mat to “get rid of the evidence”. Then there was simply slipping a foreign object, usually into Frankie Cain’s mask, to knock his opponent unconscious with a headbutt for the win. In addition, JC Dykes carried a weighted canteen that could quickly stun their opponents by winding up and smashing the opponent’s head while the referee was distracted elsewhere. If that wasn’t enough to keep their opponents’ alert, this was one of the few (if not the only one) teams that had 2 members able to throw a fireball into the faces of their opponents. Both Frankie Cain and JC Dykes were known to throw this infernal weapon that helped explain possibly where they got the idea for their team name.
Their entertainment value for the fans went well beyond aforementioned. JC was usually seen giving signals to his team through the means of a loud-pitched whistle. This was very nerve-racking and only became worse when the fans brought their own whistles. This became even worse when the promoters sold them through the promotion to make a few extra dollars to line their pockets nightly. JC kept reinventing himself; when the auditorium became filled with the sound of whistles, JC started giving out signals by the means of a flashlight being cut on and off. From there he had to change again. This time he chose to give coded signals through the means of red, black, and yellow flash cards. JC knew how to stay relevant in a territory no matter what he faced.
JC started out as Jimmy Dykes, referee in the Nick Gulas territory in the early 60’s and became manager for the top-ranked Infernos by 1964. They intersected with fame in the late 60’s while battling great tag teams like Becker-Weaver, McKenzie-Royal, Scott Bothers, and even heel teams in heel vs heel battles Hawk-Hansen, Anderson Brothers, and Bogni-Lubich in the Jim Crockett Mid-Atlantic region. Many 6 man tag battles would entertain the crowds but JC had one rule: he never was pinned. It was during this period they became known for the no-tag switch while the referee was distracted.
There were so many more highlights in the colorful life of JC Dykes. Here are a few:
1. He managed Greg Valentine as he portrayed Don Fargo’s brother Johnny.
2. In Amarillo, he was shot at by a fan; it missed him but wounded another fan.
3. Managed masked teams Mighty Yankees (Curtis Smith & Frank Morrell) and the Dominos in his latter years before retiring. The Dominos were a black & white uniformed team and consisted of a black and a white wrestler.
4. After Monday night matches in Memphis July 26, 1976, JC decided to ride to Nashville with Gulas employee Pat Malone. Ahead of them was his tag team, the Dominos, and Sam Bass, Jerry Lawler’s friend and ring manager. On interstate the tag team’s car ran into the back of a car with no lights because it had earlier ran into the edge of the interstate’s bridge. They were then rear-ended by a truck and caught on fire. Three top workers were gone forever. It appears that JC inadvertently saved Don Green’s life that night. He was planning on riding with them but was talked into riding with JC and not in their car.
5. JC suffered from a weakened heart after a stunt during a grudge match went wrong. He was in a chain match against The Lawman (Don Slatton) and during the action the Lawman threw JC over the top rope and hung onto him.This tore the muscle around the heart and began to give him problems from that day.
6. JC retired soon afterwards after being shaken up by driving up on the fiery crash. After suffering from depression, he spent the rest of his life quietly in a prison ministry in Cleveland, Tennessee. He passed away in 1993 from a heart attack.
This writer’s life was enriched by seeing the many actions of the top manager JC Dykes. He probably was not THE best, but he is the one I have always used to begin to size up anybody that dares to choose Wrestling Manager as a profession.
It did not really matter if the villains lost the match or not, the crowd was there to see JC Dykes get a thrashing he deserved and see his team hopefully lose. The question would be if the good guys could overcome the odds of weapons and manpower that JC teams held nightly. Frankie Cain, the fire-hurling Inferno, once said, “We could still be beat, and hold our heat”. This was the secret of the territory days-keep the fans wanting more week after week.
Maybe there was a team that had more ways to win a match, but I can’t think of one. Rocky Smith had a built-up boot that he “loaded” with the distinctive motion of kicking the toe of his loaded boot into the mat. After connecting with his winning kick, he would then kick his heel into the mat to “get rid of the evidence”. Then there was simply slipping a foreign object, usually into Frankie Cain’s mask, to knock his opponent unconscious with a headbutt for the win. In addition, JC Dykes carried a weighted canteen that could quickly stun their opponents by winding up and smashing the opponent’s head while the referee was distracted elsewhere. If that wasn’t enough to keep their opponents’ alert, this was one of the few (if not the only one) teams that had 2 members able to throw a fireball into the faces of their opponents. Both Frankie Cain and JC Dykes were known to throw this infernal weapon that helped explain possibly where they got the idea for their team name.
Their entertainment value for the fans went well beyond aforementioned. JC was usually seen giving signals to his team through the means of a loud-pitched whistle. This was very nerve-racking and only became worse when the fans brought their own whistles. This became even worse when the promoters sold them through the promotion to make a few extra dollars to line their pockets nightly. JC kept reinventing himself; when the auditorium became filled with the sound of whistles, JC started giving out signals by the means of a flashlight being cut on and off. From there he had to change again. This time he chose to give coded signals through the means of red, black, and yellow flash cards. JC knew how to stay relevant in a territory no matter what he faced.
JC started out as Jimmy Dykes, referee in the Nick Gulas territory in the early 60’s and became manager for the top-ranked Infernos by 1964. They intersected with fame in the late 60’s while battling great tag teams like Becker-Weaver, McKenzie-Royal, Scott Bothers, and even heel teams in heel vs heel battles Hawk-Hansen, Anderson Brothers, and Bogni-Lubich in the Jim Crockett Mid-Atlantic region. Many 6 man tag battles would entertain the crowds but JC had one rule: he never was pinned. It was during this period they became known for the no-tag switch while the referee was distracted.
There were so many more highlights in the colorful life of JC Dykes. Here are a few:
1. He managed Greg Valentine as he portrayed Don Fargo’s brother Johnny.
2. In Amarillo, he was shot at by a fan; it missed him but wounded another fan.
3. Managed masked teams Mighty Yankees (Curtis Smith & Frank Morrell) and the Dominos in his latter years before retiring. The Dominos were a black & white uniformed team and consisted of a black and a white wrestler.
4. After Monday night matches in Memphis July 26, 1976, JC decided to ride to Nashville with Gulas employee Pat Malone. Ahead of them was his tag team, the Dominos, and Sam Bass, Jerry Lawler’s friend and ring manager. On interstate the tag team’s car ran into the back of a car with no lights because it had earlier ran into the edge of the interstate’s bridge. They were then rear-ended by a truck and caught on fire. Three top workers were gone forever. It appears that JC inadvertently saved Don Green’s life that night. He was planning on riding with them but was talked into riding with JC and not in their car.
5. JC suffered from a weakened heart after a stunt during a grudge match went wrong. He was in a chain match against The Lawman (Don Slatton) and during the action the Lawman threw JC over the top rope and hung onto him.This tore the muscle around the heart and began to give him problems from that day.
6. JC retired soon afterwards after being shaken up by driving up on the fiery crash. After suffering from depression, he spent the rest of his life quietly in a prison ministry in Cleveland, Tennessee. He passed away in 1993 from a heart attack.
This writer’s life was enriched by seeing the many actions of the top manager JC Dykes. He probably was not THE best, but he is the one I have always used to begin to size up anybody that dares to choose Wrestling Manager as a profession.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Managers: Chapter Two.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: October 16, 2015.
Article: #120.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: June 13, 2018.
Managers: Chapter Two.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: October 16, 2015.
Article: #120.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: June 13, 2018.
Managers: Chapter One - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.