| Moondogs | |
|---|---|
| Stable | |
| Members | see below |
| Billed from | Parts Unknown[1] |
| Debut | 1980 |
TheMoondogs were aprofessional wrestlingstable in theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) and in theMemphis promotions: theContinental Wrestling Association (CWA), which became theUnited States Wrestling Association (USWA). They were known for wrestling in frayed blue jeans, sporting shaggy blond hair and beards and carrying animal bones around with them (which they chewed and used as weapons).
The name "moondog" seems to have originated with American musician Louis T. Hardin (1916–1999) who used the nickname from the 1940s.[2] His instrumental song "Moondog Serenade" inspired DJAlan Freed to use the Moondog moniker in the 1950s until legal action from Hardin resulted in a judgement in Hardin's favor. Had album was used under his name in 1969 calledMoondog
The Moondog gimmick in wrestling was born in 1973 whenLonnie Mayne became Moondog Mayne in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation. He continued using the gimmick in Portland, Texas, California and Georgia. He died in 1978 after an automobile accident.
In 1980,Moondog Hawkins wrestled in the WWF, in which the gimmick was short-lived. Hawkins became Moondog Rex.
Moondog Rex andMoondog King joined theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) in October 1980, where they defeatedRick Martel andTony Garea for theWWF Tag Team Championship.[3] After winning the title, Moondog King was replaced byMoondog Spot after King—a Canadian—was denied entry into the United States in 1981.[3][4] Rex and Spot'sgimmick consisted of them carrying chewed up bones to the ring and wearing cut-off blue jeans.[3] While in the WWF, the Moondogs feuded withTony Garea,Rick Martel,Bob Backlund,Ivan Putski,Pat Patterson, and theWild Samoans.[3]
In 1984, on an episode ofMaple Leaf Wrestling, Moondog Rex earned aWWF Championship title shot againstHulk Hogan.[3] In 1987, Rex was repackaged as Smash ofDemolition, along withAx. However, fans easily recognized him and gave him chants of "Moondog," leading to him being quickly replaced byBarry Darsow. Rex and Spot then teamed together until 1990 in various promotions.[3]
The Moondogs had two runs in Memphis. Their first run took place in theContinental Wrestling Association in 1983, where they were managed byJimmy Hart and feuded withThe Fabulous Ones. They captured theAWA Southern Tag Team Championship from the Fabs on April 4, 1983, and lost it back to them on April 25, in a no-disqualification match. The feud continued throughout 1983 and ended when The Moondogs lost a leaves town match to the Fabs on January 16, 1984.[5]
In October 1987, the Moondogs wrestled forAll Japan Pro Wrestling. Moondog Spike and Moondog Spot faced opponents such asJumbo Tsuruta,Mighty Inoue,Haruka Eigen andTiger Mask II.
In late 1991, The Moondogs returned, this time managed by Richard Lee. Spot and Spike captured theUSWA Tag Team Championship on November 30, 1991. In early 1992, The Moondogs gained a new ally in The Big Black Dog, whom they would later feud with.Moondog Cujo was added to the group in April 1992, teaming with both Spot and Spike separately. The New Moondogs of Spot and Cujo recapturedUSWA Tag Team Championship and traded the title withJeff Jarrett andJerry Lawler throughout 1992. During October 1992, The Moondogs gained another ally inMoondog Fifi, who won theUSWA Women's Championship fromMiss Texas.[6] The feud between Jarrett/Lawler and The Moondogs was voted the 1992PWI Feud of the Year byPro Wrestling Illustrated. Cujo left the group during September 1992.
On December 28, The Moondogs lost the title toThe Harris Brothers, managed by Bert Prentice and Mike Samples. The teams traded the belts back and forth until the Moondogs captured them for the last time on February 22, 1993. The feud ended in March 1993, when The Harris Brothers beat The Moondogs in a manager's hair vs hair match with Samples' hair vs Lee's hair on the line. On January 30, 1993, the Moondogs gained another ally in Moondog Splat, who replaced Spike.
On March 8, 1993,Brian Christopher teamed with The Big Black Dog to defeat The Moondogs for the tag team title. The Moondogs won it back the next week. Moondog Cujo and Spike replaced Spot and Splat in July 1993. August 1993 saw the Moondogs meet one of their noteworthy rivals, The Dogcatchers, which played off of the Moondogs' name. The teams feuded throughout August and September 1993.
From November 1993 to March 1994, the team appeared inSmoky Mountain Wrestling, feuding again with The Harris Brothers andThe Rock 'n' Roll Express. Spike and Splat also appeared inW*ING's 1993 Most Dangerous Tag War Tournament, finishing with 0 points.[7]
1994 saw the team change again with Spot and a new Moondog Rex taking up the Moondog name until Moondog Rover replaced Rex in 1996, before the team disbanded.
In the latter part of 2003, the Moondogs (Spot and Puppy Love) began working inMemphis Wrestling, with April Pennington acting as their manager.[4] On November 29, 2003, Moondog Spot died in the ring during abattle royal in Memphis.[3]
Moondog Cujo appeared at theClash of the Legends show in Memphis on April 29, 2007, where he defeatedThe Barbarian.[8]
