James Morrison
Birth : 1942-06-26, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
History
James Morrison is an American retired professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, 'J.J. Dillon'.
J.J. Dillon had an extensive wrestling career. He broke into wrestling at the age of 29, starting out in the early 1970’s as a referee transitioning into a wrestler and then a manager winning many championships and managing a variety of wrestlers throughout many different territories around the country. He made his Madison Square Garden debut on April 23, 1984 when he challenged Tito Santana for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, losing by pinfall after a flying forearm by Santana.
He is most remembered in pro wrestling as a manager. He guided many wrestlers to singles and tag-team titles in the NWA. Dillon, who became manager of Tully Blanchard, achieved his greatest success as the manager of the Four Horsemen which consisted of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Blanchard, Arn Anderson , Ole Anderson, Lex Luger and Barry Windham. After leaving WCW in February 1989, Dillon served as a front office executive for the WWF until 1997. On April 21, 1997, he returned to WCW as an on-camera commissioner, a position which lasted until fall 1998. In 2003, Dillon had a short stint as an NWA representative in TNA.
In 2009, he made a one-night appearance at Deaf Wrestlefest 2009 to team with "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi and "Handsome" Frank Staletto in a six-man tag team match against "Franchise" Shane Douglas, Dominic Denucci and Cody Michaels.
On December 29, 2019, Dillon joined the Board of Directors of the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. On March 3, 2021, Dillon returned to TNT to act as manager for Tully Blanchard on an episode of AEW Dynamite.
J.J. Dillon
Before he walks that aisle one last time, tune in right here for the preshow to Ric Flair’s Last Match!
Starring former world champions Bret Hart and Billy Graham, 350 Days is a true look behind the curtains at the grueling life they led on the road 350 days a year and the effect that lifestyle had on their marriages, family, physical and mental health. Featuring Greg Valentine, Tito Santana, Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff, Abdullah The Butcher, Wendi Richter, Bill Eadie, Nikolai Volkoff, Stan Hansen, Angelo Mosca, Lex Luger, and more, this film also includes some of the last interviews ever done with George “The Animal” Steele, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Ox Baker, The Wolfman, Don Fargo, and 99-year-old Angelo Savoldi.
Watch the stories of those who worked with professional wrestler Bobby Eaton. From his days in the independents, NWA, and WCW, you will hear stories that have never seen the light of day. Stories of inspiration, stories hard work, and stories of a golden heart.
Himself
Hear from the stars that worked for and with The Funks including Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bret Hart, Jim Ross, Gerald Brisco, Steve Corino, Bill Apter, Stan Hansen, JJ Dillon, The Blue Meanie, Bob Armstrong, Dr. Tom Prichard, Harley Race, Larry Matysik, Jimmy Hart, and Ricky Steamboat!
Self
We're off once again...back in time to the years of regional territories in pro wrestling. For this edition, host Jim Cornette sits down with the venerable J.J. Dillon for a comprehensive examination of the Crocketts' Mid Atlantic Wrestling. In what can best be described as a tale of two territories, you'll see the style and formulas used by Jim Crockett Sr, and then the direction and decisions that his family implemented after his death in the 70s.
Himself
One of sports-entertainment's most patriotic traditions, The Great American Bash brought excitement to fans of the NWA and WCW for over a decade. It featured legends like Sting, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the New World Order (nWo), the Road Warriors and more, competing for pride, honor and championship gold. This red, white and blue extravaganza always delivered the fireworks.
Himself
The venerable manager of the Four Horsemen and trusted WCW office member JJ Dillon is the next star to jump in the Kayfabe Commentaries time machine. The time the year is 1988 in WCW and Ted Turner is about to step in and buy the company from the Crockett family. They're beginning to feel the battle wounds as WWE and WCW begin running big events against each other. The war is in high gear. J.J. Dillon takes us inside the company and also inside the office, as he was working for the Crocketts there as well. Hear how torn he was as Arn and Tully, his benchmark Horsemen benchmark, jump to the WWE. A star is born as Sting main events against Flair. But did he ever really 'have it?'
Walk the dark and hallowed path of he who cannot be buried. The Apocalyptic Warrior who has denied salvation to twenty souls to forge an eternal streak. The dynasty of The Deadman becomes immortal in Undertaker: The Streak. Hear the tales of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Batista, Big Show, Randy Orton and other victims who have dared to stare across the ring into the cold eyes of The Phenom. From Undertaker's WrestleMania VII debut vs. Jimmy Superfly Snuka to his agonising war with Triple H and the illustrious opponents in between, every chilling encounter is presented here from bell-to-bell.
Himself
For close to a decade, professional wrestling fans loved Clash of the Champions, a series of supercards that aired on TBS, featuring the biggest stars of first NWA and the WCW. Over the course of 35 events from 1988 through 1997, fans were treated to championship contests, grudge matches, and spectacular moments. Many of these matches have never been released on home video until now. The Best of the Clash of the Champions, hosted by 3-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Hall of Famer, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, will highlight some of the greatest matches in the event’s ten-year history and features fan favorites Ric Flair, Sting, The Road Warriors, Lex Luger, the Four Horsemen, the nWo, and so many more.
J.J. Dillon
Bags packed? Good. Because it’s time to hit the road with the most infamous band of pro wrestling heels ever. J.J. Dillon will be our guide back to 1987 for seven days, and we’ll live the life with him as we check into the hotels, grab the rental cars, make the planes, reach the venues, hit the bars, meet the ladies, buy the cocktails, and everything else you can imagine! Oh yeah, we wrestle too. J.J. and Kayfabe Commentaries have gone to great lengths to recreate this week in painstaking detail. You’ll do the road, the house shows, the studio TV and the syndicated TV. Was it work? Play? Or something in between? You’ll find out as this exclusive KC “shoot-sim” takes you inside like nothing you’ve ever seen before. You may know about them, but do you know what it was like to BE one of them????
Himself
One of the first and coolest, factions in Sports Entertainment was The Four Horsemen. This stable was a powerful group that ran roughshod over WCW and lasted for the better part of a decade with its various members, including 16-time World Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair (the constant among the Four Horsemen) as well as other members: Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, Sting, Lex Luger, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and more.
James J. Dillon
Documentary on legendary Houston Wrestling Promoter Paul Boesch produced and aired in 1994 on Houston Channel 39 KHTV.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
Ric Flair defends the NWA World Championship against Lex Luger. The Road Warriors defend the NWA Tag Team Championship against Sting & Dusty Rhodes . The Fantastics defend the NWA United States Tag Team Championship against The Varsity Club's Kevin Sullivan & "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. Jim Cornette leads The Midnight Express against Paul E. Dangerously’s Original Midnight Express and much more!
James J. Dillon (Manager)
WCW Clash of The Champions IV took place on December 7, 1988 at the UTC Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There were 8000 people in attendance and the show drew a 4.5 rating on TBS. This show set up Starrcade '88: True Gritt. It was on this show that TBS/NWA experimented with a top down camera angle, which did not catch on. This is comparable to the "refer-eye" camera from Halloween Havoc '91. This is the very first supershow held by World Championship Wrestling.
J.J. Dillon (Manager)
NWA Clash of The Champions III took place on September 7, 1988 at the Albany Civic Center in Albany, Georgia . There were 3,700 people in attendance and the show drew a 5.4 rating on TBS. Fall Brawl would later become a regular PPV event for WCW.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
Clash of the Champions II took place on June 8, 1988 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. There were 2400 people in attendance and the show drew a 4.8 rating on TBS. Throughout the show, wrestlers were being interviewed as they arrived to the building, most notably, Lex Luger who was attacked by the Four Horsemen and was busted open after being slammed head first into the trunk of his limo. This was a big deal at the time as it was the first time Luger had bled while in the NWA. This would also be an important factor in the conclusion of Luger's match against Ric Flair at the 1988 Great American Bash PPV.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
The third and final Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held over two nights, April 22 and 23, 1988. Scheduled to feature 24 teams, the tournament included a few changes to the original lineup.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
Clash of the Champions I took place on March 27, 1988 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. There were 6,000 people in attendance and the show drew a 5.6 rating on TBS. This was aired head to head with WWF WrestleMania IV.
James J. Dillon
Bunkhouse Stampede 1988 was the fourth and final professional wrestling Bunkhouse Stampede event produced by Jim Crockett Promotions under the NWA banner and it was the only Bunkhouse Stampede event to air as a PPV event. The event took place on January 24, 1988 from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. The main event was a Steel Cage Bunkhouse Stampede featuring Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Dusty Rhodes, The Barbarian, Lex Luger, Ivan Koloff, Road Warrior Animal and The Warlord. The undercard featured Ric Flair versus Road Warrior Hawk for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Barry Windham versus Larry Zbyzsko for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship and Nikita Koloff versus Bobby Eaton for the NWA World Television Championship.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
Ric Flair battles Ron Garvin for the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage Match. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defend the NWA Tag Team Championship against The Road Warriors. The Rock & Roll Express face The Midnight Express in an unforgiving Scaffold Match. Dusty Rhodes battles Lex Luger in a Steel Cage for the NWA United States Championship with "The Dream's" career on the line and much more!
James J. Dillon
The second Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held over two nights, April 10 and 11, 1987. The tournament included 24 tag teams.
Himself
Jim Crockett Promotions feature the biggest stars in the hottest cities across america!
James J. Dillon
Only one team will survive the "Night of The Skywalkers" as The Road Warriors and The Midnight Express clash high atop a 25 foot scaffold! Ric Flair defends the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against The Russian Nightmare Nikita Koloff. The Rock 'n' Roll Express defend the NWA Tag Team Championship against Ole & Arn Anderson in a Steel Cage Match and so much more!
James J. Dillon
The Greensboro Coliseum is the site for the final stop on the '86 Bash tour!
James J. Dillon (Manager)
Jim Crockett Promotions used "The Great American Bash" as the name for a tour that had several PPV caliber shows around the country. In 1986, there were 13 Great American Bashes and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Road Warrior Hawk, Ron Garvin, Nikita Koloff, Robert Gibson, Road Warrior Animal, Magnum T.A., Wahoo McDaniel and Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes defeated him for the title at the July 26 Bash. Flair challenged for it on the last Bash on August 2. Nikita Koloff and Magnum T.A. were involved in a best of seven title match series throughout the Bash for the U.S. Title.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
The Bash rolls into Charlotte's Memorial Stadium for a red-hot night of action!
James J. Dillon
TBS and Jim Crockett Promotions proudly presents a special event voted on by the fans! Ric Flair vs. Ron Garvin for the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship. Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. The Rock & Roll Express defend the NWA Tag Team Championship against The Midnight Express. The Road Warriors vs. Ivan & Nikita Koloff in an epic tag team showdown all from Atlanta's Omni!
JJ Dillon
Nite of Champions II sees the American Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance unite to present a truly iconic confrontation; "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair goes toe-to-toe with "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in a match for the ages.
James J. Dillon
December 29, 1985 in East Rutherford, New Jersey at The Meadowlands
James J. Dillon
NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering was the third annual Starrcade professional wrestling event produced by Jim Crockett Promotions under the NWA banner. It took place on November 28, 1985 from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina and The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. The main event was between Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Their feud escalated when Flair broke Rhodes' ankle in September. After the event, Flair formed the Four Horsemen stable, and continued to feud with Rhodes. Other matches included Magnum T.A. and Tully Blanchard in an "I Quit" steel cage match for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, and The Rock 'n' Roll Express and the team of Ivan and Nikita Koloff in a Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
The Great American Bash (1985) took place on July 6, 1985 at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The main event was a steel cage match for the NWA World Television Championship with Tully Blanchard defending the title against Dusty Rhodes. Nikita Koloff challenged for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair with David Crockett as the special guest referee. Magnum T.A. defended the NWA United States Championship against Kamala, while the NWA World Tag Team Champions Krusher Kruschev and Ivan Koloff fought the AWA World Tag Team Champions, The Road Warriors. 4 other matches took place on the undercard.
James J. Dillon (Manager)
One million dollars is on the line as NWA World's Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair takes on Dusty Rhodes with legendary boxing champion "Smokin" Joe Frazier as special guest referee. Tully Blanchard faces Ricky Steamboat for NWA World Television Championship. "The Boogie-Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant takes on Paul Jones in a Loser-Leaves-Town Tuxedo Match and much more!
The most crucial aspect of pro wrestling’s salability, its television, is explored. The man who wrote WWE television beside Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson for years, JJ Dillon, joins us to explore the art and science of writing wrestling television. We gave JJ a fictional pay-per-view supercard from the early 90s era and gave him one month of TV with which to advance the angles. See how JJ uses the weekly A and B shows, as well as a Saturday Night Network Special to build up to the pay-per-view at month’s end. He then books the results of that big card. When should a run-in be employed? How to use promos and packages? How does one choose a TV arena? What does it mean politically if Wrestler A makes the save for Wrestler B on TV? JJ shows us how to use just the right amount of exposure fangles for a most effective build-up. The booker’s job doesn’t end there, as we hear about the very delicate practice of employing diplomacy in dealing with the “big egos/TV time” equation.
