Whatever Happened to Jim Crockett Jr?

Brian Damage

He was the son of a legendary wrestling promoter, who decided to follow in the family business. He would become one of the most powerful promoters in all of professional wrestling in the 1980’s. Today on the blog, we ask…’Whatever Happened To’ Jim Crockett Jr?

James Allen Crockett Jr. was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 10th, 1944. He was the second oldest child of Jim and Elizabeth Crockett. ‘Big’ Jim Crockett was a famed pro wrestling promoter based out of North Carolina. The patriarch of the Crockett family had one of the most successful territories in all of the National Wrestling Alliance.

In the early 1970’s, an ailing Big Jim began to turn over his territory to his son in law John Ringley. Jim Jr had no intentions in getting involved in the wrestling business. After Jim Sr died in 1973, Ringley was put in charge of the territory. That all changed, when a scandal involving Ringley came out. It was decided that it was in the best interest for the family…that a Crockett take over. A reluctant Jim Jr took over the promotion that same year.

In the fifteen years that Jim Jr ran Mid Atlantic, he transformed it from a small regional territory into a national powerhouse. Like Vince McMahon, the second generation Crockett….looked to expand nationally. He began buying out other struggling territories like Florida, Central States and the UWF run by Bill Watts.

During his run as a promoter trying to compete nationally with Vince McMahon and the WWF, Crockett was also named NWA president. A position he held on three separate occasions. Crockett used the NWA presidency to help gain more control and power to which he succeeded.

With the WWF gaining power, Crockett would help spearhead the organization called Pro Wrestling USA which combined several promotions like Jim Crockett Promotions, the AWA and smaller territories to compete nationally with McMahon. In addition to all of his work in wrestling, Jim Jr also owned a minor league baseball team called the Charlotte Orioles with his siblings.

After years of trying to go head to head with the WWF, Jim Crockett Promotions was on the verge of bankruptcy. In November of 1988, Crockett sold his company to Ted Turner who renamed it World Championship Wrestling. Despite the sale, Crockett did not entirely give up working in the wrestling business.

Jim Crockett briefly formed another promotion called the World Wrestling Network and had a young ambitious Paul Heyman booking for him. Crockett also attempted to run shows at the famed Dallas Sportatorium with marginal success. Jim Jr eventually retired completely from pro wrestling in 1994.

So the question remains…whatever happened to Jim Crockett Jr? Jim Crockett Jr got involved in the real estate business and is currently a senior loan officer for a mortgage company. He currently resides in the Dallas, Texas area.