Jim Herd
Jim Herd | |
|---|---|
| 1st Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling | |
| In office 1988–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Kip Frey |
| 15th President of National Wrestling Alliance | |
| In office 1991–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Crockett, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Seiji Sakaguchi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Herd 24 March 1939 |
| Nationality | American |
Jim Herd (born James Herd; March 24, 1939) is an American former television production executive and professional wrestling executive. He served as the Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1988 to 1992, following Turner Broadcasting's acquisition of Jim Crockett Promotions.
Early life
[edit]Herd held positions in the broadcasting and food service sectors. He served as a station manager for KPLR-TV in St. Louis, Missouri, [1][2] a channel that aired the then-popular wrestling program Wrestling at the Chase. Subsequently, he worked as a regional manager for Pizza Hut. [1]
Business career
[edit]World Championship Wrestling (1988-1992)
[edit]Inauguration and initiatives
[edit]In 1988, Herd was appointed as the inaugural Executive Vice President of WCW, with his official tenure commencing on January 3, 1989. One of his first initiatives undertaken was to model the success of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)--which embraced a positive family-friendly image.-- This was achieved by introducing various gimmicks and characters with the intention of broadening WCW's appeal, especially to the younger demographic. One such initiative was the creation of "The Ding Dongs," a tag team portrayed by The Rock 'n' Roll Rebels, donning an all-red outfit with a visual representation of a bell. This gimmick did not resonate with many fans and critics. [3] Another concept was "The Hunchbacks," a tag team idea where the wrestlers' physical characteristics (the hump) would ostensibly prevent them from being pinned. This idea was not widely accepted within the company. and was ultimately never implemented.[4]
Herd was also known for his promotional partnerships, particularly with the movie RoboCop 2. As part of this collaboration, Herd organised a dedicated Pay-Per-View event called Capital Combat, where RoboCop appeared alongside professional wrestler Sting.
Conflicts and subsequent departure
[edit]Herd’s tenure saw several internal conflicts, particularly with prominent wrestler Ric Flair. Disputes arose over proposed changes to Flair's wrestling persona and contractual disagreements. Herd reportedly suggested that Flair adopt a gladiator-inspired gimmick named ‘Spartacus,’ [5] which Flair and some within the company reportedly opposed. Herd wanted Flair to lose the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and undergo a significant change in his physical appearance, which consisted of shaving his head. Flair would also been expected to take a pay cut.[6] Flair balked at Herd's proposition. Herd would terminate Flair's contract and invalidate his status as recognised title holder, on July 1, 1991, however, Flair still retained possession of the physical representation of the championship, which he took with him upon exiting the company. [5]
Herd resigned from his position as Executive Vice President on January 8, 1992. [7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sullivan, Kevin (2010). The WWE Championship: A Look Back at the Rich History of the WWE Championship. Gallery Books. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4391-9244-3.
- ^ Flair, Ric (2004). Ric Flair: To Be the Man. Pocket Books. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7434-5691-3.
- ^ James Dickinson, Martin (February 12, 2022). "Jim Herd: The WCW Booker Who Was The Most Hated In History". The Sportster. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jim Herd's Hilariously Stupid Hunchback Gimmick Idea In WCW". The Sportster. May 5, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Reynolds, R.D.; Alvarez, Bryan (2004). The Death of WCW. ECW Press. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-1-55022-661-4.
- ^ "9 Wrestlers Who Hated Working For Jim Herd In WCW". The Sportster. August 22, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Hornbaker, Tim (2007). National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 359–360. ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3.