Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson Ep. 55: with guest Paul Neighbors Jr.

On this episode of Retro Wrestling with Gene Jackson, Gene is joined by guest host Robb Helt for a wide ranging conversation with Paul Neighbors Jr, the son of longtime Memphis/USWA referee and behind the scenes utility man Paul Neighbors.This one goes all over the map in the best possible way. Paul talks about growing up around the wrestling business, his family connection to Jerry Jarrett, working around the Nashville and Memphis territory, traveling with his father to spot shows, helping with the ring, selling merchandise, and seeing firsthand how the old territory machine really operated when the cameras weren’t rolling.The conversation covers Paul’s memories of his dad working for Jerry Jarrett, driving the limousine for The Fabulous Ones, taking care of things at Jarrett’s farm, and being around some of the wildest personalities in Memphis wrestling history. There are stories about Tojo Yamamoto, Big John Harris, Bota the Witch Doctor, Steve Borden and Jim Hellwig arriving at Jarrett’s house before they became major stars, and plenty of behind-the-scenes talk about how chaotic, political, and personal the wrestling business could become.Paul also opens up about his father’s later role in the USWA, including his time as a referee, his interactions with Jerry Lawler, Eric Embry, Eddie Marlin, Jeff Jarrett, Tojo Yamamoto, and the complicated family/business dynamics that came with working inside the Jarrett wrestling world. The discussion touches on the highs, the tension, the loyalty, the exhaustion, and the toll the business could take on someone who was doing everything from refereeing to hauling the ring to helping keep the towns running.This is not just a standard wrestling interview. It’s a personal, emotional, funny, and sometimes brutally honest look at the people who worked on the fringe of the territory system, the ones who hauled the ring, made the towns, sold the gimmicks, kept the show moving, and rarely got the spotlight.If you love Memphis wrestling history, USWA stories, Jerry Jarrett territory talk, behind the scenes road stories, or hearing from people who were actually there when it all happened, this episode is packed with memories you won’t hear anywhere else. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★