Scott Bowden presents Kentucky Fried Rasslin

Jimmy Hart was known not only for his hilarious Memphis wrestling promos but also for his pre-match preparations and strategies for his First Family members in big championship matches. A shrewd negotiator, Hart also knew how to get the better of promoter Eddie Marlin-never was this more evident than when the Mouth of the South secured an AWA Southern title bout for the unheralded Monk vs. Jerry Lawler. Even more impressive was that the Monk’s shot at championship glory occurred on the same Monday night as the infamous initial bout between Lawler and performance-artist Andy Kaufman on April 5, 1982, in front of nearly 9,000 fans.

Although fairly common in mixed-martial arts preparation today, Hart’s training methods at the time were considered unorthodox. Judging from the clip promoting the title bout, the Monk, despite appearing to become increasingly constipated, certainly appeared ready to solidify Hart’s reputation as a manager of champions.

But despite Hart’s confidence, Lawler knocked out his challenger with one punch, pinning him in under 30 seconds-the angle being that despite his intimidating physical presence, the Monk had one weakness: a glass jaw. The humiliated Monk disappeared from the Memphis rasslin’ scene shortly thereafter. As you might imagine, a tryout with the Harlem Globetrotters proved disastrous at the end of 1982, leaving the Monk  to live out his remaining days in a monastery.