Dutch Mantel

Texas Dirt

**Wayne Maurice Keown** (born November 29, 1949)  appeared in the Memphis territory as 'Dutch Mantel' and 'Texas Dirt'.

Mantel debuted in 1972 after returning from service in the Vietnam War, and worked for Jerry Jarrett in the first year of his new promotion.

He adopted the nickname 'Dirty' in 1980, and was known as 'The Icon' in 1997. One of the few men to span the entire period of the Jarrett promotion and the last year of the USWA, he was the last man to hold the Unified Heavyweight Championship before the company folded.

In the late 1980s he worked as booker for the CWA. He also worked in a variety of other promotions in both the United States and Puerto Rico. In 1990 he was a commentator and wrestler in World Championship Wrestling, in a stable also featuring Black Bart and Moondog Rex (known as Deadeye Dick). He later worked for Smoky Mountain Wrestling as a commentator, and a manager in the World Wrestling Federation.

From 1996 to 2003 he worked as a booker in Puerto Rico, then with the Total Nonstop Action promotion, where he stayed until 2009. From 2013 to 2016 he returned to the WWF as a manger.

## Career

### 1977

* Sunday 20 March - with David Schultz against Ron Fuller and Robert Fuller
* Sunday 27 March - with David Schultz, Plowboy Frazier and Dr. Frank against Ricky Gibson, Robert Gibson, Gorgeous George Jr. and Tommy Gilbert
* Thursday 3 April - with David Schultz against Ron Fuller and Robert Fuller (Loser of fall leaves town)

### 1981

Managed by Jimmy Hart

* Sunday 26 April - with Austin Idol against Masa Fuchi and Atsushi Onita
* Saturday 26 September - against Steve Keirn (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)

### 1982

Early in the year Mantel engaged in a rare feud without a heel, against Jerry Lawler for the Southern Heavyweight Championship.

Missed some time in July/August after his wife was injured in a car accident.

* Sunday 14 February - against Jerry Lawler (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 8 March - with Stan Lane against Dream Machine and Luke Graham
* Monday 8 March - with Stan Lane against Bobby Eaton and Sweet Brown Sugar
* Saturday 25 September - against Kimala #2 (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)
* Saturday 25 September - Battle Royale against Jerry Lawler, Bobby Eaton, Buddy Landel, Carl Fergie, Crusher Broomfield, Kimala #2, Leilani Kai, Rick McGraw, Sherri Martel, Spike Huber, Stan Lane, Steve Regal, Sweet Brown Sugar, Terry Taylor, Dream Machine, Velvet McIntyre and Vivian St. John

### 1983

* Sunday 6 February - against Jesse Barr
* Sunday 25 September - with Koko Ware against The Bruise Brothers (Southern Tag Team Championship)

### 1984

* Sunday 23 September - against Eddie Gilbert

### 1989

Lost a Loser Leaves Town match and returned as the masked 'Texas Dirt'.

### 1993

He was scheduled to return to the USWA in July, but the promotion pulled out of the deal after he spoke openly in an interview about Brian Christopher being the son of Jerry Lawler. He was announced as forfeiting one match at this time . He came back in November.

### 1997

* Thursday 9 January - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Saturday 29 March - against Mabel
* Saturday 5 April - against Elijah
* Saturday 12 April - against Ox Brody
* Monday 14 September - against Jerry Lawler (Bullwhip on a pole match)

## External links

* Wikipedia profile
* WrestlingData.com profile

## References

1. ↑ Wikipedia profile
2. ↑ World American Wrestling Results - July 1982
3. ↑ Wrestling Observer - 19 July, 1993