Jimmy Valiant

**James Harold Fanning** (born August 6, 1942)  appeared in the Memphis area as 'Handsome Jimmy Valiant' over a number of different stints.

He debuted in 1964, and formed a partnership with his 'brother' Johnny Valiant in the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s.

When not wrestling in the CWA in the 80s, he was a regular with Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas.

Was scheduled to face Kimala on Monday 2 August, 1982 but was taken ill at Charlotte Airport when set to fly to Memphis. After initial fears of a heart attack he was diagnosed with a gall-bladder issue.

## Career

### 1977

* Monday 19 September - against Bill Dundee

### 1978

* Monday 25 September - against Nick Bockwinkel (AWA World Heavyweight Championship)

### 1980

* Monday 22 September - against Bill Irwin (Southern Heavyweight Championship)

### 1981

Managed by Jimmy Hart.

* Sunday 15 February - against Jerry Lawler (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Saturday 26 September - against Dream Machine (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Saturday 26 September - against Jimmy Hart (Loser Leaves Town match)

### 1983

* Monday 22 August - with Austin Idol and Jerry Lawler against Ken Patera and The Assassins
* Monday 29 August - with Austin Idol and Jerry Lawler against Ken Patera and The Assassins (No Disqualification match)
* Monday 17 October - against Jesse Ventura
* Monday 17 October - with Jerry Lawler, Roughhouse Fargo, Austin Idol and The Fabulous Ones against Jesse Ventura, Dennis Condry, Norvell Austin, Buddy Landel and The Assassins

### 1984

* Monday 2 April - against Assassin #1 (Hair vs Mask match)
* Monday 25 June - against Rick Rude (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 6 August - with Jerry Lawler against Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo
* Monday 6 August - with Jerry Lawler against Masao Ito and The Animal
* Monday 6 August - with Jerry Lawler against Phil Hickerson and The Spoiler
* Monday 6 August - with Jerry Lawler against Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy
* Monday 3 September - against Lanny Poffo
* Monday 3 September - against Rick Rude
* Monday 3 September - against Masao Ito
* Monday 3 September - against King Kong Bundy
* Monday 1 October - with Jerry Lawler and Randy Savage against King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude and Jimmy Hart
* Monday 8 October - with Randy Savage against Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy
* Monday 15 October - with Jerry Lawler and Randy Savage against The Dirty White Boys and Phil Hickerson
* Monday 29 October - with Jerry Lawler against The Dirty White Boys (No Disqualification match)
* Monday 5 November - with Jerry Lawler and Rick Rude against The Dirty White Boys and King Kong Bundy
* Monday 12 November - with Rick Rude against The Dirty White Boys (New York Street Fight)
* Monday 19 November - with Rick Rude against The Dirty White Boys (Tar and feather match)
* Tuesday 27 November - against Mike Sharpe
* Monday 3 December - against Plowboy Frazier
* Monday 10 December - with Tommy Rich against The Long Riders (National Tag Team Championship)
* Monday 17 December - with Jerry Lawler and Randy Savage against The Interns and Plowboy Frazier
* Friday 28 December - with Mike Sharpe (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 31 December - against Mike Sharpe (Coward Waves The Flag match)

### 1985

* Monday 28 January - against Mike Sharpe (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 11 February - against Mike Sharpe (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)
* Sunday 17 February - against Mike Sharpe (Mid-America Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 30 September - with Bill Dundee against The Sheepherders (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Monday 18 November - against Tony Falk

### 1988

* Sunday 3 July - against The Great Senshi
* Monday 11 July - with Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler against Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden and The Great Senshi
* Monday 18 July - with Jeff Jarrett against Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden
* Monday 25 July - with Jeff Jarrett against Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden
* Monday 5 September - with Jerry Lawler against Tommy Rich and Buddy Landel
* Monday 12 September - with Bill Dundee against Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden
* Monday 19 September - against Tommy Rich
* Friday 30 September - against Jimmy Golden
* Monday 3 October - against Tommy Rich
* Monday 10 October - against Tommy Rich (New York City Street Fight match)

### 1989

* Monday 27 February - with Jerry Lawler against Tommy Rich and Austin Idol
* Monday 13 March - with Jeff Jarrett against Tommy Rich and Buddy Landel
* Monday 13 March - with Jeff Jarrett against Master of Pain and Dutch Mantel
* Monday 13 March - with Jeff Jarrett - against Robert Fuller and Action Jackson

### 1990

* Monday 26 February - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 5 March - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 12 March - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 2 April - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 9 April - against Jerry Lawler
* Monday 30 April - against Jerry Lawler (Unified Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 7 May - against Jerry Lawler (Stretcher match)
* Monday 14 May - against Jerry Lawler (Stretcher match)
* Monday 8 October - against Eddie Gilbert

### 1991

* Monday 19 August - against Eric Embry (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 26 August - with Tony Anthony against Eric Embry and Tom Prichard
* Monday 2 September - with Sweet Georgia Brown against Miss Texas and Tom Prichard
* Monday 9 September - with Koko B. Ware against Awesome Kong and The Bruiser
* Monday 4 November - against unknown masked wrestler
* Monday 11 November - with Robert Fuller against Doug Masters and Bart Sawyer (USWA Tag Team Championship)
* Monday 18 November - with Tom Prichard against Eric Embry and Kamala
* Monday 18 November - with Tom Prichard against Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett

### 1992

* Monday 16 March - against Dr. Death (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 16 March - with Kimala, Tom Prichard and Jerry Lawler against The Moondogs, Richard Lee and Big Black Dog
* Monday 23 March - against Brian Christopher (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 30 March - against Brian Christopher (Southern Heavyweight Championship)

### 1993

* Monday 23 August - with Super Mario against PG-13

### 1994

* Monday 7 March - against Tommy Rich
* Monday 7 March - Elimination match against Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher, Austin Idol, Terry Funk, Tommy Rich, Moondog Spot, Koko B. Ware, Eddie Gilbert and Doug Gilbert
* Monday 4 April - with Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher against Doug Gilbert, Tommy Rich and Dream Machine (I Quit match)
* Monday 23 May - against Eddie Gilbert
* Monday 1 August - against Scott Bowden
* Monday 1 August - with Brian Christopher and The Moondogs against The Bodyguard, Scott Bowden, Eddie Gilbert and Doug Gilbert
* Monday 26 December - with **Jimmy Valiant** against Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert (Tar and feather match)

### 1995

* Monday 10 June - with Jerry Lawler against Phil Hickerson and Jos LeDuc
* Monday 10 June - with Jerry Lawler against Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert
* Monday 10 July - against Brandon Baxter
* Monday 10 July - against Brandon Baxter (Lumberjack match)

## Notes

May have appeared as 'Mr. Mempho' in 1981. Some sources show him as one of the Masters of Terror in 1993.

## External links

* Wikipedia profile
* WrestlingData.com profile

## References

1. ↑ Wikipedia profile
2. ↑ World American Wrestling News - July 1982