Bill Dundee

American Eagle #1

**William Cruickshanks** (born 24 October 1943)  appeared in every year of the Jerry Jarrett promotion from 1977 to 1997.

Born in Scotland, he moved to Australia when he was 10 and started his wrestling career there in 1962. In 1974 he travelled to the United States, teaming with George Barnes. He got his big break at a time where the Memphis area was without its biggest star Jerry Lawler, who had been sent to Florida and Alabama by Jarrett for several months as punishment for no-showing a number of small cards.

He had three significant stints away from the Memphis area. In 1984 he worked for Mid-South Wrestling, and in 1986 appeared in the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Central States and Florida NWA promotions. In early 1993 he joined World Championship Wrestling as manager 'Sir William', returning to the USWA in late 1994.

His son Jamie Dundee also wrestled in Memphis, and he was the father-in-law of Bobby Eaton

## Career

### 1977

After teaming with Tommy Rich in a feud against Dennis Condry and Phil Hickerson over the Southern Tag Team Championship, Dundee moved into his most famous feud against Jerry Lawler. It started when he was beaten up by Lawler's partner Leroy Brown. He had matches against Brown with Lawler's money on the line, before facing The King directly.

In a legendary series of matches Dundee won Lawler's Cadillac (in reality he had already bought it in real life  ) and took the Southern Heavyweight Championship for the first time. By the time the feud was over, Lawler's manager Mickey Poole, Dundee and Dundee's wife Beverley had their heads shaved. The feud ended with Lawler winning the Southern Heavyweight Championship back and retiring, while Dundee and Beverley were paid $3000 each by promoter Jerry Jarrett to agree to have their heads shaved. When Lawler returned a month later Dundee reluctantly accepted his friendship.

On Saturday 12 November, Mike Stark knocked Dundee out with a roll of coins during their match, sparking a feud.

* Sunday 20 March - with Tommy Rich against The Von Steigers (NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship)
* Sunday 27 March - with Tommy Rich against Dennis Condry and Phil Hickerson (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Thursday 3 April - with Tommy Rich against Dennis Condry and Phil Hickerson (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Thursday 3 April - Flagpole Battle Royale against Tommy Rich, Black Panther, Dennis Condrey, Dr. Frank, Gorgeous George Jr., Ken Dillinger, Phil Hickerson, Plowboy Frazier, Porkchop Cash, Ricky Gibson, Robert Gibson and Tommy Gilbert
* Friday 11 April - with Tommy Rich against Dennis Condry and Phil Hickerson (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Friday 18 April - with Tommy Rich against The Von Steigers (NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship)
* Sunday 1 May - with Tommy Rich against Plowboy Frazier and Pat McGinnis (NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship)
* Sunday 19 June - against Leroy Brown (Brown had to win twice in 15 minutes or forfeit Jerry Lawler's $1000)
* Monday 27 June - against Leroy Brown (Cage match where Brown had to win twice in 15 minutes or lose Jerry Lawler's $1000)
* Monday 18 July - against Jerry Lawler
* Monday 19 September - against Jimmy Valiant

### 1978

* Monday 25 September - against Nelson Royal (NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship)

### 1979

* Monday 24 September - against Jerry Lawler (Southern Heavyweight Championship)

### 1980

* Monday 22 September - against Gypsy Joe

### 1981

* Sunday 26 April - with Dream Machine against The Bounty Hunters (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Sunday 15 February - with Eddie Gilbert and Eddie Hogan against Ali Hassan, The Angel and Jimmy Hart
* Sunday 15 February - with Tommy Rich against The Bounty Hunters (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Sunday 26 April - with Dream Machine against The Bounty Hunters (Southern Tag Team Championship)
* Saturday 26 September - with Ricky Morton and Eddie Gilbert against Masa Fuchi, Atsushi Onita and Tojo Yamamoto

### 1982

Managed by Jimmy Hart for one match.

Out early in the year with torn ligaments in his arm/shoulder.

In August he suffered a broken jaw in an out of the ring fight with Randy Savage. The incident resulted in police charges but they were dropped.

* Sunday 14 February - with Steve Keirn against The Midnight Express
* Sunday 14 February - against Tojo Yamamoto (Kendo stick on a pole match)

### 1983

Turned heel in March.

Lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Steve Keirn on Monday 26 December, after which he moved to the Mid-South promotion.

* Sunday 6 February - against Adrian Street, Jim Cornette and Miss Linda (Handicap match)
* Sunday 25 September - against Assassin #1

### 1984

Made a guest appearance in a tag team tournament on Monday 6 August, his only appearance in the promotion for the year.

### 1986

Teamed with Buddy Landel

Lost a loser leaves town match to Jerry Lawler on Monday 14 July and moved to the Mid-Atlantic promotion. There he reunited with Buddy Landel, also appearing in the Central States and Florida areas.

### 1987

Returned to the CWA in May.

George Barnes returned to feud against him

Won the AWA World Tag Team Championship with Jerry Lawler

### 1991

* Monday 25 March - against Steve Austin (Coal Miner's Glove Match)
* Monday 8 April - with Uptown Bruno against J.C. Ice and Steve Austin
* Monday 15 April - with Steve Keirn against The Texas Hangmen
* Monday 22 April - with Steve Keirn against The Texas Hangmen
* Monday 22 April - with Eddie Gilbert, Jeff Jarrett, Robert Fuller and Steve Keirn against Eric Embry, Steve Austin, The Texas Hangmen and Tom Prichard
* Monday 29 April - against Killer
* Monday 29 April - with Danny Davis, Eddie Gilbert, Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller against Eric Embry, **Steve Austin**, The Texas Hangmen and Tom Prichard (Thunderdome Match)
* Monday 6 May - against Killer
* Monday 6 May - Battle Royale against Danny Davis, Eddie Gilbert, Eric Embry, Jeff Gaylord, The Texas Hangmen, Robert Fuller, Steve Keirn and Tom Prichard
* Monday 13 May - against Eric Embry (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 20 May - against Eric Embry (Southern Heavyweight Championship)
* Monday 27 May - against Jeff Sword
* Monday 3 June - against The Headhunter
* Monday 10 June - against Tar-Ga
* Monday 17 June - against Tar-Ga
* Monday 24 June - against Carl Styles
* Monday 24 June - against Tar-Ga
* Monday 1 July - against Tar-Ga
* Monday 8 July - against Leatherface
* Monday 15 July - against Judge Dread
* Monday 22 July - against Tom Prichard
* Monday 29 July - against Randy Harris

### 1992

Teamed with Danny Davis under masks as The American Eagles

### 1993

* Monday 4 January - with Danny Davis against The Masters of Terror

### 1994

Returned on Saturday 12 November as a mystery partner for Brian Christopher and Jerry Lawler against Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert.

* Monday 14 November - with Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher against Doug Gilbert, Tommy Rich and Scott Bowden
* Monday 21 November - with Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher against Doug Gilbert, Tommy Rich and Scott Bowden
* Monday 28 November - with Brian Christopher against Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich (Texas Death match)
* Monday 5 December - against Doug Gilbert
* Monday 5 December - with Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher and Frank Morrell against Doug Gilbert Tommy Rich, Scott Bowden and Don Bass (Rage in a Cage match)
* Monday 12 December - against Doug Gilbert (Coward Waves the Flag match)
* Monday 19 December - against Doug Gilbert (I Quit match)
* Monday 26 December - with Jimmy Valiant against Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert (Tar and Feather match)

### 1996

Managed by Samantha.

* Wednesday 28 February - against Jerry Lawler
* Monday 1 April - against Davey Haskins
* Monday 1 April - against Cyberpunk Fire
* Monday 8 April - against Cyberpunk Fire
* Monday 15 April - against Cyberpunk Fire
* Monday 22 April - against Cyberpunk Fire (First blood match)
* Monday 6 May - with Samantha against Cyberpunk Fire and Miss Texas
* Monday 20 May - against Cyberpunk Fire (Barbed wire match)

### 1997

* Thursday 16 January - against Wolfie D
* Thursday 16 January - against Mike Samples
* Thursday 16 January - against Shaquille Ali
* Thursday 30 January - with Steven Dunn against PG-13
* Saturday 29 March - against Brakkus
* Saturday 5 April - against Brakkus
* Monday 14 September - against Steven Dunn (USWA Heavyweight Championship)

## Video

* Bill Dundee - Gypsies on Parade (YouTube)

## External links

* Cagematch profile
* Wikipedia profile
* WrestlingData.com profile

## References

1. ↑ Wikipedia profile
2. ↑ *1977 - The War for Memphis* by Mark James
3. ↑ *1977 - The War for Memphis* by Mark James
4. ↑ World/American Wrestling Results - March 1982