Longtime Promoter Jim Crockett Jr Passes Away

Jim Crockett Jr, the part-owner of Jim Crockett Promotions who oversaw the Mid-Atlantic-based territory from 1973 to 1988, has passed away. News of Crockett's passing was made public by Robert Gibson, and later confirmed by Bryan Alvarez.

It was reported that Crockett had been dealing with a battery of health issues (including liver and kidney failure), and as of this weekend was known to be in hospice care.

Crockett was 76 years old.

Crockett took over the family territory in 1973, upon the death of father Jim Sr.

During his time in charge of the Carolinas and general Mid-Atlantic region, Crockett presided over the rise of Ric Flair as a main event star, as well as the birth of Starrcade in 1983, the first non-WWF wrestling pay-per-view (Starrcade 1987), and the purchase of the Saturday night TBS program from Vince McMahon in 1985.

Crockett also served the NWA as its President across three terms, between 1980 and 1991.

As the WWF expanded in the eighties, Crockett's territory also made national overtures, entrenching itself as the strongest alternative to McMahon's company.

By 1988, however, Crockett was on the verge of bankruptcy. He sold his territory to Ted Turner that November (a sale recognized as the official birth of World Championship Wrestling), and left the promotional game for several years.

He briefly returned to the business as head man of the short-lived World Wrestling Network, which lasted from 1993 to 1995. After its closure, Crockett left wrestling altogether, and since then worked in Texas in the real estate business.

Cultaholic extends its condolences to Mr. Crockett's friends and family.