Paul Jones (wrestler)

Paul Frederick (June 16, 1942 – c. April 18, 2018) was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager, better known by his ring name, Paul Jones.

He is best known for his appearances with professional wrestling promotions in the Southeastern United States, in particular with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – where he had 23 championship reigns and led the stable Paul Jones' Army – and Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Frederick was born on June 16, 1942, in Port Arthur, Texas.

He attended Thomas Jefferson High School.

As a teenager, he boxed, spending seven years as a Golden Gloves boxer and winning the Texas Light Heavyweight Championship and Texas Heavyweight Championship.

While working in a television studio, he met Paul Boesch, who suggested he become a professional wrestler and offered to train him.

Frederick was trained to wrestle by Paul Boesch and Morris Sigel, debuting in 1961 under the ring name "Paul Jones".

During his early career, he competed primarily for promotions in the Southern United States including the Texas-based promotion Big Time Wrestling, the Tennessee-based promotion NWA Mid-America and Championship Wrestling from Florida.

He was nicknamed "Young" Paul Jones by promoter Paul Boesch during his stint in Texas to distinguish him from Andrew Lutzi, a Russian-born veteran wrestler who had used the same name.

From late-1964 to early-1965, Jones toured Australia with World Championship Wrestling, wrestling as "Al Fredericks".

After returning to the United States, he competed for the Oregon-based promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, holding the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship on two occasions and the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship once, and in Canada for Northwest Wrestling Promotions in British Columbia and Alex Turk Promotions in Manitoba.

He returned to the Southern United States in mid-1967.

Jones first appeared with the North Carolina-based promotion Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1968, forming a face tag team with veteran Nelson Royal.

In 1969, Jones appeared with the California-based promotion NWA Hollywood Wrestling, briefly holding the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship with Nelson Royal in 1969.

In the same year, he toured Japan with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance, making repeat tours in 1970 and 1971.

In September 1970, the duo defeated The Minnesota Wrecking Crew to win the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship.

They lost the championship to The Blond Bombers in December 1970.

Jones and Royal continued to team until 1972, when Jones left Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling to compete for Championship Wrestling from Florida.

In 1972, Jones returned to Championship Wrestling from Florida, where he adopted a brash heel persona and the nickname "Number One" Paul Jones.

Jones was convinced to become a heel by Jack Brisco, who wagered him a case of Canadian Club whisky that he would earn more money in a year as a heel than he ever had as a face.

Jones held the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship on four occasions, on one occasion in July 1972 throwing the championship belt off the Gandy Bridge into Tampa Bay in front of thousands of spectators in a display of arrogance.

Jones also held the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) once, the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) once, and the NWA Florida Television Championship twice – for several days in June 1972 holding the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, NWA Florida Television Championship and NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) simultaneously – before leaving in 1974.

In 1973, he made a fourth tour of Japan, this time with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Jones resumed appearing regularly with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in late 1973.

In April 1974, he and Bob Bruggers defeated The Andersons for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship, losing the championship to Ric Flair and Rip Hawk in July 1974.

Jones won his first NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship several days later, defeating Ivan Koloff in a Texas Death Match.

He held the championship until October, when Koloff defeated him in a rematch.

Jones held the championship on a total of five occasions over the next four years.

Jones and Tiger Conway Jr.. won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship from Flair and Hawk in December 1974, losing to The Andersons in February 1975.

Jones began feuding with Johnny Valentine, with a match between them on December 25, 1974, selling out the Park Center.

In March 1975, Jones defeated Valentine to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship in controversial fashion; he was stripped of the championship 10 days later.

In May 1975, Jones and Wahoo McDaniel defeated The Andersons to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version).

The Andersons regained the championship the next month in a televised rematch known as the "Supreme Sacrifice" match, which saw Ole Anderson ram his brother Gene's head into McDaniel's head with enough force to knock both men unconscious, enabling Ole Anderson to pin McDaniel.

After the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) was vacated when Johnny Valentine was injured in a plane crash, Jones competed in a one-night tournament on November 9, 1975, to crown a new champion, winning four bouts before losing to Terry Funk in the final.

Jones defeated Funk for the championship in a rematch held later that month.

In 1975, Jones began teaming with Ricky Steamboat.

They held the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) on one occasion and the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship on three occasions.

He went on to trade the championship with Blackjack Mulligan, holding it on a total of three occasions before his final reign ended in December 1976.

Their alliance ended in December 1978 when Jones attacked Steamboat at the end of a battle royal, turning heel.

Jones briefly returned to the promotion once more in 1980, performing under a mask as "Mr. Florida" until being unmasked by The Super Destroyer.