Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
The ‘If Factor’ are a series of articles that takes a look at real scenarios in pro wrestling that at one point or another were suggested, planned, considered…but did not get the green light to continue. What would the landscape of professional wrestling look like if these ideas came to fruition?
The If: Sunshine Becomes Tully Blanchard’s Valet in the NWA in 1985
Valerie French aka ‘Sunshine’ was a very charismatic valet/manager for World Class Championship Wrestling during the height of the Texas territory’s popularity. Regardless if Sunshine worked as a heel or a face, she had the ability as a performer to generate a big reaction whenever she was in the ring or simply at ringside. At the tail end of 1984, Tully Blanchard was in search of a valet and went on a “worldwide search” for the Perfect 10 female to be by his side. I reality, the reason this was being done, was to give JJ Dillon a breather from constantly going to the ring, as he needed to do office work for Jim Crockett Promotions. Tully said the search for the perfect 10, generated hundreds upon hundreds of responses from women across the country. Some went as far as to send nude photos of themselves to get Tully’s attention.
According to Blanchard and his manager JJ Dillon…Sunshine was their actual real choice to leave WCCW and join them in the Carolinas for Jim Crockett Promotions. Both Blanchard and Dillon said before Sunshine set foot in Crockett country, she allegedly went missing. Dillon said that they called her multiple times, but she never answered her phone and none of their connections in Dallas, Texas knew where she was located. As it ultimately turned out, Blanchard said that Sunshine had legitimately sent herself to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Texas. With the angle already starting out…Tully needed a replacement for Sunshine and fast.
Michael Hayes was the booker of the Florida territory and had a woman there named Nickla ‘Baby Doll’ Roberts that wasn’t being used. Hayes reached out to Dusty Rhodes if Crockett and the Mid Atlantic territory could use her. Dusty and Tully went down to Florida and met with Baby Doll and immediately fell in love with her and made the decision to have her become their ‘Perfect 10’ valet. The rest is history. What if Sunshine was able to become Tully’s valet? Would it have been better, the same or worse? How would it have changed the career of both women…if at all?
David Fullam
JJ Dillon was not associated with Tully at that time. Tully had been managed by Paul Jones. That ended and he was solo. That is when he went looking for the Perfect 10. JJ was managing Buddy Landell then. Sunshine was a true pioneer that never gets her just due.
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True, but wasn’t JJ booking a little? I know he was working in the offices at the time. This is what JJ Dillon said during an interview.