Linda Newton (Wrestling valet)
Encyclopedia
Linda Newton was a professional wrestling
valet
better known as Dark Journey. She has the distinction of being the first widely known African-American female manager in wrestling.
when she was a dancer in a strip club. Slater brought her in to be his valet in the Mid-South wrestling territory. Because she was a young black woman acting as a valet for a white man in a conservative area, the pair caused a lot of legitimate heat
. They also caused several lawsuits. Slater, in particular, was the victim of stalking because of the situation.
She once was on the receiving end of a DDT
performed by Jake "The Snake" Roberts during his feud with Slater.
.
She was also the valet and manager for The Missing Link
. The duo had many feuds
, including one with The Fabulous Freebirds and their valet Sunshine. She was also involved in a feud with Mad Maxine
.
One of her more notorious feuds was with fellow valet Missy Hyatt
. The two constantly engaged in catfights at ringside. Hyatt later claimed that Newton was a cocaine
addict, and that Newton would legitimately chip teeth and pull Hyatt's hair out during their catfights.
's (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions
where she was the valet for Four Horsemen
member Tully Blanchard
for over a month. She was at ringside for the Four Horsemen during their WarGames match
es that took place during the NWA's Great American Bash '87 tour. She left the sport when this run ended.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
valet
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
better known as Dark Journey. She has the distinction of being the first widely known African-American female manager in wrestling.
Mid-South
Newton was discovered by Dick SlaterDick Slater
Richard Van Slater , better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, is a retired American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid 1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling .Slater began wrestling with Mike...
when she was a dancer in a strip club. Slater brought her in to be his valet in the Mid-South wrestling territory. Because she was a young black woman acting as a valet for a white man in a conservative area, the pair caused a lot of legitimate heat
Heat (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, heat refers to both crowd reaction and real-life animosity between those involved in the professional wrestling business. In terms of crowd reaction, heat is usually either cheers for a babyface or boos for a heel...
. They also caused several lawsuits. Slater, in particular, was the victim of stalking because of the situation.
She once was on the receiving end of a DDT
DDT (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
performed by Jake "The Snake" Roberts during his feud with Slater.
Universal Wrestling Federation
Linda Newton also acted as a valet for Slater in the Universal Wrestling Federation. Their relationship, however, ended, and Slater moved on to the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
She was also the valet and manager for The Missing Link
Dewey Robertson
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
. The duo had many feuds
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
, including one with The Fabulous Freebirds and their valet Sunshine. She was also involved in a feud with Mad Maxine
Mad Maxine
Mad Maxine was a female professional wrestler. She is best known for her height and having a green mohawk during her stint in the World Wrestling Federation...
.
One of her more notorious feuds was with fellow valet Missy Hyatt
Missy Hyatt
Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....
. The two constantly engaged in catfights at ringside. Hyatt later claimed that Newton was a cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
addict, and that Newton would legitimately chip teeth and pull Hyatt's hair out during their catfights.
National Wrestling Alliance
In 1987, she went to the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
where she was the valet for Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
member Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
for over a month. She was at ringside for the Four Horsemen during their WarGames match
WarGames match
The WarGames match was a gimmick match used originally in the National Wrestling Alliance and later held annually in World Championship Wrestling , usually at their Fall Brawl pay-per-view event in September.-History:...
es that took place during the NWA's Great American Bash '87 tour. She left the sport when this run ended.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- DDTDDT (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
- DDT
- Signature moves
- Chair shot
- Wrestlers valetedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- The Missing LinkDewey RobertsonByron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
- Dick SlaterDick SlaterRichard Van Slater , better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, is a retired American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid 1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling .Slater began wrestling with Mike...
- Buzz SawyerBuzz SawyerBruce Woyan was a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Buzz Sawyer. Throughout his career, he was also known by the nickname "Mad Dog". He was characterized by his crazy antics inside the ring and out.-Career:Sawyer started wrestling in 1979 in the National Wrestling Alliance 's...
- Tully BlanchardTully BlanchardTully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
- Four HorsemenFour Horsemen (professional wrestling)The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
(Ric FlairRic FlairRichard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, Arn AndersonArn AndersonMartin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
, Tully BlanchardTully BlanchardTully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
, Lex LugerLex LugerLawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
), with James J. DillonJames J. DillonJames J. "J.J." Dillon is a retired American professional wrestler and manager.He is best known for being the strategic leader of the original Four Horsemen that consisted of Nature Boy Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson. He is most remembered as a manager in pro wrestling... - Iceman ParsonsKing ParsonsKing Parsons is a former professional wrestler better know by his ringname Iceman King Parsons. King was called the Iceman from Jimmy Valiant after he saw him lying on a ice machine at a hotel.-Professional wrestling career:...
- The Missing Link