Dennis Condrey obit

Midnight Express founding member Dennis Condrey passes away

 He was not on the list.

Dennis Condrey, a founding member of the Midnight Express tag team, has passed away.

Dax Harwood made the announcement on social media that Condrey had passed away at the age of 74. He has started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral services. PWInsider reported his death shortly thereafter, revealing he had passed away on Friday evening.

“If Dennis Condrey and the Midnight Express ever brought any amount of joy to your life, and you’re able to help, please do. If not, it’s absolutely ok!,” Harwood wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Please send all your thoughts and prayers to Theresa Condrey in her time of need. God speed, “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey.”

The origins of the Midnight Express date back to 1980 when ‘Loverboy’ Dennis formed the stable with ‘Ravashing’ Randy Rose and Norvell Austin. A few years later in 1983 the group was dissolved when Condrey jumped to Mid-South Wrestling, where he formed a new version of the Midnight Express with ‘Beautiful’ Bobby Eaton and Jim Cornette, who served as their manager. This version of the team continued in Mid-South, WCCW, and eventually Jim Crockett Promotions.

In 1987, Condrey left Crockett and later reunited with Rose in the AWA. That version of the team later resurfaced in the new World Championship Wrestling promotion the following year, bringing in Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) as their manager to feud with Cornette, Eaton, and ‘Sweet’ Stan Lane. Amid changes in ownership and a booking upheaval, the feud ended abruptly with Condrey leaving WCW in early 1989.

Condrey would continue wrestling on the independent scene through 2011. In 2023, AEW brought in Condrey and was given a tribute by FTR and CM Punk.

Condrey was trained as a wrestler by Joe Turner, debuting in 1973. He spent the early years of his career wrestling primarily for Nick Gulas's Tennessee-based NWA Mid-America promotion.

In mid-1975, in the context of the United States Bicentennial, Condrey teamed up with Phil Hickerson to form a tag team known as the "Bicentennial Kings", managed by "Kangaroo" Al Costello. In 1975, they teamed with Al Greene to win the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Between 1975 and March 1977, they held the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship three times, the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship once, and the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship twice. They feuded with teams such as Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett, Bill Dundee and Tojo Yamamoto, and Chief Thundercloud and Danny Little Bear.