The news that one of the all-time great tag team wrestlers died first came from one of today’s preeminent tag specialists. Last night (March 20) on social media, Dax Harwood of FTR shared the news that The Midnight Express’ Dennis Condrey had died. PWInsider confirmed the report, adding that Condrey’s death occurred earlier Friday evening.
Condrey rose to fame in the 1970s wrestling out of Tennessee, often for Jerry Jarrett. While “Loverboy” Condrey had success as a singles wrestler, he was a staple
of the tag scene even before founding his most famous team, winning multiple territories era belts with Phil Hickerson as the Bicentennial Kings. In 1980, Condrey formed the first version of The Midnight Express with Norvell Austin and Randy Rose. After dissolving that group and jumping to Bill Watts’ Mid-South Wrestling, Condrey joined forces with with Bobby Eaton and manager Jim Cornette to form the Midnight Express most wrestling fans think of today.
The heel duo would tar-and-feather Magnum T.A. while winning a feud for the Mid-South Tag belts when T.A.’s partner Mr. Wrestling II turned on him, then move into a rivalry with Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson of The Rock-and-Roll Express that would help define tag team wrestling in the 1980s. The teams and feud were so popular they were booked by promoters across the country.
Condrey left the group in 1987 and briefly jumped to Verne Gagne’s AWA where he reunited with his original Midnight Express partner, Rose. They jumped to the freshly launched WCW the following year, bringing in Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) as their manager to feud with 2/3 of his other Midnights team, Cornette, Eaton, and Stan Lane. The Midnight vs. Midnight feud was a hot for Jim Crockett’s new fed, but management changes and bad blood from Condrey’s exit from Jim Crockett Promotions led to its abrupt end and Condrey again leaving Crockett’s company.
He continued to wrestle on the independents until 2011, and appeared in AEW for a tribute from FTR and CM Punk in 2023.
Our hearts go out to Condrey’s family, friends, and anyone missing him today. Here’s what Harwood wrote on the GoFundMe page he started for his friend and mentor:
Dennis Condrey is one half of the greatest tag team of all time, The Midnight Express. For years they brought excitement and entertainment to millions of people. However, as great as he was in the ring, it doesn’t hold a candle to the human being he was.
A sweet, God-fearing man who LOVED his wife Theresa. With her permission, I’ve opened this Go Fund me to help with funeral expenses and bills that she now has to take on her own. She didn’t ask for this. I asked, in his honor, could I do this for him. She allowed me to do this for Dennis & her, but is expecting absolutely nothing but love in return. 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! Please send all your thoughts and prayers to Theresa Condrey in her time of need.
God speed, “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey.
