The wrestling world lost another legend recently, tag-team specialist Dennis Condrey. Better known as ‘Loverboy Dennis’, Condrey was the anchor that would make The Midnight Express one of the best teams in tag-team history.

    Condrey began his career in the 1970’s, pairing up with Phil Hickerson to form ‘The Bicentennial Kings’ in 1975. The team, managed by Al Costello, went on to win three different championships several times during their three-year run from 1975 to 1978.  

    In 1980, Condrey took on Randy Rose as his partner, and they became the first version of The Midnight Express which was later joined by Norvell Austin. They won several tag titles too and became one of the first teams to invoke what would be known as ‘The Freebird Rule’ – Where any member of a three-men team could defend the title.

    Condrey didn’t find the biggest success of his career till 1983. It was a trade so lopsided that no one remembers who Condrey was traded for. The master plan was for Condrey to team with an up-and-coming wrestler named Bobby Eaton. They would be managed by a young manager named Jim Cornette who would soon adopt a tennis racquet as his weapon of choice. Thus, a phenomenal infamous team was born. Its name is ‘The Midnight Express’..boo hooo !!!

    This team would become legendary for their heal tactics and Cornette’s Mama’s Boy persona as he would swing the tennis racquet at their opponents’ expense. The Midnight Express vs Rock n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) would also become known as the greatest tag-team rivalry in wrestling history. Battling over titles, and just pure hatred.

    This version of the Midnights would also capture several titles and even become NWA World Champions. They also found more rivals in The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton), Hawk and Animal; The Road Warriors and the wrestling supergroup The Four Horseman, mainly Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard …

    but here’s where Condrey’s story takes a turn…

        In 1987, Condrey suddenly walked out on the team. He never told Cornette or Eaton he would do this and it remains one of wrestling’s great mysteries.

    Condrey returned later in the year with Randy Rose to form ‘The Original Midnight Express’ and they would win several titles including the AWA World Tag-Team Championship. They went to Jim Crockett Promotions for a Midnight vs Midnight feud. Stan Lane had taken Condrey’s place in the Cornette version of The Midnights. The feud was gaining traction, but Condrey would leave JCP over a pay dispute. Condrey never work for a major promotion again. Though he went on to win several titles on the Indy scene, and he would reteam with Bobby Eaton for special matches. He had already left his mark on wrestling.

    Condrey was a tag-team specialist in every sense of the word. His smooth as silk style which blended with any partner was his trademark. He would teach this as a trainer for the World Wrestling Entertainment in his later years.

    Loverboy Dennis left his mark in the sport he loved.

‘Loverboy’ Dennis Condrey (1950-2026)