Information
The team consisted of Inferno #1 (Frankie Cain) and Inferno #2 (Rocky Smith) with J. C. Dykes as their manager. The team wore identical blue and black masks with matching tights.''Stomping at the Greensboro Coliseum'', publisher: ''Esquire Magazine'', published: 1968, url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/stomping.html The team first came together in Tennessee in 1965. They later went to Florida in 1966-1967 and became famous in Georgia. The team captured the NWA Georgia Southern Tag Team Titles on April 1, 1966. It is said that they lost the titles the same month, but they may have continued to defend the titles regardless. The team then struck gold again in Georgia, capturing theMembers
Inferno #1 (Frankie Cain)
Prior to the Infernos, Cain wrestled as a babyface wrestler in Tennessee and Alabama. As Inferno #1, he wore a wrestling shoe with a large heel on it, which would eventually become known as "the loaded boot" and was used against various opponents. Due to the Infernos having identical appearances, he was often identified as the Clubfoot Inferno. While the boot was helpful in wrestling, wearing it caused strain on his hip, so Curtis Smith temporarily became the Clubfoot Inferno at times. Cain had a successful career after leaving the Infernos as he became, the Great Mephisto, a Middle Eastern heel. He had successful stints in Florida, Texas and in Los Angeles under the gimmick.Inferno #1 (Curtis Smith)
Smith wrestled in a tag team called the "Blue Demons", prior to joining the Infernos. Smith would sometimes wear Cain's loaded boot when Cain needed time to heal from wearing it. After Smith's run with the Infernos ended, he created, "The Super Infernos". The team found success in Georgia and then Smith moved over to Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling to wrestle as, "The Mighty Yankee". He later found himself in another tag team with the Mighty Yankee #2, Jerry Miller. The team captured the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship in 1975 and later, The Mighty Yankee #3 replaced The Mighty Yankee #2. Smith went to NWA Hollywood Wrestling to form the Infernos again with Inferno #3 then the pair toured New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1976. The pair changed their name to "The Challengers" upon going to Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling in June and July 1976. Smith changed gimmicks again, interchangeably switching between "The Cuban Assassin #2" and "The Executioner" through the rest of 1976 and into 1977. Smith captured the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship on April 15, 1977, and lost the title to Jackie Fargo in May 1977. Smith headed over toInferno #1 (Karl Von Brauner)
Karl Von Brauner wrestled as Inferno #1 in NWA Hollywood Wrestling from 1975-76. He was later unmasked as an Inferno and was revealed to be Karl Von Brauner.Inferno #2 (Rocky Smith)
Smith started wrestling towards the end of the 1950s and was mostly used as a lower card talent. Smith captured the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship in November 1964, which Frankie Cain had also held. He was part of the original Infernos team and stayed with it until its end in 1974. He then went back to wrestling as Rocky Smith for Southeastern Championship Wrestling, only seeing limited success.Inferno #3 (Mike McManus)
Little is known of McManus' career due to McManus often wrestling under masks. He wrestled as "Bruiser" McManus and was a journeyman wrestler. He made appearances as Inferno #3 as early as 1967 for NWA Mid-America and was part of the Infernos team from 1975-1976 in NWA Hollywood Wrestling and in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He later became Cliff Von Brauner for NWA Hollywood Wrestling and teamed up with Curtis Smith as "The Challengers".J. C. Dykes
James Clayton Dykes (better known as J. C. Dykes; 1926 - November 20, 1993) - Dykes was originally a referee for Roy Welch and Nick Gulas in the 1960s. He had red hair and wore a black tuxedo. Dykes notably carried a whistle and a canteen that were often used in matches and also sometimes carried a flashlight to give "signals" to his wrestlers. Dykes was also known for throwing fireballs at opponents. Aside from the Infernos, Dykes managed other wrestlers including The Mighty Yankees, The Dominoes, The Zodiac and The Champion. Dykes also stepped in the ring several times in special matches as the Infernos' manager and wrestled under the name, "Senor X" in NWA Hollywood Wrestling. Dykes quit wrestling in 1976 after nearly being involved in the car crash that killed Sam Bass, Pepe Lopez and Frank Hester. Dykes later became a born-again Christian in 1977 and passed away in 1993.Other uses of the Infernos
Due to the Infernos wearing masks and due to the popularity of the gimmick, the gimmick was easily recreated several times in various promotions. The Blue Infernos, who had similar names and wore similar colors, wrestled for NWA Mid-America in 1966-67. Bobby Fields and Lee Fields portrayed the imposter Infernos in 1969. The second Inferno #1, Curtis Smith, would later form, "The Super Infernos" with Doug Gilbert in Georgia in 1973. The Infernos gimmick was later revived in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and on the independent circuit in 1994.Championships and accomplishments
The Infernos (Frankie Cain and Curtis Smith)
* Championship Wrestling from Florida ** NWA Florida Tag Team Championship * Georgia Championship Wrestling ** NWA Georgia Southern Tag Team Championship **The Infernos (Curtis and Rocky Smith)
* Championship Wrestling from Florida ** NWA Florida Tag Team Championship * Western States Sports ** NWA Western States Tag Team ChampionshipReferences
External links
* {{Professional wrestling profiles, wrestlingdata=5486 Independent promotions teams and stables Jim Crockett Promotions teams and stables Masked tag teams