View source for J. C. Dykes and the Infernos

{{Infobox wrestling team
|type           = T
|article_name   = J. C. Dykes and the Infernos
|image          = JC_Dykes_and_The_Infernos.jpg
|image_size     =
|caption        =
|members        = Inferno #1 (Frankie Cain) <br>Inferno #1 (Curtis Smith) <br> Inferno #1 (Karl Von Brauner) <br> Inferno #2 (Rocky Smith) <br> Inferno #3 (Mike McManus) <br> J. C. Dykes (Manager)
|names          =
|heights        =
|weights        =
|debut          =
|years_active   = 1965-1974
|disbanded      =
}}
'''J. C. Dykes and the Infernos''' (also known as the '''Masked Infernos''') were a popular professional wrestling act in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name="PWHoF">''The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame: The Tag Teams'', publisher: ''ECW Press'', published: 2005, url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pro_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_The_Tag_T/CwxXAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=J.C.+Dykes+and+the+infernos&pg=PA199&printsec=frontcover</ref>
== 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.<ref name="TCR">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1967| title ='Infernos' Head Card At Township| publisher=The Columbia Record| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/745832879/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Esquire">''Stomping at the Greensboro Coliseum'', publisher: ''Esquire Magazine'', published: 1968, url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/stomping.html</ref> The team first came together in Tennessee in 1965.<ref name="PWHoF" /> They later went to [[Championship Wrestling from Florida|Florida]] in 1966-1967<ref name="TMH">{{Citation| last=Prater| first =Jerry| year =1967| title =Six Man Tag Match Wednesday at Miami Beach Auditorium| publisher=The Miami Herald| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/621315569/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="TMHHandcuff">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Handcuff Mat Battle Wednesday at Miami Beach Auditorium| publisher=The Miami Herald| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/621082164/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> and became famous in [[Georgia Championship Wrestling|Georgia]].<ref name="TMN">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1973| title =Infernos Fall To Armstrong, Robert Fuller| publisher=The Macon News| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/824783431/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="PWHoF" /> The team captured the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)|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.<ref name="T1">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title = NWA Southern Tag Team Title| publisher=wrestling-titles.com| url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/ga-south-t.html| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The team then struck gold again in Georgia, capturing the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)|NWA Georgia World Tag Team Championship]] on June 10, 1966. The team lost the titles a week later on June 17, but regained the title later in the month. Their second reign lasted into August, though the exact date they lost it is unknown. The team then traveled to various territories around the United States.<ref name="El Paso">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1971| title =Happy Fans Join in E.P. Mat Frolics| publisher=El Paso Herald-Post| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/798417768/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="TheState">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1970| title =Lady Luck Goes With Infernos| publisher=The State| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/750270679/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Cagematch">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title =The Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=6380&page=2| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The team captured the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)|NWA Southern Tag Team Championship]] and held onto it until it was held up in August 1967. In Spring 1968, the Infernos were involved in an angle where imposter Infernos appeared. The two teams feuded in a masks vs titles match and later the imposter Infernos were revealed to be Bobby Fields and Lee Fields.<ref name="OWW">{{Citation| last=Sweeny| first =Sean| year =2014| title =The Infernos| publisher=OnlineWorldofWrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/infernos/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>  The team captured the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version)|NWA Amarillo World Tag Team Championship]] on September 26, 1968 (and also captured the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version)|NWA World Texas Tag Team Championship]] the same day) and lost the titles on October 17, 1968.<ref name="Cagematch" /> Frankie Cain, who portrayed Inferno #1 left the team around 1969, and Smith's brother, Curtis Smith, took over the Inferno #1 name. The Infernos captured the [[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] on January 4, 1971, and held them until February 16, 1971. 5 months later, The team won the [[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship]] on August 4, 1971, but lost them a week later on August 11, 1971. The team re-captured the [[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] on January 10, 1972,<ref name="Cagematch" /> then lost the titles on February 15, 1972.<ref name="Cagematch" /> The team final runs came in [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]] in 1975 and [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] in 1976, with Mike McManus as Inferno #3, teaming up with Curtis Smith (Inferno #2) and [[Von_Brauners#Karl_Von_Brauner | Karl Von Brauner]] (Inferno #1).<ref name="PWHoF" />
== Members ==
===Inferno #1 (Frankie Cain)===
Prior to the Infernos, Cain wrestled as a babyface wrestler in Tennessee and Alabama. As Inferno #1, with Rocky Smith as his tag team partner, Frankie 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'''.<ref name="TCR1">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1970| title =Becker Remembers Dykes| publisher=The Columbia Record| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/745863378/?terms=%22jc%20dykes%22%20infernos&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="PWHoF" /> While the boot was helpful in wrestling, wearing it caused strain on his hip, so Rocky Smith would wear the boot until his hip began to feel the strain. Cain had a successful career after leaving the Infernos as he became, the '''Great Mephisto''', a [[Middle East]]ern heel. He had successful stints in Florida, Texas, Georgia and San Francisco under the gimmick.<ref name="CM Cain">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2014| title =Great Mephisto| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2448&name=Inferno+#1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="OWW Cain">{{Citation| last=Sweeny| first =Sean| year =2014| title =Frankie Cain| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/frankie-caine/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>
===Inferno #1 (Curtis Smith)===
Smith wrestled in a tag team called the "Blue Demons", prior to joining the Infernos.<ref name="CM Curtis">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Curtis Smith| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=13224&name=Curtis+Smith| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> After Smith's run with the Infernos ended, he created, "The Super Infernos".<ref name="OWW Curtis">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Curtis Smith| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/curtis-smith/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The team found success in Georgia and then Smith moved over to Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling to wrestle as, "The Mighty Yankee".<ref name="CM Curtis" /> 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.<ref name="CM Curtis" /> The pair changed their name to "The Challengers" upon going to [[Continental Championship Wrestling|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.<ref name="CM Curtis" /> 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 to [[Heart of America Sports Attractions|Central States Wrestling]] towards the end of 1977 as "The Blue Yankee" then revived "The Executioner" gimmick in Fall 1978 in Japan. Smith then had his last major run as "The Mighty Yankee" from 1978 to 1979 for [[Continental Championship Wrestling|Southeastern Championship Wrestling]].<ref name="CM Curtis" />
===Inferno #1 (Karl Von Brauner)===
[[Von_Brauners#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.<ref name="CM Karl">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Karl von Brauner| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7300&page=4&search=inferno| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>
===Inferno #2 (Rocky Smith)===
Smith started wrestling towards the end of the 1950s and was mostly used as a lower card talent.<ref name="CM Rocky">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Rocky Smith| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=13122&name=Inferno+#2++| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="OWW Rocky">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Rocky Smith| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/rocky-smith/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> 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 [[Continental Championship Wrestling|Southeastern Championship Wrestling]], only seeing limited success.<ref name="CM Rocky" />
===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]].<ref name="WD Mike">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title =Mike McManus| publisher=Wrestlingdata.com| url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=9305&bild=0&details=7| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> He later became [[Von_Brauners#Cliff_Von_Brauner | Cliff Von Brauner]] for [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]] and teamed up with Curtis Smith as "The Challengers".<ref name="TBC">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1976| title =Guerrero wins main event at Strelich| publisher=The Bakersfield Californian| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/29556785/?terms=%22cliff%20von%20brauner%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Inferno 3">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title =Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=7448&page=2| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="Prichard">{{Citation| last=Prichard| first =Tom| year =2012| title =  The first post is always the hardest...|  publisher=drtomprichard.blogspot.com|url=http://drtomprichard.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-first-post-is-always-hardest.html| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Dykes">{{Citation| last=Mooneyham| first =Mike| year =2019| title =  Where is J.C. Dykes, manager of the Masked Infernos, now? |publisher=The Post and Courier|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/where-is-j-c-dykes-manager-of-the-masked-infernos-now/article_dc9277ce-4fa2-11e8-8318-83912a769ad4.html| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> Dykes was also known for throwing fireballs at opponents.<ref name="Prichard" /> Aside from the Infernos, Dykes managed other wrestlers including The Mighty Yankees, The Dominoes, [[Bob Orton, Sr.|The Zodiac]] and [[Tarzan Tyler|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]].<ref name="CM Dykes">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =JC Dykes| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=13228&page=4&s=200| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> Dykes quit wrestling in 1976 after nearly being involved in the car crash that killed Sam Bass, Pepe Lopez and Frank Hester.<ref name="Dykes" /><ref name="OWW Dykes">{{Citation| last=Sweeny| first =Sean| year =2014| title =JC Dykes| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/jc-dykes/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> Dykes later became a born-again Christian in 1977 and passed away in 1993.<ref name="Dykes" />
==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.<ref name="CM Blue">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =| title =Blue Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=184&page=2| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> Bobby Fields and Lee Fields portrayed the imposter Infernos in 1969.<ref name="Imposter Infernos">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title =Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=4853&page=2| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The second Inferno #1, Curtis Smith, would later form, "The Super Infernos" with [[Doug Gashouse Gilbert|Doug Gilbert]] in [[Georgia Championship Wrestling|Georgia]] in 1973.<ref name="Super Infernos">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2014| title =Super Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=3183&page=2&teamname=Super+Infernos| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Doug Gilbert">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2014| title =Doug Gilbert| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/doug-gilbert-2/| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> The Infernos gimmick was later revived in [[Smoky Mountain Wrestling]] and on the independent circuit in 1994.<ref name="SMW Infernos">{{Citation| last=| first =| year =2023| title =Masked Infernos| publisher=Cagematch.net| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=585| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref>
==Championships and accomplishments==
===The Infernos (Frankie Cain and Curtis Smith)===
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]]
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)|NWA Georgia Southern Tag Team Championship]]
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)|NWA Georgia World Tag Team Championship]]
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) | NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]]
*'''[[Western States Sports]]'''
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version)|NWA Amarillo World Tag Team Championship]]
**[[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship]]
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version)| NWA Texas World 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 Championship]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|wrestlingdata=5486}}
[[Category:Independent promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:Jim Crockett Promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:Masked tag teams]]