A celebration of the life of Don Kernodle

Jonathan Hood talks about the late Don Kernodle, Mid-Atlantic wrestling star who committed suicide at the age of 71.

Don Kernodle passes away

After a wrestling career at Elon College, Kernodle broke into the sports-entertainment world with Jim Crockett Productions in 1973. The grappler burst onto the scene of the National Wrestling Alliance as part of Sgt. Slaughter’s “Cobra Corps,” teaming with Slaughter and Pvt. Jim Nelson. The partnership spawned multiple NWA World and Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship reigns for Kernodle, battling the likes of Ricky Steamboat, Jay Youngblood, Iceman King Parsons and others.

Kernodle competed with WWE throughout 1982 and 1983, as a team with Nelson and in one-on-one bouts against legendary competitors such as Tito Santana and Rocky Johnson. After the singles stint, Kernodle returned to the NWA for memorable tag team runs with Bob Orton Jr. and Ivan Koloff. Kernodle stepped away from the NWA in 1986 but continued to wrestle in a number of independent promotions. Outside the ring, Kernodle served as a deputy sheriff with the Alamance County sheriff’s office in North Carolina.

Kernodle, who had a law enforcement career following his pro wrestling days, was scheduled to be inducted into the Lou Thesz/George Tragos Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in July.