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Al "Paul Jones" Frederick, forever nicknamed "Number One" passed away earlier this week in Atlanta, Georgia, the Mid-Atlantic Gateway reported this evening. Circumstances surrounding his death are not yet known. Frederick was 75 years old at the time of his passing.
Best remembered for his run in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Jones broke into the business in the early 1960s after being trained by Paul Boesch. Billed as "Young" Paul Jones and Al Fredericks, depending on the area, Jones worked for a number of areas, including Hollywood, the Pacific Northwest, All Japan, Japan's JPWA, Australia's World Championship Wrestling and the Manitoba territory.
Debuting in Mid-Atlantic in the early 1970s, Jones worked as a tag team wrestler, teaming with Nelson Royal, where the two held the territory's Tag Team championship, losing them to veteran Rip Hawk and youngster Ric Flair. Jones feuded with Ivan Koloff over the promotion's TV title and later held the Mid-Atlantic championship.
After a run on top with Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jones morphed into a top level heel and was dubbed "Number One", a nickname and persona that remained with him for the remainder of his career. He won the NWA World Tag Team belts with several different partners, including Rick Steamboat and Wahoo McDaniel and later turned on Steamboat during an angle where they were the final competitors in a battle royal, sparking a feud. He later feuded with Jack Brisco over the Mid-Atlantic championship.
Towards the latter part of his career, Jones began wearing a tuxedo and began managing a stable dubbed Paul Jones' Army, managing Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez to the NWA World Tag Team championship and The Powers of Pain during the feud that put that team on the map nationally against The Road Warriors. Jones himself would be a long-time foil for Jimmy Valiant, a feud that ended with Valiant shaving the heads of Jones and his charge Pez "Shaska" Whatley. After having his head shaved, Jones began wearing his now trademark cowboy hat.
After Jim Crockett Promotions was purchased by Turner Broadcasting and turned into WCW, Jones was among those who quietly disappeared from the national scene. He appeared from time to time on regional shows and was a regular at Greg Price's Mid-Atlantic Legends conventions.
On behalf of everyone associated with PWInsider.com, we'd like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Paul Jones.
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