Norvell Austin started his professional wrestling career in 1971, working in the Florida/Alabama areas. At the time, the African American wrestlers were largely confined to specific roles, often only wrestling other African Americans and staying as faces (good guys). Austin initially followed this path but would later challenge these norms. His first notable team was formed in 1971 with Sputnik Monroe, where they became one of the first mixed-race heel (villain) tag teams, breaking major racial barriers in the southern territories. The team was successful in NWA Mid-America, where they won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship in 1972.
The duo was also known for their controversial angle, where they used racial tensions to fuel their storylines, with lines like “Black is Beautiful” and Austin’s response “White is Wonderful.” The pair found success in Florida, where they won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship before splitting in 1975. Austin then began his singles career, where he continued to gain recognition.
The Midnight Express (1981–1983)
From 1981 to 1983, Austin played a key role in the formation of the original Midnight Express, which included Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose. They won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship in the CWA and became one of the most hated tag teams in the region. The team’s unique gimmick, which involved the “Freebird Rule” (where any two members of the team could defend the titles), made them a force in the tag division. They were a part of notable storylines and rivalries, including with the Armstrong brothers and the Golden and Fuller teams.
Pretty Young Things (1983–1985)
In the mid-1980s, Austin teamed up with Koko B. Ware to form the Pretty Young Things (PYT Express), a tag team that mimicked the style of pop star Michael Jackson with their outfits and entrance music. They were a major tag team in Memphis Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling. They won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship in 1985, but their run was short-lived. After their loss in Florida, they returned to Continental Wrestling(CWA), where they again won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship.
Late Career and Retirement (1985–2004)
Following his time in the Pretty Young Things, Austin continued to wrestle in the Southeastern Championship Wrestling (SECW) as part of a tag team called Soul Patrol with Brickhouse Brown. They won the NWA Southeast Tag Team Championship. Austin’s career started to wind down in the late 1980s, though he had occasional special appearances throughout the early 2000s. His last match was in 2004, where he teamed with Randy Rose in a victory against Texas Roughrider and Luke Goldberg.
Legacy
Norvell Austin is remembered for breaking racial barriers in the Southern U.S. wrestling scene and for being a part of some historic tag teams. His ability to evolve from a single competitor into a respected team member, notably in the Midnight Express and Pretty Young Things, left a significant impact on the professional wrestling world. Despite his quieter final years in the ring, his role in the Soul Patrol and as a part of the Midnight Express with other legendary wrestlers solidified his place in wrestling history.