D-Lo Brown: Is a 43 time title holder throughout his career. 24. I apologize if something like this is already in the works. Not even teams like The Legion of Doom, The Steiner Brothers or Harlem Heat can lay claim to that feat. Prior to all of this, Wright played another infamous character: Papa Shango. For a man who had only been sidelined twice with ailments, those two times were utterly disastrous. Lance Russell backstage interview with Bearcat Wright and Mongolian Stomper(MSC). After some scrapes with the wrong side of the law after his full retirement in 2003, Anthony Norris got his life in order and is now a trainer with Booker T and Stevie Ray at their Pro Wrestling Gym. Because of his immense popularity back in the '60s and '70s, Haystacks Calhoun got the opportunity to go head to head with some of the biggest names in wrestling at the time. An affable pimp who would come down to the ring with a bevy of "Hos" and invite the fans to come aboard the "Ho Train", his character was one of the main rankling points for parent groups like the Parent's Television Council. < Alf Marquette and Leon Arras and Mal Kirk all well worth a shout >. While it would appear that most of Rocky Johnson's accolades would come as a tag wrestler, the reality is that he was just as successful as a singles competitor, having won the Heavyweight Championship in six of the NWA promotions in which he wrestled. There is enough info. Sadly, Sylvester Ritter, the man behind the Junkyard Dog character would pass away on June 6th, 1998 in a car accident in Mississippi. He now runs a nightclub in Las Vegas, known as "Cheetah's" and lives with his wife and four children. (BONUS 27 Minues)12. There, they would go on to win another four tag team titles, and complete the cypher of tag title history by winning the IWGP, TNA and NWA Tag Team Titles. Bobby Lashley only spent a brief amount of time in the world of professional wrestling, debuting in the WWE in 2004 and remaining there for only four years before leaving the company due to personal reasons. Hi Guys. Not bad for a 58-year-old. He was allegedly (admittedly by M. Crabtree) professional in terms of honouring bookings, etc. Tony Atlas has been the Heavyweight Champion in six separate promotions. The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s-1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99 years, 145 days). The North Ireland-born Finlay amassed twenty championship reigns throughout his career, including the United States Championship in WWE. Only saw AG once in late career, when Pat Roach went over. (Which in hindsight, probably kept him from winning the WWE title, as it would've complicated his famous catchphrase.). . that made Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd a premier heel in the 1960's and '70s. Lashley would state in interviews that friction with WWE booker, Michael P.S. Jacqueline Moore: One of the few women to hold a male title in the WWE, Ms. Jackie is a former WWE Cruiserweight champion (now defunct) and a two-time WWE Women's champion. Maybe his matches are unwatchable, but the simple fact that he has the willingness to step into the ring is worthy of admiration. Thanks, Anglo. Bushwhacker Luke has now wrestled across seven different decades. Today, we will take a look at the greatest African-Americans to step into the ring. I have to admit, as a kid I loved lists, wrote them out all the time, boxers, wrestlers, footballers, cricketers etc. The gimmick won him PWI's Worst Gimmick Award for 1992. However, I do feel that the Dynamite Kid had enough impact here before going to America, and he also came back later for iconic bouts with Rocco. 1960 Summer - Wrestling Revue Men (Heavyweight): Pat O'Connor ( NWA World Champion) Killer Kowalski Antonino Rocca Lou Thesz Edouard Carpentier Don Eagle Buddy Rogers Dick Hutton Don Leo Jonathan Gene Kiniski Women: June Byers ( World Champion) Judy Grable Lorraine Johnson Tona Tomah Rose Roman Kathy Starr Barbara Baker Lee Chona LaClaire It was that same group that Wright would imitate, along with Stevie Richards, Bull Buchanan, Val Venis and Ivory as the "Right To Censor", that for a time, was the single most hated stable in the WWF, as it was their goal to rid the WWF of all of the filth it had come to stand for. Shelton Benjamin was also ranked the number nine wrestler in the world by the PWI 500 in 2005 and also voted Best Tag Team in 2003 with Charlie Haas. More often than not, he was losing. I've just never seen a list like this and thought posting one might provoke the more well informed to try their hand. As the other half of "The Soul Patrol" with Rocky Johnson, he is also the first African-American to ever win the WWF Tag Team Titles. Generational wrestlers are fondly beloved mostly by those who grew up in those eras. Hulk Hogan, born in 1953 as Terry Gene Bollea, has been in the wrestling spotlight since the beginning of the 80's. He is a twelve-time world champion and in 2005 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In baseball, football, or basketball it's not very common to see players 40 years old or older, but in wrestling it's different. In that video, you are watching the first time that Hulk Hogan was ever pinned for a three count. Im hawking my photographs. The father of "The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment" was a legendary competitor in his own right. This 1974-76 footage was repaired with the latest technology in High Definition. Harley Race is the most divisive on this list ranked by. Follow me, as we count down the 20 greatest African-American professional wrestlers of all time. With that, Winninghamwho became known inside the coliseum as the professor of wrestlingspent the next nine months photographing the Houston wrestling scene, capturing the villainous heels, heroic baby faces, and fervent fans. Seriously? Kazuchika Okada made his professional wrestling debut on August 29, 2004 in Mexico City. The goal is to make the most extreme seem as real as possible. It was madness., The coliseums promoter, Paul Boeschwho also served as the ring announcerwelcomed Winningham, and the photographer became a regular, returning to the revelry night after night. However, Wright is famous for two reasons: 1. That video shows just how close Butch came to being the first ever African-American NWA World Heavyweight Champion, but the match was booked that the win didn't count and was called a draw. Joe film, and just his face being on the poster for this upcoming Survivor Series caused the event to sell out in just 90 minutes. To see this working, head to your live site. Known for their penchant for drinking, gambling, bar-fights, and beating up anyone, anywhere for the right price, the APA won the WWF tag-titles on three separate occasions while facing legendary competition like The Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, New Age Outlaws and E&C. But other wrestlers, like Bobby Shane, were more overt in what they represented: Shane, who wore bottoms with USA embroidered on the side and a vest emblazoned with stars and stripes, was an all-American good guy. Rural School Districts Are Facing Financial Ruin. Oakley out, Arras in. Marty Jones and Tony St. Clair appear to be overlooked. The best of the best who left their mark on the world of pro-wrestling like no others. Their first match was in 1980 in the Continental Wrestling Association. Posters from the Golden Age of Wrestling - Crowbar Press Houston wrestling was part of a larger regional circuit that included Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana. The coliseum promoters divided each Friday night program into two halves. Fit Finlay David "Fit" Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. While wrestling as a spectator sport dates back 15,000 years, wrestling as a profession for entertainment came somewhat recently. 1. "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas was the first man to ever do it. Bob Armstrong vs. A Texas Oak Tree Was Believed to Be Extinct. He was also the first ever African-American to wrestle in a mixed-race match in the state of Georgia. 1. The Australian Channel 9 show World Championship Wrestling featured unlikely looking (and oddly named) stars such as Killer Karl Kox, Mario Milano (the original Italian Stallion - real name Mario Bulfone), Spiros Arion and Abdullah The Butcher. Years later, several circuits blackballed Patterson after he tried to unionize wrestlers. Top 29 Best Wrestlers Of The 1970s - TheSportster The roots of the Fabulous Freebirds are linked to the professional career of Michael Hayes who wrestled his first match in January 1978 with the NWA, teaming with fellow Freebird Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy. Classic Pro Wrestling matches of the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's - YouTube Jerry Lawler broken leg following Jackie Fargo match(Nashville, TN) 3. I couldn't come up with a line that awesome if you gave me a week and a bottle of Quaaludes. His same routines over decades from what I can make out. I guess I was seeking something similar out of this thread. The criteria is any and all factors that make a pro wrestler legendary. Which is another list all unto itself. It just kind of ups the ante on, Okay, hes going to get whats coming to him.. SPECIAL NOTE TO RESELLERS AND YouTube Posters: This footage has been copyrighted with the U.S. "The Jackie Robinson of Professional Wrestling". The earliest recorded match of Bobby's was in August of 1966. Before James Ware ever stepped foot into a WWF ring as Koko B. Ware he was known as "Stagger Lee" (A masked character that would also be used by the Junkyard Dog) and "Sweet Brown Sugar" in the NWA's Continental Wrestling Association. Athletes who have made history. Montel Vontavious Porter: MVP is a two-time WWE United States Champion and one-time Tag Team Champion (with Matt Hardy), who is currently the IWGP Intercontinental Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling. I can't. But, when Booker walks away from the game completely, he will be without a doubt, a first ballot hall of fame entry. But that's not all, there are a handful of wrestlers who at 60 are still in the business, and some who even at 70 are still wrestling. Very hard to keep it to just 50, as we had a lot more than that who were excellent. Respect - Dave (Melvin M. Melvin). Mr. USA held eighteen different championships across ten different promotions including his historic reign in the WWF. The former NFL player was one of the original members of the group and helped to revolutionize one of the greatest tag team moves ever in The Hart Attack.. Like Davey, Neidhart also worked in Japan in the '80s and had a stint in WCW in the '90s but was a huge part of the WWE tag team division in the '80s and '90s. To start, I have no idea what I am talking about on this subject. It is illegal to copy, resell or post on the internet(YouTube). (Which is like being stuck on Superstars, today.). The Mongolian Stomper vs. Robert Fuller(Chattanooga, TN) 4. The Freebirds became household names in the 1980s through their work in the NWA, WCCW, and WCW. In a time where African-Americans could not drink from the same water fountains or eat in the same diners with Caucasian-Americans, Bearcat was delighting fans of all races, beating the greats and winning heavyweight titles across America. Here is a bit of trivia: How many titles did the highly popular Koko B. Ware win in his career? Koko, as popular and memorable as he was, never held a title in the WWF. 10 Pairs Of Old & Current Wrestlers Who Would Have Great Rivalries, Shane Douglas' best days were undoubtedly in ECW, Bushwhacker Luke has now wrestled across seven different decades, he was a top superstar in TNA and, this year, he is working for All Elite Wrestling, 9 Most Important Moments In Sting's Career, At 62 years old, Sting has shown that he's still got it, 10 Former ECW Champions Who Main Evented WWE PPVs. Classic Memphis Wrestling videos from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Play all Shuffle 1 10:31 Bobby Eaton, Brown Sugar vs Jacques Rougeau, Terry Taylor (1-1-83) Memphis Wrestling Memphis. Morton is 65 and Gibson is 63, and believe it or not they still wrestle together. The Shiek (Louisville, KY). Such was the case when Ray Mendoza fought Thunderbolt Patterson. During his career, Butch Reed would hold a total of 14 titles, 13 of them in major promotions and including the USWA Unified Heavyweight Championship and the NWA International Heavyweight Championship in the NWA's Florida territory. Everyone down near the ring knew each other, Winningham says of the fans, some of whom arrived as early as 3 p.m. to get the best spots for an event that didnt begin until 8:30. Ritter was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. It is available Exclusively through my website for Private use only. It's a shame we have only five lists, I'd like to have a crack at someone else's 50; considering so many are viewing. Hulk Hogan. Athletes who beat legends and became legends. A Texas Novelist Couldnt Find His Audience. She was also voted the number one women's wrestler in the world and "Woman of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 2008. Before the APA, and even before "The Acolytes" with Bradshaw under The Undertaker's Ministry stable, Ron Simmons as "Faarooq", was the founder and leader of one of the most hated heel factions in WWF history: The Nation of Domination, the controversial spinoff of the real life "Nation of Islam," who at the time, were making waves under Louis Farrakhan for their radical and extremely racist anti-white and anti-Jewish beliefs. The legendary Heenan Family stable that Bobby would manage was first formed in the 1970s. And who signed gracious autographs. Should he defeat Randy Orton at the 2011 Night of Champions PPV, he will become the first African-American World Champion to hold the title since Booker T. did it in 2005. Overall, Devon, has won a total of 24 Tag team titles with his "brother" Bubba Ray Dudley. It may really surprise some fans to learn or re-learn that when Matt debuted as Doink, he had already been wrestling for 14 years. Shelton Benjamin is easily the most athletic person on this entire article; in fact, Shelton Benjamin could possibly top the list of most athletic professional wrestlers of all-time. Shortly after, JYD would leave the WCW and work around various independent scenes, last appearing with ECW in 1998. Fit Finlay over the years. Copyright 2009 Rick Crane(70s-TV) Comes with Case \u0026 Artwork on Dvd. Its glory surpassed baseball, football and all other sports. Luke is also a mail carrier in Alberta, Canada and a freelance wrestling website contributor. He would work alongside some of the biggest names in helping . During his time in the WWE, Bobby Lashley was a fan favorite who won The United States Championship once and The ECW World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. Playing off of the controversial "Nation of Islam", the Nation of Domination would declare Black dominance with the goal of breaking the shackles of the "White Man" who controlled the WWF. Really? 11 Stars of Big Time Wrestling - Mental Floss 1 Billy Robinson 2 Dynamite Kid 3 Davey Boy Smith 4 Danno O'Mahoney 5 Mick McManus 6 Steve Casey 7 Jackie Pallo 8 Bert Assirati 9 Billy Joyce This has to be one of the most charismatic and beloved teams of all time. When JYD eventually did come to the WWF in 1984 he was a top face for most of his four year stay in the company, feuding with the likes of Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Harley Race and Adrian Adonis. Ron Killings hit the main stage of professional wrestling in 1999 in the WWF. 15 Apr, 1960 Antonio Inoki Enters JWP Kanji (Antonio) Inoki began his professional wrestling career, training with Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) under the tutelage of wrestling legend Rikidzan. Luke is a college graduate for broadcasting and a university graduate for health and safety. Please enjoy! There is absolutely no doubt, that had things been different, Ahmed Johnson's name would go down as one of the key players of the WWF's legendary "Attitude Era". By the time I got there, Winningham remembers, [Mil] Mscaras was on the ring post jumping. Ever. 23. So will Sir Atholl, bt. A major international star and another wrestler who arguably is one of the best to never hold a world championship, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith was a favorite to many fans in the '80s and '90s. Not bad for a guy who is mainly remembered for a macaw and the "Piledriver" song. Houstons zeal for wrestling has its roots in the postWorld War I era, when wrestlers such as the small but mighty Pet Brown and Frank Gotch, who helped popularize the sport across the United States, drew large crowds. Top WWF Professional Wrestlers from the 70s | Groovy History He is currently the reigning Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion with Charlie Haas and is certain to be a major selling point of the company that plans to debut shortly on national television. Baby faces are the good guys, loved by the crowd. Luke is 74 years old, but that doesn't stop him from stepping into the ring. So I have a sense of who the most knowledgeable British wrestling historians think are the best masked men by ranking. I always assumed so, but only because he and Doug were from Rushden (with love). Originally starting in ECW as a part of the much larger "Dudley Family" stable, D-Von's appearance marked a change for the primarily comical stable into a much more aggressive and heelish group. Younger fans may possibly know Tony from his horribly mismanaged angles with Mark Henry and Abraham Washington in the now defunct, and rightfully so, ECW when operated by the WWE. By British, I included English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish wrestlers. The fear among the crowd was that Blimp would run away if he starts getting whipped, Winningham explains. In come Steve Clements, Peter Rann and ace jobber Sid Cooper. 12 Wrestling Superstars From The 80s: Where Are They Now? "I will slap your face real good in the general public.".