It's like Hulkamania, YOU CAN'T STOP IT, BROTHER! Billed as a villain, his look was great. She won the NWA World Women’s Championship in 1956 and held onto the strap for the next 28 years, although that claim by the WWE isn’t entirely true as Moolah did drop and reclaim the title a few times during that run. Good luck trying to get that out of some of today’s professional wrestlers. You can’t talk about... 13 Ivan Putski. These guys could keep crowds engaged for 30, 45 or 60 minutes with ease, as that was the length of their matches on a regular basis. Malenko’s mat wrestling prowess made him the perfect foil for the high-flying aerial artists of WCW’s burgeoning Cruiserweight division. Race won the championship four times between 1973 and 1980 holding the strap for more than 1,000 days in total. The nature of professional wrestling dramatically changed in order to better suit television audiences. WWE ALUMNI – 1970’s MEN Andre The Giant Bruno Sammartino Pedro Morales Bob Backlund Gorilla Monsoon Haystacks Calhoun Pat Patterson Ivan Putski Dusty Rhodes Jay Strongbow Antonio Pugliese Billy White Wolf Dominic DeNucci Dino Bravo Louis … Because it is worth talking about the greatest WWE Superstars of the 80s forever. As the match got underway, it could have been anybody’s win; until the grand finale. Ed Farhat, uncle and trainer of Sabu and trainer of Rob Van Dam, held a number of regional titles across the Midwest in the 70s. 55. Wrestling began featuring enhanced, hyped character traits and storylines. The National Wrestling Alliance's Buffalooffice, the Erie Athletic Club, withdraws from the NWA and reorganizes as the National Wrestling Federation. His first run lasted more than 1,700 days from 1975-1980. Owner/booker Verne Gagne may have been the face of the AWA, but Nick Bockwinkel wasn’t far behind, holding the promotion’s heavyweight strap four times over his career. Yokozuna made a big impression on wrestling culture in the '90s. Superstar spawned a number of imitators that include Hulk Hogan, Jesse the Body Ventura and Scott Steiner. Why was it so great? Yokozuna was managed by Mr. Fuji, another popular wrestler and represented the art of sumo wrestling from Japan. The difference between then and now is that the wrestlers from then were "entertainers" and today's wrestlers are "actors". Blood, barrel chests and mutton chops. Truly, a wonder to behold. Pro Wrestling Blog List. He is also a member of the elite group of wrestlers known as the Clique. In the latter half of the decade, the Sheik teamed with Abdullah the Butcher in a string of matches against the Funk’s in what can be described as complete insanity. Good luck trying to get that out of some of today’s professional wrestlers. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. All of this when the AWA sported one of the deepest rosters in territorial wrestling. 278 x 181 jpeg 12kB. I'm a lover of pro wrestling and die-hard fan of the NFL's Bengals and MLB's Dodgers. Untouted, she went right into the frying pan and came out as the new Women’s Champion, defeating The Fabulous Moolah (who had regained the title from Richter under the disguise as … He was the 1979 PWI Wrestler of the Year and had the publication’s Match of the Year in 1973 and '79. Classic Pro Female Wrestling bouts and scenes of Mildred Burke, June Byers, Ann La Verne, Tony Rose, Judy Garble, Little Cloud, Betty Boucher, Fran Gravette and a host of Glamour Girls in memorable action. “Impresarios were the managers who chose how a wrestler could gain fame and interest among the fans, creating personas and improvising matches to make them more interesting. Fellow wrestlers paid tribute via social media, with 'Superstar' Mal Sanders, the first man to beat McManus in a televised match, writing on Facebook: "I have just heard the sad news. Feb 11, 2018 - Explore Alan B's board "British wrestlers 1970s" on Pinterest. WWE ALUMNI – 1970’s MEN Andre The Giant Bruno Sammartino Pedro Morales Bob Backlund Gorilla Monsoon Haystacks Calhoun Pat Patterson Ivan Putski Dusty Rhodes Jay Strongbow Antonio Pugliese Billy White Wolf Dominic DeNucci Dino Bravo Louis Cerdan Peter Maivia Victor Rivera. 686 x 384 png 387kB. Terry’s big brother Dory held the NWA strap as well, winning it in 1969 and holding it for more than four years before dropping it to Harley Race in 1973. https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/top-15-greatest-wrestlers-of-the-1970s Jack and his brother Jerry were the original Brisco brothers, not to be confused with the ROH pair. Top 50 professional wrestlers of the 1990's using win-loss record, championships won, quality of competition, major feuds, prominence within their promotion and overall wrestling ability. Mike Reviews – All Japan Pro Wrestling TV (02/03/1985) 4 hours ago Enuffa.com Wrestling Stuff. Ladd won a number of regional titles and was a master heel during the 70s wrestling WWWF champions Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund, NWA champion Harley Race and the AWA’s top title holder Nick Bockwinkel. Gorgeous George gained epic mainstream popularity, followed in the Second Golden Age in the 1980’s and 1990’s by the likes of Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Sting, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and Triple H. By way of the beginning of television in the 1950’s and, subsequently cable television in the 1980’s, professional wrestling began appearing in powerful, multiple media outlets. The Executioners (Kowalski, Stuff, & Volkoff), The Blackjacks (Blackjacks Mulligan & Lanza), The Wild Samoans (Wild Samoans Afa & Sika), The Valiant Brothers (Johnny, Jimmy, & Jerry), The Strongbows (Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow). NAME FORMAT CHANGE IN PROCESS: Names of the wrestlers from countries where the family names come before the given names will be listed as such (Japan, Korea, … Steve Travis Tony Garea Irish Pat Barrett Luke Graham Tarzan Tyler Tony Marino Dean […] The Sheik was PWI’s Most Hated Wrestler of 1972, the first year of the award and has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He spent his later childhood years growing up in Brooklyn and became a fan favorite for New York City’s large Puerto Rican population, the home base of the WWE. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Through the interest in money-making among the three groups, wrestling became a business-oriented entertainment venue, distinguishing itself further and further from its authentic amateur wrestling background.”. Stasiak was known for his Heart Punch which few wrestlers got up from in the early and mid 70's, by the late 70's many top wrestlers had a counter move for it and Stasiak's status went to mid card at best. They include: Rebeka grew up in the 1960’s & 1970’s and has always subscribed to the theory that a positive attitude will take you far! The founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Antonio Inoki was one of the major forces of professional wrestling during the 1970s. The Iceman had WCW fans on the edge of their seats as he tried to wrench the sinews and tear the tendons of stars like Rey Mysterio, Psychosis and Eddie Guerrero. Moving forward into the 1930’s, however, professional wrestling became identified with modern day theatrics and "admitted fakeness.” The sport of wrestling had started becoming so scripted that critics began viewing it as somewhat of a joke; particularly in comparison to boxing, mixed martial arts, amateur wrestling, and the real sport itself, wrestling. Morales also became the first Triple Crown Champion in company history after winning the World Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships. Geoff Winningham reflects on his 1971 book of photography, Friday Night in … He is a retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, entrepreneur and musician. Wrestling matches consisted of hairy, bare chested men in tight Speedo style trunks climbing in the ring to take each other down. See more ideas about wrestler, british wrestling, professional wrestling. For most, there were no high spots; the German suplex and a bodyslam were finishers, and nobody knew what a hurricanrana, five star frog splash, swanton bomb and outside dive were. You are looking at the most comprehensive list of deceased wrestlers in existence. Bret “The Hitman” Hart was born July 2nd 1957. Fight Lads: Blast from the Past 4. Rankings/ratings of the pro-wrestling in the United States from the 1970s. Countless wrestling entertainment talent lives on in our history and memories. The "old school" wrestlers knew how to work a match, they would listen to the crowd reactions, and adjust things if the crowd got silent or restless. The best British wrestlers: From Big Daddy to Mick McManus, what became of our wrestling stars The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at … Oscar Film Journal: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) 4 hours ago Inoki beat the best of the best during the decade including Bruno Sammartino, Jack Brisco, The Funks, Andre the Giant, Karl Gotch, Pat Patterson and so many others. Cageside Seats. Mascaras is one of the best-known luchadores in Mexico and spent a bulk of his time amazing crowds in the U.S. and Japan during the 1970s. Caught here in a tight hold, the Syrian wrestler appears to be anything but comfortable. Sammartino was the 1974 PWI Wrestler of the Year and had the Match of the Year in 72, '75, '76 and '77. He later went to the WWE where he would become the first masked wrestler to appear at Madison Square Garden while working alongside legends like Superstar Billy Graham, Andre the Giant and Dusty Rhodes. fightlads.blogspot.co.uk. You can’t understate how over Sammartino was with the WWWF crowd during the decade. It might be hard for the IWC (Internet Wrestling Community) to understand, but many fans bought into the match, even if the wrestler(s) was terrible beyond belief. He won a variety of regional titles including the Stampede North American Title, the AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship and the PWF Heavyweight Championship. Jonathan being a very tall wrestler had a number of bouts with a young Andre The Giant. Broke into wrestling in the Global Wrestling Federation, known then as The Lightning Kid. Moolah was the first woman to be inducted into the WWF/E Hall of Fame and for good reason. Ken Patera One of the strongest wrestlers in the world Ken Patera competed in the WWWF from the mid to late 1970's. During that span, he notched victories over Lou Thesz, Dory Funk Jr., Gene Kiniski, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, all of whom held the same title at least once during their careers. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren’t participating in sports entertainment. Mascaras has been inducted in the WWE, NWA and Professional Wrestling Halls of Fame. Baba founded All-Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972, the dominant promotion of his era, where legends like the Funk Brothers, Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody made their mark. Most of the wrestlers didn’t even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. Hulk Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea on August 11th, 1953. In general, anything in a professional wrestling show is to some extent scripted, or "kayfabe", even though at times it is portrayed as legitimate. Matches frequently went up to an hour on a regular basis. If you lived in the Triangle in the 1960s and 70s, you probably already knew that a large wrestling ring, drawing in legends like Andre the Giant and Ric Flair, was once part of WRAL's studio. Share ; By. In 1971 he became a dual title holder when he won the WWWF World Heavyweight Title from Ivan Koloff while holding the United States Heavyweight Title. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. In relative terms, a wrestler breaking kayfabe during a show would be likened to an actor breaking character on-camera. They are the WWF wrestlers of the 80’s. At 6-foot-9, he was one of the few men who could almost measure up to Andre the Giant. This brings me to my list of the 15 worst wrestlers in the '70s. Rankings/ratings of the pro-wrestling in the United States from the 1970s. Many of the guys on this list were legit tough guys and gave the sport credibility that it is lacking in a sense today. onettechnologiesindia.com. Wrestling became an international phenomenon with the expansion of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). AWA/WWA wrestlers (Chicago) (For many years, the AWA ran joint shows with the World Wrestling Association at the International Amphitheater in … has 23,078 members. Baron Von Raschke Rough and tough German wrestler who had a finishing hold with the Brain Claw. Behind The Scenes With Hollywood's Grooviest Stars, The Sheik had it easy. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Movie! His matches against legends Harley Race and Jack Brisco were named Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year in 1973 and '74 respectively. During his run in the land of the rising sun, Mascaras wrestled Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and other legends, while performing acrobatic moves that would become a staple of the Japanese style. He was also the headliner for Madison Square Garden for essentially the entire decade. These guys could keep their fans crowds on the edge of their seats for 30, 45 or 60 minutes with no effort at all. Born in England, Robinson is one of the godfathers of strong style and is considered one of the best ever by Japanese fans. Pedro Morales was the perfect champion for Vince McMahon Sr.'s New York territory in the 70s. Throughout the 1990’s, professional wrestling achieved highs in both viewers and financial success during a time of fierce competition among competing promotions, such as WWF, World Championship Wrestling, and Extreme Championship Wrestling. In 1974, Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Robinson their Most Popular Wrestler of the Year. According to IGN, he is “the most recognised wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s”. Most of the wrestlers didn’t have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today, but make no mistake, that didn’t mean the action wasn’t good. Remember, this is before professional wrestling was called sports entertainment. Also, since wrestling is performed in front of a live audience, whose interaction with the show is crucial to its success, kayfabe can be compared to the fourth wall in acting, since hardly any conventional fourth wall exists to begin with. Rankings/ratings of the pro-wrestling in the United States from the 1970s. Did he break attendance records like Hulk Hogan or sell as much merch as Stone Cold? Hooks are illegal in conventional amateur wrestling but have high rates of success against even the most athletic and experienced of competitors, essentially removing rules from professional wrestling. It wasn’t until 1984’s Brawl to End It All that Moolah finally lost the title to Wendi Richter. The barnstormers competed as traveling wrestlers did and often cooperated with the carnies to stage the matches, providing enormous profits for both sides in betting. While his reign isn’t recognized, Inoki defeated Bob Backlund for the WWE Heavyweight Championship in 1979. It was as if all the girls from hair-metal music videos got together and formed a wrestling league of superheroes and super-villains. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. coventrytelegraph. Having honed her craft in various wrestling organizations in the early-to-mid-80s, Martel entered WWE on July 24, 1987. Probably because of these WWE (then WWF) Superstars. 283 x 411 jpeg 15kB. Bockwinkel was also an AWA World Tag Team champ three times with Ray Stevens from 1972-75 with the pair being named the PWI Tag Team of the Year in 1973. The latter vs. Superstar Billy Graham for the title is must-see and his '76 cage match against Stan Hansen is phenomenal. In the 70s, kayfabe was alive and well! He dropped it nearly a year later to Bob Backlund, PWI’s 1978 Match of the Year. But Ladd never won a major promotions top belt. But outside of a handful of days during the 70s, Moolah was the title holder for the entire decade. I'm a writer and radio professional living and working in South Florida. Patera had some classic bouts with Bruno Sammartino & Bob Backlund. In the late ‘70s, he’d put over Ric Flair, making him the new “nature boy.” Yeah, the most legendary wrestler of all time got his start from a Buddy Rogers rub. 99. Probably not, but he is the longest reigning Heavyweight champion in WWE/F history. The '80s. In the United States, in the First Golden Age of professional wrestling was in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Kayfabe is often seen as the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of promotions, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks, in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment. Superstar held the WWWF Heavyweight Championship one time after beating the legendary Bruno Sammartino in 1977, hailed as the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year. Many of them transformed the wrestling federation into a dynamite entertainment… She is a wife and mother of 3 with a fun-loving spirit, believing that family and relationships are invaluable. Sammartino was a tough Italian guy who immigrated to the United States at the age of 15. And that's probably why this list exists. There were wrestlers who were bigger than Dino Bravo, but not many were as strong as him. Many of the guys on this list were legit tough guys and gave the sport credibility that it is lacking in a sense today. Whether it’s pictures of dudes from high school with mullets or that girl you went out with showing off her fourth grade bowl cut, it seems there’s no limits when it comes to posting about the past. 12:36, 4 APR 2013; Updated 11:52, 21 APR 2013; News. It doesn’t matter if it’s Throwback Thursday or Flashback Friday, every day of the week, people are taking the opportunity to look back and reminisce about the glory days. NAME FORMAT CHANGE IN PROCESS: Names of the wrestlers from countries where the family names come before the given names will be listed as such (Japan, Korea, etc. Of the two, Jack proved to be the star. The Funker won the NWA World Heavyweight title in 1975 from Jack Brisco and held it for more than a year defending it against the likes of Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and Jumbo Tsuruta. Feb 11, 2018 - Explore Alan B's board "British wrestlers 1970s" on Pinterest. Make no mistake, though, that didn’t mean the action wasn’t good. Nicolai Volkoff His first reign lasted nearly eight years and his second, from 1973-77, is the fifth longest in the promotion’s history. But The Shiek rallied and foiled Bruno Sammartino at Madison Square Garden. Until the 1920’s, professional wrestling in the United States was viewed as a serious and legitimate sport showcasing true athletic competition. From AWA All-Star Wrestling 12/12/77 Highlights of great 70s confrontations from the AWA, including a Handicap Match between the Legendary Andre the Giant taking on Butcher Vachon and ‘Pretty Boy’ Larry Hennig. See more ideas about wrestler, british wrestling, professional wrestling. The following is a list of the best Black wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling (or "sports entertainment" for those of you too young to remember anything that took place before John Cena). Top WWF Professional Wrestlers from the 70s | Groovy History Now we have to put into perspective that wrestling in the '70s would look very dull by today’s standards. Television also helped many wrestlers break into mainstream media, becoming influential celebrities and icons of popular culture. Coventry Live. Race’s eight NWA World Heavyweight Championship reigns (although WWE only recognizes seven) is second to only Ric Flair’s record nine. Top 15 Worst Wrestlers of the '70s 15 Ox Baker. During the 70s, he spent time in the AWA, All-Japan Pro Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling where catch wrestling was emphasized. Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England. A † after a name indicates that the wrestler is deceased. He was the first Asian wrestler to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title when he defeated Jack Brisco in 1974. In the 70s, kayfabe was alive and well and crowds believed what they were seeing. Kayfabe is, however, occasionally broken during shows, usually when dealing with genuine injuries during a match or paying tribute to wrestlers.”. ). Indian wrestler who was a mid level babyface in 1964-66. He made his debut into in the wild world of Professional Wrestling in 1959 and defeated Buddy Rogers with a reverse backbreaker to capture the WWWF World title in 1963. The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. He also held the PWF Heavyweight title, part of the Japanese Triple Crown, from 1973-78. bln70s80s.weebly.com. Jr was a master technician, innovating the Cloverleaf hold. He is one of several wrestlers from the Hart family, and a second-generation wrestler. Wrestlers from the 70s and 80s ONETTECHNOLOGIESINDIA.COM. If you look up the word “wrestler” in the dictionary, you might come upon Robinson’s name. Born Wayne Coleman, the bodybuilder with the 22-inch biceps spoke as well as the Christian preacher whose name he used as his own. His first job was a constructions worker and during the evenings, he worked out at a local gym in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Audiences believed the violent action they were seeing and took it for gospel! One piece had a giant fist rising out of a shattered ring, and wrestling legends he loved from the ’60s and ’70s took on a psychedelic other-worldly look. Chop's Top Fives: Top 5 British Wrestlers of the '70s and '80s. Wrestling in the 70s, 80s, & 90s. A hardcore wrestling pioneer, the Sheik was vicious in the ring, attacking with whatever weapons he could get his hands on. Houston Matters Houston Wrestling In The 70s Was A Spectacle — Both In The Ring And The Stands. Here’s what they’re up to now. Kacy Catanzaro reveals she’s out with a knee injury 1 hour ago Scotts Blog of Doom! Many of them will never be forgotten. The Big Cat was an AFL All-Pro before he had a Hall of Fame career as a professional wrestler. Was Bruno Sammartino a technician like Bret Hart? He has been credited with changing the perception of mainstream North-American professional wrestling in the early 1990s by bringing technical in-ring performance to the fore. Kayfabe was fiercely maintained for decades, but with the advent of the Internet wrestling community, and the sports entertainment movement, the pro wrestling industry has become less concerned with protecting so-called backstage secrets and typically maintains kayfabe only during the shows. Highlights of great 70s confrontations from the AWA, plus the wiley Lord Alfred Hayes and The Super Destroyer attack The Crusher. The "Golden Era" of wrestling. In 1976, Inoki faced Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in what many consider an early mixed martial arts contest. Whether it’s pictures of dud. He won the title again in 1979 and 1980.