Favorite "old school" wrestler?

[Blue-Jay]

I gotta say Bobo Brazil:


He will coco-butt your ass!

[terrya]

1. I remember Sailor Art Thomas.

Great old school wrestler.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

2. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

[AllegroRondo]

41. i saw him live about 8 years ago

at a military base. he was on tour with a small wrestling group, as the headline act. even at his age, he was fun to watch.

and afterwards, he stayed around for at least 2 hours signing autographs and posing for pictures with the young soldiers. a real nice guy.

[Blue-Jay]

3. Then there was Haystacks Calhoun!

[Susang]

4. Gorgeous George!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

7. Not George "the Animal" Steel?

[Susang]

18. Nope, just Gorgeous

I loved his capes. He was like a butch Liberace! :D

[Richard Steele]

20. George the Animal has my vote! (not just because we share a last name, either!)

No one ever chewed the padding off a turnbuckle quite like George!

And that was pretty cool enough...until I learned that he had
actually been an elementary-school teacher before he decided
to try a career in the ring.
How could I not love THAT?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

75. That was a great bit.

I never thought I'd see him acting opposite Bill Murray and Johnny Depp, but hey, it's a crazy world.

[Crabby Appleton]

52. yep, Gorgeous George!

[trof]

58. He was "THUH MAN!"

Even though he used golden bobbie pins.
;-)

[elehhhhna]

103. Yep,. Gorgeous George. My Dad knew him and said he was a great guy.

[rug]

5. The Beast

http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/canada/beast.htm

[PVnRT]

6. OOOHHHHHHHH YEAH

[Goblinmonger]

8. Oh, come on. Ain't even a question--The Claw

Baron von Raschke



I actually met the guy several years ago. He runs a gas station deal outside Park Rapids, MN. Got an autographed picture of him laying the smack-down on then governor Jesse Ventura. Pretty good liberal, that Baron. His hands are fucking huge.

[slj0101]

9. Numero Cinco.

[johnnie]

10. Johnny Powers

[datasuspect]

11. dick the bruiser

or one man gang

[CanuckAmok]

12. "Grot, Strangler of Mastadons".

Now *that's* old school!

[Ekirh]

13. Damn so many to go with . . . .

The Destroyer would definitely be somewhere on my list.

[Blue-Jay]

14. JYD!

Thump!

[Ekirh]

16. Grab them cakes!!!

I hope I'm not the only one who knows that damn song :(.

[Strawman]

80. Nope, you're not

I started this dance
In my neighborhood
Now everybody's doin' it
Cuz it feels so gooood!

[deucemagnet]

15. Ivan Putski.

The Polish Power!

[regularguy]

17. Bulldog Brower

since somebody already posted Ivan Putski....

[Bassic]

111. He looks likes he's in the process of having a heart attack.

Or like someone just kicked him in the nads and took a picture before he could buckle over.

[underpants]

19. Is Mr.Wrestling old school enough?

[Blue-Jay]

21. I prefer Mr Wrestling 2

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Eduardo Carpantier

He was the first "flyer" among the wrestlers that i saw when i was a kid. I loved him them. Still remember him fondly.
The Professor

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

23. George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski

I'd post a pic, but I can't find one. He's been dead for twenty-five years, now. Part of Verne Gagne's troup that included Kenny Jay, The Crusher, and the others.

[mockmonkey]

53. It always seemed like

George and Kenny only won their matches when the other guy got disqualified. The Crusher was such a big deal in Milwaukee when I was young. Particularly when he was up against Dr.X and Mad Dog Vachon.

[blockhead]

88. I remember "scrap Iron"

I helped him set up a ring when I was a kid in 1976. I only seen him
win one time. His opponent got disqualified.

I liked Pampero Firpo "Wild Bull of the Pampas".

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

100. I may be hallucinating...

but I swear I saw this when I was a kid. Scrap Iron was wrestling Baron Von Raschke and losing (as usual), but by what appeared to be a mistake, the Baron flung himself into the ropes, probably setting up a flying elbow or some move like that, but he slipped and basically ended up straddling the lower rope (ouch). The Baron pretty much collapsed on the mat, and a befuddled Scrap Iron sort of stood there for a minute and then, reluctantly it seemed, covered the Baron for the win.

Only time I recall ever seeing him win other than by disqualification.

[Squatch]

24. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

[Ekirh]

26. He's in one of my fav Over stipulated matches ever. .

Steel Cage, Coal Miners Glove on a Pole, Tuxedo, Loser leaves Town Match .. .

Hacksaw looked good in a Tux I must say . .

Oh it was against Ted Dibase.

[Rambis]

25. Bull dog bob brown

Harley Race

[flvegan]

27. Kerry Von Erich

Might not be old-school enough.

For pure mayhem, though...Abdullah the Butcher

[Blue-Jay]

32. Man, I loved Abdullah!

Shame about the Von Erich family story. Really tragic stuff.

[Ekirh]

33. Abdullah is classic st uff. .

and according to Mick Foley a very polite gentleman . .

Hey lets add some Japanese wrestling goodness as well . . Giant Baba.

[flvegan]

34. If you liked Abdullah, you probably also liked

The Shiek (the original). In which case, if you haven't seen it, the movie "I Like to Hurt People" is a MUST purchase.

I believe Kevin is the only one of the Von Erich children left. All very tragic.

[Ekirh]

36. Yes it's Kevin . .

He appeared on Raw at the 2005 Homecoming.. even got to do the Claw to I believe Rob Conway.

[Broken_Hero]

28. Still Hulk Hogan

but I got a soft spot for Rick WOOOOOOOOOOOOO Flair, The Midnight Express, and the four horsemen...:D

[Zavulon]

29. Waldo von Erich.

[Ekirh]

30. Have to change my answer. . .

Well no I'll keep the Destroyer . .

But by god I have to add Piper. . .

Hope he wins his battle against cancer :(.

[Arger68]

31. Mad Dog Vachon

No contest!

[usaftmo]

35. Bob Backlund

Unfortunately his microphone skills were horrible.

[Ekirh]

37. That's MR. BOB BACKLUND

:P

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

38. ROWDY RODDY PIPER!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

39. Dick The Bruiser

There are MANY old schoolers I love- I've seen most of them, including Bruiser, The Crusher, The Black Jacks, Baron Von Rashke, Wilbur Snyder, and yes, Bobo Brazil.

My brother and I used to go to the wrestling matches on a weekly basis, and over the years I've watched most of the old greats in action, up close and personal. I even had Dick The Bruiser growl at me once when he passed me and my brother in the hallway, and Black Jack Lanza once threatened to come out of the ring and punch me (I was 10 at the time)! How cool is that!!

[Susang]

85. I cannot believe I forgot Dick!

And I was born and raised in Detroit! Please, don't tell my friends or family. :blush:

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

95. I believe,

Bruiser and especially his mother were real active in local democratic politics in Indiana.

[trackfan]

40. Freddie Blassie

and also, who could forget Mr. Moto

[EnviroBat]

42. This guy was my hero when I was a little kid...

[Blue-Jay]

44. Anybody want a peanut?

:cry: *sniff* :cry:

I miss that very large man.

[Ekirh]

45. R,I.P Andre the Giant . . .

He lived life to the fullest. .

[Xithras]

62. THANK YOU!

I was getting depressed as I scrolled down the list and didn't see Andre's name. The guy was huge (7 feet at his tallest), but he had the heart of a teddy bear. Aside from the acting during his WWF and WCW bouts, he was one of the nicest guys to ever wrestle on the circuit. I've heard lots of stories about how he would just drop into children's hospitals unannounced to play with the kids, and how he would always try to make time for charity events when he was touring. Even toward the end of his life, when he was wheelchair bound most of the time, he still made time to appear at public benefits...and he ALWAYS got out of his chair and made the appearances on his feet so people would see the "Giant" (standing was extremely painful for him at the end of his life, so this was no small favor). He did that specifically because he knew the "Giant" could draw more people than a big guy in a wheelchair.

Personally, I'd have gone to see him anyway.

[EnviroBat]

109. You're welcome. I didn't want my childhood hero to go un-noticed.

I was really saddened by his passing. My Grandpa and I used to watch him religiously.

[Rhythm]

101. i remember meeting Andre when i was about 14...

I was wrestling crazy as an early teen, and my dad's best friend was a freelance photographer who did a LOT of work for "The Wrestler" and "Pro Wrestling Illustrated". I'd go with him to the local matches as his 'assistant', so that i could tag along and get to meet all of my favorites.

I met everyone who was anyone back in the day (1978-1982), but i was never awed by anyone like i was when i met Andre... just shaking hands with him was stunning.

[Dukkha]

43. Andre The Giant

a huge man with a huge heart to go with it.

[SKKY]

46. "The Superstar" Bill Dundee!!!

And for my all-time favorite Tag Team

Steve Kern and Stan Lane - The Fabulous Ones!

[Bake]

56. Did you perchance grow up near Memphis?

I remember them from the Lance Russell broadcast, MidSouth Wrestling or something like that. Where Jerry The King Lawler got started.

Bake

[SKKY]

94. See if this rings a bell....

..."Good mornin' everybody! Lance Russell and Dave Brown right along ringside and by golly we're ready to go for another bid day of Championship Wrestling!" Close to Memphis. Louisville, Kentucky.

[Bake]

104. Louisville! No sh*t!

I lived in Louisville for about 17 years (I left Jackson, TN after college). But it was in west TN that I saw the Lance Russell broadcasts. I had no idea they were broadcast up there; I think I distinctly remember (how's that!) them coming from a studio in Memphis, although it would be reasonable for Louisville to be on their traveling circuit. Small world!

Bake

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. I liked the one that wrote poetry.

He would recite it before the match and then throw a frisbee, with the poem on it, into the crowd. He may have been playing to the audiences homophobia, I never could tell. He'd then always lose the match.

Apparently he was Randy "Macho Man" Savage's little brother.

[Blue-Jay]

48. That was "Leaping" Lanny Poffo

Yes, he is the brother of Randy Savage, and the son of "old school" great, Angelo Poffo.

Here they all are:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. Yeah, I think that's him.

What a family.

[AngryAmish]

50. From Downers Grove, Illinois

Hometown of Emo Phillips.

[edbermac]

51. Bruno Sammartino

[swag]

91. Me three.

A class act.

[Va Lefty]

54. Blackjack Mulligan

[smitty]

55. I always admired Gorilla Monsoon.

[Oeditpus Rex]

57. Pepper Gomez

"The Man with the Cast-Iron Midsection." I've seen guys jump off a stepladder onto his stomach. Dunno how you fake that.



Sadly, he died about three years ago.



Also, Bearcat Wright, who was famous for the Figure-Four Leg Lock. He always looked like he was having fun.

[gr8dane_daddy]

59. Chief Wahoo McDaniels

from my junior high days.

[Ekirh]

60. That's my Grandpa's favorite wrestler. . .

He loves telling me about Wahoo.

[conscious evolution]

73. He played NFL

The Jets IIRC.during the Namath years.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

96. Crazy fact

George H.W. Bush was Wahoo's little league baseball coach as a kid.

[AngryAmish]

110. He also holds the record for longest punt in OK Sooners history

[tigereye]

61. why Bruno Sammartino!

[Bunny]

64. Yeah - a shout for Bruno!

The mainstay of Studio Wrestling - what a guy!



:hi: tigereye!

[tigereye]

65. hey lady!

how are ya? It's finally winter. (weird)

Enjoying the kids being back to school?


I thought Bruno was better known than regionally, though.

[Bunny]

66. Weather? Isn't it supposed to be in the 50's again by Friday?

This is my kind of winter! :woohoo:

I think each region must have had its own Bruno - I don't recognize too many of the names in this thread. Check out this site - Memories of Studio Wrestling:

http://members.aol.com/rcbac/studiowrestling1.htm

[tigereye]

67. I want some cold, though

I want to use my snowshoes this winter and go sledding....


we used to watch Studio Wrestling when my parents went out on a date and the babysitter was there. Odd, when I think back on it.

[Blue-Jay]

63. No list would be complete without Chief Don Eagle!

[Ekirh]

68. This thread needs

More Stan Hansen . .. LARRRITTTOOOOO!!!!!

[flvegan]

69. Howsabout Mil Mascaras?

"First" of the popular luchadors..

[Ekirh]

70. Actually

El Santo and Blue Demon came first. . (Although I don't know if they ever had any success in The U.S . . . I know Mascaras did some American tours here and there)

But he was the first masked wrestler to be allowed into Madison Square Garden if I believed. . .

And hell that man is still around and wrestling.

I've seen some of his matches.. they were fun . . especially against The Destroyer.

[flvegan]

72. That's why I put "first" in quotes.

He also inspired a lot of the future wrestlers, and really brought that style into the mainstream.

[Ekirh]

76. My apologies...

I completely didn't see the quotes. . .

[hellbound-liberal]

71. How about "The American Dream- Dusty Rhodes"?

I still remember some of his interviews with Gordon Solie and some of his matches with Ric "Pretty Boy" Flair.

[Blue-Jay]

74. Who wore a bigger "mansierre"; Dusty or Abdullah the Butcher?

[Dinger]

77. The Krusher

From the Milwaukee area.
http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/c/crusher.html

http://www.geocities.com/crusherbolo_1999/Remembering.htm

[madrchsod]

82. yes! the krusher!

awa ruled the midwest...i figured you were from the middle west..who won the jobbers match? scrap iron or kenny jay?

[sniffa]

78. abduLLah the butcher & kamaLa

Love them both, and stiLL do. abby stiLL wrestLes at age 73(?). he aLso owns a steak and rib house in atLanta.

[k_jerome]

79. Mr. Wrestling #2. nt.

[Strawman]

81. John K9

[Wapsie B]

83. Dory Funk Jr. with the Spinning Toe Hold

Bob Geigel and the Viking

[peekaloo]

84. The Great Malenko

crazy old dude with a glass eye and dentures. when he got mad he'd spit and slobber and his upper plate would fall out.

[wain]

86. Sgt Slaughter

Years ago his vintage U.S.Army staff car passed me on the NJ Turnpike. This was during Jimmy Carter and the sarge's arch rival was a wrestler operating as an Iranian sheik.

[Ekirh]

87. Ahh the Iron Shiek. ..

Yes... I just finished watching their Boot Camp match today actually . . . very Hot MSG Crowd for that match.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

97. Sheiky is a funny guy

if you look around on youtube there are alot of funny interviews of him on there talking from the last few years. Actually as a kid I was on the same plane as him, this was during the height of his fame as a heel and I still believed wrestling wasn't staged at the time, I was just completely scared of him. LOL

[Ekirh]

102. The Iron Shiek . .

Bought my Mom Ice Cream .... .now talk about surreal ;).

[Generic Brad]

89. Vern Gagne

Man. Am I old.

[Left Is Write]

90. Me too.

I even know how to pronounce Gagne.

[philosophie_en_rose]

92. Andre the Giant!

.

[enigmatic]

93. Johnny Powers/The Sheik

Johnny Powers

Star of the NWF in the early 70's in the Cleveland-Buffalo territory, and my first favorite wrestler. Yeah he was the Jeff Jarrett of his time, but he played the Babyface role as good as you can do it, and Powers turning on Ernie Ladd at The Cleveland Arena when I was 10 (and starting a riot in the proccess) was the coolest wrestling turn I've ever seen..


The Sheik

The Baddest MoFo of all-time, IMO. I used to watch him on TV every Saturday out of Detroit w/ his Fed and was in awe of his awesomeness.He invented Hardcore Wrestling, too.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

98. Can't believe no one has posted the weasel yet

[Ghost in the Machine]

99. maybe not old school enough, but here's Buff Bagwell with my son

[noonwitch]

105. I always liked Randy "Macho Man" Savage

He was funny.

[Twillig]

106. I vote Crusher and Mad Dog Vachon.

The Mad Dog scared the hell out of me as a little kid.
Crusher would fix his wagon though!

I guess I was about 6 or 7 when I saw them live in Duluth.

I did like Jesse Ventura back in the days he was wrestling in the Northwest. Once on "Portland Wrestling," he stormed up into the 'crows nest' where local legend Tom Peterson (see Gus Van Zant movies) was hawking some junk and Ventura grabbed the mike, shouted "SHUT UP, PETERSON!" as he swept the swag off the table and started cutting his promo as Peterson hauled ass.

That was great.

[bmbmd]

107. I loved this guy.....

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/01/16/1396464.html

Ricky Romero passes away

By GREG OLIVER - Producer, SLAM! Wrestling




Ricky Romero

Ricky Romero, patriarch of the Youngblood wrestling clan, has died in Texas of complications from diabetes.

A star in his own right, Romero had a long, successful career, often centered out of Amarillo, Texas, where he was best friends with Dory Funk, Sr., who spawned his own wrestling kin in Dory Jr. and Terry Funk.

In his autobiography, Terry Funk wished that he could have wrestled against Romero more, whom he always respected. But they were both always babyfaces in Amarillo. "One I learned a lot from was Ricky Romero," Funk wrote. "I made a lot of trips with him, and he was as good a Mexican wrestler as there was in the United States in the 1960s."

Born in San Bernadino, Calif., in May 1931, Enrique Gregory Romero was a baseball player as a youth, but declined an offer by the Giants to enter into the minor leagues. Tall for a Mexican at 6-foot, he was recruited to be a wrestler by Professor Romero and Professor Diablo Velasco. After two years of training, he made his debut, and within a few weeks, had moved into main event slots...

[shugh514]

108. Andy Kaufman