CURTAIN DOWN ON 1963

 

December 30, 1963

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

63 Years Ago

Some of the roughest tag team action of the winter is expected in the two top bouts that head up 1963's final professional wrestling card tonight at PARK CENTER.

The big number has THE KENTUCKIANS, BIG BOY BROWN and TINY ANDERSON, tackling bullies ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH for one hour, two-of-three falls. Meddlesome manager "COLONEL" HOMER O'DELL will be in the BOGNI / LUBICH corner.

The semi-windup affair pits the rugged German brother duo of KURT and KARL VON BRAUNER against the equally rough combo of IKE EAKINS and TARZAN TYLER. This match is set for forty-five minutes, also the best-of-three falls. TYLER and EAKINS will have to keep an eye peeled for the German's manager, "GENTLEMAN" SAUL WEINGROFF, who will accompany his men to the ring.

Newcomer ALEX MEDINA tops the prelim bouts with a one fall match against GEORGE "TWO TON" HARRIS.

The 8:15 opener has a pair of fast-moving midgets going at it. CHICO SANTANA and MAURICE CEMARD are the participants.

BLACKJACK MULLIGAN AND PAUL JONES

 

CHILLIN' WITH RIP AND SWEDE

 Anyone who ever saw RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON wrestle knows that when the rugged duo was in the ring, it was all business. Just ask their opponents.

But even JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS' "BLONDE BOMBERS" needed some 'down time' away from the squared circle.

Time to relax, refocus and just have a good time.

Here's how RIP and SWEDE spent their time away from the arenas.

First, they work on their tans...

Then, it's off to the links...


"Swede, I wish you would hit Becker and Weaver as hard as you hit that last drive."

Time for a bit of refreshment...

Perhaps, 'politically incorrect' by today's standards, but it was all in fun.

THE ASSASSINS AND ANGELO MOSCA

 

AROUND CROCKETTLAND

 

RONNIE GARVIN takes time out to sign an autograph for a fan.

THE ROYAL KANGAROOS (LORD JONATHAN BOYD and NORMAN FREDERICK CHARLES III) rarely came out on the short end of a battle. Exception: A 'brass knuckles' war with JOHNNY WEAVER and ART NELSON.

'OUTLAW' RON BASS and JIM (J.J.) DILLON prepare to do battle.

Where's the referee?

MATTI SUZUKI is trying to choke the life out of SANDY SCOTT.

RICKY STEAMBOAT and RIC FLAIR join forces as a tag team.

FLAIR seems to like the idea.

Then fan favorite SWEDE HANSON 'helps' his arch enemy THE SUPER DESTROYER (DON JARDINE) back into the ring.

BOLO AND THE GREAT BOLO

 

A CLINIC IN BREAKING RULES

                                                                  March 29, 1969

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Anything is likely to happen tonight...

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, "The Blonde Bombers" of the pro wrestling world, tear loose against an equally rough duo of THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA wrestling feature, kicking off at 8:15.

"Colonel" HOMER O'DELL, the diabolical manager of MATSUDA and the MAULER, will be accompanying his men and could get mixed up in the BATTLE OF THE BULLIES main event, scheduled for the best two-out-of-three falls.

"Let O'DELL stick his nose in the ring while I'm wrestling," said HAWK. "I've got a piledriver waiting with his name on it!" HAWK's partner HANSON had no comment.

Popular GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT will be back tonight, fresh off a victory here last week. "Bulldog" LEE HENNING and "Big" JIM GRABMIRE are the foes facing "The Flying Scotts" tonight. Two falls will decide the winning team.

Single matches send young BOBBY PAUL against the rugged ROCK HUNTER, and RANDY CURTIS will test tough EL GAUCHO in the opening match.

RED HOT INFERNOS

 

JCP GAVE US THE BEST

 

RIP HAWK shows he could wrestle as well as break the rules.

JOHNNY WEAVER in control of his match.

Russian "bad guy" NIKITA MULKOVICH prepares for battle.

SKULL MURPHY having a bad day at the office.

A bloodied GREG VALENTINE and partner RIC FLAIR puttin' it to RUFUS R. JONES.

GENE ANDERSON and DUSTY RHODES trading blows.

The match over, RIC FLAIR hops into his Caddy and heads back to Charlotte.

ED CAPRAL interviews #1 PAUL JONES on TV's WIDE WORLD WRESTLING.

Referee SONNY FARGO tries to get GREG VALENTINE and RIC FLAIR off WAHOO McDANIEL.

SANDY SCOTT, RONNIE GARVIN, THUNDERBOLT PATTERSON