IVAN KOLOFF

 

CAROLINA CAT FIGHT

 

BELLE STARR makes her point to the hot crowd.

BARBARA and BELLE go at it while referee ANGELO MARTINELLI looks on.

BELLE got a kick out of this.

While just about every section of the country and every town in that section claims that they have the most rabid wrestling fans, few will argue the claim that the loudest and wildest of them all come from the Carolinas. What makes these fans so? Well, those wild and woolly matches that they are presented with week after week could be the reason.

A recent match between 'Blonde Venus' BARBARA NICHOLS and the saucy brunette, BELLE STARR, was an occasion for rejoicing as these two gals just plain don't like each other, and when they climbed through the ropes to do battle, the sparks really flew.

As actions and pictures speak louder than words - we will let the photos tell the story.

From a 1969 WRESTLING REVUE article by Gene Gordon.

JAY YOUNGBLOOD AND JAKE ROBERTS

 

from Scott Teal

 

I MISS MY CROCKETT WRESTLING

                                                     I know that nothing can last forever.

While we have certain things, we tend to take them for granted. These things can range from cars, houses, school to family members, friends, etc.

After they are gone, we must rely on our memories, talking with others, and in some cases, recorded images of the things we hold close to our hearts.

Throughout the years, I have taken a good bit of criticism from some folks for being a fan of professional wrestling.

"Why do you like that stuff?"

I have been asked that question more than once.

My blow-off answer is usually something like, "I guess the same reason you love NASCAR or the NFL or college basketball. Most of us all have the same emotions. We choose to direct them at different things."

And since I was eight years old, wrestling has been a part of my life, and I have never regretted it.

I do regret what has happened to the wrestling business over the last forty+ years, that the business today is, for the most part, controlled by one or two individuals. That the workers of today don't have the established territories of years ago to improve their talents (yes, there are indie promotions out there, but it isn't the same as going from JIM CROCKETT to EDDIE GRAHAM to DORY FUNK SR.)

And for everyone who is affected negatively by the business as it exists today, I am saddened.

But, nothing can last forever.

Below are photos of some of the folks who were fortunate enough to work in the 'heyday' of the business.

LES THATCHER battles BULL RAMOS at CHARLOTTE'S PARK CENTER.

This match was in 1968. (The referee is ANGELO MARTINELLI.)

ABE JACOBS has the upper hand on THE GREAT BOLO.

(At least, for the time being.)

TEX McKENZIE battles GENE KINISKI for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

(I witnessed one such encounter of these two at the original CHARLOTTE COLISEUM. KINISKI took two falls of three to remain champ.)

PENNY BANNER and THE FABULOUS MOOLAH battle it out.

(In my opinion, the top two women wrestlers of their era.)

'Young Lion' PAUL DEMARCO slams BRONCHO LUBICH

(Referee SAM 'Lucky' ROBERTS observes.)

NELSON ROYAL gets tangled up in his work, with RIP HAWK's help, at CHARLOTTE's PARK CENTER.

TONI ROSE is whipped into the corner by JUDY GRABLE.

Man, I wish I had a time machine.

THE ROAD WARRIORS

 

SALUTING CROCKETT STARS

 One would have to go back sixty-five or more years to remember all of these superstars who     appeared in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS...Reluctantly, I admit I am one who qualifies...

RAMON and ENRIQUE TORRES

TONY GAREA

JOHNNY VALENTINE

SKULL MURPHY

THUNDERBOLT PATTERSON

TEX McKENZIE

BLACK BART

 

TWO LOAVES OF BREAD - FOUR HEELS

                                                                 December 9, 1968

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Promoter JIM CROCKETT has announced the complete wrestling card set for tonight at PARK CENTER starting at 8:15.

The headliner finds two of the nation's toughest tag teams opposing one another. GENE and OLE ANDERSON, known as the "MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW", will go hammer and tong with the brutal combination of THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA. As usual, HOMER O'DELL will second the MAULER and his Japanese partner. It's set for two-out-of-three falls.

Since the ANDERSON and O'DELL teams have both been steady winners at tag team efforts, the outcome will be interesting for the fans. It will also provide a key to future main event shots for the winning combination.

Towering ART THOMAS, the wrestling sailor from Arkansas, and THE AMAZING ZUMA will test the talents of the brother duo TERRY and RONNIE GARVIN. This one is also for the best-of-three falls.

JESSE JAMES grapples with LEON BAXTER in one of the prelims.

The opener offers SILENTO RODRIGUEZ, the Mexican swifty, against EL GAUCHO in a "south of the border" contest.

RODDY PIPER