NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPS

September 22, 1962

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

56 Years Ago

There are new SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS in the pro wrestling world, and the title holders will defend their newly-coveted belts in tonight's main event at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

DON CURTIS and JOE SCARPA, who recently annexed the championship from the German duo of KURT and KARL VON BRAUNER, make their local debuts tonight when they defend their titles against the rugged bully team of SWEDE HANSON and P.Y. CHUNG in a best-of-three falls contest.

HANSON and CHUNG would like to make the new champs' title reign a short one by dethroning them tonight. The challengers are tough enough to do so.

Popular young star JOHNNY WEAVER, who has created quite the sensation since arriving on the local wrestling scene several months ago, will meet SID JONES in what looks to be a scientific semi-final two-out-of-three falls match.

The 8:15 opener sends 'Roughhouse' SONNY FARGO against the equally rugged, but larger, GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS.

JOE SCARPA later wrestled as CHIEF JAY STRONGBOW.

BECKER MEETS A MAMMOTH

January 7, 1961

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Wrestling fans, who have been waiting out a two week holiday period of action at the LEXINGTON YMCA, will be treated to a big four bout card tonight starting at 8:15.

The sensational brother team from Peru, LEE and JOE GARCIA, will meet the unusual combination of the Oriental P.Y. CHUNG and Spain's JAN MADRID in the evening's two-out-of-three falls main event. CHUNG is making his Lexington debut tonight.

In a special attraction, HAPPY HUMPHREY, a 750 lb. behemoth from Georgia, makes his debut here and will face the ever-popular GEORGE BECKER.

In the prelims, WALDO VON ERICH battles JIM QUEEN, and BILLY COX squares off against MARK STONE in the opening match.

GEORGE BECKER

WALDO VON ERICH

LEXINGTON, N.C. YMCA

CLASH OF THE TITANS

In 1981 and 2010, movie goers could visit their local theatres to see an adventure / fantasy production entitled CLASH OF THE TITANS.

However, some years earlier, fans of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS could witness

their own CLASH when two of the longest-running and most vicious heel tag teams went at it.

It was RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON (The Blonde Bombers) versus GENE and OLE ANDERSON (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew).

Here's a 1972 card featuring the BATTLE OF THE BULLIES match as held in RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

OLE ANDERSON and RIP HAWK throw the rule book out the window.

OLE has the upper hand on RIP.

RIP appears to be on the attack as Manager 'Playboy' GARY HART looks on.

Hey, get down off that ring apron, Gary.

HAWK in trouble again.

Generally, when wrestling another heel team, the crowds pulled for RIP and SWEDE. I remember that to be the case when they wrestled ALDO BOGNI and BRONCO LUBICH, BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY and THE INFERNOS.

The only time I ever saw GENE and OLE getting the cheers was when they tangled with RIC FLAIR and GREG VALENTINE.

TEXANS versus BOMBERS

July 20, 1968

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON

PAUL JONES and NELSON ROYAL

BRONCHO LUBICH, MGR. GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS, ALDO BOGNI

PAUL DEMARCO

JESSE JAMES

---

A rematch of a thriller of several weeks ago features wrestling tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA with the 'BLONDE BOMBERS', RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, meeting the popular Texas duo of NELSON ROYAL and PAUL JONES.

The last time the two teams met, each had a fall when the one hour time limit ran out, and a draw was declared. Neither team being satisfied with letting it go at that, both combos have asked for a rematch. Requests granted. Both teams predict a victory in tonight's best two-out-of-three falls battle.

In another two-of-three-falls match, the hero unit of young PAUL DEMARCO and BOBBY NICHOLS will challenge the rugged duo of ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH, who will be joined by their pesky manager GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS.

In supporting singles matches, JACK RICO meets the wily PANCHO VALDEZ, and JESSE JAMES takes on FRANK HICKEY in the 8:15 opener.

After tonight's card, professional wrestling at the LEXINGTON YMCA will be discontinued for a temporary basis until late September. The reason is the extreme hot weather that has made the YMCA gymnasium uncomfortable for large crowds. Wrestling fans are reminded that this move is only a temporary one until cooler weather arrives.

FOUR TOP TEAMS ON DISPLAY

July 8, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

 52 Years Ago

Professional wrestling returns to the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight following a one-week layoff, and two gigantic tag team matches headline the program, starting at 8:15 p.m.

The big guys of the sport, TINY ANDERSON and BIG BOY BROWN, known as THE KENTUCKIANS, square off against the crafty and sneaky Oriental duo of HARU SASAKI and P.Y. CHUNG in tonight's top match.

THE KENTUCKIANS have a massive size advantage, but their opponents from the Far East are experts in ju-jitsu and karate, in addition to having many tricks up their sleeves, so anything could happen.

The other tag team affair will pit the crowd-pleasing combo of NELSON ROYAL and THE AMAZING ZUMA against the masked terror team of THE INFERNOS, who will have their manager J.C. DYKES in their corner.

All four wrestlers are gifted with great speed and ring smarts, but DYKES, who some fans believe bears a resemblance to Woody Woodpecker, could get involved and make a difference.

Both tag bouts are set for the best-of-three-falls.

LUTHER LINDSAY returns after an absence and will test tough TONY ROMANO in one of the night's singles matches.

The card opener sends popular GREG PETERSON against veteran PEDRO GODOY.

SENSATIONAL SIXTIES SKULLDUGGERY

THE MISSOURI MAULER

(LARRY HAMILTON)

---

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - 1969

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON bested THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA.

SAILOR ART THOMAS and ABE JACOBS won over TERRY and RONNIE GARVIN.

RICK HUNTER defeated MIKE SHANE.

LES WOLFE topped TONY NERO.

THE MUMMY

(BENJI RAMIREZ)

---

BURLINGTON, N.C. - 1967

TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL lost to RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT won from ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH with HOMER O'DELL via DQ.

THE MUMMY defeated RONNIE HILL.

MIKE PAIDOUSIS topped ANGELO MARTINELLI.

SKULL MURPHY

---

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - 1966

BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY lost to ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH with HOMER O'DELL.

NELSON ROYAL and SUNI WAR CLOUD topped GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS and 'ROWDY' RED ROBERTS.

RAY DURAN and MIKE PAIDOUSIS wrestled to a draw.

STEVE BOLUS topped TONY NERO.

KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM

---

RALEIGH, N.C. - 1967

GEORGE BECKER, JOHNNY WEAVER and HAYSTACK CALHOUN defeated BRONCHO LUBICH, ALDO BOGNI and HOMER O'DELL in six man action.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT bested KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM.

HARU SASAKI pinned PAUL DEMARCO.

PEGGY ALLEN topped TAMMY JONES.

JESSE JAMES versus JIMMY HINES

---

CHARLESTON, W.V. - 1969

BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI with GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS stopped SAM STEAMBOAT and MR. WRESTLING.

JESSE JAMES and GREG PETERSON lost to JIMMY and BILLY HINES.

PANCHO VALDEZ and BILLY SPEARS wrestled to a draw.

JIM GRABMIRE toppled DAVE COX.

ABE JACOBS

---

RALEIGH, N.C. - 1966

HAYSTACK CALHOUN, GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER bested ALDO BOGNI, BRONCHO LUBICH and HOMER O'DELL in six man action.

ABE JACOBS defeated 'BIG' BOB ORTON.

OMAR ATLAS and MIKE PAIDOUSIS were both disqualified.

JOHNNY HEIDEMAN lost to JESSE JAMES.

SONNY FARGO wrestled PEDRO ZAPATA to a draw.

Co-MAIN EVENTS TOP CARD

August 21, 1961

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

The long-simmering feud between CHIEF BIG HEART and the dastardly duo of P.Y. CHUNG and SWEDE HANSON comes to a boil in the headline bout on tonight's PARK CENTER pro wrestling card, presented by JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS.

CHIEF BIG HEART has picked up the very capable RAY VILLMER as his partner to battle CHUNG and HANSON in two-out-of-three falls tag team warfare. It's set for a one hour time limit.

The co-main event promises to be equally as exciting as the fan favorite combo of GEORGE BECKER and ABE JACOBS take on THE MASKED MEDICS in a 45-minute, best-of-three-falls encounter.

THE MEDICS have been going through opposition with great regularity as of late, and BECKER and JACOBS will be out to put a stop to it.

Two singles bouts will complete the card.

One squares off PAT O'BRIEN against LEE GARCIA, and the 8:15 opener has GENE MURPHY, a newcomer, battling TITO CARREON.

LONG TIME RIVALS CLASH

May 7, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

A LUMBERJACK MATCH arrangement should keep blonde ruffians RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON in the ring tonight when they are rematched against their long-time nemesis team of GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER in the main event match of the LEXINGTON YMCA wrestling card.

Eight husky grapplers slated for action in the evening's supporting bouts will be stationed around the ring to keep the contestants contained and to avert a runout of the type employed by HAWK and HANSON last Saturday night.

Another tag team contest is on tap when the terrific Texans, TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL return to meet the German rulebreakers KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM.

Both tag matches are set for the best two-of-three falls.

Big IKE EAKINS squares off against ROGER KIRBY in singles competition.

In the 8:15 opening match, Mexican GORY GUERRERO faces 'ROWDY RED ROBERTS'.

GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON

HENRY VON STROHEIM and TEX McKENZIE

NELSON ROYAL

HENRY and KURT VON STROHEIM

'ROWDY' RED ROBERTS

MAULER / MALENKO ROBBED

July 23, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

THE MISSOURI MAULER and THE GREAT MALENKO are crying about losing last Saturday night and will be rematched against JOHNNY WEAVER and ABE JACOBS in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA featured wrestling main event.

JOHNNY and ABE were awarded a victory on a reversed decision after wild action last week. MALENKO and the MAULER claimed they were robbed, and WEAVER and JACOBS, wanting to prove the win was no fluke, agreed to the best-of-three falls rematch, which should really get exciting.

WEAVER and the MAULER have been battling for the SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP as of late in singles competition. The MAULER remains the official champion, although JOHNNY has physical possession of the title belt. The champion wants his belt back.

Another tag battle this week pits the power-packed hero combo of GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE and LUTHER LINDSAY against the very tough Minnesota duo of brothers LARS and GENE ANDERSON. This one is set for the best two-out-of-three falls within a forty-five minute time limit.

Two singles matches featuring top stars will open the card at 8:15.

LUTHER LINDSAY

THE GREAT MALENKO

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE

LARS and GENE ANDERSON

THE MISSOURI MAULER

ABE JACOBS

JOHNNY WEAVER

CROCKETT GAVE US THE BEST

Wrestling fans who had the opportunity to see JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS and MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING were treated, year after year, to the very best in the business...

GENE ANDERSON opens up GREG VALENTINE.

A bloodied DUSTY RHODES battles back against THE ASSASSIN.

HARLEY RACE at a disadvantage at the hands of WAHOO McDANIEL.

PAUL JONES about to drop his former partner, RICKY STEAMBOAT, on his noggin'.

THE FABULOUS MOOLAH takes a short cut by choking PENNY BANNER.

WAHOO McDANIEL clamps a vice-like rear chin lock on GREG 'THE HAMMER' VALENTINE.

HOT RING ACTION EVERY NIGHT

RIC FLAIR and HARLEY RACE battle for the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

A TRIPLE THREAT...

RIP HAWK, "PLAYBOY" GARY HART, SWEDE HANSON

An INDIAN STRAP MATCH featuring RIC FLAIR and WAHOO McDANIEL

A familiar sight for wrestling fans...

DUSTY RHODES out cold.

JERRY BRISCO relaxes...

A battle of masked men...

THE ASSASSIN versus MR. WRESTLING 2

Referee ANGELO MARTINELLI raises the hand of LES THATCHER.

QUEEN CITY ACTION

I wish I had kept an accounting of how many times I made the trip from Statesville, N.C. or Salisbury, N.C. to Charlotte to see MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.

The trip from Statesville to Charlotte was during 1960's non-Interstate highway days, meaning slow-downs in the then-hamlets of Troutman and Mooresville, then entering the 'Queen City' through one of its least desirable areas.

But this was for wrestling, so why would personal safety be an issue?

Once in the city, it was on to PARK CENTER or, on occasion, to the original COLISEUM, known as 'The Big Dome'.

No specific memories that I may have witnessed any of the CHARLOTTE cards below, but somebody had a good time at them.

BILLY TWO RIVERS *

---

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1966

GEORGE BECKER, TEX McKENZIE and BILLY TWO RIVERS toppled ALDO BOGNI, BRONCHO LUBICH and HOMER O'DELL in six man competition.

'BIG' BOB ORTON retained the SOUTHERN STATES CHAMPIONSHIP when JOHNNY WEAVER was disqualified.

PAT O'CONNOR bested IKE EAKINS.

STEVE BOLUS and JESSE JAMES lost to JOHN and CHRIS TOLOS.

NELSON ROYAL got past THE GREAT MALENKO via DQ.

BRONCHO LUBICH

---

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1966

BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI with HOMER O'DELL lost to RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON.

BOB BOYER pinned JOHN GUDISKI.

SLAVE GIRL MOOLAH squashed PRINCESS WHITE DOVE.

SUNI WAR CLOUD topped TONY NERO.

LARS ANDERSON

---

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1967

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT topped GENE and LARS ANDERSON.

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON smashed JESSE JAMES and DON KENT.

BOBBY SHANE pinned EL GAUCHO.

JOHN HIGGINS lost to GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS.

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE **

---

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1965

ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH with HOMER O'DELL won the SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP from EDDIE GRAHAM and SAM STEAMBOAT.

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE topped SWEDE HANSON.

RON REED *** pinned THE VIKING.

DALE LEWIS defeated TONY NERO.

CHRIS AVEROFF bested SONNY FARGO.

JOHN and CHRIS TOLOS

---

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1966

BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI with HOMER O'DELL versus RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON ended in a no contest.

TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL defeated JOHN and CHRIS TOLOS.

BOB BOYER beat IKE EAKINS.

TONY NERO lost to JESSE JAMES.

* A while back, I watched the 2004 movie TAKING LIVES starring Angelina Jolie. BILLY TWO RIVERS has a speaking role in the film within the first ten minutes.

** GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE died at the young age of 39 of a heart attack. He appeared in an episode of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN in 1951 entitled NO HOLDS BARRED.

*** RON REED later became a wrestling superstar under the name BUDDY COLT