LET THEM ENTERTAIN US...

...AND THEY DID!

Not necessarily during the same time frame, but nevertheless, they put bodies in the arena seats and always gave us fans plenty of excitement!

'THE BIG CAT' ERNIE LADD

(1938-2007)

One of the first athletes in pro football (AFL) to wrestle during the off season, starting in 1961. 

WILLIAM DEE (HAYSTACK or HAYSTACKS) CALHOUN

(1934-1989)

He worked for probably every major wrestling organization in the world and was a chief pioneer for the sport’s super-heavyweight attractions.

'THE HOT ROD' ROWDY RODDY PIPER

(RODERICK GEORGE TOOMBS)
(1954-2015)

Began wrestling as a pro at age 16 in 1970, highly successful on the West Coast, arriving in JCP in 1980. A top worker in every territory he performed and was inducted into the WWE HALL OF FAME in 2005 by his friend RIC FLAIR.

ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER

(LAWRENCE ROBERT SHREVE)

Known as one of the most brutal pro wrestlers of all-time. Not really from the Sudan area, but rather Canada. Many of his top matches were literal 'bloodbaths' by both himself and his opponent.

'COWBOY' BOB ORTON JR.

(ROBERT KEITH ORTON JR.)

Son of the 'BIG O' BOB ORTON, brother of wrestler BARRY ORTON (BARRY O) and father of current WWE superstar RANDY ORTON. Began wrestling in 1972. Best remembered in the MID-ATLANTIC territory as being one of the wrestlers (DICK SLATER the other) who collected a $25,000 bounty by then NWA World Champion HARLEY RACE to end the career of RIC FLAIR. This led to STARCADE '83's title match in which FLAIR defeated RACE.