TRAVELING AROUND THE TERRITORY

 

PAUL JONES and NELSON ROYAL

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GREENVILLE, S.C. - 1971

NELSON ROYAL and PAUL JONES beat THE MASKED MARVELS.

JOE FURR and JIM DILLON lost to GENE ANDERSON and ART NELSON.

TOMMY SEIGLER topped BILL BOWMAN.

JOE TURNER and BUTCH JACKSON wrestled to a draw.

GORY GUERRERO

---

RICHMOND, VA. - 1966

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT defeated 'BIG' BOB ORTON and THE GREAT MALENKO.

ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH with HOMER O'DELL smothered GORY GUERRERO and OMAR ATLAS.

RUDY KAY pinned CORSICA JEAN.

DON CHUY polished off JACK DANIELS (haven't we all).

HANS SCHMIDT drew with ABE JACOBS.

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

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LYNCHBURG, VA. - 1969

NELSON ROYAL, PAUL JONES and ABE JACOBS defeated ALDO BOGNI, BRONCHO LUBICH and GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS in a six man contest.

THE AMAZING ZUMA and BILLY HINES went the time limit.

JIMMY HINES beat BOBBY KAY.

LES WOLFE topped PANCHO VALDEZ.

LES THATCHER

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1968

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

THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES defeated LES THATCHER and RUDY KAYE.

BOB NANDOR pinned TINY MILLS.

'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING topped ALEX MEDINA.

PAMPERO FIRPO

---

CHARLESTON, S.C. - 1968

GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER defeated LARS and GENE ANDERSON.

HAYSTACK CALHOUN and THE AMAZING ZUMA beat THE MISSOURI MAULER and PAMPERO FIRPO.

DENNIS HALL lost to 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING.

RUDY KAYE whipped JERRY LONDON.

LES THATCHER topped CHUCK CONLEY.

A LONG-TIME FEUD

       GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER ruled the tag team world in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS for most of the 1960s.

They faced every top 'heel' team that passed through the territory. The longest ongoing program was with RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON. The next longest would probably be with ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH, but right up there was the on-and-off again feud that BECKER and WEAVER had with THE ANDERSON BROTHERS.

It would start with the duo of LARS and GENE ANDERSON. Later, OLE was brought in, and while the younger 'brother' was being broken in, there were three ANDERSONs. LARS then left the MID-ATLANTIC area, and THE MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW was redefined as GENE and OLE ANDERSON.

GENE ANDERSON attempts to ram JOHNNY WEAVER'S head into the ring apron...or worse!

Judging from the blood on WEAVER's face, GENE was successful.


BECKER pummels a cornered LARS ANDERSON.


JOHNNY just can't seem to get away from GENE's fist.


GENE decides to work on BECKER for a while.

THE MEDICS

 

WEAVER / THESZ FOR WORLD TITLE

                                                                     JUNE 27, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

It's the opportunity of a wrestler's lifetime!

JOHNNY WEAVER, one of the most popular wrestlers in the Carolinas, will get a chance to capture the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight when he faces the champion LOU THESZ in the featured main event.

WEAVER is considered a top contender for the coveted championship due to his excellent record since arriving in the Carolinas about two years ago. THESZ is known as a champion who dodges no one.

"WEAVER is a very worthy opponent who can hold his own with anyone," said the World Champion. "I'll need to be at 100% to leave Lexington with the title, but I intend to do just that."

The title match is for the best-of-three falls with a one hour time limit.

Co-featuring the program will be a top tag team match between the bullish duo of BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY facing the great Osage Indian star CHIEF BIG HEART and his new partner RONNIE ETCHINSON. Also for two-out-of-three falls, this match has a 45 minute time limit.

AAU champion TIM WOODS will be challenged by rugged PAT O'BRIEN in one preliminary match.

The 8:15 opener sends young ALEX MEDINA against the crafty TINKER TODD.

 

 

LOOK OUT! THE KENTUCKIANS MEET THE BOLOS

                                                                          January 7, 1963

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

60 Years Ago

It started out as what could be called an ordinary rough and tough wrestling feud, but last week, it escalated into hatred of gigantic proportions.

That's the background for the best two-out-of-three falls match that headlines tonight's PARK CENTER wrestling card. The contest tonight gives THE KENTUCKIANS team of BIG BOY BROWN and TINY ANDERSON another shot at the villainous and hated masked team of THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO.

THE KENTUCKIANS succeeded in ripping off one BOLO mask during a recent TV bout seen on WBTV, but the other BOLO quickly stripped off his shirt and hid his partner's identity. Tonight, BROWN and ANDERSON say they'll rip off BOTH masks, boots, shirts and even tights, if necessary.

In the evening's other tag battle, THE FLYING SCOTTS, GEORGE and SANDY, will face the rugged duo of THE SICILIANS, LOU ALBANO and TONY ALTIMORE. This one is also set for the best-of-three falls.

DON WHITTLER takes on FELIX LAMBAN, and "TIGER" JACK VANSKY meets DOUG KINSLOW in singles action.

Bell time is 8:15...a huge crowd is expected.

A BLOODBATH IN GREENVILLE, SC

 Many MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING fans always loved to witness a BATTLE OF THE BULLIES match, in which two 'bad guy' teams faced each other instead of the usual 'babyface' versus 'heel' encounter.

I was one of those fans, and I was lucky enough to see quite a few.

One I didn't get to witness took place in 1972 in Greenville, South Carolina. And to make the match even better, it was wrestled under TEXAS DEATH MATCH rules, meaning falls didn't count towards deciding a victor. The two teams battled until one couldn't answer the bell for the next fall. No time limit and no disqualification stipulations were also in place.

On this night, the combatants were the teams of GENE ANDERSON and ART NELSON versus RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON.

Referee SAM 'LUCKY' ROBERTS was assigned to be the official. More likely than not, SAM was probably 'UNLUCKY' ROBERTS for this night.

RIP HAWK hammers away on GENE ANDERSON.

No participate left the ring unscathed that night in Greenville.

GENE GORDON witnessed the match and gave the following account..."I believe this TEXAS DEATH MATCH was the roughest, most vicious and bloody match I had seen in many years, and I go all the way back to the likes of COWBOY LUTTRELL, DANNY MCSHANE and STRANGLER BOB WAGNER. There was not a lot of wrestling. It was more like something out of the days of the Roman gladiators who battled to the death. No one paid any attention to any of the normal rules. The referee was knocked down several times and thrown to the floor once. He wanted to stop the match but couldn't under the stipulations. All four wrestlers looked like they had been run through a sausage grinder. They were so exhausted they could hardly leave the ring at the end. I saw one woman faint and a few others left in disgust, unable to stand the brutality and gore. I know I'll never forget it."

For the record, the match was won by HAWK and HANSON, although they certainly didn't look like winners at the end.

 

DEAL THOSE CARDS

                                                                THE YEAR WAS 1969

...it was a very good year...

GREENSBORO, N.C.

GENE KINISKI beat SAM STEAMBOAT to remain World Heavyweight Champion

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT topped GENE and OLE ANDERSON

THE MISSOURI MAULER & HIRO MATSUDA with MGR. HOMER O'DELL defeated ABE JACOBS & LES WOLFF

TONI ROSE bested BARBARA OWEN

MR. WRESTLING defeated "BULLDOG" LEE HENNING

EL LOBO over JESSE JAMES

GREENSBORO, N.C.

THE MISSOURI MAULER beat JOHNNY WEAVER to become Southern Heavyweight Champion

SIX MAN MATCH between GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT and GEORGE BECKER versus RIP HAWK, SWEDE HANSON and ROCK HUNTER ended in a Double DQ

SAM STEAMBOAT and HIRO MATSUDA  wrestled to a draw

MR. WRESTLING over EL GAUCHO

KOA TIKI beat JIMMY HINES

BILLY HINES topped GREG PETERSON

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

GEORGE BECKER, JOHNNY WEAVER and SAILOR ART THOMAS over HOMER O'DELL, THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA

SANDY and GEORGE SCOTT versus THE INFERNOS with MGR. J.C. DYKES ended in a Double DQ

MR. WRESTLING and GENE ANDERSON wrestled to a draw

OLE ANDERSON topped GREG PETERSON

SAM STEAMBOAT over RONNIE GARVIN

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT beat THE INFERNOS with MGR. J.C. DYKES

SAILOR ART THOMAS & ABE JACOBS  won over ALDO BOGNI & BRONCHO LUBUCH with MGR. GEORGE "TWO TON" HARRIS via DQ

NELSON ROYAL topped EL GAUCHO

PAUL JONES bested BOB GRIFFIN

LES WOLFF defeated PANCHO VALDEZ

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

DORY FUNK JR. retained the World's Heavyweight Championship by defeating RIP HAWK

BRUTE BERNARD & SKULL MURPHY beat SANDY and GEORGE SCOTT

NELSON ROYAL & PAUL JONES topped THE INFERNOS with MGR. J.C. DYKES via DQ

BOBO JOHNSON & COWBOY LANG over MIGHTY ATOM & LITTLE CRUSHER

SWEDE HANSON & ABE JACOBS wrestled to a draw


GREENSBORO, N.C.

GEORGE BECKER & JOHNNY WEAVER toppled BRUTE BERNARD & SKULL MURPHY

SAILOR ART THOMAS & MR. WRESTLING over OLE and GENE ANDERSON via DQ

PAUL JONES & NELSON ROYAL beat PEDRO GODOY & PHIL ROBLEY

TONI ROSE bested DONNA CHRISTIAN

MATTI SUZUKI won over PANCHO VALDEZ


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

GEORGE BECKER, JOHNNY WEAVER and MR. WRESTLING topped J.C. DYKES and THE INFERNOS

SAILOR ART THOMAS & LUTHER LINDSAY over "BULLDOG" LEE HENNING & PHIL ROBLEY

LORD LITTLEBROOK beat MIGHTY ATOM

TONI ROSE pinned BETTY BOUCHER

NELSON ROYAL defeated JOHNNY HEIDEMAN

BOBBY RED CLOUD bested TINKER TODD

MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING WARS

 

TERRY KAY feels the wrath of KURT VON STEIGER.

LES THATCHER applies a headlock on RIP HAWK. That's referee ANGELO MARTINELLI, with THATCHER's partner JOHNNY RINGO in the background.

Referee TOMMY YOUNG looks as PAUL JONES applies a hammerlock on RIC FLAIR at CHARLOTTE's PARK CENTER.

A rare sight---referee SAM 'LUCKY' ROBERTS raises the hands of EL GAUCHO and TINKER TODD in victory.

P.Y. CHUNG has GEORGE BECKER at his mercy.

INFERNOS manager J.C. DYKES asks a poor fellow to check his shoe size.

JOHNNY WEAVER and DORY FUNK JR. battle for the NWA WORLD title.

 

RIP AND SWEDE CHILL OUT

 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.

 

 

 

 

I MISS MY 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 thirty-five years, that the business today is, for the most part, controlled by one individual. That the workers of today don't have the established territories of years ago to improve their talents (yes, there are indy 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.

BROTHERS CLASH

                                                                    August 14, 1965

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE

'ROWDY' RED ROBERTS

SANDY and GEORGE SCOTT

STEVE BOLUS

JOHN and CHRIS TOLOS

Popular GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, better known in professional wrestling circles as THE FLYING SCOTTS, will face another top-rated team of brothers, JOHN and CHRIS TOLOS, nicknamed THE MICHIGAN WRECKING CREW, in tonight's main event of wrestling at the LEXINGTON YMCA starting at 8:15.

This two-out-of-three fall headliner tops a four match card that includes standout singles competition as well.

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE and PEDRO ZAPATA will oppose one another in the top prelim.

Young STEVE BOLUS goes up against tough guy FELIX LAMBAN.

Two Lexington newcomers will meet when the rugged 'ROWDY' RED ROBERTS faces the young Indian star SUNI WAR CLOUD.