SEE YOU AT RINGSIDE

                                                                  November 25, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

55 Years Ago

The wild man from the Pampas, PAMPERO FIRPO, and his rugged tag team partner, THE MISSOURI MAULER, will be out to halt the winning streak of the popular Indian duo of BOBBY RED CLOUD and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE in tonight's wrestling main event at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

The Indians have been on the warpath lately with victories over highly-touted teams and have built up a loyal following. Their opponents tonight are extremely rough and powerful, and the best-of-three falls contest should be loaded with action.

"Back to the reservation to make moccasins," THE MISSOURI MAULER predicts. "When Mr. FIRPO and I are finished with them, their squaws will have to nurse them both back to health."

Another two-out-of-three falls tag encounter pits two new combinations against one another. Popular LES THATCHER joins RUDY KAYE to face "BULLDOG" LEE HENNING and the mysterious masked wrestler THE MUMMY.

TINY MILLS, a big operator, meets popular Negro star LUTHER LINDSAY, and young ALEX MEDINA takes on newcomer CHUCK STANLEY in the singles matches of the evening.

Bell time is 8:15.

 

GERMANS BATTLE NATIVE AMERICANS

                                                                   January 22, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

VON STROHEIM

SUNI WAR CLOUD

(looks a bit like Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, doesn't he?)

'The Big O' BOB ORTON SR.

BILLY TWO RIVERS

BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY

A rough and rugged pair of German brothers will make their LEXINGTON YMCA debut tonight in the main event of professional wrestling action.

The big bruisers, KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM, who tip the scales at a combined 510 pounds, will face a very popular duo of Indian mat stars in the guise of BILLY TWO RIVERS and SUNI WAR CLOUD.

The current SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, 'The Big O' BOB ORTON will face newcomer KARL GOTCH in a non-title match. A GOTCH victory would propel him to the top of the list of contenders for the title.

More tag team action is slated as fan favorites STEVE BOLUS and OMAR ATLAS will collide with the Irish / Canadian skinhead bully team of BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY, who are returning to the area after a long absence.

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

Another singles match will open the card at 8:15.

THE ALASKANS

JAY YORK and FRANK MONTE

 

SKINHEADS AND A HAYSTACK

                                                                       June 13, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

59 Years Ago

Wrestling fans will be treated to plenty of tag team action tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA as matches include both heavyweight and midget stars.

Topping the card tonight is HAYSTACK CALHOUN, the world's biggest wrestler, and his speedy young partner JOHNNY WEAVER.

They will be matched against the brutal team of SKULL MURPHY and BRUTE BERNARD in a best-of-three falls rematch between the two duos.

These four fought it out last Saturday night in a thriller won by CALHOUN and WEAVER. The skin-headed combo of BERNARD and MURPHY, not satisfied with how they lost, asked for another shot. (Actually, MURPHY did the asking as the BRUTE doesn't do much talking.)

Midgets and heavyweights combine on teams in the semi-final. Heavyweight ALEX MEDINA will work with little FRENCHIE SEMARD, and they will oppose little guy CHICO SANTANA and his heavyweight partner PAT O'BRIEN.

Singles action sends TIM WOODS against JOE TOMASSA, with CHRIS AVEROFF tangling with SONNY FARGO in the 8:15 opener.

THE MASKED MARVELS

 

THOSE BLAZING INFERNOS

 

THE INFERNOS and J.C. DYKES ready to work...

(Under the hoods are ROCKY SMITH and his brother CURTIS. ROCKY was an original INFERNO. CURTIS replaced original INFERNO FRANKIE CAIN.)

DENNIS HALL in command of his INFERNO encounter...for the time being. That's referee Sam 'Lucky' Roberts in the background.

Popular NELSON ROYAL attempts to remove the INFERNO's mask...

J.C. shouts instructions to his men, who seem to be in a bad situation.

One of the 'managerial' skills of J.C. DYKES.

ROCKY SMITH, J.C. DYKES, FRANKIE CAIN

NELSON ROYAL in a pinch.

DON CURTIS about to catch fire.

Right in the kisser.

J.C. DYKES, FRANKIE CAIN, LES THATCHER

Looks like a rough day at the office.

Incredible GENE GORDON photo of J.C. DYKES, GEORGE HARBEN and THE INFERNOS at Charlotte's Park Center.

(from the CARROLL HALL collection)

 

RIP AND SWEDE ON THE REBOUND

                                                                    February 6, 1965

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

The "BLONDE BOMBERS" of professional wrestling return to the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight after a disappointing experience here last week.

RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, who boast of an incredible win record, came up short last Saturday at the hands of THE FLYING SCOTTS.

They will attempt to reverse their bad fortunes tonight when they tangle with another top team in that of NICK KOZAK and "IRISH" MIKE CLANCY.

"Last week's loss was a fluke, and I promise it won't happen again," shouted RIP HAWK, as partner HANSON nodded. SWEDE doesn't say much.

Another top tag battle is signed when fan favorites RUDY KAYE and ANGELO MARTINELLI take on the rulebreaking duo of "SIR" NELSON ROYAL and THE VIKING, who have been on a hot streak as of late.

Both tag team matches are set for the best-of-three falls with one hour time limits.

Singles action opens the card at 8:15 when LORENZO PARENTE faces THE BEAST.

 

BACK TO THE BALL PARK

 

DAVID CROCKETT tries his hand at pitching.

'Hands of Stone' RONNIE GARVIN anchors right field.

'Rock 'n' Roll'er RICKY MORTON at shortstop.

'Gorgeous' JIMMY GARVIN pitches as well.

A bit of offense from 'Rock 'n' Roll'er ROBERT GIBSON

On a summer afternoon in 1987, in Charlotte, North Carolina, CROCKETT PARK was the scene of one of the most fascinating sports competitions in the Tarheel state's history.

It wasn't Duke playing North Carolina, it wasn't the LA Dodgers against the SF Giants, not even the Boston Red Sox against the NY Yankees.

On this day, before the advent of the CHARLOTTE HORNETS, the CAROLINA PANTHERS or the CHARLOTTE BOBCATS, the professional wrestlers of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS took on a team of employees of the Queen City's WSOC RADIO station for a softball charity fund raiser.

Oh yes, if you're interested, the boys of JCP won the game 4 - 0.

THE "MAN"

 

MID-ATLANTIC RING ACTION

 

JAKE (pre-'The Snake') ROBERTS clamps a headlock on THE GRAPPLER (LEN DENTON).

JOHNNY WEAVER holds the leg of THE MISSOURI MAULER (LARRY HAMILTON) as GEORGE BECKER lays one in. Referee ANGELO MARTINELLI observes.

High-flying DINO BRAVO coming in for a landing.

(This is gonna hurt.)

'The Russian Bear' IVAN KOLOFF snears at his victorious opponent.

The rugged ART NELSON puts the boots to the back of TOMMY SIEGLER.

 

RED CLOUD / LITTLE EAGLE WINNING STREAK

                                                                 JANUARY 13, 1968

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

55 Years Ago

Winning tag teams on last week's card will go against each other on tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA professional wrestling card.

This means that the Indian team of BOBBY RED CLOUD and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE, victorious over P.Y. CHUNG and THE MUMMY last Saturday, will be facing LARS and GENE ANDERSON, who defeated HAYSTACK CALHOUN and THE AMAZING ZUMA in their encounter.

Another tag team contest is scheduled with ABE JACOBS and LUTHER LINDSAY meeting the Spanish / Mexican duo of PANCHO VALDEZ and THE MATADOR.

Both tag contests are for the best two-out-of-three falls.

Popular BOB NANDOR, the Hungarian freedom fighter, meets "BULLDOG" LEE HENNING, and young ALEX MEDINA squares off against CHUCK CONLEY in the supporting events.

The first bell rings at 8:15.

 

NEW CHAMPS RISK TITLE

                                                                 September 22, 1962

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

61 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.

COWBOYS MEET DEMONS

                                                                 September 10, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

57 Years Ago

TONI ROSE

THE MASKED RED DEMONS

with MGR. GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS

TEX McKENZIE

KLONDIKE BILL

NELSON ROYAL

ABE JACOBS

A lumberjack match has been scheduled to see if two top wrestling teams, TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL on one side, and THE MASKED RED DEMONS on the other, can settle their differences.

Six other big wrestlers will spot themselves around the ring to prevent any run outs of a type taken by the RED DEMONS two weeks ago. With one of the masked men dangerously close to having his identity exposed, the DEMONS bolted to the safety of their dressing room, and the Texans won that match on a count out.

The lumberjack match is set for the best two-out-of-three falls within a one hour time limit.

Huge KLONDIKE BILL, with lumberjack experience, will pair up with the fast New Zealand native ABE JACOBS to meet two big men, GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS and 'BIG BOY' BLONDELL in the other best-of-three falls tag match of the evening.

A special event will send girl grapplers TONI ROSE and DIXIE JORDAN against one another in what should be a crowd pleaser. These two ladies have a history.

Newcomer DON KENT, who debuted here last week, meets the veteran CORSICA JEAN in a singles match, which kicks off the card at 8:15.

 KLONDIKE BILL double teamed by THE MASKED MEDICS

WERE YOU THERE?

 

CHARLESTON, W.V. - 1969

GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER topped THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA

HAYSTACK MULDOON beat NIKITA MULKOVICH

SAILOR ART THOMAS and THE AMAZING ZUMA bested EL GAUCHO and PEDRO GODOY

BOB RAMSTEAD lost to 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1971

THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES whipped RONNIE and TERRY GARVIN

JACK BRISCO and SANDY SCOTT topped NIKITA MULKOVICH and JOHNNY HEIDEMAN

ROCK HUNTER bested ALEX MEDINA

JERRY BRISCO beat JOE SOTO

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1969

HAYSTACK CALHOUN, SAM STEAMBOAT and THE AMAZING ZUMA beat BRONCHO LUBICH, ALDO BOGNI and GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS in six man action.

GREG PETERSON beat LEON BAXTER

LES WOLFF topped EL GAUCHO

SILENTO RODRIGUEZ bested BILLY SPEARS

NORFOLK, VA. - 1968

LARS and GENE ANDERSON won over GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER via disqualification

TONI ROSE defeated DONNA CHRISTENELLO

PAMPERO FIRPO and THE MISSOURI MAULER stopped RUDY KAYE and LES THATCHER

BOB NANDOR topped GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS

THE AMAZING ZUMA over JERRY LONDON

LEXINGTON, N.C. - 1967

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT topped HARU SASAKI and P.Y. CHUNG

LARS and GENE ANDERSON beat CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE and JERRY LONDON

PEDRO GODOY over SONNY FARGO

ROGER KIRBY and THE MUMMY wrestled to a draw.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - 1969

GENE and OLE ANDERSON defeated GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER

PENNY BANNER beat BELLE STARR

THE MASKED RED DEMONS lost to SAM STEAMBOAT and BOBBY NICHOLS via DQ

BOB RAMSTEAD wrestled 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING to a draw