KENTUCKIAN BIG BOY BROWN GOES FOR THE MASK OF THE GREAT BOLO
A fond look back at the great days of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS professional wrestling.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
SEE YOU AT RINGSIDE
November 25, 1967
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
58 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.
Monday, July 28, 2025
Sunday, July 27, 2025
COWBOYS BATTLE DEMONS
September 10, 1966
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
59 Years Ago
59 Years Ago
with MGR. GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS
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.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Monday, July 21, 2025
THE 1966 STATESVILLE NC SUMMER OF WRESTLING
September 2, 1966
STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA



The third and final JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS wrestling show of the summer, again sponsored by the COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB, came to town Labor Day weekend.
And what a treat for the locals...a true legend in all sports...LOU THESZ, multiple-time WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
On this night, THESZ, then fifty years of age, showed those of us in attendance, that he could still go at full throttle.
And he and partner ABE "Kiwi Roll" JACOBS would have their hands full, as their opponents this night were two devious ruffians in THE MISSOURI MAULER and THE GREAT MALENKO, one of the top heel teams at the time.
Not surprisingly, the two combos split the first and second falls. Jacobs took the loss for his team--no way Thesz is going to lose a fall clean. At the climax of the third fall, just as Thesz took the "hot tag" and was cleaning up the ring with the "M & M" boys, Malenko pulled the referee in front of him, and Thesz drop kicked the referee, causing an immediate disqualification.
MAULER and MALENKO made a fast exit through their dugout to their dressing room, and I assume, spun out of the Statesville Senior High School parking lot heading back for Charlotte on that pre-Interstate 77 highway night.
Earlier in the evening, KLONDIKE BILL, getting a major push by JCP, took the toll of GEORGE "TWO TON" HARRIS in what was billed as a BATTLE OF THE MAT GIANTS by big-splashing "Bunk" before "Bunk" could big splash him. Oh well, "do unto others..."
Veteran IKE EAKINS crushed KEN HOLLIS and a young BOBBY SHANE (just getting started in the wrestling business) pinned a much-larger "BIG BOY" BLONDELL.
Another great crowd...another great night...another great summer of wrestling in my home town.
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
LOVE THOSE INFERNOS
ROCKY SMITH (left) and FRANKIE CAIN (right)

Friday, July 18, 2025
Thursday, July 17, 2025
RIP AND SWEDE FACE THEIR DEMONS
October 1, 1966
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
with GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS
A BATTLE OF THE BULLIES features professional wrestling tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA with super roughnecks RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON going against the rowdy duo of THE MASKED RED DEMONS.
Both teams are known for their rough natures and lack of respect for the rules, and meeting each other tonight should pack quite a wallop. Fans who like it rough and tough should really get into this two-out-of-three falls battle.
Girl wrestlers will meet in a special one-fall event with the area's foremost female grappler, PENNY BANNER, meeting newcomer TAMMY JONES. Scouting reports on Miss JONES suggest she sometimes acts very unlady-like.
Popular and speedy BOBBY SHANE goes against the heavyweight veteran GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS, and sometimes SHANE partner, PAUL DEMARCO, meets a tough one in the likes of 'BIG BOY' BLONDELL in supporting matches.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
THE GREAT BOLO SEES RED
August 26, 1958
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
The NO TIME LIMIT bout will give RED BASTIEN a second shot at THE GREAT BOLO, and if BASTIEN can capture two falls-out-of-three, off will come BOLO's mask.
Last Monday night, the pair battled to a one-hour draw without a single fall being recorded during the sixty-minute time limit.
"There must be a decision this week," says promoter JIM CROCKETT. "I don't care if they have to wrestle three hours---this match is going to settle something."
The semi-final scrap is a tag team contest that pairs GEORGE BECKER and CYCLONE ANAYA against the rugged German brother duo of FRITZ and WALDO VON ERIC. The Germans were disqualified in a bout last week with BILLY TWO RIVERS and his partner and quickly showed they are among the roughest duos in the wrestling business today. This match is set for the best two-out-of-three falls.
Two single bouts complete the card.
One has ERNIE DUSEK taking on NICK ROBERTS, and the 8:15 opener sends footballer MIKE PAIDOUSIS against TINKER TODD.
Monday, July 14, 2025
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