Wrestling legend Verne Gagne investigated in death of man, 97

pioneer press ^ | 2-19-09 | staff

[OneVike]

And your Social Studies teacher was a Mark for liberalism. But you knew that. Unlike wrestling fans, liberals suspend disbelief for nearly all aspects of their lives.

LOL, you are sop right.

As for the story about the keg I never heard it, but I wish I had. You are right. Priceless!

I never had the pleasure of seeing Fred Blassie wrestle, but I used to buy the wrestling magazines and read about him.

Another great I wished I had the pleasure of seeing wrestle was the great Bruno Sammartino. Unfortunately, living in Duluth as a kid there was no way I would ever have been able to see him wrestle.

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (born October 6, 1935) is an Italian former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single World Heavyweight Championship reign in professional wrestling history.compliments of wikipedia

[OneVike]

The very capable Kenny the "Sodbuster" Jay.

I don't believe the man ever won a match.

I remember the legendary "Battle of the Losers", as it was billed. It was between perennial losers, Kenny Jay and Kenny K.O. Yates

Kenny Jay prevailed in that one, and I remember pulling, believe it or not, for Yates the loser of the match.

[Cheapskate]

Oh yeah Red and doctor X!I really liked Scrapiron too!

[Cheapskate]

Bulllinski! yeah, he was fun to watch.

[NewRomeTacitus]

I’ve been catching a lot of old matches on ESPN Classic (10 or 11-ish depending on your zone), to find how prostituted and milked down our era is. Curt Hennig had Zbysko in a brutal headlock for over five minutes telling the story better than seven highspots with minimal contact that we’re subjected to today.

The crowds were HOT because kayfabe wasn’t known then and wrestlers were in constant danger that some True Believer would harm them. And oh, you’ll catch actual wrestling going on (chain, holds, strategy and all of that other stuff Vince deems dispensable).

[Perdogg]

LOL!!!! Childhood memories.

[oyez]

Liberal Politics in the ring -- Sputnik Monroe.

Great American, really.

[lakeman]

I thouht the Crusher was from milwaukee, When he would come down to Peoria he use to say “I’m coming down with a barrel of beer on my shoulder” The bolo was devastating LOL

[NewRomeTacitus]

Good post, Oyez.

From Wikipedia:

“During a period where segregation was the norm at public events, (Sputnik Monroe), as the biggest wrestling draw at the time, refused to perform unless black patrons were allowed to sit in any seat at the Ellis Auditorium. At the time, at wrestling matches, as well as any public events, African-Americans were being limited to sit in what was at the time known as the “colored” section.”

My father, a vaudeville-era magician, used to get a lot of heat for similar views. His argument was “Isn’t their money as green as white folks?”. He wasn’t liberal at all - just practical. He also got beat up a lot for daring to walk through picket lines. Very few modern entertainers have nads like “Sputnik” and him.