Posted on 03/05/2019 3:38:46 AM PST by massmike
The news was reported late Monday night that Chris Pallies, who was more recognizable under the moniker “King Kong Bundy” passed away on Monday at the age 61.
He was a product of The Monster Factory in New Jersey and trained by Larry Sharpe, beginning his career in 1981 and working under several ring names, including Chris Canyon and Chris Cannon. He would adopt the “Bundy” surname when he traveled to Texas and worked for World Class Championship Wrestling.
In June 1982, Bundy headlined at Texas Stadium in Fritz Von Erich’s retirement match with Von Erich defeating Bundy in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the NWA American heavyweight title. Von Erich would come out of retirement several times over the next years.
Bundy squashed Special Delivery Jones on the inaugural WrestleMania card in March and had the distinction of being the shortest match in WrestleMania history until 2010.
Over the next year, Bundy began to be managed by Bobby Heenan as they heated Bundy up to challenge Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2. A big angle was shot on Saturday Night’s Main Event in February 1986 where Bundy attacked Hogan during a match with Don Muraco. Bundy splashed Hogan and attacked his ribs to injure the champion going into their steel cage match at WrestleMania.
(Excerpt) Read more at postwrestling.com ...
Wow, went to several events and he was there back in the early 60s. His big move what "The Claw." We had a local TV show each week MC'd by Lord Athol Layton with local studio matches featuring the Gallagher Brothers, Bobo Brazil, the Brunettis, Fritz Von Erich, Ilio DiPaolo, Lord Athol Layton himself, Hans Schmidt, Dick the Bruiser, and others.
It was hilarious. One time one of Layton's enemies came out of the ring, grabbed his microphone, and knock over his cheap plywood announcer's desk. He stomped on it and his foot went through it. The station never fixed the desk and every week there was the hole in it right out front. Those were the days!
See my post 21.
I met him and Harley Race at Charlotte International Airport once, asked for a signature and they rudely rejected my request. I’ll be the better Man, so Rip King Kong Bundy!
RIP.
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