wrestlers of the '60s and '70swrestlers of the '60s and '70s

Brother of. El Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): These wrestlers of the '70s were violent and dangerous men who had no problem beating up the wrestler across the ring from them, and most had no problem stepping in the ring with other athletes. Jacques Rougeau via onlineworldofwrestling.com While featured as a prominent member of two French-speaking WWE tag teams, Jacques Rougeau would also find himself playing the role of A stereotypical Canadian Mountie - who shocked his opponents with a cattle prod - somewhere in-between. When his three-year reign ended in 1977, Sammartino established an unbeatable record of 11 years as the reigning WWWF Champion. Baba had formerly been a top pitcher forthe Yomiuri Giants of theNippon Professional Baseballin Japan. Beyer would go on to have an incredible career, gaining enormous popularity, holding titles in..Read More, Japanese star Rikidozan defeated former NWA World champion Lou Thesz in the finals of the fourth annualJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance World League Tournament. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Click here to watch The Baron teaming up with Frand "The Moose" to face Jay Strongbow and Peter Maivia. Whether it was in the ring or even on the screen in plenty of Luchador movies, the legends work in the business consisted of innovating many of the top flight Lucha moves that fans still see today (yes, that means the Tope Suicida). Musician and wrestled in the Pacific Northwest. WWE Hall of Fame: Full List of Members & Inductees, All Legends & HOF Classes by Year. Top 25 Wrestlers from the '60s and '70s - YouTube 0:00 / 1:18 Top 25 Wrestlers from the '60s and '70s TheWWEsFinest 408 subscribers Subscribe 43K views 10 years ago History of Pro. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. SAYS AUTOGRAPHED ???? But the oldest in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904-2006) who lived 101 years, 314 days. The trend-setting Graham would..Read More. Larry ODea Born in 1934 into a wrestling family (Glover's dad wrestled as the "Red Devil"), he weathered a tough upbringing in Yorkshire to become a teacher of English and French, wrestling on the side. He had grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF Championship. Best Of 70s Big Time Wrestling Vol 1-5 - YouTube As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. The profile of each WWE wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics. The former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s and had careers that spanned decades, including winning the NWA Tag Team Championship several times during their career. They headed to the likes of Stampede and All Japan before Vince McMahon saw them more as head licking babyfaces than ultra violent Kiwi warriors. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. This meant the potential victor had five minutes to wrap up the match. Adrian Adonis Badd Company ( Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka) Ox Baker Blackjack Mulligan Bob Backlund Red Bastien He managed to win two Tag Team Championships in the '70s, once with Sonny King and once with Billy White Wolf. Garea made his mark in the tag team division by winning the gold on three occasions, with three different partners, for a total of 384 days with the title in the '70s. Related: John Cena's Career Told In Photos, Through The Years. Looking back over the last 25 years of nostalgiacentral.com - this is what the site looked like in 2002 (when I hadn't yet added the 1950s or 1990s). On this page you find the full WWWF Roster in the year 1970. Click here to watch Bruno Sammartino in a WWWF Title defense against Ernie Ladd, a wrestler who barely made the cut on the current list. Classic Pro Wrestling matches of the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's - YouTube The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (19192014), aged 94years, 273days. . In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. while others continued to bill Byers as the title holder. He was a master of the heel tactics, but he was also very agile in the ring. Mexican actor, wrestling announcer and baseball broadcaster. Monsoon lost the match, but he once again proved he could hold his own against the largest wrestlers in the business at the time, being himself a 6'5", 400-pounder. Click here to watch Killer Kowalski battling Pedro Morales. The masked grappler applied a figure-four leg-lock in what was billed as aMask vs. Hair match. This includes the list of all WWWF Superstars, division between Men and Women Roster, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in World Wide Wrestling Federation. Honorable mention: Verne Gagne, Bill Miller, Karl Gotch, Dick the Bruiser, Reggie Lisowski, Wilbur Snyder, Buddy Austin, Bobo Brazil, Sailor Art Thomas, Lorenzo Parente, Light Heavyweight (Mexico): He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. Gagne had held the belt for almost a year after being awarded the belt in 1960. Known for his signature evil laugh, "The Million Dollar Man" bragged about you guessed it his extraordinary wealth while trouncing opponents around the world. Because most title matches require a best out of three falls, Rogers disputed the title change. As the wresting worlds first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. . Show more Show more Everything Stopped at Four O'Clock - British. Policy. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. WWE: Power Ranking 25 of the Best Wrestlers of the 1970s Wrestled his last match at a show that was independently produced by. Giant Baba became one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling. The 15 Greatest 70's Wrestlers of All Time - Sportlister Shelton Benjamin. He started out in his native France as Geant Ferre, a play on a French folk hero. From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. The Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers of the 1950s He was often a top contender to the WWWF Championship, and he battled Bruno Sammartino on several occasions in high-profile matches. But before he became the best manager in the history of the sport, he actually did have an in ring career that started way back in 1961 with names like Dick the Bruiser and Sam Mushnick before promoters realized Heenans mouth was much better than his ring work, which was also pretty good. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. And, when we take a look at everything he did in 1980 and after he left, he is clearly one of the most misused talents in WWE's history. but still just the 60s, 70s and 80s. The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic . Unbeknownst to the fans in attendance, Rogers had lost the NWA..Read More, TheWorld Wide Wrestling Federationis formed on April 1, 1963. Hell's Angels (Bobby Barnes & Adrian Street) vs. Alan Dennison & Sid Cooper, plus a short clip of Jackie Pallo vs. Johnny Kwango. This was the first of two WWA title reigns for BrazilRead More, Paul Boesch, radio announcer and television commentator for Houston Wrestling, purchased the Gulf Athletic Club in Houston, Texas from the widow of former promoter Morris Siegel. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! In the main..Read More, Indianapolis promoter William Afflis (Dick the Bruiser) and partner Wilber Snyder promote the first World Wrestling Association event in Detroit, Michigan, beginning a two-year promotional war with Michigan wrestling czar (and NWA member) Ed The..Read More, WWWF Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales matches up against former champion Bruno Sammartino in a huge matchup in Shea Stadium in New York. Top WWF Professional Wrestlers from the 70s | Groovy History As the wresting world's first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish -born American wrestler Abe Coleman (1905-2007), who lived 101 years, 189 days. 11 Stars of Big Time Wrestling in the 1970s | Mental Floss His biggest accomplishments were in the tag team division. Click here to watch history being made when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF; and click here if you want to see The Russian Bear in a cage match again vs. Sammartino, in 1975. . Kowalski was awarded the match when Rogers broke his ankle jumping out..Read More. In June, he defeated Ted DiBiase to win the WWF North American Championship, and in September, he merged that title with the South American version to become the first ever Intercontinental Champion. Antonio Posa - World Champion Despite being a decade or two away from the dawn of Hulkamania and a seismic shift in the wrestling industry, plenty of superstars debuted during the era of the space race, free love, and the Civil Rights Movement. Pro-Wrestling Rankings: 1960s - Wrestling-Titles.com Last wrestled for Lucha Libre Acapulco in, Most recently wrestled on August 6, 2022, for. Cyndi Lauper and Lou Albano gave professional wrestling a huge promotional boost in the 1980s, but some of us remember the golden days when wrestling was gritty showmanship without the. Simply use the filters below! As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. Randy Savage. He was honored as the leagues best pitcher in three..Read More, Kanji (Antonio) Inoki began his professional wrestling career, training withJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) under the tutelage of wrestling legendRikidzan. List of oldest surviving professional wrestlers, Oldest wrestlers to ever perform 70 and over, British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship, List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "Seattle promoter Harry Elliott dead at 101", "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past", "Betty Wagner, first wife of WWE Hall of Famer Gorgeous George, dead at 98", "Deepest condolences to @nicklaroberts and family on the passing of her mom Lorraine Johnson at age 90. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. Known as Sammy Berg. Having withdrawn from the National Wrestling Alliance, the Minnesota-based group of promoters issued a fictitious public challenge to NWA champion Pat OConnor, and,..Read More, Antonio Inoki makes his professional wrestling debut at the Taito Ward Gym in Tokyo, Japan. The Destroyer had held the belt since the previous November. Lorraine Johnson Tona Tomah Rose Roman Kathy Starr Barbara Baker Lee Chona LaClaire Fabulous Moolah Belle Starr Tag Teams: Red Bastien & Lou Bastien Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez Roy Shire & Ray Shire Tiny Mills & Stanley Kowalski Fabulous Kangaroos: Al Costello & Roy Heffernan Doc Gallagher & Mike Doc Gallagher Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff List of oldest surviving professional wrestlers - Wikipedia With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. Public Domain via Wikimedia Watching Pro Wrestling in the 1950s As a boy, I used to regularly watch pro wrestling with mom and dad. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. Steve Rachman Ron Miller Logan Paul and Brock Lesnar in Raw. With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. It wouldn't be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. At the same time, the 1970s had some of the most technically proficient wrestlers in history, men who could work rings around many of today's top stars. For thousands of families around Australia, no Sunday lunch was complete without tuning in to Gentleman Jack Little . Jeff Hardy. In..Read More, World Wrestling Association was formed in Indianapolis by Dick Afflis (Dick the Bruiser) and Wilber Snyder (through their companyChampionship Wrestling of Indiana, Inc.). *Subtitles Available* on #TalkingPicturesTV Hodge had been injured and suffered from a knee infection in the weeks prior to the match, having held..Read More, Promoter Jim Barnett held his first show in Australia for his World Championship Wrestling promotion. In 1964,..Read More, Wrestler Yukon Eric, a popular Canadian wrestler who performed throughout North America, died on this date. Top 29 Best Wrestlers Of The 1970s - TheSportster * Championships in parentheses ( ) are noted according to the approximate date of the information, usually three or four months prior to the publishing date, in order to give a better idea of why the wrestlers may be ranked. List of former American Wrestling Association personnel Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. Click here to watch Johnny Valiant teaming up with his brother Jimmy in 1974 and click here to watch him and his other brother Jerry in the late '70s. Excellent and Psycho Mike. See MoreSee Less, And the 1950s were finally added in 2007. Second oldest British wrestler ever behind Joe D'Orazio. Roy Heffernan When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. Five-time NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Champion. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. I found no WWWF footage of The Sheik, but you can click here to see the hardcore legend in action against Dusty Rhodes in the '70s; or, if you're curious, click here for a match between him and Chief White Eagle in the late '50s or early '60s. Ranking Explanations . Killer Kowalski In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. Dog tasered by police in Coventry and put in wheelie bin after concerns for nearby children. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. However, since I didn't watch wrestling in those great days, I could hardly evaluate the in-ring abilities, the charisma and the mic skills. Jack Little admitted that the television matches were mismatched; We had to mismatch, because we had to have five commercial breaks in the show. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. Former NWA World Tag Team Champion. School where . Click here to watch Pedro Morales defeating Ivan Koloff for the WWWF Championship. Playing Wednesday at 6pm (28th June) and continuing every Wednesday at the same time. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England. World-famous fitness guru had a brief pro wrestling career in 1938. Rogers would later claim that he had suffered a heart attack before the match. One of the show's stars in the late '60s and '70s was a wrestler called Dutch Savage. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. No, not dem Boys. But as far as wrestlers wrestlers and old school tough guys go, theres are no better men than Jack and Jerry Brisco. On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund reached the top of the mountain when he won the WWF Championship against "Superstar" Billy Graham in what was declared "The Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. The Original Sheik portrayed a rich and brutal Syrian who brought a new level of violence in pro wrestling. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. He can also brag to have faced all the greats of the era, such as Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham. DiBiase ran rampant in NWA, NJPW, and WWF throughout the '80s and proved himself to be a paragon of in-ring excellence in each federation. The interesting career of The Bushwhackers began as cousin Luke and cousin Butch started out as The Kiwis in their native New Zealand before traversing the globe as the ultra violent Sheepherders in the late 1970s. After his face run, he ended his stint with WWWF as a heel, but it was not before earning the 1975 PWI Match of the Year award against Bruno Sammartino and to win a long feud against Jay Strongbow. Wrestled mainly in Mexico and WCCW. Wrestling Legends You Didn't Know Competed In The 1960s - TheSportster