Avente's Wrasslin Thread

[cantthinkofanything]

Since the old timer can't start threads, I'm giving him one for wrasslin...

Here you go grandpa...

[Avante]

Few here know that you were a rassler back in the day.





Little man, ya ever thought of trying some squats?

[Avante]

Let's talk some rasslin'

I grew up in central Cali, here we had the NWA in the north and the WWA in the south. The NWA was north of Delano, the WWA south. In the north the big star was Ray Stevens the blond bomber. He was the US Champion (Cali version) a few other stars back then were Pepper Gomez, Ray "Thunder" Stern (a local bobybuilder) Cowboy Bob Ellis, Mitzu Arwakawa & Kenji Shibuya. But guys were always coming in to challenge Stevens for the le (no not really)

In the south the kingpin was Classie Freddie Blassie, he was the WWA World Champion. The Destroyer ( Beyers), Baron Michel Leoni, Edouard Carpentier, Mr Moto were also big in the region.

So on Wednesdays it was BIG TIME WRESTLING from Fresno and on Saturdays "Wrestling from the Olympic Auditorium" in LA. I knew about the rest of the rasslin' world because of the magazines. There's where I learned about the original "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Killer Kowalski, The Sheik, Antonio Rocca, Verne Gagne and on and on.

It was the best of times for the biz, because we saw tons of rasslers and promotions.

This will be the top 10 PRE 1970

1.Lou Thesz
2.Bruno Sammartino
3."Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
4.Verne Gagne
5.Killer Kowalski
6.Fred Blassie***
7.Antonio Rocca
8. the Bruisier
9.Ray Stevens
10.The Sheik

After 1970

1.Hulk Hogan
2."Nature Boy" Ric Flair
3."Superstar" Billy Graham
4.Dusty Rhodes
5.Pedro Morales
6.Harley Race
7.Dory Funk Jr.
8.Randy "Macho Man"Savage
9."Stonecold" Steve Austin
10.Shawn Michaels

*** when Wrestling Revue magazine (the Bible of the sport) did their MOST HATED POLL they listed a bunch of guys but for some reason Blassie wasn't there. It didn't matter, he won it anyway with write in votes. That's the impact he made.

This was at the time the biggest gate in pro rasslin' history, it drew over 30,000 fans which was huge for the times. It was the US Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers taking on the Pat O' Conner the NWA World Champion. As we know Rogers would become the first WWWF World Champion, story goes he beat Antonio Rocca in a tournament, yep, bull !

[AlexJones]

Let's talk some rasslin'

I grew up in central Cali, here we had the NWA in the north and the WWA in the south. The NWA was north of Delano, the WWA south. In the north the big star was Ray Stevens the blond bomber. He was the US Champion (Cali version) a few other stars back then were Pepper Gomez, Ray "Thunder" Stern (a local bobybuilder) Cowboy Bob Ellis, Mitzu Arwakawa & Kenji Shibuya. But guys were always coming in to challenge Stevens for the le (no not really)

In the south the kingpin was Classie Freddie Blassie, he was the WWA World Champion. The Destroyer ( Beyers), Baron Michel Leoni, Edouard Carpentier, Mr Moto were also big in the region.

So on Wednesdays it was BIG TIME WRESTLING from Fresno and on Saturdays "Wrestling from the Olympic Auditorium" in LA. I knew about the rest of the rasslin' world because of the magazines. There's where I learned about the original "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Killer Kowalski, The Sheik, Antonio Rocca, Verne Gagne and on and on.

It was the best of times for the biz, because we saw tons of rasslers and promotions.

This will be the top 10 PRE 1970

1.Lou Thesz
2.Bruno Sammartino
3."Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
4.Verne Gagne
5.Killer Kowalski
6.Fred Blassie***
7.Antonio Rocca
8. the Bruisier
9.Ray Stevens
10.The Sheik

After 1970

1.Hulk Hogan
2."Nature Boy" Ric Flair
3."Superstar" Billy Graham
4.Dusty Rhodes
5.Pedro Morales
6.Harley Race
7.Dory Funk Jr.
8.Randy "Macho Man"Savage
9."Stonecold" Steve Austin
10.Shawn Michaels

*** when Wrestling Revue magazine (the Bible of the sport) did their MOST HATED POLL they listed a bunch of guys but for some reason Blassie wasn't there. It didn't matter, he won it anywhere with write in votes. That's the impact he made.

This was at the time the biggest gate in pro rasslin' history, it drew over 30,000 fans which was huge for the times. It was the US Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers taking on the Pat O' Conner the NWA World Champion. As we know Rogers would become the first WWWF World Champion, story goes he beat Antonio Rocca in a tournament, yep, bull !

Graham, Dusty, Dory ing Funk ahead of Shawn Michaels.. come on son

[Avante]

NFLers Eugene "Mercury" Morris and Duane Thomas are who we think about when talking about West Texas State. They also had a receiver in Rocky Thompson but he's little known.

So what does that have to do with rasslin'?

All these guys were WTS Buffalos who became pro rasslers.

Tully Blanchard a QB
Dusty Rhodes
"Dirty" Murdoch
Stan "The Lariat" Hansen
o Santana
Brusier Brody
Ted DiBiase
Blackjack Mullighan
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk

I have no idea the connection.

[Avante]

Graham, Dusty, Dory ing Funk ahead of Shawn Michaels.. come on son

When it comes to the rasslin' we have to look at the impact made, not their in ring ability. , right now Dolpf Ziggler can wrestle circles around all those guys making the big $$$$$$. Well this is no different. Michaels while the superior perfrormer simply didn't make the same sort of impact on the biz.

[Avante]

When I was a kid, me and my two cousins (also big rasslin' fans) would take index cards make some little squares with all the rasslers names on them. We had about a 500 names, then cut the little squares, put them in a coffee can and....hahaha!!!!!!!!!

We'd make cards, tag teams, tournaments.

Then, we made a board similiar to Monopoly, the squares had holds and PUNCH...KICK...DROP KICK...haha!!!!!!!!! So we rolled the dice and the highest dice....

[Avante]

Footballers and pro rasslin. Already talked about WTS.

Ron Simmons FSU
Junkyard Dog Packers
Big Van Vader Rams
Bill Goldberg Falcons
The Rock Miami
Roman Reigns Georgia Tech
the Brusier Packers
Bronko Nagurski Bears
Leo "Lion" Nomellini Niners
Ernie Ladd Chargers/Chiefs
Wahoo McDaneil Jets
JBL Raiders
Fritz Von Erich Oilers
Danny Spivey Falcons
Don Manoukian Raiders
Brian Pillman Bengals
Tom Pritchard Oilers
Butch Reed Chiefs
Bill Watts Oklahoma

"Critters" and pro rasslin'

Ox Baker
Moose Cholak
Gorilla Monsoon
Mad Dog Vachon
Moondog Mayne
Bulldog Bob Brown
Bulldog Brower
The Elephant Boy
Jake "The Snake" Robert
The Sheepherders
George "The Animal" Steele
Bull Ramos
Ed "The Bull" Gantner
King Kong Bundy
Don Eagle
Manny "Ragin' Bull" Fernandez
Leo "The Lion" Nomellini
"Wild" Bull Curry
Tiger Conway
Curtis "The Bull" Iaukea
Tiger Jeet Singh
Bearcat Wright


Rasslin' & Royalty

Jerry "The King" Lawler
Baron Leoni
Count Billy Varga
Lord Layton
Lord Alfred Hayes
Lord Carlton
Lord Bliears
Sir Alan Garfield
Baron Von Rascke
Prince Maivia (grandfather of The Rock)

Black rasslers

Bobo Brazil
Savannah Jack
Mabel
Mark Henry
Big E. Langston
Bearcat Wright
Bobby Lashley
Sweetdaddy Siki
Dory Dixon
Sailor Art Thomas
Thunderbolt Patterson
Koko B. Ware
Ron Simmons
Rufus R. Jones
Brickhouse Brown
Booker T
Stevie Ray
Devon Dudley
Ernie Ladd
Junkyard Dog
Bad News Allen
Ahmad Johnson
Kofi Kingston
R Truth
Too Cold Scorpio
Iceman King Parsons
Shaska Whatley
Luther Lindsey
Shag Thomas
Shelton Benjamin
MVP
Butch Reed
Rocky Johnson
Tony "Mr.USA" Atlas
Earl "Mr.Universe" Maynard
Kareem Muhammad

Top one name tagteams

The Roadwarriors
Art & Stan Nielson
The Fargos
The Valiants
The Fabulous Freebirds
The Von Erichs
The Von Stigers
The Von Stroheims
The Von Brauners
The Kalmikoffs
The Fabulous Kangarros
Demolitian
The Sheepherders/Bushwackers
The Youngbloods
The Brunetti's
The Bastiens
The Volkoffs
The Interns
The Medics
The Executioners
The Assasins
The Lisowski's
The Stanlees
Eddie & Jerry Graham
The Tolos
The Bolos
The Bavarian Boys
The Andersons
The Longriders
Harlem Heat
Mike & Ben Sharpe
The Scuflin' Hillbillies
The Kentuckians

Real wrestlers who became pro rasslers

Danny Hodge
Verne Gagne
Cowboy Hutton
Kurt Angle
Brock Lesnar
Alberto Del Rio

Power lifting world

Mark Henry
Bill Kazmeir
Ted Arcidi
Big E. Langston

[DJR210]

Damn, Avante took this troll thread and ran with it..he ain't ing playing

[Avante]

Damn, Avante took this troll thread and ran with it..he ain't ing playing

I only have a few passions, but when it comes to those passions I do have them totally covered, ha~~~~~~~~~

I was blessed with a fantastic memory, if the interest is there it's locked away forever, and I never forget a name.

[mouse]

I got to see this match the fans booed him and at the end Macho Man impressed the fans judges and scouts / promoters.

[Avante]

I got to see this match the fans booed him and at the end Macho Man impressed the fans judges and scouts / promoters.

He first started out as The Spider, ha~~~ Like most these guys he jacked around in small time promotions learning the biz. The first time I became aware of him was in the CWA out of Memphis, he was in a big feud with the King of Memphis Jerry Lawler. I'm pretty sure this is where the WWF (at that time) became aware of him. I was really impressed with him and knew he'd be getting recruited.

I saw that match and like you said, he was impressive.

I saw Hulk Hogan in some tv interview, when they asked him who he worked with the best, he didn't hesitant.....The Macho Man..as he does his best Randy Savage, ha~~~

[mouse]

2:27/2:46]

]

[Avante]

[Avante]

2:27/2:46]

]

Ha~~~~~~~~

Ronnie was the brother of Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin, I'm not sure Terry Garvin was really related.

Here's Angelo Poffo the father of Randy & Lanny.

[Avante]

40 man Battle Royal

Two rings

Sting
Lex Luger
The Ultimate Warrior
Hulk Hogan
Bill Goldberg
Brock Lesnar
Batista
Edge
Daneil Bryan
Shawn Michaels
Randy "Macho Man" Savage
Triple H
CM Punk
John Cena
Brett "Hitman" Hart
Mark Henry
Roadwarrior Animal
Roadwarrior Hawk
Big John Studd
Paul "Mr.Wonderful" Orndorf
Andre the Giant
"Stonecold" Steve Austin
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Ricky Steamboat
Tully Blanchard
Romn Reigns
Chris Benoit
Dean Ambrose
Rey Misterio
Kevin Nash
Dusty Rhodes
Eddie Guerrero
Nikita Koloff
Razor Ramon
Randy Orton
The Undertaker
Seth Rollins
Kurt Angle
Chris Jericho

[mouse]

He first started out as The Spider, ha~~~
I saw that match and like you said, he was impressive.

I got to this also .Tony Ayala could have been San Antonio's version of Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

8:48/9:45

[DJR210]

Avante, you constantly talk about that old , and it was beyond garbage.. 1/5 wrestlers I'd say were even in shape, let alone athletic enough to give/take moves.. speaking of moves, they were . A regular old pile driver, or a head butt or some lame ass move was considered devastating and would be used as a finisher.. that sucks, I don't know how you still enjoy it other than for nostalgia.

[DJR210]

I got to this also .Tony Ayala could have been San Antonio's version of Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

8:48/9:45

Instead he's San Antonio's version of Mike Tyson, so not all is bad.

[Avante]

I got to this also .Tony Ayala could have been San Antonio's version of Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

8:48/9:45

What landed him in prison?

[DJR210]

What landed him in prison?

Look at what I said above, and take a guess..

[Avante]

Avante, you constantly talk about that old , and it was beyond garbage.. 1/5 wrestlers I'd say were even in shape, let alone athletic enough to give/take moves.. speaking of moves, they were . A regular old pile driver, or a head butt or some lame ass move was considered devastating and would be used as a finisher.. that sucks, I don't know how you still enjoy it other than for nostalgia.

Well let's see, I saw al that old , up to what we see today. It was far better than the cartoon bull it's become. And there were tons of great athletes in the business, like this guy....





Don Leo Jonathan was huge and more athlectic than any big guy today. Verne Gagne an NCAA wrestling champion.





Lou Thesz is still considered the best ever.

Speaking of being in shape, and you do know these guys rassled an hour many many times.




What it is is that you simply don't know enought about the back in the day stuff, how could you?

[mouse]

[Avante]

These guys aren't in shape?




How about.....



the Brusier played for the Green Bay Packers.

[mouse]

remember this guy