Ernie Ladd, who passed away last weekend at the age of 68 following a three-year bout with cancer, leaves a larger-than-life legacy that is one for the ages, among both football and wrestling fans.
Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, who made his mark in the worlds of professional football and professional wrestling, passed away Sunday after a three-year battle with cancer.
Allen Coage, who parlayed success as an Olympic bronze medalist in judo into a celebrated career in pro wrestling as Bad News Allen, died of a heart attack Tuesday in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 63.
Don't try telling Cowboy Bob Kelly there's no such thing as miracles. He'll quickly point to his wife of 48 years, Chris, as a walking and breathing example of one.
Cowboy Bob Kelly chuckles when fans approach him today. The longtime Gulf Coast wrestling star has a hard time believing how folks who watched him four decades ago still remember.
Shawn Michaels has provided a spark to a company that badly needed one, and is knocking on the door of the world title at the biggest wrestling event of the year.
It's an appropriate time to reflect upon the many influential wrestling personalities who passed away in 2006. They all touched the lives of fans and the profession in general.
Paul Heyman, the creative force behind ECW, left the North Charleston Coliseum following a closed-door meeting with McMahon and daughter Stephanie McMahon-Levesque several hours prior to a combined ECW and Raw show.
A unique piece of wrestling history will be unveiled 75 miles up the road Saturday night when a pair of grappling legends join forces for the first time.
It wasn't that long ago when Eric Bischoff ran the most successful wrestling organization in the world, and Ric Flair was one of his top stars. For both, however, it now seems like an eternity.
Chris Kanyon claims he was let go by WWE two years ago because he was gay. Others, including a 16-time world champion and the current WWE champ, say that's simply not the case and that the wrestler didn't have what it takes to make it in today's version of sports entertainment.
According to most reports, including the parties involved, the split between Kurt Angle and WWE last August was an amicable one. It now appears that the break wasn't as smooth as initially portrayed.
From "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant to "Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant, the charismatic performer transformed himself into one of pro wrestling's most enduring characters.
Can't get enough of pro wrestling? Want to relive classic wrestling moments and enjoy the exploits of your favorite superstars from yesteryear? Then you may want to give WWE 24/7 a try.
A Wake Forest University School of Medicine study that links violent adolescent behavior with the frequency of watching professional wrestling on TV has drawn the ire of WWE head honcho Vince McMahon.
Samoa Joe, widely regarded as the future of TNA as well as one of the most talented stars in the wrestling business today, is a performer not to be missed.
Melvin Nelson, much better known in and out of wrestling circles as the inimitable Burrhead Jones, leaves his beloved Lowcountry next week to begin the next chapter of his life in New York.
"Bull Ramos was one of the most kind-hearted and gentlest men out of the ring that I've ever met," recalls longtime in-ring foe and friend Dutch Savage.
Prosecutors last Monday dropped misdemeanor charges against 16-time world wrestling champ Ric Flair in a case that had attracted considerable publicity in Flair's hometown of Charlotte.
Glen Jacobs, who as "The Big Red Machine" Kane has been one of pro wrestling's most enduring characters over the past decade, hopes to take another menacing alter ego to the big screen with his feature role in the horror flick "See No Evil."
"God" may have been a no-show at last weekend's Backlash pay-per-view, but help for Shawn Michaels is on the way in the form of the self-proclaimed "King of Kings."
Vince McMahon, the self-proclaimed lord of professional wrestling, is hoping that the in-ring debut of "God" at Backlash will create enough buzz to garner some extra PPV buys.
The story of one of pro wrestling's most influential figures is superbly told in his autobiography, "Tangled Ropes," and a companion DVD dubbed "20 Years Too Soon."
By all accounts, last weekend's Wrestlemania 22 pay-per-view was a major success, exceeding the expectations of most mat pundits and even many inside WWE.
Only two weeks remain until professional wrestling's biggest show of the year. Most of the matches for Wrestlemania 22 already have been announced, and some of the results seem to be foregone conclusions.
WWE may have done sellout business during its recent tour of the Philippines, but an ugly incident has left a major blemish on the trip and one of its most popular performers possibly banned from the country.
While Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels delivered another high-quality performance last week on Raw, it once again was Ric Flair Boy who stole the show and then some.
WWE will unveil its version of "That's My Mama" this week on Raw when Orangeburg native Shelton Benjamin's on-screen mother makes her television debut.
Tony Atlas has many wonderful memories of the wrestling business. He enjoyed matches with some of the greatest performers in the profession and traveled the world many times over. Mention the name Bruiser Brody, though, and Atlas' normally jovial demeanor turns somber.
Tony Atlas was once a big-money player in the wrestling business. He had the build and the look of a champion. Vince McMahon called him "a promoter's dream."
When Adnan Alkaissy thinks about Iraq, it evokes wistful memories of a beautiful homeland of hard-working, peace-loving people. His memories, though, are in stark contrast to the images of war and bloodshed beamed to America on a daily basis.
The always controversial Ole Anderson got into what was described as an embarrassing squabble with David Flair, son of 16-time world champion Ric Flair, at a recent NWA legends convention and fanfest in Charlotte.
Every youngster needs someone to look up to. Someone who guides them through difficult times, someone who teaches them right from wrong, someone who cares enough to make a difference in their lives.
The wrestling world is heating up faster than the waters along our coast. Firings, hirings and controversial angles have marked the business in recent weeks, and all signs point to a sizzling summer for the industry.
Kurt Angle recently made it known that working with Ric Flair was on the short list of things he wanted to do before he retired. Monday night he got his wish.
Paul Heyman will take center stage tonight at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City as WWE presents its highly anticipated ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view.
UPN blindsided a number of WWE executives when it recently announced that the network was moving Smackdown from its Thursday night home to a much less desirable Friday night time slot.
There's a can't-miss scenario out there that falls into the "no-brainer" category, one which includes all the vital elements of successful and compelling storytelling.
Long before names like Sable, Stacy and Trish provided eye candy for a generation of new wave wrestling fans, a drop-dead gorgeous blonde bombshell named Penny Banner combined looks and skill.
Chris Candido wanted to do two things in life - become a professional wrestler and capture the heart of a blonde beauty named Tamara Lynn Sytch. He accomplished both, but they came with a price.
Hell hath no fury, they say, like a woman scorned And if you don't believe it, just ask Lisa Copeland, the very disgruntled wife of WWE performer Edge (Adam Copeland).
Several performers under WWE contract have been released over the two-week period since Wrestlemania. And the company has indicated there's more to come.
The results are in, and the journey has begun for Batista. The WWE powerhouse, who dethroned former mentor Triple H for the world heavyweight title last weekend at Wrestlemania 21, hopes the trip lasts considerably longer than Randy Orton's aborted one-month title reign last year.
It's a rare, often surreal, moment when one finds oneself on the brink of something truly special. It's just that kind of moment for WWE phenom Batista.
Who says nostalgia isn't what it used to be? Certainly not the nearly 2,000 fans who packed the Mulberry Recreation Center in Lenoir, N.C., last weekend for a show headlined by Dusty Rhodes against Abdullah The Butcher. Or the estimated 1,900 who recently jammed the Conway High School gym to watch Jimmy Snuka and Greg Valentine battle in a cage.
With the WWE publicity machine at full tilt hyping Wrestlemania, most of the backstage buzz over the past week has centered around the breakup of longtime sweethearts Matt Hardy and Amy Dumas (Lita).
Henry Marcus was a promoter extraordinaire who dabbled in everything from the Royal Canadian Ballet to the Ice Capades. But pro wrestling was his bread and butter. It's what endeared him to mat fans throughout the state for half a century.
As the former governor of Minnesota browsed through a local pipe shop looking for a humidor, a customer gave him a double glance before uttering, "You look a lot like Jesse Ventura." Ventura smiled wryly, winked and retorted, "A lot of people tell me that."
He's performed in front of thousands and traveled around the world, but it was his rural Berkeley County roots that helped prepare Burrhead Jones for a career in professional wrestling nearly 40 years ago.
It was the most bizarre feeling when Lou died - I mean when he actually stopped breathing. This was not supposed to happen. He was Lou Thesz, he was invincible, immortal, and he was only 86. He had promised to live to be 100.
Professional wrestling lost one of its greatest champions and most beloved goodwill ambassadors when Lou Thesz passed away of complications from open heart surgery at the age of 86 on April 28, 2002.
Jimmy Snuka, Greg Valentine and Mick Foley are just three of the many past and present stars scheduled to take part in the first CFE For Kids Beach Bash wrestling event.
A growing number of former wrestling stars have been finding their way back into the news lately. Unfortunately, though, it's the type of news that rears its ugly head from the pages of a police blotter.
There's a new sheriff in town, and it isn't Randy Orton. The monster Batista has leapfrogged over his former Evolution cohort and has assumed the role as heir apparent to Triple H's world heavyweight crown.
It appears that the on-again, off-again relationship between one of pro wrestling's most dysfunctional couples has hit the rocks yet again. The split, though, is merely a backdrop for the meteoric fall from grace of the woman once dubbed "the ninth wonder of the world."
Coming off a generally disappointing year, World Wrestling Entertainment will be looking to stir the pot in 2005, hoping to come up with the right formula that will get the company back on track.
Love him or hate him, and passions rarely settled into any middle ground, Vince Russo spawned an era of sports entertainment that was cutting edge, in your face and sometimes downright crude.
A backstage, off-camera confrontation between 16-time world champion Ric Flair and hardcore legend Mick Foley produced more emotion-charged conflict than anything fans were treated to Sunday night at the company's Armageddon pay-per-view or at the following night's Raw presentation.
Jerome Young is in jail, and he needs your help. The volatile, controversial Young, better known in pro wrestling circles as New Jack, was arrested Oct. 10 in Florida on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing his opponent 14 times with a prop.
It's been a long time since a Flair and a Steamboat have graced the same ring. It's been even longer since a pro wrestling event was held at the Spindale House.
Steve Austin's seemingly never-ending travails with his ex-girlfriend and former adult film actress, Tess Broussard, have resurfaced on the pages of supermarket tabloids.
Ric Flair, who has spent the past decade bailing out promotions which were either politically corrupt or creatively shallow, came to the rescue once again Monday night on WWE's flagship show when he delivered one of his inimitable interviews.
Ray Traylor, who parlayed his "Big Bossman" gimmick to success in the professional wrestling business, died Wednesday night at his home in Dallas, Ga., at the age of 42.
Success breeds success. Sometimes, though, success isn't as easily discernible as looking at a yearly earnings report or quarterly financial statements.
WWE has built its biggest boom periods around such performers as Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and The Rock. The company hopes Randy Orton can join that elite group.
The recent spate of wrestling autobiographies, along with a growing number of legends reunions and fanfests, has opened up windows to the past for a new generation of grappling aficionados. Some of those windows, however, may be better left closed.
Move over Hulkamania - Eugenemania is running wild. WWE's newest character may have the goofiest act in the wrestling business, but it's also one of the hottest.
With World Wrestling Entertainment rolling into town in just a couple of weeks, now's a good time to look at the company's two divisions and how the brand extension is working.
Eric Bischoff and Cowboy Bill Watts have been two of the most influential figures in the wrestling business over the past two decades. Both have experienced the highs and lows of the profession. But that's where the similarities end.
Ole Anderson's not out to win any popularity contests. He's opinionated, abrasive and contentious. And those are his good qualities. But they're ideal for someone who's writing a book about professional wrestling.
He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, but he's not the daring young man on the flying trapeze. He's pro wrestling's human highlight reel, Rey Mysterio, whose spectacular moves inside the squared circle seem to defy the laws of gravity.
The on-again, off-again relationship between "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Total Nonstop Action took yet another turn last week when Savage rejoined the Nashville-based promotion.
Ric Flair, who has magically made time stand still during an unparalleled 32-year career that seemingly has no end, talks about his life in a new autobiography due to hit bookshelves Tuesday.
Professional wrestling has lost its share of unforgettable characters over the past decade. Dave Meltzer, longtime editor of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, chronicles some of their lives in his new book.
Triple H may not be going for the WWE title at next month's Bad Blood pay-per-view, but there's little doubt about who's headlining the show. And it's not world champ Chris Benoit.
One week after being traded to the Raw roster as part of Vince McMahon's draft lottery, Shelton Benjamin established himself as the breakout star he had seemed destined to become.
Bobby Heenan entertained wrestling audiences for four decades as a wrestler, a manager and a color commentator. Now he's doing it in the form of book writing.
Triple H and Chris Benoit, two of pro wrestling's greatest stars, have turned in some of the year's top matches. In the main event of tonight's Vengeance pay-per-view, they'll be shooting for a classic.
Last weekend's Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends Convention and Fanfest was deemed a huge success by most who attended. A tribute to a territory that was considered among the very best in the country, the event featured more than three dozen greats from that era.
At first glance, pro wrestling and religion might not appear to be a very likely combination. But don't tell that to Jim Palmer and Andy McDaniel. To the two local pastors, it's a match made in heaven.
John "Bradshaw" Layfield, who meets WWE champion Eddie Guerrero in the main event of tonight's Judgment Day, last week lashed out at critics who have questioned his placement in the headline match of a major pay-per-view.
Brock Lesnar, the WWE phenom on whose broad shoulders the company's hope for the future rested, has told colleagues and company officials that tonight would mark his last in the wrestling business.
Only three weeks away from WWE's biggest event of the year, little has been officially announced concerning a lineup for Wrestlemania XX. That should change in the next week, however, when most of the matches that have been taking shape over the past couple of months will be made public.
Eddy Guerrero, quite possibly the most underrated performer in World Wrestling Entertainment, is finally getting his well-deserved shot at the brass ring.
Few symbols represent evil and hatred more than those associated with Adolph Hitler and Nazism. Somebody should have reminded WWE performer John Bradshaw Layfield.
William Shakespeare said it best when he wrote the lines, "All the world is a stage, and we are all merely actors."
Enter, stage left, Vince McMahon and Bob Costas.
More than 30 years ago Jim Wilson stood up against an antiquated system whose secretive society seemed to have more in common with the Mob than with legitimate business.
Who says there's no quality wrestling on WWE television these days? Those lucky enough to have been watching the Nov. 22 edition of Confidential were treated to one of the most intense matches in years.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin may have delivered his farewell speech at last weekend's Survivor Series pay-per-view, but he's expected to be back on WWE television before his considerable star has time to fade.
World Wrestling Entertainment presents one of its four major, combined pay-per-views of the year tonight when the Raw and Smackdown brands team up for Survivor Series.
Mike Lockwood, who gained fame as one of WWE's most popular hardcore champions, was found dead Thursday at the Florida home of WWE performer Steven Richards.
Sailor Art Thomas, whose chiseled physique and massive strength made him a top name in the wrestling business during the 60s and 70s, died Thursday at age 79.
The Rock might have shaved his head, added an unsightly tattoo and turned heel on his fans, but his return to wrestling last week only reinforced the fact that he is still "the most electrifying performer in sports entertainment."
Like many of WWE's high-flying cruiserweights, Zach Gowen is a risk-taker who executes hurricanranas, moonsaults and shooting star presses with the greatest of ease. But there's one major difference. "Tenacious Z" Zach Gowen only has one leg.
Just the mention of his name could send chills down the spine of the most discerning believer. His face, framed by wild, piercing eyes and a crazed stare, was among the most recognized in the business. And, if you ever saw him perform, it's doubtful you'd ever forget him.
The Royal Rumble may be the talk of the wrestling world today, but the minute the smoke clears after tonight's final match, all eyes will be on Wrestlemania.
The year 2003 looms as a pivotal one for World Wrestling Entertainment. Coming off a particularly disappointing year in 2002, WWE officials realize that this year could be a make-or-break one for the entire industry, whose fate rests squarely on the shoulders of mat czar Vince McMahon and his brain trust in Stamford.
For months the WWE has been looking for a matchup that would get its fans talking. What transpired at the end of Monday night's Raw accomplished just that.
As a wrestler, he rarely moved beyond preliminary and mid-card status. But as a manager, he was a main-event act. George "Two Ton" Harris, who died Nov. 29 at the age of 75, leaves behind a wealth of enduring memories.
The WWE, which has come under intense fire in recent months for a number of controversial storylines, drew more heat last week over remarks made by announcer Jerry "The King" Lawler during Monday night's broadcast of Raw.
Toronto-based journalist John Molinaro takes a bold step in attempting to rank the greatest professional wrestlers in the history of the game in his new book, "Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time."
You've got to give Jim Ross credit. Having to sell outlandish, over-the-top angles such as last week's Shane McMahon-Kane limousine demolition requires an acting performance on par with The Rock.
There's little doubt that World Wrestling Entertainment is counting heavily on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's imminent return to generate major business. Unfortunately for WWE, though, The Rock's stay is likely to be an abbreviated one.
Celebrating 50 years of marital bliss is quite an achievement. Accomplishing the milestone within the confines of the professional wrestling business is an even bigger feat.
It may have taken World Wrestling Entertainment six months to deliver the heavyweight crown to Bill Goldberg, but tonight will mark the beginning of what should be a closely scrutinized title run.
His father created the Sertoma and Roundball sports classics. His brother and sister created the philanthropic Charitable Society of Charleston. All Bill Thrash did was help create one of the most successful characters in the history of sports entertainment.
An automatic ratings spike, despite being overexposed and misused at times, Ric Flair is still a force in today's new version of sports entertainment. But is the Nature Boy getting his just due?
WWE suffered a major setback when Triple H, the world heavyweight champion for its Raw brand, went down with what initially was diagnosed as a severely strained groin.
It truly would be an exercise in futility to try and explain WWE's latest sports entertainment storyline. Love it or hate it, though, don't expect the bizarre angle involving the formerly masked Kane to be put on the back burner anytime soon. No pun, of course, intended.
To the untrained eye, it might have been difficult to determine whether or not Vince McMahon was in character when he angrily attempted to slap the notes out of interviewer Armen Keteyian's hands Tuesday night on HBO's "Real Sports."
Classy Freddie Blassie may have been 85 years old when he took his final breath Monday night. But it's doubtful any wrestler ever packed as much punch in one lifetime as the man who made "pencil neck geek" part of the pro wrestling lexicon.
Greg "The Hammer" Valentine has walked the aisle many times during his 30-year wrestling career. Last August, though, he walked an entirely different type of aisle. At a church youth rally at the Lee County Civic Center in Fort Myers, Fla., Valentine answered an altar call, "prayed the prayer" and became a born-again Christian.
Lex Luger, whose chiseled physique and "Total Package" gimmick propelled him to fame and fortune in the wrestling business, now faces an uncertain future in the wake of his live-in girlfriend's death and multiple drug charges.
The recent death of Liz Hulette, better known to millions of wrestling fans around the world as the lovely "Miss Elizabeth," is not only a painful reminder of the fragility of life, but yet another sobering reflection of a fraternity whose members are dying far too young.
Liz Hulette, known to a generation of pro wrestling fans as the lovely "Miss
Elizabeth," died early Thursday morning after being rushed to the hospital
from an Atlanta area home she shared with veteran wrestler and longtime
companion Lex Luger.
With numbers declining in a variety of categories, Triple H seems an easy target for a growing and increasingly vocal peanut gallery. The problems in WWE, however, lie much deeper than Triple H's perceived power behind the scenes.
When Chris Jericho looked for some answers last Monday night after Raw, he ended up rolling around with Bill Goldberg on the floor backstage at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
Three of WWE's most vocal detractors, all of whom were once major names in the wrestling business, cashed paychecks last week from an organization they have blasted in books, lawsuits and scores of reports.
Bill Goldberg, the hottest free agent in pro wrestling, recently ended months of speculation when he signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Scott Hall, whose wrestling career has been in a tailspin over the past several years as a result of his erratic behavior outside the ring, is back in the news again.
Yet another "Flair" is making sports headlines these days. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair's youngest daughter, Ashley Fliehr, recently led Charlotte's Providence High School to the North Carolina 4A state championship in volleyball.
Superstar Billy Graham received countless calls from well-wishers leading up to his live-saving liver ttransplant two weeks ago. Ironically, the most comforting and unexpected call came from Vince McMahon, whose recent past with Graham had been clouded by a decade-old dispute.
Superstar Billy Graham finally got the call that he had been waiting and praying for. It was delivered on a recent Friday afternoon and came, as he now admits, "just in the nick of time."
Some familiar names - The Red Rooster, The Million Dollar Man, The Russian Bear, Little Naitch and Gorgeous George - will all be in town this week. But they won't be wrestling.
Ted Petty, an accomplished technical wrestler who ironically made his fortune getting hit with chairs, going through tables and cutting his head on barbed wire, died later that evening of a massive heart attack at the age of 49.
The WWE's recent foray into social commentary with a gay wedding storyline appeared to be a positive step - at least in the eyes of one gay rights activist organization.
While the rest of America was immersed in the anniversary of 9/11 last week amid growing speculation of a military strike against Iraq, Vince McMahon and his WWE writers were working overtime to generate a buzz of their own.
Vince McMahon took a bold step nearly six months ago when he announced that he was splitting the WWE's roster and dividing talent between his Raw and Smackdown shows. What has evolved is a company that seems to be struggling for an identity and desperately seeking to recapture some of the magic that made the product a cash cow during the late 90s.
One by one, they have become the exclusive property of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. The stable of stars that once helped make World Championship Wrestling the hottest mat company in the country is now, for the most part, under the auspices of the rival WWE. There is, however, one notable exception.
The last image WWE fans may have of Hulk Hogan - at least for the immediate future - is one of a battered, bloodied and aged Hulkster struggling to make it to his feet and leave the ring.
Despite a promising start, Vince McMahon has squandered opportunity after opportunity with Ric Flair, whose re-emergence in the WWF (now WWE) last November was heralded as a strategic move that would help right the company's foundering ship.
Professional wrestling makes for strange bedfellows. Quite possibly the strangest ever joined forces on a surreal edition of Raw last week when Vince McMahon announced that he had brought Eric Bischoff on board as "general manager" of that program.
Leon White, better known as Van Vader and once regarded as the best big man in pro wrestling, made headlines last week when he was arrested at his Colorado home after being suspected of drunk driving and allegedly leaving the scene of an accident.
Former WWF and WCW world champion Bret Hart is recovering in a Calgary hospital after suffering a stroke that has left him with limited mobility on his left side. Hart, 45, reportedly was stricken while riding his bicycle on Monday.
The World Wrestling Federation boldly proclaimed that last Monday night's "historic" Raw was the beginning of a new era of WWF television. Whether or not "that's a good thing," to borrow a phrase from Diamond Dallas Page, is yet to be seen.
It was Vince McMahon who once proclaimed that "anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation."
Never has that saying rung truer than during the past week as the wrestling world seems to have spun off its axis.
Jeff and Jerry Jarrett know it's going to be an uphill battle, but if their hunch is right, the wrestling world is ready for their new "NWA - Total Nonstrop Action" promotion that debuts on pay-per-view June 19.
Vince McMahon wasn't his usual confident, upbeat self Monday night at Raw. Then again, the 56-year-old owner of the world's most successful wrestling company didn't have
much reason to be.
When Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel passed away on April 18 at the age of 63, it officially closed the chapter on an era of professional wrestling that longtime fans still talk about in reverent tones.
Wahoo McDaniel, who parlayed a successful professional football career into a more lucrative one in the world of pro wrestling that lasted three decades, passed away at the age of 63 Thursday night in Houston.
It was the hardest thing he ever had to do, but last Sunday night Charles Robinson told wife Amy it was OK to let go, that she didn't have to fight anymore. Nothing short of death could have ever made him utter those painful words.
For nearly 40 years Ron West has done practically everything that can be done in the wrestling business. He's been one of the most celebrated referees in the profession, as well as a respected booker, events coordinator and promoter.West's latest venture has taken him to another circus - this time the three-ring variety, where he serves as a marketing director with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, the world's largest circus under the big top.
Wrestlemania X8 will feature the past vs. the future - Hulk Hogan, the man who helped Vince McMahon transform the company into a national phenomenon in the mid-'80s, against The Rock, the WWF's franchise player and its biggest mainstream celebrity.
The Undertaker will get a chance to prove he is the WWF's true locker-room leader when he meets Ric Flair at Wrestlemania on March 17 at the Toronto SkyDome.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley, coming off a torn quadriceps, major surgery and several months of extensive rehab, may be an early candidate for comeback wrestler of the year. But he has a long way to go to top former mat great Superstar Billy Graham.
The WWF did something last week that it hasn't done in a while. It came up with two consecutive great shows - the kind that will draw ratings and pay future dividends if the company stays on track.
Superstar Billy Graham, one of the profession's most legendary figures and the prototype for such characters as Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) and Jesse "The Body" Ventura (James Janos), needs help.
There is no shortage of pro wrestling books currently on the market, and the list ranges from Hooker, an up-close look at the mat business as told by the great Lou Thesz, to a tell-all memoir by blonde bombshell Missy Hyatt.
The World Wrestling Federation plans to start the new year with a bang as Hunter Hearst Helmsley makes his long-awaited ring return on Jan. 7 at Raw from Madison Square Garden.
Some insiders have speculated that Ted Turner would bring wrestling back on board to TBS and TNT if restored to a major position. Those feelings were buoyed last week when Gerald Levin announced his retirement, effective in May, and his successor, Richard Parsons, immediately declared that he wanted the estranged vice chairman back in the fold of the world's biggest media company.
The WWF has struggled in the wake of its conquest of World Championship Wrestling. Ironically, the company has taken on many of the same characteristics that led to the downfall of WCW.
"Gentleman" Chris Adams was
shot to death, allegedly by his best friend,
in Waxahachie, Texas, not far from the
city where he once headlined shows in
front of thousands of fans. The adoration
and cheering ceased years ago, however,
as the promotion's macabre body count began to turn away even the most
fanatical
followers.
Few wrestling arenas in the country have generated as much lore and fable as the now aged Dallas Sportatorium. The heart and soul of World Class Championship Wrestling during its heyday in the early and mid-1980s, it was here that the lives of wrestling heroes somehow became entwined with the fictional world they were part of.
While family feuds are certainly not new
to professional wrestling, the latest one to
make headlines is quite unique. This feud is a legitimate, behind-the-
scenes war of words that actually involves
three of wrestling's most famous families
and was sparked by comments made by
former NWA world champion Jack Brisco
during a recent Internet chat.
It's "Real World" meets professional wrestling, with some "Survivors" mixed in. But MTV's "WWF Tough Enough," a reality-based series that debuted Thursday night, is a show worthy of every wrestling fan's consideration.
Hugh "Tex" McKenzie, the likable tall Texan who formed a top tag team with Nelson Royal in the Carolinas during the late '60s, passed away on May 31 at the age of 72 in Victoria, British Columbia. McKenzie was stricken with an abdominal aortic aneurysm while on his boat in the waters off Vancouver Island.
Steve "Mongo" McMichael has found yet another way to make a fool of himself - this time during a guest stint as seventh-inning stretch singer for a Chicago Cubs baseball game.
The WCW announcing team of Scott Hudson and Arn Anderson may have called it the greatest night in wrestling history last week on Raw, but most fans were left with one burning question: Where's the beef?
Veteran wrestler "Gentleman" Chris Adams turned himself in to authorities last week on manslaughter charges in connection with the April 2000 death of a Dallas woman.
Ex-WCW president Eric Bischoff made headlines last week, but they had little to do with pro wrestling. Bischoff returned to Atlanta, the former headquarters of WCW, to testify at the sensational Gold Club trial and describe his role in alleged sex shenanigans at the posh strip club.
Some say it's mere coincidence that WWF ratings have been dropping since the night Vince McMahon announced that his company was gobbling up the competition. Others are calling it the curse of WCW.
Widespread rumors that Bret Hart was WWF-bound as part of the upcoming WCW invasion angle were quickly shot down after making the Internet rounds last week.
Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! No, this isn't the crazed cry for the king
of trash TV, Jerry Springer. It is, rather, what a lot of WWF fans
have been calling for ever since the self-proclaimed king of wrestling, Jerry Lawler, left his WWF color commentator's role
alongside Jim Ross.
As much a winner on the page as he was in the ring, Lou Thesz' autobiography, "Hooker," gives you a front-row ringside seat as he takes you through the bizarre and colorful world of professional wrestling.
Those weren't exactly Vince McMahon's words last Monday night as he gloated over his expanding wrestling universe, but they were mighty close to it. And they certainly weren't those of Ted Turner, whose beloved "rassling" company was sold to his longtime nemesis in what seemed a blink of an eye. The carefully chosen words did, however, succinctly reflect the sentiment of David Crockett, who watched a 29-year tradition of wrestling on Turner's stations come to an end.
World Championship Wrestling, as it awaits completion of a buyout deal with its new owner, faces a long uphill battle in reclaiming an audience that it turned off in droves over the past two years. Whether the "new and improved" WCW is just that - "new" or "improved" - remains to be seen.
Former WCW president Eric Bischoff is billing it as the "season finale" of Nitro, but that's probably his one final attempt to sugarcoat the obvious. In reality, the proverbial fat lady is singing, and that swan song is less than 48 hours away.
Watching the "Minnesota Wrecking Crew" work in a ring was like staring at the face of professional wrestling. From their rugged looks and their machine-like precision to their ability to stir crowds to a state of frenzy, Gene and Ole Anderson were the proverbial "well-oiled team" by which future mat combinations would be judged.
Jerry Lawler, who with longtime partner Jim Ross formed one of the top announcing teams in wrestling history, walked out on the WWF last week following the firing of wife Stacy Carter.
Brian James, whose promising career in the wrestling business has been plagued by substance abuse problems, continued his downward spiral at an independent show May 26 at Conway High School.
Professional wrestling may have lost one of its greatest legends, but it was how Johnny Valentine lived that has left an indelible impression on a generation of wrestling fans.
The WWF has terminated its contract with Brian Lawler ("Grandmaster Sexay" Brian Christopher of Too Cool) as a result of his arrest on charges of possessing illegal drugs when he crossed the Canadian border for last week's WWF swing.
Trish Stratus may be one of the most celebrated divas in the wrestling business today, but just a few years ago she was a self-admitted tomboy with plans to attend medical school in her native Canada.
Never in her wildest imagination did she ever believe she'd realize her biggest fantasy - appearing in a World Wrestling Federation ring.
On camera, in front of millions of World Wrestling Federation fans each week, she plays a sassy, spoiled siren who loves playing games with her men. Outside the ring, Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of WWF owners Vince and
Linda McMahon, is bright, warm and funny, a bona fide member of professional wrestling's most infamous family...
Several months ago Chris Jericho faced the most important decision of his professional career. Would the 28-year-old phenom remain with a company that had kept him mired in mid-card programs but had offered him a substantial salary, or would he take a job with the competition and seize the opportunity to advance to the next level of stardom?
Chris Jericho made the biggest decision of his professional career earlier this year when he turned down a lucrative offer from WCW in favor of a chance to display his considerable skills in the WWF. Jericho, however, now finds himself embroiled in controversy and the target of what many consider to be a behind-the-scenes power struggle.
With a name like Rip Hawk, you'd think that flying would be this guy's
cup of tea. But for the former pro mat great, traveling on airplanes is for the birds...
The scenario was a familiar one. The "Russian Bear," Ivan Koloff, taking one of his patented bumps, with the "Russian Nightmare," Nikita Koloff, at his side.
Dana Hall, whose on-on, off-again marriage to Scott Hall has been the topic of widespread conversation and speculation over the past several years, has issued an apology to her husband.
He's a self-admitted cross between rock singer David Lee Roth and actors Robert DeNiro and Dennis Hopper. He's also the best manager today not working for a major wrestling promotion.
Columbia native Daryl Van Horn gained national exposure during the past year working for the Tennessee-based Smoky Mountain Wrestling and earned rave reviews
"No. 1" Paul Jones, one of pro wrestling's top names during the '70s and '80s, will make a rare appearance as part of an event sponsored by Coward Baptist Church on Saturday.
Two great amateur wrestlers who became world champion professionals headline the 2001 class of inductees into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Tim Woodin and Jack Brisco, along with "old timers" William Muldoon and Farmers Burns, will be inducted the weekend of June 1-2 at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa.
World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc.'s disastrous XFL venture forced a fourth-quarter loss of $20.4 million and cut full-year profits in 2001 to about a third of the previous year's earnings.
A Four Horsemen reunion of sorts will take place at a New Generation Wrestling show June 16 at the Recreation Center in Shelby, N.C., when Tully Blanchard puts on the tights for a rare appearance in a match with David Flair. Arn Anderson will be assigned to the match in the corner of one of the two.
The Associated Press reported last week that former strip club manager Thomas "Ziggy" Sicignano, a key witness in the government's racketeering case against Gold Club owner Steve Caplan of Atlanta, testified in an Atlanta court that female dancers provided sexual favors to, among others, former WCW boss Eric Bischoff.
World Championship Wrestling has released Crowbar (Chris Ford) as a cost-cutting move to make way for other talent, including former ECW performer E.Z. Money, who is scheduled to make his WCW debut on this week's Nitro.
The WWF will return to the Lowcountry with a house show July 7 at the North Charleston Coliseum. The promotion's last local appearance in February drew a sellut crowd to the Coliseum for a nationally televised taping of Smackdown.
Look for Stone Cold" Steve Austin to turn heel heading into Wrestlemania. Austin believes a heel turn is best for business and would revitalize WWF ratings.
Every once in a while professional wrestling puts its best foot forward. Such was the case on Wednesday night when WCW, the WWF and independent promotions from around the country joined forces at the Cincinnati Gardens for the second annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show.
Another disturbing sign out of Atlanta: Arn Anderson, one of the company's most loyal hands, recently was reprimanded and sent home by Eric Bischoff, who held Double A responsible for a segment involving Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell.
An Indianapolis physician whose license was suspended after he allegedly provided controlled substances to professional wrestlers is facing criminal charges.
Ric Flair ushered in a new era for WCW last week by turning heel, telling everyone to take a seat and put down the remote, because "Your world changes tonight!" The new owners of World Championship Wrestling are banking on it. They are hoping, against seemingly insurmountable odds, that the third time around is a charm for Eric Bischoff.
Shawn Stasiak was looking forward to a promising career in the World Wrestling Federation until a practical joke backfired. Not only did it cost him his job, it left him wondering whether he had a future in professional wrestling...
That the scriptwriting and creative direction have been woefully inadequate has hardly been a secret to anyone who has watched World Wrestling Entertainment programming over the past year or so. But never was it more apparent than on last Monday night's edition of Raw.
Can you smell what The Rock's cooking?
Smells a lot like the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight title.
Rocky Maivia, a third-generation wrestler who has taken the wrestling business by storm...
Dogging 14-time world heavyweight champion Ric Flair has become a popular pastime for ECW's Shane Douglas. Throughout the '90s Douglas has been openly critical of Flair, blaming him for his lack of a push while Flair was booker at WCW, and chastising Flair for
not "passing the torch" to younger talent in the business.
Like a hero out of a Louis Lamour novel, Dick Hutton rode out of Oklahoma and ruled the collegiate heavyweight division like no man before him or since.
Charleston, S.C., has been the site for some of the greatest battles in history. Many schoolchildren have read of these great wars and the heroes who fought them and many times wondered what they must have been like or what it would have been like to meet one of them.
The King Street Palace, site of the former County Hall, was the stage for the biggest pro wrestling reunion ever held in this area. "The Night the Legends Return: A Tribute to Henry Marcus" was a long-overdue tip of the hat to one of the sport's great promoters, along with a recognition of the past stars of the Mid-Atlantic area.
Ten years ago Nikita Koloff was one of the most feared men in the wrestling business. A 280-pound powerhouse complete with shaved head and a ring outfit prominently displaying the hammer and sickle, he was the stereotypical "Russian" villain. Few, however, would recognize Nikita Koloff today.
Nikita Koloff made a major impact on the professional wrestling scene when promoter Jim Crockett brought him into Charlotte in 1984. He had celebrated feuds with stars such as Ric Flair, Magnum T.A. and Lex Luger, and his babyface turn made him one of the most popular stars in the business when he joined Dusty Rhodes as The Superpowers.
But Nikita Koloff, even then, knew something was missing.
Tully Blanchard was one of pro wrestling's brightest stars during the '80s. Fame and fortune had come easy for the former standout college quarterback and member of wrestling's legendary Four Horsemen. But outside the glare of the spotlight, Blanchard was on a runaway train to destruction. Through what Blanchard calls a miracle, his life got back on track with more meaning and sense of purpose than ever before.
Tully Blanchard was one of pro wrestling's brightest stars during the '80s. Fame and fortune had come easy for the former standout college quarterback and member of wrestling's legendary Four Horsemen. But outside the glare of the spotlight, Blanchard was on a runaway train to destruction. Through what Blanchard calls a miracle, his life got back on track with more meaning and sense of purpose than ever before.
Owen Hart's recent death in Kansas City, Mo., marked the first fatal accident in a U.S. wrestling ring since 1969 when Iron Mike DiBiase died of a heart attack during a match in Lubbock, Texas. Harley Race witnessed firsthand both gut-wrenching events.
Few individuals were ever more suited for a gimmick. The image of a bear of a man aptly named Klondike Bill - dark, shaggy hair and thick beard, familiar blue jeans supported by a white rope - will forever be etched in the memory of veteran wrestling fans.
There are many words that described Hiro Matsuda.
Honest. Honorable. Humble. A wrestling heel of legendary proportion, but a man with a heart as big as they come...
As the nation came to grips with the horror that unfolded at a Colorado high school, the world of professional wrestling mourned the loss of one of its own. "Ravishing" Rick Rude, whose legacy will live on every time a performer grabs a mic and yells out "Cut the music," became the latest in an increasingly alarming and disturbing list of pro wrestlers who have died far too young.
J.C. Dykes, who gained notoriety as manager of the infamous Masked Infernos, passed away of a heart attack at the age of 67 on Nov. 20 in Cleveland, Tenn...
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of Rodney Anoai, better known as two-time WWF world champion Yokozuna, who was found dead in a Liverpool, England, hotel last Monday. The 600-pound Anoai, who had been participating on a tour of the United Kingdom, died in his sleep Sunday night.
Tom Renesto, who with Jody Hamilton formed one of the most celebrated masked teams in the history of the business, will be remembered for his many contributions to pro wrestling.
"Burrhead Jones: Never Be A Cotton Pickin' Nuther" is the next best thing to personally shooting the breeze with an original character that sadly is becoming all too rare - in the wrestling business or otherwise.
It was meant to have been a stunt - just another crowd-pleasing gimmick designed to embellish a World Wrestling Federation show. The tragic result was a horrific spectacle that shocked a national pay-per-audience and a sellout crowd of more than 18,000 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
Ray Stevens, who died in his sleep of heart failure on May 3, 1996, provided pro wrestling with one of its truly unique characters throughout a period that spanned the modern history of the sport.
He was the "king" of wrestling, and he had a crown to prove it.
Long before stars like Jerry Lawler and Bret Hart claimed that title, a South Carolina native by the name of Rufus R. Jones was the undisputed king.
He looked more like your average businessman than a professional wrestler. But no wrestler in the pre-Ric Flair era was more popular in the Carolinas than George Becker.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling: Death Of A Promotion (Part One)
Nearly four years later, Cornette came to the painful conclusion that Smoky Mountain Wrestling could not survive. On Nov. 26 during a house show in Cookeville, Tenn., Cornette met with his crew and made the announcement that the territory was shutting down.
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who has most definitely made his mark on the world of professional wrestling, might have been a star on the gridiron had not fate, or more specifically grades, intervened.
When Gordon Solie talked, people listened. Especially wrestling fans, a generation of which were weaned on the gravel-voiced Solie's unique call of the action inside the ring and unparalleled commentary on the business.
Gordon Solie was, simply put, the sport's greatest ambassador and the voice of professional wrestling for four decades...
Jacques Barzun, distinguished French author whose works include "From Dawn to Decadence," told The New York Times in 1981: "Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball. "That once was true. But as our nation approaches its 225th birthday, for a more current insight into the national psyche, examine not the subtle nuances of baseball's pastoral symmetry, but of professional wrestling's chaotic cacophony.
New WCW executive vice president Bill Busch has implemented a number of measures to trim the company fat, but WCW also needs a leader to point the company in a new creative direction.
Ric Flair will make his long-awaited return to pro wrestling Monday night at the new Bi-Lo Center in Greenville in one of the most anticipated Nitros ever. Can Eric Bischoff be trusted to accord Ric Flair with the respect and dignity becoming of a 13-time world champion whose popularity has transcended the boundaries of professional wrestling? Time will tell.
WCW reached into the bottom of a tasteless barrel on Nitro when new booker Ed Ferrara impersonated Ross in a parody that mocked not only Ross' announcing style, but also a disability that has plagued the veteran commentator for five years.
Ric Flair is more than willing to be a team player. But is anyone else? That's the major question yet to be answered by WCW's depleted top tier of talent.
It was, simply put, a night for the ages. It was wrestling's version of Mark McGwire hitting his 62nd home run. Ric Flair's return to WCW last Monday night in Greenville, S.C., before a sellout crowd of 16,000 and millions of others watching on television, may have been the single greatest professional wrestling moment ever captured on film.
Two WWF performers recently posed that question provided contrasting takes on the subject. Two-time NCAA wrestling champion Kurt Angle, who parlayed his 1996 Olympic gold medal success into a lucrative professional career, says the answer is "a definite yes," but with a disclaimer...
"Don't hate the player. Hate the game."
- Booker T. If it sounds like a popular wrestling catch phrase, it is. If it sounds like it's designed to get a big babyface pop, it is. What many may not know, however, is that those pointed words are also intended to send a message to "the players" in the WCW locker room.
In a business that is built around its performers working its audience, World Championship Wrestling went one step further at last Sunday night's Bash at the Beach pay-per-view. It worked its own performers.
The "work shoot" worked to near perfection, and if it was designed to get wrestling fans talking, it achieved its goal. It was, in fact, so well executed that the vast majority of WCW employees believed - and many still believe - that the angle was a shoot (real).
Randy Anderson never realized just how fragile life was - until it was nearly taken away. Anderson, one of the most respected and well-liked referees in the wrestling business, was diagnosed with cancer. But with early detection and a strong will to live, he's winning the battle and eluding the fatal three count.
Wrestling "bad guy" George South has a unique way of getting heel heat during a typical match. He simply tells his detractors that he'd like to take them to church. And he means it.
The sad saga of Scott Hall took yet another troubling turn when he was arrested on Nov. 22 on DUI charges after being involved in a three-car accident in Winter Springs, Fla. Hall allegedly was driving on the wrong side of a six-lane highway when his Pathfinder caused a collision with two other vehicles...
Few men ever cast a more imposing figure on a football field or in a wrestling ring than Ernie Ladd. At 6-9 and well over 300 pounds, Ladd was widely regarded as the biggest and toughest man in professional football during the '60s when he played in the fledgling American Football League
WCW boss Eric Bischoff, with assistance from Ric Flair and the financial backing of Ted Turner's deep pockets, brought in Hulk Hogan five years ago to turn around the fortunes of his company. The signing was heralded as the biggest event in the history of the organization.
It was the defining moment in the career of a performer who's made a living out of putting life and limb on the line every time he steps into a wrestling ring.
If he hadn't already, Mick Foley most assuredly clinched a spot in pro wrestling's hall of fame with his over-the-top performance at last Sunday's King of the Ring pay-per-view.
Boys will be boys. Nasty ones, that is.
Jerry Sags (Jerry Saganowich) and Brian Nobbs (Brian Yandrisovitz), better known in wrestling circles as The Nasty Boys, are in hot water again at WCW.
Reports out of Atlanta indicate that the relationship between WCW executive vice president Eric Bischoff and NWO "Wolfpac" members Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman has begun to sour.
Dick Murdoch, who passed away June 14, 1996, at the age of 49, was an integral part of a generation of wrestlers who helped pave the way for today's stars.
Louie Spicolli had hit the high point of his wrestling career. He had enjoyed one of his finest performances to date doing color commentary with Tony Schaivone and Mike Tenay on Monday Nitro, and WCW was impressed enough with Spicolli to bring him back three days later in a similar role on Thursday Thunder.
Crusher Jerry Blackwell, a 400-pound wrestler who gained notoriety during the '80s as one of the top heels in the now-defunct AWA, has passed away at the age of 45.
Paul Wight is one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling. Wight, who is aptly billed as The Giant and is one of World Championship Wrestling's top performers, stands seven feet, two inches tall and weighs in at around the 415 mark, give or take a few pounds.
All good things must come to an end. Such is life in the fast-lane world of professional wrestling.
Few, if any, have been more loyal to a wrestling company than Bobby Eaton has to WCW.
Bill Goldberg, with only 10 months of pro wrestling experience, Monday night placed an exclamation point on his skyrocketing career as he assumed his spot at the top of the WCW heap with his world title victory over Hollywood Hogan.
Terry Taylor smiles at the notion of being labeled the "Taylor-Made Man." Of course, it's all part of his latest gimmick in the gimmick-filled world of professional wrestling.
His name was Larry Simon. But to thousands of wrestling fans across the country, "The Great" Malenko was one of the most notorious "bad guys" to ever step inside the squared circle.
Arn Anderson, telling a nationwide audience that he didn't have the strength in his hand to hold up a glass or even button his shirt, publicly announced his retirement in an emotional interview last week on another record-breaking episode of Monday Nitro...
Nearly thirty years ago Ric Flair asked his dad for "permission" to become a
pro wrestler. The answer to that question would forever change the wrestling
business. Many parents might have panicked. Some would have laughed it off. But Dick
Fliehr handled his son's dilemma with the same measure of grace, compassion and common sense that punctuated his life...
It's unlikely that a recent obituary for Carl Dennis Campbell Sr. raised many eyebrows. Campbell, 62, was a loner most of his life, had been in ill health in recent years and had retired from his profession more than two decades ago...
Mills Lane, the feisty ex-boxing referee who gained national notoriety by disqualifying Mike Tyson for biting off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in a championship fight in 1997, will return to the ring tonight. This time, however, it will be a wrestling ring where Judge Lane will hand down his verdict.
It sounds a lot like a soap opera, but it wasn't an angle or part of a storyline. Nor was it staged, scripted or fake. What it was has been described as "mind boggling" and one of the most stunning upsets in U.S. political history...
Most longtime fans remember Larry "Rocky" Hamilton as one of the toughest competitors to ever step inside a wrestling ring. His swarming, aggressive style will never be forgotten by those who locked horns with him inside the squared circle...
Stan Lane carved his niche in the wrestling business as a member of two of the most famous tag-teams of the '80s. He's also the answer to a great trivia question...
Few would argue that Jeff Jarrett is one of the most polished performers in the wrestling business. The grappler known to most fans as "Double J," however, is struggling to find an identity...
Bret Hart left the World Wrestling Federation in a blaze of fury
and controversy two months ago, with his departure rocking the
entire organization and generating speculation that others might
follow.
Many called him a legend. Others remembered him as one of the most colorful characters to ever step inside a wrestling ring. But Dr. Jerry Graham, who recently died of complications from
a stroke at the age of 68, was in life a tortured soul...
Brian Pillman's last major wrestling angle took place several weeks ago in a motel room where, according to the storyline, he was holding his arch-rival's wife against her will. One week ago today, in a room similar to the one used in the angle, Brian Pillman's real life was played out, the victim of a heart attack most likely precipitated by a lifestyle all too common in his profession...
His friends remember him as a fighter. John Minton used that same tenacity to combat a foe tougher than any he ever faced inside a wrestling ring. But that battle ended March 20, 1995, when cancer took the life of one
of pro wrestling's most famous personalities.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts rose to the top of the wrestling profession and basked in a spotlight reserved for an elite few. But along with that lofty position in the business came the fame, money and temptation that led to his near-fatal descent...
Jake "The Snake" Roberts, who quit the business more than a year ago to devote his full-time efforts to the ministry, returned to the World Wrestling Federation several months ago. But his return wasn't purely for financial gain. It was a way to reach a vast audience with a simple message.
A recent incident involving Tammy Sytch following an ECW show in Philadelphia has raised more concerns about a performer once dubbed the " queen of professional wrestling."
All too often in professional wrestling, the thin line between reality and fantasy becomes much too blurred. Sometimes that fantasy world provides an escape valve from the stress and pressures that go along with the artificially glamorized lives of pro wrestlers.
Pro wrestling is a world filled with jealousy,
paranoia and mistrust.
Every now and then, a gentle soul emerges, a
peacemaker who embraces
the business in spite of its shortcomings, and more
importantly, earns
the respect of an entire industry...
He was a bear of a man, standing over seven feet tall and weighing more than 500 pounds. Andre Rene Rousimoff, better known to millions as Andre The Giant, left a big void in the world of professional wrestling when he recently passed away of a heart attack at the age of 46.
At first glance, Lillian Ellison might strike one as the soft-spoken, grandmotherly type. But don't let the gentle demeanor fool you.
Behind those bright, twinkling eyes and pleasant smile is a tigress who set the sport of women's wrestling on fire and became a worldwide sensation several decades ago...
Bobo Brazil, one of pro wrestling's legendary figures, died Tuesday at the age of 74 of complications from a stroke at a hospital in St. Joseph, Mich. Brazil, noted for his patented "coco butt" maneuver, was a pioneer in the wrestling business, taking firm stands against racial discrimination and breaking color barriers in a number of cities throughout the country.
Manager Jim Cornette is best known for whacking wrestlers in the head with his infamous "Louisville Slugger"tennis racquet. But recently he used a real "Louisville Slugger" to smash the
car windows of a former office employee at Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
Longtime WWF referee Joey Marella, son of commentator and former
wrestler Gorilla Monsoon, was killed in an automobile accident
early Monday morning while driving back from a WWF television taping
held Sunday night in Ocean City, Md.
At first glance, Steve Prazak might strike you as a normal, upwardly mobile business type. But, upon further examination, you'll discover another side to the wrestling fanatic known as Steven DeTruth.
Don't invite Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious to the same party. The two were involved in a near-fatal battle confrontation last October in a hotel room - not a wrestling ring - in England. The incident, which saw both men hospitalized with Anderson suffering more than a dozen stab wounds, resulted in a WCW suspension for Anderson and the eventual firing of Vicious.
This is the first of a two-part interview with new World Wrestling Federation president Linda McMahon. Mrs. McMahon, whose husband Vince has long been considered the most powerful man in the wrestling business, discusses the state of the company and responds to allegations that have been made against the organization.
This is the second of a two-part interview with new World Wrestling Federation president Linda McMahon. Mrs. McMahon, whose husband Vince has long been considered the most powerful man in the wrestling business, discusses the state of the company and responds to allegations that have been made against the organization.
