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From:
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling.info,rec.sport.pro-wrestling,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: [rec.sport.pro-wrestling] FAQ (part 02/02) 1/2
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Date: 20 Nov 1996 02:22:23 GMT
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Summary: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for rec.sport.pro-wrestling
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Editor:
[email protected] (Dominic Macika)
Posting-Frequency: every third Friday or so
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[email protected] (Cal Jewell)
Previous-Editor:
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Original-Editor:
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Rec.Sport.Pro-Wrestling
Frequently Asked Questions
Part 2 of 2
Editor: Dominic Macika
generated: November 18, 1996
Email:
[email protected]
Copyright
This document is compilation copyright (c) 1995, 1996 by Dominic Macika and
compilation copyright (c) 1993, 1994 by Cal Jewell. It may be freely copied
and/or distributed in its entirety as long as this copyright notice is not
removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated into commercial
products without the editor's written permission. [Compilation copyright
means that you can freely use individual sections of this document, but any
significant collection of sections is subject to the copyright.]
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Comments, additions, suggestions, and corrections are encouraged. Send them
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Index
Part 1:
1. Rec.Sport.Pro-Wrestling
2. Other information sources
3. WWF
4. WCW
5. NWA
6. Other North American promotions
7. Japan
8. Mexico
Part 2:
9. Deaths
10. Injuries
11. Where Are They Now?
12. Wrestling Groups and Teams
13. Miscellaneous questions about wrestlers.
14. The Law and Pro Wrestling
15. Miscellaneous
Contributors
-------------------------------------------------------
9. Deaths
9.1. Ray "The Crippler" Stevens
Carl Raymond Stevens died May 3, 1996 of a
heart attack. He was 60 years old.
Ray Stevens was a headline wrestler almost
from the time he debuted in the early 50s
until his retirement in the 80s. Stevens
headlined the San Francisco area from the
time the Shire promotion opened in 1960 until
he left in 1971. From there he move to the
AWA as a tag team partner of Nick Bockwinkel.
Later stints also included NWA tag team title
reigns in the early 80s with partners like
Greg Valentine, Jimmy Snuka and Ivan Koloff.
Hs last big run came in the WWF in 1982,
where he gave Jimmy Snuka a piledriver
outside the ring at a tv taping which led to
Snuka's biggest run as a babyface.
9.2. Other recent wrestling related deaths
Dr. Bernhardt Schwartz, February
22, 1996, age 81. Ringside
physician.
Edward Welch (aka Buddy Fuller),
January 15, 1996, age 71. Wrestler
and promoter. Father of Robert
Welch(Robert Fuller, Col. Parker)
and Ronald Welch (Ron Fuller).
Humberto Arellano (aka Elegante
Blanco), January 13, 1996.
Wrestler.
Jerry Arotsky (aka Jerry O, Jerry
Allen), December, 1995, age 32.
Wrestler.
Eddie Blanks, November 18, 1995.
Referee.
Vic Travis aka Vic Christy, October
25, 1995, wrestler and brother of
wrestler Ted Travis aka Ted
Christy.
Raul Rojas, October 22, 1995,
wrestler.
Gene Stevens aka Frank Dalton,
October 17, 1995, wrestler
1965-1985.
Jay York, October 7, 1995, age 57,
wrestler 1958-1990.
Henry Phillips aka Treach Phillips,
September 30, 1995, age 66,
wrestler 1951-1972.
Jean Kirkland aka The Black Venus,
September 29, 1995, age 47,
wrestler.
George "Dutch" Momberg, aka Killer
Karl Krupp, August 24, 1995, age
62. Wrestler 1965-1988.
Arturo Arrillo aka Zandokan, July
25, 1995, age 39. Wrestler and
brother of wrestler Huichol.
Richard Demonbreun aka Dick Dunn,
July 6, 1995. Wrestler 1949- 1970s.
Charles "Popeye" Richards, July,
1995, age 65. Wrestler 1962- 1974
and grandfather of Chris Candido.
Ideguchi Hajime aka Mr. Chin, June
26, 1995, age 62. Wrestler.
William Dahmer aka Pancho Villa,
June 12, 1995. Wrestler 1954- 1971,
brother of Chief White Owl.
---------------------------------------------
10. Injuries
10.1. What happened to Cactus Jack's right
ear?
It was accidentally ripped off on
March 16, 1994 in a wrestling match
in Munich, Germany against Vader.
During the match, Cactus got his
head caught between the top and
middle ropes. The tension in the
tightened ring ropes was enough to
tear his right ear completely off
and badly tear his left ear. Part
of the right ear was iced and
saved. The left required 12
stitches. Cactus continued the
match for another two minutes
before going to the planned finish.
Cactus was in good spirits
afterwards with little damage to
his hearing and some trouble with
his balance. Cactus returned to the
ring April 17, 1994. Reports were
that Cactus was planning to take a
few months time off to have
reconstructive surgery on the ear,
however, to date, he has yet to
take time off and is currently
working for both ECW and SMW.
---------------------------------------------
11. Where Are They Now?
11.1. What happened to Tully Blanchard?
After getting suspended/fired from
the WWF in November 1989, Tully
Blanchard spent a few months in the
AWA and then retired and became an
evangelist. Depending on who you
listen to, Tully was fired for
failing a drug test (the WWF
story), or Tully was tired of the
WWF and failed the drug test on
purpose, hoping to get released
from his contract (Tully's story).
Tully returned to wrestling on May
22, 1994 for WCW for one match at
Slamboree '94. He has wrestled
sporadically since, in Texas, ECW
and Japan.
Reverend Tully can be reached at:
Tully Blanchard
Ministries
P.O. Box 2724
Matthews, North Carolina
28106
11.2. What happened to Rick Rude?
Prior to May 1994, Rude had been
working injured (back and knee).
Since he wasn't able to fulfill his
contract, WCW fired him. Rude has
since filed a lawsuit with WCW over
the reason for his injuries and
royalities.
---------------------------------------------
12. Wrestling Groups and Teams
12.1. Who were the Four Horsemen?
Over the years 13 different
wrestlers have been part of the
Horsemen. They are: Ric Flair, Arn
Anderson, Ole Anderson, Tully
Blanchard, Lex Lugar, Barry
Windham, Butch Reed, Kendell
Windham, Sting, Sid Vicious, Paul
Roma, Brian Pillman and Chris
Benoit. JJ Dillon, Ole Anderson and
Hiro Matsuda have all served as
managers.
The Horsemen name was first used in
January, 1986, with the original
group being Ric Flair, Tully
Blanchard, Ole Anderson and Arn
Anderson. The current group of
Horsemen in WCW consists of Ric
Flair, Arn Anderson and Chris
Benoit.
12.2. Who were in the Midnight Express?
Randy Rose, Dennis Condrey and
Norvell Austin formed the Midnight
Express in Alabama in 1981. The
group moved to Memphis in late 1981
and returned to Alabama in the
summer of 1982. During 1983,
Midnight Express, Inc. included at
one time or another, Rose, Condrey,
Austin, the Midnight Stallion, Ron
Starr, Rick Harris, and Wayne
Ferris.
Condrey left Alabama and joined
Mid-South in 1983, where he formed
a tag team with Bobby Eaton,
managed by Jim Cornette, also
called the Midnight Express. The
Alabama version disbanded in early
1984, while Condrey, Eaton and
Cornette would go on to achieve
fame in Mid-South, World Class and
finally, the NWA in 1985. In April
1987, Condrey left and was replaced
by Stan Lane.
In 1987, Dennis Condrey and Randy
Rose joined as the "Original"
Midnight Express, managed by Paul E
Dangerously. This group came to the
NWA to feud with Cornette, Lane and
Eaton.
12.3. Who were the Legion of Doom?
The Legion of Doom was a originally
a group of wrestlers managed by
"Precious" Paul Ellering in Georgia
in 1983. At one time or another,
the group included Jake Roberts,
the Spoiler, King Kong Bundy and
Buzz Sawyer. The headline team of
the group was always the Road
Warriors. By 1984, the Road
Warriors were the sole charges of
Paul Ellering. After that, the name
Legion of Doom was just used as
another nickname for the Warriors.
When the Road Warriors jumped to
the WWF in mid 1990, they called
themselves the Legion of Doom, but
that was merely a marketing-driven
name change from their NWA/WCW
personas of the Road Warriors.
12.4. Who were Power Team USA?
Power Team USA was a group of
bodybuilders formed by Red Bastien
in California in 1985. Bastien
intended to train them to be
wrestlers, but soon abandoned the
plan. Upon disbanding the group,
Bastien observed "they have great
bodies, but they can't wrestle a
lick." The members of the group
were Jim "Justice" Hellwig (later
the Ultimate Warrior), Steve
"Flash" Borden (later Sting), Mark
"Commando" Miller and Garland
"Glory" Donnoho. Miller never
wrestled after the disbanding of
the group. Donnoho wrestled briefly
in California as "The Myth"
---------------------------------------------
13. Miscellaneous questions about wrestlers.
13.1. Who was/is [x]?
In the current "Who is..." list:
* Leif Cassedy - Al Sarven (aka
Al Snow)
* Shinobi - Al Sarven (aka Al
Snow)
* Hugh Morrus - Bill DeMott (aka
Crash the Terminator)
* Phineas Godwinn - Dennis
Knight (aka Tex Slazinger)
* BodyDonna Zip --- Tom Prichard
* Mr J L --- Jerry Lynn
* Dr. I Yankum - Glen Jacobs
(aka Unibom in SMW)
* Golddust - Dustin Rhodes (real
names Dustin Runnels)
13.2. Who is Doink the Clown?
That depends on which Doink the
Clown you are talking about. Since
Doink the Clown debuted in the WWF,
the following wrestlers have
appeared at least once as a Doink:
* Matt Osborne (aka Big Josh,
aka "Maniac" Matt Borne)
* Steve Keirn (aka Skinner)
* Steve Lombardi (aka Brooklyn
Brawler, aka Kim Chee)
* Ray Lichicelli (aka Ray
Apollo)
* Butch & Luke (the
Bushwhackers)
* Mo, Oscar, and Mabel (Men on a
Mission)
The current Doink in the WWF is Ray
Lichicelli. Additionally, numerous
wrestlers have appeared on
independant shows using the
gimmick.
13.3. Who is Steve DiSalvo?
Steve DiSalvo has wrestled all over
the world, including as "Strangler"
Steve DiSalvo in Stampede Wrestling
in Calgary, as Steve Strong in
Montreal, and as the Minotaur in
WCW. He really exists.
For a short while Steve DiSalvo was
an "in joke" on r.s.p-w. It started
in mid 1991 when Sean Ryan
mentioned that the WCW's Diamond
Studd (really Scott Hall, Razor
Ramon) resembled Steve DiSalvo. Not
knowing any better, other
r.s.p-w'ers took Sean's remark to
be the explanation for the
different looks of Scott Hall.
Shortly thereafter, "The Diamond
Studd is not Scott Hall... It's
Steve DiSalvo" posts began showing
up on r.s.p-w. What began as an
honest misunderstanding quickly
mutated into r.s.p-w'ers answering
"Who is...?" questions with "It's
Steve DiSalvo!". The joke ran its
course long ago, and is now more
annoying than amusing.
13.4. Did [X] ever played organized football?
The crossover between wrestling and
football is high. Many current
professional wrestlers played
football in college, and perhaps
professionally.
First a few notes:
The Manny Fernandez who played for
the Miami Dolphins in the early 70s
is NOT the same person as the
wrestler Manny Fernandez. Manny the
wrestler was in junior high when
Manny the Dolphin was earning Super
Bowl rings.
Bronko Nagurski deserves
recognition as the only athlete to
be a member of the Pro-Football
Hall of Fame and hold a World
Heavyweight Championship in
Wrestling. Nagurski was a tackle at
the University of Minnesota,
1927-29 (All-American in 1929) and
played Fullback with the Chicago
Bears 1930-37 and 1943. He was one
of the initial inductees into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is
also a member of the College
Football Hall of Fame. [6'2
216-238] Nagurski held the National
Wrestling Association title twice,
from June 23, 1939 to March 7, 1940
(defeating Lou Thesz, losing to Ray
Steele) and from March 11, 1941 to
June 5, 1941 (regaining from Ray
Steele and losing to Sandor Szabo.)
Below is a brief list of current
wrestlers with football background,
clipped from a posting by Gary
Will.
Jim Duggan: Linebacker at Southern
Methodist University. Signed as a
free agent with the Atlanta Falcons
in 1977 and spent the season on
injured reserve list. Tried out
with CFL Toronto Argonauts in 1978
or 1979 and may have played.
Stan Hansen: Linebacker at West
Texas State University; 11th round
pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1972
but did not make the team.
Lex Luger: Offensive tackle with
Pennsylvania State University and
the University of Miami. Played for
the CFL Montreal Alouettes after
being suspended from the Miami
team. On the Green Bay Packers'
reserves in 1982. Later played for
the USFL Memphis Showboats (1983)
and Tampa Bay Bandits.
Jim Neidhart: Was on track team at
UCLA but did not play football.
Dave Scheid remembers him as a
back-up nose guard for the Oakland
Raiders in late 70s who may also
have been with the Houston Oilers;
other sources say he never played
in the NFL but did attend a Raiders
training camp.
Paul Orndorff: Fullback at
University of Tampa. Drafted by
Kansas City Chiefs in 1973 but
didn't make the team. Tried out for
New Orleans Saints in 1974 and was
again cut. Played for WFL
Jacksonville Sharks in 1975.
Brian Pillman: Middle guard for
Miami University. Signed as a free
agent by Cincinnati Bengals and
played there in 1984. Tried out for
the CFL Calgary Stampeders in 1986
and may have played there.
Ron Simmons: Nose guard for Florida
State University. All-American in
1982. Drafted in the 6th round by
the Cleveland Browns in 1983 but
did not make the team. Played for
the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits.
Big Van Vader: Played at University
of Colorado. Drafted by the Los
Angeles Rams and was on injured
reserve for at least one season but
never played.
Steve Williams: Offensive guard
with University of Oklahoma where
he was All-Conference and Honorable
Mention All-American in 1981.
Signed with USFL New Jersey
Generals in 1983, played little and
was traded to the Denver Gold
before the 1984 season, where he
was cut.
COLLEGE ONLY:
Animal (LOD) Morehead State
University Defensive Tackle
Tully Blanchard West Texas State
University Quarterback
Ted DiBiase West Texas State
University
Ric Flair University of Minnesota
Offensive Guard
Terry Funk West Texas State
University Offensive Guard
13.5. Are Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth
really married?
Not any more. They were divorced in
1992. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
(real name Randy Poffo) and Miss
Elizabeth (real name Elizabeth
Hewlett) were officially married
December 30, 1984 in Frankfort, KY.
Their "Match Made in Heaven" was
just a gimmick Vince McMahon used
as a draw for SummerSlam '91.
13.6. Who are the Von Erichs?
To begin with, there are no "real"
Von Erichs. The Adkisson family has
used the last name "Von Erich" for
their wrestling personas for years.
The patriarch of the Adkisson/Von
Erich clan is Jack Adkisson. He
took the ring name Fritz Von Erich
and wrestled in the 50's and 60's
with a Nazi German gimmick,
complete with goose step and iron
claw.
Waldo Von Erich was Bill Sheppard,
no relation to the Adkissons. He
formed a successful tag team in the
60's with Fritz.
Jack had six sons, five of whom
were involved with wrestling.
Jack's first son, Jackie, died of
electrocution at age 6 in 1959.
Kevin Von Erich began wrestling in
the mid-70s. He rarely competed
outside of his home state. His few
trips out of Texas saw him compete
in Japan, and in St. Louis. Kevin
is currently wrestling for Jim
Crockett's NWA promotion in Dallas.
Kevin is the only of Fritz's sons
still alive.
David Von Erich (nicknamed "the
Yellow Rose of Texas") began
wrestling on June 28, 1977. David
was the most successful of the Von
Erich boys in the late 70s and
early 80s, competing in St. Louis,
Japan and Florida, as well as his
home state of Texas. David was
found dead in his hotel room in
Japan on February 10, 1984. His
dreams of winning the NWA World
title were never realized.
Kerry Von Erich achieved the most
national fame of the Von Erich
boys. His pinnacle came on May 6th,
1984, when he defeated Ric Flair
for the NWA World title in Texas
Stadium, at a memorial card for
David. This event made Fritz and
Kerry the only father and son duo
to hold World singles titles (Fritz
had held the AWA title in 1963)
Kerry lost the title back to Flair
in Japan on May 24, 1984.
Kerry's entire career was haunted
by troubles stemming from drug use.
On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved
in an automobile accident in which
his right leg was severely damaged.
It wasn't until after Kerry's death
in 1993 that his family would
confirm that he had lost his foot
in the accident. He wrestled for
the rest of his career with a
prosthesis on his leg. He did not
return to the ring full time until
late 1987. On February 18, 1993,
Kerry shot himself in the heart at
his home in Sandy Shore, TX. He was
33.
Mike Von Erich debuted in November,
1983. Months later he was thrust in
the role of being David's
successor, a role he never quite
looked comfortable in. In 1985, on
a tour of Israel, Mike suffered a
shoulder separation on an
exceptionally hard ring. During
recovery, Mike contracted
toxic-shock syndrome. He recovered,
but he had lost much weight and
strength during his layoff. He
returned to the ring in July 1986.
Mike died on April 13, 1987, at the
age of 23, of an intentional
overdose of Placidyl
(depressant/muscle relaxant).
Chris Von Erich, the youngest of
Fritz's sons, began appearing at
ringside for his brothers matches
in the mid-80s. He was involved in
a few angles. He finally made his
wrestling debut in the late 80's.
Chris died of a self-inflicted
gunshot wound to the head on
September 12, 1991. Chris was 21.
In 1985, Fritz brought in Kevin
William Vaughn, using the ring name
Lance Von Erich, and billed as a
cousin of the Von Erich boys, a son
of Waldo. In reality, he was no
relation to either Fritz's family
or Waldo. Fritz's plan of creating
a new Von Erich eventually
backfired, after Lance left Fritz's
promotion and Fritz admitted
publicly that he actually wasn't
related.
Recently in Texas, local wrestler
Rick Lerebeus has been wrestling as
Mark Von Erich.
13.8. How are all the Samoan wrestlers
related?
The original Samoans, Afa & Sika
are brothers, real names Alofa and
Sika Anoia. Sika has two sons in
wrestling, Rodney Anoia (Yokozuna,
Kokina Maximus) and Lloyd Anoia
(Tahitian Warrior). Alofa has one
son in wrestling, Samula Anoia
(Headshrinker Samu).
The Tonga Kid (Islander Tama,
Samoan Savage, real name Sam Fatu)
and Headshrinker Fatu (real name
Solofa Fatu) are brothers. It has
been reported that the Fatu
brothers are either cousins to Samu
and Yokozuna, or long-time family
friends to the Anoia's. Both
families are of Samoan descent and
grew up in the San Francisco area.
Headshrinker Sionne (Konga the
Barbarian, real name Sionne
Vailahi) is not related to either
family, although he is of Samoan
descent and also grew up in San
Fransisco.
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (real name
James Reiher) is of Fijian descent
and grew up in Hawaii. He has one
brother who wrestled as Cocoa Samoa
(Sabu the Wildman in Memphis ca.
84, real name John Reiher.)
---------------------------------------------
14. The Law and Pro Wrestling
14.1. Who is Charles Austin?
In December 1990, Austin and The
Genius (Lanny Poffo) jobbed for The
Rockers (Jannetty & Michaels) at a
WWF television taping at the Sun
Dome in Tampa FL. Before the
finish, Jannetty executed the
Rocker Dropper on Austin. Instead
of taking the planned face-first
bump, Austin attempted a forward
roll and wound up landing on his
