Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Death Of Ciclon Negro

Ciclon Negro has passed away and we go with the Spanish spelling of his ring name, though there are other variations.

Ciclon Negro is best known for a marathon Texas Death Match with Dory Funk Sr. at the Travel Lodge (Now Celebrity Theatre) in Phoenix in the early 1970s. In a marathon bloodbath that lasted numerous falls, Funk eventually won.

The wrestler also had a lengthy run for the Amarillo office, where he again faced Funk in a Texas Death Match where he likewise lost, following innumerable falls.

Throughout his career, he was known for a brutal and brawling style. He had many magazine features and photo spreads in The Wrestler and other publications as well in the 1970s.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Broadway Venus

Broadway Venus died a while ago. I cannot pinpoint the exact date off the top of my head, I remember it happening and seeing his obituary in some bulletins. This I do remember. If I recall correctly, he also lived to be ancient, so who could ask for more!

Broadway Venus and one has to love that name, was a capable journeyman wrestler who was seen throughout the United States during a long career. Sometimes he was on the undercard and sometimes in the main event. Likewise, sometimes he ended up cheered and at other times booed, depending on the opponent.

Broadway Venus was never a regular in Arizona, though he did appear there from time to time, usually facing Jesse James, Johnny James or Don Arnold. In the southwest, his loss  record was bigger than his list of wins. Oh well.....

Though not the most famous of names, he did his part for the wrestling world.



Friday, February 15, 2013

Dale Pierce 2013 Lectures

Several Wrestling In Akron lectures and book signings are set, with specific dates to be announced  once Wrestling in Akron is released on June 10 throughout Ohio.

Locations to be announced soon for specific dates. Cleveland, Akron, Salem, Columbus, New Philadelphia, Dover, Canton, Massillon and Hudson are just some of the towns.

Many of the wrestlers depicted in the text also appeared  in Arizona on a  regular basis indignant Don Kent  The Hell's Angels (Comancheros in Phoenix), Luis Martinez, Dizzy Davis, Sheik, Killer Brooks, Tex Riley, Andre The Giant, Cowboy Bob Ellis, the Grahams, Hans Shabel, Lord Carlton, Chris Kole and more.


Friday, February 1, 2013

The Brisco Name Continues

The Brisco brothers wrestled all over, but never too much in Arizona, as this was more or less Funk stomping ground and there the Funks could do no wrong in the eyes of the fans. Good guy versus good guy never drew all that well in Arizona, where fans were accustomed to brawls and blood. Thus, the ever popular Brisco brothers did not see as many Arizona bookings while the more established Funks were regulars.

There was one NWA World title match that took place in Phoenix when Jack Brisco had his reign. The 2/3 fall match with Dory Funk Jr. ended in a draw, with the fans split for the bulk of the encounter  until they sided with the age old favorite. Upon being booed, Jack lost it and started fighting dirty, even running Funk into the ringside table to draw blood (Blood seldom ended up spilled in their encounters). Dory turned things on him, however, with the belt within his grasp, when lo and behold, the time limit expired.

The Brisco brothers probably came through Phoenix when they were a tag team in the WWF and the Fed was invading all the old territories, but this writer is unsure of when.

Jerry Brisco, Jack's brother, was in Arizona later on as part of the WWF office. That is a certainty.

Ironically, this week marks the third anniversary of Jack Brisco's death.

Life, however, goes on.

Wes Brisco, Jack's nephew and Jerry's son, has been seen recently in TNA where as of this week he seems geared for a push.

Time will tell on this one, but with TNA having done a recent show in Phoenix and the likelihood of their return, it could well be a new Brisco will become a star in the area.

This writer is pulling for the new Brisco. Fans seem to think the son of a famous name always has it easy inn wrestling  but this is not necessarily true. While the son may get some breaks, he also has the shadow of a famous father hanging over him. To break away from this, he must be twice as good as the norm.

One cannot help but want to wish him luck.