Saturday, March 23, 2013

Death Of Hollywood Hippie

Hollywood Hippie Bill Smithson died in Tennessee this week. Though a mainstay in the southern states, he also made appearances in northern Arizona, Utah and Wyoming.

There are no other details available.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Steve Gator Wolf Recovering

On March 1, Steve Gator Wolf was in a major truck accident and has been in the hospital, but is recovering rapidly.

He is expected to be released in a few days.

Gator Wolf ran his own shows in Arizona in the 1990s and beyond, while wrestling earlier for other promoters in the area. past opponents included JT Law, Jody Arnold, The Lumberjacks and more.

Death Of Paul Bearer

William Moody, also known as Percy Pringle and as Paul Bearer more so during his WWF/WWE run, passed away yesterday. The cause of death has not yet been released, but speculation has been a heart attack or blood clot. He was 58.

Just prior to his death, he was seen at the Gulf Coast reunion for old time wrestlers in Mobile, Alabama.

Moody was seen often in Phoenix at house shows and TV tapings as the manager of The Undertaker and others.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Bill Parks

Bill Parks made the rounds in the 1950s, usually as a heel, though in Arizona he worked as a fan favorite. He was never a major star ranking among the biggest names in the game, but capable and charismatic in the ring. He did enjoy a lengthy career and found his way into main event status in different places.

In the 1950s, Parks had a lengthy feud with Monte Ladue, who was then one of the smaller men in the game, but also one of the top villains.

Parks lost most of his encounters with Ladue, but increased rather than decreased with each defeat. This was due to the fact that Ladue always was sure to cheat in order to win, thus depriving Parks of the victory he deserved.

Ladue was the master at playing up to the crowd and simple things like holding trunks or placing his feet on the ropes to win would rive the crowd to a riot pitch. With Parks always just about to score a pin and Ladue pulling something cheap out of thin air to put him down was a sure fire way to put the audience in a rage. This brought them back fort he rematch, where again they hoped Parks would win and Ladue would once more, do something dirty to score a pinfall.

The odd part was again how Parks was cheered in Arizonan, but was a rule breaker in most other places. if nothing else, this proves his diversity as a wrestler.

Parks lived to be quite elderly and passed away in 2004.

Ohio Old Timer Reunion

Keep in mind many wrestlers over the decades worked both the Midwest and Southwest. With this in mind, there will be an old timer wrestling reunion and potluck set for either the first or last Saturday in June, with details to be announced.

The gathering will be in Dover, below Canton.

Interested parties may query here.