Rudy Laditz

Rudy Laditz was a popular journeyman in the 1940s who traveled about the USA, though he eventually came to be based out of California.

From his California location, it seemed only natural for him to make it to Arizona, which he did in his prime. He was seen at the Phoenix Madison Square garden as well as other venues in  Yuma, Tucson, Douglas, Camp Verde and Flagstaff.

Rudy lost more than he won in the ring, but wa always counted on to give his all.
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He later became a booking agent sending younger wrestlers to various promotions for a cut in the action.

Sadly, his name has faded into the history books like so many others and you do not hear much on him any more. .

Dirty Sanchez

You gotta love a guy named after a sexual act in porn films, I suppose, though the name went over the heads of many.

El Matador Tito Santana, he wasn't.

Still, the man did have some creativity.

Working as a Latin Lover type, though there were doubts he was even Hispanic, the man entered this ring in this matador cap and swished about like he thought himself the hottest thing on either side of the border.

At least he was good at working the crowd.

He was a decent heel to be sure, but never made it past the smaller independent groups and like many, evidently became jaded. He packed it in around 2004 or so.

Gossip has excised that he emerged in the Midwest under a new routine and alias, but who knows?

He wasn't anything to set the world on fire, but at least he tried.

New Book

Referee and writer Tim Hicks has announced a new book via Lateral Press, The Pictorial History of Wrestling In The West for late this year via Lateral Press.

The book will include a number of rare photos of big name and lesser known people from carnival times to the present.

Jim Londos, Legs Lavin, The Great  Balbo, Chris Colt, Billy Anderson, Don Fargo, Tony Hernandez, the Time Traveler, Kurt Von Hess, Mil Mascaras, Jody Arnold, Ray Stevens, Dory Funk Jr., Pedro El Grande, Mike Mazurki, Paavo Katonan, Dizzy Davis, Freddie Gomez, Tito Montez, Luis Martinez, Mike Gordon, John Ringer, Rudy Kay, Wally Plumber, Hans Schnabel, Fritz Schnabel, Cowboy Bob Yuma, Wild Red Berry, Bobby Jaggers, Moose Morowski, Daisey Maye, Paul Harvey, David Rose, Greg Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, Ben Justice, Igor, Jerry Kozack, Ivan Robert, Ali Pasha, Crusher, Red Bastein, Gorgeous George, Phil Melby, Rainbow, Section 8, Attacullaculla, Smokin Guns, King Milo, Rat Man Garvan, Bill Barker, Jeff Jarrett, Gold Dust, Hank James, Kurt Von Steiger, Ron Dupree, Billy Graham, Jerry Graham, Johnny Legend and Marvin Mercer will be just a few of the many depicted.

G-Raver

Enigmatic punk rock wrestler, G-Raver , who ahs been making a name for himself in the Midwest, may be looking at Arizona later on, if agreement might be reached about the money.

The uncanny punk rocker has been having a lot of matches in his native Pennsylvania, as well as Ohio and West Virginia. In spite of his wild appearance with his spiked hair, tattoos, huge ear piercing, strange eye contract lenses and such, he is cheered by fans.

We will see if negotiations go through.