Syndel

Criss Syndel is a relative newcomer to Arizona wrestling, but in recent years has picked up a load of steam. A high flyer who has made a name for himself on fast past moves, the man has been seen on cards form numerous Arizona wrestling promotions in the past few years. His first big push came from the late David Rose and Real Deal Wrestling, before his reputation grew and he was booked for many other offices as well. The trend continues to this day.

One may find many  results for this man in The History of Arizona Wrestling at http://www.lulu.com/content/16473758 and see him in action on You Tube.

Death of Perro Aguayo Jr.

Perro Aguayo Jr died from injuries evidently sustained in a match in Tijuana, sending  shock waves  through the world last week. There has also been a great deal of speculation as to what caused his death.

At first it was mistakenly believed a badly timed kick by Rey Misterio Jr was to blame, but footage has shown the man was "out" and sagging on the ropes before this move was delivered.

The match and aftereffects are already up on several You Tube posts and is not pleasant viewing. 

In a tag team match, Aguayo sailed through the ropes to the arena floor, climbed back in the ring and seemed to be fine, when he suddenly went limp against the ropes, hanging there like a rag doll.  The match concluded around him, with  wrestlers trying to figure out what was wrong.

Konnan came to ringside and tried to arouse Aguayo, but to little avail, as it became obvious the man was unconscious.

The wrestler was taken to a local hospital and died shortly afterward.

Death Of Cincinnati Red

Cincinnati Red, who was given the nickname due to his long red hair by trainer Billy Anderson, went into the hospital yesterday in cardiac arrest and has died from this.

While Red spent most of his career in California, he did make it to Arizona on occasion.

Red's first match in Phoenix came many years ago when Superstar Billy Graham ran a Christian wrestling show at East High.  He wrestled Tama Tia.

His death  has come form way out in left field. No one expected this.

Frankly, the man deserved far more recognition in wrestling than he received.

Rest in peace.

J.C Dykes

Jimmy "J.C" Dykes was a foppish manager better known for his work in Tennessee and in Texas, most notably where he managed the two Infernos.  Usually dressed in a tuxedo, he was a smirking, arrogant villain who never failed to provoke the anger of the fans. Sadly, he did not get much play in Arizona, barring a brief stint where Rod Fenton brought him into Tucson along with his masked pair.  The result was instant heat. People hated Dykes just by the way he strutted down the aisle. Why he was not sued more often is anyone's guess as he was certainly "over" with the people.

Dykes eventually retired to Cleveland, Tennessee, where incredibly, he took to preaching the gospel.as a minister. A fatal heart attack ended thing for him many years ago, but his legacy lives on.

Few fans realize Dykes accidentally saved the life of Din Green when he asked him to ride back to Nashville with him because he did not want to make the late night drive alone. Green agreed. Had he not done so, he would have been riding in the car with Frank Hester, Pepe Lopez and Sam Bass...which crashed and burned, killing all three men within. .

Though his Arizona run was far too brief, Dykes did much in a lengthy career to insure he would be remembered as one of wrestling's outstanding heel managers.

   

Tyrone Cabrone

You can find some of his results in the book just out, The History Of Arizona Wrestling at http://www.lulu.com/content/16473758 which has generated him a little press. You may also find many of his matches on You Tube and link to him on a Facebook page he runs.

The ghetto thug routine has been pretty much done to death, but Cabrone has added some new twists to it in his relatively short career. He has also invented some truly bizarre high risk maneuvers that always draw stunned gasps from the crowd. Whether they love him or hate him, everyone admires his sped and timing. But what can you expect from someone who proudly calls himself "the smooth criminal?"

Cabrone has made the rounds in Arizona, working regularly for High Impact and other promotions. He has been involved in a torrid feud with Roman Alexander, himself an oncoming and highly popular regional star who has provoked a great deal of interest form the fans. if they continue, their feud may one day rival such epic grudges from the past as Jody Arnold vs. Tito Montez and The Sheik vs. Luis Martinez.  The two are just get started and already their matches have been brutal.

Though Cabrone seems prefers singles matches, he does team on occasion with a number of different partners, again regularly facing Alexander and partners of his choice.

Cabrone has become recognized for a variety of leaps off the top rope and other stunning moves. While he can fight as dirty as anyone when he desires, he also combines brawling with a number of very flashy things.

Keep your eye on this guy. He could develop into something major.

The Return of King Milo

Lewis Feinman, otherwise known as King Milo, started in wrestling in the mid-1000s, first as a manager and later as a hardcore wrestler for Tucson's RCW. Some would contend he made a better manager than a wrestler, while others would insist his brutal wrestling style far surpassed his managerial duties. in any case, he vibrated a lot of heat from the crowd, though he seemed for whatever reason, to prefer to stay in Arizona rather than travel about.


Milo is back in action in Tucson, this time as a ;promoter rather than a manager or wrestler. He has been running in Tucson and his shows have been receiving a load of positive feedback.

Watch for more results from his cards soon.

Mr. Okuma & Masio Koma

Mr. Okuma and Masio Koma were both big in Japan. certainly bigger there than in the USA . Unlike Tor Kamata, Kenji Shibuya, Tojo Yamamoto  and others in America at the same time, these two were true Japanese.

Both are now deceased. Koma died in 1976 while only in his 30s from liver failure. Okuma continued for a long career and retired, but eventually passed also.

For their American run, the pair had a push in Amarillo in the early 1970s. Here, on tv and in live house shows, they were a heel tag team facing varied baby face combos. Sometimes they won and sometimes they lost, butt hey were greatly hated by the crowd, which was the point.

The Arizona stint for the pair was very limited. Rod Fenton out of Tucson, utilized varied Amarillo wrestlers when promoting in the  1970s, as did Kurt Von Steiger.

In Arizona, the two were usually mid card and were used as an added attraction, but were never pushed too heavily.

Still, they deserve a spot in the history of Arizona wrestling and mention here.

What a pity the offices did not sue them to their full paucity.

The History of Az. Wrestling Book .

Over 100 years of selected results and data at http://www.lulu.com/content/16473758

The History Of Arizona Wrestling by Dale Pierce

Includes Section 8, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Tito Montez, Jody Arnold, Thesz, Graham, Hogan, Sting, Buddy Rogers, Sheik, Chris Colt, Don Kent, The Black Mamba, Eddie Sullivan, Billy Anderson, Don Arnold, Sergio Camacho, Drako, Nano Ortega, Kurt Von Steiger, Johnny Kostas, Roy Shire, Gene  Kiniski, Funk, Ron Pritchard, more....

Meet Dale Pierce April 11

Meet Dale Pierce at the annual bookfest at the Dover Library in Dover, Ohio, across from the high school for an all day affair April 11.

Midwestern Wrestlers Coming West

Though not connected with each other, independent wrestlers and or managers, Time Traveler, Chief Attacullaculla, Hussein Payne and Blackhawke are reportedly heading to Arizona, Washington and California in the summer. Watch for info soon.

Recent Tucson Results

Results from High Impact Wrestling's television tapings on National Pro Wrestling Day at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet in Tucson, AZ 02/08/2015 before over 200 fans (sold show w/ no official count) - 1. HIW Tucson City Champion "The Tijuana Assassin" Dueno & Criss Syndel over "The Master of the Universes" Chadd Hawkley & Narval when Dueno pinned Hawkley 2. EJ Sparks pinned "Smooth Criminal" Tyrone Cabrone to become the #1 Challenger for the HIW Tucson City title 3. HIW Tag Team Champions 24/7 (Roman Alexander & Chaos) over FlashTeca (Ricky Flash & Azteca w/ Justice Supreme) when Alexander pinned Azteca 4. Ogre pinned Outrage (w/ Nicky Fury) 5. HIW Champion Rave Michaels.... Martel pinned Curtis Blaire in a non-title match 6. Chris Evans pinned MADA (w/ Tyrone Cabrone). Next shows are 02/15 at Midtown Bar & Grill in Tucson, AZ for television tapings and 02/21 at Midtown Bar & Grill in Tucson, AZ for MIDTOWN CLASH 1. Check out the new HIW TV show available at http://youtube.com/HighImpactOnlineTV

See The Latest Wrestling Then & Now

The latest issue of Wrestling Then & Now, one of the few physical news sheets surviving rather than a net news page, has a new edition out now with a lengthy story on Tucson wrestling as well as a profile on the late Roland Alexander and the death of Freddie Gomez.

Info and orders from Evan_Ginzburg@yahoo.com

Meet Dale Pierce In Barberton, Ohio

Meet Dale Pierce at a special book signing at Snowball Books on Tuscarawas Avenue in downtown Barberton, Ohio, the last Saturday in march, from 1-3 pm, signing varied wrestling books.