Give Iron Mike A Visit

Mike DiBiase is a legendary wrestler who is the adopted father of legendary wrestler "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. He is also known as "Iron" Mike DiBiase. He is a former NWA champion and a former AWA champ ion. He died in the wrestling ring from a heart attack when he wrestled against Man Mountain Mike.   

Iron Mike rests in the Sunset Cemetery in Willcox, Arizona. 

Mike was the father of Ted Diviase.

 

Two Bob Crumby Books Coming

Longtime wrestling fan net  writer, Bob Crumby,m plans two books with a wrestling theme for Lulu in the winter.

First will be a book on woman wrestlers and second will be a book titled Once Upon A Time In Hell, The Fiction Horror Of Dale Pierce

Crumby has always been a major wrestling fan and as he pouts it "a mark for both Dale Pierce/The Time Traveler and for lady great The Fabulous Moolah. Moolah and many of her trainees will play a big part in the female wrestling book, which places more emphasis on the Indy women today and greats form the past.

Crumby claims to have one of the most inclusive wrestling autograph collections in the ISA. Henc a possible thrid  book.

he makes his home in Douglas Arizona.

Give Moolah A Visit

Fabulous Moolah, perhaps the msot well knwon and respected female wretsler of all time, rests within the Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina.

Western Old Timer Reunion

On September 11, 2016, the annual Western States Old Timer Reunion resumed in Seattle, held at dean Silverstone's Golden Oldies store.

Attendees included Jimmy Flame, Michelle Starr, The Time Traveler, Rainbow, Scott teal, Ken Hamlin, writer Vrian Wescott and others.

Alfonso Dantes

Dantes started wrestling at 17-years-old in 1960 in Morelia using the name of Edmundo Dantes after going through rigorous training from his maestro Diablo Velasco. Alfonso came from great stock as his father Al Amezcua (Golden Terror) was a great wrestler and his brother Vick Amezcua would go on to fame as Septiembre Negro. Alfonso took the hair of many wrestlers with the best known being El Faraon & El Halcon who was his main rival throughout their careers. Alfonso also held many titles as he was an Occidental Middleweight champion, which started his legendary run in his home of Guadalajara, 3-time Mexican National Lt. Heavyweight champion, 5-time NWA World Lt. Heavyweight champion (which was considered “his title”), and a 2-time Mexican National Heavyweight champion.

Dantes was seen on rare occaisons in Arizona, but was  more often seen  in the USA for shows in the Los Angeles area.

The Galavison wrestling program helped rociet him to recognition in the USA. 

Aside from singles action, Danyes also formed an effective tag team with Mil Mascaras.

He died some time ago and was laid to rest in his native Guadalajara.

The History Of Bullfighting & Lucha Libre Book On Way To Publisher

The long anticipated book by Dale Pierce, The Pictorial History Of Bullfighting& Lucha Libre  In Mexico is on its way to the publisher, Lateral Ptess in Phoenix and should be out by April of 2017.

The book includes many never before seen photos of past and present bullfighters and wreslers.

Among the never seen before bullfight photos are images of Luis procuna, Calesero, Guillermo Montes Sortibran, Fernando Dos Santos, El Gallo, Chilolin, Eligio Garcia, Mariano Ramos, Manolo Martinez, Curro Leal, Manolete, Carlos Arruza and many more.

Wrestlers depicted include Galeno, Sheik Abdul, Konnan, Mil Mascaras, The Time Traveler, Nano Ortega, Stephen De Leon, Pancho Pico, Gory Guerrero, Eddie Guerrero,  Ham Lee, Tito Montez, Santo and more.

The bigger focus is on the past rather than the current crop.

Adonis

Adrian Adonis always provoked heat when the WWF was in Phoenix, first as his bad assed biker routine and later as a blatant homosexual schtick where he even came to the ring in drag.

Adonis not only got heat witht he fans, but was not as popular as he could have been with his fellow wrestlers. Billy Anderson speaks of how unfondly he remembers Adonis delivering a shot to his mouth that busted his lips and required stitches to heal. Adonis never even apologized for the slip.

Then there was the time Adonis did promos with a veil over rhis face, to hide the black eye and lumps he'd been given with gusto by another wrestle he got into a locker room fought with, biting off more than he could chew.

On the Phoenix bouts, he was usually on the undercard, but still ahd the fans ready to riot, which was especially difficult as this was the era when fans were being smartened right and left to the business. More than once, he actually knocked fans trying to swing at him back into their seats.

In the bar at the hotel on Van Buren where most of the wrestlers stayed, Adonis was even more uncanny, even heard uttering these words, though breaking the code of silence was something  cared less and elss about by this time.

"It's all fake! Leave me alone."

Adonis died in a driving accident several years ago, along with other wrestlers. Even if fans and some wrestlers hated him with a passion, they were stricken to see him pass in such a way.

While Adrian was best known in Phoenix for his WWF run, his career highlight might well have been ealrier in the AWA, where he and Jesse Ventura formed a magnificent tag team.

Adrian's real name was Keith Franks.

Aluche

This popular mascot/manager of Tiniemblas looked to be a werewolf or a shrunk down Wooki from Star Wars, but in truth was a midget in a cleverly designed costume. For an eternity, he accompanied Tiniemblas to the ring and became an icon in his own right. Occasionally, one of the villains Tiniemblas faced would attack Aluche and spark a feud, as Ari "El Diablo" Romero did in Juarez in the early 1990s, with Tiniemblas vowing and gaining revenge for his inured associate. Aluche died in 2014. 

"Some fans thought the routine was silly, but little kids thought he was a real little monster or something," commented wrestler Escapilario, who works with present indies on the border and grew up watching the Tiniemblas/Aluche pairing. "All he was, was amidget in a costume, but the marks went nust for him. In looking back, I think the role was stupid, but I grew up watching this before I started working and because of this i have a spot spot for the little guy. I was sorry to hear he died, but I have no idea how old he wa sor what he looked like without all that monster shit on."

Aluche accompanied Tineimblas to Arizona shows in the early 1990s and was well received.  

Aerostar

One of the current stars of the ring,  seen in recent times on a number of AAA cards, Aerostar has been executing sensational high risk moves that put the most suicidal of performers from the past to shame. One of his biggest feuds to date has been with Chris Stone,  whom he defeated in a  humiliating Hair vs. Mask match which saw Stone getting a buzz cut in front of a full house.  If he continues to improve, his best years may be yet to come. He already held a Mixed Tag Team title alongside Faby Apache and has won a number of trophies as the result of successful tournaments. 

Aerostar has seen limited action with AAA spot shows in Phoenix and Tucson in the past, but his mexican schedule keeps him busy and ahppy.

He is clearly a charismatic grapple who attends out in the crowd.  .

Fabi Apache

One of the foremost female wrestlers in AAA, Fabi Apache is now considered a crafty veteran, where she was once a gorgeous, but inexperienced rookie in the profession. Past feuds include matches with Lady Victoria, Natasha, Jennifer Blade, May Flowers and  Rain. Born Balbuena Torres in 1980, she is the daughter of Apache and wife of Billy Boy. She has held the World Mixed Tag Team championship four times and also won the AAA Queen Of The Ring tournament. Aside from  appearances in Latin America, she was also seen in Japan and the USA. 

Favy has been seen regualrly over the years on varied hispanic television rpograms that have brought Mexican wretslign into the USA

She has been seen infrequently in Arizona over the years when AAA made swinsg through the Phoenix/Tucson area.. 

Jimmy Flame

Jimmy Flame was born in Louisiana, but rpesently makes his home in Washington state and from this home base remains one of the most traveled veterans on the indepednent scene.

Flashy,and  arrogant as a heel and old school all the way, he is a throwback to the days of strutting, star struck bad guys using evil to fight the forces of good in the manner of say Tully Blanchard, Jody Arnold or John Tolos. He acts like the bravest of men until he is in trouble in the ring, to which he becomes the coward of the county, like the Kenny Rogers song. He runs, he begs, he backpedals...and then he pulls some dirty trick out of his ass to sucker his opponent., screw finish him and win.

On the microphone he provokes instant hatred from the crowd, showing a mastery for the dying art of "talking" or giving a promo.

Thpugh mainly a singles wretsler, Flame has veen teaming withte another eually fmaboyant indy guy by the name of Mr. Fitness and togther theyhave been making the rounds.

If you deplore wrestling as it exists now and long for the olden days, Jimmy Flame is the man for you.

Check him out if the chance arises, as he has been traveling all over and really making a reputation for himself.

Angel Negro

With a name like Black Angel, which si the translation of his ring name, does anyone really need to ask if he a heel or  a baby? Though he knew all the trucks to make himself a true super rudo, he also had a vast knowledge of holds and routines that would rival the actions of many favorites. The fact that he did not have to sue the dirty tactics he did, but went on and did so anyway made him all the moire hated deom the onset in the eyes of the fans.

Though retired for a time, it is said he will be making a return to the rings of Arizona, Sonora and California in 2017. 

This may or may not be welcome news. One may be fairly sure the crafty veteran has lost little or nothing in his absence and will be back with a vengeance.

Randy Savage

   Randy 'Macho Man' Savage was an icon as far as professional wrestlers  wouls go,best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He also had a short run with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and is a seven-time world champion: a two-time WWF Champion, four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion. Also a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, WWE has named Savage the greatest Intercontinental champion of all time and credited him for bringing "a higher level of credibility to the title through his amazing in-ring performances." Aside from championships, Savage is the 1987 WWF King of the Ring and the 1995 WCW World War 3 winner. For much of his tenures in the WWF and WCW, he was managed by his real life wife, "Miss Elizabeth" Hulette. Savage was recognizable by wrestling fans for his distinctively deep and raspy voice, his ring attire (often glitzy sunglasses, a bandana or head band, flashy robes, and a cowboy hat intensity exhibited in and out of the ring, and his signature catch phrase ("Ooh yeah!"),which was borrowed from Pampero Firpo by his own admission..   " : 

Though Savage and Elizabeth would be "married" on WWF tv, they had actually been wed for several years. The two woild  divorce, but work together for a program in WCW.  

Savage passed away a few years ago form a fatal heart atatck whiled riving, ending with hsi car running into a tree.  

Savage made his debut in Phoenix against an unplanned opponent when Billy Anderson was thrown in to replace someone else who never made it to the arena. Savage, predictably, won with his signature flying elbow.  

He would appear in Arizona numerous times after this for both the WWF and WCW.  

Commandos

The Deadly Commandos wrestled in camouflage  gear and masks, creating not only a dreaded appearance before they entered the ring, but an aura of mystique that lasted over a decade. From the 1970s into the 1980s they were a top tag team, usually finding innovative ways to cheat against a  multitude of opponents.  They were the product of a great deal of hype in the lucha libre magazines, with certain writers infatuated with their routine in spite of their hardened taste for villainy.  These psychotics military men were a forerunner to the Anglo team called Los Mercenarios, who wore similar gear and had equally vicious styles. In spite of the similarities in their appearance, the two tag teams never collided anywhere in Mexico or the USA.  

WSWA

The original Western Sattes Wrestling Alliance started with Barry Bernsten in the early 1980s, running in Phoenix with Jody Arnold, John Ringer, Estudiante,  Frankenstein, Billy Graham, Eddie Sullivan, Mad Dog  Bovee, David Rose, Billy Anderson and toehrs. Bernsten eventually folded and later died.

On the 1990s, another gorups taryed up under this banner and ran for a spell before packing it in and merging with other outfits .

In the fall, the WSWA makes a comeback again. It will be curious to  see how well the  shows draw.

Of the original WSWA only mad Dog marcial Bovee/The Time Grabveler remains active as a manager at the age of 57. He may well be brought in for nostalgic reasons.

Of course younger men will be main eventing the cards and striving on in their trade.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Chessman

Chessman has become recognized for a number of high risk moves, including a leap off the top rope where he does a corkscrew motion with his body in mid air. For forcing submissions from his challengers, he has taken to using a more practical backbreaker, with his opponents hoisted over his shoulder and bounced into quitting.   

 When wprking as a hated heel por a beloved baby face, he has never failed to get his message across with the fans, arning his spot in the history of the game.

e

Chassman has become a legend on both sides of the border as an outstanding figure in the archives of lucha libre.  

For those unfamiliar with him, several matches are on you tube. He is one of AAA's big stars.

Though seen on many occasions in Arizona, California, Texas and beyond, Mexico has served as the scene of his finest matches.  

Black Fish

A current resident of El Paso,   Texas and a graduate of the University Of Texas El  Paso, Black Fish has been making waves on both sides of the Texas/Mexico border. He is actually from in Juarez and trained there, but migrates freely across the line to seek out the best of action in both locations. Having already established himself as a regional star, he is starting to expand his horizons and taken more bookings in other parts of the Mexican interior. 

Black Fish has also been seen in Arizona for the varied lucha promotions running there and is making a name for himself as a star for the future. 

Companeros 1 & 2

A masked tag team active in the north of Mexico in the early 1980s, Los Companeros came into the ring to   the blaring tune f Ennio Morricone's Vamos A Matar, Companeros, from the spaghetti western of the same name. They were flashy, to be sure, but never made it beyond the smaller offices, though in less important towns such as Benjamin Hill, Delicias, Carborca and the like on the independent circuit, they were in the main events. They frequently feuded with Golgotha & Bestia 666, usually ripping each other's masks and bloodying each other in their encounters.  The two evidently had no love for La Fiera, as the senior member of the tag team approached him asking about bookings with the big league. Fiera supposedly claimed he would help, but never did and when the high rolling master heel was knifed to death, the Companeros offered little remorse. One of them is on record saying "They (the killers) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtled his ass. They stuck the shit out of him." While neither man dared go so far as to say "Well done"  in regard to the hit, old and hostile feelings still lingered after retirement.  In wrestling,  slights are seldom forgotten, even if broken promises  are part of the game.

Cobarde

 Born Miguel Angel Delgado in Juarez  in 1947, El Cobarde was a well-known and hated villain throughout Mexico in the 1970s. His black and white checkered tights with matching mask became almost as recognizable as the characteristic blue hood of Blue Demon or the silver face shield of Santo. For years, he engaged in brutal feuds with Sangre Chicana, Herodes, Carlos Plata,  Dragon Rojo and Fishman, to whom he lost his mask. Afterward, Cobarde continued to wrestle with his face revealed, still maintaining the black & white tights, but changing his  image to that of a fan favorite. As much as he was originally hated,  he grew to be loved by the very same audience that formerly  jeered him.

Cobarde was far more active in mexico than in the USA, though he did make some appearances in Arizona, Texas and California. 

Cobarde died in Juarez several years back form a battle with cancer. 

His legend lives on.