Google You Tube and the name of almost any wretsler out there in search and something will probably come up. You Tube is a miracle for researchers and fans looking for stuff one thoguht had vanished from view.
One will find several matches from Real Deal and other modern promotions on the Arizona wrestling scene. Giggles, CC Starr, Landmine, Cody Baker, Hawaiian Lion and other people are there to be found. Especially check out Erica D' Erico who is one of the best women wrestlers on the scene.
While finding older Arizona matches is hard (many tapes were used over and over again in earlier times to save money and thus erasing the action), seeing the people who appeared there is easy so younger fans can at least get an idea of what they were like.
One can even find clips of Jim Londos.
Excluding WCW, AWA and WWE crew who wrestled everywhere, other older people on You Tube who wretsled in Arizona and may be foudn include Chris Colt, Don Arnold, Lou Thesz, Haystacks Calhoun, Tarzan Tyler, Ali Pasha, Primo Carnera, Don Fargo, Bobby Jaggers, Kurt Von Hess, Sheik, Bobo Brazil, Bill Melby, Tony Hernandez, Tex McKenzie, Nelson Royal, Rip Tyler, The Assassins, Red Berry, The Bolo, Bob Ellis, Bob Geigel, Killer Brooks, Dick Hutton, Luis Martinez, Jerry Graham, Billy Varga, Mike Mazurki, Bearcat Wright, Don Fargo, Sue Green, Bob Brown, Mildred Burke, Yukon Eric, Baron Leone, Argentina Rocca, Tony Marino, Gorgeous George, The Mongolian Stomper, Flama Roja, Mil Mascaras, Santo, War Eagle, Ray Stevens, Black Gordman and many more may be found.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Paul Harvey
This Paul Harvey started as a ring announcer under the promotion of Kurt Von Steiger in the 1970s, using his real name of Harvey Kramer. Somehow, he got the notion he could wrestle and started to train, though he was essentially horrible at it. The early days were rough on the renamed Paul Harvey. Jay Dillon choked him out in a bout and Nano Ortega broke his finger.
Trying to be a fan favorite was also a disaster as he was fat, ugly and out of shape.
It was said Mike Gordon was the one who suggested he become a villain.
Instant change.
The people started chanting "Crybaby Huey": at him as he did look like the cartoon duck of that name. He held his ears, he protested and he yelled. He capitalized on his mouth and ability to insult others rather than athletic talent. He cheated hi way through a string of victories and when he started promoting on his own he infuriated the fans even more by placing himself in the main events.
He had some bloody feuds with David Rose, Gordon Darnell, John Shane and Al Madril. Other men he faced included Eddie Lopez, Tony Bernardo, Tony Hernandez and Benny Mendeblis.
In 1976 Harvey disappeared from Arizona, He came back in 1978 when Tito Montez was promoting and was propelled into a set of matches main eventing against Mr.Wrestling, who was old nemesis David Rose under a mask.
The feud ended right before an important cage match between the two, when Harvey was arrested in Durango, Colorado where he was evidently charged with some type of confidence scam.
The incident made the Phoenix papers and could nor be covered up.
What happened to Paul Harvey afterward is a mystery to all as he just dropped from sight.
So no one knows...the rest of the story....
Monday, September 5, 2011
Tito Montez Versus Chuck Karbo
One can catch brief scenes of this feud by ordering 50 Years Of Arizona Wrestling 3 dvd.6 hour set at http://www.prowrestlingdvds.com in which Ray Gordon is taking on Henry Pulusso, This 1968 footage then shows Chuck Karbo and John Shane running in to slam on Gordon, before Montez and Cowboy Bob Ellis come to his aid. This of course would set up a series of six man tags and initiate just a bit more toward the existing Montez/Karbo feud.
Tito and Karbo started feuding in the early 1960s when the two of them, met in a number of bloody matches in Phoenix and Tucson, as well as spot show towns. These matches likewise extended into tag team and six man tag team affairs with Tito, Frankie Cain and Pancho Pico facing Karbo, Don Kent and Jim Osborn in a number of different combos.
By 1968, where the old tv tapes on the aforementioned dvd come from, Tito and Karbo were looked upon as natural enemies, like a cobra and a mongoose.They had already met throughout Arizona in a number of cage bouts, chain bouts and other brawls, with the advantage shifting and one or the other always bloody.
In his varied Arizona runs, Karbo had time to feud with others. Mr Kleen, Ricky Thompson, Johnny Kostas, Tony Hernandez, Big Jim Wright, Phil Melby and Killer Kane would be some of them. Still, it would always come back to him facing Tito.
The last part of their feud came in 1973, when Tito was doing an interview in front of the ring on television prior to a Phoenix match and Karbo came charging out of nowhere. Grabbing Tito by the hair, he drove him headfirst into the ring post and casually walked away.
This of course brought about another series of matches that dragged on forever. Tito finally came out on top. Afterward, Karbo retired to run his bar in Casa Grande.
As of this writing, Tito is still alive in Oregon, though in his 80s Karbo reportedly died long ago, though no one seems to have an official date for his passing.
Tito and Karbo started feuding in the early 1960s when the two of them, met in a number of bloody matches in Phoenix and Tucson, as well as spot show towns. These matches likewise extended into tag team and six man tag team affairs with Tito, Frankie Cain and Pancho Pico facing Karbo, Don Kent and Jim Osborn in a number of different combos.
By 1968, where the old tv tapes on the aforementioned dvd come from, Tito and Karbo were looked upon as natural enemies, like a cobra and a mongoose.They had already met throughout Arizona in a number of cage bouts, chain bouts and other brawls, with the advantage shifting and one or the other always bloody.
In his varied Arizona runs, Karbo had time to feud with others. Mr Kleen, Ricky Thompson, Johnny Kostas, Tony Hernandez, Big Jim Wright, Phil Melby and Killer Kane would be some of them. Still, it would always come back to him facing Tito.
The last part of their feud came in 1973, when Tito was doing an interview in front of the ring on television prior to a Phoenix match and Karbo came charging out of nowhere. Grabbing Tito by the hair, he drove him headfirst into the ring post and casually walked away.
This of course brought about another series of matches that dragged on forever. Tito finally came out on top. Afterward, Karbo retired to run his bar in Casa Grande.
As of this writing, Tito is still alive in Oregon, though in his 80s Karbo reportedly died long ago, though no one seems to have an official date for his passing.
Under The Bed
Under The Boardwalk, I remember the song and on the same hand I would like to title this blog Under The Bed. I could picture myself rewriting the lyrics, but do not have the time to do so.
Two well-known wrestlers and I will not name them, had an interesting story to tell. One of the two related this to me.
It seems the pair was traveling by car as was done long ago, even with the big time. They stopped late at night at the only flea bag motel they could find and went in with the intention of simply sleeping and moving onward.
The place was an utter dump. The tv did not work, the faucet dripped, the toilet ran and everything was dirty/ Plus the room smelled. Too tired to complain, the wrestlers tried to sleep as best they could and tried to make a night of it.
The next morning before leaving, one of the wrestlers came up with a brainstorm for revenge.
"Hey, let's lift up the bed and shit under it," the one suggested.
The other agreed and so they lifted up the bed with the intention of shitting under it and putting it back down for the maid to have fits over.
As they did this, lifting the bed with the plan for dropping a log, when they realized to their horror...
Someone had done so already.
Two well-known wrestlers and I will not name them, had an interesting story to tell. One of the two related this to me.
It seems the pair was traveling by car as was done long ago, even with the big time. They stopped late at night at the only flea bag motel they could find and went in with the intention of simply sleeping and moving onward.
The place was an utter dump. The tv did not work, the faucet dripped, the toilet ran and everything was dirty/ Plus the room smelled. Too tired to complain, the wrestlers tried to sleep as best they could and tried to make a night of it.
The next morning before leaving, one of the wrestlers came up with a brainstorm for revenge.
"Hey, let's lift up the bed and shit under it," the one suggested.
The other agreed and so they lifted up the bed with the intention of shitting under it and putting it back down for the maid to have fits over.
As they did this, lifting the bed with the plan for dropping a log, when they realized to their horror...
Someone had done so already.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Donna Christianello
Christianello was never a regular in Phoenix, though she wad brought in by Kurt Von Steiger prior to his renting out the Phoenix Madison Square Garden. She appeared at the Immaculate Heart Gym when the Pseudo--German ran there.
One particularly torrid match saw her teaming with Lily Thompson to take on the team of Sandy Parker and Sue Green. The latter team won.
In other parts of the world, Christianello also faced Toni Rose, Marie Laverne, Vicki Williams, Princess Victoria and Judy Martin, among others. She also had an occasional title match with Moolah.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Giggles
Every Indy territory since the invention of Doink has to have a clown. Enter Durty, Big Top, Yuk Yuk, Pennywise, Clank, Corky and Filthy, plus of course The Insane Clown Posse in the Midwest and Los Payasos in Mexico.
Real Deal Pro Wrestling bow has its own clown in the Phoenix area in the form of Giggles.
In true evil clown style, he is about as funny as a prostate exam. His makeup tends to rub off in his matches. Ringling Brothers he is not!
Still, Giggles adds something to the cards.
As of now one of his better matches has been with the veteran, CC Starr in Phoenix. The match may be seen on You Tube.
How far Giggles will go will remain to be seen. I would suggest he investigate working the Mexican border in places such as Nogales, Mexicali and Agua Prieta where he would go over quite well.
In the meantime he continues to ply his trade in Arizona as a spectacularly unfunny and sinister clown invading the wrestling world. Yeah, yeah, it has been done to death already by others over the past two decades, but if he finds some ways to improve on the role he will last,
Real Deal Pro Wrestling bow has its own clown in the Phoenix area in the form of Giggles.
In true evil clown style, he is about as funny as a prostate exam. His makeup tends to rub off in his matches. Ringling Brothers he is not!
Still, Giggles adds something to the cards.
As of now one of his better matches has been with the veteran, CC Starr in Phoenix. The match may be seen on You Tube.
How far Giggles will go will remain to be seen. I would suggest he investigate working the Mexican border in places such as Nogales, Mexicali and Agua Prieta where he would go over quite well.
In the meantime he continues to ply his trade in Arizona as a spectacularly unfunny and sinister clown invading the wrestling world. Yeah, yeah, it has been done to death already by others over the past two decades, but if he finds some ways to improve on the role he will last,
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Cornelio Hernandez Video
There's a ton of stuff related to wrestling on Youtube. One of the things that caught my eye is a tribute to Tony Hernandez. Simply log in Cornelio "Tony" Hernandez and Arizona wrestling on the Youtube search and it will come up.
Some might think this is my production as it offers some of my old photos from the 1970s shot when Hernandez wrestled as a main-event guy in Phoenix and clips of a Wrestling World article I did on him in 1984 or so. On the contrary, I have no idea who produced this and have nothing to do with it being created, but more power to them. I loved the video.
There are also stills from the film, Losing It, in which Hernandez played a big jail thug.
It is worth a viewing or two.
Some might think this is my production as it offers some of my old photos from the 1970s shot when Hernandez wrestled as a main-event guy in Phoenix and clips of a Wrestling World article I did on him in 1984 or so. On the contrary, I have no idea who produced this and have nothing to do with it being created, but more power to them. I loved the video.
There are also stills from the film, Losing It, in which Hernandez played a big jail thug.
It is worth a viewing or two.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)