Articles about Legends

[captaincold]

A few years back I got my hands on ton old school magizines from the 70"s and early 80". I thought I started posting some of the articles about people in Legends


The Sheik's Secret Weapon

The Insider
By Steven Farhood
Inside Wrestling April 1980


The Sheik has perfected a terrifying maneuver that is even more dangerous than his famed fire throwing !. Reliable sources in Detroit insist The Sheik is almost ready to use his frightening maneuver for the first time in a professional match. Somehow the mystic Arab Wildman has learned to shoot a small amount of radioactivity from his fingertips into his opponents face ! For those who may not be familiar with radioactivity, let me just say that the end result of absorbing such rays would be crippling , to say the least.
The Sheik predictably has nothing to say on this subject. His interpreter, who answered my call in Detroit, had a brief statement. “ The Sheik does not wish to comment on the rumors circulating concerning his use of radioactivity. He will say however, that when the time comes, all the people will find out whether or not the rumors are true. As Sheik has said before, he is capable of many mystical movements that the average human cannot comprehend. Thus, anything is possible
The Potential of the Sheik’s power assuming that he is able to shoot radioactivity is staggering. He would easily gain control of the wrestling world within weeks. No one would dare enter the same ring. But let us not concede our great sport to this deranged animal yet. There are ways to stop him.
“ I cant speak for the other two major alliances, but I know that we would probably immediately ban him the use of such a sadistic maneuver” an NWA spokesman said.
“ We’ve run into the Sheik before , and I don't doubt that he could do it. I don't know how he could do it, but no one knows how he throws fire either. Let’s just hope we never have to make a ruling on this matter “
No one outside of wrestling would comment on the Sheik’s hideous maneuver. Hopefully they will help stop the demonic rule breaker when and if the time comes. meanwhile let us all kneel down and pray. For the sake of mankind

[Gunslinger]

Fantastic stuff. Maybe I need to dig into the box of my dad's old wrestling magazines when I get home from work.

[jasonjaconetti]

I just ordered like 9 or 10 old Inside Wrestling and The Wrestler from the 1984 to 1986. I love the old mags, they bring back memories. I appreciate the full color that PWI has now, but there is something about the old newspaper like feel.

[pikemojo]

I know I have a few of these around as well. I will try to post something tonight.

[captaincold]

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING BABY
BILL APTER
The Wrestler
May 1977

Harley Race became a two time champion by virtue of his February 6 win over National Wrestling Alliance Champion Terry Funk. The bout took place in Toronto Canada at the Maple Leaf Gardens.
Race made Terry quit at the 14:10 mark, capturing the victory with deadly Indian Death Lock. Race mastered the hold specifically for this title match
Harley Race first won the NWA title when he upset Dory Funk Jr. on may 24, 1973. On July 20, 1973 in Houston, Texas, Jack Brisco dethroned Harley making him the NWA’s shortest reigning champion. Now Race intends to erase that one blot on his record.
“Only death can separate me from the title now !” Race boasted ay a victory celebration a few hours after the match. “ I will prove to be an unsurpassable king. Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Jack Brisco- they’re all washed up. I am the supreme one, king of the universe, Harley race!”
Dusty Rhodes is disgusted that he was not the man who could claim “ I dethroned Terry Funk”. Dusty says that creep Harley Race doesn’t deserve to hold the title ! He’s as evil and wicked as Funk was. I have to get the title for the people. I must !”
The man of a thousand masks, Mil Mascaras, turned New York City upside down when he appeared at Madison Square Garden. Eastern fans had been waiting years to witness the return of Mil, who hasn’t appeared at the Garden since 1973.
“ It was a real thrill wrestling for my fans in New York” a jovial Mascaras told the assembled press corps in his dressing room after his match. “ My opponent tonight is Gashouse Gilbert, a very tough man. I hope to be back in New York soon, possibly wrestling against Bruno Sammartino, or maybe teaming with him. Either way it would be a great experience”
The Sheik contracted Gary Hart to be his manager for his matches in the state of Texas. “ I am totally honored that the great exhaulted Sheik has chosen me for the task of managing him” Hart said from his Houston Base. “ In the great tradition of Abdullah Farouk, I will advise the The Sheik to the best of my Knowledge and assist him in preparing for his prayer rituals”
The Rivalry between Andre The Giant and Ernie Ladd, which had cooled down for a few months because the two were in different parts of the globe, has flared up again. Detroit is the scene of their latest series of battles. Fan Greg Mckennon reports, “ they are the most titanic battles we have ever seen” ....Ray Stevens continues his war against former manager Bobby Heenan’s “family” making Blackjack Lanza his latest victim.
Jim Brunzell squared off against Pedro Morales in a great scientific contest which went to a time limit draw. AWA rooters hope promoters will sing a rematch-pronto!
Dick Slater has offered 1,000 to Mr. Wrestling II is the masked man can last more than 10 minutes in the ring with him. Dick vows to finish Wrestling II off in five minutes or less!
Congratulations to Victor Rivera and partner Cien Caras for winning the Americas Tag Team Title. Everyone hopes they can keep the belts out of the hands of Roddy Piper’s Army.
Superstar Graham boasts, “ No man has ever held onto the Florida title as long as I have. Daddy, I am so great, I am running out of competition. The promoters are bringing in talent from all over the world just to wrestle me. They’ve brought in jerks from Japan, Singapore, Australia and Greece just to get at the Superstar. I am so great, I am so unbeatable, I am so modest”
The Mongolian Stomper ‘s contract has been sold. J.J Dillion made a small fortune selling the Mongolian to Don Carson. Carson is putting Stomper’s talents to good use in the southeast against men like Ron Fuller , Bob Armstrong, and Don Kernodle...Bruiser Brody has invaded Texas and won the American Heavyweight Title from Fritz Von Erich. Brody is already at war with Jose Lothario, Rocky Johnson, and other Texas favorites.
Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf are glad Nickolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata have split up. “Maybe they’ll wrestle each other and kill each other!” White Wolf hopes. “ That would do wrestling a great service” adds Strongbow....Chavo Guerrero is headed to Texas to try and regain the Americas title he lost to Dory Funk Jr.
Angelo Mosca claims he beat Pedro Morales, making Pedro submit in less than five minutes during a recent match. But when asked for further details Angelo’s thoughts become fuzzy. “ I cant remember the city in which it took place” Mosca said. “ All I know is that it was in the AWA territory.. I made mince meat out of that bum. I cannot believe he is a former WWF champion. He was such an easy opponent “
“ Mosca is sick in the head” exclaimed Morales after hearing Angelo’s statement “ we haven’t wrestled yet! I’m not going to let this guy smear my reputation...I want a match against Mosca and I will make him dread the day he said those things!”
Greg Valentine was asked why he uses the flying atomic skullcrusher rather than the one his brother Johnny made famous, the standing skullcrusher.
“ I am not knocking Johnny’s skullcrusher” Greg said “ but I feel my method puts more power into the final impact. Johnny is much bigger than I am, so he pack more power into a standing skullcrusher. For me, the flying method works best.
By the way, fans in Texas were delighted to see Johnny make a rare appearance in Houston, advising Jose Lothario in his match against The Sheik.. Johnny whose career was abruptly ended by an airplane disaster, hopes to take on more advising duties in the near future. All the wrestling scene wishes Johnny a good long career as an advisor. He is one of the all time wrestling greats. And that’s what’s happening baby !

One strange thing about this article is that Apter refers to Johnny Valentine as Greg's brother not his father

[captaincold]

Official Wrestling Ratings
Wrestling Annual 1976

WWWF
Champion - Bruno Sammartino
1. Bruiser Brody
2. Stan Hansen
3. Ivan Putski
4. Tor Kamata
5. Chief Jay Strongbow
6. Bobo Brazil
7. Billy White Wolf
8. Nikolai Volkoff
9. Doug Gilbert
10. Gorilla Monsoon

AWA
Champion - Nick Bockwinkel
1. Verne Gagne
2. Larry Hennig
3. Peter Maivia
4. Blackjack Lanza
5. Bobby Duncum
6. Greg Gagne
7. Mad Dog Vachon
8. Baron Von Raschke
9. Jim Brunzell
10. Russ Francis

NWA
Champion - Terry Funk
1. Jack Brisco
2. Dusty Rhodes
3. Rocky Johnson
4. Blackjack Mulligan
5. The Sheik
6. Fritz Von Erich
7. Jerry Lawler
8. Ric Flair
9. Paul Jones
10. Bob Orton Jr.

Tag Teams
1. The Anderson Brothers
2. Masked Executioners
3. Bruiser & Crusher
4. Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf
5. Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum
6. Bob Roop & Bob Orton Sr.
7. The Valiants
8. Goliath & Black Gordman
9. The Mongols
10. Bob Backlund & Steve Keirn

Most Popular

1. Andre The Giant
2. Bruno Sammartino
3. Dusty Rhodes
4. Mil Mascaras
5. Mr. Wrestling II
6. Ivan Putski
7. Bobo Brazil
8. Jack Brisco
9. Chief Jay Strongbow
10. Paul Jones

Most Hated

1. Abdullah The Butcher
2. Stan Hansen
3. The Sheik
4. Mad Dog Vachon
5. The Spoiler
6. Ray Stevens
7. Stan Stasiask
8. Terry Funk
9. Baron Von Raschke
10. Moondog Mayne

[Deleted]

I have a few WWF mags from around 87-88, and I think two or three of them have articles about Harley and DiBiase. If I can find them, I'll post those articles if anyone is interested in seeing them.

[TTX]

Hmmm Bob Roop and Bob Orton Sr. Well now I may have somethign for Orton Sr. to do and let Orton Jr. go back to singles action once we get Roop in the game.

[executioner]

Dec 1, 2008 19:13:23 GMT -5 @captaincold said:

One strange thing about this article is that Apter refers to Johnny Valentine as Greg's brother not his father

Initially reluctant to take his father's ring name, Wisniski wrestled as Baby Face Nelson before becoming Johnny Fargo, one half of The Fargo Brothers with Don Fargo between 1971 and 1974. The Fargo Brothers initially competed in the Buffalo and Cleveland based National Wrestling Federation before moving on to Texas. They split in 1974 and Wisniski went to Florida, where he began performing as Johnny Valentine, Jr., hopeful that he could live up to his father's legacy. He later changed his ring name to Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, and was billed as Johnny Valentine's brother, not his son, because of fears that the elder Valentine would be thought of as too old to be a legitimate threat. Valentine remained in Florida for a year while also working in Los Angeles and in Japan under Antonio Inoki in 1975 and early 1976.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Valentine

[mwjergs]

Guess I need to go up in the attic and pull out the old mags.

"Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" was my favorite.