He died aged 76 in January 2013. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop. After being rebranded as The Arabian Butchers (a team managed by Jim Cornette), the Santiago brothers wrestled against teams such The Dudley Boyz, The Gangstas, and The Bruise Brothers (who come up shortly on this listing) in ECW. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. Cant you almost hear the raspy, strained shouts of Macho Man Randy Savage? Known for his unexpected grace in the ring, Steamboat was also a proficient tag team wrestler alongside his partner Jay Youngblood. Hebner's twin brother Dave is also a wrestling referee. With a wrestling career that spanned more than three decades, Ivan Koloff managed to win various titles including the WWWF Heavyweight Championship and the NWA tag team titles. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. As a pioneer . via twitter.com. His reputation for playing mind games with his opponents never superseded his actual in-ring acumen. Ivan Koloff did the impossible. In the '70s, he was part of the WWE and was still on top of the world until his retirement in 1977. WWE billed Andre as an undefeated wrestler until his loss to Hulk Hogan, but that was not entirely true. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. He worked as a villain when he was given the title, with Lou Albano as his manager, but when he broke away, he became one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of his era. For a time, Hart was considered the most famous person in Canada and is quite often regarded as the greatest wrestler of all time. The Russian Bear beat Bruno Sammartino for the WWE Championship in 1971, a win that almost caused a riot. Brie, along with her identical twin sister, Nikki, rose to fame with their "Twin Magic" in which they would switch places in the ring during matches a move created by movie star Freddie Prinze Jr., who was writing for the WWE at the time.The rest, as they say, is history, and now the Bella twins have . The twins have a victory over the Ron & Terry Garvin, and competed against legends such as Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami. Competing in Ohio Valley Wrestling for five years with a combined four title reigns, Hannah and Holly made a name for themselves wrestling under TNA, first appearing on TNA Wrestling: British Bootcamp, where Rockstar Spud and Mary Scurll were also discovered. The Klimaszewski girls are popular for being The Coors Light Twins, yet they also appeared on WCW Nitro frequently as members of The Nitro Girls. His first job was a constructions worker and during the evenings, he worked out at a local gym in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their penchant for ruthless battles made their sudden change in demeanor very surprising to longtime fans when they debuted in WWE in 1988. If you look up the word wrestler in the dictionary, you might come upon Robinsons name. Accompanied by Mortimer Plumtree, the Shane Twins were known as The Johnsons, two latex-wearing brutes made to resemble giant penises. Giant Baba and Andre the Giant would walk out of the ring victorious after delivering a pulsating match. Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki were key figures in the Japanese womens tag scene during the 80s and even had success as a duo in the WWF. Rikishi spent over a decade in Vince McMahon's company, during which he won the Intercontinental Championship twice and the tag titles three times. The Flashbak Shop Is Open & Selling All Good Things. Syndicated series featuring wrestling matches as promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). [2], The twins were married to sisters Maryse and Danielle Juarry, whom they met in Montreal. Used primarily for their looks, these two glamour models -- Brie and Nikki -- often competed as a tag team and even had an onscreen breakup not long ago. Being a Luchador, Mascaras has never stepped into the squared circle without a mask.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'sportlister_com-sky-3','ezslot_23',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportlister_com-sky-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'sportlister_com-sky-3','ezslot_24',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportlister_com-sky-3-0_1');.sky-3-multi-116{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The Tonga Kid joined the company in 1983 and spent nearly five years there before leaving in 1988. Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, Ricky Steamboats fights against Macho Man Randy Savage (1987) and Ric Flair (1989) were both awarded Match of the Year by Pro-Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer. Farmer Pete wrestling in Milwaukee, December 3, 1972. During their reign as tag team champions, the Wild Samoans would go head to head with various teams including Rick Martel & Tony Garea, Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson, and The Strongbows. Simon Dean made a few appearances for McMahon in the early 1990s. Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972. There have often been times where female twins are signed by wrestling companies not because of their in-ring skills, but more so their ability to make the sleazy male demographic drool. Her appearance as a heart-hardened sensei in the 2000 documentary Gaea Girls showed how she viewed wrestling not as an art form or a sport but as a kind of sacred pursuit. After a ban on masks in the WWF was lifted, Mil Mascaras would join WWE where he began his long-running feud with Superstar Billy Graham for the World Heavyweight title. Both Manuel and Victor were eliminated by fellow behemoths, Yokozuna and Vader. Two years later, Vince McMahon, Sr would come knocking and, in the process, signing Andre the Giant to the WWE. Professional wrestling in the 1970s was huge! Carnies, who traveled and wrestled at these events, used tricks to protect their money and reputations during competitions, devising little-known and often dangerous wrestling moves, called "hooks." The history of womens wrestling may have taken an entirely different direction had Wendi not been bamboozled by Vince McMahon and The Fabulous Moolah during the infamous Rock N Wrestling connection moment. These guys could keep crowds engaged for 30, 45, or 60 minutes with ease, as that was the length of their matches on a regular basis. One of the few men to have been inducted into five separate wrestling Hall of Fames, Harley Race is studied to this day as a technical master so much so that he was often announced as the "The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth." Terrys wrestling career spanned for more than 50 years, enabling the wrestler to compete in all the well-established promotions. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget.. As a professional wrestler, Terry Funk worked with various promotions including WCW, USWA, ECW TNA, and WWF. When you think of pro-wrestling in the 1980s who comes to mind? A wrestler called Jack Cassidy ready to rumble in 1968. He toured across America with fellow wrestlers and held several championship titles. Most of the wrestlers didnt even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. We could always count on a suplex, a body slam or a chair over the head. But the thing about nostalgia is that it tends to whitewash some of the darker parts of history in favor of a rose-tinted rearview. Their popularity in Japan can be compared to Hulk Hogans popularity in the United States. He started wrestling at the age of fifteen and went on to become one the worlds top midget wrestler over a 30 year period, during which time he won the NWA World Midget Championship twice. They contracted rubella (German measles) when they were 4 years old, which caused problems for their pituitary glands and they started gaining weight. Thanks to photographerDavid Maciejewskiwe can see pictures of thelittle wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. And, if youre honest, youll just drag up from the depths all the times youve hated or felt passionately about something and play it. In the 70s, kayfabe was alive and well! They were both born in October 1965. 12K views 6 years ago Led by the NWA in Detroit this territory was highlighted as the first renegade promotion in the USA, their battles were bloody their feuds were intense with such stars as The. Now retired, Lord Littlebrook resides with his son in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Killer Kowalskis reputation went beyond the world of wrestling thanks to his fearsome and terrifying nature. Audiences believed the violent action they were seeing and took it for gospel! Many of the guys on this list were legit tough guys and gave the sport the credibility lacking in a sense today. They are the main cast members of reality show Total Divas, and if thats not enough, both sisters are dating WWEs top stars, John Cena (dating Nikki) and Daniel Bryan (married to Brie). [4] Benny believed in evangelicalism and enjoyed golf, playing until he was bedridden. Starting her career at the age of 15, it wouldnt take her too long to start snatching titles. Unknown wrestler getting flipped by Little Bruiser. The cartilage in his knee wore out and he was eventually bedridden. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70's wrestler of all time. was a promoter and wrestling manager. Handsome Jimmy, Luscious Johnny, and Gentleman Jerry dominated the tag team scene in the NWA and WWWF. A 3-time tag team champion, Mr. Fuji made a name for himself as one of the biggest rule breakers in sports entertainment. While the WWE continues to evolve and incorporate new ideas and aspects into its production, we can attribute the success that the company currently to the foundations laid by these wrestlers during its formation years. The main rival of the Crush Gals, Matsumotos ghastly look complimented her domineering in-ring presence. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60s and 70s. While some of these siblings have previously worked in Vince McMahon's company, others have never competed inside the squared circle. Amassing 34 total championship wins in his career, Pipers legacy now lives on in Ronda Rousey, whom he gifted the Rowdy moniker. Pat Patterson was the first man to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Her sweetness and indomitable spirit were documented in the GLOW documentary. We need to confirm your email address. Known for his signature evil laugh, "The Million Dollar Man" bragged about you guessed it his extraordinary wealth while trouncing opponents around the world. He worked everywhere from the AWA and WWWE to Japan and the territories. [1] [2] It is his ruthlessness and fearless nature during matches and interviews that saw him pull crowds. Despite being a well-known name in the wrestling industry, many fans may not know that Adams has a twin sister, Brittaney. Later, he would join AJPW where he feuded with The Destroyer. In his debut night, Tito Santana and Ivan Putski would win the World Tag Team Titles from Johnny and Jimmy Valliant. Be the first one to comment on this story. Superstar held the WWWF Heavyweight Championship one time after beating the legendary Bruno Sammartino in 1977, hailed as Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine's Match of the Year. However, the company released him and his brother from their contracts in mid-2005. When they returned to WWE, they adopted the names 8-Ball and Skull, joining their real-life cousin Brian Lee (as Chainz) and Crush in The Disciples of Apocalypse. Of course, this shaved, corpulent, and effeminate fighter in a nude diaper was a villain, but his bizarre characterizations made him quite unique in a sea of hyper-machismo. Apart from Tito Sammartino, Ivan Koloff also holds several other memorable wins against renowned wrestlers such as Bob Buckland, Gorilla Monsoon and Bruno. Please logout and login again. Their in-ring attires truly made them memorable, even if you only saw them a few times. Referee George Gadaski talks to the legendary Little Beaver (back to camera) with tag partner Jamaica Kid to his left, and rivals Billy the Kid and Cowboy Bradley to his right. Impresarios were the managers who chose how a wrestler could gain fame and interest among the fans, creating personas and improvising matches to make them more interesting. However, some fans may not know that Hebner has a twin brother. The brothers worked together in the 1970s in Stampede Wrestling They also moved on in that decade to various territories in the NWA as well as in Puerto Rico and the World Wrestling Council, where the won several tag team titles before finally making their way to WWE in the 1980s. While both men were great wrestlers in their own right, there was not a tag team in the 1970s that was more dominating that the Wild Samoans. He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has. A pioneer of womens wrestling, Fabulous Moolah had an illustrious wrestling career that saw her become one of the biggest female superstars of all time. Your login session has expired. They often provided an excellent foil to the overpowered Crush Gals throughout their influential run. With adopted names like Little Bruise, Sky Low Low, Billy The Kid, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo, men (and a few women) who might have eked out a living in the circus started a spectatorport. DONATE, Before the money moved in, Kings Cross was a place for born-and-bred locals, clubs and crime, See what really went on during that time in NYC's topless go-go bars, Chris Stein 's photographs of Debbie Harry and friends take us back to a great era of music. Billy Leon McCrary (December 7, 1946 - July 14, 1979) and Benny Loyd McCrary (December 7, 1946 - March 26, 2001), known together as The McGuire Twins, were American professional wrestlers listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Heaviest Twins" (328 kilograms (723 lb) and 338 kilograms (745 lb), respectively). At six feet, nine inches tall, he was one of the few men who could almost measure up to Andre the Giant. Men of few words, the Wild Samoans would resort to weird antics and gimmicks including plucking feathers off a live chicken to grunting in primitive languages. Theyve also shared rings with two promising Scottish standouts, Carmel Jacob and Nikki Storm, as well as Japans Tsukasa Fujimoto. Verne was as old-school as they come, a grappler who was all about mat wrestling, and someone who could tie up any opponent and win a match with just about any move. While Terry Funk had many classic singles matches, it is his tag team matches that stood out. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. Of the two, Jack proved to be the star. Members of the renowned Anoia family, the Wild Samoans were not only barbaric and ruthless but also a force to reckon with back in the 70s and 80s. Unfortunately, though, some twins have been more successful than others, and while a number of twins have set foot in WWE and other major promotions, most are easily forgotten. Cole WWE.com Kent and Keith Cole were WCW regulars during the mid-1990s, a mid-card act who would beat other jobbers but usually lost to more established teams. A few years later, he retired as a referee due to injury and became a road agent. All of this when the AWA sported one of the deepest rosters in territorial wrestling. Mascaras has been inducted in the WWE, NWA, and Professional Wrestling Halls of Fame. Varnado made her acting debut in season 2 of the acclaimed show The Mandalorian (2019) in the role of Koska Reeves. Television also helped many wrestlers break into mainstream media, becoming influential celebrities and icons of popular culture. Jaguar Yokota for a time was considered the best wrestler in the world period. After working for AWA for a few years, Tito Santana eventually attracted the attention of Vince McMahon. RELATED: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Curt Hennig. Little Tokyo went on to win the NWA World Midget Champion three times equaling Lord Littlebrooks achievement. Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado is an American professional wrestler and actress who also known as her ring names Sasha Banks (in WWE) and Mercedes Mon (in other promotions). After leaving WWE, Adams joined IMPACT Wrestling, where she became one of the top female wrestlers, winning three Knockouts Championships and one Knockouts Tag Team Championship. Unlike a twosome formed by strangers-turned-best friends, twins possess an extra edge because they are mirror images of each other -- not only do most look identical, they know what their sibling is thinking more often than not. I believe this was broadcast on 26 August 1997. The Blossom Twins had high hopes in the wrestling industry as two twin girls growing up in the United Kingdom. The company released Dean from his contract in 2007. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. They both left TNA in 2014 and havent competed since. He later moved to Walkertown, North Carolina and worked for the Christian Golfers Ministry. twin wrestlers from the '70s. Although wrestling back then was strictly segregated by gender, Yokotas unquestioned skill level was often thought of as far surpassing that of her male counterparts. Superstar spawned a number of imitators that include Hulk Hogan, Jesse the Body Ventura, and Scott Steiner. The Funker won the NWA World Heavyweight title in 1975 from Jack Brisco and held it for more than a year defending it against the likes of Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and Jumbo Tsuruta. Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23, 1972. Although he was often relegated to WWFs midcard, he garnered immense popularity as a working mans hero. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. 10 Things You Should Know About Kevin Nash's Life Outside WWE, 10 Great Women's Wrestlers Who Never Got Their Big Break, 5 Wrestling Valets & Managers That Were Helpful (& 5 That Were Just Eye Candy). A wrestler, politician and founder of the 800-pound gorilla of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Antonio Inoki was best known for his use of heavy strikes mixed with shoot wrestling. However, when picking out the best wrestlers of the decade, a fan will always find more names to add to the list of the best of the best. Played by Satoru Sayama, who Bret Hart once called the Bruce Lee of professional wrestling, Tiger Mask I was both a real-life wrestling character and the star of a popular Japanese cartoon. Years later, the brothers appeared on WWE programming, this time accompanied by fitness freak Simon Dean as Gymini, an offshoot from the mythical Gemini twins. He also became famous in America on 'Monday Night Raw' when he fought WWE Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar in an MMA style match that ended brutally. When it comes to pro-wrestling, weve seen twins trick their opponents, help one another out, and dish out the punishment on foes that take their adversaries for granted. Gorgeous George gained epic mainstream popularity, followed in the Second Golden Age in the 1980s and 1990s by the likes of Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Sting, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and Triple H. By way of the beginning of television in the 1950s and, subsequently cable television in the 1980s, professional wrestling began appearing in powerful, multiple media outlets. WWE's Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century 2 Roddy Piper 3,754 votes #5 of 48 Professional Wrestlers with the Best Stage Names #4 of 32 The Best Brawlers In Wrestling History #14 of 49 The Best Wrestling Announcers Of All Time 3 Randy Savage 4,962 votes #138 of 183 The All-Time Greatest Action Stars #206 of 248 The Best Marvel Movie Actors Ever This win meant that Bruno became the second-ever WWE champion. Ron and Don have been wrestling since the late-1980s, competing against The Rock n Roll Express, Shane Douglas, and The British Bulldog in their early days. In WWE, he beat Superstar Billy Graham for the WWE Championship in 1978 and held the title for five years before dropping it to Iron Sheik. [4] In July 1972, at age 26, they made their in-ring debuts in Montreal, defeating John Anson and Kurt Von Hess. Tito Santana began his wrestling career as a jobber for other well-established wrestlers and heels. Billy the Kid born John William Guillot in Waco, Texas in 1936. While Inoki never accepted nor denied these claims, however, this is just but one of the many incidences that took place back in 70s that fans were never aware of. museum. Rick Martel is perhaps best known as The Model - an arrogant heel who sprayed cologne and acted as though he was one step above the rest of the WWE Superstars. Throughout the 1990s, professional wrestling achieved highs in both viewers and financial success during a time of fierce competition among competing promotions, such as WWF, World Championship Wrestling, and Extreme Championship Wrestling.
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