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Two
truly tough guys collided when Wahoo
McDaniel went after the NWA gold held by Harley
Race.
|
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When
Johnny Valentine grabbed an arm bar there was
little doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not
it was a legitimate hold.
|
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From
his rise to fame in Detroit in the 1960's,
to his tragic "retirement" at the height of his career
as Mid
Atlantic Wrestling's US Heavyweight Champion,
Johnny
Valentine thrilled fans with his stiff, methodical
style
|
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Few
wrestling fans realize how strong Paul
Jones. Here he has the 300-pound Swede
Hanson under control as he slams him to the mat.
|
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In
1972, Paul Jones was right in the middle of Florida's
wrestling action. Among his opponents was the hated
Buddy
Colt. Paul takes on former world champion Dory
Funk Jr. from Florida with Gordon Solie calling
the action. |
 |
Most
of all, Terry
Funk likes to fight. Catch all the action in the
Legend
of Terry Funk available now.
|
 |
Wahoo
McDaniel
didn't limit himself to wrestling for just the NWA
title. He traveled to the WWWF to face their champion
Superstar
Billy Graham.
|
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Inside
the ring or out, if you were in reach of Johnny
Valentine you were fair game to get one of his
big hammers across the chest or back.
|
 |
In
Florida,
Johnny
Valentine was the Florida Heavyweight Champion.
|
 |
Everything
Johnny
Valentine did in the ring was stiff. Look at the
hand across the face of Paul
Jones as the two lock up in the referee's position.
|
 |
The
Sheik
created move havoc in more arenas than any wrestler.
The Sheik
of the 1950s that appears in Before
They Were Stars1, is more subtle, but there's
still unmistakable hints of the dominant madman we
all know today.
|
 |
Few
wrestlers had more natural talent than Lanny
Poffo. In Before
They Were Stars1, he takes on a very young One
Man Gang.
|
 |
Many
wrestling fans remember Bill Eadie as Demolition
Ax. Other fans remember his exploits as Masked
Superstar. Before either of those personas however,
he thrilled fans in the IWA
as Bolo
Mongol.
|
 |
The best of friends, Paul
Jones and Ivan
Koloff tore up arenas across the South.
|
 |
Rarely
staying for more than a week at a time in any one territory,
few wrestlers traveled more than the midgets or the
women. In 1965, 3’5”-86 pound Darling Dagmar
and her perennial opponent Diamond
Lil were on the road in Austin TX. |
 |
Fritz
von Erich may have had a reputation for being
stiff with his kicks, but he had nothing on Johnny
Valentine!
|
 |
A
lot has been said, both good and bad, about Johnny
Valentine. One thing that has never been questioned
was his dedication to wrestling or his willingness
to give everything to have a great match.
|
 |
The
hardest working man in wrestling, Tully
Blanchard takes a minute out of his schedule to
pose for this shot with Wrestling Classics regular
Chuck Forro. If you have photos with your favorite
stars, send scanned copies to us here at Wrestling
Classics. We'll share them with the world.
|
 |
Wahoo
McDaniel wrestled the best in the world. He works
the leg of Ole
Anderson while brother Gene
Anderson looks on.
|
 |
Size
never mattered to "The
Chief" as he keeps big Blackjack Mulligan
down with a simple headlock.
|
 |
Terry
Funk
is an accomplished wrestler, skilled in the basics
like his older brother Dory
Funk Jr.
|
