Saturday, November 21, 2015

Chief Billy Red Cloud!

WWA Star Chief Billy Red Cloud was a fan favorite and in the WWA as well.
Red Cloud competed against all comers, and in 1972 became WWA World Heavyweight Champion defeating The Clawmaster Baron von Raschke!
Red Cloud set a milestone by competing in the first Chain Match in the AWA with Mad Dog Vachon!
Although most fans remember him teaming with Bobby Bold Eagle in the WWA, he actually was Wrestling in the 1950's and winning the Hawaii  NWA Tag Team Championship with Utica Panther.
Billy's famous Tomahawk Chop took down many opponents over the years, but in his early years he had a mean piledriver.
Here is The Chief with The Worlds Most Dangerous Wrestler Dick The Bruiser and Announcer Great Sam Menacker!!
Chief Billy Red Cloud passed away in October of 1994, but will always be remembered here with his fans at Classic Professional Wrestling!

Monday, November 16, 2015

A Great Champion and Longtime friend Passes away!!

Again, sad news on my phone at 4am with the loss of AWA Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkle.
Nick was the former President of the Cauliflower Alley Club and one of the most respected men in professional Wrestling.
I enjoyed seeing him at the CAC in Las Vegas, and chatting on the phone with him.
Nick appeared on my Classic professional Wrestling Radio Show and we talked AWA for hours.
Originally from St Louis, and then Minneapolis, before moving on to Las Vegas, Nick was just a fun person to be around, and such a mentor to those of us willing to absorb the vast knowledge he would share.
His Dad, Warren Bockwinkle was one of the greats in Professional Wrestling, which gave nick a lot of the passion for the business.
Teaming with Ray "The Crippler" Stevens to win The AWA Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Managed by the one and only :Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan!
They formed a tough Tag Team taking on Dick The Bruiser and the Crusher, The High Flyers, and what seemed like every week they worked over tag teams in front of Marty O'Neill, Roger Kent, and Rod Trungard, Wally Karbo.
Nick was a humble man who shared the spotlight even as The AWA Heavyweight Champion, he gave credit to Bobby, Verne, and Wally, AWA, Stanley Blackburn, and his fans!
Yes, even though he was a "Heel", Nick had the Bockwinkle Brigade! A Fan Club, and fans in Japan.
I told Nick about a time at The Chicago International Amphitheatre where Nick, Ray, and Bobby Heenan who was hiding under a tarp in the back of Nicks Station Wagon.
I was near the bay door when it went up after a card, and while fans were at another exit, I was starring at Nick who had a look of Please Don't Give Us Away, so I nodded, and they proceeded without notice. Nick told me he always appreciated that because Chicago fans would have been all over them.
I know so many people in and out of the business have stories to share, but I will cherish the time I was friends with Nick, and the things I learned from him.
Very sad to lose Nick and  our sympathy goes out to his wife and family.
You'll always be remembered at Classic Professional Wrestling my friend!

Monday, November 9, 2015

Loss of Don Fargo, The Chain Gang!

Again we have lost a tough guy in the World of Professional Wrestling!
Don Fargo, 1/2 of The Chain Gang and Legionnaires passed away in Pensacola Florida this past weekend, November 8th, 2015.
I had the pleasure of Co Hosting Hartbeat Radio and Don was our guest.
I asked Don to talk about the AWA and WWA Days in Chicago and Indianapolis.
He obliged us and was more than happy to talk about the matches against Dick The Bruiser and all of the great stars of the 50.s, 60's and 70's.
In 1969 they defeated Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher and later would defeat Dick The Bruiser and Yukon Moose Cholak for The WWA World Heavyweight Tag Team Titles!
He was a legitimate tough guy, but a man who didn't toot his own horn, or turn on the business.
The Chain Gang were infamous for the Wisconsin melee where they got into a bar fight with real bikers who shot Kenny Mack (Frank Dillinger) in the leg which ended his career.
Don went back to the WWA and teamed with "Sgt" Jacques Goulet and formed The Legionnaires.
Don was honored by the CAC (Cauliflower Alley Club) in 2004.
Although we have lost another great, Don will always be remembered here at Classic Professional Wrestling!


Friday, November 6, 2015

Dynamite Dick Dunn!

From the 50,s through the 70's Dick Dunn was a mainstay in Alabama and the Gulf States.
Holding the Gulf States Heavyweight Championship seven times!
He was 1/2 of The Gulf States Heavyweight Tag Team Chamions, and teamed with Don Carson of The Grapplers!
Dick was was a handsome wrestler who stormed through the Gulf Coast States.

Dick was from Nashville early on and then made his home in Alabama.
At Classic Professional Wrestling we remember Gulf States Heavyweight Champion Dick Dunn!