Saturday, August 20, 2016

"The Wrestling Beatle"!!

No, its not The British Invasion! No Brexit jokes please.
While four young guys with Mops for hairdos were making girls scream and Ed Sullivan made the headlines, another young man was in the Ring as the Wrestling Beatle.
My old buddy Bob Sabre, a Chicago Mainstay, prompted by Dick The Bruiser to do his part and bring in the fans as The Wrestling Beatle.
Bob was a trainer and in my opinion a good one.
As this Mop haired Wrestler did make a few stops, even in Toronto,
That was George Ringo's final appearance in Toronto. He had wrestled at Maple Leaf Gardens twice in 1964, defeating  Firpo Zbyszko (Sept. 10) and Duke Noble.
A promotional idea that didn't happen, was to say that Jayne Mansfield would accompany The Wrestling Beatle to the ring. She of course was killed in a fatal car accident at only age 34 in 1967.
While bob may not have had the fame of the Beatles, or lucky enough to have Jayne in his corner, Bob Sabre The Wrestling Beatle will always be remembered at Classic Professional Wrestling!
Photo: Wrestling Revue.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Ada Ash and Ohio Favorite!

This week we look back at one of the toughest women in the square circle but outside of Professional Wrestling as well.
While most young women of her time were challenging life and work, Ada was lifting horses, wrestling crocodiles, and yes, Wrestling bears!
Ada Ash was not afraid to get into the ring with opponents larger than her and she proved it in over 171 matches.
Of course I had my favorite matches and that was with Shirley Strimple, "The Wrestling Housewife!
She's had her head busted open, and reportedly, in a match against Nell Stewart she inadvertently fell out of the ring onto the floor injuring her spine!
Ada was trained by a few ring veterans, one being her husband Al Szasz who was well known in the San Francisco area during the 30's.
So many of todays Divas who grace the TV screen should be first to remember Stars like Ada Ash who were true Professional Wrestling Stars of the early days.
At CPW we remember greats like Ada Ash!



Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Wow!! Going back to the 1940's remembering Jim "The Goon" Henry!
Fron Buffalo to Beaumont, this guy worked with Paul Ballargeon and Magnificent Maurice and Handsome Johnny Berand.
1939 saw the invasion of Poland, the US was at a tense time, of course nobody knew what December 7th 1941 was going to see at Pearl Harbor.
Yet Americans still needed an outlet to get away from WW II. Professional Wrestling greats provided that diversion.
Walter Palmer was the NWA Champion of the 40;s.
Jim Henry was Wrestling throughout the US.  In Beaumont Texas, Jim was in 3 Fall Tag Team matches with Young Joe Stecher.
Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland were known as Steelbelt Wrestling. Yes, The Wrestling Battman was there too!
The Goon was anywhere there was a ring, taking on the legends of the day, such as Primo Canera.

Known for finishing off his opponents with a Powerful Full Nelson, Jim had many long and grueling matches, some lasting an hour and time limits expiring..Going the distance.
At Classic Professional Wrestling, we remember Jim "The Goon" Henry!!