Sad news as we have lost The Polynisian Wildman!

The news came to me early this morning from one of the Stars of my TSW Promotions The Mysterious Sheik, that our longtime friend The Polynesian Wildman passed away in Hawaii !
As a Promoter I could depend on him to be dependable and give his all.
Always a pleasure to work with, it is with heavy heart to report this sad news to all of the fans.
I would make one call to bring him in, along with Shotgun Willie and TSW Womans Champion Misty Dawn.
He wrestled Dick The Bruiser and many AWA and WWA greats.
They brought smiles to my face when they would appear at the arena.
Always grateful to be on my cards, we had mutual respect and it showed.
They all gave great interviews and made Promoter Bob Brooks and TSW a Chicagoland fan favorite.
Thank you my friend for sharing your talents and being a part of TSW.
The Polynesian Wildman will always be remembered by Classic Professional Wrestling!

Giants of The Mat! Happy Humphrey!!!

While the scales tipped at the meat packing plants of 900 lbs., they weren't weighing beef, but a Professional Wrestler from Georgia named Happy Humphrey!
In the ring, the big man started his career in 1953 wrestling a Bear. Most mat stars don't start off that way but....
I realize Wiki this and that focus on him being so heavy, but fans, this man was kind and always took time to sign as many autographs as he could.
Maybe not unusual, but considering his treatment outside of the ring by non fans who would stare at him, and made him feel like a circus side show, he remained a nice man.
"Handsome " Harley Race was tasked during his early career in driving Humphrey to his matches.
Yes, Race had been a caretaker to him, showering him with a garden hose, washing him with brushes and mops, Race looked at him as a mentor who taught him a lot in the ring. Race wrestled HH on occaision.
Now here's what you wanted, and that is who could give HH a run for his money in the ring you say?
At 601lbs Haystacks Calhoun and 900 lb HH had sold out Madison Square Garden for Promoter Vince McMahon Sr.
Humphrey lost most of his weight in later years, and volunteered for obesity studies.
His heart gave out eventually, but he left us with great memories of a big man who really cared about the fans and Professional Wrestling.
And we at CPW cared about Happy Humphrey and he is remembered!

The One, The Only, The Clawmaster!

From Stuttgart Germany at 288 lbs, he is The Clawmaster Baron Von Raschke!And so much more you probably didn't know!
A little closer to home, in Omaha, Baron worked hard on getting his Amateur Wrestling background together.
While playing basketball and football, he won the Nebraska State Heavyweight Championship.

He worked hard at a BS Degree in Biology as well.
Uncle Sam provided room and board and Baron served his country. He found time to be in the World Games winning a Bronze Medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
Promoter Joe Dusek,a name you heard in The Wrestler, introduced Baron to AWA Heavyweight Champion and Promoter Verne Gagne.The Goosestepper was born!
Teaming up with Mad Dog Vachon, he was underway into Professional Wrestling, where The Clawmaster had Legendary Matches at Cominsky Park in a Title Match with Gagne.
His opponents were the toughest around, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Wilbur Snyder, Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher!
Managed by Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan, The Clawmaster was on top!
In the 1980,s Baron saw the light, became a good guy, and also a crowd favorite!
The Clawmaster wrestled for me in those late 80;s and what a fan favorite he was.
I saw him throw The Clawhold on The Kelly Brothers Tim Kelly, and the crowd went crazy! They hadn't seen Baron for a few years in Chicago as he worked the WCW out of Atlanta.
I brought The Clawmaster to my home to meet my father. He was such a cordial man, very respectful of my father and kind.
I always appreciated his coming to the house.
In the ring, he was tough, he could wrestle, and he would give the best interviews with Sam Menacher.
Bob Luce printed bloody beaten pictures of Baron and the crowds filed in.
Baron had a Antique shop in Prior Lake. He made some interviews and behind the scenes stories.
I will always remember his matches and The Claw.
At CPW we remember The Clawmaster Baron Von Raschke!!