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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!feed1.news.erols.com!howland.erols.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!mr.net!winternet.com!alpha.sky.net!news From: macika@emunix.emich.edu (Dominic Macika) Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling.info,rec.sport.pro-wrestling,rec.answers,news.answers Subject: [rec.sport.pro-wrestling] FAQ (part 02/02) 1/2 Followup-To: rec.sport.pro-wrestling Date: 20 Nov 1996 02:22:23 GMT Organization: The r.s.p-w FAQ Cabal Lines: 712 Approved: dannyp@sky.net (rec.sport.pro-wrestling.info) Message-ID: <56tq0v$a6p@alpha.sky.net> Reply-To: macika@emunix.emich.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: ip51.sky.net Summary: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for rec.sport.pro-wrestling Keywords: FAQ RTFM X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.99.8 (beta 2) Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.sport.pro-wrestling.info:850 rec.sport.pro-wrestling:262312 rec.answers:25690 news.answers:87670 Archive-name: pro-wrestling/faq/part2 URL: http://emunix.emich.edu/~macika/Wrestling/faq.html Editor: macika@emunix.emich.edu (Dominic Macika) Posting-Frequency: every third Friday or so Previous-Editor: jewell@Data-IO.com (Cal Jewell) Previous-Editor: jnelson@iastate.edu (Jeremy Nelson) Original-Editor: a0cb@cc.pdx.edu (Chris Bertholf) Rec.Sport.Pro-Wrestling Frequently Asked Questions Part 2 of 2 Editor: Dominic Macika generated: November 18, 1996 Email: macika@emunix.emich.edu Copyright This document is compilation copyright (c) 1995, 1996 by Dominic Macika and compilation copyright (c) 1993, 1994 by Cal Jewell. It may be freely copied and/or distributed in its entirety as long as this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated into commercial products without the editor's written permission. [Compilation copyright means that you can freely use individual sections of this document, but any significant collection of sections is subject to the copyright.] Please read this document before posting to rec.sport.pro-wrestling. If you don't want to see this posting anymore, please add the subject line to your kill file. Comments, additions, suggestions, and corrections are encouraged. Send them to macika@emunix.emich.edu Index Part 1: 1. Rec.Sport.Pro-Wrestling 2. Other information sources 3. WWF 4. WCW 5. NWA 6. Other North American promotions 7. Japan 8. Mexico Part 2: 9. Deaths 10. Injuries 11. Where Are They Now? 12. Wrestling Groups and Teams 13. Miscellaneous questions about wrestlers. 14. The Law and Pro Wrestling 15. Miscellaneous Contributors ------------------------------------------------------- 9. Deaths 9.1. Ray "The Crippler" Stevens Carl Raymond Stevens died May 3, 1996 of a heart attack. He was 60 years old. Ray Stevens was a headline wrestler almost from the time he debuted in the early 50s until his retirement in the 80s. Stevens headlined the San Francisco area from the time the Shire promotion opened in 1960 until he left in 1971. From there he move to the AWA as a tag team partner of Nick Bockwinkel. Later stints also included NWA tag team title reigns in the early 80s with partners like Greg Valentine, Jimmy Snuka and Ivan Koloff. Hs last big run came in the WWF in 1982, where he gave Jimmy Snuka a piledriver outside the ring at a tv taping which led to Snuka's biggest run as a babyface. 9.2. Other recent wrestling related deaths Dr. Bernhardt Schwartz, February 22, 1996, age 81. Ringside physician. Edward Welch (aka Buddy Fuller), January 15, 1996, age 71. Wrestler and promoter. Father of Robert Welch(Robert Fuller, Col. Parker) and Ronald Welch (Ron Fuller). Humberto Arellano (aka Elegante Blanco), January 13, 1996. Wrestler. Jerry Arotsky (aka Jerry O, Jerry Allen), December, 1995, age 32. Wrestler. Eddie Blanks, November 18, 1995. Referee. Vic Travis aka Vic Christy, October 25, 1995, wrestler and brother of wrestler Ted Travis aka Ted Christy. Raul Rojas, October 22, 1995, wrestler. Gene Stevens aka Frank Dalton, October 17, 1995, wrestler 1965-1985. Jay York, October 7, 1995, age 57, wrestler 1958-1990. Henry Phillips aka Treach Phillips, September 30, 1995, age 66, wrestler 1951-1972. Jean Kirkland aka The Black Venus, September 29, 1995, age 47, wrestler. George "Dutch" Momberg, aka Killer Karl Krupp, August 24, 1995, age 62. Wrestler 1965-1988. Arturo Arrillo aka Zandokan, July 25, 1995, age 39. Wrestler and brother of wrestler Huichol. Richard Demonbreun aka Dick Dunn, July 6, 1995. Wrestler 1949- 1970s. Charles "Popeye" Richards, July, 1995, age 65. Wrestler 1962- 1974 and grandfather of Chris Candido. Ideguchi Hajime aka Mr. Chin, June 26, 1995, age 62. Wrestler. William Dahmer aka Pancho Villa, June 12, 1995. Wrestler 1954- 1971, brother of Chief White Owl. --------------------------------------------- 10. Injuries 10.1. What happened to Cactus Jack's right ear? It was accidentally ripped off on March 16, 1994 in a wrestling match in Munich, Germany against Vader. During the match, Cactus got his head caught between the top and middle ropes. The tension in the tightened ring ropes was enough to tear his right ear completely off and badly tear his left ear. Part of the right ear was iced and saved. The left required 12 stitches. Cactus continued the match for another two minutes before going to the planned finish. Cactus was in good spirits afterwards with little damage to his hearing and some trouble with his balance. Cactus returned to the ring April 17, 1994. Reports were that Cactus was planning to take a few months time off to have reconstructive surgery on the ear, however, to date, he has yet to take time off and is currently working for both ECW and SMW. --------------------------------------------- 11. Where Are They Now? 11.1. What happened to Tully Blanchard? After getting suspended/fired from the WWF in November 1989, Tully Blanchard spent a few months in the AWA and then retired and became an evangelist. Depending on who you listen to, Tully was fired for failing a drug test (the WWF story), or Tully was tired of the WWF and failed the drug test on purpose, hoping to get released from his contract (Tully's story). Tully returned to wrestling on May 22, 1994 for WCW for one match at Slamboree '94. He has wrestled sporadically since, in Texas, ECW and Japan. Reverend Tully can be reached at: Tully Blanchard Ministries P.O. Box 2724 Matthews, North Carolina 28106 11.2. What happened to Rick Rude? Prior to May 1994, Rude had been working injured (back and knee). Since he wasn't able to fulfill his contract, WCW fired him. Rude has since filed a lawsuit with WCW over the reason for his injuries and royalities. --------------------------------------------- 12. Wrestling Groups and Teams 12.1. Who were the Four Horsemen? Over the years 13 different wrestlers have been part of the Horsemen. They are: Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Lugar, Barry Windham, Butch Reed, Kendell Windham, Sting, Sid Vicious, Paul Roma, Brian Pillman and Chris Benoit. JJ Dillon, Ole Anderson and Hiro Matsuda have all served as managers. The Horsemen name was first used in January, 1986, with the original group being Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson and Arn Anderson. The current group of Horsemen in WCW consists of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit. 12.2. Who were in the Midnight Express? Randy Rose, Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin formed the Midnight Express in Alabama in 1981. The group moved to Memphis in late 1981 and returned to Alabama in the summer of 1982. During 1983, Midnight Express, Inc. included at one time or another, Rose, Condrey, Austin, the Midnight Stallion, Ron Starr, Rick Harris, and Wayne Ferris. Condrey left Alabama and joined Mid-South in 1983, where he formed a tag team with Bobby Eaton, managed by Jim Cornette, also called the Midnight Express. The Alabama version disbanded in early 1984, while Condrey, Eaton and Cornette would go on to achieve fame in Mid-South, World Class and finally, the NWA in 1985. In April 1987, Condrey left and was replaced by Stan Lane. In 1987, Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose joined as the "Original" Midnight Express, managed by Paul E Dangerously. This group came to the NWA to feud with Cornette, Lane and Eaton. 12.3. Who were the Legion of Doom? The Legion of Doom was a originally a group of wrestlers managed by "Precious" Paul Ellering in Georgia in 1983. At one time or another, the group included Jake Roberts, the Spoiler, King Kong Bundy and Buzz Sawyer. The headline team of the group was always the Road Warriors. By 1984, the Road Warriors were the sole charges of Paul Ellering. After that, the name Legion of Doom was just used as another nickname for the Warriors. When the Road Warriors jumped to the WWF in mid 1990, they called themselves the Legion of Doom, but that was merely a marketing-driven name change from their NWA/WCW personas of the Road Warriors. 12.4. Who were Power Team USA? Power Team USA was a group of bodybuilders formed by Red Bastien in California in 1985. Bastien intended to train them to be wrestlers, but soon abandoned the plan. Upon disbanding the group, Bastien observed "they have great bodies, but they can't wrestle a lick." The members of the group were Jim "Justice" Hellwig (later the Ultimate Warrior), Steve "Flash" Borden (later Sting), Mark "Commando" Miller and Garland "Glory" Donnoho. Miller never wrestled after the disbanding of the group. Donnoho wrestled briefly in California as "The Myth" --------------------------------------------- 13. Miscellaneous questions about wrestlers. 13.1. Who was/is [x]? In the current "Who is..." list: * Leif Cassedy - Al Sarven (aka Al Snow) * Shinobi - Al Sarven (aka Al Snow) * Hugh Morrus - Bill DeMott (aka Crash the Terminator) * Phineas Godwinn - Dennis Knight (aka Tex Slazinger) * BodyDonna Zip --- Tom Prichard * Mr J L --- Jerry Lynn * Dr. I Yankum - Glen Jacobs (aka Unibom in SMW) * Golddust - Dustin Rhodes (real names Dustin Runnels) 13.2. Who is Doink the Clown? That depends on which Doink the Clown you are talking about. Since Doink the Clown debuted in the WWF, the following wrestlers have appeared at least once as a Doink: * Matt Osborne (aka Big Josh, aka "Maniac" Matt Borne) * Steve Keirn (aka Skinner) * Steve Lombardi (aka Brooklyn Brawler, aka Kim Chee) * Ray Lichicelli (aka Ray Apollo) * Butch & Luke (the Bushwhackers) * Mo, Oscar, and Mabel (Men on a Mission) The current Doink in the WWF is Ray Lichicelli. Additionally, numerous wrestlers have appeared on independant shows using the gimmick. 13.3. Who is Steve DiSalvo? Steve DiSalvo has wrestled all over the world, including as "Strangler" Steve DiSalvo in Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, as Steve Strong in Montreal, and as the Minotaur in WCW. He really exists. For a short while Steve DiSalvo was an "in joke" on r.s.p-w. It started in mid 1991 when Sean Ryan mentioned that the WCW's Diamond Studd (really Scott Hall, Razor Ramon) resembled Steve DiSalvo. Not knowing any better, other r.s.p-w'ers took Sean's remark to be the explanation for the different looks of Scott Hall. Shortly thereafter, "The Diamond Studd is not Scott Hall... It's Steve DiSalvo" posts began showing up on r.s.p-w. What began as an honest misunderstanding quickly mutated into r.s.p-w'ers answering "Who is...?" questions with "It's Steve DiSalvo!". The joke ran its course long ago, and is now more annoying than amusing. 13.4. Did [X] ever played organized football? The crossover between wrestling and football is high. Many current professional wrestlers played football in college, and perhaps professionally. First a few notes: The Manny Fernandez who played for the Miami Dolphins in the early 70s is NOT the same person as the wrestler Manny Fernandez. Manny the wrestler was in junior high when Manny the Dolphin was earning Super Bowl rings. Bronko Nagurski deserves recognition as the only athlete to be a member of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and hold a World Heavyweight Championship in Wrestling. Nagurski was a tackle at the University of Minnesota, 1927-29 (All-American in 1929) and played Fullback with the Chicago Bears 1930-37 and 1943. He was one of the initial inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. [6'2 216-238] Nagurski held the National Wrestling Association title twice, from June 23, 1939 to March 7, 1940 (defeating Lou Thesz, losing to Ray Steele) and from March 11, 1941 to June 5, 1941 (regaining from Ray Steele and losing to Sandor Szabo.) Below is a brief list of current wrestlers with football background, clipped from a posting by Gary Will. Jim Duggan: Linebacker at Southern Methodist University. Signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 1977 and spent the season on injured reserve list. Tried out with CFL Toronto Argonauts in 1978 or 1979 and may have played. Stan Hansen: Linebacker at West Texas State University; 11th round pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1972 but did not make the team. Lex Luger: Offensive tackle with Pennsylvania State University and the University of Miami. Played for the CFL Montreal Alouettes after being suspended from the Miami team. On the Green Bay Packers' reserves in 1982. Later played for the USFL Memphis Showboats (1983) and Tampa Bay Bandits. Jim Neidhart: Was on track team at UCLA but did not play football. Dave Scheid remembers him as a back-up nose guard for the Oakland Raiders in late 70s who may also have been with the Houston Oilers; other sources say he never played in the NFL but did attend a Raiders training camp. Paul Orndorff: Fullback at University of Tampa. Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs in 1973 but didn't make the team. Tried out for New Orleans Saints in 1974 and was again cut. Played for WFL Jacksonville Sharks in 1975. Brian Pillman: Middle guard for Miami University. Signed as a free agent by Cincinnati Bengals and played there in 1984. Tried out for the CFL Calgary Stampeders in 1986 and may have played there. Ron Simmons: Nose guard for Florida State University. All-American in 1982. Drafted in the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns in 1983 but did not make the team. Played for the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits. Big Van Vader: Played at University of Colorado. Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and was on injured reserve for at least one season but never played. Steve Williams: Offensive guard with University of Oklahoma where he was All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American in 1981. Signed with USFL New Jersey Generals in 1983, played little and was traded to the Denver Gold before the 1984 season, where he was cut. COLLEGE ONLY: Animal (LOD) Morehead State University Defensive Tackle Tully Blanchard West Texas State University Quarterback Ted DiBiase West Texas State University Ric Flair University of Minnesota Offensive Guard Terry Funk West Texas State University Offensive Guard 13.5. Are Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth really married? Not any more. They were divorced in 1992. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (real name Randy Poffo) and Miss Elizabeth (real name Elizabeth Hewlett) were officially married December 30, 1984 in Frankfort, KY. Their "Match Made in Heaven" was just a gimmick Vince McMahon used as a draw for SummerSlam '91. 13.6. Who are the Von Erichs? To begin with, there are no "real" Von Erichs. The Adkisson family has used the last name "Von Erich" for their wrestling personas for years. The patriarch of the Adkisson/Von Erich clan is Jack Adkisson. He took the ring name Fritz Von Erich and wrestled in the 50's and 60's with a Nazi German gimmick, complete with goose step and iron claw. Waldo Von Erich was Bill Sheppard, no relation to the Adkissons. He formed a successful tag team in the 60's with Fritz. Jack had six sons, five of whom were involved with wrestling. Jack's first son, Jackie, died of electrocution at age 6 in 1959. Kevin Von Erich began wrestling in the mid-70s. He rarely competed outside of his home state. His few trips out of Texas saw him compete in Japan, and in St. Louis. Kevin is currently wrestling for Jim Crockett's NWA promotion in Dallas. Kevin is the only of Fritz's sons still alive. David Von Erich (nicknamed "the Yellow Rose of Texas") began wrestling on June 28, 1977. David was the most successful of the Von Erich boys in the late 70s and early 80s, competing in St. Louis, Japan and Florida, as well as his home state of Texas. David was found dead in his hotel room in Japan on February 10, 1984. His dreams of winning the NWA World title were never realized. Kerry Von Erich achieved the most national fame of the Von Erich boys. His pinnacle came on May 6th, 1984, when he defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World title in Texas Stadium, at a memorial card for David. This event made Fritz and Kerry the only father and son duo to hold World singles titles (Fritz had held the AWA title in 1963) Kerry lost the title back to Flair in Japan on May 24, 1984. Kerry's entire career was haunted by troubles stemming from drug use. On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved in an automobile accident in which his right leg was severely damaged. It wasn't until after Kerry's death in 1993 that his family would confirm that he had lost his foot in the accident. He wrestled for the rest of his career with a prosthesis on his leg. He did not return to the ring full time until late 1987. On February 18, 1993, Kerry shot himself in the heart at his home in Sandy Shore, TX. He was 33. Mike Von Erich debuted in November, 1983. Months later he was thrust in the role of being David's successor, a role he never quite looked comfortable in. In 1985, on a tour of Israel, Mike suffered a shoulder separation on an exceptionally hard ring. During recovery, Mike contracted toxic-shock syndrome. He recovered, but he had lost much weight and strength during his layoff. He returned to the ring in July 1986. Mike died on April 13, 1987, at the age of 23, of an intentional overdose of Placidyl (depressant/muscle relaxant). Chris Von Erich, the youngest of Fritz's sons, began appearing at ringside for his brothers matches in the mid-80s. He was involved in a few angles. He finally made his wrestling debut in the late 80's. Chris died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on September 12, 1991. Chris was 21. In 1985, Fritz brought in Kevin William Vaughn, using the ring name Lance Von Erich, and billed as a cousin of the Von Erich boys, a son of Waldo. In reality, he was no relation to either Fritz's family or Waldo. Fritz's plan of creating a new Von Erich eventually backfired, after Lance left Fritz's promotion and Fritz admitted publicly that he actually wasn't related. Recently in Texas, local wrestler Rick Lerebeus has been wrestling as Mark Von Erich. 13.8. How are all the Samoan wrestlers related? The original Samoans, Afa & Sika are brothers, real names Alofa and Sika Anoia. Sika has two sons in wrestling, Rodney Anoia (Yokozuna, Kokina Maximus) and Lloyd Anoia (Tahitian Warrior). Alofa has one son in wrestling, Samula Anoia (Headshrinker Samu). The Tonga Kid (Islander Tama, Samoan Savage, real name Sam Fatu) and Headshrinker Fatu (real name Solofa Fatu) are brothers. It has been reported that the Fatu brothers are either cousins to Samu and Yokozuna, or long-time family friends to the Anoia's. Both families are of Samoan descent and grew up in the San Francisco area. Headshrinker Sionne (Konga the Barbarian, real name Sionne Vailahi) is not related to either family, although he is of Samoan descent and also grew up in San Fransisco. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (real name James Reiher) is of Fijian descent and grew up in Hawaii. He has one brother who wrestled as Cocoa Samoa (Sabu the Wildman in Memphis ca. 84, real name John Reiher.) --------------------------------------------- 14. The Law and Pro Wrestling 14.1. Who is Charles Austin? In December 1990, Austin and The Genius (Lanny Poffo) jobbed for The Rockers (Jannetty & Michaels) at a WWF television taping at the Sun Dome in Tampa FL. Before the finish, Jannetty executed the Rocker Dropper on Austin. Instead of taking the planned face-first bump, Austin attempted a forward roll and wound up landing on his