Pro wrestling was a big deal when I was a kid, a much different sport than it is today. In the old days it was so good and so believable you actually could believe it was real. There were so many stars and personalities.
Back then wrestling was a mainstay in Tampa. Tuesday nights 8:30 at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory. The place was packed every Tuesday night with a raucous crowd. It was an electric atmosphere. A relatively small old building, you were always right on top of the action.
The Florida Heavyweight Championship belt
Championship Wrestling from Florida started in 1961 with the great Eddie Graham at the top and it ran successfully until 1987
Here are some of the greats from back then with the two best pure wrestlers first
Jack Brisco
Dory Funk Jr
Terry Funk
A very bad dude...Harley Race
The Nature Boy Ric Flair
Ric Flair and Gordon Solie
Don Muraco...from Macawawa Maui
From Moscow Russia...The Great Malenko
Buddy Colt
Dick Murdoch
Mike Graham
Dickie Slater
We close with The American Dream himself Dusty Rhodes...everybody wanted Big Dust...the Bucs, the Rowdies, all the baseball teams...he could run like a deer...jump like a gazelle..his fist covered your whole face
These were the golden days of professional wrestling and a lot of us boys from back then have great memories of them
Thanks again to my cousin Alan for the idea..
Just an amazing time. Wow! If you can stomach some colorful language, checkout Steve Austin's podcast. He routinely has pro wrestlers on with great stories of just how all this came together. My favorites are interviews with Ric Flair and Terry Funk.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
If I remember correctly, I used to watch Championship Wrestling From Florida, here in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pa. on Wednesday nights back in either 1971 or 72. It didn't start at a normal time but for some reason it was like 11:25 at night. It wasn't televised very long, wish it was. I took an interest in Boris Malenko. Think I saw him one time running around, outside the ring, with a cap and gown on. Gordon Solie was the best
ReplyDeleteMy favorite wrestler,often interviewed by Gordon Solie,was Jose Lothario...His finishing move,was the Full Boston Crab..
ReplyDeleteMany of the greats began their wrestling careers,in the NWA,AWA and championship wrestling from Florida and Georgia...My favorite tag team of all time,remains,The Road Warriors(LOD)...