Category: Retro Wrestling
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Hulk Hogan’s “Trinket” Comment, and the Art of Wrestling Hype
In 1993, Hulk Hogan sat before Japanese media ahead of a match with The Great Muta for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. In a moment that has lived in infamy, Hogan gestured to the WWF World Heavyweight Title belt — the iconic Winged Eagle — and called it a “toy” and a “trinket.” He then pointed…
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The British Bulldog: Davey Boy Smith’s Three-Era Legacy
Few wrestlers bridged as many eras in WWF history as The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith. From the tag team glory of the Hulkamania era, through the title hunts of the New Generation, to the Attitude Era’s chaos, Bulldog was there — a constant presence who proved himself a draw in three very different wrestling…
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World Class Championship Wrestling: Innovation and Tragedy
No territory produced more tales of legend and heartbreak than World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Based in Dallas and run by Fritz von Erich, WCCW was both a groundbreaking wrestling promotion and a cautionary tale. It pioneered modern wrestling television production, launched the careers of future megastars, and staged some of the most iconic feuds…
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Harley Race: Wrestling’s Toughest Champion
Harley Race passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 76 after a battle with lung cancer. Though only 76, his career and influence stretched across seven decades, making him feel like a permanent fixture of wrestling’s history. Tough, respected, and unrelenting, Race was the embodiment of professional wrestling’s grit. His journey from…
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The Wild Samoans: Pioneers and Patriarchs of the Anoa’i Dynasty
The world of professional wrestling has been shaped by countless legendary figures, but few have left as enduring a mark as Afa and Sika Anoa’i, better known as The Wild Samoans. As trailblazers for Samoan wrestlers and patriarchs of the famed Anoa’i dynasty, their impact stretches far beyond their own careers. Sadly, both men passed…
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The Everlasting Impact of Big Daddy & Giant Haystacks
When people talk about the golden era of British wrestling, two names tower above all others: Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks. These weren’t just wrestlers—they were household names, cultural figures, and the centrepiece of Saturday afternoon family entertainment on ITV’s World of Sport. From the mid-1970s through the 1980s, millions tuned in every week to…
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Haystacks Calhoun vs. Giant Haystacks: The Tale of Two Giants
Professional wrestling has always loved its giants. From Andre the Giant to Big Show, larger-than-life heavyweights have been promoted as irresistible attractions — living spectacles that draw crowds just to see the sheer scale of them. But few names cause more confusion than the two “Haystacks.” For years, many fans have assumed that Haystacks Calhoun,…
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Barefoot in the Ring: Wrestling Without Boots
Who is the greatest wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots? Certainly none of the following, whose in-ring trademarks included wrestling barefoot. Whether to portray a wrestler of a particular fighting style or cultural heritage, these performers became shoeless stars in the squared circle. The Golden Age of Barefoot Wrestling Antonino Rocca A…
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Exotic Adrian Street: The Flamboyant Welsh Pioneer
“Exotic” Adrian Street is remembered as one of wrestling’s true originals — a legitimately tough shooter hidden behind the flamboyant exterior of a playboy. His wife, Linda, told the BBC that Street was “the kindest, most lovely and loving man I’ve ever known.” Street was 82 years old, having died following a stroke which caused…
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Celebrating The Career of Leon White aka Vader
WWE finally corrected a long-standing oversight when they announced that Vader would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. For nearly two decades, Leon “Big Van Vader” White redefined what it meant to be a big man in professional wrestling. At nearly 500 pounds, he possessed shocking agility, explosive power, and a fluid in-ring style…