Category: WWF (Pre-2002)
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The Summer of 1994: Wrestling in Crisis
Over 30 years ago, in the summer of 1994, the wrestling world was shaken. Vince McMahon and the WWF were on trial for steroid distribution. The most high-profile witness for the prosecution had just left Vince’s employ: Hulk Hogan, who was making the jump from the WWF to WCW. At the time, many feared the…
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Howard Finkel: The Voice of Wrestling
Howard Finkel, a true icon in the wrestling world, passed away on April 16, 2020, at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades. Known as the first employee signed by Titan Sports (later WWE), Finkel’s contributions went far beyond ring announcing. From ringing the bell to early website development, he was…
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Ricky Steamboat: Wrestling’s Greatest Underappreciated Talent
Ricky Steamboat’s career is a tale of brilliance overshadowed by frustrating underappreciation. A mix of bad timing, injuries, and an industry that often clashed with his values prevented him from enjoying the sustained success his peers achieved. Despite being one of the most gifted in-ring performers of his generation, Steamboat’s journey is a reminder of…
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Ric Flair: The Nature Boy Who Made Wrestling Better
Ric Flair’s rise to wrestling superstardom is inseparable from his unique approach to the business—an approach that contrasts sharply with that of his contemporary, Hulk Hogan. Where Hogan’s legacy is often marred by stories of backstage politics, paranoia, and refusal to pass the torch, Flair is remembered as a generous performer who understood that his…
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Jake “The Snake” Roberts: From WCCW to Wrestling Immortality
After watching the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat, few would have bet on Jake “The Snake” Roberts living to see 50, considering the tragic fate of so many professional wrestlers. Yet despite a childhood filled with abuse, decades of addiction, and the lowest of lows, Roberts endured—and in the process, became one of the most…
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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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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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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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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…