There have been few more polarizing figures in the history of British pro wrestling than Jackie "Mr. TV" Pallo, who died Saturday at the age of 80. Worshipped and abhorred, there is no denying that he was one of the biggest names ever from the United Kingdom.

Born Jackie Gutteridge above the gym his father owned in Islington, London, he grew up around boxing with his father, Jack, grandfather and uncle all involved in the ring game. A show-off from an early age, he worked as a butcher and a mechanic, and was engaged to Trixie when he decided to stop training as an amateur wrestler and go pro with Dale Martin Promotions.

As Jackie Pallo, he was the right man at the right time as televised wrestling began in Britain. He wasn't an especially big man, but he quickly adapted to the showmanship aspect of the game and became known for his striped shorts and gold boots.
http://slam.canoe.ca/

Mike "Johnny Grunge" Durham who passed away this morning at age 39. Tommy Dreamer was quoted
as saying: "Johnny was a pioneer in the early stages of ECW... Public Enemy helped put ECW on the map, and they were our first home-grown main eventers. He'll be missed." There is still no word on the exact cause of
death although it's believed that he suffered from sleep apnoea which may have been a factor.

His death was apparently caused to a mix of alcohol and some kind of pills and or a heart attack. Murder or any kind of criminal hand at the scene were discarded.

Is expected that his burial could be on either Wednesday or Thursday, expecting that the forensic services got quickly.

His real causes of death will be revealed in a month or so after toxicological exams were practiced.

His death was mentioned by Hugo Savinovich on the Wrestlemania 22 show, Spanish language broadcast. Was mentioned his works in Puerto Rico, Japan and his tenure as WWE Latino presidency.

Kay Noble, one of the greats of women's wrestling from the 1950s to the early 1980s, last her final battle -- to inoperable stomach cancer. She died Thursday, April 27, at about 6 pm CT, in Texas, surrounded by friends and family. Earlier this year, her many friends in pro wrestling took the time to celebrate the great career of Kay, and recall her toughness.

A powerful presence in professional wrestling and outrigger canoe paddling, died on Tuesday at his Hawai'i Kai home. He would have been 72 today. "To different people from different eras, he was different things," his oldest daughter Samantha Moikeha said. "To Mainland people in the 1950s, he was a big wrestler. In the '60s and '70s, it was Wrestling Hawaii. In the '80s and '90s, it was paddling and coaching. He was always doing something." Mokuahi was battling Alzheimer's disease, according to his daughter. Mokuahi was a multi-sport athlete at Roosevelt High, and then became an internationally known professional wrestler under the name "Sammy Steamboat." "I got to travel around the country with him, so that was an exciting time," Moikeha said. "Wrestling was just one of those things he was good at. He was so strong."

Eric Michael Youngston
5/7/2006

"YOUNGSON, Eric Michael 28 years, passed away surrounded by his family's love at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital on Sunday, May 7, 2006. Loving son of Ken and Sharron Youngson. Dearest brother of Peter and Karen Youngson and Ian Youngson and Christal Harrison. Dearest uncle and Godfather of Alexander. Dear Godson of Lynn and Timm Carr. Also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Eric will be fondly remembered by many beloved friends.

He wrestled for BCW on 2 occasions. Once in 1998 on the D'Amore vs Honky Tonk Man show versus Carl Leduc and in the first ever Doug Chevalier Memorial Tag Tourney teaming with Nikita vs Geza and Dyson.

He spent the majority of his career in OWA and OCW as well as in Michigan indys.  

John "Earthquake" Tenta
6/07/2006

The first public notice of Tenta's death was posted on WWE.com on June 7, 2006 at approximately 12:30 p.m. EDT, which read:

John "Earthquake" Tenta passed away this morning at the age of 42 after a lengthy battle with bladder cancer. Tenta is survived by his wife and three kids.

A few days after the death of Tenta, Tenta's good friend RD Reynolds posted a tribute to his late friend on the WrestleCrap.com main page. In this was the foreword to RD's first book, written by John Tenta, details of their friendship, and discussions of Tenta's struggles with cancer. RD ended by saying "John, I will miss you dearly." On the June 12th edition of RAW, before the show began, World Wrestling Entertainment showed their respect towards Tenta with an eyecatch that said "In memory of John "Earthquake" Tenta 1963-2006."

Franklin D. Churchill
6/22/06

"CRAZY" LUKE GRAHAM
6/25/06

"Crazy" Luke Graham passed away on Saturday. The cause of death is believed to be heart failure.

Graham, real name Grady Johnson, won a version of the World Tag Team Titles with his "wrestling brother Dr Jerry Graham in 1964 and won the WWWF World Tag Team Titles in 1971 with Tarzan Tyler. He also held a version of the NWA World Tag Titles with Karl Von Brauner in 1966.

Graham wrestled for most major territories in the 60s and 70s and won titles almost everywhere he wrestled.

Bull Ramos
5/27/06

Apache Bull Ramos was a professional wrestler from the 60s and 70s who primarily worked as a heel. He had notable feuds with Bruno Sammartino, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Terry Funk and Mil Mascaras. Ramos weighed over 300 pounds and was strong on promos. As a result, he was able to draw massive heat during his matches.

Ramos suffered from diabetes and had a leg amputated as a result. In addition, he was rendered blind and was on kidney dialysis three times a week. On May 27, 2006, Ramos died at the age of 71 due to a massive shoulder infection.  

"Cowboy" Bob Yuma
5/23/06

Cowboy Bob Yuma passed away today, May 23rd, 2006 at the age of 54
after suffering many years from lung disease. He and his wife Alicia
resided in Arizona.

Yuma (Frankie Vaughn) was trained by Tito Montez and broke into the
wrestling business in 1973/74, and after his tour of the Pacific Northwest
ventured to Arizona where he held many regional championships.
(For photo and/or other bio information,

- http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/  

Harry Elliott

6/25/06

Harry Elliott, former long-time Northwest wrestling promoter, passed away June 25, 2006 at the age of 101. He would have celebrated his 102nd birthday August 17.

He began his ring career in the 1930s as a lightweight boxer, but quit to attend Oregon State University, where he graduated with the highest honors ever awarded to any student up until that time. Following graduation, he went to work for the Kaiser Aluminum Company, before joining forces with the Owen family in the Portland, Oregon wrestling office. He became their head referee and ran numerous spot shows up until 1957, when he obtained a contract with CBS Television to broadcast wrestling live in the City of Seattle.

From 1958 until 1969, he was the sole head promoter in Washington State, Idaho and Northeast Oregon. He is survived by his wife Junna and his son who resides in Kirkland, Washington. Harry passed away at an assisted living home in Portland, Oregon.

- http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/

Pat Hutchison  
6/27/06

Pat Hutchison, long-time Memphis enhancement worker, died yesterday. Hutchison usually wrestled under a mask as he worked for the Shelby County Clerks office and did not want to be known.

http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/

Tiger Khan
6/28/06

Wednesday, 28 June 2006
Pro Wrestler Tiger Khan Passes Away

/UCWE/ - According to reports professional wrestler Marlon Kalkai who went under the moniker “Tiger Khan” passed away early Monday, June 26, 2006 in California, he was in his early thirties.

He is the latest in a line of professional wrestlers that have lost their lives at an early age, Tiger traveled the world in pursuit of his dream of one day walking into a World Wrestling Entertainment ring but he never got that opportunity.

Like most independent wrestlers, he worked hard for very little money and at times no pay at all, putting his body on the line to entertain an audience. He gave 100% of himself in every match whether there were 3 or 3000 people in attendance, he wanted to make sure that they got their moneys worth at a show that he worked on.

He started out as a scrawny teenager in a training facility on Front Street in Brooklyn, NY called Gleason’s Gym, where he trained under the watchful eye of former WWF light heavyweight champion Bobby Bold Eagle. It is there that he made strong ties with other up and coming wrestlers, and decided to make wrestling his career.

Some memorable matches were in the mid 1990’s when he battled former Extreme Championship Wrestling “ECW” star “The Giant” Paul Lauria for the UCW light heavyweight crown in Deer Park, Long Island as well as other arenas in New York. He went on to travel to Europe, Saudi Arabia, England and eventually spent some time with the Hart Family in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he wrestled for the Hart Brothers' Stampeded Wrestling Organization.

At one point or another he wrestled with the likes of Tony Atlas, King Kong Bundy, Bruce Hart, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, “Ironman” Tommy Cairo, Paul “The Giant” Lauria, Marty Jannetty, Chris Chavis aka “Tatanka”, The Wild Samoans, John Tenta “Earthquake”, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, Sir Christopher Michaels, Gino Caruso, The Dudleys, Koko B. Ware, Terry Funk, Jake Roberts and many others.

He will be remembered as talented wrestler and entertainer by his wrestling family and his fans. Our condolences go out to the Kalkai family on this sad day in Independent Wrestling.

The circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be revealed but we will provide an update in regards to funeral arrangements as soon as we are informed.

The UCW Entertainment Newswire features the latest news from the entertainment industry including, film, television, video games, sports entertainment and more.
To keep up to date go to www.ucwe.com/news  

Daniel Nickerson
7/15/06

Daniel Nickerson, owner of New England Independent promotion All out Mayhem, died unexpectedly today of a massive heart attack.. he was 48.
The first All Out Mayhem show took place May 18, just two months ago. It is unknown whether the promotion will do more shows in the future or not.

www.alloutmayhem.com

Bob Orton Sr.
7/17/06

It is with a sad heart to report that Bob Orton Sr. has passed away at the age of 77. Orton, who was the father of "Cowboy" Bob Orton and the grandfather of current Raw superstar Randy Orton died over the weekend after suffering a heart attack.

Orton's list of championships range from the United States title, the AWA MidWest Tag Team championships (with Mike DiBiase, father of Ted DiBiase) and Mad Dog Vachon, and the NWA World Tag Team belts with Eddie Graham.

Orton Sr.'s last public appearance was at an autograph signing with his son and grandson in Rhode Island last year. I also believe that his last public WWE TV appearance was at the WWE Hall of Fame award ceremony where "Cowboy" Bob Orton was honored.
http://www.lordsofpain.net/ 

Billy Firehawk
7/18/06

Billy Firehawk Dead at Age Forty
William J. “Billy Firehawk” Hawkins III died at 6:10 PM EDT from complications of diabetes at a hospital in his native Canada. He is survived by his wife Daisy Wei-Hawkins and his young daughter. Mr. Hawkins was forty years of age. He will be cremated, consistent with his wishes.

“Hawk” loved the pro wrestling industry. He manifested that love by creating Cyberspace Wrestling; a company that became an affiliate NWA promotion in New Jersey. Corporate headquarters are in Nevada.

Professional wrestling overflows with controversy. Hawk thrived on it, finding it amusing and motivational. He built NWA Cyberspace to be an extension of his eclectic personality. A promotion that was heavy in top shelf talent but also nurtured the up and coming. He was tremendously loyal to those he believed were loyal to him. His generosity to those in his employ is legendary.

There were no phony “demons” in Billy Firehawk’s life. No dependence on illegal drugs or overindulgence in alcohol. Just the “world’s biggest teenager” having fun getting his belt signed by wrestlers he idolized and doing those in-ring promos we all kidded him about.

Wrestling is a make-believe industry. It is built on falsehoods going down to its roots. Works, angles, kayefabe, there is little reality inside the world of pro wrestling. But death is real. No Grim Reaper gimmick, no Undertaker bell-tolling or any of the other quasi-morbid promoter-generated creations. Now, there exists an empty chair next to the Hawkins family fireplace. A crying child wondering why her father was taken from her so early in his and her life. A grieving widow left to bury the man she loved and settle his affairs. Death is not virtual reality – it is reality in the truest meaning of the word.
NWA Shockwave is Billy Firehawk’s dream. It is what he wanted. And he shall not be disappointed. His dream will go on. His legacy will be refreshed every time the opening bell sounds.
There can be no better memorial.

FRED RUBENSTEIN
DEREK GORDON

Chief Operating Officer
Director of Operations
NWA Shockwave
http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/

Walter Nurnberg
7/13/06

It was as if he were two different people.

Inside the ring, Walter Nurnberg was mean. He looked like Mr. Clean - bald head, goatee, barrel chest - but one that would rip your head off and then mop the floor with your blood.

Outside the ring, he was soft-spoken. A gentle giant. He didn't like to hurt people. He liked to have a nice meal with his family. Watch sports on TV. He liked to tell stories about the good old days, when he was famous.

He was born of meager means and clawed his way to fame. And then he ended up living in a room in his son's trailer - shared by his son's wife, two grandsons, an asthmatic 15-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Skippy and a cat named Abby - off a dirt road in Zephyrhills. That's where he died on Sunday evening (Aug. 13, 2006). He was 77 years old.

Roberto Rangel
8/22/06

http://www.gerweck.net/

Steve "Dr. Lucha" Sims is reporting that Roberto Rangel, a long time referee for the CMLL promotion in Mexico dating back to 1953, passed away Tuesday morning due to complications from diabetes. We would like to send our deepest condolences to the friends and family or Mr. Rangel.

Ray Cortese
9/11/06

From the Desk of Dale R. Gagne

It is with a tremendously heavy heart that I announce AWA SLAM/CHICAGO Promoter, the Father of former AWA World Tag-Team Champion THE HENCHMEN (Buddah The Beast) passed away just about an hour ago, today 9/11/2006. Ray Cortese was one of the AWA's most proficient advocates, becoming one of our originally sanctioned promotions almost two and a half years ago.

In fact, he was the third promotion to be sanctioned. He will be remembered as a key part of our expansion. AWA Vice-President, Jon Stewart was in transit to visit with Mr. Cortese's family on behalf of himself and our organization when Ray passed away quicker than Doctors had anticipated.

Ricky Gibson
9/15/06

Ricky Gibson, the older brother of Rock & Roll Express member Robert Gibson, passed away earlier this week. We don't have more in the way of details.

Ricky Gibson, real name believed to be Rick Cain, wrestled primarily in Southern territories like Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, as well as in Calfornia during the 70s, and was one of the best young workers in the business when he broke in. Several years later, broter Ruben (Robert) joined him in the Gibson Brothers tag team. But Ruben became far more successful when linked with Ricky Morton, and Ricky Gibson faded out of wrestling in the mid-80s.

Wrestling Observer

Tigre Perez
9/23/06

Tigre Perez, real name either reported as Alfredo Perez or as Tomas Perez, died last Saturday, September 23. I presummed he died at somewhere at San Juan . Perez, who was born in Cuba , came to Puerto Rico in the late 60’s and worked several promotions in the pre-WWC era. He got most exposure at the promotion ran by Mexican promoter Arturo Mendoza, that was the dominant local promotion on the era, that ran against the LG promotion of Clerence Lutrell and Eddie Graham.

Antonio Peña
10/05/06

Antonio Peña, the founder of the Mexican professional wrestling promotion AAA, has passed away at the age of 53 due to a massive heart attack on October 5th, 2006.

AAA formed in 1993, and is a promotion that has been responsible for bringing the "Lucha" style to the US and introduced wrestlers such as Eddie Guerrero, Juventud Guerrera, Rey Misterio Jr, Psicosis, La Parka, Konnan and others.

Joey Maggs
10/16/06

Joseph Magliano (AKA Joey Maggs) was a professional wrestler best known as enhancement talent in WCW in the early to mid 1990s, and for wrestling the independent wrestling circuit.

According to journalist Dave Meltzer, Magliano died on October 15, 2006; no cause of death was immediately available.

Kim Il
10/30/06

Former pro wrestler Kim Il, who dominated professional wrestling in the 1960s and 70s, died Thursday afternoon in a hospital in Seoul. He was 77.

An official at the Eulji General Hospital, where Kim had been hospitalized for 10 years, said that the late wrestler, who had been plagued by chronic diseases including complications from diabetes and hypertension, passed away at 12:17 p.m.

According to the hospital, the cause of his death was a heart attack brought on by renal insufficiency and kidney failure.

On Wednesday, as his blood pressure suddenly lowered, he was transferred to the intensive care unit. CPR, or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, was performed but to no avail.

The bald-headed Kim moved to Japan in 1957 and started wrestling there under the guidance of Kim Shin-rak, known by the Japanese name Rikidozan, and won the World Wrestling Association heavyweight championship. He stayed in the ring for 30 years, claiming the champion¡¯s title 20 times.

Kim is survived by his wife, Lee In-soon, two daughters, Ae-ja and Soon-hee and one son, Suan. A remembrance altar has been set up at Eulji General Hospital and a funeral service will be held Saturday afternoon.

Sputnik Monroe
11/04/06

Sputnik Monroe, who wrestled in the 50's, 60's and 70's, has passed away. Monroe had faced health problems in recent years. We would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Monroe.

Bio from http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/host/monroes/sputnik.html 

The strut.  The blond streak.  The profile.  Put them all together and you have one of the roughest, toughest, meanest, and most colorful wrestlers to pack out Southern arenas, Sputnik Monroe!

Sputnik was born Rocco Monroe DiGrazio in Dodge City, KS.  His father had been killed in an airplane crash a month before his birth and his first seven or eight years were spent living between grandparents.  His stepfather, a Brumbaugh, adopted him at age 17.  His name became Rock Monroe Brumbaugh.  The Brumbaughs moved to Wichita, where he spent his childhood years hanging around the local YMCA after school.  Privileged to watch pro wrestlers like Everett Marshall, John Pesek, and Eddie Virag working out at the Y, young Rock noticed their tailor-made suits, their big cars, and all the ladies nearby.  He decided then and there that pro wrestling was the life for him.

Brumbaugh wrestled in the U.S. Navy and weighed only around 180 pounds upon his discharge, too light for a pro.  Traveling the Midwestern carnival circuit, he took on all comers at rodeos and county fairs, admitting the pay was not the best: “It was chicken one day, feathers the next!”  There were times when he even had to pick a fight to get a match.  He would either insult some guy’s girlfriend, or slug a truck driver only to be chased around the ring.  After working with Jack Nazworthy, perhaps the most powerful figure in the circuit ranks, Rock finally got his big break and debuted as a pro in 1947 in his birth town of Dodge City.  He wrestled Charlie Ludkee.

After awhile, Monroe appeared in rings around Toronto, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, but with a new identity.  Wearing suede shoes, dark glasses, thick sideburns, and even carrying a guitar, he worked as Elvis Rock Monroe.  This came about after doing a stint in Louisville, KY, behind the Fairgrounds building as a decoy for Elvis.  After an Elvis concert, Brumbaugh, dressed as Elvis, would run to a waiting limo with screaming girls on his heels, giving Presley the chance to get away.

Working mostly as a babyface, Rock finally tried his hand as a heel.  At the urging of promoter Johnny Doyle, he became manager of the Bat (Joe Tomasso).  He later worked in pink shoes and sequined robes as Pretty Boy Roque. 

A wooden chair across the head in Chicago left a deeply embedded splinter and a bad infection.  Monroe recalls, “When the hair started to come back, it came back real silky and white.  It stayed that way until the late sixties, then it started to change color … kind of a yellow color.  By that time, it was my trademark, so I began bleaching it out.”

History was made at a Mobile, AL, TV taping.  An old lady in the audience became livid at Rock’s disregard for the rules, cursing and calling him everything she could think of, including “Sputnik,” that evil satellite that had just been launched by the Russians.   Monroe liked it, as did ring announcer Clem Courtney.  That night in 1957 “Sputnik” Monroe was born, a name that would eventually become a household name throughout the South.

Sputnik Monroe doesn’t mind taking credit for integrating wrestling in the South.  Working in Memphis for Buddy Fuller, Monroe would go down to Beale Street and give away coupons for discounted wrestling tickets.  After a few days, his crowd grew from a hundred to a thousand.  “I would slip ’em to my black friends like it was a big deal. ‘Don’t tell nobody where you got these.’”  He threatened to walk out if they turned his black friends away at Ellis Auditorium. They had to continue to open new wings to accommodate the crowds.

Monroe met Sailor Bill Fletcher and noticed their resemblance.  The blond streak was put in Fletcher’s hair and the two became Sputnik and Rocket, the Brothers Monroe.  They worked in Las Vegas, New York, and Nashville.  Sputnik remembers, “We were just absolutely a perfect team, but when we put my blood brother Gary in as Jet Monroe, that put the icing on the cake.”  The threesome did not remain together for long.  “Gary and I went to Atlanta, while Bill went to Phoenix.  That was in ’64 and I had fantastic success that year in Georgia.” 

Until that time, Georgia did not have a state title.  A Cadillac tournament ran for several weeks to determine who the first champion would be.  During his TV interviews, Sputnik boasted and bragged how he had won Cadillacs all over the South and he proceeded to defeat everyone put in the ring with him, including big names brought in for only one appearance.  On August 9, 1964, Sputnik defeated Dick the Bruiser at the Atlanta Raceway on a Sunday afternoon to win the pearl gray Cadillac and to become the very first Georgia Heavyweight Champion.  Throughout his career in the Peach State, Sputnik had some unforgettable feuds with Don Fargo, Buddy Fuller, and Mario Galento.

A few years later in Florida, Sputnik was again having great days.  Eddie Graham heard of another Sputnik look-alike, Maury High, and brought him from Tennessee to Tampa as the new Rocket Monroe.  They took Gentleman Saul Weingeroff as manager and soon became World Tag Team Champions.

Throughout his career, Sputnik has held numerous titles: Tennessee (1959), Texas (1961), Texas Brass Knuckles (1960s), Texas Tag with Danny McShain (1960), with Bill “Rocket Monroe” Fletcher (1961), Georgia (1964), World Tag with Maury “Rocket Monroe” High (1967), Southern Tag with Maury “Rocket Monroe” High (1967), Georgia Tag with Maury “Rocket Monroe” High, NWA World Junior (1970), Southern Junior (1971), Southern Tag with Norvel Austin (1971), Tennessee Tag with Tommy Gilbert (1972), and Florida Tag with Norvel Austin (1972).

Sputnik has always been known as a brawler, sustaining many injuries and receiving thousands of stitches, and he has been stabbed numerous times by outraged wrestling fans.  He knew how to make the crowd mad, the goal of every villain wrestler.

Monroe now lives with his wife outside of Houston, where he still likes to identify himself over the phone as “the meanest wrestler in the world!”  He has undergone several cancer surgeries including the loss of part of a lung.  Nevertheless, he continues to come out on top.  Rock will tell you himself that there will never ever be another Sputnik Monroe.  “I’m rough, tough, and hard to bluff.  235 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal.  The heavenly body that women love but men fear.”

Daniel Garcia
11/05/06

Daniel Garcia, the most famous Huracan Ramirez (there was actually more than one), passed away last night at the age of 80.

Garcia starred in several movies and was a top drawing card in Mexico. He was also the inventor of the huracanrana

Kintaro Oki
10/26/06

June 9, 1967: Kintaro Oki defeated Mark Lewin for the WWA World Heavyweight title in South Korea..

July 28, 1967: Mike DiBiase defeated Kintaro Oki to win the WWA World Heavyweight title in Los Angeles..

December 4, 1972: Kintaro Oki defeated Bobo Brazil for the NWA International Heavyweight title in Japan..

Kintaro Oki was eventually ordered by the National Wrestling Alliance to vacate the title in 1981..

October 26, 2006: Kintaro Oki passed away at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea at the age of 77.

Tiger Conway
11/13/06

By Bud Johnson
African-AmericanNews&Issues
Like most of Black History that’s not ordained by mainstream America, African Americans, who pioneered in the rough and tumble world of professional wrestling weren’t widely known outside the venue in which they performed, or the ‘hood in which they lived. Even so, a 73-year-old Plasse Dennis Bradford Conway isn’t about to let the world forget that it was “Tiger” Conway, Sr., who not only helped pave the way for W. W. Smack Down’s multi-media, African American superstars like “The Rock,” but his own son, who answers to Tiger Conway, Jr., of course. Surely, “Poppa Ti- thanger” realizes that when the name (he made famous over 50-years-ago) is mentioned by today’s rabid wrestling fans, they’re more likely are referring to his much better known and paid offspring. Yet, there was no shame in his game when he decided to personally remedy that oversight, after connecting African American News & Issues’ “old African Warrior,” with his teenage pals, Sam John-son, Jr. and Sandy Tatum, Jr. (this writer’s birth and bonded brothers), who “bused suds” with him at Weldon’s Cafeteria in downtown 1947 Houston, Texas. “Hell naw man, I ain’t dead,” a still quick-witted Conway chuckled. “I’m not only alive and doing okay (although his wife is ailing), but I’m right out here in Fifth Ward (a northwest community in Houston, Texas) where I’ve always lived.” Truth is, it isn’t unusual for living legends to live in the ‘hood among neighbors who have no idea of how much history they have made, although Conway isn’t a bit shy about flashing his championship belt and sharing a few stories with the younger generation, who are visibly impressed by the still powerful looking senior citizen. Even so, in the absence of TV and the fact that Black wrestlers (like all other African American entertainers and athletes) traveled what was derisively called “The Chitterling Circuit,” due to Jim Crow laws. Racist who vividly remembered Jack Johnson’s reign of terror while he was heavyweight champion of the world reinforced discrimination. Yet, Tiger doesn’t lament the fact that segregation cheated him out of widespread fame and the kind of fortune Black wrestlers are privy to in 2005 America.

On the other hand, Inita Conway, his soulmate of over 55-years, has no problem with telling it like it is. Although her health is failing somewhat today, she is still as feisty as she was when she came out the audience in defense of Tiger, who had suffered a low blow. She climbed into the ring, took one of her high-heeled shoes off and challenged Tiger’s dirty opponent. He was a happy man when security escorted her back to her seat, according to a 1994 article in Our Texas magazine. Surely, Tiger is still warmed by such wonderful memories, as he gives his wife tender loving care. In fact, he enjoys telling his life story. He was born on March 4, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana at Charity Hospital, to Mr. & Mrs. Henry Conway, who lived on a plantation owned by a Black man by the name of Willie Logan.

Space want allow a chronology of Tiger’s early life, until he arrived in Houston in 1947. But, suffice it to say, he came a long way from a cotton field to become “The World’s Colored Championship,” by defeating a much younger Dory Dixon, in 1962 Lake Charles, Louisiana’s McDonald Sportatorium. Thus, Tiger still has the distinction of being “The Last Colored Heavyweight Wresting Champ.” In fact, Edward “Bearcat” Wright had challenged integrated wrestling a year earlier in Gary, Indiana. When Wright refused to participate in segregated matches, the State Athletic Commission suspended him. Nevertheless, even he broke the racial barrier in wrestling and shortly after professional boxing was desegregated in Indiana.

Wright defeated Killer Kowalski in April 1961 to win the first “Big Time Pro Wrestling title.” In 1963 he defeated "Classie" Freddie Blassie to win the title of World Wrestling Alliance world champion. Somewhere, in Wrestler’s Heaven, “Black Sam,” nee Viro Small, who became the first African American to wrestle professionally in 1881, was smiling down from “Wrestler’s Heaven.” Although Conway’s colored championship pales in comparison to The Rock’s WWF championship, he isn’t one to regret the great life he had traveling the world and opening doors for Black wrestlers, who would come after him, including Tiger Conway, Jr.

For sure, the highlight of his rich and exciting life was when his wife told their 11 grandchildren that “Pa Pa” had been a world class wrestler, showed them his gaudy championship belt and watched their eyes light up with pride.
“Hey man, that’s what it’s all about,” a gracious Tiger says when recalling that golden moment.

http://www.aframnews.com 

Don Jardine
12/16/06

Jardine began wrestling in the mid-1950s, making his wrestling debut in 1955 at the age of 15. He made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut in 1959 as "Babyface" Don Jardine, a protege of Whipper Billy Watson and wrestled preliminarily in Toronto (where he also wrestled as Sonny Cooper) until 1961 and returned briefly in 1964. In 1964, Jardine wrestled NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz on TV in St. Louis, but did not win the title.

Jardine also wrestled as The Butcher in Los Angeles in 1964. Whilst wrestling under "The Butcher" monicker, he teamed with both Mad Dog Vachon and Dutch Savage for a short time. He challenged Gene Kiniski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1966. He became one of the top masked wrestlers in the Southern United States, particularly in Texas, where The Spoiler was created by Fritz Von Erich in 1967. He famously walked the top rope like the Undertaker would do in the 1990s, a move he actually taught Mark Calaway in the days at World Class Championship Wrestling in the mid-1980s.

He was unmasked in Texas in 1972 by Billy "Red" Lyons and Red Bastein and identified as Don Jardine, still, he continued to wrestle under the mask as "The Spoiler" in Texas and Oklahoma. The Spoiler also wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1960s and 1970s. He became the Super Destroyer and was brought into the Carolinas by George Scott in 1973 and also used the "Super Destroyer" name during his stint in the AWA (1977-78). Jardine was one of the key guys, along with Johnny Valentine, who turned the Mid-Atlantic territory around and established hot singles wrestling programs in what had traditionally been a tag team territory. Jardine challenged Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship as both the Super Destroyer and The Spoiler, and wrestled Harley Race for the NWA Heavyweight title in a main event in Houston, Texas in 1979. He held the Georgia-based NWA National Heavyweight Championship and was briefly billed as NWA National Heavyweight Champion by the World Wrestling Federation after it bought out Georgia Championship Wrestling in July 1984.

The Spoiler, along with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and the 400-pound "King Kong" Bundy, joined forces with an upcoming tag team, the Road Warriors, to form the original "Legion of Doom".

The Spoiler once headlined against WWF Champion Pedro Morales in Madison Square Garden, wrestling maskless as there was a rule in Madison Square Garden at the time which barred masked wrestlers. The Spoiler appeared in a historic match against Mil Mascaras, the Mexican legend, marking the first time a wrestler (Mascaras) ever wore a mask into a ring in New York State.

The Spoiler's matches against Chief Jay Strongbow and Sonny King were long-lasting feuds that enjoyed successful runs across the WWF circuit. His "Iron Claw" was the first maneuver to be censored from the TV screen by the WWF promotion in a 'reverse psych' move to sell tickets.

Jardine died on December 16, 2006 due to complications from a heart attack and leukemia

El Shereef   
12/19/06

Jerry Carroll, aka El Shereef, died from cancer today at his home in
Southern California. He was a main event wrestler in the late 1950's and
throughout the 1960's before retiring from wrestling to become a physician.
He worked as Jerry Woods, El Shereef, and appeared in Hawaii under yet a
third ring name. He was in his late 60s.

http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/