Author: Ian Abugov

Danny Hodge. Many will have fond and proud recollections of the United States between 1955 to 1970. Maybe not our demographic, but just pick the brains of older relatives to find out more. While far from perfect and plagued with many of the woes that linger to this day, America triumphantly emerged from the Second World War and overtook Great Britain as the world’s economic power. ________________________ Jobs were aplenty; lifetime employment was almost a given. There were no cost-cutting nor austerity measures. People flocked to the suburbs in big v-8 engined gas-guzzling cars. Fill it up with hi-test Mister…

At the age of 32, Jules Strongbow, né Francis Huntington, was sitting at the summit of the wrestling world. He and his kayfabe sibling, Chief Jay Strongbow, were WWF tag team champions. While billed as brothers, they were not at all related and were separated by 24 years. Let us now look at their respective career paths and lives prior to attaining championship status. Chief Jay Strongbow was of Sicilian descent and initially signed with the then WWWF by Vince McMahon Sr. in 1970. While he was morphed into Chief Jay Strongbow, Joe Scarpo had been wrestling under his birth…

Many of us have fond recollections of the Women’s Evolution of 2016. Divas became Superstars, and the WWE began to truly focus on top quality Women’s wrestling matches, many of which were given main-event status. Gone were the days of lame and insulting gimmick-type confrontations. That move forward so long overdue. Mildred Burke, though, might categorize the events of 2016 as a mere drop in the bucket compared to the ground she broke decades earlier. Burke blew barriers into smithereens in an era when the squared circle was the last place you would fathom seeing a woman perform. When the…

It’s difficult to find a figure as present as Booker T on social media, both inside and outside the squared circle. His entrepreneurial activities, stances, and actions are as noteworthy as his scissors kick or a spin-a-rooni. Booker’s story mirrors those of so many other African Americans who used their athletic prowess and entertaining skills to make a better life for themselves and, of course, for their families. As we say, many are called, yet few are chosen. Booker rose to the top and stayed there even if it meant reinventing himself boldly changing employers. While Booker could have remained…

Truthfully, it must be underscored on a day-in-day-out basis with Bobo Brazil. As part of the month, we often call out athletic giants and pioneers, men and women who were exceptionally talented and gifted. One with exemplary poise to have performed in such high-pressure situations, notwithstanding facing hatred and prejudice every step of the way. In 1936, at the Berlin Third Reich Olmpiade, Jesse Owens made the Fuhrer squirm by dominating track and field events. Owens was snubbed when Hitler refused to shake his hand. Owens, though, would later point out. _____________________ “When I returned home, FDR didn’t shake my…

Herb Abrams. The year is 1990, and if we are examining the landscape of professional wrestling in North America. Bob Dylan sang a quarter-century earlier, and the times they are a-changing, for instance. Hulkamania led the WWF, which was sweeping the Nation. It had grown to be a force present from shore to shore and border to border. To make it to that point, Vince McMahon basically bought out the competition. As a result, it disabled the regional territories that had flourished for years. As the old saying goes, very few make it to billionaire status by cozying up to…

After tuning into the late local news the anchorwoman announced the passing of Billy Two Rivers at age 87. Two Rivers lived a long and productive life and as was pointed out, he fought in the ring for show and outside of the ring to preserve and pass on his rich Mohawk heritage. Two Rivers performed worldwide leaving nothing but positive impressions. More importantly, after a close to 25-year career, Two Rivers became a mentor and leader for the Mohawk community of Montreal’s South Shore. He was a voice of reason in often turbulent and scary times. Billy Two Rivers…

In his in-ring debut, Freddie Blassie, then eighteen, was paid one dollar and basically was torn from limb to limb. Many careers started thusly, though very few would match what was to follow. The fifties were a fantastic decade to become a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling world. The sport was growing exponentially thanks to the advent of television. Broadcasters had programming slots to fill, and professional wrestling was at the right place at the right time. Faithful viewership was established quickly. The sport left the marginalia of sideshows and carnival attractions to take its place on…

The story and career of Classy Freddie Blassie began many years ago. All-Star Wrestling was a WWF promotional show that featured enhancement matches and interviews that were designed to further featured talent. A hint of doubt would creep in if the featured main card talent had any difficulty in beating his opponent in a convincing fashion. The psychology was first-rate. The show was taped at the Hamburg Fieldhouse in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. The show replaced Heavyweight Wrestling from Washington, DC. All-Star Wrestling ran from October 2, 1971, through August 30, 1986. Classy Freddie Blassie – TV Wrestling in the seventies and…

Growing up in front of our television screens, we witnessed a parade of kayfabe Native characters and paradoxically viewed many Natives who were never billed as such, unlike Billy Two Rivers. What can you say when two of the best-known “indigenous” performers were from Brooklyn and Baghdad, respectively? Of course, we are referring to Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf. But somewhat forgotten in the discussion is Billy Two Rivers. Billy Two Rivers – War Chief Of The Mat In the territory of my youth, there was a talent named Johnny War Eagle out of the Red Lake Reserve…