Author: Marc Madison (Editor in Chief)

On May 4, 1986, more than 24,000 fans filled Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, not just for a wrestling show, but for a tradition rooted in loss. The event was promoted by Fritz Von Erich. Parade of Champions III carried the weight of his son David Von Erich’s death two years earlier, a loss that still shaped every major event in World Class. By night’s end, the familiar battle lines were drawn once again: Kerry Von Erich, Lance Von Erich, and Steve Simpson stood opposite the Fabulous Freebirds, Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, and Terry Gordy. In a chaotic six-man lumberjack…

On April 26, 1976, inside Madison Square Garden, something went wrong…or did it when it involved Bruno Sammartino’s broken neck? Stan Hansen didn’t just challenge Bruno Sammartino; he pushed him past a breaking point.  The crowd shifted from cheering to concern. How much is too much? When does a match stop being competition and start becoming something dangerous? The referee made the call. Stoppage. But here’s the twist that left fans uneasy — Sammartino was still champion. No pinfall. No submission. Just survival. So what does a “win” really mean if the champion can’t continue but still walks away with…

On April 25th, 2000, a date that still stings for many wrestling fans, David Arquette became WCW Champion. How did it come to this? How did a championship built by legends suddenly feel vulnerable in a single moment? At a Thunder taping in Syracuse, the unthinkable unfolded. An actor — not a contender, not a grinder of the road — stood inches away from wrestling’s most prestigious prize. David Arquette, known more for Hollywood than headlocks, stepped into a match that carried consequences far bigger than anyone in the ring. The setup itself raised eyebrows. Diamond Dallas Page, the reigning…

Irish Wrestling has now become synonymous with several stars succeeding in North America which is why The Future of Smiling Irish Eyes is upon us. Fans of the WWE will often look to names of the past, such as David ‘Fit’ Finlay and his contributions to Irish wrestling. The Belfast Bruiser first became known to North American audiences during his time in WCW. However, for many, not much across the ocean was known about the names that came from the area. Finlay was a third-generation wrestler and is now long-tied to developing talent in the WWE Performance Centre. WWE Raw…

Few figures in professional wrestling history command the same mixture of awe, fear, and reverence as Bruiser Brody. Standing 6’8” and weighing around 300 pounds, Brody was born Frank Goodish and was a force who defied simple categorization. He battled hard in the ring and terrified fans outside of it. He was wild but calculated, chaotic but intelligent, a brawler with the instincts of a storyteller and the mentality of an independent contractor long before that term became industry standard. Brody’s career spanned major U.S. territories and international strongholds—most notably All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he became an institution.…

On Sunday, April 1st, 1990, the WWF presented WrestleMania VI from the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The event would be the promotion’s first time they would hold WrestleMania outside of the United States. With a reported attendance of 67,678 people the event would be subtitled ‘The Ultimate Challenge’ in which it would pit title for title. The Intercontinental Champion the Ultimate Warrior would face the WWF Champion, Hulk Hogan. The opening video featured Vince McMahon hyping up the main event of the evening. The commentators of the program were Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura shared the how…

On April 13th, 1990, the Wrestling Summit event took place. The event was a co-produced and written event between the WWE, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The WWE and NJPW had worked together throughout the 1970s and 1980s together. It was also the only time these three promotions collaborated on a single show. Unfortunately, while there was a reported 53,700 plus in attendance, the video of the entire event is not available. It was later confirmed that the event in actually had 43,000 paid in attendance. At the same time, the remaining 10,000-plus tickets went unpaid.…

The story of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant isn’t as simple as their 1987 WrestleMania III story may suggest. The two men were friends and allies prior to this. Together, they battled the likes of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and the Heenan family. Before the quest to become World Wrestling Federation champion, Andre the Giant was a beloved figure whose life and times have since reached mythological proportions. So in order to tell their feud and rivalry that led to their historic match in the Pontiac Thunderdome, it is key to revisit the history together prior. Hulk Hogan and…

The 1980s WWF boom was built on Hulk Hogan’s unbreakable aura, but no rivalry tested it like his war with countless others. But the battle between Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff often falls under the radar amid the rise of Hulkamania, despite being one of the most successful and meaningful rivalries of the era. What started as a tag team alliance at WrestleMania 1 exploded into “The Great Betrayal,” a feud so white-hot it drew 61,000 to Toronto’s Big Event and earned Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Feud of the Year honors for 1986. This story traces their bond, the “Hulk Jr.”…

While the name Nora Greenwald suggests a timid and gentle nature, never judge a name and not value what they can achieve. The career of Molly Holly has been one that was unassuming, growth, evolution, and inspiration. Her athletic desires began at a young age. From her interest in being on American Gladiators to powerlifter training as young as 14 to her training in gymnastics, the future Molly Holly had was taking shape at a young age. But her ambitions were without having to overcome obstacles. Holly would also drive from Minnesota to Florida with as little as $200 on…