Author: Mike Bryan
Ron Simmons was a unique athlete. He excelled at everything he did. On the football field, he became an All-American twice. At the time, in WCW, he became the first recognized African-American World Heavyweight Champion in history. In the WWE, he led a Nation into greatness and had a beer with his best friend on the way to winning tag team gold on three different occasions. He continued to give back to wrestling even though he had hung up the boots. The wrestling universe will never forget a true pioneer, Ron Simmons’s legacy. ___________________ Ron Simmons Football Years Ron Simmons…
Butch Reed was a pioneer in wrestling. Reed was a heatseeker like no other, not only as an African American but as a heel. Unfortunately, his time in the WWF does not do his career justice. If you want to see a natural heel at his best, watch his classic confrontations in Mid-South Wrestling with the one and only Junk Yard Dog. Reed was a Mid-South NWA Heavyweight Champion, NWA North American Tag Team Champion, and WCW Tag Team Champion. Butch Reed – Kansas City Born and Bred Reed was a natural athlete. Originally his aspirations were not in the…
On February 5th, 1988, Ted DiBiase made a million dollar purchase! Everyone has a price for the Million Dollar Man. This was Ted DiBiase’s motto in 1988. The Million Dollar Man claimed to have everything except the WWF Championship. In Indianapolis, Indiana, on a special WWF The Main Event, DiBiase made a giant purchase. He bought the services of the legendary Andre the Giant. The Eighth Wonder of the World and a crooked referee helped The Million Dollar Man embezzle the WWF Championship from Hulk Hogan. Million Dollar Purchase – Money, Money, Money Hot off their clash at last year’s…
In the 1990s, there were many underutilized and underrated pro wrestlers. Chris Candido was one of those talents. He never really had the opportunity to shine on the main stage in WWF and WCW. However, his peers and fans knew that Candido was a technical master in the ring. Chris Candido’s tagline was no gimmicks needed. That statement has never been more true. His ability to put on a 5-star match spoke for itself. He was a multi-time champion, including the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Many people do not realize that Chris Candido’s grandfather was also a pro wrestler. ________________…
On January 23rd, 2000, the epic street fight between Triple H and Cactus Jack took place at the Royal Rumble. In 1997 Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Mankind first crossed paths. Arguably, his wars with Mankind/Mick Foley/Dude Love/Cactus Jack made Triple H the ruthless, relentless competitor he became. He and Hunter waged war in street fights, steel cages, and hell in a cell. Triple H and Cactus Jack – The Epic Street Fight Between Them Most notably, Triple H’s 1997 King of the Ring win was by defeating Mankind with a little help from Chyna. They also had a classic steel…
He was what he said he was …..absolutely perfect. Mr Perfect Curt Hennig was the perfect combo of technique and charisma that does not often come along. His matches with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Bret Hart are wrestling clinics. He had the innate ability to make fans despise him or love him. He also made any opponent he stepped in the ring with a better competitor after their match. Born into the business, Curt Hennig carved a legacy that very few superstars have matched. He was one of the few competitors that did not need the…
On this day, Chris Jericho wins WWF Undisputed Championship. On December 9th, 2001, the World Wrestling Federation presented its first Vengeance PPV. Highlighting that night was a four-man tournament to unify the WWF Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship. The winner would be the first-ever Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. That night history was made as Chris Jericho not only won the Undisputed Championship but also beat The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in one night. If you don’t believe it, ask Chris Jericho himself. Y2J, Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla, or Le Champion will have no problem letting you know…
Here Comes the Ax, and here comes the Smasher. The Demolition walking disaster. Just those two lines bring back memories of one of the most dominant tag teams of the 80s, Demolition. With Mr. Fuji in their corner, Ax and Smash became the longest-reigning WWF tag team champions in history. They won the titles on three different occasions. Everywhere they went, bodies were beaten and bruised. No-tag team was safe from their destruction. Tag Team wrestling’s contributions kind of get overlooked today. Let us take a look back at this fearsome tag team. Demolition’s Early Years It might be surprising…
On November 30th, 1997 Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow battled for the ECW Heavyweight Title. The Franchise lived up to his moniker as he faced the Beast of the East at November to Remember in 1997. This win gave Shane Douglas the second-longest world title reign in Extreme Championship Wrestling History. The leader of the Triple Threat held the title for 405 days. Bam Bam Bigelow entered ECW on February 1996 after his almost career-long run with the WWF. Most notably he was in the main event at WrestleMania XI with football great Lawrence Taylor. To Bigelows credit he…
Macho Man Randy Savage was now a broadcaster and enjoying life outside the ring. Hulk Hogan, on the other hand, was turning back challenges from Ric Flair, Sgt Slaughter, and a new force in the WWF, The Undertaker. It was an altercation with the Undertaker that Savage and Hogan would once again cross paths. Hogan was attacked on the Funeral Parlor, a show hosted by Undertaker’s manager Paul Bearer. This is the story of how the Mega Powers reunited. When The Undertaker attacked Hogan from behind, it was Macho Man Randy Savage and Rowdy Roddy Piper who ran off the…