lived fast thats for sure especially in the 80's .One of the best ever ,He will always be an NWA guy to me even though they make it seem like he was always a WWF/WWE guy now a days .Hopefully he is ok
to an episode of the 83 weeks podcast this morning and Conrad Thompson ( Flairs son in law) is a cohost and I was thinking he must try to get everything he can out of having Ric as a father in law now and then read this....damn. Get well dirtiest player in the game. WOOOOOOOOO
lived fast thats for sure especially in the 80's .One of the best ever ,He will always be an NWA guy to me even though they make it seem like he was always a WWF/WWE guy now a days .Hopefully he is ok
Yeah, I could never see Flair as anything other than an NWA guy, either. He and the rest of the Four Horseman were the NWA to me.
lived fast thats for sure especially in the 80's .One of the best ever ,He will always be an NWA guy to me even though they make it seem like he was always a WWF/WWE guy now a days .Hopefully he is ok
Yeah, I could never see Flair as anything other than an NWA guy, either. He and the rest of the Four Horseman were the NWA to me.
Pulled into the parking lot underneath the Garden one night before a show. My buddy was driving, I was sitting next to him, two other guys in the back. The car ahead of us was a Lincoln Continental. It stops, and Buddy Rogers gets out of the driver's side, Jimmy Snuka gets out of the passenger side. I rolled my window down and yelled, "Yo! Superfly!" He turned around and gave me a look that scared the shit out of me. Couldn't roll my window up fast enough. That was the night he fought Don Muraco in a cage. Incredible match.
RE: Hogan and Flair looked like they were old even in their 30's Â
The blonde hair, man...and in Hogan's case, the bald spot
I met Hogan a couple years ago in Clearwater beach, he looked freaking terrific, built like a tight end and taller that I had expected. I was there to see NYG vs TB, and he was busting my balls about my NYG T-shirt. Dude was healthy and young looking, really nice guy.
Pulled into the parking lot underneath the Garden one night before a show. My buddy was driving, I was sitting next to him, two other guys in the back. The car ahead of us was a Lincoln Continental. It stops, and Buddy Rogers gets out of the driver's side, Jimmy Snuka gets out of the passenger side. I rolled my window down and yelled, "Yo! Superfly!" He turned around and gave me a look that scared the shit out of me. Couldn't roll my window up fast enough. That was the night he fought Don Muraco in a cage. Incredible match.
Cool! Muraco got handed the win after tumbling out of cage after a flying headbutt, then Snuka drags him back in for the leap from the top of the cage. Epic. Much happier ending for Snuka fans who learned how Backlund rolled away during their title fight a year earlier. Heartbreak for a 12 year old who only had one hour of WWF per week on TV!
I met both wrestlers years later, was stunned they both weren't over six foot like the WWF said they were. Muraco was in full character tossing garbage pails and acting the part. Snuka was on something to calm him. lol. Snuka was the reason I began lifting weights in '82.
Jon, Bruno Sammartino was the reason I started lifting weights. Â
lived fast thats for sure especially in the 80's .One of the best ever ,He will always be an NWA guy to me even though they make it seem like he was always a WWF/WWE guy now a days .Hopefully he is ok
It's amazing to think of the life he lived, which as far as I can tell is unrivaled. He really was Ric Flair. That wasn't a character.
But watching the 30 for 30, knowing about his life and his family, and how that lifestyle affected the 3rd part of his life post wrestling, is just really sad.
In his case, it truly was probably better to burn out than to fade away.
First WWF matches I can remember Superstar Billy Graham was the champ, and then Backlund arrived.
The first WWWF match I can remember is watching Iron Mike McCord squash somebody. He left the promotion not that long after and became Austin Idol. Man, that was a long time ago. Around 1965 or so.
Bruno was like DiMaggio or Rizzuto to Italian-Americans in the New York metro area. Truth be told, though, as much as I loved Bruno, I'd have to say that my favorite wrestler growing up was Mil Mascaras.
Back then, though, you could only read about guys like Ric Flair in the Apter mags if you didn't live in the NWA territories. It wasn't until cable really took off in the early '80's that you got to see the NWA and AWA. Thank you, Ted Turner.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com
@SeanRossSapp
Conrad Thompson says the Ric Flair situation "is not as grave or serious" as TMZ makes it out, and says that this was a planned procedure that Ric Flair wanted to have before Las Vegas.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com
@SeanRossSapp
·
4m
"Ric was not worried about this. Ric did not think this was going to be reported or on TMZ. It's all systems go. The Roast of Ric Flair is still happening"-
@HeyHeyItsConrad
First WWF matches I can remember Superstar Billy Graham was the champ, and then Backlund arrived.
The first WWWF match I can remember is watching Iron Mike McCord squash somebody. He left the promotion not that long after and became Austin Idol. Man, that was a long time ago. Around 1965 or so.
Bruno was like DiMaggio or Rizzuto to Italian-Americans in the New York metro area. Truth be told, though, as much as I loved Bruno, I'd have to say that my favorite wrestler growing up was Mil Mascaras.
Back then, though, you could only read about guys like Ric Flair in the Apter mags if you didn't live in the NWA territories. It wasn't until cable really took off in the early '80's that you got to see the NWA and AWA. Thank you, Ted Turner.
I saw Bruno and Mil later in their careers, probably early or mid 80s WWF. Remember Idol from the rags but not certain I ever say him on TV. When cable TV brought us the NWA, AWA, and Vince Jr began to expand the WWF brand, it brought all the Apter rags to life! I have to say tho, started to lose interest after Hogan beat the Iron Sheik ... just wasn't into the glammy 80s aspect. I'd watch the OGs wrestle and would change the channel when the glams popped onscreen.
I was at the Garden the night Hogan took the title from The Iron Sheik Â
Ha, my dad wasn't a fan, either, although he had no problem dropping me off at the old Commack Arena when I was a kid.
I used to watch Lucha Libre from the Olympic Auditorium in LA on UHF Channel 41 (I think it's Univision now, or Telemundo, one of those). Except for Jimmy Lennon announcing the matches, all of the commentary, commercials, was in Spanish. The wrestling was really good though. The champ was Chavo Guerrero. The #1 heel was a young Roddy Piper. But my dad could never understand how I could watch it when I didn't speak Spanish.
BTW, if you have Viceland, you MUST watch "The Dark Side of the Ring." It's absolutely excellent. They chronicle a bunch of stories like the Montreal Screwjob, the Tragedies of the Von Erichs, Fabulous Moolah, the Murder of Bruiser Brody...
RE: RE: I was at the Garden the night Hogan took the title from The Iron Sheik Â
I've never heard a louder crowd, and I've been there for Knick and Ranger playoff games...boxing...you name it. The whole place went absolutely wild.
I had just turned 8 years old when that happened. I remember seeing the highlights on George Michael's Sports Machine in the DC area.
In those days before PPV, the big WWF show was always the third Monday of the month at MSG. That's where you'd get to see all of the championship matches. The house shows were pretty good...lots of top names, always a "local hero," too, but you rarely saw the champions on the local circuit. Tickets would go on sale Tuesday morning after the Monday night show. One of my friends worked at the Smith Haven Mall (Long Island) right across from Ticketron, so he would always get four for us. They'd sell out really fast.
BTW, if you have Viceland, you MUST watch "The Dark Side of the Ring." It's absolutely excellent. They chronicle a bunch of stories like the Montreal Screwjob, the Tragedies of the Von Erichs, Fabulous Moolah, the Murder of Bruiser Brody...
I second this! On may 22nd they are having another wrestling show start and showing extended episodes with unseen footage of Dark side of the Ring
BTW, if you have Viceland, you MUST watch "The Dark Side of the Ring." It's absolutely excellent. They chronicle a bunch of stories like the Montreal Screwjob, the Tragedies of the Von Erichs, Fabulous Moolah, the Murder of Bruiser Brody...
I second this! On may 22nd they are having another wrestling show start and showing extended episodes with unseen footage of Dark side of the Ring
I really liked the one last night on Moolah. I had no idea she had a daughter. I thought she was a lesbian with Mae Young.
But talk about a polarizing figure. Some say she's a revolutionary and a pioneer in a male industry and others say she's a pimp and a huge bitch. Also crazy seeing the 80's female wrestlers now. Wendi Richter still looks good. Princess Victoria, who I had a crush on while watching my brother's old VHSes, looks absolutely demented...Wonder what Rockin' Robin looks like now...
that Piper wanted to make amends by playing the Mexican national anthem on the bagpipes, but instead broke into La Cucaracha instead?
YES! There were times I thought he'd never leave the arena alive!
Roddy Piper, ruler of the Guerrerros! He was great.
It might be on Lords of the Ring, an old video narrated by Gordon Solie and Bill Apter, but there was a "dog collar" match between Piper (who was the babyface) and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. They both wore collars connected by a very long chain. This might have been right before Piper went to the WWF. This match was crazy. Tons of blood, which was not the norm for the NWA. Definitely worth seeing, though.
Imagine losing 5 brothers. Kevin's sons are trying to get into the business. Kerry's daughter Lacey had a cup of coffee in TNA.
I saw several of the Von Erichs when I was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX. David (shortly before he died), Kevin, Mike...never saw Kerry. Used to head up to Dallas to catch the shows at the "Sportatorium" (which always reminded me of an airplane hanger). House shows at the National Hall in Killeen (pitchers of Lone Star for two dollars). Walked out of the Hall right behind Ivan Putski one night. He was very cool. Spent a few minutes talking about New York, MSG. He was short, but man was he pumped.
used to love when ESPN would air GWF. Their "Hogan" was "The Patriot". The Von Erich's were briefly there, Mick Foley, Buff Bagwell, Raven, Harlem Heat, JBL, Lightning kid etc etc
used to love when ESPN would air GWF. Their "Hogan" was "The Patriot". The Von Erich's were briefly there, Mick Foley, Buff Bagwell, Raven, Harlem Heat, JBL, Lightning kid etc etc
I grew up on WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) out of Texas, that would air after school weekdays on ESPN. Tons of the NWA/WCW guys got their start there. Freebirds, Bundy, Funk, etc. Loved it.
Serious question, don't mean to be disrespectful.
Ric Flair- Untold Stories That Will Make You Laugh & Cry - ( New Window )
Yeah, I could never see Flair as anything other than an NWA guy, either. He and the rest of the Four Horseman were the NWA to me.
Quote:
lived fast thats for sure especially in the 80's .One of the best ever ,He will always be an NWA guy to me even though they make it seem like he was always a WWF/WWE guy now a days .Hopefully he is ok
Yeah, I could never see Flair as anything other than an NWA guy, either. He and the rest of the Four Horseman were the NWA to me.
Same.
Pulled into the parking lot underneath the Garden one night before a show. My buddy was driving, I was sitting next to him, two other guys in the back. The car ahead of us was a Lincoln Continental. It stops, and Buddy Rogers gets out of the driver's side, Jimmy Snuka gets out of the passenger side. I rolled my window down and yelled, "Yo! Superfly!" He turned around and gave me a look that scared the shit out of me. Couldn't roll my window up fast enough. That was the night he fought Don Muraco in a cage. Incredible match.
I met Hogan a couple years ago in Clearwater beach, he looked freaking terrific, built like a tight end and taller that I had expected. I was there to see NYG vs TB, and he was busting my balls about my NYG T-shirt. Dude was healthy and young looking, really nice guy.
Quote:
are two of the few who reached 70.
Pulled into the parking lot underneath the Garden one night before a show. My buddy was driving, I was sitting next to him, two other guys in the back. The car ahead of us was a Lincoln Continental. It stops, and Buddy Rogers gets out of the driver's side, Jimmy Snuka gets out of the passenger side. I rolled my window down and yelled, "Yo! Superfly!" He turned around and gave me a look that scared the shit out of me. Couldn't roll my window up fast enough. That was the night he fought Don Muraco in a cage. Incredible match.
Cool! Muraco got handed the win after tumbling out of cage after a flying headbutt, then Snuka drags him back in for the leap from the top of the cage. Epic. Much happier ending for Snuka fans who learned how Backlund rolled away during their title fight a year earlier. Heartbreak for a 12 year old who only had one hour of WWF per week on TV!
I met both wrestlers years later, was stunned they both weren't over six foot like the WWF said they were. Muraco was in full character tossing garbage pails and acting the part. Snuka was on something to calm him. lol. Snuka was the reason I began lifting weights in '82.
It's amazing to think of the life he lived, which as far as I can tell is unrivaled. He really was Ric Flair. That wasn't a character.
But watching the 30 for 30, knowing about his life and his family, and how that lifestyle affected the 3rd part of his life post wrestling, is just really sad.
In his case, it truly was probably better to burn out than to fade away.
The first WWWF match I can remember is watching Iron Mike McCord squash somebody. He left the promotion not that long after and became Austin Idol. Man, that was a long time ago. Around 1965 or so.
Bruno was like DiMaggio or Rizzuto to Italian-Americans in the New York metro area. Truth be told, though, as much as I loved Bruno, I'd have to say that my favorite wrestler growing up was Mil Mascaras.
Back then, though, you could only read about guys like Ric Flair in the Apter mags if you didn't live in the NWA territories. It wasn't until cable really took off in the early '80's that you got to see the NWA and AWA. Thank you, Ted Turner.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com
@SeanRossSapp
Conrad Thompson says the Ric Flair situation "is not as grave or serious" as TMZ makes it out, and says that this was a planned procedure that Ric Flair wanted to have before Las Vegas.
@SeanRossSapp
·
4m
"Ric was not worried about this. Ric did not think this was going to be reported or on TMZ. It's all systems go. The Roast of Ric Flair is still happening"-
@HeyHeyItsConrad
Quote:
First WWF matches I can remember Superstar Billy Graham was the champ, and then Backlund arrived.
The first WWWF match I can remember is watching Iron Mike McCord squash somebody. He left the promotion not that long after and became Austin Idol. Man, that was a long time ago. Around 1965 or so.
Bruno was like DiMaggio or Rizzuto to Italian-Americans in the New York metro area. Truth be told, though, as much as I loved Bruno, I'd have to say that my favorite wrestler growing up was Mil Mascaras.
Back then, though, you could only read about guys like Ric Flair in the Apter mags if you didn't live in the NWA territories. It wasn't until cable really took off in the early '80's that you got to see the NWA and AWA. Thank you, Ted Turner.
I saw Bruno and Mil later in their careers, probably early or mid 80s WWF. Remember Idol from the rags but not certain I ever say him on TV. When cable TV brought us the NWA, AWA, and Vince Jr began to expand the WWF brand, it brought all the Apter rags to life! I have to say tho, started to lose interest after Hogan beat the Iron Sheik ... just wasn't into the glammy 80s aspect. I'd watch the OGs wrestle and would change the channel when the glams popped onscreen.
I had just turned 8 years old when that happened. I remember seeing the highlights on George Michael's Sports Machine in the DC area.
Ha, my dad wasn't a fan, either, although he had no problem dropping me off at the old Commack Arena when I was a kid.
I used to watch Lucha Libre from the Olympic Auditorium in LA on UHF Channel 41 (I think it's Univision now, or Telemundo, one of those). Except for Jimmy Lennon announcing the matches, all of the commentary, commercials, was in Spanish. The wrestling was really good though. The champ was Chavo Guerrero. The #1 heel was a young Roddy Piper. But my dad could never understand how I could watch it when I didn't speak Spanish.
Quote:
I've never heard a louder crowd, and I've been there for Knick and Ranger playoff games...boxing...you name it. The whole place went absolutely wild.
I had just turned 8 years old when that happened. I remember seeing the highlights on George Michael's Sports Machine in the DC area.
In those days before PPV, the big WWF show was always the third Monday of the month at MSG. That's where you'd get to see all of the championship matches. The house shows were pretty good...lots of top names, always a "local hero," too, but you rarely saw the champions on the local circuit. Tickets would go on sale Tuesday morning after the Monday night show. One of my friends worked at the Smith Haven Mall (Long Island) right across from Ticketron, so he would always get four for us. They'd sell out really fast.
YES! There were times I thought he'd never leave the arena alive!
I second this! On may 22nd they are having another wrestling show start and showing extended episodes with unseen footage of Dark side of the Ring
Quote:
that Piper wanted to make amends by playing the Mexican national anthem on the bagpipes, but instead broke into La Cucaracha instead?
YES! There were times I thought he'd never leave the arena alive!
Roddy Piper, ruler of the Guerrerros! He was great.
Quote:
BTW, if you have Viceland, you MUST watch "The Dark Side of the Ring." It's absolutely excellent. They chronicle a bunch of stories like the Montreal Screwjob, the Tragedies of the Von Erichs, Fabulous Moolah, the Murder of Bruiser Brody...
I second this! On may 22nd they are having another wrestling show start and showing extended episodes with unseen footage of Dark side of the Ring
I really liked the one last night on Moolah. I had no idea she had a daughter. I thought she was a lesbian with Mae Young.
But talk about a polarizing figure. Some say she's a revolutionary and a pioneer in a male industry and others say she's a pimp and a huge bitch. Also crazy seeing the 80's female wrestlers now. Wendi Richter still looks good. Princess Victoria, who I had a crush on while watching my brother's old VHSes, looks absolutely demented...Wonder what Rockin' Robin looks like now...
Quote:
In comment 14446328 Britt in VA said:
Quote:
that Piper wanted to make amends by playing the Mexican national anthem on the bagpipes, but instead broke into La Cucaracha instead?
YES! There were times I thought he'd never leave the arena alive!
Roddy Piper, ruler of the Guerrerros! He was great.
It might be on Lords of the Ring, an old video narrated by Gordon Solie and Bill Apter, but there was a "dog collar" match between Piper (who was the babyface) and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. They both wore collars connected by a very long chain. This might have been right before Piper went to the WWF. This match was crazy. Tons of blood, which was not the norm for the NWA. Definitely worth seeing, though.
I saw several of the Von Erichs when I was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX. David (shortly before he died), Kevin, Mike...never saw Kerry. Used to head up to Dallas to catch the shows at the "Sportatorium" (which always reminded me of an airplane hanger). House shows at the National Hall in Killeen (pitchers of Lone Star for two dollars). Walked out of the Hall right behind Ivan Putski one night. He was very cool. Spent a few minutes talking about New York, MSG. He was short, but man was he pumped.
I'm 6-3 (and in my Nasty Feet closer to 6-4). Putski came up to my solar plexus, lol, but he was freaking huge. His muscles had muscles.
I grew up on WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) out of Texas, that would air after school weekdays on ESPN. Tons of the NWA/WCW guys got their start there. Freebirds, Bundy, Funk, etc. Loved it.