Who is Your Favorite Pro Wrestler of All-Time

[Gil Dobie]

Reginald Lisowski aka The Crusher, the man who made Milwaukee famous.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Reginald_Lisowski.jpg

On night The Crusher had a barrel of beer on his shoulder and said he was going to kick "The Weasel's" butt all over Milwaukee and then "we'll have a party, take all the dollies down Wisconsin Avenue and go dancing." The Crusher was referring to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Lisowski also participated in what people said was the first cage match ever, in which The Crusher took on Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon. At one point, Vachon was kicking The Crusher, and "some woman was climbing the cage to save The Crusher.”

David Lisowski said his dad won the battle - Mad Dog ended up in the hospital, but The Crusher was a mess, too. "He came out really beat up. His head was cut up. He had a busted eardrum. The whole right side of his body was bruised. But the next day, he went to Green Bay and wrestled".



Who is yours?

[citdog]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/890/966/junk-yard-dog_display_image.png?1357699442

[FormerPokeCenter]

When I was a kid, I liked Ivan Putski...who was always introduced as having been a Polish concentration camp survivor...he was always a crowd favorite...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIX3H8_AeZYx_776KK3jPE7EoU01AVE hodI381yDb295JGCDnDkw

And, being in extreme south Texas, Mil Mascaras (The Man of 1000 Masks) was always a hit!

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGPvXSfBBtKjFlPtn6r8wYEJ43GP2k6 cmxEPh2wrqZIYyXICkZ

[49RFootballNow]

http://www.martyduren.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Nikita-Koloff.jpeg

[Bisonoline]

Reginald Lisowski aka The Crusher, the man who made Milwaukee famous.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Reginald_Lisowski.jpg

On night The Crusher had a barrel of beer on his shoulder and said he was going to kick "The Weasel's" butt all over Milwaukee and then "we'll have a party, take all the dollies down Wisconsin Avenue and go dancing." The Crusher was referring to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Lisowski also participated in what people said was the first cage match ever, in which The Crusher took on Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon. At one point, Vachon was kicking The Crusher, and "some woman was climbing the cage to save The Crusher.”

David Lisowski said his dad won the battle - Mad Dog ended up in the hospital, but The Crusher was a mess, too. "He came out really beat up. His head was cut up. He had a busted eardrum. The whole right side of his body was bruised. But the next day, he went to Green Bay and wrestled".



Who is yours?

The Crusher of course. Then the Bruiser and Vern Gagne. Tag team---Crusher and the Bruiser.

[Bisonoline]

When I was a kid, I liked Ivan Putski...who was always introduced as having been a Polish concentration camp survivor...he was always a crowd favorite...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIX3H8_AeZYx_776KK3jPE7EoU01AVE hodI381yDb295JGCDnDkw

And, being in extreme south Texas, Mil Mascaras (The Man of 1000 Masks) was always a hit!



http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGPvXSfBBtKjFlPtn6r8wYEJ43GP2k6 cmxEPh2wrqZIYyXICkZ


Ivan Putski--The Polish Hammer

[Bisonoline]

Anyone remember---Bobo Brazil, Sweet Daddy Siki, Big Moose Cholak, The Big K, Yokon Eric , Argentina Rocca?

[MR. CHICKEN]

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIRYph1RTSsAJ.T7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBvbG gza2Q0BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjExNg--?p=HAYSTACKS+CALHOUN&vid=0095985a27d4945617cffc33bbb08240&l=10%3A14&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.45 76756741439959%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOz SuM2OsykQ&tit=Haystacks+Calhoun+Vs.+%26quot%3BKiller%26quot% 3B+Tim+Brooks&c=0&sigr=11ae0f0na&&tt=b

[Laker]

Being from Minnesota, I have to list Vern Gagne who wrestled for the Gophers. A "scientific" wrestler who didn't trash talk. I wish that today's athletes would follow that example.

http://www.ugo.com/sports/best-wrestling-faces-verne-gagne

[Grizo406]

Ric Flair!

[Franks Tanks]

The Hulkster.

I would lose my freakin mind as a kid when wrestled.

The Rock would be 2nd.

[Bisonoline]

Wrestling fans should enjoy this.

http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/

[Gil Dobie]

Ric Flair!

He's coming to town in April
Ric Flair Appearance Link (http://www.sportsnewsshows.com/minnsaturdaylineup.html)

Ric Flair - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Wrestling Mania/WWE Superstar
$54.00 Any Item
$50.00 Professional Photo Op
$104.00 Autograph and Proffessional Phot Meet & Greet

[darell1976]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdi1M3pFJ-s

Tito Santana!!

[darell1976]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVquB7UfYCE

Favorite manager: Miss Elizabeth (so sad she's gone)

[superman7515]

Not in any order...

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/profiles/icons/big/000/033/831/hulk-hogan-image.jpg

http://cache.onlineworldofwrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Andre.jpg

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/249/398/undertaker_original.jpg

http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/j/jakeroberts/10.jpg

http://mit.zenfs.com/121/2011/05/savage_elizabeth.jpg

http://www.notinhalloffame.com/UserFiles/Image/article_images/interviews/RickMartel.png

http://cache.onlineworldofwrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Rude.jpg

http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/pictures/piper2.jpg

http://cache.onlineworldofwrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Dragon.jpg

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/16179367/The+Million+Dollar+Man+Ted+DiBiase+Ted.jpg

http://s3.amazonaws.com/fanvsfan/images/3895/thumbnail/curt-hennig.jpg

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/012/133/demolition_crop_340x234.jpg

http://www.wwe.com/f/reign/image/2005/06/527128.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2LN-qVAZU7c/R8Syp3DkpAI/AAAAAAAABUE/FWnLjDa-ZEk/s400/bushwackers.bmp

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/superstar_bio/public/talent/bio/2012/01/sgt-slaughter-bio.png

http://www.copyandcigarettes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jim-duggan.jpg

[Franks Tanks]

Lots of good one's there Superman. I know the late 80's wasn't necessarily the most popular time for wrastling vs. the attitude era or even today, but they had the best talent. I've watched way too many of those wrestling docs on Netfilx. They are actually well done.

[Gil Dobie]

Chief Wahoo McDaniel

Claimed to have a 500-0 record in bar fights. Also played linebacker for the NY Jets.
University of Minnesota had it's share of Football players turned wrestler in Bronko Nagurski, Vern Gagne, Leo Nomellini and Jim Brunzell to name a few. NDSU had Bob Backlund.
http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/mu/mu-st/mu-images/mcdanielwahoo01.jpg

[Franks Tanks]

Chief Wahoo McDaniel

Claimed to have a 500-0 record in bar fights. Also played linebacker for the NY Jets.
University of Minnesota had it's share of Football players turned wrestler in Bronko Nagurski, Vern Gagne, Leo Nomellini and Jim Brunzell to name a few. NDSU had Bob Backlund.
http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/mu/mu-st/mu-images/mcdanielwahoo01.jpg

Minnesota was a fertile ground for wrestlers at one time. Jesse Ventura and the Road Warriors as well (although they of course didn't go to the U of Minnesota).

[aces1180]

Y2J!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Chris_Jericho_Wrestlemania_28.jpg/220px-Chris_Jericho_Wrestlemania_28.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32OPyEAraU4

[aces1180]

Trish Stratus is pretty good too!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uM_2HiDR8vM/T9g5rxvwtUI/AAAAAAAADT4/3LXmbFPmKBQ/s1600/WWE+Trish+Stratus_5.jpg

[superman7515]

Minnesota was a fertile ground for wrestlers at one time. Jesse Ventura and the Road Warriors as well (although they of course didn't go to the U of Minnesota).

If Gagne had a freaking clue and wasn't so busy pushing his son, he was sitting on a gold mine in Minneapolis with the AWA in the 80's. The guys from Minnesota are some of the all-time greats in Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Barry Darsow, Nikita Koloff, Tom Zenk, Old Anderson, Road Warrior Hawk, Paul Ellering, Mike Enos, Baron Von Raschke, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and plenty of others.

Instead, he just kept pushing his pathetic boy, ran off Hulk Hogan, and then it collapsed despite being on ESPN.

[Franks Tanks]

If Gagne had a freaking clue and wasn't so busy pushing his son, he was sitting on a gold mine in Minneapolis with the AWA in the 80's. The guys from Minnesota are some of the all-time greats in Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Barry Darsow, Nikita Koloff, Tom Zenk, Old Anderson, Road Warrior Hawk, Paul Ellering, Mike Enos, Baron Von Raschke, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and plenty of others.

Instead, he just kept pushing his pathetic boy, ran off Hulk Hogan, and then it collapsed despite being on ESPN.

I watched the road warriors doc on Netflix. Those guys were absolutely out of their minds, especially Hawk, and the stories of his early days were quite incredible.

[aces1180]

If Gagne had a freaking clue and wasn't so busy pushing his son, he was sitting on a gold mine in Minneapolis with the AWA in the 80's. The guys from Minnesota are some of the all-time greats in Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Barry Darsow, Nikita Koloff, Tom Zenk, Old Anderson, Road Warrior Hawk, Paul Ellering, Mike Enos, Baron Von Raschke, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and plenty of others.

Instead, he just kept pushing his pathetic boy, ran off Hulk Hogan, and then it collapsed despite being on ESPN.

This is a good watch - http://www.wwe.com/classics/awa/history-of-awa

It's on Netflix streaming.

[citdog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI


perhaps the best use of film EVER.

[HandoEX]

Sandman...he was just badass. Made Steve Austin look like agirl.

Ric Flair...the best ever. Wooooo!

Sabu...ECW was awesome when I was in college, and Sabu was nuts.

Scott Steiner...dude cracks me up every time he talks.

[Gil Dobie]

If Gagne had a freaking clue and wasn't so busy pushing his son, he was sitting on a gold mine in Minneapolis with the AWA in the 80's. The guys from Minnesota are some of the all-time greats in Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Barry Darsow, Nikita Koloff, Tom Zenk, Old Anderson, Road Warrior Hawk, Paul Ellering, Mike Enos, Baron Von Raschke, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and plenty of others.

Instead, he just kept pushing his pathetic boy, ran off Hulk Hogan, and then it collapsed despite being on ESPN.

It was a $40,000 T-shirt deal that caused Vern and Hulk to part ways, according what Brunzell told me during a golf round. It's pretty crazy sitting at a street dance in central Minnesota and seeing Baron Von Raschke walking around drinking with everyone.

[citdog]

seeing Baron Von Raschke walking around drinking with everyone.


The Claw is legendary. I chase my Godchildren around and threaten them with it all the time.


http://www.wrestlingzone.ru/images/baron.jpg

[aces1180]

The Claw is legendary. I chase my Godchildren around and threaten them with it all the time.


http://www.wrestlingzone.ru/images/baron.jpg

He used to own a souvenir shop in Lake George, Minnesota, which is about 25 minutes from where I live...I don't know if he still lives in this area or not.

[aces1180]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI


perhaps the best use of film EVER.

Agree...And his Web Redemption on Tosh.O was awesome.


http://tosh.comedycentral.com/video-clips/extended-interview---crying-wrestling-fan-s-web-redemption

[superman7515]

It was a $40,000 T-shirt deal that caused Vern and Hulk to part ways, according what Brunzell told me during a golf round. It's pretty crazy sitting at a street dance in central Minnesota and seeing Baron Von Raschke walking around drinking with everyone.

That was a part of it but there was a lot of animosity. Hogan claimed he kept getting promised the AWA hardware and even won it twice, only to have Verne toss in some sort of Dusty Finish so that he had an excuse to hold it up and give it back to Bockwinkel. Verne wanted someone more technical and less flashy, Hogan had patterned himself almost entirely off Superstar Billy Graham and Verne didn't want that for his organization. Still stuck in the old territorial mindset of the NWA, and with Hogan's popularity from Rocky 3, he felt it was better to have Hogan chasing the belt then to have Hogan holding it. Gagne tried to renegotiate the contract asking for a cut of all of Hogan's merchandise sales, movies, etc for anything he did outside of the AWA. Hogan declined and left for Japan and never came back to the AWA.

[aces1180]

That was a part of it but there was a lot of animosity. Hogan claimed he kept getting promised the AWA hardware and even won it twice, only to have Verne toss in some sort of Dusty Finish so that he had an excuse to hold it up and give it back to Bockwinkel. Verne wanted someone more technical and less flashy, Hogan had patterned himself almost entirely off Superstar Billy Graham and Verne didn't want that for his organization. Still stuck in the old territorial mindset of the NWA, and with Hogan's popularity from Rocky 3, he felt it was better to have Hogan chasing the belt then to have Hogan holding it. Gagne tried to renegotiate the contract asking for a cut of all of Hogan's merchandise sales, movies, etc for anything he did outside of the AWA. Hogan declined and left for Japan and never came back to the AWA.

They showed one of the Dusty Finishes in the documentary...After he won the belt, they announced that the Hulk tossed the opponent over the top rope (which was a DQ at the time). They don't talk about it the movie, but it is well known that Vern had tried to pay the Iron Sheik to break Hogan's leg in their first WWF championship bout. Instead, Iron Sheik lost clean and the rest is history.

[Sam I Am]

Legendary Wrestling Manager William ‘Paul Bearer’ Moody Dies

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – As the Undertaker is making his annual return to the WWE just in time for Wrestlemania, the wrestling world mourns the loss of his long-time manager. William Moody, known to wrestling fans as Paul Bearer, passed away, the WWE announced. No cause of death was given.

Moody was also well known as “Percy Pringle,” was 59 years old.

Moody was known for his ghostly white skin, and bringing an urn to the ring while managing The Undertaker and Kane.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/03/06/legendary-wrestling-manager-william-paul-bearer-moody-dies/

http://www.sbibookings.com/images/bearer&takers.jpg

[bulldog10jw]

Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes

[Bisonoline]

It was a $40,000 T-shirt deal that caused Vern and Hulk to part ways, according what Brunzell told me during a golf round. It's pretty crazy sitting at a street dance in central Minnesota and seeing Baron Von Raschke walking around drinking with everyone.

My partner in the bar owns the Barons old house in Prior Lake.