The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas – which is our sport’s equivalent of baseball’s hall of fame in Cooperstown or the football hall of fame in Canton, recently held its annual induction ceremony.
Among the distinguished honorees were:
Pioneer Division (pre- 1947):
Freddie Beall – Beall was the world champion back in 1905, after having defeated the legendary Frank Gotch, and was considered one of the top stars of his era.
Ralph “Ruffy” Silverstein – Silverstein, who hailed from Ohio was junior heavyweight champion in the i940’s and was one of the most vaunted shooters of his era, as well.
Television Division (1947 -1984):
Eddie Graham – Graham initially rose to prominence in the 1950’s, partnering with his “brother”, Dr. Jerry Graham and winning the world tag team championship in Vince McMahon Sr’s New York promotion. During the 60’s and 70’s, Graham was a successful and innovative promoter in Florida, where he developed stars like the Brisco brothers, Bob Roop and Ricky Steamboat.
Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd – Ladd initially gained fame as an all-star defensive end in the AFL for the San Diego Chargers and subsequent to that, enjoyed a stellar career in wrestling , particularly in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.
Modern Day Division (1984 to present):
Hacksaw Jim Duggan – Long before his stint in the WWF in the 80’s, Duggan was one of the top baby faces in the business, headlining cards in Oklahoma and Louisiana for promoter Bill Watts. Prior to that, he was also a highly regarded football player.
Sting (Steve Borden) – Borden was originally trained by Red Bastien and early in his career formed a tag team, known as the Blade Runners, with his buddy Jim Helwig (the Ultimate Warrior). He later landed in the WCW promotion in the early ‘90’s, where he took the name “Sting”, after the popular lead singer of the Police. He would go on to become one of the hottest faces in the WCW, having a series of memorable matches with the great Ric Flair.
Territory Division:
Hiro Matsuda – Matsuda began his career in his native Japan, but enjoyed most of his success in and around Eddie Graham’s Florida promotion. He had a successful stint as the NWA junior heavyweight champion in the “70’s and also was a highly regarded trainer, having helped train many of the top wrestlers in the Florida territory.
International Division:
Pampero Firpo – Firpo, who hailed from Argentina, initially formed a colorful tag team with the Great Antonio in the 1960’s, gaining notoriety in several territories, including Montreal, Detroit and Los Angeles. He later wrestled as a singles performer in many of the territories, including my dad’s promotion. While he played a wild man heel for most of his career, he was one of the most intelligent and personable wrestlers in the business, from what I’ve been told.
Ladies Division:
Toni Rose – Toni was trained by Lillian Ellison (Fabulous Moolah) and spent most of her career (in the 60’s and 70’s) working for Moolah. She was con-sidered one of the top tag team performers of her era, teaming up with the likes of Donna Christanello and Vicky Williams, among others, to win multiple tag team championships.
Tag Team Division:
Red Lyons and Red Bastien – The Rough and Ready Red Heads, as they used to call themselves, were one of the top teams in the business back in the 60’s, wearing the tag straps in territories such as Detroit, Ohio and Ontario. Lyons would later become a popular television commentator in the WWF during the Hulkamania era, while Bastien, who also is being inducted in the PWHF’s Executive Division, became one of the most successful coaches in the business in the ‘80’s, training the likes of Sting, Ultimate Warrior, Strangler di Salvo and the Angel of Death.
Referee Division:
Joe Higuchi – Higuchi was the top referee during the 70’s and 80’s in the highly regarded All-Japan promotion and was also one of promoter Shohei Baba’s most trusted advisers.
I’d like to offer my congratulations to all of this year’s inductees and to thank them for the memories and for the contributions they made to our sport. I’d like to also take this opportunity to thank the president of the pro wrestling hall of fame, Johnny Mantell, who was not only a great worker in his own right, but who works tirelessly to preserve and perpetuate pro wrestling’s glorious history at the Hall.
Not to digress, but while the WWE also has its own very prestigious Hall of Fame, in which my father and my brother Bret have been inducted, there’s no actual “brick and mortar” (as Johnny Mantell calls it) shrine or museum, where members of the wrestling fraternity can visit and pay homage to members – which, in my opinion, tends to diminish and cheapen the magnitude of the whole thing.
Having said that, I’d like to suggest that the WWE and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls explore the possibilities of working together, perhaps with a significant WWE display at the hall of fame in Texas and interacting in much the same way as Major League Baseball does with the Cooperstown hall of fame. To my way of thinking, it would be “what’s best for business”.
In any case, I highly endorse the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and encourage wrestling fans the world over to visit it when you get the chance, because it’s well worth checking out.
On that note, I’ll call this a wrap but look forward to catching up with you all next time for more news and views on the wrestling business.
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