Greetings.
I received a call this week from the president of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, Johnny Mantell, who gave me the great news that my late, great brother Owen had been chosen for induction into the Hall of Fame class of 2019, in the modern category.
I’m delighted that Owen’s finally being honored, because he was one of the best workers of his era – dynamic and versatile, with great athletic aptitude, uncanny timing and an innate ability to make virtually everybody he worked with look good – which is the hallmark of all the greats. Beyond his capability in the ring, he was also a great team player who was loved and respected by the boys.
As you know, he was tragically killed in an unfortunate in ring accident in Kansas City in 1999, but this honor will help to perpetuate his legacy.
Johnny informed me that there will be a number of other worthy individuals who will be joining Owen in this year’s class, whom I’ll now briefly allude to.
Modern Category – Ronnie Garvin: Ronnie, who was born and raised in Ontario, was originally trained by former WWE legend Pat Patterson in the early 60’s.
He initially worked extensively in Northern Ontario for renouned promoter Larry Kasaboski, before making his way to the United States, where he was a main eventer in several territories, including Tennessee, Florida, Portland, Georgia and Carolina. His career reached its peak in the early 80’s, when he won the NWA world title from Ric Flair.
In the twilight of his career, he had a stint in the WWF and wrestled many of the biggest stars, including my brother Bret. Ronnie was widely respected for being a consummate professional and for helping to launch the careers of many of today’s biggest stars.
Television Era – Abdullah the Butcher and Lord James Ranicar Blears. My old friend Abby, as his friends call him, was one of the hottest and most intimidating heels in the history of our business – terrorizing fans in every territory that he worked in and doing great business.
He had an incredible run in my dad’s Stampede Wrestling territory in the 70’s, working with the likes of Billy Robinson, the Christy Brothers, Archie Gouldie, Danny Kroffat and Carlos Colon and also headlined cards in Japan, Eastern Canada and several promotions in the States.
While Abby was one of the scariest heels I’ve ever seen in the ring, he was one of my dad’s all-time favorite people outside the ring.
As for my dad’s old friend, Lord Blears, he was a top line heel in several of the major territories in the 40’s and 50’s, including New York, Texas and California . After he hung up his tights, he was a successful promoter in Hawaii for years and served as a “commissioner” for the AWA during the 70’s.
From the so-called “Territory Division”, this year’s inductee is another old friend of mine, the great Bob Roop, who was a top of the line heel in many of the territories during the 60’s an 70’s and also one of the legitimate tough guys.
Bob’s feuds with the likes of Bob Orton, Randy and Angelo Poffo, Eddie Graham and Jack Brisco were considered some of the greatest rivalries in the history of the Southeast. He also played an integral role in the development of many of today’s stars.
This year’s inductee in the Tag Team Division is the Midnight Express – Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey.
Because they primarily worked in the South and never made their way to the WWF, they might not be that familiar to many of today’s fans, but by all accounts they were one of the most talented and charismatic teams of their era and having a classic feud with the then up and coming Road Warriors, which would catapult Hawk and Animal to world wide renown.
Within the business, Bobby and Dennis were held in extremely high regard as consummate professionals who delivered the goods, night in and night out, and also were considered as two of the nicest guy in the business. Props to them.
The honoree in the Women’s Division is Beverly Shade, who had a long and distinguished career back in the 50’s and 60’s, working in most of the territories, during the so-called Golden Age of women’s wrestling, which was predominated by legends like Mildred Burke, June Byers, Penny Banner, Anne Laverne, Mars Bennet and Rita Cortez.
I had Beverly on my popular Hart Beat Radio show last year and was impressed with her passion for the business and also her respect for many of today’s superlative lady wrestlers. Congratulations, Beverly.
The Hall of Fame inductee in the Executive Division this year is Wally Karbo, who had a long and extremely distinguished career in Minneapolis as a promoter and matchmaker, primarily in conjunction with his friend and colleague, Verne Gagne, where they combined to take the AWA to remarkable heights and to make superstars out of countless wrestlers.
My dad, who worked for Wally in the 1940’s in Minneapolis and later interacted with him as a promoter told me that Wally was one of the smartest promoters he ever worked for and was also a man of integrity, whom the wrestlers greatly respected.
In the Referee’s Division, this year’s honoree is iconic southern referee Johnny “Red Shoes” Duggan, who enjoyed a long and successful career, primarily in the southern states.
I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but was told by several of the boys who hailed from that part of the country that he was a great referee and a terrific guy in the dressing room and on the road.
In the Pioneer Division, which honors wrestlers from the pre-1950’s, this year the Hall of Fame will be honoring Charlie Fox, who was a star back in the 20’s and 30’s and the colorful Baron Michele Leone, who originally rose to stardom in the North East, particularly in the New York area and then headed for the West Coast in the 40’s, where he became one of the hottest heels in the industry.
The Hall of Fame induction festivities will take place in Wichita Falls, Texas in May and it should be a great function, which will include a meet and greet banquet with several of the inductees and friends and families, as well as a fun filled weekend, including a golf tournament and a wrestling show.
I’m looking forward to it and would like to extend my congratulations to all of the honorees and commend my friend Cowboy Johnny Mantell for everything he does to perpetuate the memories of the superstars and others who have made our business so great.
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