Ted DiBiase recalls Andre roughing up Bam Bam Bigelow

I love indie wrestler Colt Cabana’s podcasts. I don’t get to listen to them as often as I’d like, but when I do, I’m vastly entertained. Cabana has a real knack for bringing out behind-the-scene stories from his guests.

Case in point: His recent podcast with “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, one of the best heels from the 1980s. DiBiase recalled when Bam Bam Bigelow debuted in the WWF in 1987 with a bad attitude.

According to DiBiase, Andre the Giant took issue Continue reading

On May 10, 1983, Superfly Snuka’s girlfriend mysteriously died

Thirty years ago this week, on May 10, 1983, one of the darker chapters in wrestling unfolded when Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka’s girlfriend died under allegedly strange circumstances.

The death of Nancy Argentino came at the peak of Snuka’s popularity in the WWF, and he was arguably the hottest Continue reading

Bobby Heenan rings the bell during a match to help Hercules

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was one of those guys in wrestling who had great comedic talent.

Whether you watch some of his classic stuff from the AWA with Nick Bockwinkel and catch him at his best in the WWF (I loved his reaction when Paul Orndorff fired him on Tuesday Night Titans), Heenan could really crack you up.

One of the biggest laughs “The Brain” got out of me occurred in Madison Square Garden in Continue reading

Please, WWE — Don’t exploit the Boston Marathon bombings

I live near Boston, so it’s been a rough week here reading about and seeing photos of the gruesome injuries suffered by victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

As anyone who’s followed wrestling for a while knows, such incidents usually get the minds whirring of Vince McMahon and his cronies.

So here’s hoping the WWE curbs any desire to capitalize on the bombings. We don’t need another anti-American heel or some plot in which McMahon’s limo blows up again.

Unfortunately, history bears witness that the WWE doesn’t always take the classy route. For example: Continue reading

We can thank Vince, Sr. for the Moondog gimmick

Those of you who ever wondered where Rex, King, and Spot — the Moondogs — got their gimmick from can thank Vince McMahon, Sr., the father of the current Vince and prior owner of the WWE and WWF.

In 1972, McMahon brought in Lonnie Mayne, an established star from the West Coast, to wrestle Pedro Morales, who at the time was the WWWF Heavyweight Champion.

“McMahon, Sr., named him Moondog Mayne, because Continue reading

Am I the only one who doesn’t remember Lou Thesz appearing on Tuesday Night Titans?

Sometimes YouTube really surprises me when I unearth gems from wrestling’s past that either I never knew existed or had completely forgotten about.

I was shocked to see this clip from the old Tuesday Night Titans show with all-time legend Lou Thesz.

(For those who never saw TNT, imagine Vince McMahon acting like Jay Leno interviewing wrestlers.)

I thought I had probably seen every episode of TNT, yet I was floored here in 2013 to see that Thesz Continue reading