Post by ojisan on May 7, 2006 15:59:51 GMT -5
Disclaimer – this all comes from memory. Some events happened over 30 years ago; my memory gets hazy, and I can’t take the time to research the exact dates.
President Linda, I obviously did not intend to take shots at you; others who read and watch the news make posts on this site, and yet no one else said anything. If anyone, especially the Mokuahi family, are offended, I apologize.
Since few have contributed posts to this section, I will drag out what i remember of 50th State Wrestling, Wrestling Hawaii, and Polynesian Pacific Wrestling. Hopefully one day, fans will have fond memories of HCW as some of us have of the old days. I thank referee Kazz for inspiring this creative spurt. And since he inspired this, I will start with stories of big moments in local wrestling where the referee was distracted or otherwise asleep at the wheel.
1968 – Ripper Collins & Crazy Luke Graham defend the Hawaiian Tag Team Championship against Nick Bockwinkle and Bobby Shane. King Ripper manages to distract the referee, but it backfires as Shane comes in and dropkicks Bockwinkle as Crazy Luke has him up for a body slam. Nick falls on Graham for the win, and we have new champions, to the delight of the crowd. The crowd used to chant “Crazy Luke, Crazy Luke” and drive Graham crazy. Shane was a short-haired, clean-cut man; he later grew out his hair and a mustache, and became the colorful “King of Wrestling”. Sadly he passed away in the mid-70’s in a small plane crash in Florida that saw several other wrestlers seriously injured.
1973 – Verne Gagne defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Billy Robinson. In the weeks leading up to the match, Gagne complains to Ed Francis that he does not want a “local” referee. Robinson suplexes Gagne for the first fall. During the second fall, Robinson leaps through the ropes from the ring apron and body-presses the champ. The ref counts three, not seeing that Gagne has his leg caught in the ropes. As he goes to retrieve the belt, Robinson frees Verne and the ref doesn’t see anything when he turns around. Robinson leaves the ring as champion, but the decision is later reversed.
1978 - Nick Bockwinkle defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Rick Martel. In an earlier title match, Martel defeated Nick 1 fall to none in a 2 of 3 falls match. The rematch is for one fall, and Martel has Nick pinned numerous time while the ref was knocked out. Nick comes back with a small package to keep the belt. Martel was already a veteran wrestler while he was here, despite his young age. He became even better over time and became WWF Tag Team Champion and eventually AWA Champion.
1978 – Nick Bockwinkle defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Andre the Giant! Andre sits on Nick and the ref counts 3, but cannot see that Nick has his leg on the rope behind Andre’s huge body. Andre leaves the ring as champion, but the decision is later reversed.
President Linda, I obviously did not intend to take shots at you; others who read and watch the news make posts on this site, and yet no one else said anything. If anyone, especially the Mokuahi family, are offended, I apologize.
Since few have contributed posts to this section, I will drag out what i remember of 50th State Wrestling, Wrestling Hawaii, and Polynesian Pacific Wrestling. Hopefully one day, fans will have fond memories of HCW as some of us have of the old days. I thank referee Kazz for inspiring this creative spurt. And since he inspired this, I will start with stories of big moments in local wrestling where the referee was distracted or otherwise asleep at the wheel.
1968 – Ripper Collins & Crazy Luke Graham defend the Hawaiian Tag Team Championship against Nick Bockwinkle and Bobby Shane. King Ripper manages to distract the referee, but it backfires as Shane comes in and dropkicks Bockwinkle as Crazy Luke has him up for a body slam. Nick falls on Graham for the win, and we have new champions, to the delight of the crowd. The crowd used to chant “Crazy Luke, Crazy Luke” and drive Graham crazy. Shane was a short-haired, clean-cut man; he later grew out his hair and a mustache, and became the colorful “King of Wrestling”. Sadly he passed away in the mid-70’s in a small plane crash in Florida that saw several other wrestlers seriously injured.
1973 – Verne Gagne defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Billy Robinson. In the weeks leading up to the match, Gagne complains to Ed Francis that he does not want a “local” referee. Robinson suplexes Gagne for the first fall. During the second fall, Robinson leaps through the ropes from the ring apron and body-presses the champ. The ref counts three, not seeing that Gagne has his leg caught in the ropes. As he goes to retrieve the belt, Robinson frees Verne and the ref doesn’t see anything when he turns around. Robinson leaves the ring as champion, but the decision is later reversed.
1978 - Nick Bockwinkle defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Rick Martel. In an earlier title match, Martel defeated Nick 1 fall to none in a 2 of 3 falls match. The rematch is for one fall, and Martel has Nick pinned numerous time while the ref was knocked out. Nick comes back with a small package to keep the belt. Martel was already a veteran wrestler while he was here, despite his young age. He became even better over time and became WWF Tag Team Champion and eventually AWA Champion.
1978 – Nick Bockwinkle defends the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Andre the Giant! Andre sits on Nick and the ref counts 3, but cannot see that Nick has his leg on the rope behind Andre’s huge body. Andre leaves the ring as champion, but the decision is later reversed.
There were some good postings here though! ;D (Too bad you missed them Ojisan, but your contribution