Strange and Amazing Wrestling Stories

by Bill Gutman

  Bill Gutman

  SERGEANT SLAUGHTER STANDS ALONE

  Sergeant Slaughter makes a brash prediction before entering ring for tag team Battle Royal.

  Sergeant Slaughter has fought many an epic battle during his years as a professional wrestler. Once a chronic rulebreaker and villain, the venerable Sarge changed his tune when the big influx of anti-American wrestlers began. Taking a cue from his years as a tough U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor, the Sarge decided it was time for someone to stand up for the Stars and Stripes.

  Slowly but surely, Sergeant Slaughter shed his bad-guy image and won legions of new and loyal fans, who loved to see the near-300-pounder do battle with the enemies of the United States. But with all his ring wars throughout the country, the Sarge never stood taller than he did in 1985 when he was part of the Star Wars '85 extravaganza at New Jersey's Meadowlands Arena.

  The Sarge was entered in an amazing match, aptly named the Battle Royal. There would be twelve tag teams in the ring at one time. And for those without a calculator, that means twenty-four wrestlers all causing mayhem at once. A team was eliminated anytime one of its members was thrown from the ring. And it would continue until just one team remained. Among those participating were such top-rated combos as the Road Warriors, Jerry Lawler and Baron Von Raschke, the Youngbloods, Ivan and Nikita Koloff, Jimmy Valiant and Bob Backland, Kamala and Billy Robinson, and Larry Zbyszko and Jimmy Garvin.

  Why were so many outstanding tag teams joining in a Battle Royal that could prove brutal and dangerous? Simple. The prize for the winning team was a whopping $100,000! All the wrestlers could taste the money, including Sergeant Slaughter, who was teaming with 400-pound Jerry "Crusher" Blackwell.

  As the teams for the Battle Royal were introduced, the Road Warriors and the Slaughter-Blackwell team came in last. But something was wrong. Jerry Blackwell was dressed in street clothes! The Sarge entered the ring and grabbed the microphone. He informed the huge crowd that Blackwell was injured and unable to wrestle. But not to worry. Sergeant Slaughter wasn't about to disappoint his fans. He would still compete, going it alone against eleven of the best tag-team combos in the country!

  The fans roared. It was a courageous act. But how could one man, no matter how tough, withstand the onslaught of the top twelve tag teams in the country? After all, the Battle Royal depended on teamwork, two wrestlers working together to get rid of opponents

  while protecting each other at the same time. But the proud and tough Sergeant Slaughter was about to try.

  At the bell, all mayhem broke loose in the ring. Some tag teams went after heated rivals, like the Koloffs attacking the Road Warriors, while others just tried to survive and stay in the match. When Mr. Saito and the Masked Superstar went after Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell, the Sarge went to their aid, jumping the Masked Superstar, a wrestler he does not like.

  There were teams being eliminated every few minutes, but the Sarge held on, despite taking a bad beating from several teams trying to gang up on him. Finally there were four teams left: Kamala and Robinson, Lawler and the Baron, the Road Warriors . . . and Sergeant Slaughter. Now the Road Warriors came after the Sarge. They trapped him in the corner, intent on tossing his considerable bulk out of the ring. But just as it seemed he was going over the top rope, Sergeant Slaughter summoned some superhuman strength and not only held onto the rope, but somehow maneuvered both Road Warriors over his back and out of the ring.

  While that was happening, Kamala and Robinson had eliminated Lawler and the Baron. As the Sarge turned to face the enemy again, the crowd began chanting—U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A trying to urge the ex-marine on. Kamala, a giant Ugandan weighing in at more than 350 pounds who teamed with British Commonwealth champ Robinson, looked to end it as he turned his evil eyes on the Sarge.

  The feared Road Warriors, with their manager, Paul Ellering, were one of the favored teams entering the Battle Royal.

  Prospects seemed bleak when Kamala chopped the American to his knees and Robinson began to kick at him. When the two double-flipped the Sarge, the match appeared all but over. Sergeant Slaughter had put up a valiant battle, but the odds were just too high.

  Still the crowd hadn't quit. The chants of U-S-A continued to grow louder. To Sergeant Slaughter, it must have sounded like the bugles trumpeting a charge. It was as if the Sarge suddenly had the fate of the whole country before him. He had to overcome this foreign assault.

  Where the strength came from, no one will ever know. But suddenly there was Sergeant Slaughter, smashing Robinson to the canvas. He then took off after Kamala and battered the giant across the ring.

  Finally he was ready to unleash the Slaughter cannon. In rapid succession, both Kamala and Robinson went flying from the ring. When the match had begun, twenty-three wrestlers entered the ring together, but now Sergeant Slaughter stood alone, winner of the Battle Royal and of $100,000.

  Even though Kamala and Robinson soon returned to the ring and whipped an unsuspecting Slaughter into the turnbuckle, cutting open his head, nothing could dim the achievement of the patriotic American. Once order had been restored, Sergeant Slaughter stood in the center of the ring, his head bleeding, and led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

  "You have just witnessed one of the greatest performances in wrestling history," said the Sarge's injured partner, Jerry Blackwell.

  As for Slaughter, he could only say this: "When I saw all those people waving their flags, and heard them chant U-S-A, U-S-A, tears came to my eyes. They were tears of pride, in America and the American people."

  For Sergeant Slaughter, it was an amazing moment he would never forget.

  THE HULK'S GREATEST SLAM

  Perhaps the most popular and charismatic wrestler of the 1980s is Hulk Hogan. The 6'8" 300-pounder is a product of muscle beach in California, where he hones his rock-hard body through dedicated weight training.

  When the Hulk first began grappling in the squared circle, he was more or less a rulebreaker, and not always willing to court the fancy of the fans. But by the time he donned a simple but effective MADE IN AMERICA T-shirt, the Hulk began his rise to the top. Before long, he was not only the new World Wrestling Federation champion, defeating the villainous Iron Sheik for the title, but was also the new darling of the fans. Hulkamania had been born.

  Once he was champ, everyone naturally wanted a shot at the Hulk. Because of his huge size and strength, many of his opponents were dwarfed and intimidated by the amazing Hulkster. But as they say, no matter how big, how strong, how fast, there is always someone bigger, stronger, faster. One of those clamoring to meet the Hulk was the hated Big John Studd, all 6'10" and 360 pounds of him.

  Studd was the self-proclaimed "biggest, meanest, and baddest" dude in all of wrestling, and he wanted to prove it against the Hulkster, with the WWF championship at stake. Finally the match was set for September 1984, and the two met before a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

  The match was even at the outset, but turned when Studd managed to put a sleeper hold on the champ. Using his immense strength, the Hulk somehow broke the hold, something very few wrestlers were able to do against Big John. But the sleeper had weakened the Hulk and Studd wasn't one to waste an advantage.

  Before the Hulkster could recover, Studd picked him up like a ragdoll and tossed him out of the ring. Dazed and bleeding, the Hulk tried to regain his senses as his legions of fans looked on in disbelief. But he couldn't get back into the ring and the referee counted him out. Hulk Hogan had been defeated.

  There was one catch. According to the rules of professional wrestling, the championship can only change hands on a pin. Though the Hulk lost the match,
he did not lose his title. Within minutes, Big John Studd was demanding a rematch. If he could beat the Hulk one way, reasoned Big John, he could pin him the next time.

  Embarrassed by his defeat and not one to refuse a challenge, the Hulk agreed to meet Studd for a second time. Big John even sweetened the rematch pot. He told the Hulkster he would give him $15,000 if the champ could bodyslam him. No one, he said, had ever bodyslammed Big John Studd.

  When the rematch took place several weeks later, there was a huge crowd on hand and they began chanting for the Hulk as soon as the match began. Perhaps the Hulk was too concerned with the bodyslam challenge, for several times early in the match he tried to position Studd for a slam, but Big John foiled them all. In fact, one of the slam attempts really backfired and Studd began beating the Hulk with his fists. Once again the Hulk was stunned. The fans were suddenly silent. Was history going to repeat? Would Big John Studd again defeat the mighty Hulk? And this time, would he win the title by a pin?

  Then the Hulkster rallied. After Studd missed a karate chop to the neck, the Hulk came back, stunning Big John with several powerful arm chops and then a kick to the head. Now the crowd was back in the match, shouting for the Hulk to bodyslam his opponent. The champ tried to oblige, but Studd was ready. He slammed his fists into Hogan's head and sent the Hulk to the canvas in a daze.

  The match continued in seesaw fashion, each of the giants taking turns pummeling the other. But in lunging at Studd for another slam attempt, the Hulk slipped through the ropes and hit his head on the announcer's table. Blood spurted from the wound, obscuring the Hulk's vision. Studd was quick to take advantage and slammed the champ's head against the metal corner of the ring. Then he grabbed the Hulk and tossed him back into the ring. The champion was almost helpless, flat on his stomach as Studd leaped from the ropes onto the Hulk's back. It looked all but over.

  Twice Studd tried to pin the Hulk, but both times the mighty Hulk kicked out of it, encouraged by the crowd. Studd, however, continued to hand out punishment. He slammed Hogan to the canvas, then drop-kicked the champ right out of the ring. It began to look like a replay of their first match.

  As the Hulk tried to get back into the ring, Studd kicked at him again, only this time the champ caught his foot and pulled Big John out of the ring with him. Studd immediately resumed his pounding, but the roar of the crowd and the mystique known as Hulkamania suddenly took hold. Without warning, Hulk Hogan dropped his hands and shouted at Studd.

  "Go on, hit me with your best shot!"

  Big John took a swing, but the champ blocked it and slammed Studd hard in the forehead. The big man reeled from the blow and the Hulk sprang forward like a cat. Almost effortlessly, he hoisted the 360-pound challenger over his head and slammed him hard to the concrete floor outside the ring.

  Studd didn't move. He was finished. With the roar of the crowd still ringing in his ear, Hulk Hogan waved his championship belt in the air. He had picked up the gauntlet and successfully defended his title, accomplishing in the process something that no one had ever done before. He had bodyslammed Big John Studd, to add still another chapter to the amazing legend of Hulkamania.

  WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN?

  Who is that masked man? That was a question asked over and over again during the long run of the popular masked hero, the Lone Ranger, on both radio and television. But it's also been asked many times over the years about certain professional wrestlers who choose to hide their faces from the general public.

  Many grapplers have worn masks in the ring. Some just want to scare their opponents by taking on a sinister masked look. Others reveal their identities, but not their faces, to ensure privacy in their lives outside the squared circle. But a few defy convention. They keep their true identities a mystery, their backgrounds secret. They taunt their opponents into trying to unmask them, and will fight with unabashed fury to keep their faces covered.

  In the late 1950s, an American wrestler named Doctor Death traveled to England to ply his trade. He continued grappling in the British Isles for years, defying anyone to unmask him or to discover his identity. It was a mystery that drove opponents and fans crazy. Though just 5'10" and 210 pounds, Doctor Death was a man who was not only difficult to defeat, but impossible to unmask.

  His British promoter had this to say about the American expatriate. "He is one of the best in the world. He's fought the best and never been beaten. And there isn't a wrestler around who wouldn't love to unmask the bloke. It'll be worth plenty of money to the man who does it."

  Between 1957 and 1962, it was estimated that Doctor Death fought and defeated some 1,000 opponents in Continental Europe and Great Britain. But early in 1962, another masked man appeared on the British scene. He called himself the White Angel and pretty soon began to turn his attention to Doctor Death, challenging the American to a match in which the loser would have to remove his mask. Not one to duck a challenge, the Doctor accepted, and the two masked men squared off on April 14, 1962, at the Granada Tooting Arena outside of London.

  They battled it out for some 80 minutes, each knowing fully what was at stake if he lost. Finally, though, it was Doctor Death who emerged the winner, and very decisively. The dejected White Angel kept his part of the bargain. He was unmasked in center ring, his identity revealed as Judo Al Hayes, one of the leading judo experts in all of England. And Doctor Death had beaten him in the ring.

  So the mystery of Doctor Death continued. He lived a royal life outside, most of it still shrouded in secrecy. Married to a British showgirl, he was reputed to have a valuable art collection and to enjoy the finer things in life. Rumor had it that he was a college-educated intellectual with a darker side that led him to wrestling. But whenever he was asked about his American background or for hints about his identity, the answer was always the same: "It's nobody's business but mine!"

  THE FABULOUS MOOLAH

  One of the most amazing feats in all of professional wrestling was the reign of the Fabulous Moolah. From 1956 to 1984, Moolah was the undisputed champion of women wrestlers, unbeaten in title matches during that time. Man or woman, no athlete in any individual sport has dominated in quite the same way. The Fabulous Moolah was a one-woman dynasty.

  Perhaps the best way to describe Moolah is tough and determined. She's a wrestler who'll do anything to win, no matter what the fans think, and for that reason there were always a lot of people rooting against her. But like her or not, you've got to marvel at the way she stayed at the top of her profession, turning back all challengers for nearly three decades.

  New women's champ Wendi Richter and rock star Cyndi Lauper dance around the ring after Richter ended the 28-year championship reign of the Fabulous Moolah in 1984.

  Ironically, it was when she finally met defeat that the Fabulous Moolah gained more notoriety than she had in all the years she reigned supreme. In July of 1984, Moolah was scheduled to defend her title again. This time, her opponent was a youngster nicknamed "The Dallas Cowgirl," whose real name was Wendi Richter. It figured to be just another night at the office for Moolah.

  But there was a distraction that night. Richter was accompanied by a friend, rock star Cyndi Lauper, who had become one of the top wrestling fans in the country. Richter and Lauper danced into the ring to Lauper's big hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Moolah glared at them, taking an immediate dislike to Lauper.

  Whether she was distracted or not is hard to say. But Moolah finally met her match. Richter pinned the Fabulous One to end her twenty-eight-year record as champion. Moolah fumed. She wanted revenge on both Richter and Lauper.

  But thirty years on the circuit is a long time. Though she planned to continue wrestling, Moolah also began managing a newcomer named Lelani Kai. She was totally delighted when Kai defeated Richter to win the title. But when a return match was arranged, the feud between Lauper and Moolah really exploded.

  Even before the opening bell, Moolah and Cyndi Lauper were head to head, shouting insults at one another. Once the match started, both Mo
olah and Lauper began working their way toward each other outside the ring. More fans were watching them than the actual Richter-Kai match in the ring.

  Soon the two were pushing and shoving once again, but when Lelani drop-kicked Richter into her corner, Moolah forgot about Cyndi and held onto Richter's legs as Kai punished her with forearm smashes. Suddenly the crowd let out a huge roar, as Lauper smashed Moolah over the head, causing her to release her hold on Richter Then they wrestled each other to the floor before guards could pull them apart.

  Richter eventually won the match, regaining her world title, but even though the Fabulous Moolah was only a manager, she was still the center of attention. Her feud with Lauper will undoubtedly continue and she will keep trying to regain her title.

  But no matter which way it turns out, the career and long reign of the Fabulous Moolah has got to be one of the most amazing one-person dynasties in all of sport.

  AND IN THIS CORNER, BILLY WHO?

  There's an old saying that things aren't always what they seem. Jesse Barr learned exactly what it meant . . . and he learned it the hard way. Barr was Florida State heavyweight champion at one time, and there were a whole group of tough grapplers who wanted his crown. So when Jesse learned he'd be defending his title against an unknown wrestler named Billy Haynes, he figured he deserved an easy match somewhere. Haynes, he reasoned, was an inexperienced newcomer, a sacrificial lamb that Barr could use to sharpen his skills for future tough matches.

  But things aren't always what they seem. On the night of the match Barr entered the ring and waited for Billy Haynes. Maybe the youngster wouldn't even show up? Maybe the thought of going up against the champ was too much for him? Barr waited smugly. He wasn't looking when the other wrestler entered the ring, but when he turned around he had to look twice. Then he got mad.