Descripción de Pro-Wrestling in the Midwest:

This video is a little overview of the notable personalities and events in the Midwestern United States. It mainly focuses on the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. This was the hot bed of pro-wrestling in the twentieth century from featured matches in Des Moines and Omaha to the TV days shot in Chicago to the period covered here. I also included a feature about football players turned pro-wrestlers, which fit this video well. From college stars to the NFL, many left the ranks of football for pro-wrestling. Opening Reel (St. Louis - Pat O'Connor, AWA - Verne Gagne vs. Billy Robinson, WWA - Dick the Bruiser & Bruno Sammartino vs. Ernie Ladd & Baron Von Raschke w/ Bobby Heenan, Detroit - Sheik vs. Bobo Brazil, Kansas City - Harley Race vs. Bobby Duncum in a cage); AWA group shot; Promoter montage (Gagne, Bruiser, Bruiser-Sheik marquee, Sheik praying - audio from Abdul Farouk, Sam Muchnick - audio from Dick Murdoch & Larry Matysik, Program from the Keil, Bob Geigel with partner Bob Brown); Adrian Adonis (audio), East-West Connection (Adonis & Jesse Ventura); Larry Zbyszko (audio from Larry Nelson), Rick Martel, Mark Lewin and The Sheik; Mad Dog Vachon (audio), Vachon & Raschke, Midnight Rockers (audio from Shawn Michaels), Larry "The Axe" Hennig and son Curt Hennig (audio from Curt); Gene Okerland (audio) interviewing EWC; Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) vs. Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan); Ventura (audio) posing, Hogan-Ventura arm-wrestling; Pampero Firpo (audio), Bulldog Bob Brown (audio from Jim Kent), Crazy Luke Graham, Bobo Brazil vs. Ivan Koloff, Mighty Igor, Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Bastien & Hercules Cortez, Billy Robinson; Ox Baker (audio), Killer Brooks, Bull Curry, Abdullah the Butcher, Tiger Jeet Singh vs. The Sheik in an Indian Mud Match; Harley Race, Race's Diving Headbutt, David Von Erich (audio from Larry Matysik), The Crusher (audio) w/ Dick the Bruiser, Eddie Creatchman (audio), Abdul Farouk, Lord Alfred Hayes (audio) armbars Bob Ellis, Bobby Heenan (audio) w/ Blackjack Lanza, Bockwinkel and being choked by Stevens Football Segment Jerry Blackwell (audio) with Jim Kent, video footage of wrestlers vs. football players charity game (featuring Bronko Nagurski); Ernie Ladd x3, Dr. X ("The Destroyer" Dick Beyer); Superstar Billy Graham (audio) biting Dusty Rhodes; Big Bill Miller, Bob Backlund's Atomic Drop on Stan Hansen, Fritz Von Erich's Iron Claw; Hard Boiled Haggerty (audio from "The Wrestler"), Wahoo McDaniel (audio) x2, Nick Bockwinkel (audio) with a headlock on Dory Funk Jr.; Gene Kiniski (audio), Kiniski & Fritz; Kiniski & Wilbur Snyder; Poster for Snyder & Bill Watts vs. Chain Gang; The Baron (audio); Watts; Greg Gagne (audio) & Jim Brunzell (The High Flyers); Verne Gagne (audio); Ric Flair; Dick the Bruiser photos & armbar on Bobo; West Texas State Alumni: Terry Funk x2 (audio), Dory Funk Jr. (shaking hands with Jack Brisco); Bob Windham (audio), Barry Windham & Blackjack Mulligan; Tully Blanchard, Bobby Duncum (audio), Ted Dibiase, Manny Fernandez, Stan Hansen x2 (audio), Dusty Rhodes x2, Bruiser Brody x2 (audio), Texas Outlaws (Rhodes & Murdoch) from "The Wrestler" **I understand I left out many people and perhaps included others too much. I tried to balance between these five very different promotions. There was a lot of overlap in terms of featured talent in these promotions. Obviously the history of all of them could warrant an individual video, but hopefully this package is enjoyable. I am an amateur pro-wrestling historian and amateur videographer. Please view my website if you'd like to access more information about any of these promotions, their histories or the individuals who made these promotions**