ESPN Classic Golden Age of Wrestling 5/4/02

Today, it is a mixed show, with half being "Wrestling Champions" from early-1960s Chicago and the other half from "Wrestling Mayhem" also in the early 1960s.

We kick off with the Chicago portion, emanating form the Marigold Arena. Ring announcer Leonard Sterling informs us that these matches are sanctioned by the NWA under the supervision of the State Athletic Commission. Dr. John Belutsi is the physician, Mike Murphy is the timekeeper and Stan Starvanec is the referee. George Brenard is the TV announcers.

1. Art Thomas & Sweet Daddy Siki take two straight falls from Lou Albano and Jack Owens.
1: Siki pins Albano in 3:32.
-Apparently, Tony Altamore missed his flight, and is thus replaced by Owens. The first fall is all Siki & Thomas, as Albano is in all the way for his team. Thomas shows is strength by powering out of numerous holds Albano tries (wrist locks, head locks, full nelson, etc.). Siki finally scores the pin with a series of dropkicks and cocoa (head) butts.
2: Thomas forces Owens to submit in 6:12.
-Once again, all babyfaces. Owens falls victim to the bearhug.

-Int. w/Brenard: Thomas and Siki
-The president of the Sweet Daddy Siki International Fan Club presents him with a nice ring jacket.  This brings out the Kangaroos, who nonchalantly take the jacket and rip it to shreds (albeit off camera). Siki briefly chases them, and returns with a portion of the jacket, only to gave a distraught interview. Thomas, meanwhile remains clam about the situation.

2. In a match from Buffalo, Ilio DiPaolo pins Gorgeous George in 0:17.
-Lots of pomp and circumstance for GG in his pre-match rituals. Valet Sherri Dupray (sp?) sprays the ring with the atomizer, places an urman down for GG to enter the ring on, etc. GG wears a splendid golden robe (although this was black and white TV, that is what the TV announcer told us). He proceeds to disburse with his "Georgie Pins" one by one. Dupray takes a cheap shot at DiPaolo and finally the bell rings. A punch and airplane spin later, referee Joe Mescado counts the pin.

We now switch to "Wrestling Mayhem" which is more of a newsreel type show, with quick footage of other matches and non-live commentary and music in the background. The matches shown included:

3. Sonny Boy Cassidy retains his Midgets title over Farmer Pete in Framingotn, MA in 2 of 3 falls.
4. June Byers retains her Women's title over Buxom Betty Hawkins in Boston, MA.
-The commentary on this match is so sexist, it would but Jerry Lawler to shame. One line: "it's a women's prerogative to be unreasonable." Enough said.
5. Dick "The Bruiser" Affils d. Pepper Gomez by pin in Philadelphia.
-An airplane spin by Gomez backfired and Affils got the pin on the dizzy Gomez.
6. Argentine Rocca d. Johnny Valentine
-The highlights made this seem like a virtual squash.
7. Rocca, Miguel Perez and Ricky Starr d. The Kangaroos & Dr. Jerry Graham.
8. Rocca & Perez d. The Golden Grahams.

That's it for this week. Next week (Saturday, May 11, ESPN Classic, 6 a.m. ET) it's ARGENTINE ROCCA VS. HANS SCHMIDT.

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