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Championship Wrestling
''WWF Championship Wrestling'' is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It aired from 1971 to August 30, 1986, and was the original television show of the WWF. Originally produced under the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) banner, ''Championship Wrestling'' featured all the stars of the WWF, interviews and championship matches. It was the flagship program of the WWWF/WWF's syndicated programming until it was replaced by '' Superstars of Wrestling'' in 1986. Select episodes are available for streaming on the WWE Network. History Run in syndication This was the first WWF program to be shown on national broadcast television. Vincent J. McMahon built the syndicated network in part by persuading local stations to pay for the rights to air the program. Stations like KPLR-TV in St. Louis and KHJ-TV (now KCAL) in Los Angeles reportedly paid $100,000 to air the show.''Sports Illustrated'', March 18, 1985 issue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vincent J
Vincent (Latin: ''Vincentius'') is a masculine given name originating from the Roman name ''Vincentius'', which itself comes from the Latin verb ''vincere'', meaning "to conquer." People with the given name Artists *Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor *Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Dutch Post-Impressionist painter * Vincent Munier (born 1976), French wildlife photographer Saints *Vincent of Saragossa (died 304), deacon and martyr, patron saint of Lisbon and Valencia * Vincent, Orontius, and Victor (died 305), martyrs who evangelized in the Pyrenees * Vincent of Digne (died 379), French bishop of Digne * Vincent of Lérins (died 445), Church father, Gallic author of early Christian writings * Vincent Madelgarius (died 677), Benedictine monk who established two monasteries in France *Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419), Valencian Dominican missionary and logician *Vincent de Paul (1581–1660), Catholic priest who served the poor *Vicente Liem de la Paz (Vincent Liem the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy McMahon ( ; born August 24, 1945) is an American businessman and former professional wrestling promoter. McMahon, along with his later-estranged wife Linda McMahon, Linda, is a co-founder of the modern WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Outside of professional wrestling McMahon has occasionally ventured into promoting other sports; his projects have included the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL (2001), XFL American football, football league. McMahon graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in business in 1968, and began his tenure in professional wrestling as a commentator for WWE (then called the World Wide Wrestling Federation or WWWF) for most of the 1970s. He bought the company from his father, Vincent J. McMahon, in 1982 and 1980s professional wrestling boom, almost monopolized the industry, which previously operated as separate entities across the United States. This led to the development of the annual event ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Freddie Miller (broadcaster)
Freddie G. Miller (February 19, 1929 – November 25, 1992) was a broadcaster and television personality in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Miller worked for Atlanta television station WXIA-TV (then known by call letters including WLWA-TV and WQXI-TV) from the 1950s to the 1970s.http://www.11alive.com/company/history/default.aspx His greatest exposure and notoriety came in the years following, for his role on the announcing team of professional wrestling programs broadcast on another Atlanta station, WPCH-TV#As WTBS, WTBS. Miller is best remembered by wrestling fans as Gordon Solie's co-host on ''Georgia Championship Wrestling'', which was later renamed ''World Championship Wrestling''. When Vince McMahon, Jr. bought GCW's time slot, Solie left the promotion to remain with Ole Anderson and his renamed Championship Wrestling from Georgia, but Miller stayed on until McMahon sold the promotion and time slot to Jim Crockett, Jr. of Jim Crockett Promotions. M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Reynolds (broadcaster)
Jack Reynolds (1937 – October 16, 2008), born Joseph James Rizzo, was an American broadcaster from Cleveland, Ohio, who was better known outside of his hometown as a professional wrestling announcer. Broadcasting career Cleveland area native Rizzo (who used the Jack Reynolds name on-air due to a feeling back then that his real name would sound "too ethnic") had a career in radio and television in Cleveland over several decades. He was a DJ/talk show host for the old WGAR AM 1220 and the old WWWE AM 1100. He was the booth announcer for then-independent TV station WUAB channel 43 (now Cleveland's affiliate for The CW), where he was the original host (and later frequent substitute host) of the long running afternoon ''Prize Movie''. He was also an on-air spokesman (on both radio and TV) for several local businesses. Reynolds landed a brief speaking part in ''The Godfather'' as an Army captain in the wedding scene. His line "I haven't had this much fun since the blitzkrieg" was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel (June 7, 1950 – April 16, 2020) was an American professional wrestling ring announcer, backstage worker, and occasional professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in WWE. He began working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1975, and was a Madison Square Garden ring announcer since 1977. Finkel was WWE's longest-serving employee (40 years) and is widely regarded as the greatest ring announcer of all time. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. Early life Finkel was born on June 7, 1950, in the city of Newark, New Jersey, and grew up with a Jewish family. Announcing and backstage career Finkel, debuted as a ring announcer at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 1977. By 1979, he was the World Wide Wrestling Federation's lead ring announcer for its biggest events. He became the first WWE employee on April 1, 1980, and later its longest-serving. Throughout his career, his distinctive voice was sometimes used ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe McHugh (announcer)
Joseph P. McHugh (April 30, 1904 – January 31, 1993) was an American ring announcer. He announced boxing and wrestling matches in Allentown, Pennsylvania, from the 1920s through the 1980s and gained national exposure on WWWF and WWF programming in the 1970s and 1980s. Early life and education McHugh was born on April 30, 1904, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, one of six sons born to Owen E. and Bridget (Brown) McHugh. One of his brothers was Terry McHugh, a boxer who fought bantamweight champion Pete Herman in 1919. He grew up on Gordon Street in the Irish section of Allentown's Sixth Ward and graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School. Career When he was 16 years old, McHugh went into vaudeville. He performed across the United States as a comedian and an emcee. After vaudeville, McHugh worked as an entertainment promoter in Lehigh Valley clubs. He was part owner of Club Rio, a nightclub located in South Whitehall Township. He also worked as a sales associate for Roy Ei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ring Announcer
A ring announcer is an in-ring (and sometimes on-camera) employee or contractor for a boxing, professional wrestling or mixed martial arts event or promotion, who introduces the competitors to the audience. In boxing and mixed martial arts bouts, introductions occur after both fighters have entered the ring or cage. Along with each fighter's name, the announcer typically also announces their height, weight, town, nickname, win–loss record and any current or past titles the fighter has won. In MMA, the fighting discipline is usually announced. In professional wrestling, wrestlers are similarly introduced, though usually before or as they come to the ring (the weight of each female wrestler is unannounced in most promotions). In-ring introductions are sometimes used for title matches or other major bouts, to add a "big fight feel". The ring announcer often states the rules of the match. In boxing and MMA, this is usually limited to the number of scheduled rounds and the length of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
André The Giant
André René Roussimoff (; 19 May 1946 – 28 January 1993), better known by his ring name André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World", Roussimoff was known for his great size, which was a result of gigantism caused by excess human growth hormone. Beginning his career in 1966, Roussimoff relocated to North America in 1971. From 1973 to the mid-1980s, Roussimoff was booked by World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) promoter Vincent J. McMahon as a roving "special attraction" who wrestled for promotions throughout the United States, as well as in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. During the 1980s wrestling boom, Roussimoff became a mainstay of the WWWF (by then renamed the World Wrestling Federation), being paired with the Heel (professional wrestling), villainous manager Bobby Heenan and André the Giant–Hulk Hogan rivalry, feuding with Hulk Hogan. The two headlined WrestleMania III in 1987, and in 1988, he defeated H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Stevens (wrestler)
Carl Raymond Stevens (September 5, 1935 – May 3, 1996), better known as Ray "the Crippler" Stevens or Ray "Blond Bomber" Stevens, was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. Stevens was a wrestling superstar since the early years of the television era until his retirement during the early 1990s. His performances and hard Bump (professional wrestling), bumping style inspired generations of Heel (professional wrestling), villain wrestlers who attempted to emulate his ability to provide high quality and heat-generating matches that continuously brought crowds of fans. He was also known for using two different finishing moves in his many victories: the Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving knee drop, "Bombs Away" knee drop (a diving knee drop from the top rope to the throat) and the Piledriver (professional wrestling), piledriver. Stevens wrestled as both a singles performer and in tag team matches with a variety of partners. In 2006, he was inducted i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura (born James George Janos; July 15, 1951) is an American politician, political commentator, actor, media personality, and retired professional wrestler. After achieving fame in the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), he served as the 38th governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. He was elected governor with the Reform Party of the United States of America, Reform Party and is the party's only candidate to win a major government office. Ventura was a member of the United States Navy Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he embarked on a professional wrestling career as a Heel (professional wrestling), heel from 1975 to 1986, taking the ring name "Jesse 'the Body' Ventura." He had a lengthy tenure in the WWF/WWE as a performer and color commentator and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame WWE Hall of Fame (2004), class of 2004. In addition to wrestling, Ventura pursued an acting career, appearing in films such as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tony Garea
Anthony Gareljich (born 20 September 1946) is a New Zealand retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tony Garea. He is best known for his appearances in the United States with the World Wide Wrestling Federation/ World Wrestling Federation in the 1970s and 1980s. Early life The son of Croatian-born Ivan Gareljich, Anthony Gareljich was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to parents of Yugoslavian and Irish descent. He was originally an accomplished sprinter and a rugby league player. Garea grew up in New Zealand's largest city Auckland until he was 8. It was then that his parents bought an Orchid on which they lived and worked for 6 years before returning to the western suburbs of Auckland where Tony went to school for a further year before quitting just a month before his 15th birthday. After that he worked at various jobs including in a men's clothing store for 6 months, then he spent another 6 months delivering paint and wallpaper supplies before spending ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gene Okerlund
Eugene Arthur Okerlund (December 19, 1942 – January 2, 2019) was an American professional wrestling interviewer, announcer and television host. He was best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by Hulk Hogan. He was signed to a lifetime contract with WWE and later worked for promotional programs. He has been described by some journalists as the greatest interviewer in the history of professional wrestling. Professional career Early career Eugene Arthur Okerlund was born on December 19, 1942, in Brookings, South Dakota to Arthur and Helen Okerlund. He grew up in Sisseton and was raised on an Indian reservation. He graduated from Sisseton High School in 1960. He was an all-around athlete, participating in basketball, baseball, football and track. After studying broadcast journalism at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), Okerlund landed a job as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
