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World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), later known as the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA), was an American professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich.Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.129) Beginning as a territory of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), it went independent in 1986 in a bid to become a major national promotion, but was unsuccessful in its attempts and eventually went out of business in 1990. Rights to the pre-1989 WCCW tape library belong to WWE (the post-1988 rights are owned by International World Class Championship Wrestling) and select episodes from 1982 to 1988 are available on the WWE Network. World Class Championship Wrestling experienced tremendous success from 1981–1985, shattering attendance records and ac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Von Erich
Kevin Ross Adkisson (born May 15, 1957) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Kevin Von Erich. A member of the Von Erich family, Adkisson is best known for his appearances with Fritz Von Erich, his father's World Class Championship Wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion. He is a former Professional wrestling championship#World championships, world champion in professional wrestling, having once held the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship. Football career Adkisson played football at University of North Texas, North Texas State University as a fullback until an injury ended his football career and dream of playing in the National Football League. Professional wrestling career World Class Championship Wrestling (1976–1990) Early career (1976–1981) Adkisson started wrestling as Kevin Von Erich in 1976. He spent most of his career wrestling for his father's Dallas, Texas-based promotion, World Class Championship Wre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Mantell
Ken Lusk, better known by his ring name Ken Mantell, is an American retired professional wrestler, promoter and booker who competed throughout the National Wrestling Alliance in the 1970s and 80s. He is a former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Danny Hodge, and won the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Ron Bass in November 1975. He worked as the booker of World Class Championship Wrestling during its peak years and, as a promoter, formed the Wild West Wrestling promotion, which merged with World Class when he became part-owner in early 1988. Professional wrestling career Early career (1970–1973) Both Ken and his brother Johnny (who was also a professional wrestler) started amateur wrestling while in high school in California, before moving to Texas. Mantell began his career in Florida in 1970, wrestling under his real name. He established himself working for Championship Wrestling From Florida and soon began working the NWA Tri-State territory, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Big D Jamboree
''Big D Jamboree'' was a radio program broadcast by KRLD-AM in Dallas, Texas. The show consisted of appearances by famous country musicians, and sketch comedy and jokes. It was also carried by KRLD-TV during the 1950s. History ''Big D Jamboree'' began in 1947 as ''The Lone Star Barn Dance'', but was renamed October 16, 1948. It was held in the Dallas Sportatorium. The show was initially produced by Al Turner and Ed McLemore, and then later by Johnny Hicks and Johnny Harper. The number of musicians who performed regularly rose from 20 to 50 by 1953. Around 1956, the CBS Radio Network began carrying the ''Big D Jamboree'' nationally. A number of later country stars appeared on the program, including Jimmy Lee Fautheree, Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin, Gene O'Quin and Billy Walker (who wore a mask and was billed as the Traveling Texan). For many musicians, ''Big D Jamboree'' was a jumping point to larger shows, such as ''Louisiana Hayride ''Louisiana Hayride'' is a radio an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dallas Sportatorium
The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas, was a barn-like arena used primarily for professional wrestling events. The building, which stood at 1000 S. Industrial Blvd, or the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and Cadiz Street (near the I-30/I-35E Interchange), had a seating capacity of approximately 4,500. Early history Built in 1934 by the Cox Fence Company, the original Dallas Sportatorium was constructed in the shape of an octagon, and seated approximately 10,000. Its inaugural wrestling event, promoted by Burt Willoughby, took place on December 9, 1935. Willoughby promoted wrestling at the Sportatorium until 1940, when the company was bought out by its former concessions manager, Ed McLemore. From 1948 until 1966, the Sportatorium was also the site of the ''Big D Jamboree'', a weekly country music showcase similar in format to the ''Grand Ole Opry'' and ''Louisiana Hayride''; portions of the Jamboree were broadcast nationally on the CBS, CBS Radio Network. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reunion Arena
Reunion Arena was an indoor arena located in the Reunion, Dallas, Reunion district of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States. The arena served as the primary home of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Dallas Stars and the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks. The venue's capacity held accommodations for 17,000 for ice hockey spectators, and 18,190 for basketball spectators. Reunion was also a performance venue for some of the biggest names in popular music from the 1980s through the late 2000s including Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Prince (musician), Prince, Van Halen, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, David Bowie, Madonna (entertainer), Madonna, Dire Straits, Gloria Estefan, Phil Collins, Mötley Crüe, Pink Floyd, Queen (band), Queen, Journey (band), Journey, U2, R.E.M. and Radiohead. Reunion Arena was demolished in November 2009 and the site was cleared by the end of the year. History Reunion Arena was completed in 1980 at a cost of US $27 million. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
King Parsons
King Bailey Parsons Jr. (born June 11, 1950) is a former professional wrestler better known by his ring name Iceman King Parsons. Professional wrestling career Parsons started wrestling in 1979 after being trained by Nick Kozak. King started for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Paul Boesch Promotion in Houston, Texas. Boesch contacted Don Owen and was successful in landing a job for King in the NWA's Pacific Northwest territory. Both Don and Elton Owen promoted in Washington and Oregon. While in the promotion, he teamed with Rocky Johnson and won the tag team title. King moved to Barling, Arkansas and lived there while working for the Tulsa promotion and Leroy McGuirk circa 1978–79. King moved to Worland, Wyoming and wrestled for the Rocky Mountain Wrestling promotion for about a year, wrestling in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. Bill Ash booked all the talent and the matches. In 1982, he moved on to Jim Crockett Promotions where he teamed with Porkchop Cash and feuded wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gino Hernandez
Charles Eugene Wolfe Jr. (August 8, 1957 – February 2, 1986) was an American professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Gino Hernandez. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with the Dallas, Texas-based professional wrestling promotion, promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) between 1976 until his death in 1986. Hernandez's death was initially ruled a murder case, but police later concluded that he had died of a drug overdose. Despite this conclusion, those close to Hernandez and fans alike continue to speculate about the circumstances surrounding his death. Professional wrestling career Early career As a rookie, Face (professional wrestling), babyface wrestler in Ed Farhat's Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit, "Gino Hernandez" was a very young, fresh-faced performer who got Glossary of professional wrestling terms#O, over with female fans due to his long black hair, and good looks. He won Big Time's top title (its v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels (born Michael Shawn Hickenbottom on July 22, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he is the Senior Vice President of Talent Development, Creative, and oversees the creative aspects of the NXT (WWE brand), NXT brand, the promotion's Farm team, developmental territory. Regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he is known by the nicknames "The Heartbreak Kid" (often abbreviated as HBK), "The Showstopper", and "Mr. WrestleMania". Michaels wrestled consistently for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, renamed in 2002), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998. He performed in non-wrestling roles for the next two years, resuming his wrestling career with WWE in 2002 until ceremoniously retiring in 2010. He returned for a one-off final match in 2018. In 2016, he began working as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, and was a producer on ''WWE NXT, NXT'' in 2018, before becoming the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mick Foley
Michael Francis Foley (born June 7, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler and author. He is signed to WWE, under a Legends contract while also serving as an ambassador. Foley worked for many wrestling promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), as well as numerous promotions in Japan. He is widely regarded as one of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era and one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling, and headlined the 16th edition of WWE's premier annual event, WrestleMania. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2013. Foley has wrestled under his real name and various personas. His main persona during his time in WCW and ECW from 1991 to 1996 was Cactus Jack, a dastardly, bloodthirsty and uncompromisingly physical brawler from Truth or Consequenc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Smith Jr. (born May 30, 1955) better known by the ring name Jake "the Snake" Roberts, is an American actor, podcaster and retired professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs as the on-screen manager to '' La Facción Ingobernable'', and he also serves as a special advisor for AEW's community outreach program, ''AEW Together''. He is also signed to WWE under a legends contract. He is best known for his two stints in the World Wrestling Federation (later called WWE); the first between 1986 and 1992, and the second between 1996 and 1997. He wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, World Championship Wrestling in 1992, and the Mexico-based Asistencia Asesoría y Administración between 1993 and 1994 and again in 1997. He appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling during the summer of 1997 and made appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2006 through 2008. Throughout his career, Roberts, often considered one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Fabulous Freebirds
The Fabulous Freebirds were a professional wrestling tag team who attained fame in the 1980s, performing into the 1990s. The team usually consisted of three wrestlers, although in different situations and points in its history, just two performed under the Freebirds name. The Freebird lineup of Hayes, Roberts, and Gordy was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015, and members Hayes, Roberts, Gordy, and Garvin were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016. History The Fabulous Freebirds started performing together in 1979 when Mid South Wrestling promoter Bill Watts put together the duo of Michael "P.S." Hayes and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy. Though originally meant to be a tag team, he soon added former Hollywood Blond Buddy "Jack" Roberts into the mix, and they became a "three man gang" type of tag-team—an unusual concept at the time. They invented a concept that is now called the "Freebird Rule" in their honor, in which any two of three members can defend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Adams (wrestler)
Christopher Adams (10 February 1955 – 7 October 2001), best known as "Gentleman" Chris Adams, was an English Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, promoter, coach, and judoka. He won the British National Judo Championship in his age and weight class three times by the time he was 21. Adams achieved his greatest success in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he rose to fame and reached the position of World Heavyweight Champion. He also performed for organizations like the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), where he held the Light Heavyweight Championship of the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Throughout a 23-year professional wrestling career, he held a total of 26 titles. Adams was in charge of training Stone Cold Steve Austin and popularizing the Professional wrestling strikes#Superkick, superkick finisher, which was subsequently employed by many other performers. Speaking about his legacy, professio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
