WWWF at Pittsburgh Civic Arena (2/4/63)

Pittsburgh Civic Arena

Pittsburgh, PA

February 4, 1963

After Heavyweight champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defeated Bobo Brazil in a Texas Death Match, former NWA Champion Eduoard Carpentier delivered a message from Toots Mondt that Rogers will face Bruno Sammartino in Bruno's hometown of Pittsburgh. Tonight's the night as Bruno faces Buddy in a 2 out of 3 falls match. Let's get to our first match.....but wait. All of a sudden Buddy himself comes to the ring with a special announcement. He says he's going to make an example out of Bruno later tonight but first he's got a warm up match for the crowd as a sneak preview.

Match 1

Frank Pickens vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers

Rogers brings out local jobber Frank Pickens for a tune-up match to begin the night. Rogers beats him in record time and Pickens has to be stretchered out. Rogers grabs the mic and says that's what's going to happen to Bruno later tonight.

Winner: Rogers

Match 2

TNT Napolitan vs Johnny DeFazio

 Johnny DeFazio was a local star in Pittsburgh mostly known for Studio Wrestling in Pennsylvania. He gets the win over TNT here with a dropkick.

Time of match: 9:51

Winner: DeFazio by pinfall

Match 3

Gene Kiniski vs Buddy Austin

If you think Vince McMahon Jr was notorious for taking other promotions' champions and jobbing them out, he learned it from his father. For whatever reason Vince Sr was booking former world champion Kiniski as a jobber. Austin won this one.

Time of match: 9:49

Winner: Austin

Match 4

Jim Grabmire vs Ace Freeman

Jim Grabmire was a veteran working for Jim Crockett Sr at the time but was on loan to face Ace on this card. Freeman takes it with an inside cradle.

Time of match: 11:34

Winner: Freeman by pinfall

Match 5

Chico Santana and Pee Wee Lopez vs Marcel Sinard and Tiny Bell in a 2 out of 3 falls match

Oh boy, midget tag team wrestling. Tiny Bell was mostly know for AWA and WWA matches while Marcel was another from the French Canadian midget camp. Pee Wee was a Detroit/AWA mainstay and remember when Jesse Ventura used to call Tito Santana "Chico"? He was referencing midget wrestler Chico Santana all those years. Santana and Lopez got the duke.

Winners: Santana and Lopez

Match 6

Bobo Brazil vs Killer Kowalski

After failing to win the heavyweight title, Brazil took on the Killer just four days later. In the storyline, Brazil was weak because of the grueling Texas Death Match and Kowalski rendered him unconcious, causing the ref to stop the match.

Winner: Kowalski by stoppage

Match 7

Skull Murphy vs "Sailor" Art Thomas

Skull Murphy was Canadian born John Joseph Murphy who was one half of a heel tag team with Brute Bernard in the 1960's. Thomas made him submit to the bearhug.

Time of match: 12:33

Winner: Thomas by submission

Match 8

Bruno Sammartino vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship in a 2 out of 3 falls match

Under the orders of Toots Mondt, Bruno gets his long awaited title shot against the champion. Buddy got the advantage 11:39 into the match when he landed a running knee to the head and got the three count to take the first fall. Then 6:59 into the second fall, Bruno made Buddy submit to the bearhug. For some inane reason, Bruno thought he had won the title and started celebrating on the apron. Buddy ran up and knocked him into the steel barricade where Bruno was counted out to end the match. Fans were LIVID but Buddy was still the champion.

Time of match: 18:58

Winner: Rogers 2 falls to 1 (still World Heavyweight Champion)

After surviving a Texas Death Match just four days earlier, Buddy just beat Bruno Sammartino in his home town 2 falls to 1. Who's gonna stop Buddy now, Edouard Carpentier? Logically Gene Kiniski should get a title shot but he's being jobbed out for some inane reason. Its going to be interesting tomorrow on television what happens next. I'll see you in Bridgeport, CT for the next TV taping.

WWWF at Cleveland Arena (1/31/63)

Cleveland Arena

Cleveland, Ohio

January 31, 1963

Tonight's the night where Bobo Brazil gets his world heavyweight title shot against "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in a Texas Death Match. The best part is Rogers has no backup as Handsome Johnny and Magnificent Maurice are in Washington. Also on the card, Eduoard Carpentier takes on Killer Kowalski, Buddy Austin takes on Gene Kiniski and Swede Hanson makes an appearance as well. Let's get to the action

Match 1

Swede Hanson vs George Strickland

Swede Hanson was born Robert Hanson in New Jersey and spurned Wake Forest University in order to work as a mechanic to support his mother. He was an accomplished amateur boxer going 61-3 in New Jersey until Willie Gilzenberg wanted to try him out as a wrestler, making his NWA debut in 1957. Strickland was the trainer of Dr. Sam Shepard, the inventor of the mandible claw. Hanson got the victory here.

Winner: Hanson

Match 2

TNT Napolitan vs Ace Freeman

Napolitan was a veteran of Florida wrestling while Freeman was a Pennsylvania/Ohio local. Freeman got the win here.

Winner: Freeman

Match 3

Miguel Perez Sr and Pete Sanchez vs The Canadian Wrecking Crew (Chris and John Tolos)

Sanchez was a local Pittsburgh star and was a frequent tag partner of Manuel Soto in the late 60's and 70's. Miguel Perez Sr was one of the first Puerto Rican superstars, forming a very popular tag team with Antonino Rocca, winning the NWA tag team championships. "The Golden Greek" John Tolos was one of the top heels of the 1960's and 70's in California and his brother Chris was his frequent tag team partner. Chris was John's older brother and were one of the top heel tag teams of the day. The Tolos brothers win this one.

Winners: Canadian Wrecking Crew

Match 4

Buddy Austin vs "Sailor" Art Thomas

The bad boy Buddy takes on fan favorite Thomas. Buddy got himself disqualified to give Art the victory.

Winner: Thomas by disqualification

Match 5

Killer Kowalski vs Eduoard Carpentier

The former NWA champion takes on the sadistic Kowalski in a big grudge match. Carpentier got the victory.

Winner: Carpentier

Match 6

Bobo Brazil vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Texas Death Match

After Rogers and his crew terrorized Brazil and his crew, Bobo gets Buddy one on one. Rogers won the match to retain the title. As he stood in the ring celebrating, Eduoard Carpentier came out to deliver a message. He congratulated Buddy on his victory and oh by the way....according to Toots Mondt, you face Bruno Sammartino for the title in the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in four days. Rogers is irate but is still the champ.

Winner: Rogers (still Heavyweight Champion)

Rogers closes the door with Brazil but Bruno Sammartino gets his title shot after all. Toots Mondt has been lobbying for Bruno to get his match, and now he gets it. Carpentier beating Kowalski puts him in a future position against Buddy as well. We'll see you in Pittsburgh for the big showdown.

WWWF at WIIC Studios (1/25/63)

WIIC Studios

Pittsburgh, PA

January 25, 1963

It was a landmark day in the world of professional wrestling. The night before in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, Lou Thesz defeated NWA World Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers to win the title. One of the biggest opponents of this title change was Capitol Wrestling Corporation owner Vince McMahon Sr. Buddy Rogers was making him a ton of money when he came to the northeast and Vince was against the decision to put the belt on Thesz. Rather than take it lying down, Vince decided to break off from the National Wrestling Alliance. Today, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was born and it still recognized "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers as its world champion. One of the top contenders to the strap was a young Italian named Bruno Sammartino. Vince McMahon took to WIIC Studios after the break off to announce they were standing alone. Still, some of the boys weren't taking kindly and would take it out on the "traitors" such as Bruno Sammartino, Arnold Skaaland and Gorilla Monsoon. Let's get to the matches.

Match 1

Killer Kowalski vs Eduoard Carpentier

Born Edward Spulnuk, the future "Killer" took a bunch of different names when he first started wrestling such as Walter Kowalski, Tarzan Kowalski and Hercules Kowalski. Then he got his nickname "Killer" in 1952. For those that don't know, Kowalski was the New Jack/Abdullah the butcher of the 50's, 60's and 70's. He got his reputation after dropping a knee on Yukon Eric (not Scott Irwin) that caused Eric's badly cauliflowered ear to simply fall off. While visiting Eric in the hospital, reporters saw him laughing with Eric at how silly Eric looked with the bandage on his head. To not break kayfabe, the reporters wrote Kowalski laughed AT him instead to cement his reputation as a bad guy. In 1958 in the Boston Garden, Kowalski accidentally kicked guest referee Jack Dempsey, the ex boxing champion, so hard he needed to be hospitalized. Once again it was an accident but the papers reported it to be on purpose to keep Kowalski as a villain. By this point he was 36 years old and still a big nasty heel. Eduoard Carpentier was born Eduoard Weiczorkiewicz (good luck spelling that correctly) in Roanne, France and was a legit part of the French Resistence during World War 2. You know the heel WWE group La Resistance? Carpentier was in the real one. He made his wrestling debut in 1956 in Montreal taking the name Eduoard Carpentier after boxer Georges Carpentier. Many claim he defeated NWA Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz on June 14, 1957 but a lot of people claim he didn't. Whether or not he was recognized as champion depended on the territory but in 1963, he was here to take on Kowalski. They fought to a time limit draw.

Winner: No one (Draw)

After the match, Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers comes out with Johnny Barend and Magnificent Maurice in tow. Rogers gets on the microphone and says he's the real world champion and his buddies Johnny and Maurice say to hell with the fans and the National Wrestling Alliance. If anyone's got a problem with him as champion, come say so. Right on cue Bobo Brazil, Dory Dixon and Art Thomas walk out to cheers from the crowd. Thomas says they're sick of Rogers and his stooges trying to hurt people legitimately and they're going to stop him. They challenge the trio to a six man tag match later which the heels accept. Bobo then says if Rogers was a real man, he'd face him right here, right now. Rogers says bring it.

Match 2

Bobo Brazil vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the Heavyweight Championship

Bobo was born Houston Harris and his father died when he was 7. He actually played baseball for The House of David (don't ask) before being discovered by Joe Savoldi. After he was trained, Savoldi wanted to call him BuBu Brasil a South American star with a cape but the guy who printed the advertising poster printed "Bobo Brazil" and the name stuck. Bobo pretty much broke segregation in the wrestling south as white promoters wanted him to work with their top white stars in the 1950's. By now he was 38 years old and he had a tall task ahead of him. Born Herman Rohde Jr, the future "Nature Boy" was born to German parents although he served in the US Navy during World War 2. He began his career in 1939 for the Hanley brothers and started to really make his name in Ohio for Jack Pfefer. He was called "Natural Guy" Buddy Rogers and was managed by Slave Girl Moolah who we all know as Fabulous Moolah. He started his run as the Nature Boy in the 1940's with a rivalry with Lou Thesz. Rogers became NWA Champion in 1961 as a braggadocios, bleach blonded heel compared to the clean cut Pat O'Connor. As mentioned earlier, Rogers was due to drop the title to Thesz on January 24, 1963 but Vince Sr didn't want to recognize it. With no internet or cable television in those days, Vince just kept Rogers as "heavyweight champion" in the northeast. He defeated Brazil to keep the strap.

 

Winner: Rogers (Still Heavyweight Champion)

All of a sudden Bruno Sammartino walks out for an interview. He asks where Toots Mondt gets off putting him on the same card with Buddy Rogers. He says Rogers better stay away from him or else he'll knock his block off. On to the match.

Match 3

Bill Scholl vs Bruno Sammartino

Who is Bill Scholl? Nobody knows although he was an opponent of Dr. Sam Sheppard. Bruno wins the match.

Winner: Bruno

After the match Bruno walks to the back but out walks the trio of Magnificent Maurice, Johnny Barend and Buddy Rogers. Bruno and Buddy give each other the stank eye as Bruno walks off and the trio get in the ring to a chorus of boos. On to the main event.

Match 4

"Sailor" Art Thomas, Dory Dixon and Bobo Brazil vs "Handsome" Johnny Barend, Magnificent Maurice and Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers

Rogers barely kept his title against Brazil earlier but now its six man action. So who are the other four guys? "Sailor" Art Thomas was a merchant marine before making his wrestling debut in 1943. Remember Sgt Craig Pittman? Think that only 50 years earlier. By now he was a fan favorite usually teaming with Brazil. Dory Dixon was born in Jamaica and was actually a physical education teacher before making his debut in 1955. Him and Brazil were frequent tag team partners as well. "Handsome" Johnny Barend was one of Capitol Wrestling's original heels even before the NWA split and was tag team champions with Magnificent Maurice. Maurice was born Eugene Dubuque and made his wrestling debut in 1947. He was one of the flamboyant heels not unlike Gorgeous George. Maurice and Barend were tag team champs in both Capitol Wrestling and the AWA. Apparently Rogers and his crew won this match.

Winners: Rogers, Barend and Maurice

After the match is over. Rogers gets on the mic and says he's here to stay. If anyone's got a problem with him, they'll have to get through Handsome Johnny and Magnificent Maurice first. He tells Toots Mondt and Vince McMahon that they wanted him as champion, now they're stuck with him. They leave to a chorus of boos. That was quite a first show for the newly named World Wide Wrestling Federation. Its clear that Buddy Rogers thinks he runs the show but he's going to make a lot of people angry along the way. The next TV show is on the 29th in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I'll see you there.