WWWF at Washington Coliseum (2/11/63)

Washington Coliseum

Washington, DC

February 11, 1963

Capitol Wrestling returns home to Washington, DC for a big show tonight. Bobo Brazil, Art Thomas and Dory Dixon face Magnificent Maurice, "Handsome" Johnny Barend and The Canadian Wrecking Crew in an eight man tag, but Bobo's team has a mystery partner. Who could it be? Somehow "Killer" Buddy Austin has a Heavyweight title shot against "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in a rare battle of the brutes. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

Tommy O'Toole vs Tim Woods

Talk about a rare treat. Tim Woods is the unmasked alter-ego of the original Mr. Wrestling, one of the greatest American masked wrestlers of all time. George Woodin was a college wrestler for Michigan State, damn near winning the national championship in 1959. He made his wrestling debut at age 28 in 1962 and took the Mr. Wrestling gimmick national but would also wrestle as "Tim Woods" back when nobody could have known the difference. Woods beats O'Toole here.

Winner: Tim Woods

Match 2

Miguel Torres vs "Irish" Pat Barrett

Miguel was a star in Mexico going back to the 1940's and was well traveled by this point. Barrett was an Irish born wrestler who started in 1960 but was on his first American tour in 1963. He would eventually be WWWF Tag Champion but that's down the road. He defeats Torres here.

Winner: Barrett

Match 3

Cowboy Reed vs Pedro Morales

The future Buddy Colt takes on the future heavyweight champion. They go the 20 minute distance for a draw.

Winner: No one (Draw)

Match 4

Gordo Chihuahua vs Jolly Charlie

Two gimmicks, only one will walk out a winner. Charlie got the victory.

Winner: Charlie

Match 5

The Shadow vs Pete Sanchez

The Shadow attacks faces and heels, he doesn't care. He faces Sanchez here and wins.

Winner: Shadow

Match 6

Magnificent Maurice, "Handsome" Johnny Barend, Chris and John Tolos vs Bobo Brazil, Dory Dixon, "Sailor" Art Thomas and Johnny Valentine

Surprise!!! The mystery partner in this eight man tag is none other than Johnny Valentine. Valentine and Bob Ellis lost the NWA US Tag Team Titles to Buddy Rogers and Barend so he has no love lost for the other team. Bobo's team wins.

Winners: Thomas, Dixon, Valentine and Brazil

Match 7

"Killer" Buddy Austin vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship

Its a battle of the brutes as they say as its heel vs heel. Austin got a title shot for his hot streak of late but was counted out in the match.

Winner: Rogers by count out (still World Heavyweight Champion)

That was definitely an interesting show with Mr. Wrestling on the card under his maskless name along with an 8 man tag with Johnny Valentine stepping up to fight with Brazil's crew. Rogers survived his challenge from Buddy Austin but where does he go from here? There's actually going to be two shows tomorrow, the first is that week's TV taping at Bridgeport. I'll see you there.

WWWF at Baltimore Civic Center (2/6/63)

Baltimore Civic Center

Baltimore, MD

February 6, 1963

Yesterday's TV taping set up today's card perfectly. The Shadow not only takes on Frank Valois, but he has a date with Killer Kowalski as well. Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend take on Jolly Charlie and former world champ Gene Kiniski. Then in the main event, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defends the Heavyweight championship against Bobo Brazil again. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

The Shadow vs Frank Valois

Shadow was scheduled to face Valois anyway but he challenged the sadistic Killer Kowalski later in the show. Shadow wins here with Kowalski at ring side scouting him.

Winner: Shadow

Match 2

Tommy O'Toole vs "Killer" Buddy Austin

Tommy O'Toole was a veteran wrestler going back to the 1930's but was nearing the end of the line in 1963. Austin made quick work of him here.

Winner: Austin

Match 3

Jolly Charlie and Gene Kiniski vs Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend

The former AWA champ teams with Charlie to take on Buddy Rogers' boys. Barend and Maurice win this one.

Winners: Barend and Maurice

Match 4

The Shadow vs Killer Kowalski

This turned out to be a wild brawl where they fought all the way into the stands, knocking fans over and almost causing a riot. The match was thrown out.

Winner: No one (No contest)

Match 5

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

Here it is, the big rematch ordered by Toots Mondt under protest from Vince McMahon. Bobo had the upper hand but was thrown out of the ring. All of a sudden Magnificent Maurice and Johnny Barend hit the ring to beat him down with the ref's back turned. All of a sudden, Gene Kiniski and Jolly Charlie ran out to beat them down into the ring. The ref saw all six men brawling and threw the match out. Brazil, Charlie and Kiniski chased off the heels and stood tall to end the show.

Winner: No one (No Contest, Rogers retains)

Talk about a wild end to a show with back to back brawls, but at least it was entertaining. Buddy Rogers remains the champion and it doesn't look like he has any contenders left after dispatching Bruno Sammartino and coming out with the title against Bobo Brazil. The next couple of days the stars of New York would be competing in other territories but the next New York show would be at the Sunnyside Gardens on February 9th. I'll see yall there.

WWWF at Capitol Arena (1/31/63)

Capitol Arena

Washington, DC

January 31, 1963

As mentioned on television, today's house show is part of a double shot. Here in Maryland, Pedro Morales and Dory Dixon were supposed to face Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend. But after the beatdown the heels gave Dixon, he may not make it tonight. Also on the card will be fan favorite "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland and dastardly George "The Great" Scott. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

Gene Kelly vs The Shadow

No, that's not the famous singer & dancer Gene Kelly. That's none other than hall of famer Gene Kiniski. Eugene Kiniski was an Edmonton, Alberta born football player who played for the University of Arizona and the Edmonton Eskimos before a knee injury retired him. He took to wrestling in 1953 and became one of the top heels in the United States and Canada ever since. Gene beat The Shadow here.

Winner: Kelly

Match 2

Frank Valois vs Jolly Charlie

Montreal legend Frank Valois steps into the ring at 42 years old but faces 47 year old Al Smith aka Jolly Charlie. He was a legend of the old National Wrestling Association in the 1940's then became an NWA mainstay in the 50's. Valois wins this one.

Winner: Valois

Match 3

Gregory Jarque vs The Great Scott

Jarque we all know but who is The Great Scott? None other than George Scott, yes THAT George Scott. The future booker in JCP, World Class, WWE and WCW was still active in 1963. George was born in Scotland but who's parents were from Hamilton, Ontario. He and his brother (and future Smoky Mountain Wrestling promoter) Sandy were The Flying Scotts. He almost had to retire in 1952 after Buddy Rogers broke his back for real with very stiff kicks. 11 years later he's here in Maryland to face Jarque. The Great Scott wins it.

Winner: Great Scott

Match 4

The Great Mephisto vs "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland

"The Great Mephisto" Frankie Cain was doing a Sheik gimmick while Eddie "The Sheik" Farhat was still active. Then again, that's wrestling for you. Mephisto would have a lot of success in the territories as a wrestler and a manager. Skaaland served in the US Marines during World War 2 and turned pro in 1946. On this night, Skaaland gets the duke.

Winner: Skaaland

Match 5

Pedro Morales and "The Golden Greek" Tony Manousos vs Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend

Morales has a big surprise for Maurice and Barend, "The Golden Greek" is here to replace Dory Dixon as his partner against Buddy Rogers' heel team. Morales and Manousos get the win.

Winners: Morales and Manousos

That was a great card full of legends in their prime. Also it was brilliant for Morales to replace Dory Dixon with The Golden Greek. Buddy Rogers won't be happy about this but he's currently busy. While this was taking place in Maryland, Rogers was set to defend the Heavyweight title against Bobo Brazil in Cleveland. I'll see you there!