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Post by Joe Neglia on Jul 18, 2018 19:47:15 GMT -5
Wanna see what kind of list we can get going for this. I want to keep it before 1980, and no football players unless they were known for something else famous as well.
Bela Lugosi - once accompanied Lou Thesz as Lou's manager for one match. It was a publicity stunt that a mutual friend put together.
Babe Ruth - did some refereeing after his baseball career was over
Dr. Sam Sheperd - the infamous inspiration for The Fugitive got into wrestling for a bit.
Buford Pusser - the small-town sheriff who made national news was a wrestler before he was a cop
Joe Louis - the former boxing champ wrestled and reffed after his pugilistic career ended
Tor Johnson - this one's a bit iffy-ish, as Tor wrestled and acted off and on from the 1930s up through the '50s. He wasn't really a big star in either field, but enough of one to count.
Adam West - in 1976, West showed up in a Batman cowl to (drunkenly?) challenge Lawler during a studio taping. Did West do anything further with them?
Alex Karras - yes, a football player, but more well known now as Mongo from Blazing Saddles and the dad on Webster. He was only pawn in game of life.
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MolotovMocktail
Grimlock
Home of the 5-time, 5-time, 5-time, 5-time 5-time Super Bowl Champion 49ers-and Wrestlemania 31
Posts: 14,070
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Post by MolotovMocktail on Jul 18, 2018 19:55:40 GMT -5
When did Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki do their boxer vs. wrestler match? Ali also did one in the WWWF with Gorilla Monsoon.
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El Pollo Guerrera
Grimlock
His name has chicken in it, and he is good at makin' .gifs, so that's cool.
Status: Runner
Posts: 14,944
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Jul 18, 2018 19:58:01 GMT -5
The Ali-Inoki bout was in 1976.
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Phil Parent
El Dandy
Your Favourite Teacher
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Post by Phil Parent on Jul 18, 2018 19:59:12 GMT -5
Abraham Lincoln, allegedly, never looked into it.
During summers, legendary hockey player Maurice "The Rocket" Richard referee'd in Montreal and at least once wrestled in a tag match with Yvon Robert.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 20:03:22 GMT -5
Rocky Marciano did some guest ref spots after retiring from boxing.
Apparently Jim Thorpe managed Suni War Cloud for at least a few shows circa 1950.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 23:17:00 GMT -5
Primo Carnera. World champion boxer in the 1930s turned world title contender in wrestling, and the original Goldberg with a 119-0-1 record until his 1st loss.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2018 8:17:58 GMT -5
Journeyman boxer Chuck Wepner faced Andre at the 1976 Showdown At Shea, one of the shows that aired Ali-Inoki. Primo Carnera. World champion boxer in the 1930s turned world title contender in wrestling, and the original Goldberg with a 119-0-1 record until his 1st loss. Fred Blassie had a story in his book about the pre-match going over the rules, Primo looked nervous. "What's the matter?" "Freddie. Please don't break-a my leg." Apparently a bunch of the boys got it in Primo's head that I was gonna tear him up and make a name for myself at his expense by breaking his leg. "Don't worry, Primo. I'm not gonna break your leg." He was relieved. And we had a good match. |
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Post by OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 on Jul 19, 2018 8:40:03 GMT -5
Not sure if a celebrity but early on his political career George Herbert Bush attended local shows and greeted the crowd, Ric Flair who was a rookie back then said that Johnny Valentine even gave Bush the finger lol.
The future president remained a big fan and during an event in the early 90s, he personally introduced Flair to the crowd...WCW being idiots never bothered sending a f***ing camera.
The president was a big Ric Flair fan and wcw didn't even acknowledge it on tv, they wasted millions on free advertisement. WCW was always a chicken shit organization.
Not sure if this counts but apparently Elvis dated Penny Banner a former lady wrestler.
Lol Bela Lugosi, I just imagine Martin Landau cussing everyone out.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2018 8:57:10 GMT -5
Journeyman boxer Chuck Wepner faced Andre at the 1976 Showdown At Shea, one of the shows that aired Ali-Inoki. Primo Carnera. World champion boxer in the 1930s turned world title contender in wrestling, and the original Goldberg with a 119-0-1 record until his 1st loss. Fred Blassie had a story in his book about the pre-match going over the rules, Primo looked nervous. "What's the matter?" "Freddie. Please don't break-a my leg." Apparently a bunch of the boys got it in Primo's head that I was gonna tear him up and make a name for myself at his expense by breaking his leg. "Don't worry, Primo. I'm not gonna break your leg." He was relieved. And we had a good match. Wepner the inspiration for Rocky Balboa, the match with Andre inspiring Thunderlips which was a huge part of Hogan becoming a phenomenon. Almost a complete circle for wrestling. |
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petef3
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,783
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Post by petef3 on Jul 19, 2018 19:55:55 GMT -5
Paul Anderson--another "world's strongest man," Olympic gold medalist weightlifter, and one-time Guinness record-holder for greatest weight ever lifted by a human being--had a fairly extensive wrestling career in the 1950's and '60s.
In the mold of Buford Pusser, some other wrestlers who became famous after their careers: fitness guru Jack Lalanne, actor Norbert Grupe (Vigo from Ghostbusters 2), actor Woody Strode, and Peter Grant (manager for Led Zeppelin).
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Post by Joe Neglia on Jul 19, 2018 22:12:10 GMT -5
Oh, not a *good* addition, but an addition - Jimmy Savile.
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Sephiroth
Wade Wilson
Surviving
Posts: 29,402
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Post by Sephiroth on Jul 19, 2018 22:20:37 GMT -5
George Reeves was a fan who used to show up at wrestling shoes, I think he may even have considered getting in the ring at one point
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Post by bitteroldman on Jul 20, 2018 5:08:51 GMT -5
Boxer Jersey Joe Wolcott, oldest to win a world heavyweight title until George Foreman, worked for either the AWA or Bruiser's WWA as a ref.
Leon Spinks did as well but he misses the 1980 cutoff
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Post by The Barber on Jul 20, 2018 5:40:04 GMT -5
Does Scott Leduc count?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2018 5:42:04 GMT -5
Pat Roach. Actor and wrestler.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Jul 20, 2018 9:41:55 GMT -5
Didn't Rock Hudson and Jim Barnett have a close personal friendship?
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Phil Parent
El Dandy
Your Favourite Teacher
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Post by Phil Parent on Jul 24, 2018 17:54:29 GMT -5
Not pre-80s, but close enough.
In the mid 80s, VaRouSac (That would be the 2nd promotion in town in Montreal after the Rougeau's International Wrestling) had a young talented singer sing the national anthem a couple times.
Her name? Celine Dion. She had a crooked nose, vampire teeth and a voice that could f***ing break glass.
The Great Antonio, of getting mucked up by Inoki fame, wasn't a pro wrestler at all. He was a freak show talent / strongman who did wrestling when pulling busses didn't bring in enough.
In the same vein, Quebec strongman Louis Cyr.
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Post by nickcave on Jul 24, 2018 18:06:46 GMT -5
Speaking of Inoki, he was a central character and played himself in the Bad News Bears Go to Japan, not sure if movies count though. If so you also have Stallone's big wrestling theme 1978 flop Paradise Alley which had a bunch of wrestlers in cameo roles Terry Funk being the most prominent one.
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Post by wildojinx on Jul 25, 2018 13:23:15 GMT -5
Would the McGuire twins count?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2018 5:54:55 GMT -5
Speaking of Inoki, he was a central character and played himself in the Bad News Bears Go to Japan, not sure if movies count though. If so you also have Stallone's big wrestling theme 1978 flop Paradise Alley which had a bunch of wrestlers in cameo roles Terry Funk being the most prominent one. Inoki putting over Tony Curtis had got to be one of the weirdest things I've ever seen. It's definitely in the guilty pleasure category of movies. It's really awful, yet if I see it on I'll watch it. |
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