Posted by Goldenboy79 on OWW Genesis.

6 Years on: Remembering Mike ‘Hawk’ Hegstrand

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As the only team to win the AWA, NWA, WWF and All Japan tag titles, the Road Warriors- Animal & Hawk, were the highest drawing and biggest earning tandem in wrestling history. Along with Hulk Hogan, the Warriors helped to popularise the juiced up muscleman look that 75% of big name wrestlers had by the late 1980s. During their peak years from 1984-89, the Road Warriors were an awesome duo, destroying opponents with power moves, and had a huge following in the US & Japan who loved their no-selling, kick-ass ring styles and unique image. But for Hawk, his success and excessive lifestyle caught up with him in the end. The years of steroid and drug use (especially Cocaine) ended his ride for good on October 18th 2003 suffering a massive heart attack.

Mike Hegstrand was born on January 26th 1957, and made his pro wrestling debut in 1983 under the name Crusher Von Haig in Vancouver, Canada….. his stint north of the border was a short one, returning home to Minneapolis, Minnesota, his bigbreak was just around the corner. Mike and his pal Joe ‘Animal’ Laurinatis (who had also tried his hand at wrestling) were spotted by trainer Ed Sharkey whilst working as bouncers. Sharkeys gym would also give rise to such names as Rick Rude, Barry Darsow and Scott ‘Nikita Koloff’ Simpson.

It was Ole Anderson who can be credited with putting Mike & Joe together as a team, christening them Hawk & Animal: The Road Warriors, (influenced by the Mad Max movies), and the pair got over quickly in Andersons Georgia territory, with their leather attire, face paint, bizarre haircuts and destructive power offence. The spectacular finisher, Doomsday Device, clothesline from the top rope- off Animals shoulders was born, as was Hawks longstanding ‘Ohhhh What a Rush’ catchphrase.

The Warriors were guided onscreen by Paul Ellering, who later became their real life business manager, and skills at the bargaining table made the trio very wealthy men in the 80s. The Warriors were pushed with the oldest trick in the book, working short squash matches to mask their inexperience, in which their opponents would take major bumps to make them look devastating. The duo looked like unstoppable monsters who never lost clean, and no-sold their opponents offence. Hawk would even no-sell a piledriver (a sure finisher in the 80s) which drew large pops from the crowd, because no-one else was allowed to do it! Though they were supposed to be heels, the fans adored them, though less could be said of their babyface opponents who resented their popularity, selective selling and pushes without having paid their dues.

Worldwide fame and fortune also allowed Hawk to develop a huge ego, he and Animal were well known for bragging about their deafening crowd pops, to others in the dressing room, and Hawks outspoken nature got him into real life scraps with Randy Savage and Charles ‘Cold Scorpio’ Skaggs.

Nevertheless, the tandem left Georgia after 4 tag reigns, and were in such high demand, they juggled dates with the AWA, and JCP (in the times when promotions cooperated with each other). They hammered old timers Crusher & Baron Von Raschke for the AWA tag straps, and even when it was time to lose them 13 months later, outside interference was required, so not to damage their indestructible aura. The pair (with Ellering) debuted in Japan in spring 1985, earning a huge $10000 per week, (later upped to $16000) and (of course), won their matches in rapid order.

The Road Warriors then settled in JCP, and became prominent faces in the company. They won the first Crockett Cup in 1986, lifted the 6man tag belts (with Dusty Rhodes) and became so valuable to JCP, were offered $500,000 per annum contracts apiece, partly to dissuade them from jumping ship to Vince McMahons WWF. With the exception of Hogan Flair & Andre, it was more money that anyone else was making in pro wrestling at the time.

The Warriors were made to wait till late 1988 to land the NWA tag titles, as booker Dusty Rhodes liked to cast them as challengers (in typical Dusty Screwjob finishes), but by the time they defeated Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton to land the tag prize, Dusty had turned them heel (in a memorable spike attack on Dustys eye). However the heel turn was a mistake, the fans still loved them…. So they were turned face again after four months. After dropping the belts to Steve Williams & Mike Rotunda (in another screwjob finish to protect their aura) the duo meandered from one meaningless fued to the next….. had the pair seen better days? …. Jim Herd certainly thought so, and asked the Warriors to take a major paycut when their contracts were up for renewal. So offended at the offer presented, Animal & Hawk told Herd to stick it and negotiated a move to the WWF.

Known as the Legion of Doom (Vince didn’t want to confuse the Road Warriors with his WWF champion ‘Ultimate Warrior’) a fued with Demolition was the logical one to start with (Vince created a carbon copy Road Warriors tandem when he failed to sign the real thing years prior) though the fued came too late….. when original ‘Demo’ Ax was phased out with health problems, replaced by the inadequate Brian ‘Crush’ Adams…….and the ‘Real Deal’ swatted the pale imitators with ease.

Hawk & Animal made short work of Power & Glory at Wrestlemania 7, and downed the Nasty Boy for the WWF tag straps at the next PPV, Summerslam ’91. Though this completed the set of AWA/WWF/NWA tag titles (the only team to ever do so) , the Warriors were a slower, more ponderous team in the WWF. After dropping the Tag straps to Money Inc in early ’92, the pair returned at Wrestlemania 8 with Paul Ellering in tow ….. sadly the WWF creative team thought it was a good idea to align them with a Ventriloquists dummy (Rocko), which Hawk destested….. after a triumphant victory at Summerslam 92 in London, a disillusioned Hawk (whose outspoken attitude sourced his relations with Vince from day one) quit the WWF. Animal was understandably furious…. but was to take a wrestling hiatus to tend to nagging injuries, whilst Hawk toured Japan again.

Failing to find the same success without each other, the duo returned to WCW in January 1996 for a forgettable 4 months….. (leaving after a pay dispute with Eric Bischoff), returning for (yet) another run in Japan. Though Hawk left on bad terms in 1992, business was business (and a push from Bret Hart) the Road Warriors were brought back to the WWF in February 1997.

Many now saw the Roadies as being past their sell by date, yet they adapted to WWEs modern brawling style with commendable matches in a Chicago street match at WM13, a decent Summerslam match with the (abysmal) Godwinns, and featured in the breathtaking 10man tag finale at Canadian Stampede. They were rewarded with a 2nd WWF Tag reign in the autumn…. But were not impressed at dropping the belts a month later to Billy Gunn & Road Dogg (then seen as solo jobbers). Hawks tough guy aura was also broken when the ‘the New Age Outlaws’ shaved off his trademark Mohawk hair….. Hawk had never seemed more mortal.

The Roadies were repackaged with a new look and push (not that it ever changed much) at Wrestlemania 14 under the management of Sunny in a partnership that didn’t last…. nor did an attempt to fued them with Paul Ellering (who was looking after 4th rate Road Warriors impersonators D.O.A). The WWF were clearly running out of ideas for the ageing tag legends…. Vince Russo provided the kiss of death with the ‘Hawk is an alcoholic’ storyline (teasing Hawks real life struggle to battle the booze). For the first time a new LOD member (Droz) was brought in, though this made Hawk feel even worse…. Culminating in a storyline where Droz supposedly pushed a ‘Suicidal’ Hawk off the Titantron tower. A Hawk vs Droz fued seemed imminent, yet Hawk (who hated the angle and Russo) refused to take it further…. Resulting in LOD being removed off WWE screens for several months. They were given their pink slips in April 1999 when the Federation had its annual spring cleaning.

Living off their past accomplishments, the Roadies worked the Indie circuit….. Animal soon resurfaced in WCW at Sin 2001, Hawk was rumoured to follow, but WCW soon folded and the reunion never happened. The duo returned to the Indies, appeared for TNA and even Ted Dibiase religious promotion…… though their performances had slipped alarmingly, not helped by Hawks deteoriating health (he suffered a minor heart attack in 2000 and was later diagnosed with Hepatitis C). But Hawk continued to wrestle…. He had to…. Having blown a lot of his money during the good times. On May 12th 2003 LOD were given a surprise tryout in a loss to Kane & RVD… management were not impressed with their performance, nor were they happy that Hawk no-sold RVDs 5star Frog splash (old habbits never die).

During his career, Hawk was a hard-living Wildman who overdosed several times. He made an attempt to get clean towards the end… but it was too late. Feeling unwell, Hawk had decided to take a nap after spending the day packing and shifting boxes for a move to his new house. When his wife Dale discovered him hours later, he was dead. He was only 46. Like many of his peers, Rick Rude, Davey Boy Smith, Brian Pillman, Terry Gordy, Curt Hening… Mike Hegstrands body finally succumbed to the excesses he indulged in for most of his adult life.

Its been 6 years now since Hawk passed away, though his, and the Road Warriors legend lives on, the most successful tag team in wrestling history and likely to remain so.

Mike Hegstrand 1957-2003

WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Wednesday October 14, 2009
 
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Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren – All the latest professional wrestling news, gossip and occasional opinion direct to your mailbox.
WGN is read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.

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CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO 1933 – 2009:
Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

The legendary Captain Lou Albano passed away at 3am this morning of natural causes. He was 76.

Born in Carmel, New York on July 29, 1933, Louis Vincent Albano will be remembered as one of the greatest managers of all time. He was the epitome of the antagonistic heel; with his trademark beard, rubber band facial piercings, and Hawaiian shirt, he incited the anger of wrestling fans in a career that spanned nearly fifty years.

The son of a Doctor, Albano was a promising athlete in his youth attending the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship, before dropping out for a stint in the United States Army.

His wrestling career began in Canada in the early 1950s where he rose to prominence as part of a tag team called The Sicilians with the late Tony Altimore. Together they drew a lot of heat.

“We caused a lot of controversy with our stereotypical Italian gangster gimmick,” Albano once said in an interview. “We were approached in Chicago by some legitimate wise guys and they told us to tone down our act, or else!”

On June 30, 1961, The Scicilians won the Midwest Tag Team title. This caught the attention of Vince McMahon Sr. who brought the team to New York to work for the WWWF. They went on to enjoy modest success capturing the United States Tag Team title from Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion in 1967. They dropped the belts back to Sammartino and Arion two week’s later and soon after the title was abandoned.

Albano broke out as a major star when he ended his partnership with Altimore and became a manager. He said he made the switch due to injuries suffered in the ring, which included breaking his back twice.
Managing though would become Albano’s true calling.

He went on to lead some of the biggest stars in the business; Pat Paterson, Greg Valentine, Don Muraco, Nikolai Volkoff, André the Giant, Hulk Hogan and Ivan Koloff — who ended Bruno Sammartino’s 7 year WWWF title reign in Madison Square Garden in 1971. Koloff would be the first and only World Champion Albano ever managed.

He also had a lot of success managing tag teams; The Wild Samoans, The British Bulldogs, The Moondogs and The Valiant Brothers just to name a few.

After 15 years of being the most hated manager in the country, Albano felt it was time to turn babyface, for the sake of his health.

He said: “People would throw rocks at me inside the arena, and then in winter people would be waiting outside for me with Snowballs. I told my wife, this has to stop. It was ridiculous. I thought [the fans] would end up killing me, so I became a good guy.”

In 1983, Albano collaborated with Cyndi Lauper in her music video Girls Just Want to Have Fun, which he claimed at the time was the catalyst for her success. Lauper would then go on MTV and WWE shows to defend Albano’s claims sparking an angle that would help wrestling crossover to a mainstream audience.

The angle created the Rock n Wrestling era which together with Hulkamania launched WWE to a whole new level in the mid-80s. Lauper and Abano eventually became friends following a lengthy rivalry which made him an instant babyface. This culminated during the MTV/WWE special The War to Settle the Score.

Albano had helped cement wrestling’s place within pop culture.

Capitalizing on his new found fame, Albano left WWE and took on various movie, television and music projects. He starred in the film Wiseguys with Danny DeVito and Body Slam with Roddy Piper as well as a recurring role in Miami Vice. He also managed and performed with rockers NRBQ, and was immortalized in their song Captain Lou.

His biggest mainstream success came in 1989 when he voiced the iconic video game character Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, a popular cartoon and live action show.

As the 1990s rolled in he occasionally went back to WWE for guest appearances and cameos.

In 1994 he returned for the last time as a manager together with Afa guiding Samu and Fatu, the Headshrinker to the WWE Tag Team title.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 by New York media personality Joe Franklin.

During recent years Albano has been semi-active with appearances at reunion events and fan conventions. He switched to vegetarianism which he believes extended his life and helped him drop 150 pounds.

He also kept up to date with wrestling but wasn’t a fan of today’s product.

He said: “I don’t think it’s like the old days. I thought it was more entertaining years ago, but they’re still making money, millions and all, and God bless them. In the ’80s it was less money. Today it’s millions. In our day we made 25, 30 thousand dollars a year. That was great money back then.”

In 2005 he suffered a massive heart attack and his health deteriorated.

Last November he released a book with Burt Sugar titled, Often Imitated, Never Duplicated: The Lou Albano Story.

For those who really knew Lou Albano he was the antithesis of his wrestling persona; a kind, caring husband, friend and brother to all.

He is survived by his wife Gerry.

The family has requested privacy at this time while they make the necessary funeral arrangements.

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On a personal note, myself Joe Panzarino, I can tell you what a thrill it was for me back in the mid 80’s when I was working my now retired Dapper Johnny Falco manager character, I got the chance to manage against Lou at an upstate New York Fairgrounds show, and if memory also serves me correct, the event also featured Greg The Hammer Valentine and Bam Bam Bigelow. It was a dream comes true as Albano was one of the TV legends that graced the WWWF rings and here I was working with him, albeit in an adversarial role…but yet a figure that I grew up watching on the old WOR-TV Channel 9 Broadcast. Over the years, Lou grew much closer to Gino Moore and the NWS promotion as Gino was the engine and I steered the good ship NWS, the countless halls, arenas, gyms and whatever venue could hold a wrestling ring and hold 200-2000 or better fans. And on many of these shows, the first guy we would book to open up a new territory was Louie.
 
We always knew at least over the early part of the decade that Lou had a tendency at least when he was still driving himself to the shows to get in town just a little early and find the local watering hole to extole the virtues of pro wrestling, the show he was on and the NWS to whomever would listen or was within earshot as he sipped some vino/red wine and then find his way to the event.
 
He was and will always be one of the most beloved characters ever to enter our business; and neither Gino nor I do not know anyone who has ever said a bad thing about him. Over the last few years when Lou started to slow down for health reasons (we need not go into here), Lou at first would have his wonderful wife Gerry drive him to the shows, but this task over the past four years or so became the passion of a totally devoted neice Kami Albano who always got Lou to whatever booking he was booked and always kept the NWS updated on Louie’s health.
 
We here at the NWS are proud to say it was at our show befittingly at an Italian American Club in Jackson New Jersey back on May 17, 2008, that was Lou’s official last live pro wrestling appearance and also announced that way. And for all the lucky ones who worked or attended the event, the Spike’s/Julio Dinero’s and the Equalizer for taking the last punch thrown by the Captain, always hold onto that memory. Keep it dear and near to your heart as they’ll never be another Captain Lou. It`s also funny how we also just ran into Lou`s costar in some of those memorable movies Joe Piscapo just the other week in Edison NJ as both the NWS and Joe where performing at the street fair as Joe asked me how the Captain was doing during a break in the green room area. 
 
As I spoke to a grieving Kami Albano earlier this morning, we both thought what better way to honor Lou’s memory than at the October 24th North Brunswick High School spectacular when so many of Lou’s piers and friends like Superstar Billy Graham, Terry Funk, Kevin Sullivan will be on hand along with Kami to acknowledge Lou’s life and without question the mandatory ten bell salute as no better heart in pro wrestling, at least from this perspective, there ever was.
 
We are so proud to be a part of Lou’s twilight years and even have Lou mention Gino and myself and the NWS in his book, is something that we will cherish for all time.
 
We end this by saying I’m Captain Lou and I’ll Be Watching Down On All Of You!

God Bless Up Above Louie…You Will Be Sorely Missed.

Speaking on behalf of the Albano family, Wrestler’s Rescue is sad to report that Captain Lou Albano  has died at the age of 76.

Lou Albano carved out his place in pro wrestling history for, as best put by Bruno Sammartino, his inimitable “gift of gab,” all complemented by his trademark rubber bands and Hawaiian shirts. Albano enjoyed a rich career as both a wrestler and manager, gaining worldwide fame as Cyndi Lauper’s father in the smash hit, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

The family is currently in the process of planning funeral services; please respect their privacy during this tough time. Wrestlers Rescue will keep you updated as the family makes it available.

For more information, go to www.WrestlersRescue.Org?or email questions to WrestlersRescue@aol.com

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

Many of you know you’ve done it…at least once.  You’re at a wrestling show. A wrestler blows a spot…a major league awkward moment. No way to really hide it or cover it up.  All of a sudden coming out of your mouth is “you f$#ked up”. The crowd joins in.

Or on the same show…two wrestlers do some mat work, or go to a rest hold to get their breath. All of a sudden, that same mouth starts yelling “borrrrrrrrrring”.

Well, for those of you who didn’t read the story this past week; think about what happened to a 21 year old wrestler this past week who was simply trying to get back into the game. He’d suffered the loss of his mother within the last year, and now after dealing with that tragedy…he wanted to get back to something he loved and came to the East Coast to see if he could restart his career.

Matt Lowry, who wrestled as “Matt Riot”, was from Ohio, and worked for several Midwest independent promotions including Absolute Intense Wrestling, the World Wrestling Coalition, American Luchacore, the Heartland Wrestling Association, and IWA Mid-South. He and CZW’s Sami Callihan teamed on Midwest shows and the two were close friends.

Matt Lowry came to the ECW Arena on the evening of September 15 where he was working out, and was involved in workout sessions, some of which were in the ring in a circle. After this, the wrestlers were hanging out, when Lowry said he felt dizzy, and collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital. CZW Owner David Markland and other wrestlers followed the ambulance to the hospital, and contacted Lowry’s father in Ohio.

Lowry died at Philadelphia’s Hahnemann University Hospital some 14 hours later.

Lowry was said by doctors at the hospital to have suffered a brain hemorrhage. Despite initial news reports, and at least one message board post by one of the Midwest promotions he worked for that suggested otherwise, according to these doctors there was no trauma to the skull, no bruises, and no swelling.

As would be expected, Philadelphia Police are continuing to investigate, with an autopsy and toxicology results still weeks away from completion.

I mention this tragedy as an example of what happens with independent wrestlers, training in an arena, in a high school gym, or a hundred other places. These men and women go through normal personal lives, the vast majority of times work a weekday job, workout in gyms, arenas, and the like, then travel in some cases hundreds of miles to shows on a weekend for a small payoff (if they don’t get stiffed by a promoter).

They have to keep in shape to maintain ring appearance….and in some cases do what we know they have to do to keep it.

They deal with the physical pain of taking the most routine bumps… and do what we all know some of them do to deal with it.

Think about Matt Lowry. Think about the hundreds of Matt Lowrys all across North America and elsewhere.

Next time you’re tempted to let out with one of those comments I spoke about at the beginning of this column…think again.

Am I suggesting fans sit on their hands during a wrestling show? Hell, no. it just means that some people need to take the smarkiness down a notch or two when things happen in a match.

Consider what price one young man paid to return to his dream, in a moment just preparing to do what he loved doing…not even in a match, just doing cardio exercises. Consider the fact that David Markland, Sami Calihan and anyone who was present that night will carry that night around for the rest of their lives…even if they had nothing to do with Lowry’s death. Consider what Matt Lowry’s family is feeling right now.

Keep all concerned, especially the Lowry family, in your thoughts and prayers.

Until next time….

If you have comments or questions, or if you’d like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, or if you’d like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), e-mail me at the address above.

Big Joe aka ANNIHILATION
1967-2009

Viewing:
Gandemi’s Funeral Home
Broad and Wolf Sts.
South Philadelphia
7pm-9pm Thursday

Funeral:
Epiphany Church
11th @ Jackson Sts.
South Philadelphia
9:30am

Reception:
J.P. Caterers
2810 S. 9th St.

Immediately following funeral services

We have made some changes to our event in honor of Big Joe:

The event is now titled “UNSCRIPTED ANNIHILATION” in honor of Joe. Also the following matches have been added:

The Annihilation 7 Staple Deathmatch…..
“Unbreakable” JOHNNY KASHMERE vs “Indestructible” JOE ETTELL The first man to use the staple gun to put 7 staples into their opponent will be the winner. Already JUSTICE PAIN has signed on as special guest enforcer referee for this match. In honor of Big Joe, The PitBull GARY WOLF has agreed to be the 2nd guest enforcer for this match.

AND…..

ANNIHILATION’s GIANTS-ONLY BATTLE ROYAL: This over-the-top-rope Battle Royal is a PWU signature match pitting the largest competitors from the region against each other where only one man will stand victorious in the ring. That man will become the first ever “ANNIHILATION SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION”!

Plus all this…..
The innovating group that brings you “Wrestle-Reality”, featuring a more realistic, non-intelligence-insulting form of pro wrestling, mixed with a reality TV show, has added even more celebrities to their huge cancer charity event in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Philly/Delco area native Thomas Walton III, debuts in PWU to manage fellow actors CKNY (Corey Kastle and Niles Young). Walton is best known for his leading role on TV’s “Psychic Detectives” as well as a lawyer on “Identity Theft” and star of the movie “The Gift”. Walton’s latest movie project is due in theaters at the end of this year and stars Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson. Check him out on IMDB.com! Walton will be available to meet and greet fans on the 26th.

Scott Cummings, the author and former bodyguard to Donald Trump and Michael Jackson, will be debuting on September 26th as a bodyguard to a wrestler to be named later. Cummings’ new book is titled “An Inside Look at the Rich and Famous”. He will have copies of his book available as well as being there to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.

Believe it or not, Scott has informed PWU that he will be bringing along his friend, “The World’s Greatest Michael Jackson Impersonator” with him! We at PWU are speechless! Find out more about Scott and his book at his website, http://www.bodyguard2thestars.com

The new GM has managed to pull off another great feat. Former WWF star Tatanka, AKA Chris Chavez, will wrestle on September 26th against recent WWE developmental star Matt Walsh. This will be the first time these two world-class athletes compete against each other ever…anywhere! Both stars will be available for photos and autographs.

ALSO JUST ADDED
AMERICAN TITLE MATCH: “LUCKY” Kevin Papics vs “CRAZII” Erik Shea

All of this and more is coming to the charity event on September 26th that benefits the Relay for Life Charity based out of Bensalem, PA. All ticket profits will be benefiting this great organization! At least 8 huge matches guaranteed at this event at Boyle’s World Gym in Northeast Philly.

-Danny Bonaduce (tentatively scheduled for this date)

-Former ECW Champion “The Hardcore Icon” The Sandman vs his very own son TYLER!

-Former WWF star Chris “TATANKA” Chavez vs WWE developmental release MATT WALSH (this will be Matt’s first post-WWE match)

-Former WWE Diva SUNNY

-Former ECW Champion RAVEN

Philly’s own DJ Trizzy will be spinnin’ like only he can. Hear his live radio show weekly at http://www.thabiggshow.com

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

It will be ten years on Tuesday.

It’s the tenth anniversary of Brian Hildebrand’s passing after fighting a two year battle against cancer.

There are few people within wrestling who were held in such universally high regard at the time of their passing. When people eulogized Brian, the words they used weren’t the kind that social obligation or courtesy often require. Lots of people become posthumous heroes. Brian was one for the two years of his fight, and was an inspiration to many within wrestling for all the years her worked within the business long before that.

The words used by all who knew him, worked with him, and were fans of him, were deep and heartfelt, epitomized by Mick Foley, when he said about Brian in his best-selling book Mankind: Have A Nice Day: “Brian brought out all the better angels of our nature”.

Back at the time of his death, it was said that there were only two people in the entire wrestling business without enemies: Brian Hildebrand and Owen Hart. Neither are with us today.

He was such a special person that he inspired everyone who knew him…whether friends, family, fans, or co-workers… to frequently share our feelings on such a funny, dedicated, committed individual who was and always will be an inspiration to live each day of our lives to their fullest… and to follow our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

The events since then involving Chris Benoit have given several of the memories I’m about to share more than a little added poignancy. As I said in the 1999 column right after Brian’s death…it was almost eerie, yet at the same time totally expected, when I got the news while in a funeral home at a wake for the uncle of a friend, after being called by a family member via cell phone.

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I’ll always remember Brian Hildebrand as a man who lived for and loved the wrestling business more than anything else on this earth, except for his beloved wife Pamela. He got to live his dream of making a living in wrestling as referee “Mark Curtis” for Smoky Mountain Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. Brian Hildebrand was a man who lived to the last day of his life with more courage than anyone I’ve ever had the privilege to know.

As most longtime readers know, Brian fought stomach cancer for nearly two years, after being initially diagnosed in October 1997. But he refused to allow cancer to stop his incredible spirit and his wonderful sense of humor. He seemed amazed and somewhat embarrassed at all the attention his battle with cancer received.
I saw Brian for the first time in 1990 during a combined Dennis Coraluzzo-Joel Goodhart benefit show for Philadelphia area wrestling fan Tom Robinson, with Brian doing his manager’s gimmick of “Dr. Mark Curtis”.
Years later, I got the privilege of finally getting to know him, meeting him just before Smoky Mountain Wrestling’s Fanweek 1993. Brian became responsible for two of the most special experiences of my life, Fanweek 1993 and 1994.

For those who aren’t familiar with them, SMW Fanweeks were held for three years: 1993 through 1995. Fanweeks were a combination traveling road show, along with barbecues, shoot Q&As, and marathon videotape parties… a chance to experience Southern wrestling and mark out with other wrestling fans.

Brian was the reason these yearly Fanweek celebrations were possible, because of his non-stop organizational work during the weeks leading up to them; and during the moment to moment problems that occur (as just one example, I’ll someday tell the story of the infamous tour bus to Johnson City that was outraced by the Mongolian Stomper), when one is trying to please 55 human beings, please Jim Cornette and Sandy Scott, AND work as referee “Mark Curtis” all at the same time. He always did this with such unfailing patience, good humor, never forgetting to still be a fan of the very business he worked in. That’s the reason why he always used the word “Mark” in his ring name.

My frequently-told and favorite Fanweek story involves the time in August 1994 at Fanweek that I had to go with Brian to Knoxville’s West Town Mall to get Jim Cornette a new tennis racquet (a local fan had taken it upon himself to steal Jim’s racquet at a SMW house show the night before). Brian and I went to a sporting goods store and got the racquet. The clerk fell all over himself meeting “Mark Curtis”.

I stood and watched. As the clerk rang up the purchase, he asked me “Can I help you, sir?”. I replied, in full kayfabe mode, “I’m just here with Mr. Curtis”. We walked away into the Mall to grab lunch, and Brian asked me, “How in hell did you just do that?” My reply was “Because you and Jimmy taught us to remember that your folks down here ’still believe’.” It can safely be said that Brian Hildebrand did that very thing for his entire career in the wrestling industry.

It’s the reason that he was honored at the Eddie Gilbert Memorial Weekend in Philadelphia in February 1998. He was the surprise honoree at the Gilbert Memorial Banquet on February 27, 1998. Brian had called me days before the Banquet, wondering why Jim Cornette and then NWA-New Jersey promoter Dennis Coraluzzo were calling him numerous times to make sure he was coming.

Brian said “Bob, what in hell is up here?” I replied, not wanting to ruin the surprise, but knowing he’d smell me fudging a mile away… “Well, if you actually got Dennis to return a phone call…if you got Corny calling that many times in a week…I’d bring a suit… and be prepared to say something”.

The tribute that Jim Cornette did for him at that Gilbert Banquet was pure Cornette, totally irreverent as usual, but also done with a great deal of feeling.

Who Brian was is also the reason that WCW honored him with a night dedicated to him later that year on Sunday, November 29, 1998 at WCW’s show in Knoxville, Tennessee; with a still-classic match of Chris Jericho/Eddie Guerrero against Dean Malenko/Chris Benoit… and with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen presenting Brian with a championship belt, then getting Brian involved in the finish to count the pin. That Knoxville show was an event reported all over the wrestling world, and not just for the quality of the matches.

Then on July 30, 1999, there was the “Curtis Comes Home” benefit show in Rostraver, PA. Jim Cornette, Shane Douglas, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Tracy Smothers, Chris Candido, Tammy Sytch, Public Enemy, Dominic DeNucci, Al Snow, D-Lo Brown, Terry Taylor, Les Thatcher, and Sandy Scott took part in this tribute in Brian’s hometown.

Brian kept himself going through such sheer will and determination despite a physically devastating form of cancer that he actually refereed a match for Southern States Wrestling only days before his death. He had the often-expressed hope of returning to work fulltime for WCW, and never gave up that dream.
Even after his death, Brian kept inspiring people. At the 2001 Brian Pillman Memorial Weekend, the “Mark Curtis” Memorial Pro Wrestling Fantasy Camp was held. Featured trainers were were Ricky Steamboat, Terry Taylor, Bill Alfonzo, Bill “Hugh Morris” DeMott, Les Thatcher and the stars of the Heartland Wrestling Association; along with Les Thatcher.

2 years ago, I spoke about Liz Malone, one of those attending the Camp. I imagine that as he watched from a better place, Brian was getting a kick out of Liz Malone (bottom row right with a blue shirt in the picture), the only woman among a group of guys, smaller than all the rest…not giving up on her dreams. No doubt, she reminded Brian very much of himself.

While a small man in stature, Brian showed us all a giant heart that is an example for us all. There’s no doubt in my mind whatever that he would have admired it in someone like Liz Malone. But there is little question who the person most deserving of admiration really was. During the 2001 Curtis Fantasy Camp, Brian would have especially appreciated another moment; what friend Jeanette Gogan-Olivier described as: “…an unforgettable, heart felt speech by Ricky Steamboat which spoke about the heart of true wrestling. Pam Hildebrand said that Ricky’s words were moving, and that Brian would have approved because this was what the whole day was about, and what Brian Hildebrand was about. None of us in attendance will ever see the business the same…”

Brian could appreciate most any style of match, but he appreciated most an old-school attitude toward wrestling which showed respect for the business and those who make the sacrifices to succeed in it. There’s no doubt that he’d have been honored to have Ricky Steamboat participate in anything he was associated with…and amazed at the same time to be honored by Steamboat in an event bearing his name.

It can be said that at the time Brian Hildebrand left this world, he knew he was loved and respected by all within the business he himself loved so much.

Two days after Brian died, I took a trip down with friends to the Baltimore Arena to a WCW house show.

The show began with WCW announcer David Pinzer announcing the news to those who hadn’t read the news online or seen the mention on Thunder. Pinzer then signaled for the traditional 10 bell salute. It was a special moment for the group of us that knew Brian well in attendance. Many of those working the show wore black armbands in tribute to him.

Charles Robinson, who was with Brian and the family when he passed away; as well as Scott Dickenson, were given special greeting by those of us who knew their relationship with Brian. The group of us made sure that we gave Dickenson his traditional rib about donuts (one that Brian gave us to get Scott with at the first Philly Monday Nitro). Our seats were close enough that he clearly saw and heard it.
Then late in the show, after a Chris Benoit-Bam Bam Bigelow US Title match; Shane Douglas, Chris Benoit, and Dean Malenko came out in an out-of-character moment, and dedicated the evening’s show to Brian with heartfelt words for their friend.

It may have only been a WCW house show for most of the relatively small Baltimore Arena crowd that night. But it was a way for those of us who were there together to say goodbye to Brian in the most appropriate atmosphere possible…a wrestling show.

Rest in peace, dear friend. You are still, ten years later, missed more than you can ever know.

Until next time….

If you have comments or questions, or if you’d like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, or if you’d like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), e-mail me at the address above.
Advertising consists of banner ads, available for $400 for one year. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are also available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

He was the consummate Naughty Nazi, from his World War II German helmet to his jackboots to the ubiquitous riding crop he carried, which could be brought into use if the situation warranted. And unlike his many of his “countrymen,” he never changed, unrepentant to the end.

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Next to Karl von Hess, Waldo Von Erich was my favorite German heel. Unfortunately I never got to know Waldo as I did Karl. The closest I ever came was the numerous times at ringside when I witnessed his nefarious antics against a plethora of babyfaces. The more the crowd booed, the harder he sneered back. He loved it, and they certainly loved him right back.

As a heel, Waldo was the complete package. His publicity photos showed him in a Nazi officer’s uniform, looking like he came right from a Waffen-SS meeting. His finishing hold was known as the Blitzkrieg, a knee drop off the top turnbuckle; in tag matches he would aim it into his opponent’s back when the ref wasn’t looking. His interview style was bombastic, speaking with a German accent and never once failing to denigrate his opponent. In fact, his demeanor suggested that of someone who was annoyed that he had to destroy his opponent in front of the hoi polloi. He may have been annoyed, but we loved him for it.

Like many other noted wrestlers of his era, Waldo was Canadian. He was born Walter Paul Sieber in Toronto on October 2, 1933. Like most young boys of his era, he found solace at the local YMCA where he excelled in swimming and weight training, with a view to bodybuilding. It was only natural given his athletic interests that he should drift towards wrestling. Finding that he had an aptitude for the sport, he signed on to train for the pro ring under promoter Red Garner, who used the local Y as his training gym. Walter was a fast learner; that and the fact that Garner needed bodies for his promotion led the young Sieber to make his wrestling debut at the tender age of 17. We don’t have documented records for those early years; this, after all is pro wrestling history, an oxymoron if there ever was one. Our first result, which comes courtesy of Greg Oliver’s tremendous Slam! Wrestling website, has Waldo losing to Larry Kasaboski in Renfrew, Ontario, on August 7, 1954. He was billed as Kurt Von Sieber, so obviously Garner decided to put Waldo’s strong Germanic looks together with a name. Nazis were just coming into vogue as sinister heels about then, as the memory of the war was still fresh.

We don’t hear from Waldo again until 1957, when he was working the Buffalo area, presumably for Pedro Martinez. By this time his moniker was changed to Waldo Von Sieber, but the results were the same, doing jobs in the prelims. Of the documented matches during this tour, the highlights were two draws, one with Tarzan Zorra (Hans Mortier, a.k.a., Jacob Grobbe), Frank Hurley and Manuel Cortez. Like Huck Finn, Waldo then decided to light out for the West, and in 1958 he landed in Minnesota, where success would bloom. Promoters Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo noticed Waldo’s chiseled Germanic features and decided to team him with their resident German heel, Fritz Von Erich. To get the pair over, they changed Waldo’s last name to Von Erich and announced that Fritz had brought his brother over from Germany to help him take over the wrestling world. In an interview with Greg Oliver, Waldo claimed the teaming was his idea, but the facts point to Gagne and Karbo making the change. Waldo was still a prelim guy; he had never met Fritz before, and thus wouldn’t have had the juice to do this on his own. At any rate, the Von Erich’s made a formidable tag team, but for some reason, Gagne and Karbo never exploited their advantage. The pair wrestled separately more often than as a team, and Waldo was often partnered with other German heels such as Kurt Von Brauner and Hans Hermann.

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It wasn’t until they went to the Mid-Atlantic territory later that year that they were put over as a top team, winning the Mid-Atlantic promotion’s Southern Tag Team titles from George Becker and Mike Clancy. After they dropped the titles back to Becker and Clancy a few weeks later, Waldo played out his contract and then went to Toronto, Canada, but this time working for the Tunneys. His build and natural athleticism were noticed, and as the promotion was looking for a successor to Whipper Watson, they decided to drop the German heel gimmick and simply bill him as Wally Sieber. The plan was perfect and the buildup was perfect with Waldo debuting as a babyface. Unfortunately the best laid plans of mice and men usually go awry and Waldo flopped with the fans. His biggest step on the ladder of fame was a semifinal match at Maple Leaf Gardens, losing to Gorgeous George. End of the babyface push.

Next stop was Al Haft’s AWA promotion in Ohio and it was back to Waldo Von Erich, rotten German heel. The promotion had its perks, as Waldo was reunited with Fritz and the two received the big push. The Von Erichs entered into hot feuds with the teams of Billy “Red” Lyons and Chief Don Eagle and the team of Ilio DiPaulo and Lord Layton. In singles, Waldo continued the fun in grudge matches with both Lyons and DiPaulo. He also found time that year (1960) to make a stop or two for Vince McMahon, where he met Bruno Sammartino for the first time. They wrestled several times, but always in tag matches. Although Bruno has somewhat scant memories of that time, he told me the thing that first impressed him about Waldo was his “tremendous conditioning.” That conditioning was the key both to Waldo’s success and his longevity in the ring. (The amazing thing to me was that Waldo seemed virtually unchanged even in his later years, when the human body naturally slows down.)

Next stop was Texas, and Waldo began adding to his resume, winning the NWA Texas Heavyweight belt from Pepper Gomez. (He would drop it roughly a month later to Dory Dixon.) He also held the Brass Knuckles Title. He honed his skills wrestling against such names as Bull Curry, Duke Keomuka and Nick Bockwinkel. His stay in Texas lasted until mid 1962, when he went to Indianapolis and worked under the hood as Mr. M for a few dates (he would be unmasked by Bill Melby) before finishing the year on the West coast.

If the year 1962 was good to Waldo, 1963 was even better. It would be the leap from supporting player to main event status. He returned to the AWA, working the Omaha area. The highlight of his stay was a victory over Verne Gagne in a Texas Death Cage Match. Again he and Fritz once again joined forces and dominated the tag scene. From the AWA he went to the Vancouver area as the masked Great Zim. One of his early victims was Dick Garza, who later reemerged in the AWA as The Mighty Igor. His run under the hood lasted until he was unmasked by Gene Kiniski. Vancouver wasn’t working out so Waldo headed a little to the east, landing in Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling, where he had a great run, working main events almost exclusively. When his tenure in Stampede ran out, he traveled to the WWWF (it was said that Killer Kowalski recommended him) as Bruno’s new challenger and managed by Wild Red Berry. Their first meeting at MSG went to an incredible 82-minute draw. He and Bruno would battle throughout the Northeast. When it came to tag teaming, he first joined forces with Smasher Sloane, and later with Gene Kiniski, with whom he captured the WWWF Tag titles from Gerry and Luke Graham. They would hold those belts for a little over two months before dropping them to Gorilla Monsoon and Bill Watts. He and Bruno even brought their feud to Stampede for a two match set. All in all, the pay and status in the WWWF was so good that he stayed until August of 1966 before moving on to his friend Fritz Von Erich’s Dallas promotion. Before he left the WWWF he worked a rather bizarre angle as the masked Green Hornet. This lasted until his unmasking by Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) and Bruno. (Although the whereabouts are unknown, I believe it was in Pittsburgh.)

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Fritz’s World Class Championship Wrestling would be Waldo’s base for the next couple of years (he and Fritz captured the Americas Tag titles while there, and Waldo once again won the Brass Knucks title) save for sojourns to Japan for the IWE, Stampede, where he won the Canadian Heavyweight Championship from Ox Baker, and a stay in Australia for Jim Barnett, where he would win the IWA Tag titles with Mario Milano. He then returned to the WWWF for a few months in 1969-70 before traveling to Leroy McGuirk’s Mid-South promotion for a stay that lasted almost a year. After he and Karl Von Brauner lost their Mid-South U. S. Tag Titles to Luke Brown and Grizzly Smith in April, 1971, Waldo left the area and relocated to the NWF out of Buffalo and Cleveland, closer to his Toronto home. This would be a very prosperous time for Waldo. He would hold the NWF version of the world’s title two times and engage in heated feuds with Johnny Powers, Dominic DeNucci, Ernie Ladd, and his old nemesis, Bruno Sammartino. There were two brief and profitable tours of Australia during this period. He would hold the IWA Austra-Asian Tag titles with Hiro Tojo and would later be awarded the Austra-Asian singles title. After his tour of Australia finished in August, 1973, Von Erich decided to retire. But it turned into a short vacation as the lure of money in the WWWF proved too strong. This time he would work until finally easing up in 1979 and retiring for good from the ring. His last recorded match was on March 4, 1979, in Toronto, defeating John Yachetti. Post-retirement found him as the president of a local promotion where he trained young wrestlers. The most successful of his pupils is TNA star Eric Young.

Financially, Waldo was no easy mark. He parlayed the money he made in the ring into the purchase of a lake in Ontario and also built a castle in Belize, though he never furnished or moved into it. Waldo also patented a device he later sold to several sports teams that provided therapy for those with back injuries. Married for 29 years before divorcing, he had three daughters.

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His death on July 5 came as something of a surprise. He had fallen earlier in the day and was taken to the hospital. It looked as if he would just spend the night, but to everyone’s surprise he suddenly took a turn for the worse and passed away later that day.

His daughter, Mary Jane, looking back at his legacy, was quoted as saying that “even though he was mean in the ring, he was a gentleman outside it, and anyone who knew him knows that.”

We all knew that. That’s why we loved him so much.

– The Phantom of the Ring

Courtesy of ProWrestlingDigest.com

You can write to the Phantom care of Karen Belcher

kabelchr@verizon.net

WRESTLING LEGEND MISAWA DIES IN THE RING

by Mike Aldren (Wrestling Globe Newsletter)

Mitsuharu Misawa died on Saturday night in Hiroshima, Japan after being dropped on his head during a GHC tag team title match (Misawa & Go Shiozaki vs. Bison Smith & Akitoshi Saito) at Green Arena. He took a high-angled back suplex at around 8:45pm. The ref asked Misawa whether he could move, and he responded by saying no, then a few seconds later he lost consciousness.

The match was stopped at 27:03 and all the NOAH wrestlers and officials came into the ring. A doctor was brought in from the crowd who tried heart massage as by then Misawa has stopped breathing. The heart massage brought back his pulse, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was officially pronounced dead at 10:10pm.

Misawa, 45, was widely regarded as one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time. He was a successful amateur wrestler, placing fifth as a junior at the 1980 freestyle World Championships. He was trained professionally by Dick “The Destroyer” Beyer, Shohei Baba, and Dory Funk, Jr. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling. From 1984 until 1990, Misawa performed as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling.

On May 14, 1990, during a tag match against Yoshiaki Yatsu and Hiromichi Fuyuki, he told his partner (and future rival) Toshiaki Kawada to unmask him, thus abandoning the Tiger Mask gimmick. A few weeks later, Misawa defeated Jumbo Tsuruta in his first main event at Nippon Budokan. The match at the time was seen as a turning point in the history of All Japan, with Misawa being established as a major star. For the rest of the decade he was one of the biggest draws in Japanese wrestling.

Following the death of All Japan booker Giant Baba, Misawa inherited the position of president. After disagreements with widow Motoko Baba and being removed by a board of executives in 2000, Misawa left All Japan Pro Wrestling; followed by natives Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi, and and two non-natives Stan Hansen and Maunakea Mossman to form Pro Wrestling Noah. Noah debuted on August 5, 2000, with shows that featured over 20 wrestlers that had resigned from All Japan.

On July 18, 2004, Misawa returned to All Japan to defeat Satoshi Kojima; he would also return once more on October 31, 2004 for the Keiji Mutoh 20th Anniversary: Love and Bump PPV, where he, along with Keiji Mutoh, defeated Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki in what billed as a special dream match.

Up until his death, Misawa continued to wrestle a full-time schedule, competing mostly in tag matches. At the Nippon Budokan on December 10, 2006, he defeated Naomichi Marufuji to win his 3rd GHC Heavyweight Championship. On August 25, 2007 it was announced that Misawa would be on the November Ring of Honor Glory by Honor cards in Philadelphia and New York City. The first night, he teamed with KENTA to face Takeshi Morishima and Naomichi Marufuji, wrestling to a thirty minute time-limit draw. The following night, he successfully defended the GHC Championship against KENTA.

On March 2, 2008 Misawa was defeated by Takeshi Morishima for the GHC Heavyweight Championship, ending his 16-month championship reign.

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Media outlets in Japan are reporting Mitsuharu Misawa’s death on Saturday night as a heart attack after being given a back suplex. The truth is nobody will ever know for sure as laws are different in Japan and his family has requested confidentiality on his cause of death.

A national Japanese TV show covered the tragedy in real-time. The footage is online at http://tinyurl.com/nvhpf3 (Please do not watch if you think you will be offended). In what can only be described as eerie, Misawa’s death came on the same night as The Wrestler opened in Japanese theaters, so the media over there are drawing the obvious comparisons to the suggestive ending of that movie.

WWE and TNA have led the tributes to Misawa.

“On behalf of WWE, we were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of Mitsuharu Misawa. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. Misawa will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in Japan,” said John Laurinaitis, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations.

TNA released the following statement on its website: “TNA Wrestling is saddened to hear of the sudden and tragic loss of Misawa.  He was respected around the world and he will be missed.  We pass on our sincere condolences to his family and those who worked with him in Japan.”

Indy wrestler Chris Hero, who is on tour with NOAH in Japan wrote in his
blog: “Words cannot express how deeply shocked I am. We’re all just in utter disbelief. Stunned sadness. The moments at ringside felt an eternity.  Never, in my life, have I wanted the fighting spirit to jump into someone’s being more than I wanted tonight. The fans chanted Misawa, Misawa, Misawa. They wanted their Hero to get up so f**king bad.
Just get up. Come on! You’re too tough for this. Too strong. I grabbed his boots and held onto them until they took him away. My heart goes out to his family. His students. His peers. His friends. His fans. His opponents tonight and his partner. It was a freak accident. No one is at fault.”

Zach Arnold of PuroresuPower.com wrote: “I started this site on June 20, 2000, right around the time that All Japan split up into two factions.
Misawa took the majority of the roster to form NOAH and would have a two-show event at Differ Ariake in Tokyo. At that time, it was unknown what would happen to the business. Historically in retrospect, the split didn’t really end the decline of the business. NOAH’s business declined over the last couple of years and that was solidified when Nippon TV cut ties earlier this year with Misawa. Once All Japan lost their Nippon TV deal, they were never the same. The same thing happened to NOAH. Where will the business go? I don’t know. Without TV support, it’s doomed.
Misawa was the 3rd generation ace in the industry (Rikidozan -> Baba ->
Misawa) and his death means not just the likely death of NOAH, but also a major collapse on employment in the industry. A part of every Japanese wrestling’s soul died today.”

“Misawa was a true warrior and one of my all time favorite performers.
His fighting spirit and superb psychology will be remembered as long as I will live.” — Chris Jericho

“Just read that Mitsuharu Misawa passed away while performing in Japan on Saturday night. A very sad thing to hear.” — Matt Hardy

“Shocked to hear of the passing of Mitsuharu Misawa. Was lucky enough to meet him at last year’s Tokyo Dome show. What a sad tragedy.” — Jeremy Borash

“Just heard Japanese legendary wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa passed away.
Misawa was always a class act towards me.” — Matt Morgan

“Had some great matches with Misawa, so sad what a lost to our sport.”
– Gangrel

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Jim Ross probably said it best in his blog today: “It’s a damn shame that the vast majority of American wrestling fans won’t give a second thought about the untimely death of ‘a Japanese wrestler.’ I encourage all fans to find DVD’s of Misawa and watch him in his prime, in the 90’s especially. If one is really serious about being a highly skilled, pro wrestler, then study the late Mitsuharu Misawa.”

For anyone looking for Misawa matches the following come highly
recommended:

August 26, 1984 vs. La Fiera – Misawa’s debut as Tiger Mask II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNtn7zTpxw8

March 8, 1989 vs. Ricky Steamboat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bq8oat-IVY

June 3, 1994 vs. Kawada:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnIS83oIyQ&feature=related

May 14, 1990 with Kawada vs. Yatsu & Fuyuki – Misawa removes his mask:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Z-QiV6Gr8

June 8, 1990 vs. Tsuruta – Misawa becomes the new star of Japanese
wrestling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMpHibYk4f8

September 1, 1990 vs. Tsuruta – The rematch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmDRogY9018&feature=related

April 20, 1991 with Kawada & Kobashi vs. Tsuruta, Taue, & Fuchi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJxPL4vG0Y

July 2, 1993 with Kobashi & Akiyama vs. Kawada, Taue, & Ogawa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbTU-PH03D8

June 3, 1994 vs. Kawada:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnIS83oIyQ&feature=related

June 9, 1995 with Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue – Kawada pins Misawa for the first time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoWnvDSXM7A

October 31, 1998 vs. Kobashi – Misawa ends Kobashi’s reign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKCXYJyGDuw&feature=channel_page

January 22, 1999 vs. Kawada – The last match Giant Baba ever watched:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifUBuBeZsxo

March 2, 2001 with Akiyama vs. Hashimoto & Nagata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97MIbYaSg9o

March 1, 2003 vs. Kobashi – Kobashi pins Misawa for the GHC title:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ANvKlcT6F4

October 31, 2004 with Mutoh vs. Hase & Sasaki:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdR2M7J2Mps