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Red Berry


Last updated by Chris George on September 22, 2015


Wrestlers who Red Berry Managed:
Gorilla Monsoon Hans Mortier Toru Tanaka Bull Ramos Fabulous Kangaroos
Al Costello
Roy Heffernan

Title History

  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Hugh Nichols (May 31, 1937);
  • (Los Angeles) World Light Heavyweight title defeating Karl Gray (July ??, 1939);
  • (Los Angeles) World Light Heavyweight title defeating Karl Gray (August 28, 1939);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Jesse James (September 2, 1940);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Danny McShain (September 1, 1941);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Billy Varga (December 22, 1941);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Gorilla Ramos (October 11, 1943);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Gray Mask (April 24, 1944);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Danny McShain (September 10, 1945);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Danny McShain (????, 1947);
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight title defeating Danny McShain (September 2, 1947);
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Dizzy Davis (January 28, 1949);
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating ???????? (November ??, 1949);
  • NWA Heart of America (Central States) Heavyweight title defeating Sonny Myers (September ??, 1952);
  • NWA Arkansas Junior Heavyweight title defeating ??????? (????, 1954);
  • NWA Central States Heavyweight title defeating Richard Brown (September 15, 1957);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) World Tag Team titles w/Tosh Togo defeating ???????? (????, 1958);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/Tosh Togo defeating ?????? (September ??, 1958);
  • Wrestling Hall of Fame in Tulsa (1972);

Career Highlights

  • During World War II, Red Berry toured the Army camps giving Judo and hand-to-hand combat exhibitions..
  • Winter 1945: Wild Red Berry filled the Phoenix Madison Square Garden in Arizona for several weeks straight..
  • ~~~Red Berry was in the climax of his feud with regional star Gorilla Ramos, who challenged for Red’s Junior title..
  • ~~~Red Berry was the ultimate heel in these matches and provoked the people to a riot pitch..
  • Early 1960s: “Wild” Red Berry was the top heel manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation..
  • ~~~His gimmick was a sawed-off cane which he often used as a weapon to interfere for his men..
  • ~~~He got the name “Wild” Red Berry after climbing a tree in front of Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas..
  • ~~~~Wild Red Berry managed The Fabolous Kangaroos, Gorilla Monsoon, Hans Mortier, Toru Tanaka & Bull Ramos in the WWWF..
  • Wild Red Berry is said to be one of the first wrestlers to wear a vest into the ring rather than a robe..
  • July 28, 1973: Wild Red Berry passed away at the age of 66 as a result of a Heart Attack..
  • Red Berry was a nondrinker and died after having a glass of milk on his front porch following a game of golf..

    Cory Olson asked: I was just wondering what the “Gilligan Twist” is exactly?

 

ANSWER: I asked an old-school friend of mine and here is what he said “As I recall, the Gilligan Twist was a combination of a leg scissors applied from behind, while sitting down, with the arms working on the opponent’s upper torso in much the manner of an abdominal stretch, or at least to that effect. The “twisting” motion prompted the opponent to surrender.”