amateur wrestling Archives

Jim McMillen found success in many fields

Posted by Richard Vicek | Aug 1, 2024 | Classics, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

In the professional wrestling world of the 1930s, one of the biggest box office draws was the...

Gable Steveson dropped by WWE

Posted by John Powell | May 4, 2024 | News, The Sporting Connection

F4WOnline is reporting that the WWE has cut ties with Gable Steveson. Steveson, an Olympic gold...

Dan McDonald: The forgotten Canadian medalist

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 1, 2023 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Classics, The Sporting Connection

Competing in two Olympic Games is a special feat, and Toronto’s Dan McDonald did just that,...

New documentary ‘For the Love of Catch’ should catch all combat sport fans’ interest

Posted by Nathan Hatton | Nov 28, 2022 | Hollywood Headlock, Movie Reviews, The Sporting Connection

Over the last few decades, fans of professional wrestling have heard Jim Ross occasionally...

Catching a ride with Sylvester Terkay

Posted by Trapper Tom Leturgey | Aug 17, 2022 | Interviews, The Sporting Connection

His face appeared on social media one Saturday morning as a Pittsburgh-area autograph promoter...

It’s true! Kurt Angle perfect Biography subject

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 1, 2022 | Documentary Reviews, Hollywood Headlock, The Sporting Connection

There are some people whose lives are perfectly suited for the A&E Biography treatment. Kurt...

Strangler Lewis’ Headlock Machine goes home

Posted by Mike Chapman | Apr 12, 2022 | Interviews, News

One of the most intriguing pieces of memorabilia in the history of wrestling is back home! Called...

Terry Justice, briefly, king of newsletters

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 2, 2022 | Gary Howard Memorial Library, Interviews

Before the wrestling universe went digital, before it was truly a national entity, there was one...

How Danny Hodge became Danny Hodge

Posted by Steven Johnson | Dec 26, 2020 | News, Obituaries

In the many times that I interviewed Danny Hodge over the years, I was always curious about how...

Behind the Gimmick Table: Let’s Wrestle Apparel was Faruqui’s destiny

Posted by Rasslin Merch Machine | Aug 3, 2020 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Not Another Collectible!, The Sporting Connection

Today Farhan Faruqui is the merchandise mogul behind Let’s Wrestle Apparel. He is an entrepreneur...

Jeff Cobb aims to ground Ospreay at G1 Supercard

Posted by Alex Podgorski | Apr 2, 2019 | Interviews

There’s a lot of wrestling around New York City and New Jersey this weekend, but Jeff Cobb,...

Kiniski’s aid helped Molle grapple to ’84 Olympic medal

Posted by Steven Verrier | Jan 21, 2019 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

Gene Kiniski had a long association with amateur wrestling dating back to his teenage years in...

Gene Kiniski’s deep ties to amateur wrestling

Posted by Steven Verrier | Aug 26, 2018 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Gene Kiniski, known throughout Canada and elsewhere as Canada’s Greatest Athlete, held the...

NXT experience paid off for Dak Draper

Posted by BRIAN HOOPS | Nov 12, 2017 | Interviews

A career-defining moment came for Sam Udell on July 31, 2014. That was the day he lost his WWE...

Jeff Cobb a star on the rise

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 9, 2017 | Interviews

Jeff Cobb may not yet be a name you are familiar with, but chances are it won’t be long...

Vern Warner: A truly positive wrestling story

Posted by Raja Shergill | Apr 15, 2017 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

BIRTHPLACE: Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada HEIGHT: 6′ 0″ (183 cm) WEIGHT: 233 lbs (106...

Journeyman Dennis Stamp dead at 68

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 14, 2017 | Interviews, Obituaries

Dennis Stamp, who died today, March 14, 2017, at age 68 after battling cancer, was the epitome and...

Amateur side of Iron Sheik shines in Waterloo

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 30, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – While the rantings of the Iron Sheik can often be hard to decipher, there...

Backlund & Iron Sheik headline Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 23, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – Two former WWF World champions headlined the George Tragos/Lou Thesz...

Chief Lone Eagle: Newfoundland’s contribution to midget wrestling

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 16, 2016 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

While there were thousands of matches in the wrestling career of Jimmy Buckle — mostly as...

Jack Gacek: Wrestling’s first World War II fatality

Posted by Steven Johnson | Nov 11, 2015 | Interviews

John Gacek and his fellow soldiers didn’t have time to observe Armistice Day. They were too...

Azeem The Dream good at pissing people off — including his wife

Posted by Matthew Byer | Aug 30, 2015 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

For over a decade, “All American” Azeem The Dream has been angering crowds throughout...

Steve Rickard, key figure in New Zealand’s wrestling history, dead at 85

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 6, 2015 | Interviews, Obituaries

There were two distinct sides to the wrestling life of Steve Rickard. He was a globetrotting...

Amateur days at Michigan helped shape Scott Steiner

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Jul 16, 2014 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Scott Steiner received an education like no other at the University of Michigan. He started...

Mad Dog Vachon dead at 84

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 21, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon, one of the greatest heels of all-time and a former Canadian...

Olympic wrestling’s lifeline is good for the pros too

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Sep 12, 2013 | Interviews

On Sunday, the world of amateur wrestling breathed a sigh of relief as the International Olympic...

Brisco sets the standard for excellence at the Hall of Fame

Posted by BRIAN HOOPS | Jul 8, 2013 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — Half of one of the greatest brother tag teams in professional wrestling...

Lights, camera, CLAW! Baron Von Raschke documentary coming soon!

Posted by Bill Fernow | Mar 24, 2013 | Hollywood Headlock Interviews

Growing up as the son of professional wrestler Baron von Raschke, Karl Raschke laughingly recalls...

Olympics plan to drop amateur wrestling

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 12, 2013 | News

What do Mad Dog Vachon, Riki Choshu, Danny Hodge, Hiro Hase, Kurt Angle, and Jumbo Tsuruta all...

Marie Laverne shares her memories of Gordon Nelson

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jan 7, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

When Gordon Nelson spotted a young Marie Laverne at a Charlotte swimming pool, he didn’t...

Dory Funk Sr.’s last day

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jan 2, 2013 | Interviews

After the matches on June 3, 1973, Dory Funk Sr. had a bunch of his wrestlers over at his Flying...

‘Mr. Wrestling’ Gordon Nelson dead at 82

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 19, 2012 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Legendary Winnipeg grappler Gordon Nelson died Monday morning from heart failure and pneumonia. He...

MMA fighter and life-long wrestling fan ‘King Mo’ to begin TNA career

Posted by Matt Bishop | May 11, 2012 | Interviews, The Sporting Connection

As a seven-year old, Muhammed Lawal got down on his knees and prayed for Sting to beat Ric Flair...

Joe Blanchard passes

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 22, 2012 | Interviews, Obituaries

There is no Wikipedia entry on Joe Blanchard, who died March 22, 2012, at the age of 84. Perhaps...

Recalling Monsoon before he was top Gorilla

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jul 21, 2011 | Interviews

When Jack Stanbro thinks of Bob Marella, he remembers the elbow. Not the big elbow drop, which...

Rookie Farhan Faruqui already in WWE’s sights

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 2, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

It’s pretty remarkable to be writing about a 31-year-old professional wrestler who has had...

Gerry Brisco out scouting for new talent

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 14, 2011 | Interviews

Gerry Brisco doesn’t miss the day to day stress of being a WWE road agent. But he...

B.C.’s Mike Roselli a wrestler, an X-Man and more

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Apr 28, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Hollywood Headlock Interviews, Interviews

When SLAM! Wrestling first got in touch with wrestler, stuntman and actor Mike Roselli about...

Trigg: ‘Wrestling tougher than it looks’

Posted by Kenai Andrews | Jun 11, 2009 | Interviews, The Sporting Connection

One has to wake up pretty early in the morning to get the best of mixed martial artist/analyst...

A visit with ‘Handsome’ Johnny Barend

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 21, 2008 | Interviews

Usually stories end with a coffin, but this one begins with one. There is no telling the tale of...

Overcoming the odds: Pete Mehringer’s 1932 gold medal

Posted by Chris Schramm | Aug 12, 2008 | Hollywood Headlock, Interviews

When Kurt Angle made his WWE debut in 1999, he was pushed as the first pro wrestler with an...

Pat Meehan: Cop turned wrestler

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 11, 2008 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

There have been numerous professional wrestlers who have turned to the police work after their...

How Ray Gunkel’s death changed wrestling

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jun 27, 2008 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Rows of wrestling photographs encircle heavy-duty gym equipment wedged into the first floor of...

A lifetime of rewards for Bob Geigel

Posted by Ryan Nation | Apr 19, 2007 | CAC, Interviews

Bob Geigel has seen and done a lot in wrestling in his 82 years, and it’s payback time. He...

Remembering the forgotten Jim LaRock

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 1, 2007 | Interviews, Obituaries

Sometimes a death flies under the radar, and no one takes note. It just shouldn’t happen to...

Mild to mean: Baron Von Raschke’s tale

Posted by Bill Fernow | Oct 13, 2006 | Interviews

“Jimmy Raschke, from Nebrasky” is how he introduces himself at the beginning of his...

Pendleton’s unparalleled route: Olympics, pros, Hollywood

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 25, 2006 | Hollywood Headlock, Interviews

When Olympians turned actors are discussed, names like Johnny Weissmuller and Glenn Morris are...

The modest career of Jerry Brisco

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 11, 2005 | Interviews

Jerry Brisco is not one to brag about his career. And he’s a little mystified about his...

The Olympian life of Dale Lewis

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 17, 2004 | Interviews

To make an Olympic team in any sport is a great accomplishment; to make an Olympic team within six...

Gord Nelson: The toughest of the tough

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 21, 2003 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

BORN: March 27, 1930, Winnipeg, Manitoba HT/WT: 5’11”, 220 pounds AKA: The Outlaw...

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