AWA Archives - Slam Wrestling

SuperClash 3: Madusa & Wendi recall their battle

Posted by Caleb Smith | Dec 13, 2023 | Interviews

The WWF’s growth from Northeastern US territory to a national touring show in the 1980s disrupted...

Russ Francis dies in plane crash

Posted by Greg Oliver | Oct 2, 2023 | Obituaries, The Sporting Connection

Russ Francis, who was both a Super Bowl-winning football player and a pro wrestler, has died in a...

‘Sodbuster’ Kenny Jay dead at 85

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 2, 2023 | Interviews, News, Obituaries

“Sodbuster” Kenny Jay, who has died at the age of 85, is proof that you don’t...

‘Tales from the Territories’ tells of guns, gangs, and garbage bags in the AWA

Posted by Dave Hillhouse | Oct 18, 2022 | Hollywood Headlock, Other Reviews

Although three episodes is a small sample size, the pattern for Tales from the Territories is...

Card Exam: Misspellings abound as AWA arrives in North Bay

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 27, 2022 | Classics, Event Reports, Events, Photo Galleries

I’m a spelling nerd. You can’t really help but be if you are a writer. When I pick up...

First six PowerTown figures revealed

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 25, 2022 | Not Another Collectible!

Following the SlamWrestling.net exclusive from Wednesday — Exclusive: New retro figure line...

Exclusive: New retro figure line has Remco ties to Gagne, Rosenthal

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 23, 2022 | Interviews, Not Another Collectible!

The first major line of professional wrestling action figures were the Remco Toys of the American...

Card exam: That time Jericho reported on a Winnipeg AWA show

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 26, 2021 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Results

Many probably don’t know, given how long Chris Jericho has been on top in professional...

Joyce Paustian’s AWA photos, 1978-1987

Posted by Joyce Paustian | Nov 16, 2020 | Photo Galleries

Joyce Paustian became a devoted fan of the American Wrestling Association (AWA) wrestling,...

Bobby Heenan photo gallery & story archive

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Sep 17, 2020 | Photo Galleries, Story Archives

The great Bobby “The Brain” Heenan died on September 17, 2017. Here is a collection of...

Behind the Gimmick Table: AEW and rival toyline history

Posted by Rasslin Merch Machine | Aug 9, 2020 | Not Another Collectible!

In professional wrestling, promotional rivalries have always been around. The legendary cable TV...

‘Dark Side of the Ring’ goes for boring biography in The Last Ride of the Road Warriors

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 12, 2020 | Hollywood Headlock, TV Reports

The sudden passing of “Road Warrior Hawk” Michael Hegstrand in October 2003 brought a...

Legendary Harley Race dies

Posted by Steven Johnson | Aug 1, 2019 | Interviews, Obituaries

By STEVE JOHNSON and GREG OLIVER – SlamWrestling.net He was the Greatest Wrestler on...

The Destroyer Dick Beyer dies

Posted by Steven Johnson | Mar 7, 2019 | Interviews, Obituaries

Dick Beyer, who left an incredible legacy as The Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer, as former AWA...

Women’s wrestling comes ‘full circle’ for WOW’s Selina Majors

Posted by Kari Williams | Jan 18, 2019 | Interviews

The first women’s match Selina Majors ever saw was between Joyce Grable and Judy Martin....

Celebrating Gene Okerlund’s Winnipeg days

Posted by Marty Goldstein | Jan 3, 2019 | Interviews

Long before achieving worldwide fame as the key interviewer and event pitchman for the World...

‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund passes away

Posted by John Powell | Jan 2, 2019 | Interviews, Obituaries

“Mean” Gene Okerlund, the voice of the WWE and one of their biggest wrestling...

Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig dead at 82

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 6, 2018 | Interviews, Obituaries

Larry Hennig, father to “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig and grandfather to current WWE star...

Five questions with WWE producer Adam Pearce

Posted by Guest Column | Jul 21, 2018 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Adam Pearce will be the Master of Ceremonies for the 20th annual George Tragos/Lou Thesz...

How Mean Gene Okerlund helped shape Hulkamania

Posted by Caleb Smith | Feb 3, 2018 | Interviews

The role of the interviewer in wrestling has changed over the years. In this day and age, the...

Mat Matters: Fond memories of an AWA ballpark show in 1988

Posted by Caleb Smith | Sep 23, 2017 | Opinion

For those of you who have read my Mat Matters columns you know I often use it as a source of...

Mat Matters: When Bob met Bobby The Brain

Posted by Bob Kapur | Sep 19, 2017 | Opinion

A few years ago, I told Bobby “The Brain” Heenan that he was my hero growing up. He...

Mat Matters: Heenan wasn’t just The Brain, he was a genius

Posted by John Powell | Sep 17, 2017 | Obituaries, Opinion

Put down your burritos and your beers and listen up, humanoids. I may be a print, digital...

Wrestling legend Bobby Heenan passes away

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Sep 17, 2017 | Interviews, Obituaries

A dark cloud hovers over the professional wrestling world today, as one of the most beloved...

Former AWA World champion Otto Wanz dies

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

Former AWA World champion Otto Wanz, a legend as a wrestler and promoter in Germany and Austria,...

‘Athleticism and toughness’ defined Stan Hansen

Posted by Alex Podgorski | Jul 17, 2017 | Classics, Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Almost two decades after he retired, Stan Hansen continues to be a true legend in the wrestling...

Buddy Wolff dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 13, 2017 | Interviews, Obituaries

One of the proudest moments in the ring for Les “Buddy” Wolff, who died on July 11,...

‘Pretty Boy’ Doug Somers dead at 65

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 16, 2017 | Interviews, Obituaries

“Pretty Boy” Doug Somers, who died today at age 65, took the really long road to the...

Baron von Raschke claws his way into Legends of Wrestling event

Posted by Kari Williams | Feb 15, 2017 | Interviews

Despite the accolades Baron Von Raschke has earned throughout his amateur and professional...

CAC Baloney Blowout soars with High Flyers

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 13, 2016 | CAC, Interviews

LAS VEGAS — Tag team wrestling was in the spotlight on Tuesday night at the Cauliflower...

Class personified: Nick Bockwinkel dies

Posted by Steven Johnson | Nov 15, 2015 | Interviews, Obituaries

During his heyday as one of the most articulate heels of all time, Nick Bockwinkel, who died...

A final goodbye to Verne Gagne, a true legend

Posted by Mike Chapman | May 11, 2015 | Interviews, Obituaries

The world of wrestling said its final goodbye to a true legend on Tuesday, May 5, in Minneapolis....

Verne Gagne dead at 89

Posted by Steven Johnson | Apr 28, 2015 | Interviews, Obituaries

Verne Gagne, one of the biggest stars ever in professional wrestling, and later a promoter for...

CAC to honour DDP for humanitarian work

Posted by Caleb Smith | Apr 10, 2015 | CAC, Interviews

Diamond Dallas Page has been a lot of things in the wrestling business and traveled to a lot of...

Ken Resnick celebrated for broadcasting career

Posted by Bill Fernow | Mar 20, 2015 | Interviews

When he answers his phone, there’s no mistaking the fact that he was a broadcast journalist;...

Rick Martel proud of his PWHF induction

Posted by Bertrand Hébert | Nov 27, 2014 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, PWHF

Former AWA World heavyweight champion Rick Martel was touched to receive news of his induction...

Don Muraco surfs a wave into Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame

Posted by Marshall Ward | May 15, 2014 | Interviews, PWHF

In an intense promo from 1982, “Magnificent” Muraco told the fans: “When they...

Lee Marshall was a g-r-r-e-e-a-a-t-t announcer

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 1, 2014 | Interviews, Obituaries

It would be wrong to remember Lee Marshall, who died earlier this week, just from his time in WCW,...

Billy Robinson dead at 74

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 3, 2014 | Interviews, Obituaries

Billy Robinson, one of the toughest men to ever lace up wrestling boots, has died. He was 74. His...

Buck Zumhofe arrested for molesting his daughter

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 28, 2013 | News

Buck Zumhofe, an AWA star from the 1980s, and a promoter in the U.S. Midwest for years was...

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...

Black Jack Daniels, 83, was an AWA mainstay

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 29, 2012 | Interviews, Obituaries

Black Jack Daniels, who died Thursday of dementia at 83, was one of the quintessential...

Austin, Steamboat delight at Cauliflower Alley Club reunion

Posted by Steven Johnson | Apr 18, 2012 | CAC, Interviews

LAS VEGAS – The sound of glass shattering in Sin City? No, it wasn’t a lost plateful of drinks or...

Guest column: My mentor, Joe Blanchard, was the real thing

Posted by Guest Column | Mar 25, 2012 | Obituaries, Opinion

By MARK NULTY – For SLAM! Wrestling Joe Blanchard broke me into the wrestling business as a...

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...

Steve O. fondly remembers his former life as a wrestler

Posted by Mike Andrews | Jul 20, 2011 | Interviews

Decades before young people associated the name Steve O. with the reckless antics of MTV’s...

‘The Big K’ Stan Kowalski gives and gives

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 23, 2011 | Classics, Interviews

In a 1970 magazine, “The Big K” Stan Kowalski is described as someone who “can...

Sir Oliver Humperdink dead at 62

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 20, 2011 | Interviews, Obituaries

At the induction ceremony for the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2010, Sir Oliver Humperdink...

The interesting road of George ‘Scrap Iron’ Gadaski

Posted by DEREK KOSTI - For SLAM! Wrestling | Jun 9, 2010 | CAC, Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

George Kosti travelled an interesting road to the professional wrestling world. Born in the small...

A trip down AWA memory lane with Mick Karch

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Apr 1, 2010 | Interviews

More favourably fortuitous timing, a bit of luck, and Mick Karch might have become a household...

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