ESPN Classic Golden Age of Wrestling Report 3-23-02
Submitted by Calvin Martin on Monday, March 25, 2002 at 12:45 PM EST



ESPN Classic Golden Age of Wrestling for 3/23/02
Report by David Taub

Today, it is "Wrestling Champions" out of Chicago. It is a special episode, as there will be two matches from Comiskey Park from June 30, 1961.

A post-production video introduces the hour's matches (with an obnoxious voiceover guy from the 1990s).

Ring announcer Leonard Sterling informs us that these matches are presented by the NWA and sanctioned by the Illinois State Athletic Commission. The physician is Dr. John Belutsi. The timekeeper is Bob Klauss. Our referee is Stan Sarvanec.

1. Buddy Rogers (seconded by Bobby Davis) defeats Pat O'Connor two falls to one to win the NWA World title.
-Rogers is billed as the U.S. champ. O'Connor's name is spelled "O'Conner" on all the ESPN graphics. Rogers has light color trunks and his golden hair. O'Connor has the traditional black trunks and boots. Both are in shape, and not overly muscular.

-Fall one: The announcer claims throughout the night that 50,000 are in attendance. Rogers is the obvious heel (O'Connor is billed as originally from New Zealand now in suburban Chicago), and delivers cheap shots, slaps, won't break on the ropes, etc. After a few lockup sand feeling each other out, O'Connor takes control, working on Rogers arm. He executes this nasty looking spinning armbar move that looks extremely painful. Rogers battles back but only to fall back into the armbar again. Rogers is whipped into the corner with O'Connor charging in, but Rogers gets his knee up, hits O'Connor in the head, knocking him down. Buddy gets the pin to win the first fall in 8:30.

-Fall two: The announcers says many top luminaries are in attendance: Vince McMahon, Toots Mond, Jules Strongbow and Stan Muchnick. I guess I never heard is name pronounced because he was called Ma-KOOS-nick. Is this how is name is pronounced? I thought it was phonetic. ANyway, Rogers starts out the second fall with a hammerlock. O'Connor breaks out of it, and works on Rogers' legs. He continually pummels the challenger all over the ring with fists, ramming his head into the turnbuckle and the second fall is one sided. O'Connor finishes the fall with a rollup at 6:00.

-Fall three: Rogers begins strutting around, inciting the crowd. But, once again, O'Connor is in control, delivering body slams and picking up near falls. Rogers escapes by getting in the ropes. O'Connor then misses a dropkick and gets his midsection caught in the top ropes. Buddy then sneaks in and gets the pin to win the title at 7:00.

-The fans are stunned. Although this was a record setting crowd, it was hard to gauge by the video. No long range shots or any other way to tell this was at a baseball stadium. Chicago promoter Fred Koehler presents Rogers with the title and Buddy gets on the mic and says "To a nicer guy, it couldn't happen."

2. Argentina Tony Rocca d. Karl Von Hess by submission in 13:00.
-Fred Liedelberg is the referee. Typical Rocca match if you ever saw one. He is barefoot and executes lots of dropkick type moves. Tons of ankle/arm scissors. Some comedy as Rocca could have Von Hess' arms barred up, Rocca would stand on his head and do the "bicycle" with his free legs. Rocca had control most of the match and finished it off with the "Argentinean Backbreaker."

That is all for this week. Next week 3/30/02 at 7 a.m. ET it is: VERNE GAGNE VS. HANS SCHMIDT plus Fritz Von Erich.

Golden Age of Wrestling airs most Saturday mornings on ESPN Classic (not regular ESPN). For feedback, please send me e-mail at taubda@udmercy.edu.

--
David Taub
http://www.DetroitTitans.com








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