ESPN Classics Results 4-27-02
Submitted by Calvin Martin on Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 12:10 PM EST



ESPN Classic Golden Age of Wrestling for 4/27/02
Report by David Taub

This week, its "Wrestling Champions" circa 1963 from the
Chicago Coliseum. Ted Travers is our TV announcer this week.

Int. w/Travers: Johnny Valentine.
-Valentine is humble, as he is the babyface. He challenges
Buddy Rogers.

Ring announcer Len Sterling lets us know that these matches
are sanctioned by the NWA under the supervision of the State
Athletic Commission. Dr. Dominguez is the ringside
physician, Mike Murphy is the timekeeper and the referee in
the opening bout is Bill Fenford.

1. Miguel Perez pins Hans Hermann in 9:43.
-A Puerto Rican vs. a German. Hermann has the size and
weight advantage, but to no avail. Most of his offense is
headlocks and punches. Perez (with his first name pronounced
"Migwel") hits and runs and finds success. Promoter Fred
Kohler grabs the TV mic and tells us that South American and
Latin wrestlers are more adapt to the high flying style.
Also, Perez is referred to as "boy" many times during the
match. Perez wins with a sunet flip. (PS: his son is much
hairier).

Int. w/Travers: Johnny Gilbert and Billy Goelz
-both are wearing matching sweaters. A babyface interview,
as both go over their training regimend and ways to prevent
the dreaded claw hold.

2. Johnny Valentine d. Crusher Lisowski by DQ
--before the bell rings, Crusher attacks Valentine and the
ref (James Palance) calls for the bell, DQing Da Crusher. He
is escorted away from ringside for an apparent non-match. A
quick replacement is found in the name of Bad Boy Joe, whom
Valentine disposes with in 22 seconds for the pin. Crusher
comes back for a confrontation in the midst of an
incoherrent interview with Travers.

-Comments from Nikolai Volkoff and Johnny Kace

3. Gilbert & Goelz d. Strangler O'Dell and Jack Owens in two
straight falls.
-Only the second fall is shwon. Not much action as gilbert
forces O'Dell to submit via the abdominal stretch at 4:10
(alternately known as the cobra twist)

Int. w/Travers: John Paul Henning.
-another babyface interview. Henning claims he has won
matches for two straight years. He also claims to have went
to a 90 minute draw with Lou Thesz in Honolulu, Hawaii.

4. Luis Martinez d. Nikolai Volkoff by DQ in 2:58
-Martinez' last name is pronounced "Martin-ez." I don't
think this Volkoff is the same as the wrestler of the same
name int he 1970s and 80s. There is a size difference, body
type difference and this Volkoff has a receding hairline
(looks like Buzz Sawyer). Also, he speaks perfect English
during the interview. As for this match, Nik is DQ'd when
Johnny Kace nails Martinez with a case of oxygen in the
head.

-closing interview with Volkoff & Kace: the heels are trying
to be smug and condensending, but interviewer Ted Travers
keeps on playing it straight, blowing the effect.

That's all for this week. Tune in next week on ESPN Classic
(6 a.m. ET) for SWEET DADDY SIKI, LOU ALBANO, GORGEOUS
GEORGE.

I appreciate your feedback. E-mail at taubda@udmercy.edu.

------
David Taub
taubda@udmercy.edu








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