New Website Up and Running!

I know it's been a long time since I've posted an entry here on the blog. The reason is that I have started up a website so that I can share more clippings, photos and other memorabilia on a site than I can here.

Check out the site at http://matmemories.weebly.com/ for a ton of stuff.

I will still be updating the blog here from time to time also, maybe using it more for current news on some of the older stars that we all love so much.

Thanks for all your support!

R.I.P. KIller Karl Kox

I just read that Killer Karl Kox passed away this morning. Karl, born Herb Gerwig, suffered a heart attack on October 22 and a stroke a few days later. He had been in failing health for some time.

A former Marine, Karl served in the Korean War before becoming a professional wrestler. He headlined all over the U.S. and also in Japan and Australia. One of the toughest ever, he was a hated heel for most of his career, but my fondest memories are of his last run in Mid-South and his feud with the Grappler.

My condolences and my prayers go out to Herb's family and friends. R.I.P., Killer Karl Kox. Thanks for all the memories. You will be greatly missed.

Prayers Needed For Killer Karl Kox

I learned yesterday that Karl Kox has suffered a heart attack and is not in good health. This great star was a mainstay in Tri-State and early Mid-South rings, holding the North American title, the Brass Knucks championship, and the U.S. Tag title. My last memories of him in the area are of his feud with the Grappler. KTBS Channel 3, the flagship station for Mid-South, even featured Karl in a news story once.

Enjoy a few pictures of this unforgettable star, and please remember Karl and his family in your prayers. Get well soon, Killer!

The Greatest Tag Team in Tri-States/Mid-South/UWF History Was...

This area was always known for its great tag teams. Some names that come to mind are the Kentuckians, the Hollywood Blondes, JYD and whoever, Ted DiBiase and Steve Williams, and the Freebirds. My pick for the greatest all time would have to be DiBiase and Doc.

I am wondering everyone else's opinion on this. How about voting for your favorite by commenting on this post.

R.I.P. Little Tokyo

I just read that one of the greatest midget wrestlers of all time, Little Tokyo passed away as the result of a heart attack on September 6. Tokyo, whose real name was Shigeri Akabane, was 71 years old. Tokyo toured the world and was the Midget World Champion. He even worked a mixed match at Wrestlemania III, teaming with Lord Littlebrook and King Kong Bundy against the Haiti Kid, Little Beaver, and Hillbilly Jim.

While most people saw midget wrestlers as an oddity and an attraction for kids, the simple truth is that many of them were just as much respected athletes in the locker room as their larger-sized peers. Leroy McGuirk often gave midget matches high billing on cards, sometimes in the semi-main event. Tokyo and the others mentioned above, along with Farmer Pete, Sky Low Low, and Little Bruiser to name a few, provided solid wrestling and great entertainment during a simpler era. Enjoy these clippings of Little Tokyo. R.I.P. Shigeri Akabane.

Remembering the General...

In the last few years, I've had the pleasure to meet several of the men who made professional wrestling one of my passions - Ted DiBiase, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Mick Foley, and several others come to mind. The one who stands out, though, is the legendary Scandor Akbar. Tomorrow, August 19, marks the one year anniversary of his passing. I had the privilege to sit and talk with the General at an independent show that I helped to promote in May of 2010, just a few short months before his death. I will never forget the time that we spent talking wrestling. He was one of the most sincere, humble people I have ever met, and a true gentleman. Enjoy a few pictures of this great wrestling personality. Rest in peace, Jim, and thanks for all the great memories.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Before he became the lovable buffoon in McMahonland, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan was one of the toughest competitors ever in Mid-South rings. As a heel, he was a member of the Rat Pack with Ted DiBiase and Matt Borne. Duggan was involved with one of the biggest angles in Mid-South history when dressed in a gorilla suit for a tv taping during the Louisiana State Fair, he helped DiBiase defeat Junkyard Dog in a Loser Leaves Town match, which led to the famous Stagger Lee angle. Duggan would soon become a fan favorite, however, and his long-running feud with Skandor Akbar and Devastation, Inc. would make him an All-American hero. Many may not remember, however, that Duggan came into the area as a bounty hunter for Akbar. Enjoy these photos and clippings of "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, "a man's man" as Bill Watts would so often say.