WWE Purchases More Classic Wrestling Footage

WWE recently purchased a library of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling footage shot in Virginia at ringside next to the ring announcer, from Jim Crockett Promotions events. The footage was filmed by George Pantas, as he revealed in the Norfolk Navy Flagship. The footage includes what may be the only complete match on tape featuring Ric Flair vs. Buddy Rogers.

This Day In Wrestling History - Bobo Brazil Passes Away

Houston Harris was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bobo Brazil. Harris was credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling. Harris is considered one of the first successful African-American professional wrestlers, and is often referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling." Originally, Houston was to be known as "Boo-Boo Brazil", but a promoter misprinted his first name as "Bobo" in a print advertisement and it stuck.

Early in his career, some wrestling promoters would match Brazil against fellow African-American wrestlers. Fans clamored to see Brazil face opponents of any type and Brazil would have many matches with competitors such as Killer Kowalski, Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, and The Sheik, who feuded with Bobo over the course of several decades. These and other rivals would all fall victim to Brazil's finishing maneuver, the Coco Butt (which was a headbutt). Brazil also once wrestled André the Giant to a draw, and challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Championship in a battle of two top babyface competitors. On October 18th, 1962 Bobo Brazil made history by becoming the first Black American to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title by defeating "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. (This distinction is often mistakenly given to Ron Simmons, the first recognized African-American world champion after winning the WCW Title). Although Bobo Brazil initially refused the title (because of an "injury" that Rogers had claimed to have), Brazil was awarded the title the next day after doctors had found nothing wrong with Rogers. However, this title change is not recognized by the NWA. Brazil served as a mentor to wrestler "Soulman Rocky Johnson".

Brazil's manager was James Dudley, the first African-American to be in charge of a major arena in the United States. Dudley would run to the ring waving a towel, as Brazil followed behind. Brazil was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994.

source: wikipedia.org

Bobo Brazil vs Buddy Rogers

Houston "Bobo Brazil" Harris July 10, 1924 — January 20, 1998

WWE Working On Celebration

WWE will be facing a major project in 2013 as they prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary. It would really be the anniversary of the WWE Title, which took the name in early 1963 when it was announced on TV that Buddy Rogers had won a tournament in Brazil to become the new Worldwide Wrestling Federation world champion. This came when Vince McMahon Sr. and those who worked with him in the Northeast withdrew from the NWA over their decision to take the title off Rogers and put it on Lou Thesz. Rogers was first billed as WWWF Champion around May 1963 on TV but most remembrances of the title date back to May 17th, 1963 when Bruno Sammartino beat Rogers in 48 seconds at Madison Square Garden to begin an almost eight-year reign.

For the celebration in 2013, WWE already had a DVD planned and other ideas are being discussed to go along with it.

source: wrestling observer newsletter

This Day in Wrestling History

Ric Flair defeats Buddy Rogers in a battle of the "Nature Boy's." Flair uses the figure four leg lock to win the match.
July 8, 1979

This Day in Wrestling History

"The Original Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers dies of a stroke at age 71.
June 26, 1992

Mick Foley is named the new WWF(E) Commissioner by Linda McMahon.
June 26, 2000

This Day in Wrestling History

Buddy Rogers is officially presented the WWWF(WWE) World Heavyweight Title belt in Washington, D.C., after his having won a fictitious tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rogers had been billed as "World Champion" since the Northeast office of the NWA, headed by Vince McMahon, Sr. and Joseph "Toots" Mondt, left the NWA and became the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
April 11, 1963

While the WWF(E) was in Kuwait, Vader attacked Bassam Al Otham, the host of "Good Morning Kuwait" after being asked if wrestling was fake. Vader was detained in Kuwait for a week. He ended up paying a $200 fine.
April 11, 1997

This Day in Wrestling History - Bobo Brazil Passes Away

Houston Harris was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bobo Brazil. Harris was credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling. Harris is considered one of the first successful African-American professional wrestlers, and is often referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling." Originally, Houston was to be known as "Boo-Boo Brazil", but a promoter misprinted his first name as "Bobo" in a print advertisement and it stuck.

Early in his career, some wrestling promoters would match Brazil against fellow African-American wrestlers. Fans clamored to see Brazil face opponents of any type and Brazil would have many matches with competitors such as Killer Kowalski, Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, and The Sheik, who feuded with Bobo over the course of several decades. These and other rivals would all fall victim to Brazil's finishing maneuver, the Coco Butt (which was a headbutt). Brazil also once wrestled André the Giant to a draw, and challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Championship in a battle of two top babyface competitors. On October 18th, 1962 Bobo Brazil made history by becoming the first Black American to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title by defeating "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. (This distinction is often mistakenly given to Ron Simmons, the first recognized African-American world champion after winning the WCW Title). Although Bobo Brazil initially refused the title (because of an "injury" that Rogers had claimed to have), Brazil was awarded the title the next day after doctors had found nothing wrong with Rogers. However, this title change is not recognized by the NWA. Brazil served as a mentor to wrestler "Soulman Rocky Johnson".

Brazil's manager was James Dudley, the first African-American to be in charge of a major arena in the United States. Dudley would run to the ring waving a towel, as Brazil followed behind. Brazil was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994.

source: wikipedia.org

Bobo Brazil vs Buddy Rogers

Houston "Bobo Brazil" Harris July 10, 1924 — January 20, 1998

This Day in Wrestling History

Ric Flair defeats Buddy Rogers in a battle of the "Nature Boy's." Flair uses the figure four leg lock to win the match.
July 8, 1979

This Day in Wrestling History

"The Original Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers dies of a stroke at age 71.
June 26, 1992

Mick Foley is named the new WWF(E) Commissioner by Linda McMahon.
June 26, 2000

This Day in Wrestling History

Buddy Rogers is officially presented the WWWF(WWE) World Heavyweight Title belt in Washington, D.C., after his having won a fictitious tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rogers had been billed as "World Champion" since the Northeast office of the NWA, headed by Vince McMahon, Sr. and Joseph "Toots" Mondt, left the NWA and became the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
April 11, 1963

While the WWF(E) was in Kuwait, Vader attacked Bassam Al Otham, the host of "Good Morning Kuwait" after being asked if wrestling was fake. Vader was detained in Kuwait for a week. He ended up paying a $200 fine.
April 11, 1997

This Day in Wrestling History

Ric Flair defeats Buddy Rogers in a battle of the "Nature Boy's." Flair uses the figure four leg lock to win the match.
July 8, 1979

This Day in Wrestling History

"The Original Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers dies of a stroke at age 71.
June 26, 1992

Mick Foley is named the new WWF(E) Commissioner by Linda McMahon.
June 26, 2000

This Day in Wrestling History

"The Original Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers dies of a stroke at age 71.
June 26, 1992

Mick Foley is named the new WWF(E) Commissioner by Linda McMahon.
June 26, 2000

Triple H - 5th Top Draw in WWE History

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has listed the most successful and durable main event draws in the history of the McMahon promotions, dating back to 1955. They used a ranking system based on numbers of main events and how successful they did as a big show main event draw. Here are the top 20:

1. BRUNO SAMMARTINO
2. HULK HOGAN
3. BOB BACKLUND
4. ARGENTINA ROCCA
5. TRIPLE H
6. UNDERTAKER
7. STEVE AUSTIN
8. THE ROCK
9. PEDRO MORALES
10. SHAWN MICHAELS
11. SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM
12. MIGUEL PEREZ
13. BRET HART
14. BUDDY ROGERS
15. RANDY SAVAGE
16. JOHN CENA
17. KURT ANGLE
18. MICK FOLEY
19. ANDRE THE GIANT
20. DR. JERRY GRAHAM

I'm sure Metzler almost had a seizure when he typed Triple H in the number 5 spot.

Vintage Killer Kowalski

Bruno Sammartino vs Killer Kowalski



Killer Kowalski vs Chief Jay Strongbow



Nature Boy Buddy Rogers vs Killer Kowalski