From Ernie Roberson: Somewhere in the foggy mist of my old memories about rasslin I remember that Danny Hodge was wrestling in Japan (just like Lou Thesz, the world heavyweight champion had done) and Hodge became quite popular over there. My memory is this was the early part of the 1960s. At any rate, Hodge wrestled Hiro Matsuda, who became the arch enemy of Hodge to fans in this territory. Matsuda had a ferocious karate chop which felled Hodge and the title belt for the junior heavyweight championship translated to the Japanese Matsuda. Quite literally, the fate of the free world was soon to be in the hands of the WW2 enemy nation of Japan because Danny Hodge had been chopped and defeated by the sneaky "Great Matsuda" who had been given the storied belt. Now, the twist is that I had been told by a wrestler that Hodge had Matsuda under contract and had brought him to the Land of the Free in the USA so he could have him as a worthy opponent. This schtick or angle/feud in wrestling parlance packed out wrestling shows for quite some time is my memory. Later, Matsuda would become one of the best trainers for pro wrestlers.
From Ike Futch: We have a son that's been a wrestling fan all his life. He recorded them and watched them over and over. I'm going to forward this to him.
From Tim Looney: Memories! I used to watch these guys. Even went to the Municipal Auditorium on several Monday nights to watch them in person. I knew it was staged, but enjoyed the shows. The rabid fans -- many of them ladies -- who sat near ringside were just as entertaining. And we actually talked to some of the wrestlers in the hallway after the shows a couple of times. Most were good guys. I haven't thought about those days in quite a while. Thanks for reminding me.
From Jimmy Russell: This stirs up a lot of memories for me as a kid in the 6th grade. I started watching wrestling on TV and a guy whose name was Russ Davis, think, was the commentator and this was from Chicago. I loved Lou Thesz and hated Hans Schmidt. I also remember Gorgeous George, who put on the dirty act also. Verne Gagne, who had been an Olympic wrestler, was one of my favorites. Remember Danny Hodge and Cowboy Bill Watts in Shreveport. Lots of memories for me with this. My dad loved it and he would laugh and say it was fake, but he got into it when it came on. Got down on the floor to watch it.
From Bill Gibson: Thanks for the recognition of a good guy and a fine explanation of the sport/show of pro wrestling. In 1950, when we got our first “big” 12-inch TV (earlier models were mainly 6 inches), Monday night was wrestling night. We only had one channel in Fort Worth, WBAP channel 5. I remember Lou Thesz and of course Gorgeous George. My brother and I were so fascinated by TV that we would watch the test pattern until Howdy Doody came on at 4:30. You account helps us all remember and appreciate those who came before us: the good guys and the “bad guys.” By the way Milton Berle was the Tuesday night show to see.
From Pesky Hill: Like you I was not a wrestling fan. But, I did read about them some and occasionally would watch it on TV. And, I do remember Danny Hodge. Thanks stirring up some old childhood memories. That is funny -- and not surprising-- that McIntyre and Bullock took money. I did not know that.
From Rick Harrelson: That brings back memories. My granddad would take me to the wrestling matches and I remember rooting for Danny. Fun times with my family.
From Randy Phillips: Thanks for sharing. “Hands of Stone” was my favorite junior heavyweight wrestler of that time. During my childhood and adolescent years I spent many a Saturday morning at Channel 3 watching the taping of the pro wrestling show and many a Monday night at Municipal Auditorium watching wrestling.
From Ernie Roberson: Somewhere in the foggy mist of my old memories about rasslin I remember that Danny Hodge was wrestling in Japan (just like Lou Thesz, the world heavyweight champion had done) and Hodge became quite popular over there. My memory is this was the early part of the 1960s. At any rate, Hodge wrestled Hiro Matsuda, who became the arch enemy of Hodge to fans in this territory. Matsuda had a ferocious karate chop which felled Hodge and the title belt for the junior heavyweight championship translated to the Japanese Matsuda. Quite literally, the fate of the free world was soon to be in the hands of the WW2 enemy nation of Japan because Danny Hodge had been chopped and defeated by the sneaky "Great Matsuda" who had been given the storied belt. Now, the twist is that I had been told by a wrestler that Hodge had Matsuda under contract and had brought him to the Land of the Free in the USA so he could have him as a worthy opponent. This schtick or angle/feud in wrestling parlance packed out wrestling shows for quite some time is my memory. Later, Matsuda would become one of the best trainers for pro wrestlers.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ike Futch: We have a son that's been a wrestling fan all his life. He recorded them and watched them over and over. I'm going to forward this to him.
ReplyDeleteFrom Tim Looney: Memories! I used to watch these guys. Even went to the Municipal Auditorium on several Monday nights to watch them in person. I knew it was staged, but enjoyed the shows. The rabid fans -- many of them ladies -- who sat near ringside were just as entertaining. And we actually talked to some of the wrestlers in the hallway after the shows a couple of times. Most were good guys.
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought about those days in quite a while. Thanks for reminding me.
From Chuck Baker: Great story but you left out the Spoiler. And Waldo Von Erich. You stupid American.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ken Knight: Legendary Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini loved to watch U.S. wrestling. And boxing. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteFrom Jimmy Russell: This stirs up a lot of memories for me as a kid in the 6th grade. I started watching wrestling on TV and a guy whose name was Russ Davis, think, was the commentator and this was from Chicago. I loved Lou Thesz and hated Hans Schmidt. I also remember Gorgeous George, who put on the dirty act also. Verne Gagne, who had been an Olympic wrestler, was one of my favorites. Remember Danny Hodge and Cowboy Bill Watts in Shreveport. Lots of memories for me with this. My dad loved it and he would laugh and say it was fake, but he got into it when it came on. Got down on the floor to watch it.
ReplyDeleteFrom Susan Updegraff: Thanks for another interesting article. He even looked like a good guy!
ReplyDeleteFrom John English: Enjoyed this one. I’m glad to hear, finally, that I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed these matches\shows.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gary Pennington: I remember watching the rassling in the TV lounge at [Louisiana] Tech with a full house of guys.
ReplyDeleteFrom Bill Gibson: Thanks for the recognition of a good guy and a fine explanation of the sport/show of pro wrestling.
ReplyDeleteIn 1950, when we got our first “big” 12-inch TV (earlier models were mainly 6 inches), Monday night was wrestling night. We only had one channel in Fort Worth, WBAP channel 5. I remember Lou Thesz and of course Gorgeous George.
My brother and I were so fascinated by TV that we would watch the test pattern until Howdy Doody came on at 4:30.
You account helps us all remember and appreciate those who came before us: the good guys and the “bad guys.”
By the way Milton Berle was the Tuesday night show to see.
From Pesky Hill: Like you I was not a wrestling fan. But, I did read about them some and occasionally would watch it on TV. And, I do remember Danny Hodge. Thanks stirring up some old childhood memories. That is funny -- and not surprising-- that McIntyre and Bullock took money. I did not know that.
ReplyDeleteFrom Rick Harrelson: That brings back memories. My granddad would take me to the wrestling matches and I remember rooting for Danny. Fun times with my family.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ulim Fong: Never forget him crushing an apple with one hand at Nankings. Was one of our favorite wrestlers and people.
ReplyDeleteFrom Randy Phillips: Thanks for sharing. “Hands of Stone” was my favorite junior heavyweight wrestler of that time.
ReplyDeleteDuring my childhood and adolescent years I spent many a Saturday morning at Channel 3 watching the taping of the pro wrestling show and many a Monday night at Municipal Auditorium watching wrestling.