twin wrestlers from the '70s

As a professional wrestler, Terry Funk worked with various promotions including WCW, USWA, ECW TNA, and WWF. Thanks to size and height, Andre the Giant popularity in the United States grew tremendously. An early example of the queer coded villain in the wrestling world, Adrian Adonis was a grotesque caricature of gay culture but a compelling personality nonetheless. [6][4], Billy McCrary died on July 14, 1979, at the age of 32, following a motorcycle accident in Niagara Falls en route to a Ripley's Believe It or Not! The Usos joined the WWE in 2010 and have been managed by their cousin Tamina Snuka as well as Jimmy's wife Naomi. For a while Race was a record holder as far as World Heavyweight Title reigns went until he was bested by Ric Flair. During his first reign as WWE tag champion, Mr Fuji and Tanaka reigned supreme in WWEs tag team division for more than a year. Used primarily for their looks, these two glamour models -- Brie and Nikki -- often competed as a tag team and even had an onscreen breakup not long ago. He was one of Vince McMahon's most trusted confidants and is the man who created the Royal Rumble match. And of course, the omnipresence of Hulk Hogans red and yellow logo will forever be etched into wrestling history. The Niedhart legacy these days is carried on through current WWE superstar Natalya, but her father frequently known as The Anvil had cemented his heroic status long before she began fighting. St Petersburg is the city Christopher Hitchens called "an apparent temple of civilization: the polished window between Russia and Europe the, "I never saw Eric Ravilious depressed. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. Because of his immense popularity back in the 60s and 70s, Haystacks Calhoun got the opportunity to go head to head with some of the biggest names in wrestling at the time. Superstar spawned a number of imitators that include Hulk Hogan, Jesse the Body Ventura, and Scott Steiner. Little Tokyo went on to win the NWA World Midget Champion three times equaling Lord Littlebrooks achievement. Wrestling became an international phenomenon with the expansion of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Unfortunately, though, some twins have been more successful than others, and while a number of twins have set foot in WWE and other major promotions, most are easily forgotten. The cartilage in his knee wore out and he was eventually bedridden. Impresarios were the managers who chose how a wrestler could gain fame and interest among the fans, creating personas and improvising matches to make them more interesting. museum. It is his ruthlessness and fearless nature during matches and interviews that saw him pull crowds. Please consider making a donation to our site. Bockwinkel was also an AWA World Tag Team champ three times with Ray Stevens from 1972-75 with the pair being named the PWI Tag Team of the Year in 1973. Three years later, a young Mascaras would make his international debut in Los Angeles where he faced various wrestlers including Goliath, John Tolos and Ernie Lad. Certainly, the drug-fueled charms of the salacious and ostentatious Ric Flair are indelibly imbued into our collective memories. His matches with the original Tiger Mask were light years ahead of what some wrestling companies were doing. Although wrestling matches in the 60s, 70s, and 80s were not as smooth and immersive as the matches of later years especially The New Era, these matches still lived up to the expectations of the fans at that point in time. Their gravestone displays images of two Honda motorcycles and is inscribed "Worlds Largest Twins". Legendary British wrestlers and promoters tell you what. He toured across America with fellow wrestlers and held several championship titles. Born in a wrestling family, Mil Mascaras began his training at an early age. The world of sports has seen its fair share of successful twin tandems, including NHL's Sedin brothers, MMA's Nogueira brothers, football's Pouncey brothers, and the Lopez brothers competing in the NBA, to name a few. Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967. Although she was far more active in All Japan Womens Wrestling, she made brief appearances in the WWF in 1986. Hansen went on to become a major star in Japan as well, starting in 1977 and winning several titles overseas, including the PWF World Championship four times. Her reigns as womens champion lasted for 8, 6, and 10 years in her run as the top female wrestler in the world. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. They were both born in October 1965. Her garish fashion statements have since inspired a new generation of sartorial outsiders. Bubby Rodgers and Bruno Sammartino were just among the few renowned wrestlers that faced Calhoun. Meanwhile, The Tonga Kid lost his final match at an independent event when he teamed up with Angel Blanco Jr. to face Solar and Solar Jr. Earl Hebner joined WWE in 1988 and spent over a decade and a half in the company, during which he became well-known to the WWE Universe. The Big Cat was an AFL All-Pro before he had a Hall of Fame career as a professional wrestler. Thanks to photographerDavid Maciejewskiwe can see pictures of thelittle wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. In the '70s, he had a chance to work title matches in the WWWF against Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales before returning to the AWA, where he finally became a babyface.He ended up feuding with former allies Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens. These wrestlers of the 70s were violent and dangerous men who had no problem beating up the wrestler across the ring from them, and most had no problem stepping in the ring with other athletes. Audiences believed the violent action they were seeing and took it for gospel! One of the greatest mic Workers in WWE, Billy Graham knew how to captivate audiences using his mic exploits and in-ring abilities. Killer Kowalskis reputation went beyond the world of wrestling thanks to his fearsome and terrifying nature. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Some twins rose to prominence by being glamour models inside and out of the squared circle, while other duos shared a common goal of calling matches down the middle. Both brothers were released from WWE in midst of a merchandise scandal, as they were accused of selling WWE products without permission. Most matches started the same, being preceded by a plethora of trash talking. In the latter half of the decade, the Sheik teamed with Abdullah the Butcher in a string of matches against the Funks in what can be described as complete insanity. Your login session has expired. Known for his signature evil laugh, "The Million Dollar Man" bragged about you guessed it his extraordinary wealth while trouncing opponents around the world. They now hold the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in their fifth reign. Rikishi spent over a decade in Vince McMahon's company, during which he won the Intercontinental Championship twice and the tag titles three times. Koloff went on to the NWA where he became a top villain as the leader of the Russians, with his kayfabe nephew Nikita Koloff and Krusher Kruschev. [7], After the death of Billy, Benny tried to continue wrestling, partnering with Andre the Giant, but was not successful without his brother. He worked everywhere from the AWA and WWWE to Japan and the territories. Perfect exemplified the widely reviled heel archetype throughout the decade. Little Bruiser in Chicago, September 1, 1972 Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968. After his stint as a wrestler, Mr Fuji would embark on a new journey as a manager with Yokozuna, Demolitions and Powers of Pain being his clients. A major star of Midget Wrestling Littlebrook was born in England in 1929. Although she did not make the final eight, WWE signed her. While Inoki never accepted nor denied these claims, however, this is just but one of the many incidences that took place back in 70s that fans were never aware of. However, the company released him and his brother from their contracts in mid-2005. A wrestling promoter saw them in El Paso, Texas and convinced them to begin a wrestling training program in Ciudad Jurez, Mexico, lifting weights and running often. Giant Baba and Andre the Giant would walk out of the ring victorious after delivering a pulsating match. Although she was often teaming with her mentor, Dump Matsumoto, she also held the All Japan Pro Wrestling womens title for three years starting in 1985 she was only 16 years old at the time. Amassing 34 total championship wins in his career, Pipers legacy now lives on in Ronda Rousey, whom he gifted the Rowdy moniker. Little Bruiser in Chicago, September 1, 1972. Widely known as the inventor of the DDT, Jake Roberts often arrived to fights toting his signature reptilian friend. Wrestling began featuring enhanced, hyped character traits and storylines. Andres professional wrestling career began in his home country France where he wrestled under the moniker, Jean Ferre. Terry Funk had memorable matches in the 1980s and 90s. Active since 2011, the Owens are still trying to catch their big break in the business, wrestling for smaller promotions across the United Kingdom and Japan. The Phelps twins, 36, will forever be known as Ron Weasley's lovable older twin brothers, Fred and George, roles they played from 2001 to 2011. Here are the top 15 twins in wrestling, with the majority of the selections guaranteed to pick your brain: The Phoenix Twins were regulars on the independent circuit, feuding with The House of Truth approximately half a decade ago, which means theyve shared rings with Jimmy Jacobs and current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins. In an homage to Dusty on the WWE Network, Vince McMahon claimed that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes., As one half of the Crush Gals, Chigusa Nagayo was a key player in the rising popularity of Japanese womens wrestling in the 1980s and quickly became an international icon. During WWEs first ever Main Event broadcast in 1988, fans in attendance at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis witnessed devastation as Hulk Hogan, the WWE Champion at the time, was forced to surrender his title to Andre The Giant after beating him at WrestleMania 3 a year prior. Brooke Adams tried out for the 2006 Diva Search competition. Technically, these two were Rockstars in Japan. Pedro Morales was the perfect champion for Vince McMahon Sr.'s New York territory in the 70s. [1][2], The twins were born in Hendersonville, North Carolina. For most, there were no high spots; the German suplex and a bodyslam were finishers, and nobody knew what a hurricanrana, five-star frog splash, Swanton bomb, and outside dive were. Hooks are illegal in conventional amateur wrestling but have high rates of success against even the most athletic and experienced of competitors, essentially removing rules from professional wrestling. Aside from a week in December 1974, Brisco held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from July 1973 to December 1975. But Ladd never won a major promotion's top belt. He worked as a villain when he was given the title, with Lou Albano as his manager, but when he broke away, he became one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of his era. One of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time, Antonio Inokis contribution to the world of wrestling cannot be ignored. This made Koloff one of the only men to ever beat Sammartino in a WWE match. Born Wayne Coleman, the bodybuilder with the 22-inch biceps spoke as well as the Christian preacher whose name he used as his own. The Funker won the NWA World Heavyweight title in 1975 from Jack Brisco and held it for more than a year defending it against the likes of Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and Jumbo Tsuruta. Original release. Bret Hart Self | WWF Survivor Series One of wrestlings premiere villainesses, Bull Nakanos striking punk rock-influenced look would enrapture audiences around the world, as did her absolute physical domination in the ring. Introducing acrobatic aerial attacks to Japanese audiences, Mscaras is considered an innovator of high-risk antics like the ever-popular tope suicida. The twin brothers founded Phoenix Championship Wrestling together in 2001. They both left TNA in 2014 and havent competed since. See production, box office & company info, WWE Legends: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s. When it comes to pro-wrestling, weve seen twins trick their opponents, help one another out, and dish out the punishment on foes that take their adversaries for granted. WWE's Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century 2 Roddy Piper 3,754 votes #5 of 48 Professional Wrestlers with the Best Stage Names #4 of 32 The Best Brawlers In Wrestling History #14 of 49 The Best Wrestling Announcers Of All Time 3 Randy Savage 4,962 votes #138 of 183 The All-Time Greatest Action Stars #206 of 248 The Best Marvel Movie Actors Ever Most of the wrestlers didnt even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today.