Lesser Known Family
Chapter Six: Ricky Gibson
#PWHS #Article #LesserKnownFam #LKF #GibsonFamily
As time goes by the illustrious history of Professional Wrestling is being lost day by day to the masses. The purpose of these articles is to preserve the memory of lesser known family members. They come from the same family of a recent star. They may even have been somewhat a star themselves to the fans of their generation. This is just another method of preserving Professional Wrestling history. Enjoy.
January 8, 1976 - Panama City News-Herald
In a parallel universe it might be that Ricky Gibson would be the known star and Robert Gibson, of Rock 'n' Roll Express fame, be just known as Ricky’s little brother. Its probably even be more possible that The Gibson Brothers would have gone down in history with other great brother tag teams: Funks, Briscos, Tolos’, Gallaghers. A head-on auto wreck would cut his career short, though he wrestled a little afterwards but not with his total skill set.
Growing up he learned how to wrestle at the YMCA and quit school in the eighth grade to follow his heart in Pro Wrestling. His Dad hauled the ring for Promoter Lee Fields and Ricky became a generalist, do-it-all worker, to get his first job with the same Promoter.
As part of the ring crew, soft drink salesman, concession stand worker, picture seller for different wrestlers, and even refereeing was how he earned his stripes and started to gain respect night in and night out with the wrestlers, his father, and most importantly, Lee Fields. At age 17 he had his first match, and broken arm, as he faced charismatic Jackie Fargo and lost.
He got his big break in his feud with another named Fargo, Don. They used a storyline that probably has been used in every territory at one time or another. Gulf Coast’s audiences watched as a raw rookie, Ricky, got beat time and again by the crafty veteran week after week. Ricky kept challenging Fargo and got closer with each match to being declared the victor. Fans saw something they liked as the cheers got louder and louder until he was a fan favorite.
Championship gold began to happen as he continued to improve and improve he did! Ricky could not only walk the top rope, he is credited to have been the first Pro Wrestler to deliver a dropkick from the top rope. He won at least fifteen tag-team titles and seven individual belts in different regions. He won four of the tag titles with his brother Robert. After his auto wreck, Robert joined with Ricky Morton to soon form the Rock 'n' Roll Express.
A Robert Louis Howell wrote an interesting story about Ricky: “1974 Atlanta, Ricky Gibson subbed for Jack Brisco against Booby Shane. He surprised everyone beating Shane in his Atlanta debut. A loser leave town rematch ended with Shane splitting Gibson’s head opened with his knee brace and breaking his leg with a figure four leg lock. When Gibson returned, he pinned Shane a second time on Atlanta TV.”
My friend Scott Teal wrote a great article for SLAM! Wrestling on September 20, 2006, “The Forgotten Talent of Rick Gibson.” Included in that article we read that Ricky’s worst payoff for a match was in Lucedale, Mississippi where he received for his labors a piece of lemon pie and a glass of milk! Scott reminds us that Les Thatcher and Lance Russell hints at the possibility that Ricky might have been better than Robert his brother.
Ricky had his moves, and he could hold his own doing interviews. Robert has always been a little shy in that area. Its interesting to note that Ricky’s last match was against the Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair in South Carolina. My only personal note in this article was I remember Robert once asking me if I had any footage of his brother wrestling. He went on to say he was a “little down” and would like to surprise him with some of his tv highlights. Sad to say, I had none.
When you think of the great career of Robert Gibson, remember he had an older brother that might have been even a little bit better. it reminds me a lot of Joe and Dean Malenko.
Growing up he learned how to wrestle at the YMCA and quit school in the eighth grade to follow his heart in Pro Wrestling. His Dad hauled the ring for Promoter Lee Fields and Ricky became a generalist, do-it-all worker, to get his first job with the same Promoter.
As part of the ring crew, soft drink salesman, concession stand worker, picture seller for different wrestlers, and even refereeing was how he earned his stripes and started to gain respect night in and night out with the wrestlers, his father, and most importantly, Lee Fields. At age 17 he had his first match, and broken arm, as he faced charismatic Jackie Fargo and lost.
He got his big break in his feud with another named Fargo, Don. They used a storyline that probably has been used in every territory at one time or another. Gulf Coast’s audiences watched as a raw rookie, Ricky, got beat time and again by the crafty veteran week after week. Ricky kept challenging Fargo and got closer with each match to being declared the victor. Fans saw something they liked as the cheers got louder and louder until he was a fan favorite.
Championship gold began to happen as he continued to improve and improve he did! Ricky could not only walk the top rope, he is credited to have been the first Pro Wrestler to deliver a dropkick from the top rope. He won at least fifteen tag-team titles and seven individual belts in different regions. He won four of the tag titles with his brother Robert. After his auto wreck, Robert joined with Ricky Morton to soon form the Rock 'n' Roll Express.
A Robert Louis Howell wrote an interesting story about Ricky: “1974 Atlanta, Ricky Gibson subbed for Jack Brisco against Booby Shane. He surprised everyone beating Shane in his Atlanta debut. A loser leave town rematch ended with Shane splitting Gibson’s head opened with his knee brace and breaking his leg with a figure four leg lock. When Gibson returned, he pinned Shane a second time on Atlanta TV.”
My friend Scott Teal wrote a great article for SLAM! Wrestling on September 20, 2006, “The Forgotten Talent of Rick Gibson.” Included in that article we read that Ricky’s worst payoff for a match was in Lucedale, Mississippi where he received for his labors a piece of lemon pie and a glass of milk! Scott reminds us that Les Thatcher and Lance Russell hints at the possibility that Ricky might have been better than Robert his brother.
Ricky had his moves, and he could hold his own doing interviews. Robert has always been a little shy in that area. Its interesting to note that Ricky’s last match was against the Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair in South Carolina. My only personal note in this article was I remember Robert once asking me if I had any footage of his brother wrestling. He went on to say he was a “little down” and would like to surprise him with some of his tv highlights. Sad to say, I had none.
When you think of the great career of Robert Gibson, remember he had an older brother that might have been even a little bit better. it reminds me a lot of Joe and Dean Malenko.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Six.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: November 27, 2015.
Article: #129.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Six.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: November 27, 2015.
Article: #129.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Seven - Read Here.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Five - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.