Missing Things That I Have Never Seen

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Recently on the PWHS Forums, I asked the group members what their "Holy Grail" of video footage might be.  An era from professional wrestling's past that you may have read about, or possibly seen in the day-but now no longer exists or is accessible for viewing.  The answers were many and varied, and it was an enjoyable thread from which to read, learn and discover.

I had several "Grails", but the biggest quest for me has always been to find existing footage of my home territory – The WWWF – from the years 1967-1972.  These are often referred to as the lost years of the McMahon empire.  Footage either never existed, or has been locked away for decades.  Based on my memory and a little research, many important things of which I have only read, but never seen, happened during those years.

Managers

Before "The Unholy Trio" of the Grand Wizard of Wrestling, Captain Lou Albano and "Classy" Fred Blassie became the mainstays of the company in the early 1970's, WWWF had quite a few managers come and go.  Some-such as Bobby Davis and "Wild" Red Berry still have some footage left of them during their WWWF runs.  But for others that worked the New York territory, nothing remains. General Homer O'Dell, Tony Angelo, even Ernie Roth in his pre-Grand Wizard days as Abdullah Farouk - all missing for viewing.

Did you know...?

That when The Grand Wizard first arrived in the WWWF (managing his first protégé and real-life partner, 'Beautiful' Bobby Harmon) that he and Lou Albano (who was not the wacky "Captain", but acted more like a member of the Mafiosi), had a brief feud before accepting the fact that there was room in WWWF for two managers? I would have loved to see this play out!

Turns

Thanks to the diligence in preserving film from every place that he promoted, Pedro Martinez was able to save several television tapings of the WWWF from Washington, D.C. in 1965.  One of these films includes 'Cowboy' Bill Watts, who had turned heel on Bruno Sammartino only weeks before these tapings occurred. The Watts heel turn, as well as 'Gentleman' Jimmy Valiant's heel turn on Chief Jay Strongbow - lost to time. Gorilla Monsoon's face turn, as well as the original Mongols turning on Lou Albano and becoming faces-all lost.

Did you know...?

When Jimmy Valiant turned heel on Strongbow, it wasn't because he attacked his partner, but rather as a 'Gentleman', Valiant refused to enter the ring when Strongbow was being double-teamed by his opponents. Valiant would not enter the ring without a legal tag. Frustrated, Strongbow eventually made it to his corner and Strongbow attacked Valiant!  Somehow, the fans cheered this and booed the guy who was following the rules!​

Tag Teams

'Crazy' Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler; Sonny King and Chief Jay Strongbow; King Curtis Iaukea and Baron Mikel Scicluna; Rene Goulet and Karl Gotch. All tag team champions for the WWWF - all without any video footage of the teams that made tag teams in WWWF such a draw. In addition, many historic firsts are also lost. The first time that a newly turned face in Gorilla Monsoon teamed with his longtime rival, Bruno Sammartino. The first major heel feud when The Mongols feuded briefly with Tarzan Tyler and Luke Graham over the services of Lou Albano. Title defenses by Bobo Brazil, Johnny Valentine, and Pedro Morales when they held belts that are no longer recognized in WWWF/WWE history.​

Did you know...?

When Iaukea and Scicluna were teamed by Lou Albano, they had a mini-angle going on within the team itself. Neither Iaukea nor Scicluna liked each other, nor wanted to be a team (kayfabed).  Albano kept guaranteeing the men that if they could simply put aside their differences, they would win tag team gold. When they did take the belts, they suddenly became best of friends. 

Angles

Tony Angelo selling the contracts of The Mongols and Ivan Koloff to Lou Albano, only to find that he had been cheated, leading to a brief manager vs. manager feud. Lou Albano having his arm 'broken' by Chief Strongbow. Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales coming to blows during a televised match against Toru Tanaka and Mr. Fuji (thanks to being blinded by salt). This led to the eventual match in Shea Stadium in 1972 (also missing). Far too many others to whet the appetite - all lost.​

​The highlights that I have written about in this article were the ones that I could remember. There was so much more than happened in those five years that I have forgotten, that I would love to see and either relive, or experience for the first time. In many ways, having a chunk of video footage missing from a wrestling company is much like suffering from amnesia. Even when you are shown photos of what was happening, the memories are not guaranteed to return.

Here's hoping that any existing footage can be found, and released-at least before I die or forget everything!

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Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.

Missing Things That I Have Never Seen.
Author: Harry Grover.
​Published:  September 15, 2019.
Article: #226.
​Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.

Other articles by Harry can be Read Here.