Missouri Wrestling Revival

Back in the saddle one more time were ST Louis Hall of Fame members Larry Matysik and Mickey Garagolia last month at MMWA-SICW (Photo Credit Mike Van Hioogstraat)

Everyone here at Missouri Wrestling Revival would like to send out our thoughts and prayers to the pro wrestling ring announcer and commentator Mickey Garagolia and we all hope for a speedy recovery who at the time is in the hospital.

Mickey’s brother Joe was a beloved figure in the St Louis community for his time playing for the ST Louis Cardinals while becoming a World Series Champion in 1946 defeating the Boston Red Sox. When his career was through he became the first play by play announcer for Wrestling at the Chase along side Larry Matysik .

Mickey would join his brother to work with Sam Muchnick as a ring announcer and commentary while becoming an important piece in the puzzle of why St Louis was the standard of Pro Wrestling for so many years.

Throughout the years Wrestling at the Chase was the third most watched show in St louis trailing only local news and the ST Louis Cardinals Baseball games.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Garagolia name was  important to the success of wrestling at the time, due to the fact that so many people respected baseball that when Joe and Mickey were involved in wrestling it brought positive attention to sport from a town that will always be proud to be considered a baseball town .

In 2007 the St Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Mickey in the Hall of Fame along with greats such as Penny Banner, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, Larry Matysik, Gene Kiniski, King Kong Brody, Dick the Bruiser, Ric Flair, Bill Longson, Sam Muchnick, Pat O’ Conner, Joe Schoenberger, Johnny Valentine, and Fritz Von Erich.

Most recently Mickey was on hand at MMWA-SICW in East Carondelet to help celebrate 51 Years of Wrestling at the Chase with friends Herb Simmons and Larry Matysik.

Once again we wish one of Pro wrestling’s great supporters the best and hope to see him at a show real soon.