Pictured in the photo are SICW Promoter Herb Simmons, MMWA Promoter Tony Casta, ring announcer Ben Simon, Hall of Fame committee member Nick Ridenour, 2015 Hall of Famer Ken Patera and MMWA’s Tim Miller.
By Brian Kelley
The St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame showcases talents that flourished during the days of (and prior to) the St. Louis Wrestling Club. The Hall features 33 legends including: Lou Thesz, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Bill Longson, Bruiser Brody, Penny Banner, and Sam Muchnick.
The 2015 inductees are: Ken Patera, Joe Tangaro, Eddie Smith, and Bill Apter. The first two, Patera and Tangaro, were honored at the historic South Broadway Athletic Club on July 11th.
Former NWA Missouri Champion and Olympic strongman Ken Patera was in attendance for his induction. On April 25th, 1980, Patera defeated Kevin Von Erich for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship and lost the title to Ted DiBiase on November 21. He dethroned Jack Brisco to regain the belt on October 23, 1981. Patera would go on to wrestle for the AWA and the WWF in the 80’s.
Joe Tangaro was also honored July 11th at South Broadway. Tangaro was a wrestler, referee, and restaurant manager who won the hearts of fans in Saint Louis. He passed away in 1997 at age 70 after suffering from ALS. He was the president of the local chapter of ALS research and helped to raise thousands of dollars to battle the disease locally and nationally.
The Hall of Fame was founded in 2007 by legendary Saint Louis announcer Larry Matysik, promoter Herb Simmons, promoter Tony Casta, sports journalist Keith Schildroth, and longtime fan Nick Ridenour. All except Schildroth remain on the Board.
The inductions are split for two dates. Eddie Smith and Bill Apter are to be formally inducted at an SICW event in October.
MMWA-SICW and promoter Herb Simmons will be giving you, the fans a Christmas show that you will not soon forget. First he has sent word that as a holiday gift for fans of women wrestling, there will be a debut at SICW of two of the best today going at it one on one.
It will be ST Louis’s own and arguably the best female wrestler to come out of the Midwest since Penny Banner and there is no doubtshe is the most popular star in St Louis today, Thats right “Your souls Tormentor” MsChif will debut for MMWA-SICW.
Fans young and old, are thrilled to see MsChif in action, can Serenity be a scrooge and get a victory over one of the very best females in the world?
Her opponent will be rising female star Serenity.
This will mark only the second time since these two have met. The first was March 27, 2010 at HVW during a tag match as Serenity teamed up with Florida star Jessika Haze in a losing effort against MsChif and the Midwest Sweetheart Santana G.
The experts are excited about this match up and feel as if Serenity, who at that time during their first match was very new to ring and not ready for MsChif . She has improved her game, to be not only be in a match with MsChif, but able to capture the biggest win in her career this Saturday night.
There has been no doubt that the name Serenity has been the talk of the Midwest in Central Illinois in 2011 , and many feel thst om 2012 it may be a year the year Serenity in the female division.
We were able to catch up with MsChif on her match this coming Saturday December 10th in East Carondelet , Illinois.
Fans at the MMWA-SICW in East Carondelet will be treated to a rocking and bruising Christmas as Ricky Cruz looks to get retribution on Ron Powers this Saturday. Fans last month got to see one of the most brutal beat down ever in MMWA-SICW history.
Let’s look back at a small recap from the last recap at MWR Mayhem in East Carondelet as Ricky Cruz feels the wrath of Ron Powers- World War 3 is just beginning.
Cruz admitted that he centered his efforts on the St. Louis area because it was the base for Powers. When Powers worked in Puerto Rico several years ago, according to Cruz, Powers used his piledriver and other assorted violent tactics to sideline several wrestlers – one of whom was Cruz’ older brother. That brother suffered neck damage and still has pain even after curtailing his career. Cruz swore to get revenge on Powers, especially after seeing Powers used a piledriver against Dave Vaughn on the floor Oct. 15.
Cruz promised to be “Powers’ judge, jury and executioner.”
This brought Powers to the ring.Ron denied knowing about Cruz’ brother. He also graphically described being a young kid with a big reputation alone in Puerto Rico, billed as the protégé of Bruiser Brody, fighting off attacks from unexpected sources and pulling out the stops in every match. He added that he had changed, was now a father of three himself and only carried on as a Wildman to satisfy the fans and promoter Herb Simmons, along with longtime mentor Larry Matysik. He apologized to Cruz, said he was ready to quit, would give Cruz the Classic title, and if he had injured the brother was sincerely sorry and wrong.
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.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 