On a memorable night in St. Louis, SICW teamed up with the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame to induct Larry Matysik, Mickey Garagiola, and Sam Muchnick. SICW also teamed up with the NWA to present a NWA World title match in the main event.
Also on hand for the festivities were WWE Hall of Fame Wrestler Jerry Brisco, Cowboy Bob Orton and St. Louis Wrestling great Ron Powers.
The great sports historian Ed Wheatley meet with the fans to offer them a chance to purchase his new Wrestling at the Chase book that is a must have for any wrestling fan in their collection.
At the end of the night SICW Promoter Herb Simmons had these words to say to the wrestling world.
“Tonight was a night for the history books.
Thank you to NWA President William Corgan for being part of this great event.
Three men that meant so much to our business were inducted into the St.Louis Sports Hall of Fame, Sam Muchnick, Larry Matysik and Mickey Garagolia. It was a long time coming and, I want to thank the St.Louis Sports Hall of Fame for making it happen.
It was great that family members from these three great men were present to witness history being recorded. Having Legends like Jerry Brisco, Cowboy Bob Orton Jr and Ron Powers in attendance made it more special.
Thank you Mr. Ed Wheatley for your contribution with the new Wrestling at the Chase book. Your vision of knowing fans still care helped make this event successful.
To all those from other wrestling organizations, thanks for coming out and supporting the men and women tonight. All of you there were part of an event that will be talked about for many years.
To the men and women in the SICW Lockeroom, once again you stepped up, once again you showed why SICW is recognized across the midwest.
Thanks to our friends from NBW, Scott and his crew for all their help.
And finally, thanks to the great fans, the loyal SICW fans, and the new ones that came up tonight thanking us for a great show. I’ve always said, without the fans and a good locke room there is no Wrestling business.” – Herb Simmons
Please enjoy the photos of this historic night from MWR Editor and owner Brian Kelley.
Bobby D def. “Your Canadian Hero” Sean Vincent
The Big Texan fought “Rough Cut” Rick Ruby to a double countout.
The wonderful wife of Larry Matysik, Pat was on hand to be presented Larry’s Hall of Fame plaque.
Steve Fender and Travis Cook wanted to sing Happy Birthday to his girlfriend.
Fender’s girlfriend waits for a birthday kiss after hearing him sing to her from the ring.
Superstar shows his true colors by dissing his girlfriend and not giving her a kiss as the crowd gasped in shock
“Superstar” Steve Fender(w/ Travis Cook) def. “The Connoisseur” Niles Plonk
MIckey Garagolia’s family presented with with his plaque
The Badstreet Beauty” Miranda Gordy vs. “The Modern-Day Moolah” Malia Hosaka ended in a double DQ.
Sam Muchnick’s family spoke on the love his fathers promotion is respected from the stars of the sport as well as the fans.
SICW Central States Champion “The Night Train” Gary Jackson def. Waco
NWA World Champion Trevor Murdoch def. SICW Champion Attila Khan(w/ Travis Cook)
Kurt Angle should have an ego. He is an Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist, a multi-time World Heavyweight Champion, a George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Famer, and a WWE Hall of Famer as of this weekend. Yet, when he visited World League Wrestling for a meet-and-greet prior to an event in Troy, Missouri, he was so humble and polite you could tell that he cared for his fans.
Prior to the event, Missouri Wrestling Revival worked with Harley Race, Leland Race, and WLW to welcome Katie Masson to the Race Arena as a special guest to meet Kurt Angle prior to the event. She is diagnosed with cri du chat, also known as 5p- syndrome. It’s a chromosomal deletion disorder resulting in a wide spectrum of intellectual and developmental abilities.
I took photos for the fans with Kurt Angle. When Katie and her father Billy Jack Masson came up to meet Angle, I wished I would have video-recorded the encounter. It was a moment that will forever be remembered in the Masson household.
It was a pleasure to meet the Massons that day, and MWR Artist Dartallion Allen Jr. surprised Katie with several exclusive Top Draws of current WWE Superstars for her as a birthday gift. During the matches, the Massons sat in the front row. They even got a welcome to the Race Wrestling Arena in front of the crowd by ring announcer Brian Thompson.
The day and night was highlighted for me by great moments that included watching Angle and Harley Race enjoy some one-on-one time, many great matches, and even one of the biggest roar of the crowd I have heard when Angle (as a special guest referee) leveled Jayden Fenix during the Leland Race–Fenix match.
Still, my lasting impression is the sincere moment that Kurt Angle shared with Katie Masson.
In the world of pro wrestling few men have ever had the physique like Missouri Wrestling Revival’s number sixty one in the MWR Trading Card set, MR USA Tony Atlas.
Throughout his career Atlas has enjoyed success and failures that has been documented in his great autobiography Atlas: Too Much… Too Soon released by Crowbar Press, co-authored with Scott Teal.
A member of both the WBBG Hall of Fame and the WWE Hall of Fame he has wrestled around the world the along with the biggest stars. Matches with Hulk Hogan, Harley Race and King Kong Bundy thrilled fans as he tested his power that won him the title MR USA among many other bodybuilding titles.
He would make history when he teamed with Rocky Johnson to defeat The Wild Samoans to win the Tag Team Title thus becoming the first ever African-American team to hold the belts. During his time in the sport he would hold also hold titles in the NWA and AWA.
Fans recently will remember Tony Atlas as he worked with “ The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry as he held the ECW Title. Later on ECW he was featured as the announcer for “The Abraham Washington Show” segment each week. On December 12, 2011, he made a brief appearance to co-present the Slammy Award for “Trending Superstar of the Year” with David Otunga.
In 2011, he would make his way to Midwest meeting fans with Dinner with the Legends and wrestling two matches at Harley Race’s World League Wrestling against Farmer Billy Hills and WLW Champion “The Prince” Jason Jones.
During the first night I had a chance to interview Atlas to discuss his match with Hills, his autobiography and the upcoming MWR Trading Card.
We are proud to announce the Tony Atlas as part of the MWR Trading card set.
For a complete list of Missouri Wrestling Revival trading cards as well as WWE , TNA and Japan sets check out the website Wrestling trading cards.com here.
To purchase MWR Trading cards:
1) Catch the star at a show to have them autograph the cards personally
2) Contact them via facebook or myspace
3) Send $1.50 in money order or check for each card at *
Brian Kelley
305 West 3rd Salisbury Missouri 65281
*Checks will take longer to clear than money orders so expect time for that to happen. Make sure you list exactly what card you are wanting to have.
Please note that when purchasing MWR Trading cards from the wrestlers, that they decide the prices for their cards. We highly recommend that you get them from the stars themselves and let them know that you enjoy MWR.
These cards are limited and are not mass produced making them highly collectable.
MWR Fans you will not want to miss the chance to listen in on the St Louis Nostalgia show this Saturday April 3rd at 11am athttp://kzqz1430am.com/. Your host Herb Simmons and co-host Larry Matysik will interview wrestling great Dory Funk JR. Callers are welcomed to call in at the radio station at 1-888-394-1430.
Dory Funk JR is the son of Dory Funk SR and brother of Terry Funk. On February 11, 1969 in Tampa, Florida, Dory Funk JR would defeat Gene Kiniski and remained NWA World Champion for the next four and a half years, which is the second-longest uninterrupted reign of any NWA World Champion (Lou Thesz held the NWA world title from November 27, 1949, to March 15, 1956).
Dory’s ties to the Midwest are very tight as he would defend the NWA Championship against Black Jack Lanza with Bobby Heenan, Dick the Bruiser and Baron Von Raschke in classic match ups. Dory Funk Jr would lose his NWA World Championship in the Midwest against Harley Race in Kansas on City May 24, 1973. The match would earn Funk JR and Race the 1973 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the year honors. Dory Funk JR would earn the 1974 PWI Match of the Year honors once again, this time against Jack Brisco In Tokyo Japan.
Dory is the innovator and master of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and thrilled fans as he sold out arenas the world with great matches. At WrestleMania 2 Dory teamed with his brother Terry as they defeated the Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana.
No wrestling Hall of Fame is complete without Dory Funk 50 plus years of wrestling greatness. Last year Dory was inducted in the WWE Hall of fame by Dusty Rhodes. Dory Funk JR is also a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club (Class of 1998), NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2006), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (Class of 2005), St Louis Hall of Fame (Class of 2008) and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996).
Former NWA World champions Terry Funk, Jack Brisco, Harley Race and Dory Funk Jr. strike a pose at the 2005 NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest in Charlotte.
Dory would continue to be an impact in the sport as he would go on to train WWE World Champions Edge, Lita and Mickie James and TNA World Champions Kurt Angle, Christian and Rhino.
Wrestling fans you will not want to miss the chance to speak to one of the most influential wrestlers to ever lace up the boots. Remember to listen this Saturday at 11 am on at http://kzqz1430am.com/to hear from the former World Champion Dory Funk JR speak with St Louis’s Herb Simmons and co-host Larry Matysik. To call in do not forget 1-888-394-1430.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 