Old School Wrestling Videos

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Here's a collection of matches involving some of the great wrestlers of times past. We share these with our affiliates throughout the 'net. I hope you enjoy.

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Jack Brisco vs Roddy Piper 1981

This was from Jim Crockett's Mid Atlantic promotion. A special challenge match with the M.A. Title and $10k on the line. Jack Brisco was always the consummate professional. A young Roddy Piper was often times more sizzle than steak but he knew how to put in his time and effectively sell his role. Watch for the tried and true roll of quarters finish.

The Portland Set  carries a good example of early 80's pre-WWF Roddy Piper

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Billy Robinson vs Antonio Inoki 12/11/75

This was from New Japan. Best 2 out of 3 falls format with Antonio Inoki defending the NWF World Title against the renowned Billy Robinson. This was a special event that was held on the 13th anniversary of Rikidozan's passing.

A rare match up as Billy would become a Baba/AJPW exclusive upon the completion of this tour. A historically significant viewing that was voted the Tokyo Sports Match of the Year.

Billy Robinson Bootleg Card

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Horst Hoffman & Billy Robinson vs Terry & Dory Funk Jr. 12/6/77

This tag classic was from All Japan during the annual Real World Tag League. By this time Dory Jr. and Terry were mainstays for Baba's promotion and attained considerable fan fare for an America tandem. The great Billy Robinson is seen during his peak.

Horst Hoffman primarily competed on the European circuit. While it's easy for him to slip under the radar due to the lack of preserved footage and little mainstream American/Japanese exposure his work is well worth looking into. Hoffman was a technical marvel and his matwork, timing and ring psychology were at an elite level.  I'd peg him easily among the top legit 'shooters' of the time frame.

Horst Hoffman Bootleg Card

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Horst Hoffman vs Dory Funk Jr. 12/15/75

Horst Hoffman week continues with a look back on his '75 tour of All Japan. Here his opponent was the legendary Dory Funk Jr. At this stage DFJ had already completed a four year run with the NWA World Title and this match is representative of his prime. A high end 70's style technical clinic.

Dory Funk Jr. Bootleg Card

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Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik Vs Billy Robinson & Horst Hoffman 12/14/77

Horst Hoffman week continues with a look back on the '77 Real World Tag League in AJPW. The nightmare team of The Sheik & Abdullah The Butcher mark the perfect contrast to the matwork intensive approach of Robinson & Hoffman. With such divergent working styles colliding can these four pull off a passable match? Watch for the prominent role of comedy spots in trying to bridge the gap.

Abdullah The Butcher Bootleg Card

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Horst Hoffman vs The Destroyer 12/17/75

Horst Hoffman week continues with a look back on his '75 tour of All Japan. Here his opponent was the legendary Destroyer who at this stage was a fixture in Baba's organization. Two high end wrestlers working a methodical style in a supportive setting. Look for Beyer's hallmark of layering in strategically timed comedy spots.

The Destroyer LOW Official Card 

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Horst Hoffman vs Giant Baba 12/18/75

Horst Hoffman week continues with another look back on his '75 tour of All Japan. This viewing features a match with headliner/owner Giant Baba. Critics of Baba's work would do well to judge it in the context of the totality of his career. While early footage tends to be sparse, for a period spanning decades he was a credible presence who drew money even in the face of language barriers. I'd peg Baba as a man of stand out size who had a solid grasp of the fundamentals. Even many years past his physical prime he consistently projected an aura in AJPW that carried him through as a box office draw and crowd favorite. Watch his steady mix of basic moves, comedy and charisma as he works a match with the stoic Hoffman that noticeably connects with the audience. RIP

Giant Baba LOW Official Card

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Animal Hamaguchi vs Bret Hart 1982

This was from Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion based in Calgary. A young Bret Hart is seen six years into his career at age 25. Heigo 'Animal' Hamaguchi was a man of small stature (5'7) but his intensity and flare for the dramatic made him the perfect utility player in promotions around the globe. An interesting look back.

Animal Hamaguchi Bootleg Card

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Playboy Buddy Rose vs Rick Martel 4/26/80

This was from Don Owen's Pacific Northwest promotion based out of Portland with a 2 out of 3 Falls format. A young Rick Martel is seen at age 24 with an amazing 8 years of seasoning already behind him.
A 'bald' Playboy Buddy Rose is seen at his peak wearing a mask that supports a wig after having had his head shaved as a result of a match stip. This serves as a reminder that Buddy was a great bump taker, master of ring psychology and arguably achieved well below his talent level. RIP

Playboy Buddy Rose Official LOW Card

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Antonio Inoki & Riki Choshu vs Black Gordman & Great Goliath 6/77

This was from New Japan. Antonio Inoki captains a green Riki Choshu in a typical natives/evil masked gaijins tag match. Riki is seen with less than 3 years experience and his vanilla face in peril routine bares very little resemblance to the stiff strong style bad ass he would become in later years. A great before he was a star type of viewing.

The masked unit of Black Gordman and the Great Goliath were staples on the west coast US Territory scene. Here they work a more technical style than they often performed in the WWA. Watch for Gordman's nifty use of the DDT years before there ever was a Jake Roberts 'inventing' it.

Riki Choshu Bootleg Card

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Tosh Togo vs Stan Hansen 3/73

This was from Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida. The Hawaiian born Tosh Togo was a silver medalist in weightlifting at the 1948 Olympic Games and found fame in the James Bond film Goldfinger as the villain Oddjob. A very green Stan Hansen is seen in his rookie year. An interesting look back.

Stan Hansen Bootleg Card

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Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu 12/12/83

This was from All Japan and represented the finals of the annual Real World Tag League. The legendary Jumbo Tsuruta captains a team with an up and coming Genichiro Tenryu in the role of junior partner. The monster gaijin unit of Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody were known as the Miracle Power Combination and are seen at their absolute peak. A historically significant viewing.

Bruiser Brody Official LOW Legends **** Card

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Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk vs Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik 12/15/77

This was from All Japan and marked the finals of the annual Real World Tag League. The backstory is that business was on its ass and a shake up was needed to build momentum. For its time a **** televised angle involving Abdullah's use of a fork on Terry Funk's arm paid huge dividends at the box office going forward. A historically significant viewing!

Terry Funk Bootleg Card

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Aja Kong vs Megumi Kudo 12/6/93

This was from All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling for the WWWA Championship. Challenger Megumi Kudo was billed as the 'evil princess'. More than just a pretty face she was a top star in FMW and often competed in violent garbage style death matches. Years removed, critically viewing Aja Kong's body of work serves as a reminder that some of the best all around wrestlers in the history of the industry....were women. Kong had an intimidating presence and was able to mix effective psychology with technical proficiency. Take note of the way Aja delivers her brutal Spinning Back Fist. Props to MK being willing to repeatedly take it...I bet not too many men would!

Aja Kong Bootleg Card