Old School Wrestling Videos

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Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura 12/22/54

This was from Japan and represented the main event of a famous co-promotional card between the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) and the International Pro-Wrestling Force (IPWF). Rikidozan was the founder/owner/Champion of the JWA. Masahiko Kimura was a national sports hero and legend in the art of Judo who had just recently founded the IPWF. The backstory is that economic and technological forces had led to a recent boom in the marketing of pro wrestling in Japan as new promotions were springing up left and right in an effort to capitalize on television and cement brand recognition.

Riki and Kimura had recently worked together in tag matches and agreed to stage a match together (ending in a draw) for a nice payday and mutual benefit. Instead Riki 'double crosses' Kimura and goes on to 'win' the first ever Japanese version of the Heavyweight Championship. Riki never gave Kimura a rematch.

To this day Rikidozan is labeled the Father of Puroresu and this act was the launching pad to his fame. The IPWF would later be absorbed into the JWA. After an impressive nine year run Rikidozan would be stabbed at a nightclub with a urine soaked knife by a Yakuza member. Rumors have long since circulated that the murder was an act of revenge for the betrayal of the Judo legend Kimura.

Rikidozan Legends Vintage Official Card

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Jerry Lawler vs Ric Flair 8/14/82

This was from Jerry Jarrett's Memphis based promotion. Classic mic work involving NWA World Champion Ric Flair and local hero Jerry Lawler. The backdrop was Flair traveling into town in order to work a televised enhancement match. Lawler slowly works his way into a match with the champion that is designed to tease a conclusive finish at an upcoming house show. Look for an appearance by Eddie Marlin along with Lance Russell handling commentary.

Jerry Lawler Bootleg Card

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Bruno Sammartino vs Giant Baba 8/7/68

This was from the Japan Wrestling Association. Shohei 'Giant' Baba was a former baseball pitcher turned professional wrestler. Here he is seen 8 years into his career. Bruno is seen in one of the few preserved viewings of his work as a heel. A good look t two legends during their physical primes.

Bruno Sammartino Bootleg Card

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El Canek vs Antonio Inoki 7/6/82

This was from New Japan. El Canek was a prominent superstar in Mexico who often held the UWA title. A long successful booking formula would find him defeating top stars on tour from around the world. Here the roles are reversed as Antonio Inoki is seen as the NJPW standard-bearer. Two legends near their peak.

El Canek Bootleg Card

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El Hijo Del Santo vs Negro Casas 7/18/87

This was from Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) at the famed Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was 2 out of 3 falls, Luchas de Apuestas (in a mask vs hair stip). A long running rivalry comes to a blow off as the beloved El Hijo Del Santo puts his mask (and his family's legacy) on the line against despised rudo superstar Negro Casas. Santo is seen 5 years in, Casas 8. Arguably an early career match for both men and a must viewing for any fan of classic lucha libre.

Negro Casas Bootleg

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Team AJW: Aja Kong, Takako Inoue, Kyoko Inoue & Sakie Hasegawa vs Team JWP: Dynamite Kansai, Mayumi Ozaki, Hikari Fukuoka & Cuty Suzuki 7/31/93

This AJW/JWPW co-promotional event was labeled the Thunder Queen Battle, a best of five falls 8 woman tag match. This involved the two premier ladies promotions of the era as the top guns of All Japan Women's Wrestling took on the starlets of Japanese Women's Pro Wrestling. A unique structure as the first 20 minute block was dedicated to a series of rotating singles match ups (5 minutes in full duration) with the remainder of the time floated into a 4 on 4 tag where the fifth secured fall would clinch a team victory.

Looking back this is a very intriguing booking concept that offers a path to exploring multiple stories in a dynamic setting. A Joshi classic.

Kyoko Inoue Bootleg Card

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Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat 5/29/84

This was the main event of Night of the Champions, a joint promotional effort from a group called Pro Wrestling USA. Pro-shot raw camera footage from the Meadowlands. In context NWA World Champion Ric Flair had regained the title from Kerry Von Erich in Japan just 5 days ago. Promoters were looking to put their best foot forward inside this lucrative east coast market and went with a young Rick Steamboat as  challenger. Can these two deliver in the money match? While rarely seen this is a fairly famous match with-in **** fan circles.

Ric Flair Bootleg Card

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Ric Flair vs Harley Race 2/28/82

This re-aired on Japanese television but took place at the Omni in Atlanta. NWA World Champion Ric Flair takes on legendary challenger Harley Race. A good viewing of both men with Flair seen working outside of the cookie cutter format he would adopt in later years. Watch how smoothly Race transitions into the Indian Deathlock...the best version I've ever seen!

Harley Race LOW Card

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Scott Steiner vs Ric Flair 1/30/91

This was from WCW at Clash of the Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite on WTBS. World Champion Ric Flair defends against a highly touted Scott Steiner. Scott is seen five years into his career in what was considered an audition for a major singles push. This was a controversial match because Scott still claims to this day that Flair purposely sandbagged him in an effort to make him look like a poor worker on the national stage. No doubt the pressure and spotlight were on Scott that night and critics roundly panned the result. Judge for yourself whether Ric runs through his regular routine or if he picks his spots with bad intentions.

Scott Steiner Bootleg Card

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Kamala vs Butch Reed 1985

This is film footage from the Bill Watts run Mid South Wrestling promotion. At the time Butch Reed was roughly 7 years in as a pro and had been handed the mantle of lead face after Junkyard Dog left MSW for the WWF and the short lived Master G experiment had failed. Kamala was played by Jim Harris, who despite his savage Ugandan gimmick was actually born in Mississippi and spoke perfect English.

The career of Kamala is a study in what really makes for an effective worker. Despite using a limited brawling/quasi comedy ring style Harris was a strong money throughout the territory system and around the world. Few were able to equal his sustained marketability, mastering of crowd psychology and expert level character projection...and the results showed at the box office.

Kamala Bootleg Card

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Bruno Sammartino vs Killer Kowalski 4/74

This was from the World Wide Wrestling Federation. World Champion Bruno Sammartino defends against the feared Killer Kowalski. Keep in mind that KK is seen at 47 years old while Bruno was 38. While not representative of either man's physical prime this is an example of two legends performing at their name value peak. Few programs on the east coast ever did better business than Bruno & the Killer!

Bruno Sammartino Bootleg Card

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Stan Hansen vs David Sammartino 3/11/86

This was from Verne Gagne's AWA promotion. World Champion Stan Hansen defends against the son of the Living Legend...David Sammartino. Hansen was a very effective big man. His work ethic and credibility were top notch. Look for his dropkick and the feared Lariat!

Stan Hansen Bootleg Card

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Bob Backlund vs Adrian Adonis 1/18/82

This was from the World Wide Wrestling Federation. WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defends against Adrian Adonis. Bob is seen with 9 years behind him at age 32. At the time Adonis (age 27) was considered to be one of the top young talents in the business with stand out technical skills and bump taking ability. Watch how these two gel.

Bob Backlund Bootleg Card

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Ric Flair vs Carlos Colon 1/6/83

This was from the World Wrestling Council based out of Puerto Rico. A unification match for the WWC and NWA 'World Titles'. Carlos Colon was an island legend and one of the owners of Capitol Sports. Ric Flair is seen on tour as traveling NWA World Champion. The crowd heat is off the charts.

The result seen here was used as a creative device for WWC to crown Colon the Universal Champion. The formula provided him more legitimacy in the eyes of the Caribbean market and stands as a championship lineage gimmick that's still used to this day. Historically significant.

Ric Flair Bootleg Card

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Antonio Inoki vs Ken Patera 9/3/80

This was from New Japan Pro Wrestling at the famed  Budokan Hall. Antonio Inoki defends his NWF World title against Ken Patera. This is a good sampling of KP's work which mixed a power arsenal with audible taunts, crowd gesturing and surprisingly good bumping skills. Inoki plays his standard native hero role and from start to finish controls the emotions of the crowd.

Ken Patera is said to be the first American to both clean/jerk and clean/press 500 lbs. At his peak he perfected the role of an arrogant strongman heel and worked at or near the top in territories throughout the late 70's to early 80's. After his arrest in '85 and return from incarceration in '87 he never quite returned to form.

Ken Patera Bootleg Card