1.
Frank Gotch
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Frank Alvin Gotch was an American professional wrestler. Gotch was the first American professional wrestler to win the world heavyweight free-style championship and he competed back when the contests were largely legit, and his reign as World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion is one of the ten longest in the history of professional wrestling. He became one of the most popular athletes in America from the 1900s to the 1910s, Pro Wrestling Illustrated described Gotch as arguably the best North American professional wrestler of the 20th century. The son of Frederick Rudolph and Amelia Gotch, and of German ancestry, he was born and he took up wrestling in his teens, earning a reputation by beating locals. He adopted the toe hold as his finishing move. Gotch held his own for two hours, but lost the hard-fought contest. Only later when he received the impressed mans visiting card, he did learn that his opponent had actually been reigning American Heavyweight Champion Dan McLeod. On December 18,1899, Gotch challenged another former American Heavyweight Champion, Farmer Martin Burns, losing in 11 minutes, but impressing Burns as well, under the guidance of Burns, Gotch won a series of matches in Iowa and later Yukon. While in the Yukon, Gotch wrestled under the name Frank Kennedy, during his time in the Yukon, Gotch tried his hand at boxing, but failed miserably against the heavyweight Frank Paddy Slavin. Gotch returned to Iowa and instantly challenged the reigning American Heavyweight Champion Tom Jenkins, Gotch lost their first match in 1903, before defeating Jenkins in a rematch on January 27,1904, to take the championship. After trading the title with Jenkins and Fred Beel, Gotch set his sights on the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship, the opponent, called the Russian Lion, had gained undisputed title recognition by defeating Jenkins in New York in 1905. Upon defeating Jenkins, however, Hackenschmidt ignored Gotchs challenge and sailed home to England, Gotch and Hackenschmidt finally met on April 3,1908, at the Dexter Park Pavilion in Chicago. The wrestlers stood on their feet for two hours before Gotch was able to get behind Hackenschmidt and take him down. While on their feet, Gotch made sure to lean on Hackenschmidt to wear him down and he bullied him around the ring, and his thumbing and butting left Hackenschmidt covered in blood. The match continued until the mark, when Hackenschmidt was forced against the ropes. Gotch tore him off the ropes, threw Hackenschmidt down and rode him hard for three minutes, working for his dreaded toe hold, Hackenschmidt had trained to avoid this hold, which he did, but the effort took his last remaining strength. I surrender the championship of the world to Mr. Gotch, he said and he is the king of the class, the greatest man by far I ever met, Hackenschmidt said. After going nearly two hours with him, my muscles became stale, I had trained constantly against the toe hold and had strained the muscles of my legs
2.
Cedar County, Iowa
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Cedar County is a county located in the U. S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,499, the county is named for the Cedar River, which runs through the county. Cedar County is located between the Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities and Iowa City metropolitan areas, areas known as the Tri-Metro county. It is the only Iowa county which shares the name of a tree, Cedar County was the focus of the Iowa Cow War of 1931. Cedar County was formed on December 21,1837, from sections of Dubuque County and it was named for the Cedar River. In 1840, the City of Tipton, the current county seat, was established, before the American Civil War, the area around West Branch was an active focal point of the Underground Railroad, a network for the freeing of slaves from the southern states. The former US President Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch in Cedar County, the Cedar County Sheriffs House and Jail is believed to be the last jail and residence combination still in use when it closed in 2001. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, according to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 582 square miles, of which 579 square miles is land and 2.5 square miles is water. Rock Creek flows through Cedar County, interstate 80 U. S. Highway 6 U. S. 89/sq mi. There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied, as of the census of 2000, there were 18,187 people,7,147 households, and 5,138 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile, there were 7,570 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98. 47% White,0. 19% Black or African American,0. 19% Native American,0. 30% Asian,0. 03% Pacific Islander,0. 26% from other races, and 0. 57% from two or more races. 0. 94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,23. 70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the family size was 2.96. In the county, the population was out with 25. 30% under the age of 18,6. 90% from 18 to 24,27. 70% from 25 to 44,23. 80% from 45 to 64. The median age was 39 years, for every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males, the median income for a household in the county was $42,198, and the median income for a family was $48,850. Males had an income of $32,008 versus $23,260 for females
3.
Council Bluffs, Iowa
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Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. It is located on the east bank of the Missouri River, across from what is now the larger city of Omaha. Council Bluffs was known until 1852 as Kanesville — the historic starting point of the Mormon Trail, Council Bluffs population was 62,230 at the 2010 census. Council Bluffs is more than an older than Omaha. The latter, founded in 1854 by Council Bluffs businessmen and speculators following the Kansas-Nebraska Act, has grown to be a larger city. The first Council Bluff name was actually on the Nebraska side of the river at Fort Atkinson about 20 miles northwest of the current Council Bluffs and it was named by Lewis and Clark for a bluff where they met with the Otoe tribe on August 2,1804. Sauganashs English name was Billy Caldwell and the came to be called Caldwells Camp. The group was called the Bluff Indians. The U. S. Dragoons built a fort nearby. In 1838–39, the missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet founded St. Josephs Mission to minister to the Potawatomi, De Smet was appalled by the violence and brutality caused by the whiskey trade, and tried to protect the tribe from unscrupulous traders. However, he had success in persuading tribal members to convert to Christianity. During this time, De Smet contributed to Joseph Nicollet’s work in mapping the upper midwest, De Smet produced the first European-recorded, detailed map of the Council Bluffs area, it detailed the Missouri River valley system, from below the Platte River to the Big Sioux River. As more native Americans were pushed into the Council Bluffs area by pressure of European-American settlement to the east, the US Army built Fort Croghan in 1842, to keep order and try to control liquor traffic on the Missouri River. However that fort was destroyed in a flood the same year, by 1846 the Pottawatomi were forced to move again to a new reservation at Osawatomie, Kansas. In 1844, the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party crossed the Missouri River here, beginning in 1846, there was a large influx of Latter-day Saints into the area, although in the winter of 1847–1848 most Latter-day Saints crossed to the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. Initially, the area was called Millers Hollow, after Henry W. Miller, Miller also was the foreman for the construction of the Kanesville Tabernacle. Built at or next to Caldwells Camp, Kanesville became the outfitting point for the Mormon Exodus to Utah. Edwin Carter, who would become a noted naturalist in Colorado and he helped supply Mormon wagon trains
4.
Professional wrestling
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Professional wrestling is a dramatized athletic performance that portrays a combat sport. Various forms of weaponry are sometimes used, the content – including match outcomes – is scripted and choreographed, and the combative actions and reactions are performed to appear violent without injuring the wrestlers. Before the 1980s, these facts were considered trade secrets, in the mid-90s, the presentation of scripted events as legitimate is known as kayfabe. Although the combative content is staged and communicated between the wrestlers, there are physical hazards involved - including permanent injury and death. While it has declined in Europe, in North America it has experienced several different periods of prominent cultural popularity during its century. The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet, unlike in Europe, show wrestling has become especially prominent in Japan and in North America. In Brazil, there was a popular wrestling television program from the 1960s to the early 1980s called Telecatch. High-profile figures in the sport have become celebrities or cultural icons in their native or adopted home countries, although professional wrestling started out as petty acts in sideshows, traveling circuses and carnivals, today it is a billion-dollar industry. Revenue is drawn from live event ticket sales, network television broadcasts, pay-per-view broadcasts, personal appearances by performers, branded merchandise, pro wrestling was also instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery. Annual shows such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and formerly Bash at the Beach, Halloween Havoc, home video sales dominate the Billboard charts Recreational Sports DVD sales, with wrestling holding anywhere from 3 to 9 of the top 10 spots every week. Due to its persistent cultural presence and to its novelty within the performing arts, there have also been many fictional depictions of wrestling, the 2008 film The Wrestler received several Oscar nominations and began a career revival for star Mickey Rourke. Because actual events are often co-opted by writers for incorporation into storylines for the performers, special care must be taken when talking about people who perform under their own name. The actions of the character should be considered fictional events, wholly separate from the life of the performer and this is similar to other entertainers who perform with a persona that shares their own name. Some wrestlers will incorporate elements of their real-life personalities into their characters, even if they and those who participated felt that it was necessary that spectators should be kept in a constant and complete illusion of a real competition to keep audience interest. For decades, up until the mid-1980s, wrestlers lived their lives as though they were their characters. Wrestlers, bookers and promoters all rigorously enforced the illusion and very few were allowed into the society of professional wrestling to maintain suspension of disbelief. The practice of keeping the illusion, and the methods used to do so, came to be known as kayfabe within wrestling circles. An entire lexicon of slang jargon and euphemism developed to allow performers to communicate without outsiders knowledge of what was being said, occasionally a performer will deviate from the intended sequence of events
5.
Catch wrestling
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Catch wrestling is a classical hybrid grappling style that was developed in Britain circa 1870 by J. G. The training of some modern submission wrestlers, professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists is founded in catch wrestling and this new departure was the forerunner of the total abolition of the sport at that athletic, and within a short period the wrestling, as an item in the program. When catch wrestling reached the United States in the late 19th, eventually, the carnivals wrestlers began preparing for the worst kind of unarmed assault and aiming to end the wrestling match with any tough local quickly and decisively via submission. A hook was a submission which could end a match within seconds. Travelling wrestlers brought together a variety of folk wrestling disciplines including the Indian variety of Pehlwani, Judo/Jujutsu, each of these disciplines contributed to the development of catch wrestling in their own way. The British term catch as catch can is generally understood to mean catch anywhere you can, as this implies, the rules of catch wrestling were more open than the earlier Folk styles it was based on and its French Greco-Roman counterpart which did not allow holds below the waist. Catch wrestlers can win a match by submission or pin. Often, but not always, the chokehold was barred, also just as today tapping out signifies a concession as does shouting out Uncle. Back in the heyday of catch wrestling rolling to ones back could also signify defeat, Frank Gotch won many matches by forcing his opponent to roll over onto their back with the threat of his toe-hold. Some matches however didnt include pins as a way to win but they were used for control and to get submissions However, in traditional catch wrestling, hooks are used rather than submissions. Hooks are a form of submission where the submission may be executed so fast that the loser has no time to tap out & were probably derived from the Rough & Tumble mindset, therefore, another name for a catch wrestler is a hooker. A hook can be defined as a move that stretches. Almost all moves have their own variations and different predicaments they can be pulled off in, many of such novel techniques were a result of cross cultural exchanges with Jujutsu proponents. The rules of catch wrestling would change from venue to venue, matches contested with side-bets at the coal mines or logging camps favoured submission wins where there was absolutely no doubt as to who the winner was. Meanwhile professionally booked matches and amateur contests favoured pins that catered to the broader, the impact of catch wrestling on modern day amateur wrestling is also well established. In the film Catch, The Hold Not Taken, US Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Gable talks of how when he learned to wrestle as an amateur the style was known locally, in Waterloo, Iowa, as catch-as-catch-can. The wrestling tradition of Iowa is rooted in catch wrestling as Farmer Burns, modern international freestyle wrestling and American folkstyle wrestling are amateur catch wrestling without the submissions. Santel defeated Ito and proclaimed himself World Judo Champion, the response from Jigoro Kanos Kodokan was swift and came in the form of another challenger, 4th degree black belt Daisuke Sakai
6.
Wrestler
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Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. The sport can either be theatrical for entertainment, or genuinely competitive, a wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position. There are a range of styles with varying rules with both traditional historic and modern styles. Wrestling techniques have incorporated into other martial arts as well as military hand-to-hand combat systems. The term wrestling is attested in late Old English, as wræstlunge, Wrestling represents one of the oldest forms of combat. The origins of wrestling go back 15,000 years through cave drawings in France, babylonian and Egyptian reliefs show wrestlers using most of the holds known in the present-day sport. Literary references to it occur as early as in the ancient Indian Vedas, the Iliad contains references, in which Homer recounts the Trojan War of the 13th or 12th century BC. Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata contain references to martial arts including wrestling, in ancient Greece wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend and literature, wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, served as the focal sport of the ancient Olympic Games. The ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but eliminated much of its brutality, during the Middle Ages wrestling remained popular and enjoyed the patronage of many royal families, including those of France, Japan and England. Early European settlers in America brought a strong wrestling tradition with them if they came from England, the settlers also found wrestling to be popular among Native Americans. Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the years of the North American colonies and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations. The first organized national wrestling tournament took place in New York City in 1888, the international governing body for the sport, United World Wrestling, was established in 1912 in Antwerp, Belgium as the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles. The 1st NCAA Wrestling Championships were also held in 1912, in Ames, USA Wrestling, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, became the national governing body of amateur wrestling in 1983. It conducts competitions for all age-levels, some of the earliest references to wrestling, can be found in wrestling mythology. The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh established his credibility as a leader, after wrestling Enkidu, Greek mythology celebrates the rise of Zeus as ruler of the earth after a wrestling match with his father, Cronus. Both Heracles and Theseus were famous for their wrestling against man, the Mahabharata describes a malla-dwandwa between the accomplished wrestlers Bhima and Jarasandha. Rustam of the Shahnameh is regarded by Iranian pahlevans as the greatest wrestler, in Pharaonic Egypt, wrestling has been evidenced by documentation on tombs and Egyptian artwork. Greek wrestling was a form of martial art, at least in Ancient Greece
7.
Professional
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A professional is a member of a profession or any person who earns their living from a specified professional activity. In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct, Professional standards of practice and ethics for a particular field are typically agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations, such as the IEEE. Some definitions of professional limit this term to those professions that serve some important aspect of public interest, in narrow usage, not all expertise is considered a profession. Although sometimes incorrectly referred to as professions, occupations such as skilled construction, the completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labour, or trades such as carpenter, electrician, mason, painter, plumber and other similar occupations. A related distinction would be that a professional does mainly mental work, although professional training appears to be ideologically neutral, it may be biased towards those with higher class backgrounds and a formal education. His evidence is both qualitative and quantitative, including examinations, industry statistics and personal accounts of trainees. A key theoretical dispute arises from the observation that established professions are subject to strict codes of conduct, some have thus argued that these codes of conduct, agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations, are a key element of what constitutes any profession. Thus, as people became more and more specialized in their trade, they began to profess their skill to others, with a reputation to uphold, trusted workers of a society who have a specific trade are considered professionals. Ironically, the usage of the word profess declined from the late 1800s to the 1950s, centre for the Study of Professions Organizational culture Professional boundaries Professional sports
8.
Glossary of professional wrestling terms
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Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable nomenclature throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the origins in the days of carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such terms in the presence of fans so as not to reveal the nature of the business. In recent years, widespread discussion on the Internet has popularized these terms, many of the terms refer to the financial aspects of professional wrestling in addition to performance-related terms. A-show A wrestling event where a companys biggest draws wrestle, a-team A group of a wrestling promotions top stars who compete at an A-show. Abort To discontinue a feud, angle, or gimmick suddenly, usually without explanation or due to a lack of fan interest, ace A term typically only used in Japanese puroresu for a wrestler designated as the face of the promotion. Not necessarily the same as the top champion, examples of modern aces include Hiroshi Tanahashi in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Suwama in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Agent A management employee, often a former wrestler, who helps set up matches, plans storylines. Often acts as a liaison between wrestlers and higher-level management, referred to as producers by WWE and sometimes by other companies. Sometimes they help train and teach younger active wrestlers and give criticism, Alliance A cooperative relationship developed between two or more wrestlers, whether wrestling as a tag team or in individual matches. Alliances are often formed for the purpose of retaining titles between the members of the alliance, or to counter a specific foe or group of foes. The formation of an alliance can be a storyline of its own, an angle usually begins when one wrestler attacks another, which results in revenge. An angle may be as small as a match or a vendetta that lasts for years. It is not uncommon to see an angle become retconned due to it not getting over with the fans, Apter mag An old-style professional wrestling magazine that sticks to kayfabe articles. The term refers to the magazines at one time connected to journalist Bill Apter, B-show A wrestling event featuring the middle and lower-level talent of a wrestling promotion. Sometimes includes well-known wrestlers making a return or finishing up their career, b-team The group of wrestlers on a B-show. Babyface A wrestler positioned as a hero, who the crowd are typically cheering for in a match, often simply known as a face. Beat down A situation in which a wrestler or other performer is the recipient of a one-sided beating, blading A wrestler intentionally cutting themself to provoke bleeding
9.
Omaha, Nebraska
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Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which includes Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. According to the 2010 census, Omahas population was 408,958, according to the 2014 Population Estimates, Omahas population was 446,599. Including its suburbs, Omaha formed the 60th-largest metropolitan area in the United States in 2013, the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, Nebraska-IA Combined Statistical Area is 931,667, according to the U. S. Census Bureaus 2013 estimate. There are nearly 1.3 million residents within the Greater Omaha area, comprising a 50-mile radius of Downtown Omaha, Omahas pioneer period began in 1854, when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, Omaha introduced this new West to the world in 1898, when it played host to the Worlds Fair, dubbed the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. During the 19th century, Omahas central location in the United States spurred the city to become an important national transportation hub, throughout the rest of the 19th century, the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century, the Omaha Stockyards, once the worlds largest, Omaha is also the home to five Fortune 1000 headquarters, Green Plains Renewable Energy, TD Ameritrade, Valmont Industries, Werner Enterprises, and West Corporation. And Leo A Daly, the Gallup Organization, of Gallup Poll fame, Enron began in Omaha as Northern Natural Gas in 1930, before taking over a smaller Houston company in 1985 to form InterNorth, which Kenneth Lay moved permanently to Houston, in 1987. The modern economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs, in 2009, Forbes identified Omaha as the nations number one Best Bang-For-The Buck City and ranked it number one on Americas Fastest-Recovering Cities list. Also, Omaha hosted the U. S. Olympic swim trials in 2008,2012 and 2016, the word Omaha means Dwellers on the bluff. In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed by the riverbanks where the city of Omaha would be built, there was fierce competition among fur traders until John Jacob Astor created the monopoly of the American Fur Company. The Mormons built a town called Cutlers Park in the area in 1846, while it was temporary, the settlement provided the basis for further development in the future. Through 26 separate treaties with the United States federal government, Native American tribes in Nebraska gradually ceded the lands comprising the state. The treaty and cession involving the Omaha area occurred in 1854 when the Omaha Tribe ceded most of east-central Nebraska, Logan Fontenelle, an interpreter for the Omaha and signatory to the 1854 treaty, played an essential role in those proceedings. Before it was legal to claim land in Indian Country, William D. Brown was operating the Lone Tree Ferry to bring settlers from Council Bluffs, Brown is generally credited as having the first vision for a city where Omaha now sits. The passage of the Kansas–Nebraska Act in 1854 was presaged by the out of claims around the area to become Omaha by residents from neighboring Council Bluffs. On July 4,1854, the city was established at a picnic on Capital Hill
10.
Cedar Rapids
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Cedar Rapids /ˈsiːdər ˈræpᵻdz/ is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River,20 miles north of Iowa City and 100 miles northeast of Des Moines and it is a part of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor of Linn, Benton, Cedar, Jones, Johnson, and Washington counties. Cedar Rapids is a hub of the state, located in the core of the Interstate 380. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 126,326, the estimated population of the three-county Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the nearby cities of Marion and Hiawatha, was 255,452 in 2008. In the 1990s and 2000s, Hollywood would feature several Cedar Rapidians including actors Bobby Driscoll, Ashton Kutcher, Elijah Wood, the city is also the setting for the musical The Pajama Game and the comedy film Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids is nicknamed the City of Five Seasons, for the fifth season, the symbol of the five seasons is the Tree of Five Seasons sculpture in downtown along the north river bank. The name Five Seasons and representations of the sculpture throughout the city in many forms. The location of present-day Cedar Rapids was in the territory of the Fox, the first permanent settler, Osgood Shepherd, arrived in 1838. When Cedar Rapids was first established in 1838, William Stone named the town Columbus, in 1841 it was resurveyed and renamed by N. B. They named the town Cedar Rapids for the rapids in the Cedar River at the site, Cedar Rapids was incorporated on January 15,1849. Cedar Rapids annexed the community of Kingston in 1870, the economic growth of Cedar Rapids increased in 1871 upon the founding of the Sinclair meatpacking company. In 2010, the Census Bureau reported Cedar Rapids population as 87. 98% white, and 5. 58% black. During the Iowa flood of 2008, the Cedar River reached a high of 31.12 feet on June 13,2008. 1,126 city blocks were flooded, or more than 10 square miles,561 city blocks were severely damaged and this is 14% of the citys total area. It is estimated 1300 or more properties are to be demolished in the Cedar Rapids area because of the flood, more than 4000 members of the Iowa National Guard were called up to assist the city. The temporary levies became saturated not only with the flood waters, the inundation of southern Minnesota, central and western Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa by Hurricane Paines remnants began on September 21 and 22 and continued until the end of September 2016. This cresting in Cedar Rapids was below the estimate of 25 feet and the revised estimate of 23 feet. This flood was above levels considered to have about a 1 percent chance of occurring in a given year
11.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
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The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, inductees include wrestlers, managers, promoters, trainers, and commentators. On seven occasions, tag teams have been inducted rather than the members of the team. This first occurred in 1996, when The Dusek Family, The Fabulous Kangaroos, the Fabulous Freebirds, The Midnight Express, The Rock n Roll Express and The Assassins have also been inducted as a group. Meltzer began the Hall of Fame by choosing a list of 122 inaugural inductees in 1996, voting criteria include the length of time spent in wrestling, historical significance, ability to attract viewers, and wrestling ability. Inductees must have at least 15 years of experience in the business or be over 35 years old and have 10 years of experience. To gain membership in the hall, potential inductees must receive 60% support on the ballots from their geographic region, any person that gets less than 10% of the vote is eliminated from the ballot. If a person fails to get inducted 15 years after being put on the ballot, there are 211 inductees, including the seven tag teams. In 2008, a vote was held asking if 2003 inductee Chris Benoit. To have Benoit removed, Meltzer required that 60% of voters must agree with the proposal, although the majority voted for Benoits removal, they only represented 53. 6% of the votes, falling short of the number required. Benoit remains on the list of inductees, list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame General Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. Specific Online listing of the WON Hall of Fame
12.
Abraham Lincoln
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Abraham Lincoln was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War—its bloodiest war and perhaps its greatest moral, constitutional, in doing so, he preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. Born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, Lincoln grew up on the frontier in Kentucky. Largely self-educated, he became a lawyer in Illinois, a Whig Party leader, elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1846, Lincoln promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks, tariffs, and railroads. Reentering politics in 1854, he became a leader in building the new Republican Party, in 1860, Lincoln secured the Republican Party presidential nomination as a moderate from a swing state. Though he gained little support in the slaveholding states of the South. Subsequently, on April 12,1861, a Confederate attack on Fort Sumter inspired the North to enthusiastically rally behind the Union. Politically, Lincoln fought back by pitting his opponents against each other, by carefully planned political patronage and his Gettysburg Address became an iconic endorsement of the principles of nationalism, republicanism, equal rights, liberty, and democracy. Lincoln initially concentrated on the military and political dimensions of the war and his primary goal was to reunite the nation. He suspended habeas corpus, leading to the ex parte Merryman decision. Lincoln closely supervised the war effort, especially the selection of top generals, including his most successful general, Lincoln tried repeatedly to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, each time a general failed, Lincoln substituted another, until finally Grant succeeded. As the war progressed, his moves toward ending slavery included the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. On April 14,1865, five days after the surrender of Confederate commanding general Robert E. Lee, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton launched a manhunt for Booth, and 12 days later on April 26, Lincoln has been consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as among the greatest U. S. presidents. Abraham Lincoln was born February 12,1809, the child of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, in a one-room log cabin on the Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville. He was a descendant of Samuel Lincoln, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Norfolk to its namesake of Hingham, samuels grandson and great-grandson began the familys western migration, which passed through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincolns paternal grandfather and namesake, Captain Abraham Lincoln, moved the family from Virginia to Jefferson County, Captain Lincoln was killed in an Indian raid in 1786. His children, including eight-year-old Thomas, the presidents father
13.
Sorakichi Matsuda
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Matsuda Sorakichi was a Japanese professional wrestler of the 19th century. He became an attraction in America, competing in a distinctly western sport. Sorakichi was born Koujiro Matsuda in Japan and he trained and competed in sumo, under the sumo name Torakichi. These names were corrupted by American promoters and the sporting press into Matsada Korgaree Sorakichi. To colleagues he was known as Mat or The Jap, Matsuda came to the United States in 1883 and had his first match in New York City on January 14,1884. He lost to the Englishman Edwin Bibby, in March,1884, Matsuda beat Bibby and then James Daley in New York City. Over the next few months he went on the road and wrestled in Cleveland, Baltimore, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago and his opponents included Duncan Ross, Jack Gallagher, Benny Jones, Joe Acton, Carlos Martino, Andre Christol and Ted George. Greco-Roman Champion William Muldoon was Matsudas most famous opponent, Muldoon beat Matsuda in Chicago on July 18,1884. Matsuda returned to New York City in August,1884, where he lived until June,1885, while in New York City he beat James Quigley and Jack Herd, drew with Karl Abs and William Muldoon, and lost twice to Abs. In June 1885 he wrestled in Cleveland and Scranton, Pennsylvania in December, on May 5,1885 William Muldoon challenged Sorakichi to a handicap match, wagering $100 that he could pin the Japanese wrestler five times in one hour. During a February 15,1886 match with Evan Strangler Lewis Sorakichi reportedly had his leg broken in a leg lock but was back in one month later. In March,1886, Matsuda lost to the British World Heavyweight Champion Tom Cannon in Cleveland, the match against Roeber took place at the Germania Assembly Roon, in the Bowery. Matsuda was on the road the rest of 1886, wrestling in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Ashland, Wisconsin, opponents included Duncan Ross, Joe Acton, Jack Carkeek, James Doner, James Faulkner and Bernarr MacFadden. During 1887, he wrestled in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Rio de Janeiro, in 1888 he toured Pennsylvania and also visited Lowell, Massachusetts. His opponents included Jesse Clark, Joe Acton, Jack Hart, Jim Connors, H. M. Dufar, Harvey Parker, William Muldoon, in January and February,1889 he wrestled August La Grange, William Muldoon and Ted George in Philadelphia. His last match was on May 13,1891 against Martin Farmer Burns in Troy, Matsuda tried, unsuccessfully, to bring American wrestling to Japan. On August 16,1891, he died broke in New York City at age 32 and he is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City. Matsudas European American wife, complained that Matsuda and his friends squandered her inheritance and she also said that Matsuda kept his Japanese girlfriend at their home
14.
Earl Caddock
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Earl Caddock was an American professional wrestler and World Heavyweight Champion who was active in the early portion of the twentieth century. As the first man to himself as The Man of 1,000 Holds. Earl Caddock was born February 27,1888 in Huron, South Dakota to parents of German Jewish heritage and his family name may have been Caddach, Craddock, or Caddack, but he used the spelling Caddock exclusively throughout his wrestling career. As a child he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and the moved to Chicago where he could be treated. Swimming was recommended as part of treatment and he was given a membership in the local YMCA to facilitate this. During his time at the YMCA young Earl Caddock was exposed to wrestling, after his father was killed in a bizarre accident in which he fell down a manhole, Earl Caddock moved to his uncles farm in Anita, Iowa. He continued to wrestle, and won local championships. In 1907 Earl Caddock returned to Chicago to enter college, there he received further training from Benny Reubin and joined the Chicago Athletic Association. It was around this time that he met Charlie Cutler and Ernest Kartje, from 1914 to 1915, Earl Caddock won the AAU Lightheavyweight Championship twice, and the AAU Heavyweight Championship once. Through Cutler and Kartje, Caddock was introduced to Frank Gotch, on June 8,1915 Earl Caddock made his professional debut in a match against Jesse Westergaard. His popularity grew and on April 19,1917 he defeated Joe Stecher for the World Heavyweight Championship in Omaha, in December 1917 a tournament was held with the winner to be declared World Heavyweight Champion. Caddock walked out of this tournament over promoter Jack Curleys refusal to bill him as World Heavyweight Champion, wladek Zbyszko won the tournament and was declared the new World Heavyweight Champion. The appetite for a match between Caddock and Zbyszko was fierce and on February 8,1918 it happened, the result was predictable with Caddock once again becoming World Heavyweight Champion. In August of that year his career was temporarily put on hold for his service in the First World War. Caddock was discharged from the Army on June 1,1919, the World Heavyweight Championship had changed hands a few times while he was at war and was once again held by Joe Stecher. A match between the two was immediately set, on January 30,1920 fans packed Madison Square Garden to see Stecher defeat Caddock. This match was filmed by pioneer cinematographer Freeman Harrison Owens, and is currently the oldest surviving filming of a wrestling match. Video on YouTube Caddocks career continued successfully for the few years
15.
Champion
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A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. Their champions can be styled, e. g. national champion. In a broader sense, nearly any sort of competition can be considered a championship, thus, there are championships for many non-sporting competitions such as spelling bees or wargames. In this context, it is used as a noun and it is also possible to champion a cause. In an ideological sense, encompassing religion, a champion may be an evangelist, or the champion may merely make a strong case for a new corporate division to a resistant board of directors. Such a champion may take on responsibility for publicizing the project, but in this case he or she is beyond a simple promoter. The word is used as a verb. The practice is controversial, and economists mostly dont believe its beneficial and this reaches its most literal meaning in a trial by combat, in which each combatant champions the cause of one side of the trial. A Kings Champion is appointed for purposes at the coronation of an English Monarch. World Champion is a used to denote a winner of a World championship in a particular sport. Being a champion at any sport or game requires an amount of focus, discipline, drive and complete dedication. The dictionary definition of champion at Wiktionary Champion
16.
Ralph Parcaut
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Ralph Edward Parcaut was a professional wrestler in the early part of the 20th century. Marines in World War I and won medals at the A. E. F. Games in Germany following the War, and at the Inter-Allied Games held near Paris in 1919 and he also won the title of Middleweight Champion of the World in 1920 and held the title until at least 1923. He was injured in a crash while barnstorming around 1932. He later became a promoter, trainer, author, and exhibitionist for early body building, ralph Parcaut was born in Iowa on December 3,1896. His parents, Edward and Eva Parcaut, were farmers who, in 1894, had settled on a farm in Grant Township an area near Sutherland a small town in OBrien County and they had a family of seven children. From an early age, Parcaut took a keen interest in wrestling with other boys, at the time, Burns operated a school for wrestlers in Omaha, Nebraska where he taught catch as catch can or modern day freestyle wrestling and physical training. Parcaut traveled to Omaha, his $100.00 buying him 10 lessons, Burns instilled in young Parcaut what would become a lifelong regimen of training and most importantly, clean living. As Parcaut recalled years later, Ill never forget the first time I met him in Omaha, all the way back to the gymnasium he talked to me about the evils of drink and of smoking and even urged me not to partake of tea or coffee. In August 1918, at the age of 22, Parcaut enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, at the time, one could enlist for 2 years,4 years, or for the duration of the war, with Parcaut choosing the last option. He received basic training at Quantico, Virginia, and was assigned to Company D, Parcaut was assigned to the 74th Company, 6th Marine Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, likely as a KIA or WIA replacement. With many of the Marines caught asleep in their tents, the unit suffered casualties of over 300 officers and men,40 of whom were killed. On November 11,1918, very shortly after his arrival in France, the Armistice officially ended the hostilities of World War One, Parcaut was assigned to the Occupation Forces then moving into Germany. On December 29,1918, General John J. Pershing issued the first General Order relating to sports in the U. S. Army, General Pershing was the Commander of the A. E. F. The order directed the commencement of competitions within the A. E. F, leading to championships in track & field, baseball, football, basketball, tennis, boxing and wrestling. The publication of GO #241 established an arrangement for this goal between the Army and the YMCA. There were 29 nations which received the invitation, except Germany, eighteen accepted, the other countries finding themselves forced to decline the invitation. Drawing on his skill and training gained from Farmer Burns 12 years before, Parcaut entered one of the preliminary matches, the A. E. F
17.
Dusek family
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The Dusek family is a professional wrestling family. The Dusek Family name is really Hason, the Dusek family started with four brothers Ernie, Emil, Joe, and Rudy Dusek. The other two members are Wally and Frank Dusek, both men are not Dusek by blood their last names are Santen. Wally is the father of Frank, the Dusek brothers were often known as The Dusek Riot Squad. The Dusek brothers were known in the Omaha, Nebraska territory. The Dusek family also wrestled and did well in the New York territory. When Ernie Dusek got injured in a car accident he was replaced by Wally Dusek who was introduced as a cousin, the Dusek Brothers were inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008. Ernie Dusek was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 26,1909 to Anton and Maria Hason, Ernie wrestled with his brothers Rudy and Emil in the New York territory during 1933 to 1940. Ernie was the NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion until he was beaten by the legendary Lou Thesz in Houston and he won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship Mid-Atlantic version 2 times with his brother Emil. He would also go on to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship with his brother Emil in Toronto against Tiny Mills, Ernie died in Omaha, Nebraska on April 11,1994. Emil Dusek was born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 31,1905, Emil wrestled with his brothers Rudy and Ernie in the New York territory during 1934 to 1940. Emil wrestled legends Danno OMahony and Ed Lewis and would go on to lose to both men and he won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship Mid-Atlantic version two times with his brother Ernie. He would also go on to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship with his brother Ernie in Toronto against Tiny Mills, Emil died on July 09,1986. Rudy Dusek was born on January 25,1901 in Omaha, Rudy wrestled with his brothers Emil and Ernie in the New York territory during 1933 to 1940. Rudy wrestled for the NYSAC Heavyweight Title against Jim Browning, Rudy wrestled George Zaharias to a curfew draw at St. Nicholas Arena. Rudy wrestled for over an hour with Karol Zbyszko to a draw, Rudy has faced many legendary wrestlers in his day such as Jim Londos, Steve Casey, George Zaharias, Ed Lewis, and Sandor Szabo. He was defeated by the Bulgarian Dan Koloff in 1919, Rudy died on October 27,1971. Joe Dusek was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 12,1910, Joe wrestled with his brothers Rudy, Ernie, and Emil in the New York territory during 1935 to 1940
18.
Fred Beell
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Fred Beell was a German-born American professional wrestler and police officer. Fred Beell was born in West Prussia, Province of Prussia, when he was three years old, his family migrated to the United States, settling in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He attended Immanual Lutheran School as a child, and at the age of fourteen he began working at the Upham mill in Marshfield, Beell joined the United States Army, serving in the Spanish American War. After his military discharge, he married Anna Scheren, also of German descent, Beell first became a professional wrestler in the late 1890s, during a time when professional wrestlers would fight numerous exhibition matches each month, keeping them on the road constantly. He defeated Soren Hansen in April 1899, and later defeated John Berg that same year, on February 3,1900, Beell defeated Ed Adamson, winning $238.50 for the match. On April 9,1900, Beell defeated William West to become the Northwest Wrestling Champion and it was not until 1906 that he gained national attention, when he defeated Frank Gotch, the reigning American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. He eventually quit wrestling in 1919 and became an officer in his adopted hometown of Marshfield in 1921. On August 5,1933, at around 3am, Beell, suspects were still on the scene. As he entered, the suspects began firing on Fyksen, who dropped to the ground and avoided injury, Beell, hearing the shots, left the vehicle to go to Fyksens aid. As he rounded the front of the car, the suspects exited the building, firing as they ran, four buckshot from a shotgun blast hit Beell in the head, without his being able to return fire, killing him instantly. The suspects then stole the vehicle, but abandoned it less than a mile away. They had stolen $1,550.00 in the burglary of a safe, Marshfield police chief William Paape organized a posse with Wood County, Wisconsin sheriff Martin Bey. One of the suspects, Edward Speed Gabriel, was hit by shots fired from Fyksen in the gun battle. Two other suspects, Joe Sleepy Joe Hogan and Elmer Digman were captured, Hogan received 25 years in prison for his part in the murder, while Digman received a life sentence. Currently, every year on the anniversary of Beells death, the Marshfield Police Department holds a ceremony in his honor, to date, he is the only Marshfield police officer to have been killed in the line of duty. At the time of his death, Beell was 57 years old and he is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Marshfield. Beell Stadium, home of the Marshfield Tigers football team, is named after him and he is also credited with popularizing the famed Beell Toss wrestling maneuver. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972
19.
WWE Hall of Fame
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The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestling personalities maintained by WWE. It was announced on the March 22,1993 episode of Monday Night Raw where André the Giant, the 1994 and 1995 ceremonies were held in conjunction with the annual King of the Ring pay-per-view events. In 1996, the ceremony was held with the Survivor Series event, for the first time in front of an audience as well as the wrestlers, after which. In 2004, WWE relaunched the Hall of Fame to coincide with WrestleMania XX and this ceremony, like its predecessors, was not broadcast on television. However, it was released on DVD on June 1,2004, beginning with the 2005 ceremony, an edited version of the Hall of Fame was broadcast on Spike TV and on the USA Network, these were aired on tape delay. Since 2005, the entire Hall of Fame ceremony has been packaged as part of the annual WrestleMania DVD release, in 2015, historical WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies became available on the WWE Network. Although a building has never built to represent the Hall of Fame. As of 2017, there have been 164 inductees – with 105 wrestlers inducted individually,11 group inductions, nine celebrities, the celebrity wing of the Hall of Fame is dedicated to celebrities that have made memorable appearances on WWE programming, and/or have had longtime associations with WWE. The award was created following The Ultimate Warriors death, during his April 2014 Hall of Fame speech shortly before his death, he proposed that there be a special category called the Jimmy Miranda Award for WWEs behind-the-scenes employees. Miranda, who died in 2002, was part of the WWE merchandise department for more than 20 years, traditionally, Dana Warrior will present the award. In 2016, WWE introduced a new category for the Hall of Fame called the Legacy wing, Inductees under this new category feature wrestlers from the early years of professional wrestling, primarily during the early part of the 20th century. All inductees thus far have been inducted posthumously and were recognized with a package at the ceremony. In 2012, The Post and Courier noted that the Hall has garnered criticism due to the inductions of questionable performers, and the omissions of major names within the industry. Bob Backlund declined induction multiple times, and The Ultimate Warrior wrote that he refused the honor in 2010, they were inducted in 2013 and 2014. Randy Savage was recognized as being absent, Chris Jericho said that the Hall achieved a level of legitimacy by inducting him in 2015. Slam Wrestling questioned how Koko B, ware, who primarily wrestled in the undercard, was inducted but former WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Ivan Koloff never was before his 2017 death. Bruno Sammartino, the longest reigning WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, was critical of the Hall of Fame. Sammartino disapproved of celebrity inductees such as Pete Rose and William Perry, is it a building I can actually go to
20.
Warming up
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Warming up is performed before a performance or practice. Athletes, singers, actors and others warm up before stressing their muscles and it prepares the muscles for vigorous actions. A warm up generally consists of an increase in intensity in physical activity, joint mobility exercise. Warming up brings the body to a condition at which it responds to nerve signals for quick. For example, before running or playing a sport, the athlete might slowly jog to warm their muscles. It is important that warm ups be specific to the activity, the risks and benefits of combining stretching with warming up are dispute, although it is generally believed that warming up prepares the athlete both mentally and physically. In a meta-study of 32 high quality studies, about 4/5 ths of the studies showed improvements in performance, warm-up programs can improve the strength of the knee muscle, which, in turn, may decrease injuries. A comprehensive warm-up program did not significantly decrease injuries in football compared to a control group, direct physical effects of warm ups are, Stretching is part of some warm up routines, although a study in 2013 indicates that it weakens muscles in that situation. There are 3 types of stretches, ballistic stretching, dynamic and it is purported to help extend limbs during exercise, promoting agility and flexibility. However, this type of stretching may also cause injury and is not generally recommended, static Stretches involve flexing the muscles. This may help prevent injury and permit greater flexibility and agility, note that static stretching for too long may weaken the muscles. Dynamic Stretching involves moving the part in the desired way until reaching the full range of motion
21.
Stretching
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PNF is considered an optimal stretching method when the aim is to increase range of motion, especially as regards short-term changes. Generally an active PNF stretch involves a shortening contraction of the muscle to place the target muscle on stretch. This is followed by a contraction of the target muscle. PNF can be used to supplement daily stretching and to make gains in range of motion – for example. In addition to being safe and time efficient, the rapidly achievable gains in range of motion may also help promote compliance with the exercise, in the early to mid 1900s physiologist Charles Sherrington popularized a model for neuromuscular facilitation and inhibition. This subsequently led Herman Kabat, a neurophysiologist, to develop the clinical PNF stretching technique using natural movement patterns and he believed combinations of movement would be better than the traditional moving of one joint at a time. Initial PNF techniques were used to aid the rehabilitation of clients with spasticity, Kabat started an institute in Washington, DC and by 1951 had two offices in California as well. His assistants Margaret Knott and Dorothy Voss in California, applied PNF to all types of therapeutic exercise, the patterns of movement associated with PNF are composed of multijoint, multiplanar, diagonal, and rotational movements of the extremities, trunk & neck. There are 2 pairs of foundational movements for the extremities, UE D1 flexion & extension. There are also 2 pairs of foundational movements for the extremities, LE D1 flexion & extension. Various PNF stretching techniques based on Kabat’s concept are, Hold Relax, Contract Relax, Contract Relax, Passive placement of the restricted muscle into a position of stretch followed by an isotonic contraction of the restricted muscle. Most isometric contractions in PNF stretching techniques should be held for a minimum of 3 seconds at a sub maximal effort to avoid muscle fatigue and injury. After the contraction period the patient is instructed to relax the muscle that was just contracting. Through Golgi tendon organ, the muscle is relaxed. Hold Relax, Very similar to the Contract Relax technique and this is utilized when the agonist is too weak to activate properly. The patients restricted muscle is put in a position of stretch followed by a contraction of the restricted muscle. After the allotted time the muscle is passively moved to a position of greater stretch. Contraction times and efforts will remain the same as the Contract Relax technique and this technique utilizes the autogenic inhibition, which relaxes a muscle after a sustained contraction has been applied to it for longer than 6 seconds
22.
Dumbbell
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The dumbbell, a type of free weight, is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It can be used individually or in pairs, with one in each hand, the forerunner of the dumbbell, halteres, were used in ancient Greece as lifting weights and also as weights in the ancient Greek version of the long jump. A kind of dumbbell was also used in India for more than a millennium, despite their common English name implying an Indian origin, the so-called Indian clubs were in fact created in the Near East. Properly referred to as meels, they are first recorded as being used by wrestlers in ancient Persia, Egypt, the practice has continued to the present day, notably in the Varzesh-e Bastan tradition practiced in the zurkaneh of Iran. From Persia, the Mughals brought the meels to South Asia where are still used by pehlwan, british colonists first came across Persian meels in India, and erroneously referred to them as Indian clubs despite their Middle Eastern origin. The design of the Nal, as the equipment was referred to and it was generally used in pairs, in workouts by wrestlers, bodybuilders, sports players, and others wishing to increase strength and muscle size. The term dumbbell or dumb bell originated in late Stuart England, in 1711 the poet Joseph Addison mentioned exercising with a dumb bell in an essay published in The Spectator. By the early 17th century, the shape of the dumbbell. There are currently three main types of dumbbell, Adjustable dumbbells consist of a metal bar whose centre portion is engraved with a crosshatch pattern to improve grip. Weight plates are slid onto the outer portions of the dumbbell, shown to the right is a spinlock dumbbell, whose ends are threaded to accept large nuts as collars. Alternatively, a dumbbell may have smooth ends with plates being secured by a sprung collar, nowadays, many commercially sold dumbbells are available with sophisticated, and easy-to-use methods for weight increments adjustments. Fixed-weight dumbbells are weights created in a dumbbell shape, inexpensive varieties consist of cast iron, sometimes coated with rubber or neoprene for comfort, and even cheaper versions consist of a rigid plastic shell that is filled with concrete. Selectorized dumbbells are adjustable dumbbells whose number of plates can be changed when resting in the dumbbell stand. This is achieved by adjusting the number of plates that follow the handle when lifted and this makes it very easy to change the weight of the dumbbell between exercises, and the stand typically doubles as storage for the additional weights not being used for a particular exercise. Barbell Kettlebell Weights Weight lifting belt Pool dumbbell Bulgarian Bag Media related to Dumbbells at Wikimedia Commons Guide to different types of dumbbell
23.
Aerobics
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Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness. It is usually performed to music and may be practiced in a group setting led by an instructor, although it can be done solo, with the goal of preventing illness and promoting physical fitness, practitioners perform various routines comprising a number of different dance-like exercises. Formal aerobics classes are divided into different levels of intensity and complexity, a well-balanced aerobics class will have five components, warm-up, cardio vascular conditioning, muscular strength and conditioning, cool-down and stretching and flexibility. Aerobics classes may allow participants to select their level of participation according to their fitness level, many gyms offer a variety of aerobic classes. Each class is designed for a level of experience and taught by a certified instructor with a specialty area related to their particular class. Both the term and the specific exercise method were developed by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, an exercise physiologist, and Col. Pauline Potts, a physical therapist, both of the United States Air Force. He began measuring systematic human performance using a bicycle ergometer, in 1968, he published Aerobics, which included exercise programs using running, walking, swimming and bicycling. The book came at a time when increasing weakness and inactivity in the population was causing a perceived need for increased exercise. Aerobics gained world-wide popularity after the release of Jane Fondas exercise videos in 1982, aerobic gymnastics, also known as sport aerobics and competitive aerobics, may combine complicated choreography, rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics with elements of aerobics. Performance is divided into categories by age, sex and groups and are judged on the elements, dynamic and static strength, jumps and leaps, kicks, balance. Ten exercises are mandatory, four consecutive high leg kicks, patterns, a maximum of ten elements from following families are allowed, push-ups, supports and balances, kicks and splits, jumps and leaps. Elements of tumbling such as handsprings, handstands, back flips, scoring is by judging of artistic quality, creativity, execution, and difficulty of routines. Sport aerobics has state, national, and international competitions, but is not an olympic sport, freestyle aerobics Step aerobics Water aerobics Yoga postures
24.
WWE Magazine
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World Wrestling Entertainment Magazine was the official professional wrestling magazine of WWE. This incarnation of the magazine contains lifestyle sections, a calendar, entertainment, work out tips. It was announced in July 2014 that after thirty years, the magazine would cease production, WWE Magazine has gone through many incarnations throughout the years. It was originally known as WWF Victory Magazine from its issue in 1983 through the third issue of publication. Starting with the issue it became known as World Wrestling Federation Magazine. WWF Magazine would continue to be bi-monthly until June 1987, in which it would become a monthly operation and a staple of the WWF for the next decade. In April 1996, the WWF decided to create a magazine called Raw Magazine. It debuted with the May/June 1996 issue, and was bi-monthly until the January 1998 issue, in May 2002, the World Wrestling Federation became known as World Wrestling Entertainment, and therefore the magazine was changed accordingly to WWE Magazine starting with the June 2002 issue. Shortly before that, the WWF/E had split up into two brands, Raw and SmackDown, WWE Magazine and Raw Magazine were unaffected, however, until the January 2004 issues, in which WWE decided to have separate magazines for their respective brands. Raw Magazine retained its name but followed the style of WWE Magazine however, Magazine, and would focus solely on the SmackDown. That lasted until the summer of 2006, in which Raw Magazine and SmackDown Magazine would be discontinued, the new WWE Magazine was designed to move away from being solely a wrestling magazine. Instead the majority of the magazine contained lifestyle tips, product reviews and photos of WWEs superstars, the new style was similar to current mens magazines, such as Maxim and Stuff. In the May 2012 issue, a new Jerk of the Month belt debuted with Daniel Bryan wearing the belt in the issue and it replaced the police mugshots which had been featured since the May 2008 issue. It was later replaced with a trophy, on July 31,2014, it was announced that WWE Magazine would cease production due to budget cuts as well as a decline in circulation. The last issue would be available on September 16,2014, the final edition of WWE Magazine featured Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose on the cover, former members of The Shield. Despite WWE Magazine shutting down, there were reports of fans receiving offers from WWEshop. com that advertised a reduced rate subscription to the magazine for just $19.97 per year. Despite the shutdown of WWE Magazine, special issues such as Photos of the Year, The 2015 Preview. On very rare occasions, kayfabe would be broken, such instances would be if a wrestler had died or if the topic had such far-reaching interest to WWF fans that it could not be ignored
25.
Noose
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A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post or pole, the knot is tied by forming a loop in the end of a rope, and then passing a bight of the standing end through the loop. The noose knot is a version of the overhand knot. The knot most closely associated with execution is the hangmans knot, tying is similar to the original noose, but several turns are wrapped around the loop. The reason for this was to make the more humane, as it would break the persons neck, killing them instantly. In the US, a noose is sometimes left as a message in order to intimidate people and its meaning is derived from its use in segregation era lynchings. It is illegal to display a noose in a manner in New York
26.
Hanging
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Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck. Hanging has been a method of capital punishment since medieval times. The first account of execution by hanging was in Homers Odyssey, in this specialised meaning of the common word hang, the past and past participle is hanged instead of hung. Hanging is also a method of suicide in which a person applies a ligature to the neck and brings about unconsciousness. There are four ways of performing a judicial hanging, suspension hanging, the drop, the standard drop. A mechanised form of hanging, the upright jerker, was experimented with in the 18th century. Suspension, like the drop, causes death by using the weight of the body to tighten the noose around the trachea. Prisoners are reported to have little or no struggle before they go limp because their jugular vein and carotid arteries are blocked and blood flow to the brain is reduced. The short drop is performed by placing the condemned prisoner on the back of a cart, horse, or other vehicle, the object is then moved away, leaving the person dangling from the rope. A ladder was also used with the condemned being forced to ascend, after which the noose was tied. Another method involves using a stool, which the condemned is required to stand on, the executioner stands on a stepped platform approximately 4 feet high beside the condemned, and guides the head downward with his hand simultaneous to the efforts of his assistants. Nazi war criminal Karl Hermann Frank was also executed in this manner in 1946 in Prague and its use rapidly spread to English-speaking countries and those where judicial systems had an English origin. It was considered an improvement on the short drop because it was intended to be enough to break the persons neck, causing immediate paralysis. This method was used to execute condemned Nazis under United States jurisdiction after the Nuremberg Trials including Joachim von Ribbentrop and Ernst Kaltenbrunner. In the execution of Ribbentrop, historian Giles MacDonogh records that, The hangman botched the execution, a Life magazine report on the execution merely says, The trap fell open and with a sound midway between a rumble and a crash, Ribbentrop disappeared. The rope quivered for a time, then stood tautly straight and this process, also known as the measured drop, was introduced to Britain in 1872 by William Marwood as a scientific advance on the standard drop. The careful placement of the eye or knot of the noose contributed to breaking the neck, between 1892 and 1913, the length of the drop was shortened to avoid decapitation. After 1913, other factors were taken into account
27.
Yankee Doodle
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Yankee Doodle is a well-known American song, the early versions of which date back to the Seven Years War and the American Revolution. It is often sung patriotically in the United States today and is the anthem of Connecticut. Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 4501, the melody is thought to be much older than both the lyrics and the subject, going back to folk songs of numerous peoples of Medieval Europe. The tune of Yankee Doodle is thought to be older than the words, and many peoples knew the melody, including those of England, France, Holland, Hungary. The earliest words of Yankee Doodle came from a Middle Dutch harvest song and it contained mostly nonsensical and out-of-place words, both in English and Dutch, Yanker, didel, doodle down, Diddle, dudel, lanther, Yanke viver, voover vown, Botermilk und tanther. Farm laborers in Holland at the time received as their wages as much buttermilk as they could drink, and a tenth of the grain. The term Doodle first appeared in English in the seventeenth century and is thought to be derived from the Low German dudel, meaning playing music badly or Dödel. The Macaroni wig was a fashion in the 1770s and became contemporary slang for foppishness. Dandies were men who placed particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, a self-made Dandy was a British middle-class man from the late 18th to early 19th century who impersonated an aristocratic lifestyle. They notably wore silk strip cloth, stuck feathers in their hats and this era was the height of dandyism in London, when men wore striped silks upon their return from the Grand Tour, along with a feather in the hat. The macaroni wig was an example of such dandyism, popular in England at the time. The term macaroni was used to describe a man who dressed and spoke in an outlandishly affected. The term pejoratively referred to a man who exceeded the bounds of fashion in terms of clothes, fastidious eating. In British conversation, the term Yankee Doodle Dandy implied unsophisticated misappropriation of high-class fashion, peter McNeil, professor of fashion studies, claims that the British were insinuating that the colonists were low-class men lacking masculinity, emphasizing that the American men were womanly. 1755 by British Army surgeon Dr. Richard Shuckburgh while campaigning in upper New York, the British troops sang it to make fun of their stereotype of the American soldier as a Yankee simpleton who thought that he was stylish if he simply stuck a feather in his cap. It was also popular among the Americans as a song of defiance, as per the American Library of Congress, the Americans added additional verses to the song, mocking the British troops and hailing the Commander of the Continental army George Washington. By 1881, Yankee doodle had turned from being an insult to being a song of national pride, one version of the Yankee Doodle lyrics is generally attributed to Dr. Shuckburgh. According to one story, Dr. Shuckburgh wrote the song after seeing the appearance of Colonial troops under Colonel Thomas Fitch, according to Etymology Online, The current version seems to have been written in 1776 by Edward Bangs, a Harvard sophomore who also was a Minuteman
28.
Iowa Sports Hall of Fame
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The Iowa Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Des Moines Register, honors outstanding athletes and sports contributors. To be eligible, members must have either been born in Iowa or gained prominence while competing for a college or university in Iowa, leighton Housh, former executive sports editor of the Register, established the Hall of Fame in 1951. Twenty-four athletes were chosen in the inangural class, the Hall of Fame now includes more than 170 athletes from 20 sports. Inductees are chosen by members of the Registers sports department
29.
WWE
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Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American professional wrestling promotion and the sanctioning body for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Federation. Founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1953, Capitol Wrestling Corporation is the precursor to todays WWE, run by Jess grandson, Jess McMahon was a successful boxing promoter who began working with Tex Rickard in 1926. With the help of Rickard, he began promoting boxing at the third Madison Square Garden, a few years prior, professional wrestler Toots Mondt had created a new challenge of professional wrestling that he called “Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling”. He convinced wrestler Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow to implement this new solution, after much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt later formed partnerships with other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. Mondt eventually took over the New York wrestling scene, due to the fact Curley was dying, with the aid of several bookers, together, McMahon and Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. which later joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. In November 1954, Jess McMahon died and Ray Fabiani, one of Mondts associates, both men left the company in protest following the incident and formed the WWWF in the process, awarding Rogers the new WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in April of that year. He lost the championship to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17,1963, after gaining a television program deal and turning preliminary wrestler Lou Albano as a manager for Sammartinos heel opponents, the WWWF was doing sell out business by 1970. Mondt left the company in the late 1960s and although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon, at the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, the McMahons and WWF employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization. By March 1979, for marketing purposes, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was renamed the World Wrestling Federation and that same year, Vincent J. McMahons son, Vincent K. McMahon, founded Titan Sports, Inc. incorporated on February 21,1980, originally in Massachusetts. In 1982, Titan Sports Inc. acquired Capitols operations, effectively relocating its headquarters to Greenwich, in an attempt to make the WWF the premier wrestling promotion in the world, McMahon began an expansion that fundamentally changed the industry. In the end, the elder McMahon would never live to see his company grow from a promotion to what is now a worldwide organization. He died from cancer at 69 years old on May 24,1984. By 1985, Titan moved to Stamford, Connecticut then establishing a new entity in 1987 in Delaware which later merged with the old company in 1988. Titan later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment, list of independent wrestling promotions in the United States
30.
Arnold Skaaland
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Arnold Skaaland was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he decided to become a professional wrestler, Skaaland debuted in 1946 as Arnold Skaaland. Though competing under his name, he was billed early in his career as hailing from Norway. In the late 1950s, he wrestled in Georgia under the ring name Bobby Weaver, in the early 1960s, Skaaland unsuccessfully challenged both Pat OConnor and Nature Boy Buddy Rogers for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1962, he refereed a match between Freddie Blassie and Rikidōzan in Japan. In 1963, Skaaland was a part of the newly created, on June 1,1967 he collected his only title as one half of the WWWF United States Tag Team Champions, when Tony Parisi gave his half of the title to Skaaland. Skaaland and his partner, Spiros Arion, soon lost the titles to The Sicilians on July 10,1967 in Atlantic City, Arion and Bruno Sammartino rewon the belts two weeks later, and retired them. Skaaland managed Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund, with both men winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship under his tutelage, in 1978, Skaaland retired from regular wrestling, though he occasionally appeared as a late substitute for wrestlers that couldnt make a show. Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Skaaland Manager of the Year for 1978 and 1979, backlunds lengthy reign ended on December 26,1983 when Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was trapped in the camel clutch, the finishing move of challenger The Iron Sheik. Skaaland appeared in the 1987 music video for the track from Piledriver - The Wrestling Album 2. In 1994, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame for managing both Sammartino and Backlund to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and he appeared on WWF television later that year, with Backlund attacking him in order to consolidate his heel turn. Skaaland was married to Betty Skaaland, with whom he had three sons, Edward Patrick Skaaland, James Allen Skaaland, and George Skaaland, Skaaland died on March 13,2007, with his wife Betty Skaaland by his side. He is interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York. com Arnold Skaaland at the Internet Movie Database
31.
Bobo Brazil
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Houston Harris was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bobo Brazil. Credited with breaking down barriers of segregation in professional wrestling. Houston Harris was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but later lived in East St. Louis, Illinois and he played baseball and worked in a steel mill. Harris was trained by Joe Savoldi after meeting him at matches at the Naval Armory, Savoldi originally named Harris, BuBu Brasil, The South American Giant, but a promoter misprinted his first name as Bobo in an advertisement and it stuck. Early in his career, some wrestling promoters would match Brazil against fellow African American wrestlers, including Ernie Ladd and these and other rivals would all fall victim to Brazils finishing maneuver, the Coco Butt. Brazil also once wrestled Bill Miller to a draw, and challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Heavywight Championship in a battle of two top babyface competitors. On October 18,1962, Brazil made history by becoming the first African American to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Nature Boy Buddy Rogers. Although Brazil initially refused the title, Brazil was awarded the title the day after doctors had found nothing wrong with Rogers. However, this change is not recognized by the NWA. On October 9,1970, Brazil and El Mongol defeated Mr. Ito, Brazil served as a mentor to wrestler Soulman Rocky Johnson. Brazils manager was James Dudley, the first African American to be in charge of an arena in the United States. Dudley would run to the ring waving a towel, as Brazil followed behind, Brazil retired in 1993 after a four decade career. His last official match was in Chicago, Illinois against Kelly Kiniski, Brazil was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Ernie Ladd. The following year, Brazil inducted Ladd into the WWF Hall of Fame, after retiring from wrestling, he ran a restaurant. Bobo Brazil was married to Kathleen Wimbley Brazil former Lady Wrestler from Columbus and they had one son Randall L. Brazil. Bobos grandson is Harris Osei Brazil son of Randall L. Brazil and they all reside in Northern New Jersey. Harris died on January 20,1998 at the Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph and he had been admitted to the hospital on January 14, after suffering a series of strokes
32.
Buddy Rogers (wrestler)
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Herman Gustav Rohde Jr. better known by the ring name Buddy Rogers, was an American professional wrestler. Rogers was the son of German immigrant parents, Rogers was athletic, and took up wrestling at age nine at the local YMCA. Rogers joined the Camden YMCA Wrestling League and won its heavyweight championship and he also excelled in football, boxing, track and swimming. In 1937, he won the YMCAs three-mile swimming championship, Rogers joined the Dale Brothers Circus as a wrestler at age 17. Rogers later worked at a shipyard, and became a police officer, Rogers visited the offices of professional wrestling promoters Ray and Frank Hanley, who gave him his first match on July 4,1939 against Moe Brazen, which he won. Rogers soon became a top professional wrestler using his name around his hometown where he gained his first major win over Ed Strangler Lewis. Like many professional wrestlers, Rogers was likely not the height and weight listed, as he probably stood 511 tall and he continued his career in Houston, where he assumed the name Buddy Rogers. Rogers would get his first title during his tenure there, winning the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship four times, once from Lou Thesz, after leaving the Texas territory for Columbus, Ohio, Rogers bleached his hair, and was given the moniker Natural Guy by promoter Jack Pfefer. The moniker later evolved to Nature Boy, in the early 1950s, Lillian Ellison worked as his valet. Ellison claims that the partnership ended after Rogers pushed for a sexual relationship, with the advent of television, Rogers flashy look, great physique and bombastic personality instantly caught the ire of audiences. The first sign of Rogers impact was his involvement in Sam Muchnicks opposition promotion in St. Louis, Missouri and he was pitted against Lou Thesz as a draw. In the end, Muchnicks promotion was powerful enough with Rogers as its star that the two promotions merged. Rogers continued control of the Midwest as a booker and professional wrestler, most notably in Chicago, frequently selling out the 11, in the 1950s, Rogers expanded into Vince McMahon, Sr. s Capitol Wrestling Corporation. He also wrestled in the Al Haft promotion out of Columbus, Ohio in the 1950s, in 1961, the National Wrestling Alliance voted him into an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match. In addition, the $148,000 gate in ticket sales was a wrestling record for almost twenty years. The contest, which was a two out of three match, was billed as the Match of the Century, during which both men had gained a pinfall. However, when OConnor missed a dropkick and hit his head, Rogers pinned him to win the match, at the time, Rogers was working at two different jobs in Chicago, but he never walked into work again according to his autobiography. Many promoters felt that Rogers favored northeastern promoters over other territories, promoters and noted shooters Bill Miller and Karl Gotch confronted Rogers in Columbus and broke his hand
33.
Chief Jay Strongbow
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Luke Joseph Scarpa was an American professional wrestler who was best known by the ring name Chief Jay Strongbow. Scarpa portrayed a Native American wrestler, who wore a war bonnet to the ring, scarpas wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name. He was a standout in the Georgia and Florida territories of the National Wrestling Alliance throughout the 1950s and 1960s, winning several championships and becoming a fan favorite. He feuded with the likes of The Golden Greek Spiros Arion, Handsome Jimmy Valiant, a memorable match against Iron Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. But Lou Albano, McCords manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chiefs forehead and it was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. McCord was disqualified, but Strongbow was cut open by Albanos blows. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, Strongbow picked up a win at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1970, shortly after he entered the WWWF, pinning top contender Crusher Verdue, who was managed by Lou Albano. In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion, Arion, a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, returned to the WWWF after an absence and teamed with Strongbow. Arion turned on Strongbow, destroying his headdress on Philadelphia television after he had tied Strongbow in the ropes, Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22,1972 with partner Sonny King and they defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea. Strongbow and King held the title for a month before losing it to the team of Mr. Fuji, four and a half years later, on December 7,1976, Strongbow won his second WWWF World Tag Team Championship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf. The team won the title in a tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff. Their reign was cut short in August 1977 when the belts were vacated due to White Wolf suffering an injury at the hands of Ken Pateras Swinging Full Nelson. Strongbow also competed for The Sheiks Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit and he had a memorable feud with Bulldog Don Kent, which culminated in a shark cage match in 1977. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a shark cage, with the first man to escape being declared the winner. With an assist from fellow fan favorite Mark Lewin, Strongbow was able to escape the shark cage victorious, in 1979, he feuded with Greg The Hammer Valentine, who broke Strongbows leg. The two wrestled all over the WWF circuit, including an Indian Strap match at Madison Square Garden on July 30,1979, in 1982, Strongbow formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Jules Strongbow. On June 28, the Strongbows won the tag team championship from the team of Mr. Fuji, during the match, special guest referee Ivan Putski counted the winning fall, but did not see Fujis foot draped over the bottom rope
34.
Freddie Blassie
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Frederick Kenneth Blassie, better known as Classy Freddie Blassie, was an American professional wrestling villain and manager born in St. Louis, Missouri. Renowned as The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling, He was also a one-time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion, Blassies parents, Jacob and Anna, immigrated to the United States from Germany prior to the start of World War I, settling in St. Louis. Fred was a child, which he claimed was because he weighed 15 pounds when he was born. His father was abusive and an alcoholic, and Fred often had to take refuge with his grandparents whenever Jacob would beat his mother and his parents continually separated, then reunited. Throughout his life, Fred didnt touch alcohol after seeing what kind of person it turned his father into, however, he started boxing at Seward Community Center and won the heavyweight championship. He was more interested in wrestling, though, and would sneak into the matches whenever he could and he would often go to matches at Harry Cooks Gym to watch the hookers of the day lock up. As they began to recognize him, the wrestlers would teach him a hold here and there and his first wrestling match was actually a shoot fight which he accepted in order to impress a girl he brought to the show. Later, he began to get regular work wrestling at local carnivals and his cousin John Frank Holaus would often referee his matches. Blassie came up with his famous pencil-neck geek catchphrase early in his career to describe a fellow carnival performer known as The Geek, Blassie described this geek as having a neck like a stack of dimes, and that he was a real pencil-neck geek. He soon got work from more established promoters, Tom Packs in St. Louis, the more he worked in the business, the more the veterans were willing to let him learn about the wrestling business. After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy, the war was a trying time for his family back home because of his parents German heritage. They were often accused of being unpatriotic and he married a Jewish girl named Nettie Needles in California while on shore leave. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second Class before he was discharged, upon Blassies return from the war, he was billed as Sailor Fred Blassie to capitalize on the wave of war-time patriotism sweeping the country, but that gimmick was unsuccessful. In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles, California to work for Jules Strongbow and he grew to love California, and frequently returned there throughout his career to wrestle. He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, in 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, Georgia, territory for Paul Jones. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick, the fans consistently booed him because he was considered a Yankee. He also bleached his hair at this time, as many of the stars of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine. He was often billed as The Vampire during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and he was so hated there that uniformed police officers were regularly brought in to protect him as he made his way to and from the ring
35.
Gorilla Monsoon
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Robert James Bob/Gino Marella, better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator and booker. Monsoon is famous for his run as a super heavyweight main eventer and he also portrayed the on-screen role of WWF President from 1995 to 1997. Marella attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, New York, becoming an athlete in football, amateur wrestling. At the time, he weighed over 300 pounds, and was affectionately called Tiny by his teammates, Marella was also a standout athlete after high school at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. He continued to wrestle, now weighing over 350 pounds, and he also held several school athletic records, including an 18-second wrestling pin, and several track-and-field distinctions. He was inducted into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973, during the summers he was at Ithaca College, he was a construction worker in Rochester. One of the buildings he helped construct was the Rochester War Memorial Arena and he was inducted into the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 along with longtime childhood friend Frank Marotta who gave a speech on his behalf. Marellas size and athletic ability attracted the attention of New York promoter Pedro Martinez, Gorilla was 62 and weighed around 330 pounds when he first started wrestling professionally. By the end of his career he was up around 375 pounds, Marella originally billed himself as Gino Marella, a proud Italian American babyface who would sing in Italian prior to his matches. Even after changing his name, Gino stuck as Marellas nickname among friends and colleagues, including Jesse Ventura. Marella garnered moderate popularity, but soon realized that fans paid more attention to outlandish monster heel gimmicks, Marella totally revamped his image, growing a long beard and billing himself as Gorilla Monsoon, a terrifying giant from Manchuria. Supposedly born on a farm, Monsoon traveled across the countryside with a gypsy caravan wrestling bears, spoke no English, ate raw meat. The story given on WWWF television was a bit different, his first manager, Bobby Davis, the Monsoon character was far more successful, and fans were genuinely afraid of him, sparking a huge financial windfall for Marella. In the ring, Monsoon dominated opponents with vicious chops, the dreaded Manchurian Splash, and his signature move, Marella first wrestled Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Championship on October 4,1963, at Roosevelt Stadium, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Monsoon qualified by winning a partially televised Ring Wrestling Magazine tournament, Monsoons disqualification win over Sammartino in NJ triggered a series of rematches at Madison Square Garden, and they would renew the feud again there in 1967. At the end of the Jersey City match as Monsoon was sitting on the mat a fan jumped into the ring and he also became one of the promotions top heels, feuding with popular babyface champion Bruno Sammartino in sellout arenas across the country. Despite his huge size, then in excess of 400 pounds, Monsoon had great agility and stamina, Monsoon teamed up with Killer Kowalski with success. In November 1963, they defeated Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard to win the U. S, the following month, the duo lost the belts to the Tolos Brothers in Teaneck, New Jersey
