The Man from The Isle of Malta: Baron Mikel Scicluna

Robert Segedy

“In the corner to my left, from the Island of Malta, weighing in 275 pounds, Baron Mee-gel See-Cluna.” Joe McHugh.

To readers of a certain age hearing that introduction on a Saturday morning would induce chills.  The Baron started his career under the name of Mike Valentino in the 1950’s in Canada. It wasn’t until 1965 that he became the infamous “Baron Mikel Scicluna” when he started wrestling in the WWWF. Entering the ring draped in a royal blue cape emblazoned with the Maltese Cross on the back, Scicluna made himself a well-rounded heel wrestler, known for his treacherous ways and his dependence upon a “foreign object” usually a roll of quarters.

You Get a US title, and You get a US title…The history of the US Title(s)

Rob Faint

Throughout wrestling history, there have been many titles named the United States heavyweight championship.  From New York to Japan, from the AWA to the WWE, here is some history of the various US titles. 

Spotlight on Moondog Mayne

Robert Segedy

Real name was Ronald Doyle “Lonnie” Mayne. September 12, 1944-August 14,1978. I can recall the first time that I saw “Moondog” Mayne; he had a crazed look about him and he carried a huge bone. On several occasions I recall him eating glass and swallowing live goldfish during an interview. Mayne wrestled in various National Wrestling Alliance territories as well as the WWWF in 1973. That would make me 12 years of age; the peak believability age back in the day. I don’t remember Mayne doing any scientific moves or suplexes; the Moondog was a brawler by nature, and he used brute force and rule bending to overpower his opponents. 

Spotlight on Larry “the Axe” Hennig

Robert Segedy

When I was growing up, I can recall seeing Larry “the Axe” Hennig on television and he was a fierce competitor. He was branded “the Axe” because of his finishing move: he would whip his opponent into the ropes and then clip them in the forehead with his elbow.

Top Five Transitional Champions

Rob Faint

What is a transitional champion?  It is a wrestler whose only function is to win a title only to drop it soon after.  It helps prevent babyface vs babyface or heel vs heel matches.  Most can tell there is an expiration date on this title change, but if done correctly it can start the new champion off on the right foot.  (See: Diesel)

No Show: The Sad Reality of Some Wrestling Funerals

Brian Damage

Professional wrestling has often been referred to as a “fraternity” or a small exclusive club. A place where only a very select few who dabble in the business know each other, respect each other (for the most part) and look out for one another. Only those within this club can truly understand the successes and pitfalls that come with making their living in this business. That all may be true, but their have been times that fellow brothers and sisters of the squared circle leave this world and nobody shows up to their funerals to pay their respects and get that one final sendoff.

Spotlight on Killer Kowalski

Robert Segedy

I can clearly recall the time that I had met the legendary Killer Kowalski. My friend Bill and I had traveled to the town of Springfield to attend a meet and greet of various wrestlers. This was the first time that I had attended one of these events and I didn’t exactly know what was in store. We pulled up to the parking lot of a local motel where the greats and near greats had gathered to hawk their wares. Upon entering the room, we could see a wrestling ring set up near the back with various athletes practicing their moves and towering over all of them was a tall individual who turned out to be the one and only Killer Kowalski.

Wrestling With Sin: 477

Brian Damage

This is the 477th installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involves such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series…I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.

Wrestling With Sin: 476

Brian Damage

This is the 476th installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involves such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series…I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.