Bill Colt, the grandson of Hall of Fame member "Wild Bill" Longson, was kind enough to suggest I select the top ten bouts I had seen in St. Louis.  I was flattered, but have suggested that perhaps you - the fans and supporters of this web site - should send in the bouts you recall as the greatest you ever saw.

 

Nonetheless, I gave Bill's idea some thought and it was amazing how most of my recollections of "great" matches came from the 1960s.  Of course, I was a teenager back then or just beginning work for Sam Muchnick.  Ah, the memories of youth!!! 

 

When I thought of the great matches from the 1970s, it was not nearly as clear for the simple fact that by then I was part of the package and worried about business aspects of the events.  Not that I didn't enjoy the action -- believe me, I did just as much as any of you.  But it was different. 

 

What was the house?  Was there a problem at a ticket booth?  The p.a. isn't working right.  Discussions about booking before, and after.  Did someone get out of control in the audience?  Did the police get paid?

Don't forget to call a new radio outlet with results tonight?   It was just more difficult to surrender to the action of the moment, which is what wrestling really requires of its fans.

 

For what it's worth, here are a few that popped into my head and it's obvious some came from what were, for me, the innocent 60s.

 

Lou Thesz versus Pat O'Connor.  The famous one hour match in which Thesz won the only fall.  The psychological and drama, with great athleticism, was awesome.

 

Fritz Von Erich versus Dick the Bruiser in the Texas death match.  I didn't know a match could be that savage and an audience could be absolutely split down the middle as to who they were cheering for.

 

Johnny Valentine versus John Paul Henning.  I should get the date, but at the time Valentine was a heel.  Henning won by pounding and pounding and pounding on the bloody head of Valentine, who went to his knees but didn't fall.  Johnny's blond hair was completely red from the blood (in my young memory) before the referee halted the bout and gave the decision to Henning since Valentine could not continue.  It was a TKO finish from boxing.

 

Gene Kiniski versus Lou Thesz.  The night Kiniski ended Lou's final reign as World Champion.  Who could ever forget that, the finality and the drama?

 

And these two jump up as well from the more "modern" era, which probably says something since my attention and responsioblities were now different.

 

Jack Brisco versus Dory Funk Jr.  The first hour draw on Jan. 1, 1971, when I started working fulltime for Sam.  And, for some reason - maybe the unique finish? - Nov. 15, 1974, when Lou Thesz disqualified Brisco (the champion at the time)  after 51 minutes for throwing Dory over the top rope.  The hour ended with Dory having the only fall, but by disqualification, so Jack kept the crown. 

 

And finally...

 

Ric Flair versus King Kong Brody.  The one hour masterpiece Feb. 11, 1983.  It probably stands out since a) it was a great match, and b) it, in hindsight, marked the end of classic St. Louis wrestling as we know it and c) I knew I was moving on and the business was changing in a drastic fashion.

 

This is not to deny the many fabulous duels of the 70s or early 80s.  As you can see, however, personal considerations make a difference as to what sticks in my head. For instance, if I go through the 70s,

card by card, I'm sure many other sensational confrontations would be added to the above list. 

 

Now tell us what memories of great matches you have!   

 

P.S.  After I wrote the above, I had some quiet time and again the question of why I recalled fewer of the fabulous duels of the 70s than I did from the 60s of my youth.  All the distractions I mentioned were part of it, but I stumbled past the main reason.

 

I needed to know how YOU reacted to those bouts.  Yep..you, and you...and you.  Your reaction told us what was a great match.  When I was a teenager, I was part of that reaction.

 

I could enjoy the action, get into the neat moves and superb work.  But, like Sam and any of the great wrestlers who headlined, I  was waiting for your opinion.

 

If the intensity was red-hot, if the crowd was rockin' and rollin,' if you were ready to blow the roof of the old dump...by golly, it was a great match.  And, if you were a little less emotionally involved, a bit quieter, maybe the match wasn't quite as memorable.  Believe me, Sam sensed how you felt.  I learned to as well.  And the best performers defnitely realized it, so they tried to press your buttons and get you involved.

 

Which all leads back to my original point....who better to pick the greatest matches than you, the fans?