Vintage Wrestlers: Pat O’Connor vs. Buddy Rogers [Videos]

Friday, June 30, 1961 – N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship – Comiskey Park, Chicago

The course of professional wrestling shifted after this match. Billed as a Champion vs. Champion showdown, the coveted N.W.A. World Heavyweight Title, proudly held by Pat O’Connor, was on the line. Contested under the traditional best two-out-of-three falls rules, the bout blended O’Connor’s technical mastery with Rogers’ flair for theatrics. When Rogers emerged victorious, it marked far more than a title change. It was a symbolic passing of the torch from the disciplined, grappling-focused style of the past to a new era where charisma, showmanship, and performance stood alongside athletic skill as the cornerstones of professional wrestling. At the conclusion of the match, Rogers twisted the knife with trademark arrogance and flair, declaring, "To a nicer guy, it couldn't happen."

N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship Match

Champion vs Champion

World Heavyweight Champion Pat O'Connor

versus

US Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers

WRESTLERS' SOUND-OFF

with

Manager Red Berry

and

The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan)

Second Fall

Third and Final Fall

🔍✨ A RARE "Macho King" Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior Dark Match in 1990 [Videos]

THE DARK MATCH

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Not televised; available via WWE Vault and YouTube

Fort Myers, Florida

January 23, 1990

🎉 Half a Million Strong – Thank You, Pro Wrestling Fans!

Pro Wrestling Resource has officially crossed 500,000 views – and it’s all thanks to you, the fans who keep the spirit of pro wrestling history alive!

This blog started as a passion project in graduate school to spotlight classic matches, iconic moments, and the legends that made pro wrestling unforgettable. From time to time, I spotlight current happenings, like John Cena turning Heel, or the return of The Rock. I have enjoyed creating cartoon-style WrestleMania posters to sharing Squash Match Spotlights, and you’ve been with us every step of the way.

Half a Million Strong is more than a milestone – it’s proof that the love for wrestling’s golden era, and classic pro wrestling content still runs wild in the hearts of the fans!

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting Pro Wrestling Resource. The road to one million starts now!

🔗 Want to help us get there?

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Here’s to the next chapter… one million views and beyond!

✨ Dusty Rhodes returns to the World Wrestling Federation in 1989 [Videos]

After nearly six years away from the World Wrestling Federation, Dusty Rhodes returns to the WWF in style by attacking the Big Boss Man, appearing on the Brother Love Show, and cutting a classic promo.

Big Boss Man with Slick vs Jim McPherson

WWF Superstars of Wrestling

Filmed on June 28, 1989

Aired on July 30, 1989 

Rochester, New York

Commentary: Vince McMahon & Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Dusty Rhodes on

The Brother Love Show

WWF Superstars of Wrestling

Classic Dusty Rhodes Promo

🎤 Hulk Hogan thanks the Hulkamanics in July 1990 [Videos]

Hulk Hogan Thanks Hulkamaniacs

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event

Aired July 28, 1990

Hulk Hogan's Six-Minute Promo

WWF SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING

Aired on July 14, 1990

📺 The World Wrestling Federation's New Generation Television Spots [Videos]

The “New Generation” campaign marked a pivotal shift in WWF’s identity during the mid-1990s. These television spots weren’t just flashy promos—they reflected a deeper effort to move beyond the aging '80s icons and position newer, more athletic talent like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Lex Luger, and Razor Ramon as the future of the company.

These ads captured the changing tone of the WWF. In hindsight, they represent the groundwork that led to the Attitude Era and beyond.

"BRET!" Television Promotion

Shawn Michaels Police TV Spot

Razor Ramon TV Spot

Holiday Line Up TV Spot

Monday Night Raw TV Spot

The Old vs The New Generation TV Spot

Diesel TV Spot

As a fan watching this unfold in real time, it felt like WWF was handing the torch to a new breed of superstar—quieter confidence, flashier athleticism, and a sense that the company was entering unfamiliar but exciting territory. Whether you loved Bret’s grit, Razor’s cool, or HBK’s swagger, these promos set the tone for what was to come.

And that’s exactly what Pro Wrestling Resource is here for—spotlighting the turning points that shaped an entire generation of fans.

🥇 Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Dwayne Gill [Video]

 

Mr. Perfect vs Dwayne Gill

WWF SUPERSTARS

Aired April 3, 1993

Commentary: Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon

More Mr. Perfect Squash Matches at 🥇 Squash Match Spotlight: Mr. Perfect vs. Mark Thomas (Double Feature) Same victim. Same result. Twice the perfection. [Videos]

📺 The Forgotten Days of Buddy “The Heart-Throb” Hart in Maple Leaf Wrestling [Videos]

🔥"The Heart-Throb"

Before Bret Hart became the Excellence of Execution, he made early waves under a different name—Buddy “The Heart-Throb” Hart. While this persona didn’t last long, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the foundation of one of wrestling’s greatest technicians. This is the story of Bret Hart's brief, often-forgotten run in Maple Leaf Wrestling.

📺 EARLY DAYS IN MAPLE LEAF

• Bret debuted in Maple Leaf Wrestling in December 1983.

• Wrestled as Buddy “The Heart-Throb” Hart, an early ring name used as he worked Ontario's circuit under the promotion's WWF-affiliated banner.

• His look? No pink. No leather jacket. Just blue trunks, curly hair, and raw skill.

Buddy Hart vs Ludger Proulx

Maple Leaf Wrestling

April 30, 1984

Tony Schiavone

Maple Leaf Wrestling

April 1984

🛑 SHORT RUN, BIG IMPACT

• Bret quietly dropped the "Buddy Hart" name later in 1984 as he transitioned into the WWF full-time.

• Within a year, he’d be in The Hart Foundation, teaming with Jim Neidhart and beginning his rise to legend status.

🎤 HOT TAG NOTES 

“Seeing Buddy Hart wrestle is like discovering a sketch of the Mona Lisa — raw, fascinating, and full of hints of what’s to come.”

🎤 The Two Dusty Rhodes Promos of June 25, 1988 [Videos] 🎤

🎤 The Two Dusty Rhodes Promos of June 25, 1988 🎤

Aired the same day. Two very different vibes. Same Dusty Rhodes message.

🧠 PWR Insight:

This double-promo drop which aired on the same day, gives us a rare peek at Dusty's versatility as a performer. One promo is for the people in the building—loud and charismatic. The other is for the folks watching quietly at home—raw and grounded. Both are brilliant and classic promos from one of the greatest on the microphone. 

Dusty Rhodes with Crowd Reaction

Aired June 25, 1988

Dusty Rhodes with Jim Ross

Aired on June 25, 1988

🔊 Which do you prefer? Sound Off in the Comments Section.

“Which Dusty speaks louder to you—the cowboy commanding cheers, or the red-cap storyteller talking straight to the camera?”

Audio Samples:

🎧 Dusty Rhodes Promo – Cowboy Hat (With Crowd)

View on Vocaroo >>

🎧 Dusty Rhodes Promo – Red Cap (Studio, No Crowd)

View on Vocaroo >>

 

🎤 Want to watch more Dusty Rhodes PROMOS:

Search for Dusty Rhodes on the main page search bar or visit the following: HARD TIMES PROMO, Vince McMahon speaks with "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in 1978, Being the Badest of the Bad, The Bull of the Woods PROMO, Guest on The Brother Love Show.

💥 SummerSlam '90 Shockwave: The Rise of Power & Glory [Videos]

💥 SummerSlam '90 Shockwave: The Rise of Power & Glory

🔍 Backstory: March 12, 1990 – PRIMETIME WRESTLING

On this episode of WWF PRIMETIME WRESTLING, the popular Hercules teams up with Paul Roma.

Hercules & Paul Roma vs The Brooklyn Brawler and Black Bart

🔍 Backstory: July 8, 1990 – WRESTLING CHALLENGE

On this episode of WWF WRESTLING CHALLENGE, the popular Hercules is saved by Paul Roma.

Hercules and Jim McPhearson vs The Orient Express

🔍 Backstory: July 21, 1990 – WWF Superstars of Wrestling

On this episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, the Rockers try to help Paul Roma off the wrestling mat after his defeat against Dino Bravo. Roma did not like the help from the Rockers and Hercules agreed.

Paul Roma vs Dino Bravo

WWF Superstars of Wrestling

July 21, 1990

Power & Glory's first promo

WWF Superstars of Wrestling

July 21, 1990

🔍 Power & Glory Early Promos: July 1990 

Hercules and Romo introduce Slick as their Manager

WWF Superstars of Wrestling

Filmed on June 25, 1990

Aired on July 28, 1990

Power & Glory with Slick

WWF Wrestling Challenge

Filmed June 26, 1990

Aired July 29, 1990

Special Report with Gene Okerlund on Power & Glory

WWF PRIMETIME WRESTLING

Aired July 30, 1990

Hosts Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan

📅 Classic Match Spotlight: Rockers vs. Power & Glory at SummerSlam 1990

Date: August 27, 1990
Venue: Philadelphia Spectrum
Match Length:  6 minutes
Commentary:  Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper
Result: Power & Glory defeat The Rockers

🔄 Aftermath & Legacy

This match showed Marty Jannetty had solid ring ability, as he faced two-on-one for the entire match.
At Survivor Series 1990, Paul Roma’s PowerPlex helped eliminate Michaels again—keeping the feud thread alive! The Rockers were more established as a tag team, so this was a BIG victory for Power & Glory.

Power & Glory would face the Rockers a few more times on the house show circuit, with the Rockers earning a notable win during a WWF tour of Japan in 1991—a small but satisfying measure of revenge.

Shawn Michaels, despite the injury angle, would go on to become one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, redefining what a main eventer could be.
Roma would eventually make a surprising move to WCW and even earn a controversial spot in The Four Horsemen, while Hercules and Jannetty—both respected by fans—would fade into more transitional roles by the mid-‘90s.
This match, however, stands as a key turning point for both teams and an early glimpse into the fire that would launch Michaels into superstardom.

🔢 PWR Rating: 7/10
While the match was brief and mostly one-sided, the storytelling and implications make it a standout moment in tag team history. It marked the arrival of Power & Glory, protected a legit injury angle for Shawn Michaels, and gave Marty Jannetty a rare solo showcase. Not a classic bout, but a classic moment.

Matchguide Rating: 5.49 based on 78 votes.

💎 Hidden Gem Spotlight: Ric Flair vs. Junkyard Dog – Clash of the Champions XI

💎 Hidden Gem Spotlight

Ric Flair vs. Junkyard Dog – Clash of the Champions XI

📅 June 13, 1990 | 📺 TBS | 🏆 NWA World Heavyweight Championship

"To be the man… you’ve got to beat the man!" – Ric Flair
“Grab them cakes!” – Junkyard Dog

 

🛣 The Road to Coastal Crush

In mid-1990, Ric Flair was deep into another golden run as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, flanked by the Four Horsemen and dodging top contenders left and right. But at Clash of the Champions XI, held in Charleston, South Carolina, he met an unlikely challenger in the beloved powerhouse: Junkyard Dog.

Though best remembered for his WWF run, JYD had made his return to the southern scene in WCW, becoming a surprise fan-favorite in the NWA title picture. This match would mark JYD’s final major world title challenge on national TV—a collision of two iconic forces, each representing a different era and style.

🔥 Match Breakdown

This was classic southern-style storytelling. The clash wasn’t about high spots—it was about attitude, charisma, and power.

• Flair bumped like crazy to make JYD look like a monster.

• JYD used his signature headbutts and brute strength to keep the champ on the run.

• Flair’s use of the chair did not work on JYD's hard head.

• The crowd? Red hot throughout, rallying behind JYD every time he rallied back.

• Just when it looked like JYD might shock the world, The Horsemen struck—causing a disqualification and beating down JYD in classic Flair fashion. 

• The brawl with Horsemen sets up Sting’s return.

💥 Aftermath & Legacy

The post-match attack set the stage for Sting’s return and reignited the fire heading into Great American Bash ’90, where Sting would finally dethrone Flair.

But for JYD, this bout was a farewell to world title contention—an underrated performance in a role he rarely got to play: the main event hero on a big TV special.

This match is often overlooked, but it’s pure pro wrestling theater—short, sweet, and packed with energy.

📼 Watch It Back

Intro for Clash of Champions XI

with Tony Schiavone

Tony Schiavone interviews Junkyard Dog

Clash of Champions XI

The Four Horsemen Speak

with Tony Schiavone

Clash of Champions XI

JYD and Flair's walk to the Ring

Clash of Champions XI

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

Ric Flair (c) vs Junkyard Dog

Clash of Champions XI

Post Match

Rocky King Interview

with Jim Ross

Clash of Champions XI

Watch the full Clash of Champions XI event at: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x94pjf2

📊 Match Rating 

Not a high-rated bout—Cagematch averages a modest 4.2/10—but it’s a compelling snapshot of WCW’s transition era. WCW’s direction in June 1990 was much different than WWF at the time, some saw WCW floundering while building toward Great American Bash.

🔍 Hot Tag Notes

🔹 Flair's robe game was elite here—gold trim in enemy territory.
🔹 JYD was visibly slowing down physically but still oozed charisma.
🔹 The crowd's reaction was louder than some PPVs that year!
🔹 This match helped hold fans’ interest while Sting was injured.
🔹 A surprising stat: “Cagematch voters rate it only 4.2/10—far lower than typical Clash main events

🔹Showing his physical decline, JYD still earned audible cheers, proving his connection with fans

🔹 Jim Ross and Bob Caudle on commentary = chef’s kiss 🎙

Search Ric Flair in the search bar on the homepage for more: https://prowrestlingresource.blogspot.com

🏆 WWF Jobber Hall of Fame: Inductee - Mario Mancini [Videos]

 

🏆 WWF Jobber Hall of Fame: Inductee #01

Mario Mancini

“The First Step on the Ladder to Greatness”

---

📆 Active Years:

WWF: 1984–1992

🎭 Look & Gimmick:

The clean-cut, no-frills Italian-American underdog—often introduced from “Milford, Connecticut.” Basic blue trunks, black boots, and a whole lotta heart.

🔥 Greatest Bump:

Versus The Undertaker – 1990
He was The Deadman’s first televised victim on Superstars of Wrestling (Nov. 17, 1990). Took the Tombstone like a pro.

💥 Most Notable Opponents:

• The Undertaker

• King Kong Bundy

• Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

• "Macho Man" Randy Savage

• Brutus Beefcake

• "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase

• Kamala

• "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff

💡 Fun Fact:

• Mario was known backstage as a reliable and respected enhancement talent.

• He now trains future pro wrestlers at Paradise Alley Pro Wrestling in Connecticut.

• Was the first match opponent for several major stars.

📼 Match Clips:

Mario Mancini leaves the ring after a match (1984)

Mario Mancini vs "Dr. D" David Schultz (1984)

Mario Mancini vs Brutus Beefcake (1984)

Mario Mancini vs Greg Valentine (1985)

Mario Mancini vs Ted DiBiase (1991)

🔥 Claim the Gold: Harlem Heat’s First WCW Tag Title Victory [Videos]

 

🔥 Claim the Gold: Harlem Heat’s First WCW Tag Title Victory

On January 14, 1995, WCW Saturday Night broadcasted a pivotal moment in tag team history. Harlem Heat—Booker T and Stevie Ray—defeated Stars & Stripes (Marcus Alexander Bagwell & The Patriot) to win their first WCW World Tag Team Championship. Though taped weeks earlier in December 1994, this match officially launched one of the most decorated tag team runs of the '90s, making 1995 a good year for the Harlem Heat!

It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Harlem Heat had long hovered near the top of the tag division, bringing a street-tough attitude and unmatched charisma. With Sister Sherri guiding them, they finally captured the gold and never looked back.

The match itself saw the babyface team of Bagwell and The Patriot putting up a solid fight, using speed and teamwork, but Harlem Heat played it smart—capitalizing on distractions and Sherri’s ringside presence. When the dust settled, Booker T scored the decisive pinfall, and a new era began.

This win kicked off Harlem Heat’s reign of dominance. The team would go on to hold the WCW Tag Team Titles a record 10 times, solidifying their legacy as legends of the division.

🏆 10 Reigns of Harlem Heat – A WCW Tag Team Legacy

Reign	Start Date	Event	Opponents Defeated	Notes
🔥1	Dec 8, 1994	WCW Saturday Night (taped)	Stars & Stripes	Aired Jan 14, 1995
🔥2	Jun 21, 1995	WCW Saturday Night (taped)	Nasty Boys	Regained titles
🔥3	Sep 23, 1995	WCW Saturday Night	Buck & Slater
🔥4	Jun 24, 1996	WCW Monday Nitro	Lex Luger & Sting
🔥5	Aug 10, 1996	WCW Saturday Night	Steiner Brothers	Title reinstated
🔥6	Oct 27, 1996	Halloween Havoc	The Outsiders	Reign reversed
🔥7	Jul 13, 1997	Bash at the Beach	Hall & Savage
🔥8	Aug 21, 1997	WCW Thunder (taped)	Steiner Brothers
🔥9	Feb 21, 1999	SuperBrawl IX	Windham & Hennig	Vacant title
🔥10	Jul 12, 1999	WCW Monday Nitro	Benoit & Saturn	Final reign

Ten-time champs. Countless classic matches. Harlem Heat remains WCW’s hottest legacy in tag team wrestling.

📼 Watch the Match:

Harlem Heat vs Stars & Stripes

WCW Saturday Night 

Aired January 14, 1995

🔗 WCW Saturday Night – Harlem Heat vs. Stars & Stripes (January 14, 1995)

🥇 Legacy Spotlight:

Harlem Heat would go on to headline WCW’s tag division well into the Monday Night Wars. Booker T’s breakout singles career also makes this first title win all the more special—it’s where the legacy really began.

Harlem Heat Promo Highlights

🔥 Before the Break: Hogan vs. Orndorff, April ’85 [Videos]

 

🔥 A Hidden Chapter in a Legendary Rivalry

Before the betrayal, before the crutches, and before the steel cage showdown on Saturday Night’s Main Event, there was a handshake in Philadelphia.

On April 27, 1985, just weeks removed from the main event of WrestleMania, WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defended his title against his former WrestleMania tag team opponent, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. This bout, taped at the Spectrum and broadcast on PRISM, has remained largely buried in the archives—until the Pro Wrestling Resouce showcase.

What makes this match special isn't just the action. It's the moment that followed it.

---

🎯 Match Breakdown

Orndorff wrestled the entire match in full heel mode—arrogant, frustrated, and clearly out to prove a point. Hogan, fresh off cementing Hulkamania on the grandest stage, was still riding the wave of mainstream stardom.

The match itself was intense and competitive, a throwback to when even WWF’s biggest stars laid it in.

And then, the unexpected.

After taking the loss, Orndorff slowly stood… and offered his hand.

Hogan, after a pause, accepted.

No low blow. No cheap shot. Just a handshake.

---

📚 Context & Legacy

This match marked the start of Orndorff’s slow-burn face turn—a direction that would evolve over the next several weeks. By mid-1985, Orndorff would fully align with Hogan in a united front against heels like Piper, "Ace" Bob Orton, and Heenan.

But fans who only remember the famous heel turn in 1986 may not realize that Orndorff’s arc was built on earned trust. This handshake? It mattered. It laid the groundwork for a story that would explode the following year.

---

🔥 Hot Tag Notes

• The match was taped at the Philadelphia Spectrum and aired on PRISM, a local pay TV service—an early example of WWF’s expanding national strategy.

• Commentary during this era was handled by WWF's Gorilla Monsoon and PRISM's Dick Graham—though other versions of the bout exist with different dubbing.

• This bout is a perfect snapshot of WWF storytelling before weekly RAWs, before social media angles—when a handshake in one city could echo for a year.

• This handshake subtly begins Orndorff’s shift to babyface status, which would build for months before his famous heel turn in ’86.

• This match is rarely referenced in retrospectives, yet it plants the seeds for one of the most iconic feuds of the decade.

• Orndorff’s ability to walk the line between face and heel made him one of the most believable threats to Hogan’s reign.

---

📸 Screenshots & Highlights

---

📼 The Match

🎞️ Watch it: Watch on YouTube

---

📎 Related Reading

📖 Missed the aftermath? Check out our 2019 spotlight on their explosive feud:

👉 Hulk Hogan & Mr. Wonderful – The Feud That Could Have Been More 

✅ [Classic WWF Showdowns – 1985 Archive (coming soon)] Before the Break: Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff – April 27, 1985