The Legacy of Tito Santana [Rare Videos]

Photo Credit: Steve Taylor 1986

Born Merced Solis, but known to millions of professional wrestling fans as Tito Santana, he was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1980s. While in the World Wrestling Federation, Santana held the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (2 times), and the WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times). Santana also was the King of the Ring tournament winner, held on October 14, 1989, in Providence Rhode Island. On that night Santana gained victories over Bad News Brown, The Warlord, Akeem, and his former tag team partner Rick Martel. Later recognized in 2004 by the WWE as a member their Hall of Fame, Santana has been involved with professional wrestling since 1977.

Outside the WWE, Santana won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), AWF Heavyweight Championship (2 times), IWCCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time),
UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USA Pro Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and the RWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time).

Merced Solis and Viola Solis, Texas 1969

From humble beginnings in south Texas, the man who would become Tito Santana was a Mexican-American migrant worker as a child picking asparagus in Illinois, strawberries in Wisconsin, and tomatoes in Indiana. Santana didn't attend school regularly until he was a freshman in high school in Mission, Texas. After high school, Santana attended West Texas State University where he was a football teammate with future WWE Hall of Famer Tully Blanchard. In 2008, Santana authored his wrestling memories in the book, Tito Santana's Tales From the Ring.


Below are SIX rare videos:

1) Merced Solis (known then as Richard Blood) vs Charlie Fulton.

July 1978 

2) Tito Santana vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

July 1985 Intercontinental Championship Match ending.

3) Piper's Pit Interview with Tito Santana from August 1985.

4) Tito Santana Promo for an event at the Cow Palace in 1988.

5) Tito Santana's 2004 WWE Hall of Fame Induction

6) CBS News report on Tito Santana from June 2013.

Photo Credit: Steve Taylor 1986

Greatest Matches of All-Time: Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid - April 21, 1983 [Video]

NJPW Big Fight Series II 1983

Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid

April 21, 1983 marked a historic night in professional wrestling. The event was NJPW Big Fight Series II held in Toyko, Japan. The wrestling card included wrestlers such as Ed Leslie, Killer Khan, Paul Orndorff, Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, and Riki Choshu. With some good matches, the highlight of the event was the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title Match between Dynamite Kid (Thomas Billington) and Tiger Mask. These two wrestlers represented wrestling's most influential in-ring performers and their match highlighted athleticism and intensity.

Watch the the FULL MATCH below:

The Hart Foundation: A History of Promos 1985-1991 [10 Videos and 11 Photos]

One of the most unique combinations of tag team wrestling styles were represented in the form of the Hart Foundation. Formed in 1985, in the World Wrestling Federation, the Hart Foundation started out as one of the most villainous tag teams on television. Ranked by many as one of the "Top 10" tag teams of all-time, the Hart Foundation were two-time World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions and recently inducted as a team into the WWE Hall of Fame - Class of 2019.

Jimmy Hart's Hart Foundation talk about the "end of the Killer Bees" in 1985

"What...is a Female Dog?" Interview in 1986 with The Hart Foundation

"Billy Jerk Hayes" The Hart Foundation with Mean Gene Okerlund in 1987

"Brutal in Pink" The Hart Foundation with Mean Gene Okerlund in 1987

"25 percent...25 percent!" 1988 Promo by The Hart Foundation

"If you can bottle and contain it..." The Hart Foundation 1989 Promo

1990 Promo stating that the "The Pink and Black Attack is Back!"

1991 Interview speaking about The Nasty Boys. "We think you're scum!"

Bonus Video: The Hart Foundation - Hall of Fame Inductees - Class of 2019

Bonus Video: Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart laughing

Hulk Hogan 2017 Interview [Videos]

Hulk Hogan 

Perhaps the most recognized and most popular wrestler of the 1980s, Hulk Hogan (born Terry Bollea) has been in the public spotlight for nearly 40 years. Beginning his wrestling career in the summer of 1977, Hogan became international known by 1985 as a champion in the World Wrestling Federation.

Below is a nine minute excerpt of a 2017 interview with Hulk Hogan, as he reflects on his 40 year involvement with professional wrestling and his recent controversy leading to his firing from WWE. 

Ric Flair featured on ESPN's 30 for 30 Documentary Television Series [Videos]

Adopted as an infant, Ric Flair became one of the best professional wrestlers of all time. For many years, his wrestling persona was larger than life.

Flair had a natural ability in the wrestling ring and on the microphone. He truly is an entertainer and had an amazing professional wrestling career. In addition, it can be said that Ric Flair lived his wrestling gimmick, which also blurred the lines of entertainment and reality. He became "The Limosene Ridin’, Jet Flyin’, KISS stealin’ WHEELIN’ 'N DEALIN’, SON OF A GUN!!!!!"

Flair is officially recognized as a 16-time world champion (eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and two-time World Wrestling Federation Champion).

Entitled 30 for 30: "Nature Boy," this documentary directed by Rory Karpf examines the exciting and sometimes tragic life and career of professional wrestling legend Ric Flair. It first aired on ESPN on November 7, 2017.

Part 1: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x68bmx5

Part 2: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x68bsai

Classic WWF/WWE Moments from Halloween [Videos]

 

Halloween with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - 1985

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper with Halloween Tips - 1989

Halloween with Stephanie McMahon - 2002

Hulk Hogan in Japan on May 3, 1993 with the World Wrestling Federation Belt [Rare Video]

Less than one month after winning the World Wrestling Federation Championship at Wrestlemania IX, Hulk Hogan took the title to Japan and wrestled an excellent match against Keiji Mutoh for the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion.