Vintage Wrestlers: Freddie Blassie vs. Rikidozan [Videos]

March 28, 1962. Los Angeles. The legendary Olympic Auditorium. "Classy" Freddie Blassie entered as the hated WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a man so despised that police protection was often needed after his matches. Standing across the ring was Japanese icon Rikidozan, whose popularity had reached superhero status. By night's end, the title had changed hands, one man was left a bloody mess, and the other was perhaps preparing to enlist his "great friend..." President Kennedy... to investigate the outcome of the match. Classic!

WWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

"Classy" Freddie Blassie vs Rikidozan

March 28, 1962

Post Match Interview with Dick Lane

Freddie Blassie Interview

Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie

WWWF Television

1974

The First Five Stars: "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs "Hacksaw" Butch Reed [Videos]

Ric Flair and Gordon Solie in 1982

In the early 1980s, long before star ratings became part of everyday wrestling discourse, two rising stars met in South Florida for a match that would quietly make history. On April 7, 1982, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair stepped into the ring with the powerful and fast-rising “Hacksaw” Butch Reed at a Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Miami Beach. What unfolded that night was more than just a title defense—it was the beginning of a benchmark.

Years later, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer would look back on this bout and award it the first five-star rating of his now-famous match evaluation system, a scale that would go on to shape how generations of fans discuss and analyze professional wrestling.

 

It’s the fact that I live a lifestyle, never ever equaled by any other man.

My man, Sam, right here, and check out this limousine, my own Learjet.

And look what I travel with, the most beautiful women on the face of this earth.

This is why the World’s Heavyweight Champion, not Joe Montana, not Burt Reynolds, not turkeys like that, but a real man, the World’s Heavyweight Champion, that’s what makes me a little different.

- Ric Flair

Ric Flair Promo

Championship Wrestling

April 1982

Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs Butch Reed

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

Championship Wrestling

Miami Beach, Florida

April 7, 1982

Butch Reed rips off Ric Flair's suit

Championship Wrestling

Tampa, Florida

Aired May 1, 1982

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

Vintage Wrestlers: Vincent Lopez [Videos]

Vincent Lopez was born Daniel Vincent Lopez DeVinaspre in Meridian, Idaho on July 24, 1908. Lopez was the son of Spanish immigrants and was a standout football player while in high school.

Lopez entered professional wrestling in the early 1930s, gaining tremendous experience traveling throughout the world to exotic locations in Australia, Hawaii, and South America. On his 27th birthday, in Los Angeles, California, Lopez defeated Man Mountian Dean in the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship tournament final.

Vincent Lopez vs Man Mountain Dean

July 24, 1935 - Los Angeles, California

Silent Video

Lopez was mainly known as a "bad guy" and the fans loved to hate him. Lopez held the World Heavyweight Championship for over a year, defending the title against the likes of Gino Garibaldi, George Calzi, and Howard Cantonwine.

On April 27, 1936, Vincent Lopez was presented with the “Lou Daro World Heavyweight Championship Trophy” by Civil Service Commission President George Lyon.  Lyon was acting on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Frank Shaw.  The presentation was made at a special luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel. Among the others in attendance were promoter Jack Daro, matchmaker Joe “Toots” Mondt, and the Los Angeles Chief of Police Davis.

On August 19, 1936, a historic three falls match between Vincent Lopez and Dave Levin took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, California. Coming from different parts of the county and different organizational championship lines, both Levin and Lopez claimed to be the world champion. Lopez would lose two of the three falls and Levin was declared the victor. In classic "bad guy style," after the loss, Lopez proclaimed that he was robbed of the victory, and blamed referee McCullough.

Lopez would continue to wrestle for over 25 years facing champions and upstart wrestlers alike.

Bronko Nagurski vs Vincent Lopez

August 11, 1937 - Los Angeles, California

Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship Match

Vincent Lopez involved in a Tornado Tag Team Match

March 28, 1940 - Hollywood, California

Cowboy Carlson vs Vincent Lopez

May 8, 1953 - Chicago, Illinois