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#Post#: 21539--------------------------------------------------
The Five; Wrestling Colleges
By: SheriffLonestar Date: December 13, 2013, 2:20 pm
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A new occasional series where I will put up five things for
discussion. This is a not a best of list, its just five related
things and is no way borrowed/stolen/plagiarized from The
Guardian's Joy of Six Blog which is awesome;
HTML http://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/joyofsix
Today's Five looks at the world of Higher Education. Being a
great fan of it myself, the best years of my life have been
spent at Sheffield Hallam University, they let me in eventually
and gave me two degrees, suckers. However a legitimate sports
background as JR will tell you is a great selling point when it
comes to developing a wrestling persona. It also of course
brings in the possibility of a second choice in life which is
essential when you career may only last as long as the next
power bomb.
1. West Texas State
Part of the A&M University system, Aggies in local parlance, has
produced more exceptional wrestlers than pretty much any other
University in North America. Here is the list;
Tully Blanchard, Bruiser Brody, Ted DiBiase, Manny Fernandez,
Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Stan Hansen, Dusty Rhodes, Tito
Santana and Barry Windham. That is four NWA World Champions, an
AWA World Champion countless tag team titles and the baddest
brawler of all time. Baring in mind that it is not a program
that is designed to inspire wrestling greatness, but it did have
the advantage of geography. With The Von Erichs running Dallas,
The Guererro's running El Paso, and various other top level pro
wrestling promoters in the state, it was a gateway to wrestling
greatness.
Here is four of them;
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpwvApRdfaU
2. Oklahoma
Oklahoma has been producing stand out wrestling stars since the
days of Danny Hodge, but along side Hodge there has been an
alumni that has been heavily wrestling orientated. Wrestling
alumni include; Brent Albright, former NWA World Heavyweight
Champion, Jack Swagger, Wahoo McDaniel, "Cowboy" Bill Watts,
former professional wrestler and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
Looking at that list is pretty terrifying. all of them are scary
bad ass shooters with incredible football and amateur records.
Hodge by far being the scariest. The close proximity to Texas
and the traditionally strong Mid South Promotion, which Watts
eventually took over, again enabled these stellar collegiate
athletes.
Here Wahoo MacDaniel, a wrestler that was so popular in New York
as a football player Ric Flair insists the Jets got rid of him
so the quarterback Joe Namath didn't have any competition in the
popularity stakes, takes on Nature Boy Ric Flair for the NWA
World Heavyweight Title;
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuxMZjN4b3o
3. Michigan
Though there really have been only two pro wrestlers that have
come out of Michigan their name has been synonymous with their
Univeristy. Rick and Scott Steiner (Born Robert and Scott
Rechsteiner) are two exemplary practitioners of the art of
amateur and pro wrestling. Rick placed fourth in the NCAA finals
and Scott was an NCAA All American. Their image of clean cut
college boys stood them well for Rob especially getting his
start in WCW as a cool heel in the Varsity Club. Wolverines to
the core.
Here they are against The Miracle Violence Connection, the
aforementioned Doc and Terry Gordy;
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeEXVHBefmg
4. University of Miami
Again U of M is a one hit wonder, but when your one hit is The
Rock, thats pretty good development. The Rock was part of U of
M's all conquering football team of the early 90's. Their
football program won five national titles from 1983 to 2001. As
part of that team the likelihood would be that Dwayne would end
up in the NFL, there are currently 42 Miami Alumni in the NFL
more than any other college, and he did play in the Canadian
Football League, but was cut after a season. Then after a long
conversation with Rocky Johnson his Father, it was into the
wrestling business. However there is no doubt that The Rock was
born in Miami.
Here he is terrorizing a Seminoles defence, wonder how many long
conversations he and Ron Simmons had about football back in the
day.
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oINkMsJ068o
5. Minnesota
You may have noticed through this list that it doesn't take a
great sports program to build a great wrestler, there also needs
to be a certain amount of wrestling culture in the area of in
which it is situated. Minnesota was a wrestling hot bed thanks
to the basic principle that its to fucking cold to do anything
out doors. The strong pro wrestling culture develop on into the
AWA, which was of course the home of The Ganges. However even up
to the moder era Minnesota has been producing top level pros;
Shelton Benjamin, Ric Flair, Verne Gagne, Brock Lesnar and one
of the earliest men to transfer from football to wrestling;
Bronco Nagurski.
Here Bronco plays in the NFL Championship game in 1943;
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3kyEFCKfP4
and wrestles Jim Londos for the Worlds Heavyweight Championship
ion 1938, a two sports star even then;
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TF7hdX37vY
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlVPTHqLYIs
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