30.03.2011, 19:59
1946. Frank Sexton
In my original paper I had this year a draw between Longson and Sexton
but big John Williams made the no draw rule so I'm going with Sexton.
On Jan. 10 the two world champs met in a title unification match at
Toronto and the result was a draw. Sexton also had a unification match
with Babe Sharkey who had a piece of Jim Londos' claim in Baltimore
and parts of the East Coast since the Greek was striped in March
1944. Sexton won that match to hold two titles that had a stronger
in ring claim to a world title than Longson's NWA title. Buddy Rogers
became very popular in St. Louis drawing 17,621 in a match with Longson,
but Buddy was kept in his place by doing jobs to Longson and Thesz.
Primo Carnera, the first worked World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
(that we know about), turned wrestler in 1946 and toured as wrestling
biggest box office attraction. I think Sexton would have won this year
because he had more votes on the East Coast.
1947. Bill Longson (5)
Longson ends four years as NWA champ by losing to Billy Watson by
DQ. (Feb 21). Comes back later in the year to defeat Watson and regain
Title over Lou Thesz (Nov. 21). Thesz holds belt most of year and
is becoming the real power in St. Louis. Sexton defeats Minneapolis
NWA champ Sandor Szabo in LA and draws with Calif. World champ
Enrique Torres while defending his AWA title on both coasts and
St. Louis. Buddy Roger spends year doing jobs for Thesz and Primo
Carnera but is developing into wrestling's greatest performer. I would
like to make this year a draw between Longson and Thesz, but Williams
will get upset so I'm going to pick Longson.
1948. Frank Sexton (2)
Wrestling greatest year mainly due to TV and the development of major
stars such as Rogers, Gorgeous George, and Antonio Rocca. The National
Wrestling Alliance is formed and recognizes MWA ruler, Orville Brown,
as their first champion. Sam Muchnick uses Brown and Buddy Rogers
in his promotional war with the Thesz/Pack company in St. Louis.
Thesz takes control of the old Pack promotion and it's title when
he defeats Longson on July 20. Rocca shows up in Texas and is a big
hit. Of course many will want to pick Gorgeous George because it
was in 48 that he became the greatest crossover star in the history
of the game. I feel that George gets more credit than he deserves.
It's probably true that he sold out (10,000) the Olympic Auditorium
every time he appeared but on the cards he wasn't booked The Dusek
Brothers were doing 9,000. I see George as a creation of TV and an
agent who also controlled Bob Hope. You couldn't really work a program
with him and the LA promoters refused to put him over their World
Champ Enrique Torres. I think the non-casual fans of a sheet like
THE OBSERVER would resent him as another Freak Attraction like Wayne
Munn, Maurice Tillet, and Primo Carnera and not vote for him. In June
Buddy Rogers showed up in LA's secondary promotion at The Hollywood
Legion Stadium claiming a Jack Pfefer world title and catches fire.
Later that year he is used by Muchnick in St. Louis and does so well
it worry's Thesz. Frank Sexton continues to control the East Coast and
SF. On Oct. 20 he and Thesz wrestle to a draw in LA. In Nov. Sexton
defeats Minneapolis World champ Cliff Gustafson. Sexton also has wins
over Rogers. I wanted to have a four-way tie but in having to pick I
take Sexton over Thesz, George, and Brown.
1949. Lou Thesz
Thesz defends title all year beating George, Longson, Rocca etc. In
Nov. Orville Brown is injured in a car wreck before a big title
unification match between both NWA title and Thesz ends up with both.
He and Muchnick join forces in St. Louis after Sam gains ground using
Buddy Rogers. Decision is made by promoters that because of national
TV there should be just one World Champion and Thesz will be that
person. Rogers is over in LA, St. Louis, Ohio and anywhere he appears.
Rocca screws promoters in Texas and moves to NY and LA (for TV). For
this he has his head handed to him in a match with Thesz. The Gorgeous
George tour continues but bombs in NYC when he is used to reopen MSG
(Feb. 22). Frank Sexton and Orville Brown have a title unification
match in Cleveland March 15 that results in a 1 hr and 45 minutes
draw.
1950. Lou Thesz (2)
Thesz continues to book himself as unbeatable champ. Sexton works in
Europe and then returns to drop AWA title to Don Eagle(May 23). Three
days later Eagle is double crossed by a referee and title is given
to Gorgeous George. George then loses to Thesz at Chicago in front of
7,675 via COR (July 27) before dropping AWA title back to Don Eagle
(Aug. 31). The AWA Title remains intact but the NWA succeeded in
taking its credibility. Rogers and Thesz battle with Lou ending up on
top. Baron Michele Leone wins Calif. World title after win over Enrique
Torres (Nov. 22) with the idea of a super match with Thesz. Rocca drew
well in MSG and kept the arena open for wrestling.
1951. Lou Thesz (3)
The Rogers/Thesz feud draw well all year and I picked Thesz because he
got the wins as champ. The fans seemed to have been draw by Buddy.
Rocca's star grew bigger in NY, Calif. and the rest of the country.
1952. Lou Thesz (4)
Thesz defeats Baron Michele Leone in title unification match in LA and
draws 25,256 and $103,256. All time records.
1953. Lou Thesz (5)
Thesz beat all the contenders - Rogers, Verne Gagne, Pat O'Connor,
Rikidozan, and Rocca - during the year. Thesz and Leo Nomellini drew
16,487 and $52,000 to the Cow Palace on June 16. On Jan. 5 Thesz
defeated Antonio Rocca at MSG. Rocca then beat Buddy Rogers for the
AWA title in Cleveland on March. On March 24, Thesz and Rocca again
met in MSG in a draw and no one even mentioned that both were title
holders. Rogers took the AWA title back from Rocca on April 9. Thesz
and the NWA title did not seem to draw well in MSG and Rocca did.
This hurt Lou's rep in the future.
1954. Lou Thesz (6)
More of the same.
1955. Lou Thesz (7)
More of the same.
1956. Antonino Rocca
Thesz took parts of the year off; dropping the title to Billy Watson
via COR (March 15) and taking it back (Nov. 9). Watson was a safe
person to hold the belt but he was a regional star and only drew in
the US because he had the title. Rocca had become a crossover star
and toured all over making money. Rogers, with Killer Kowalski, were
the top heels. Rogers, you would think, would get tons of votes every
year. If Ric Flair had a cult following I'd hate to think what Buddy
would have had. Edward Carpentier was a great performer who was
getting built up in Montreal, beat Kowalski and had three draws with
Rocca.. Verne Gagne and Wilbur Snyder drew 20,000 fans to a match
in Milwaukee on Aug. 4. I'm taking Rocca (Hogan of 56) over Buddy
(Flair of 56).
1957. Edward Carpentier
Carpentier had developed into a sensational performer and star in
Montreal, and a decision was reached by at least some of the members
of the NWA to have him replace Thesz as champ. So he defeated Lou on
June 14 in Chicago to win the NWA Title when Thesz couldn't continue
due to an injured back. After that, fights took place between various
promoters and the whole thing was forgotten by history. Carpentier
was undefeated the rest of the year, becoming a big star everywhere.
He wrestled many draws with Rocca (Boston, Chicago and MSG), had a
great feud with Killer Kowalski and beat Rogers, The Bruiser Fred
Blassie and Fritz Von Erich. Rikidozan had taken over in Japan and
Thesz had a famous tour. Lou then returned to the US and gave the
title to Dick Hutton (Nov. 14), who no one but Thesz wanted as
champion. I picked Carpentier. I don't think anyone in America knew
about Rikidozan and Japan at the time and you would have to say he
was regional. Stars like Rogers, Rocca, Thesz, Carpentier, Bruiser,
O'Connor, Kowalski, Gagne etc could draw anywhere and did. Could
Rikidozan?
1958. Buddy Rogers
Rogers had been #2 for so long that I have to believe, that with
Thesz gone and Hutton a weak champion, he would have won. This would
have been a year where workrate would play a big part in the victory
because Buddy was still doing jobs for Thesz. We know Lou hated
Rogers. I wonder how Buddy felt about Lou, considering how he was held
back. Carpentier lost his title to Kowalski (May 3), Gagne (Aug. 9),
and did a job for NWA champ Hutton (Dec. 26). Gagne was probably a
strong contender also.
1959. Buddy Rogers (2)
I had this a three way tie between Rogers, Rocca, and O' Connor, on
my original paper but was forced by John to pick one. This didn't
seem like a good year outside of NYC where Rocca was filling MSG. The
year sees the power in the NWA moving East. I think Rogers was the main
man and he was only being held back by the people in St. Louis. Pat
O'Connor won the NWA Title from Dick Hutton on Jan. 9. He was a very
good worker and had experience drawing in every territory. Verne Gagne
was powerful in the mid-west and probably had visions of a new AWA
in his head. Rogers worked Columbus and Montreal working programs
with Kowalski and Carpentier. Dr. X (Bill Miller) was having a good
run in the Omaha area. Carpentier moved to Calif. and claimed the
new WWA world title. Fred Blassie ruled parts of the South. Rikidozan
was also a consideration but in picking one, I take Rogers.
1960. Buddy Rogers (3)
More of the same. Another major contender would be Ray Stevens who
was becoming a legend in SF.
1961. Buddy Rogers (4)
Rogers won NWA World Title from Pat O' Connor on June 30 in front of
38,000 fans. Other contenders are Fred Blassie who defeated Ed
Carpentier for the WWA Title in LA (June 12) and had wins over Thesz,
Ricky Star, George, Hutton, Carnera, and Rocca. The only major
babyface Blassie seemed to miss was Gagne. Ray Stevens continued
in SF.
1962. Buddy Rogers (5)
Rikidozan had two matches vs. Blassie in LA and beat Thesz and Kowalski
in Tokyo, but had title all year and he was king even as he was reaching
the end of the road. Ray Stevens was having a great year but broke his
ankle in July in the middle of a great series with Pepper Gomez. The
Destroyer won WWA Title from Blassie and became one of wrestling best
draws and workers. The Williams guy once again forces me to make a
decision and I took Rogers.
1963. Lou Thesz (8)
The NWA brings back Lou Thesz and the old killjoy takes the NWA title
back from Rogers (Jan. 24) and beats other title claimants like Kowalski,
Bruno Sammartino ,Tarzan Tyler, and Karl Gotch. Bruno Sammartino gets
pushed as the new East Coast king with a WWWF Title win over Buddy
Rogers (May 17), the surprise is that it works as the Italian plays his
part well. He is helped by programs with Kowalski and Gorilla Monsoon.
Stevens and Blassie return to their areas in Calif. and regain their
box office prowess. Rikidozan continues as a wrestling god in Japan but
is knifed in Dec. and dies. The Destroyer sells out The Olympic
Auditorium with matches vs. Shohei Baba and Blassie and is a sensation
in Japan being the last man to defeat the great Rikidozan. Verne Gagne
unifies the AWA and Omaha world titles with victory over Fritz Von
Erich. Rogers retires. The longevity of Thesz career is amazing. He had
out lasted Everett Marshall, Steve Casey, Frank Sexton, Bronko
Nagurski, Bill Longson, Gorgeous George, and now his greatest rival
Buddy Rogers. Now 25 years after his first title reign, he was ask to
return by the NWA. No other career ever had such big compliment.
1964. Bruno Sammartino
Thesz toured all year as NWA champ but Sammartino became the true power
with 11 MSG cards with attendance around 15,000 or better. This also
was a draw on my first draft but the Williams rule forces me to side
with Sammartino.
1965. Lou Thesz (9)
Looking at this year it's very close between Thesz and Sammartino
again. Sammartino still drew more but Thesz was the legitimate champion
and had better traditional wrestling matches. I would rather watch
Thesz wrestle Pat O' Connor than Bruno wrestle Bill Watts. I'm picking
Thesz one more time.
1966. Bruno Sammartino (2)
Gene Kiniski defeated Thesz on Jan. 7 for the NWA belt. Kiniski was a
great wrestler and a good champion but his selection made Sammartino
look more like the legitimate champion sense the two had worked a
long program with Bruno winning. Baba took control of JWA when
Toyonobori (successor to Rikidozan) self destructed due to gambling
debts. Bobo Brazil, #2 face in the East to Sammartino, was drawing
big in LA. Sammartino sticks out.
1967. Shohei Baba
JWA with Shohei Baba as it's leader crushes rival Japanese promotion
IWE (with Antonio Inoki and Toyonobori). Baba defends International
Title twice vs. Bruno Sammartino and twice vs. Gene Kiniski. All
four matches are draws. Baba also has memorable matches with Buddy
Austin, Fritz Von Erich and The Destroyer. Kiniski has big match
with Fritz Von Erich and Thesz and averages around 11,000 in St Louis.
Nothing much going on in WWWF. Bruno only draws 6,612 in MSG on
Oct. 23. and doesn't sell out all year. On July 15 Sammartino loses
match to Ray Stevens in S. F. via COR and gets bad reviews from all the
smart fans of the day. Giant Baba wins.
1968. Shohei Baba (2)
JWA had great wrestling all year with Baba defending International
Title with wins over The Crusher, Ray Stevens, Curtis Iaukea, Pat
Patterson, The Bruiser, Kowalski, and Brazil. Baba wrestles
Sammartino twice: a DCOR on Aug. 2 and then defeats the WWWF champ
on Aug. 7 via COR in a Int. Title defense. Baba also wrestled NWA
champion Kiniski twice: a draw on Dec. 1 and a win via DQ in a Int.
Title defense on Dec. 6. Seems the Americans would have sold JWA
Frank Gotch's grave if the price was right. Nothing special happened
in the WWWF with Bruno forced to meet people like The Kentucky Butcher
George Steele, and Rocky Fitzpatrick. Bruno's big feud was with The
Sheik the last 3 months of the years. The 3 MSQ shows drew 10,443,
11,122, and 10,943. Bruno had no MSG sell out in 68. The series did
help The Sheik become one of the biggest box office stars in
wrestling. Bruno did not pin The Sheik.
1969. Dory Funk Jr.
Dory Funk Jr. won NWA title from Kiniski on Feb. 11. Funk and the
other wrestlers trained on his father's ranch changed the style of
pro wrestling in the 70's introducing many of the suplex moves common
today. Dory did well in his first year as champ wrestling draws with
Baba and Antonio Inoki in Japanese title defenses. Baba continued on
top in JWA, but nothing special happened for him during year. Inoki
won JWA world tournament. Other contenders: Brazil, Jack Brisco,
Blassie, Mil Mascaras, and The Sheik. Sammartino still couldn't sell
out MSG. On May 14 he drew 7,670 for a tag match and on June 30 drew
5,527 vs. George Steele.
1970. Dory Funk Jr. (2)
Sammartino did sell out MSG a least twice (vs. Crusher Verdu) and maybe
two other times also. But I think smart fans would vote for Funk
because of his work and the brother who could get heal heat.
Other contenders: Baba, Inoki, Blassie, John Tolos, The Sheik, Jack
Brisco, Pat Patterson, and Mil Mascaras. Verne Gagne is supposed to
have drawn 30,000 to a AWA title defense against Baron Von Raschke
in Chicago. Andre the Giant works first match in Japan and then is
moved to Montreal.
1971. Pedro Morales
Sammartino drops WWWF Title to Ivan Koloff clean (class way to go out),
who hands it to Pedro Morales on Feb. 8. Morales draws better in MSG
than Bruno ever did. Sellouts become common. Funk continues as NWA
champion and has feud with Jack Brisco. Fred Blassie and John Tolos
draw 25,847 and $142,158.50 to The LA Coliseum. Some historians think
it's the largest unworked figure in to that point in history. Mil
Mascaras is also a huge draw in LA Antonio Inoki popularity in JWA
becomes a problem. He becomes more of a rival than a tag partner to
Giant Baba. When he plans a coup, Inoki is expelled from company. Andre
the Giant works IWE Tournament in Japan and gets win over Karl Gotch
and losses finial to Strong Kobayashi via COR.
1972. Pedro Morales (2)
More of the same. Morales and Sammartino draw 22,508 and $140.923 to
Shea Stadium on Sept. 30. Inoki's NJW has first card on March 6 and
has series of matches with Karl Gotch. Baba breaks away from JWA on
Aug. 18 and forms AJ on Oct. 21. Andre and Don Leo Jonathan draw 20,000
fans to a match in Montreal.
1973. Andre The Giant
Andre The Giant signs with the WWWF and begins tours to just about
every territory, breaking attendance records beating two to three
major stars each night. The Giant, who was a good athlete and worker
for his size, becomes bigger that the world title. Shohei Baba wins
PWF world by beating 8 major stars, one of which is Bruno Sammartino
who he pins. Harley Race defeats Dory Funk for NWA title (May 24)when
Jr. is allegedly threaten with a shoot. Race drops it to Jack Brisco
on July 20. Brisco is a great wrestler and worker. In Dec, the WWWF
title is switched from Morales to Stan Stasiak to old reliable
Bruno Sammartino.
1974. Jack Brisco
Sammartino and Andre are huge draws during year but Jack Brisco was
one of the best working NWA champions. I think the smart fans would
give him their votes. Jack lost the title to Shohei Baba Dec. 2,
lost a rematch Dec. 5, then re-won the belt Dec. 9. The Japanese
show no class by not filming Baba losing match. Inoki rivals Baba;
beating Kintaro Oki and Strong Kobayashi
1975. Bruno Sammartino (3)
I was going to make this a 3 way tie but Mr. Go-by-the-Rules, The
Mil Mascaras of Smart Fans - John D. Williams - says no. Andre,
Brisco, Baba, Inoki continued strong. On Dec. 10, Terry Funk takes
NWA Title from Brisco. I saw this as a come down for the NWA. Terry
is known as a great worker but he wasn't the classic wrestler that
Thesz, Funk Jr or Brisco were. He was also very beatable in my eyes.
I liked him but not as NWA champion. Nick Bockwinkle defeated old
Verne Gagne for the AWA world title on Nov. 8. It was really nice
of Verne to give some young guy a chance since he had held on to
his belt through much inactivity sense Aug. 31, 1968. I think the
idea was he wanted to beat Thesz's record. I refuse to count it up
to tell you whether he did or did not. Bockwinkle was a good heal
champion and had good matches vs. Billy Robinson during the year.
Jumbo Tsuruta was the work horse of AJ. Sammartino was doing very
well in NYC. Not only selling out MSG but also the Felt Forum. I
think he also would have a big block of votes on the East Coast. I'm
giving it to Bruno. No, I'm not Italian.
1976. Bruno Sammartino (4)
This was the year of Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali and Sammartino's
broken neck. If Inoki had been able to pull it of, he would have won...
but he didn't. Sammartino injured his neck in a match with young Stan
Hansen and sucked it up to return to draw 40,000 for a rematch on
the undercard of the close circuit showing of Ali/Inoki. Nowhere in
the US did the Ali match draw beans, so I feel the Shea Stadium can
be credited to Bruno. He also drew big in match with Billy Graham,
Ernie Ladd and Bruiser Brody. Terry Funk, Andre, Dusty Rhodes, Jumbo
Tsuruta Mil Mascaras, and Terry Funk would have some votes. Mid-Atlantic
was having great matches with stars like Ric Flair and Wahoo McDaniel.
1977. Billy Graham
Superstar Billy Graham took the WWWF Title from Sammartino and did so
well that the company kept the belt on him for the rest of the year.
He had fun interviews and a great body but was a weak worker. Graham
and Dusty Rhodes drew 30,000 to MSG and the Felt Forum on Oct. 24.
Sammartino was still a moneymaker. Harley Race won the NWA Title from
Terry Funk and would prove himself a great champion. Nick Bockwinkle
was a good champion with AWA. Tatsumi Fujinami, one of wrestling's
greatest workers, was a hit in Japan and WWWF. Inoki rebuilt himself.
1978. Harley Race
The Williams rule stops me from making this a tie. I took Race over
Bob Backlund. Race was an ideal champ while Bob was drawing crowds
near 30,000 in MSG. I took Race. Billy Robinson had a great year with
AJ.
1979. Harley Race (2)
Race did title switches with Rhodes and Baba, while Backlund switched
with Inoki although the dummies in the US WWWF didn't know it. (Some
still don't.) Inoki had a strong year, appearing in MSG but not
really getting over in America. The WWWF Title no longer was considered
a "World" Title and Race appeared in MSG. I'll let others worry about
1979. I'm worn out.
The following are actual awards given by THE OBSERVER
1980. Harley Race (3)
1981. Ric Flair
1982. Ric Flair (2)
1983. Ric Flair (3)
1984. Ric Flair (4)
1985. Ric Flair (5)
1986. Ric Flair (6)
1987. Riki Choshu
1988. Akira Maeda
1989. Ric Flair (7)
1990. Ric Flair (8)
1991. Jumbo Tsuruta
1992. Ric Flair (9)
1993. Vader
1994. Toshiaki Kawada
1995. Mitsuharu Misawa
1996. Kenta Kobashi
1997. Mitsuharu Misawa (2)
1998. Steve Austin
1999. Mitsuharu Misawa (3)
2000. HHH
9-Time Winners
* Lou Thesz (1949-50-51-52-53-54-55, 63, 65) [1947-48, 56-57, 64]
* Ric Flair (1981-82-83-84-85-86, 89-90, 92)
8-Time Winners
* Frank Gotch (1904, 06-07-08-09-10-11-12)
* Joe Stecher (1914-15-16, 19-20, 25-26-27)
5-Time Winners
* Jim Londos (1930-31-32-33-34) [1928-29, 38-39-40-41]
* Bill Longson (1942-43-44-45, 47) [1946]
* Buddy Rogers (1958-59-60-61-62) [1949-50-51, 53-54-55-56-57]
4-Time Winners
* Ed Lewis (1922-23-24, 28) [1920]
* Bruno Sammartino (1964-65, 75-76) [1965, 67-68-69-70, 74]
3-Time Winners
* George Hackenschmidt (1901-02, 05) [1904, 06]
* Harley Race (1978-79-80)
* Mitsuharu Misawa (1995, 97, 99)
2-Time Winners
* Stanislaus Zbyszko (1913, 21)
* Earl Caddock (1917-18)
* Yvon Robert (1936, 41)
* Bronko Nagurski (1937, 39)
* Frank Sexton (1946, 48) [1947]
* Shohei Baba (1967-68) [1969]
* Dory Funk Jr. (1969-70)
* Pedro Morales (1971-72)
1-Time Winners
* Tom Jenkins (1903)
* Gus Sonnenberg (1929)
* Danno O'Mahoney (1935)
* Steve Casey (1938)
* Ray Steele (1940)
* Antonio Rocca (1956) [1957-58-59]
* Edward Carpentier (1957)
* Andre The Giant (1973) [1974-75-76-77-78-79]
* Jack Brisco (1974) [1975]
* Billy Graham (1977)
* Riki Choshu (1987)
* Akira Maeda (1988)
* Jumbo Tsuruta (1991)
* Vader (1993)
* Toshiaki Kawada (1994)
* Steve Austin (1998)
* HHH (2000)
Wrestlers left off that will upset some people: Rikidozan, Gorgeous
George, The Sheik, Mil Mascaras, Pat O'Connor, Ray Stevens, Billy Watson,
Gene Kiniski, Fred Blassie, The Destroyer (Dr. X), Dick Shikat, El Santo,
Verne Gagne.
In my original paper I had this year a draw between Longson and Sexton
but big John Williams made the no draw rule so I'm going with Sexton.
On Jan. 10 the two world champs met in a title unification match at
Toronto and the result was a draw. Sexton also had a unification match
with Babe Sharkey who had a piece of Jim Londos' claim in Baltimore
and parts of the East Coast since the Greek was striped in March
1944. Sexton won that match to hold two titles that had a stronger
in ring claim to a world title than Longson's NWA title. Buddy Rogers
became very popular in St. Louis drawing 17,621 in a match with Longson,
but Buddy was kept in his place by doing jobs to Longson and Thesz.
Primo Carnera, the first worked World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
(that we know about), turned wrestler in 1946 and toured as wrestling
biggest box office attraction. I think Sexton would have won this year
because he had more votes on the East Coast.
1947. Bill Longson (5)
Longson ends four years as NWA champ by losing to Billy Watson by
DQ. (Feb 21). Comes back later in the year to defeat Watson and regain
Title over Lou Thesz (Nov. 21). Thesz holds belt most of year and
is becoming the real power in St. Louis. Sexton defeats Minneapolis
NWA champ Sandor Szabo in LA and draws with Calif. World champ
Enrique Torres while defending his AWA title on both coasts and
St. Louis. Buddy Roger spends year doing jobs for Thesz and Primo
Carnera but is developing into wrestling's greatest performer. I would
like to make this year a draw between Longson and Thesz, but Williams
will get upset so I'm going to pick Longson.
1948. Frank Sexton (2)
Wrestling greatest year mainly due to TV and the development of major
stars such as Rogers, Gorgeous George, and Antonio Rocca. The National
Wrestling Alliance is formed and recognizes MWA ruler, Orville Brown,
as their first champion. Sam Muchnick uses Brown and Buddy Rogers
in his promotional war with the Thesz/Pack company in St. Louis.
Thesz takes control of the old Pack promotion and it's title when
he defeats Longson on July 20. Rocca shows up in Texas and is a big
hit. Of course many will want to pick Gorgeous George because it
was in 48 that he became the greatest crossover star in the history
of the game. I feel that George gets more credit than he deserves.
It's probably true that he sold out (10,000) the Olympic Auditorium
every time he appeared but on the cards he wasn't booked The Dusek
Brothers were doing 9,000. I see George as a creation of TV and an
agent who also controlled Bob Hope. You couldn't really work a program
with him and the LA promoters refused to put him over their World
Champ Enrique Torres. I think the non-casual fans of a sheet like
THE OBSERVER would resent him as another Freak Attraction like Wayne
Munn, Maurice Tillet, and Primo Carnera and not vote for him. In June
Buddy Rogers showed up in LA's secondary promotion at The Hollywood
Legion Stadium claiming a Jack Pfefer world title and catches fire.
Later that year he is used by Muchnick in St. Louis and does so well
it worry's Thesz. Frank Sexton continues to control the East Coast and
SF. On Oct. 20 he and Thesz wrestle to a draw in LA. In Nov. Sexton
defeats Minneapolis World champ Cliff Gustafson. Sexton also has wins
over Rogers. I wanted to have a four-way tie but in having to pick I
take Sexton over Thesz, George, and Brown.
1949. Lou Thesz
Thesz defends title all year beating George, Longson, Rocca etc. In
Nov. Orville Brown is injured in a car wreck before a big title
unification match between both NWA title and Thesz ends up with both.
He and Muchnick join forces in St. Louis after Sam gains ground using
Buddy Rogers. Decision is made by promoters that because of national
TV there should be just one World Champion and Thesz will be that
person. Rogers is over in LA, St. Louis, Ohio and anywhere he appears.
Rocca screws promoters in Texas and moves to NY and LA (for TV). For
this he has his head handed to him in a match with Thesz. The Gorgeous
George tour continues but bombs in NYC when he is used to reopen MSG
(Feb. 22). Frank Sexton and Orville Brown have a title unification
match in Cleveland March 15 that results in a 1 hr and 45 minutes
draw.
1950. Lou Thesz (2)
Thesz continues to book himself as unbeatable champ. Sexton works in
Europe and then returns to drop AWA title to Don Eagle(May 23). Three
days later Eagle is double crossed by a referee and title is given
to Gorgeous George. George then loses to Thesz at Chicago in front of
7,675 via COR (July 27) before dropping AWA title back to Don Eagle
(Aug. 31). The AWA Title remains intact but the NWA succeeded in
taking its credibility. Rogers and Thesz battle with Lou ending up on
top. Baron Michele Leone wins Calif. World title after win over Enrique
Torres (Nov. 22) with the idea of a super match with Thesz. Rocca drew
well in MSG and kept the arena open for wrestling.
1951. Lou Thesz (3)
The Rogers/Thesz feud draw well all year and I picked Thesz because he
got the wins as champ. The fans seemed to have been draw by Buddy.
Rocca's star grew bigger in NY, Calif. and the rest of the country.
1952. Lou Thesz (4)
Thesz defeats Baron Michele Leone in title unification match in LA and
draws 25,256 and $103,256. All time records.
1953. Lou Thesz (5)
Thesz beat all the contenders - Rogers, Verne Gagne, Pat O'Connor,
Rikidozan, and Rocca - during the year. Thesz and Leo Nomellini drew
16,487 and $52,000 to the Cow Palace on June 16. On Jan. 5 Thesz
defeated Antonio Rocca at MSG. Rocca then beat Buddy Rogers for the
AWA title in Cleveland on March. On March 24, Thesz and Rocca again
met in MSG in a draw and no one even mentioned that both were title
holders. Rogers took the AWA title back from Rocca on April 9. Thesz
and the NWA title did not seem to draw well in MSG and Rocca did.
This hurt Lou's rep in the future.
1954. Lou Thesz (6)
More of the same.
1955. Lou Thesz (7)
More of the same.
1956. Antonino Rocca
Thesz took parts of the year off; dropping the title to Billy Watson
via COR (March 15) and taking it back (Nov. 9). Watson was a safe
person to hold the belt but he was a regional star and only drew in
the US because he had the title. Rocca had become a crossover star
and toured all over making money. Rogers, with Killer Kowalski, were
the top heels. Rogers, you would think, would get tons of votes every
year. If Ric Flair had a cult following I'd hate to think what Buddy
would have had. Edward Carpentier was a great performer who was
getting built up in Montreal, beat Kowalski and had three draws with
Rocca.. Verne Gagne and Wilbur Snyder drew 20,000 fans to a match
in Milwaukee on Aug. 4. I'm taking Rocca (Hogan of 56) over Buddy
(Flair of 56).
1957. Edward Carpentier
Carpentier had developed into a sensational performer and star in
Montreal, and a decision was reached by at least some of the members
of the NWA to have him replace Thesz as champ. So he defeated Lou on
June 14 in Chicago to win the NWA Title when Thesz couldn't continue
due to an injured back. After that, fights took place between various
promoters and the whole thing was forgotten by history. Carpentier
was undefeated the rest of the year, becoming a big star everywhere.
He wrestled many draws with Rocca (Boston, Chicago and MSG), had a
great feud with Killer Kowalski and beat Rogers, The Bruiser Fred
Blassie and Fritz Von Erich. Rikidozan had taken over in Japan and
Thesz had a famous tour. Lou then returned to the US and gave the
title to Dick Hutton (Nov. 14), who no one but Thesz wanted as
champion. I picked Carpentier. I don't think anyone in America knew
about Rikidozan and Japan at the time and you would have to say he
was regional. Stars like Rogers, Rocca, Thesz, Carpentier, Bruiser,
O'Connor, Kowalski, Gagne etc could draw anywhere and did. Could
Rikidozan?
1958. Buddy Rogers
Rogers had been #2 for so long that I have to believe, that with
Thesz gone and Hutton a weak champion, he would have won. This would
have been a year where workrate would play a big part in the victory
because Buddy was still doing jobs for Thesz. We know Lou hated
Rogers. I wonder how Buddy felt about Lou, considering how he was held
back. Carpentier lost his title to Kowalski (May 3), Gagne (Aug. 9),
and did a job for NWA champ Hutton (Dec. 26). Gagne was probably a
strong contender also.
1959. Buddy Rogers (2)
I had this a three way tie between Rogers, Rocca, and O' Connor, on
my original paper but was forced by John to pick one. This didn't
seem like a good year outside of NYC where Rocca was filling MSG. The
year sees the power in the NWA moving East. I think Rogers was the main
man and he was only being held back by the people in St. Louis. Pat
O'Connor won the NWA Title from Dick Hutton on Jan. 9. He was a very
good worker and had experience drawing in every territory. Verne Gagne
was powerful in the mid-west and probably had visions of a new AWA
in his head. Rogers worked Columbus and Montreal working programs
with Kowalski and Carpentier. Dr. X (Bill Miller) was having a good
run in the Omaha area. Carpentier moved to Calif. and claimed the
new WWA world title. Fred Blassie ruled parts of the South. Rikidozan
was also a consideration but in picking one, I take Rogers.
1960. Buddy Rogers (3)
More of the same. Another major contender would be Ray Stevens who
was becoming a legend in SF.
1961. Buddy Rogers (4)
Rogers won NWA World Title from Pat O' Connor on June 30 in front of
38,000 fans. Other contenders are Fred Blassie who defeated Ed
Carpentier for the WWA Title in LA (June 12) and had wins over Thesz,
Ricky Star, George, Hutton, Carnera, and Rocca. The only major
babyface Blassie seemed to miss was Gagne. Ray Stevens continued
in SF.
1962. Buddy Rogers (5)
Rikidozan had two matches vs. Blassie in LA and beat Thesz and Kowalski
in Tokyo, but had title all year and he was king even as he was reaching
the end of the road. Ray Stevens was having a great year but broke his
ankle in July in the middle of a great series with Pepper Gomez. The
Destroyer won WWA Title from Blassie and became one of wrestling best
draws and workers. The Williams guy once again forces me to make a
decision and I took Rogers.
1963. Lou Thesz (8)
The NWA brings back Lou Thesz and the old killjoy takes the NWA title
back from Rogers (Jan. 24) and beats other title claimants like Kowalski,
Bruno Sammartino ,Tarzan Tyler, and Karl Gotch. Bruno Sammartino gets
pushed as the new East Coast king with a WWWF Title win over Buddy
Rogers (May 17), the surprise is that it works as the Italian plays his
part well. He is helped by programs with Kowalski and Gorilla Monsoon.
Stevens and Blassie return to their areas in Calif. and regain their
box office prowess. Rikidozan continues as a wrestling god in Japan but
is knifed in Dec. and dies. The Destroyer sells out The Olympic
Auditorium with matches vs. Shohei Baba and Blassie and is a sensation
in Japan being the last man to defeat the great Rikidozan. Verne Gagne
unifies the AWA and Omaha world titles with victory over Fritz Von
Erich. Rogers retires. The longevity of Thesz career is amazing. He had
out lasted Everett Marshall, Steve Casey, Frank Sexton, Bronko
Nagurski, Bill Longson, Gorgeous George, and now his greatest rival
Buddy Rogers. Now 25 years after his first title reign, he was ask to
return by the NWA. No other career ever had such big compliment.
1964. Bruno Sammartino
Thesz toured all year as NWA champ but Sammartino became the true power
with 11 MSG cards with attendance around 15,000 or better. This also
was a draw on my first draft but the Williams rule forces me to side
with Sammartino.
1965. Lou Thesz (9)
Looking at this year it's very close between Thesz and Sammartino
again. Sammartino still drew more but Thesz was the legitimate champion
and had better traditional wrestling matches. I would rather watch
Thesz wrestle Pat O' Connor than Bruno wrestle Bill Watts. I'm picking
Thesz one more time.
1966. Bruno Sammartino (2)
Gene Kiniski defeated Thesz on Jan. 7 for the NWA belt. Kiniski was a
great wrestler and a good champion but his selection made Sammartino
look more like the legitimate champion sense the two had worked a
long program with Bruno winning. Baba took control of JWA when
Toyonobori (successor to Rikidozan) self destructed due to gambling
debts. Bobo Brazil, #2 face in the East to Sammartino, was drawing
big in LA. Sammartino sticks out.
1967. Shohei Baba
JWA with Shohei Baba as it's leader crushes rival Japanese promotion
IWE (with Antonio Inoki and Toyonobori). Baba defends International
Title twice vs. Bruno Sammartino and twice vs. Gene Kiniski. All
four matches are draws. Baba also has memorable matches with Buddy
Austin, Fritz Von Erich and The Destroyer. Kiniski has big match
with Fritz Von Erich and Thesz and averages around 11,000 in St Louis.
Nothing much going on in WWWF. Bruno only draws 6,612 in MSG on
Oct. 23. and doesn't sell out all year. On July 15 Sammartino loses
match to Ray Stevens in S. F. via COR and gets bad reviews from all the
smart fans of the day. Giant Baba wins.
1968. Shohei Baba (2)
JWA had great wrestling all year with Baba defending International
Title with wins over The Crusher, Ray Stevens, Curtis Iaukea, Pat
Patterson, The Bruiser, Kowalski, and Brazil. Baba wrestles
Sammartino twice: a DCOR on Aug. 2 and then defeats the WWWF champ
on Aug. 7 via COR in a Int. Title defense. Baba also wrestled NWA
champion Kiniski twice: a draw on Dec. 1 and a win via DQ in a Int.
Title defense on Dec. 6. Seems the Americans would have sold JWA
Frank Gotch's grave if the price was right. Nothing special happened
in the WWWF with Bruno forced to meet people like The Kentucky Butcher
George Steele, and Rocky Fitzpatrick. Bruno's big feud was with The
Sheik the last 3 months of the years. The 3 MSQ shows drew 10,443,
11,122, and 10,943. Bruno had no MSG sell out in 68. The series did
help The Sheik become one of the biggest box office stars in
wrestling. Bruno did not pin The Sheik.
1969. Dory Funk Jr.
Dory Funk Jr. won NWA title from Kiniski on Feb. 11. Funk and the
other wrestlers trained on his father's ranch changed the style of
pro wrestling in the 70's introducing many of the suplex moves common
today. Dory did well in his first year as champ wrestling draws with
Baba and Antonio Inoki in Japanese title defenses. Baba continued on
top in JWA, but nothing special happened for him during year. Inoki
won JWA world tournament. Other contenders: Brazil, Jack Brisco,
Blassie, Mil Mascaras, and The Sheik. Sammartino still couldn't sell
out MSG. On May 14 he drew 7,670 for a tag match and on June 30 drew
5,527 vs. George Steele.
1970. Dory Funk Jr. (2)
Sammartino did sell out MSG a least twice (vs. Crusher Verdu) and maybe
two other times also. But I think smart fans would vote for Funk
because of his work and the brother who could get heal heat.
Other contenders: Baba, Inoki, Blassie, John Tolos, The Sheik, Jack
Brisco, Pat Patterson, and Mil Mascaras. Verne Gagne is supposed to
have drawn 30,000 to a AWA title defense against Baron Von Raschke
in Chicago. Andre the Giant works first match in Japan and then is
moved to Montreal.
1971. Pedro Morales
Sammartino drops WWWF Title to Ivan Koloff clean (class way to go out),
who hands it to Pedro Morales on Feb. 8. Morales draws better in MSG
than Bruno ever did. Sellouts become common. Funk continues as NWA
champion and has feud with Jack Brisco. Fred Blassie and John Tolos
draw 25,847 and $142,158.50 to The LA Coliseum. Some historians think
it's the largest unworked figure in to that point in history. Mil
Mascaras is also a huge draw in LA Antonio Inoki popularity in JWA
becomes a problem. He becomes more of a rival than a tag partner to
Giant Baba. When he plans a coup, Inoki is expelled from company. Andre
the Giant works IWE Tournament in Japan and gets win over Karl Gotch
and losses finial to Strong Kobayashi via COR.
1972. Pedro Morales (2)
More of the same. Morales and Sammartino draw 22,508 and $140.923 to
Shea Stadium on Sept. 30. Inoki's NJW has first card on March 6 and
has series of matches with Karl Gotch. Baba breaks away from JWA on
Aug. 18 and forms AJ on Oct. 21. Andre and Don Leo Jonathan draw 20,000
fans to a match in Montreal.
1973. Andre The Giant
Andre The Giant signs with the WWWF and begins tours to just about
every territory, breaking attendance records beating two to three
major stars each night. The Giant, who was a good athlete and worker
for his size, becomes bigger that the world title. Shohei Baba wins
PWF world by beating 8 major stars, one of which is Bruno Sammartino
who he pins. Harley Race defeats Dory Funk for NWA title (May 24)when
Jr. is allegedly threaten with a shoot. Race drops it to Jack Brisco
on July 20. Brisco is a great wrestler and worker. In Dec, the WWWF
title is switched from Morales to Stan Stasiak to old reliable
Bruno Sammartino.
1974. Jack Brisco
Sammartino and Andre are huge draws during year but Jack Brisco was
one of the best working NWA champions. I think the smart fans would
give him their votes. Jack lost the title to Shohei Baba Dec. 2,
lost a rematch Dec. 5, then re-won the belt Dec. 9. The Japanese
show no class by not filming Baba losing match. Inoki rivals Baba;
beating Kintaro Oki and Strong Kobayashi
1975. Bruno Sammartino (3)
I was going to make this a 3 way tie but Mr. Go-by-the-Rules, The
Mil Mascaras of Smart Fans - John D. Williams - says no. Andre,
Brisco, Baba, Inoki continued strong. On Dec. 10, Terry Funk takes
NWA Title from Brisco. I saw this as a come down for the NWA. Terry
is known as a great worker but he wasn't the classic wrestler that
Thesz, Funk Jr or Brisco were. He was also very beatable in my eyes.
I liked him but not as NWA champion. Nick Bockwinkle defeated old
Verne Gagne for the AWA world title on Nov. 8. It was really nice
of Verne to give some young guy a chance since he had held on to
his belt through much inactivity sense Aug. 31, 1968. I think the
idea was he wanted to beat Thesz's record. I refuse to count it up
to tell you whether he did or did not. Bockwinkle was a good heal
champion and had good matches vs. Billy Robinson during the year.
Jumbo Tsuruta was the work horse of AJ. Sammartino was doing very
well in NYC. Not only selling out MSG but also the Felt Forum. I
think he also would have a big block of votes on the East Coast. I'm
giving it to Bruno. No, I'm not Italian.
1976. Bruno Sammartino (4)
This was the year of Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali and Sammartino's
broken neck. If Inoki had been able to pull it of, he would have won...
but he didn't. Sammartino injured his neck in a match with young Stan
Hansen and sucked it up to return to draw 40,000 for a rematch on
the undercard of the close circuit showing of Ali/Inoki. Nowhere in
the US did the Ali match draw beans, so I feel the Shea Stadium can
be credited to Bruno. He also drew big in match with Billy Graham,
Ernie Ladd and Bruiser Brody. Terry Funk, Andre, Dusty Rhodes, Jumbo
Tsuruta Mil Mascaras, and Terry Funk would have some votes. Mid-Atlantic
was having great matches with stars like Ric Flair and Wahoo McDaniel.
1977. Billy Graham
Superstar Billy Graham took the WWWF Title from Sammartino and did so
well that the company kept the belt on him for the rest of the year.
He had fun interviews and a great body but was a weak worker. Graham
and Dusty Rhodes drew 30,000 to MSG and the Felt Forum on Oct. 24.
Sammartino was still a moneymaker. Harley Race won the NWA Title from
Terry Funk and would prove himself a great champion. Nick Bockwinkle
was a good champion with AWA. Tatsumi Fujinami, one of wrestling's
greatest workers, was a hit in Japan and WWWF. Inoki rebuilt himself.
1978. Harley Race
The Williams rule stops me from making this a tie. I took Race over
Bob Backlund. Race was an ideal champ while Bob was drawing crowds
near 30,000 in MSG. I took Race. Billy Robinson had a great year with
AJ.
1979. Harley Race (2)
Race did title switches with Rhodes and Baba, while Backlund switched
with Inoki although the dummies in the US WWWF didn't know it. (Some
still don't.) Inoki had a strong year, appearing in MSG but not
really getting over in America. The WWWF Title no longer was considered
a "World" Title and Race appeared in MSG. I'll let others worry about
1979. I'm worn out.
The following are actual awards given by THE OBSERVER
1980. Harley Race (3)
1981. Ric Flair
1982. Ric Flair (2)
1983. Ric Flair (3)
1984. Ric Flair (4)
1985. Ric Flair (5)
1986. Ric Flair (6)
1987. Riki Choshu
1988. Akira Maeda
1989. Ric Flair (7)
1990. Ric Flair (8)
1991. Jumbo Tsuruta
1992. Ric Flair (9)
1993. Vader
1994. Toshiaki Kawada
1995. Mitsuharu Misawa
1996. Kenta Kobashi
1997. Mitsuharu Misawa (2)
1998. Steve Austin
1999. Mitsuharu Misawa (3)
2000. HHH
9-Time Winners
* Lou Thesz (1949-50-51-52-53-54-55, 63, 65) [1947-48, 56-57, 64]
* Ric Flair (1981-82-83-84-85-86, 89-90, 92)
8-Time Winners
* Frank Gotch (1904, 06-07-08-09-10-11-12)
* Joe Stecher (1914-15-16, 19-20, 25-26-27)
5-Time Winners
* Jim Londos (1930-31-32-33-34) [1928-29, 38-39-40-41]
* Bill Longson (1942-43-44-45, 47) [1946]
* Buddy Rogers (1958-59-60-61-62) [1949-50-51, 53-54-55-56-57]
4-Time Winners
* Ed Lewis (1922-23-24, 28) [1920]
* Bruno Sammartino (1964-65, 75-76) [1965, 67-68-69-70, 74]
3-Time Winners
* George Hackenschmidt (1901-02, 05) [1904, 06]
* Harley Race (1978-79-80)
* Mitsuharu Misawa (1995, 97, 99)
2-Time Winners
* Stanislaus Zbyszko (1913, 21)
* Earl Caddock (1917-18)
* Yvon Robert (1936, 41)
* Bronko Nagurski (1937, 39)
* Frank Sexton (1946, 48) [1947]
* Shohei Baba (1967-68) [1969]
* Dory Funk Jr. (1969-70)
* Pedro Morales (1971-72)
1-Time Winners
* Tom Jenkins (1903)
* Gus Sonnenberg (1929)
* Danno O'Mahoney (1935)
* Steve Casey (1938)
* Ray Steele (1940)
* Antonio Rocca (1956) [1957-58-59]
* Edward Carpentier (1957)
* Andre The Giant (1973) [1974-75-76-77-78-79]
* Jack Brisco (1974) [1975]
* Billy Graham (1977)
* Riki Choshu (1987)
* Akira Maeda (1988)
* Jumbo Tsuruta (1991)
* Vader (1993)
* Toshiaki Kawada (1994)
* Steve Austin (1998)
* HHH (2000)
Wrestlers left off that will upset some people: Rikidozan, Gorgeous
George, The Sheik, Mil Mascaras, Pat O'Connor, Ray Stevens, Billy Watson,
Gene Kiniski, Fred Blassie, The Destroyer (Dr. X), Dick Shikat, El Santo,
Verne Gagne.