Famer Friday: Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas

The Soul Patrol
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

I know Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas were not inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame together, but when I first started watching wrestling the duo was the tag team champions. I believe they were the black first tag team to hold the WWF titles, having beaten the Wild Samoans in late 1983.

Courtesy: WWE

Johnson and Atlas, better known as The Soul Patrol, would come out and defend the titles and do some fancy footwork in the process. They worked well as a team and the fans seemed to love what they were doing. As their momentum was building, it seemed as if the rug was suddenly yanked from under them.

It was April 1984 and an unlikely tag team (at least in my 11 year old mind) of Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch upset the Soul Patrol for the belts. Johnson and Atlas had such great physiques it baffled me that two guys could lose to a pair in the shape of the heels. Remember, I was 11 and new to wrestling. In the closing moments chaos ensued and Adonis rolled up Johnson for the pin. I thought as this was happening, he's so powerful, why can't he push that guy off of him. Again, I wasn't in on the act yet and sulked after the champs were dethroned.

Saba Simba
Courtesy: WWE

Both Johnson and Atlas stayed with the company as singles wrestlers for a bit after the loss. I lost track of Rocky, but Atlas would go to World Class and compete as "The Black Superman." Yes that sounds ridiculous, but when you consider his return to the WWF in 1991 as Saba Simba, you'd long for his days in WCCW. That stint was brief and Atlas fell on hard times.

Years later WWE would not only induct Atlas in the Hall of Fame (2006), but bring him back as a manager for Mark Henry. The duo seemed to work well together, but it wasn't a long term plan. The Hall of Famer was released, but was a part of Legends House on the WWE Network. And long before any of that Atlas was press slamming Hulk Hogan (a heel) over his head and making magazine covers for doing it. He was a beast.

Son & father
Courtesy: WWE

Johnson was inducted in 2008 by his son The Rock. Prior to that he had made a few appearances on WWF programming, with the most memorable being when he saved Rocky Maivia during a three-on-one attack by The Sultan, The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund at WrestleMania XIII. The father-son combo beat up the bad guys and I thought it would lead to at least a one and done tag team match for the combo. It never did though.

Regardless, both Johnson and Atlas were a big part of my early fandom days. From their time as tag team champions, to their stints as singles Superstars, I appreciate what each man did for the business. I consider myself lucky to have been on hand to see each go into the Hall of Fame.

Ladies Night: Please Add These Women to the Hall of Fame

Three Hall of Fame worthy women
Elizabeth, Cyndi Lauper and Luna Vachon

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to My 1-2-3 Cents the Podcast!

Before I get too far into this post, I'm going to start off by saying I know that there are likely circumstances that we don't know about that are keeping some of these women out of the WWE Hall of Fame.  I'm not posting this as a criticism to the WWE, these are just a few of the names I'd like to see enshrined sooner rather than later. 

Randy Savage & Elizabeth at Wrestlemania IV
Photo courtesy: WWE

Miss Elizabeth was often referred to as "The First Lady of Wrestling."  I remember when she burst onto the scene in WWF back in 1985.  All of the managers in the company had been trying hard to sign newcomer "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  The Macho Man turned down the likes of Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart and Freddie Blassie.  Finally, Savage introduced his manager/valet, a beautiful brunette simply named Elizabeth.  She made history in the WWE and paved the way for the likes of Sunny, Sable and Marlena.

Liz saves the day
Photo courtesy: WWE

Savage and Liz were made a great pairing.  I'm sure it had a lot to do with the fact that they were married in real life.  The couple had its ups and downs and finally split during the Mega Powers explosion in 1989.  Liz faded out of the spotlight, showing up briefly a year later at Wrestlemania 6 to "manage" Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire against Savage and Sensational Sherri.  Then a year after that, the "first couple of wrestling" reunited when Liz jumped the barricade and charged the ring to save Savage from Sherri's beating.  I along with many others cheered in front of the TV as these two embraced and rekindled their romance.  Randy and Liz were "Ross and Rachel" long before Friends ever premiered.

Elizabeth confronts Ric Flair
Photo courtesy: WWE

Liz stuck by Macho Man after their TV wedding and the couple survived Ric Flair's allegations of a previous romance with Elizabeth.  The couple divorced behind the scenes a short time later, but Elizabeth stayed involved in the business after Savage appeared in WCW.  She played a role in several story lines there including one of the worst handcuff jobs I've ever seen.  Sadly Elizabeth died in 2003 at the age of 42.  I've read that surviving family members are the ones keeping her out of the Hall of Fame.  I remain optimistic that an agreement will eventually be reached and she'll take her rightful place in wrestling history.

Lauper with Wendi Richter
Photo courtesy: WWE

I've blogged before about Cyndi Lauper and why I think she belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame.  Simply stated: Cyndi was a major factor behind the Rock n Wrestling Connection in 1984.  She showed up on Piper's Pit after Capt. Lou Albano took credit for her success (Albano had appeared in her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun video).  Eventually Piper got involved, which brought in Hulk Hogan and Mr. T and leading to Wrestlemania.  In the meantime, Lauper managed Richter to her two WWF Women's Title reigns.  I was a huge fan of Cyndi's at the time and seeing her on WWF programming sealed the deal for me.  Her work in those early days have more than earned her the right to be the first female inductee into the Celebrity Wing of the Hall of Fame.  

Luna at Monday Night Raw
Photo courtesy: WWE

Luna Vachon is one of the first true bad ass women of wrestling. My first memories of her are from my Apter magazines, when they'd written up something about her and the tag team she managed The Blackhearts.  She looked just as scary and tough as the men she managed.  Later, she surfaced in WWF and joined the likes of Shawn Michaels and Bam Bam Bigelow.  She and Bigelow feuded with Doink and Dink the Clown at a time when women's wrestling frankly sucked in WWF.  She'd later return and join Goldust during a period when Goldie had gone rogue.  Luna feuded with Sable in the ring and in real life.  Despite her talent, Luna never won the women's title.  Even with her ups and downs behind the scenes, I think she too has earned her a chance at immortality in the Hall of Fame.  May she rest in peace as well.

It's About Time: Rolex Watches

Submariner 6536
Photo by Bob's Watches

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'll be honest with you, I don't know much about Rolex Watches, other than they're a luxury time piece. The "fanciest" watch I ever owned was a Mickey Mouse watch with a metal band.  I think it cost about $60 back in the late 1990's.  I currently own a tacky Smurf watch with a metal band and before that one it was a Homer Simpson watch.  So obviously, I know all about stylin' and proflin'.

So you're probably wondering why I'm writing about Rolex.  Someone from the website Bob's Watches sent me an email recently after reading my blog about Swatch Watches.  He asked if I'd look at their website and write a little something up, so I agreed.

The site is quite impressive and gives browsers a chance to see some classic time pieces, as well as new models.  The Rolex name carries a lot of prestige, nearly 110 years after its founding.  Bob's Watches buys, sells, and trades vintage Rolexes.  They've been around for more than 30 years.  On the site, you'll see all types of watches, ranging in price from about $1,900 to more than $20,000.  Like I said, they're luxury pieces.

Ric Flair & his Rolex
Photo by WWE

I remember wrestling legend Ric Flair always bragging about his expensive suits, fine wine, and Rolex watches.  That's probably the first time I'd ever heard of the brand.  He'd get on a roll while cutting a promo and wrap things up with the line: "You're talking to the Rolex wearing, diamond ring wearing, kiss stealing, Woo! wheelin' dealin', limousine riding, jet flying son of a gun..." Years later, Shawn Michaels gave Flair a Rolex as a token of his appreciation after "The Nature Boy" retired at Wrestlemania 24.

Submariner 6536
Photo by Bob's Watches

But I digress.  Back on track with Bob's. The company wanted me to talk about the Vintage Rolex Submariner Reference Number 6536.  Sources say it was only produced in 1955, and many people believe Sean Connery wore the model in the James Bond movie Dr. No.  It's also the first watch to have a depth rating of 330 feet (100 meters).  The pictures I've posted (other than the Ric Flair one) are of this model and were provided by Bob's Watches.


I may never be able to own one, but I can gawk at them online all I want.  They're great looking watches and have truly stood the test of time.  And if you want to buy one and don't want to get scammed, because they're are plenty of knockoffs out there, check out the video below.  It's from Bob's Watches too.

Black History Month: Junkyard Dog

Junkyard Dog!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Growing up in the 80's and becoming addicted to wrestling, naturally I was a fan of the Junkyard Dog.  He was a big man, but always seemed to be having a blast in the ring.  My first house show was in 1984, and JYD beat "Cowboy" Bob Orton by disqualification after Roddy Piper interfered.

Before he arrived in the WWF though, the Dog enjoyed much success in the Mid South area.  In fact, I believe it was Cowboy Bill Watts who gave Sylvester Ritter the Junkyard Dog name.  He also worked in Stu Hart's Stampede region.  I also remember prior his arrival in the WWF in 1984, he wrestled briefly for World Class Championship Wrestling.  One of the classic contests from that era was his head butt battle with the deranged Missing Link.

But he wasn't always the fun loving baby face we came to idolize.  Dog got his start as a heel.  It didn't take long for him to get over with the fans though.  After picking up a victory, JYD would invite young fans into the ring to dance in celebration.  We never sat close enough to the ringside area to do that, but I always dreamed of getting in there with him one day.

JYD in cartoon form

The Dog's character fit right in with the PG mentality of the WWF back then.  He was on tshirts (I owned one), action figures (had one of those too, still do), and was a character in Hulk Hogan's Rock n Wrestling cartoon.  (Fun fact, James Avery who played Uncle Phil on the Fresh Prince of Bell Air was the voice of JYD in that series)  JYD was also a performer on the Wrestling Album, singing his new theme song "Grab Them Cakes."  I still play it from time to time in my iPod.

His biggest moment in the WWF came at the first Wrestlemania.  JYD challenged Greg "the Hammer" Valentine for the Intercontinental title.  Valentine cheated and put his feet on the ropes to get the pin.  However, former champ Tito Santana came down to protest and the ref restarted the match.  Valentine and his manager Jimmy Hart high tailed it out of the ring and the champion was counted out.  I was so bummed.  I watched Wrestlemania via closed circuit television that night and besides Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda losing the tag team titles, that was the disappointment of the night.

Winner!

Shortly after the DQ win over Valentine at Wrestlemania, JYD was booked in the Wrestling Classic tournament.  I think it was a direct to video release project for the WWF, which saw the Dog win the 16 man tourney.  He scored a win over the Iron Sheik and Moondog Spot before facing "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the finals.  Dog won that match by count out.  A cheap way to end the tournament, but hey, he did win it all.

I can't remember what year it was, but it was early on in the Saturday Night's Main Event franchise and Dog had been attacked by someone on the show.  He was taken backstage and everyone thought he was down and out, but he later charged the ring with his head wrapped up to defend his friend.  I want to say it was a tag team match with Hulk Hogan against the Funks, but I'm not sure.  In addition to seeing it on TV, I also saw that match live in St. Louis at a house show.

A New King?

 JYD competed against Terry and Dory Funk, Harley Race, and Ron Bass.  I think after that semi push he experienced in 1985, things started to go down hill a bit for him. He was on the losing end of his feud with Funk and then at Wrestlemania III he jobbed to Harley Race, which is nothing to be ashamed of, but the match was over before it started.  He was then supposed to bow to "the King", but instead punched him out and took his crown and robe.  Another classic JYD moment.

By 1988, he was on his way out.  JYD was in the final 3 of the Wrestlemania IV battle royal and lost by disqualification to Rick Rude at the first SummerSlam.  He was gone from the company by Survivor Series.  Dog went back to Stampede and eventually made his way to WCW, where if memory serves me, he scored a handful of pin falls over Ric Flair at house shows.  I can't remember if Flair was still champ then or if he'd dropped the belt to Sting already.  JYD did hold the 6 man tag team titles with Tommy Rich and Ricky Morton in 1991, then he went to USWA to beat Eddie Gilbert for the unified heavyweight title there.

In 1998, JYD's life was cut short in a traffic crash.  I remember reading out it online and being devastated by the news.  One of my childhood heroes was gone forever. However, in 2004 the WWE inducted him into the Hall of Fame.  So even though Junkyard Dog is not here, he's legacy is and always will be.

He may have never been the champ, but Junkyard Dog was truly one of the all time greats.  May he rest in peace.