#don muraco

[wrestlingarsenal]

Because everyone knows it's a big turn-on.

The article reveals that fans actually attend wrestling matches to "see a man writhe" in pain. The article thereby "outs" the visual appeal of suffering -- the titillating voyeurism from watching a man squirm in agony. In exchange for their "hard-earned money", the fans are provided with the "most exciting" visual content (which is basically the definition of pornography.)

[joearlikelikeswrestling]

[hart-on-my-sleeve]

10 12 1986 Wrestling Challenge - Ace & Don Muraco Kilt Promo

They're trying to make fun of Piper, but uh well. Hm. Trying is the key word here.

[mostbelovednjpwtournament]

Most Beloved NJPW Wrestler Tournament

[guyincognitojr]

[ringthedamnbell]

Top Five Bob Backlund Opponents

Top Five Bob Backlund Opponents

Rob Faint From 1978 to 1983 Bob Backlund reigned as the WWF champion, defending the title against the who’s who of rulebreakers.  Hulk Hogan, Superstar Graham, Ernie Ladd, the Iron Sheik, Sgt Slaughter; he beat them all.  Of all his challengers who would be considered his greatest?  Let the debate begin! Continue reading Untitled

[classicprowrestling]

Don Muraco vs Cactus Jack - 1991

[elitehanitje]

Sheamus' Return Marred By Bodyshaming and Fatshaming

The former WWE champion had since been out of action for about eight months with a shoulder injury. His last match saw him beat current AEW star Edge (Adam Copeland) in August last year and after the long break and rumors of a move to AEW, his return was welcomed but his carrying some extra weight was a surprise to many.

However, he faced criticism from some fans who made insensitive remarks about his weight and appearance.

The Irish sensation returned to the WWE on this week's Monday Night Raw and successfully took down Viking Raiders member Ivar. After the match, however, some fans online came after Sheamus not for his performance, but for his appearance. "Sheamus got fat, bro," one person wrote on X. "Sheamus looks a bit overweight," another said. "Hope she sheds a few soon." 

Sheamus himself, meanwhile, didn't let the criticism faze him. In response to the jokes about his weight, he simply wrote on X, "I'm just big-boned." 

Responding to the backlash, Sheamus took a lighthearted approach, joking about the comments and revealing his initial plan to return during the Draft.

Luckily, Sheamus had many fans online come to his defense.

"I think it's horses--t that people are fat-shaming Sheamus," one person said. "If anyone has earned his late-stage Don Muraco era or even a full Adrian Adonis, it's Sheamus. In fact he could eat a meatball sub, or whatever the Irish equivalent is, during a match and no one should question it."

Another noted that we have unrealistic expectations for how people, especially athletes, should look. "Sheamus is 46 [and] he has had back and neck issues. He could go on [testosterone replacement therapy] to get back in shape, but despite popular belief thanks to wrestling, bodybuilding, and especially Hollywood standards, a zero-percent body fat is not a healthy physique," they said. "Sheamus is looking good."

Others pointed out that a large number of the critics might not even be in the best shape themselves. "A lot of y'all on here are morbidly obese and one burger away from a heart attack, yet y'all have the audacity to fat-shame Sheamus," one X user noted.

[blowflyfag]

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT/FEDERATION MAGAZINE: December 1995

Rookies to LEGENDS

HEROES OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

BARRY HOROWITZ

Over the past decade the name Barry Horowitz was infamous in the ranks of the Federation. Barry was known as the Bill Buckner of the squared circle, only he let more than ONE ground ball trickle between his legs!

From the years 1981-1995, Horowitz lost what he estimates as “at least” 500 matches. As a matter of fact, he remembers his first two opponents being Angelo Mosca and Don “The Rock” Muraco, two Federation legends. From there, the opponents only got tougher. Horowitz would take on any Federation superstar regardless of his weight or height advantage. While many commended the heroic athlete for his determination, the losses just kept piling up. “There were times in my career when I became somewhat depressed and doubtful, but I never gave up. I knew I had to continue persevering!” 

Believe it or not, there is truth to the age-old cliche “What goes around comes around!” It may take 14 years, mind you, but it STILL comes around! On a quiet, mid-summer evening, the impossible took place when he FINALLY won a match! His victim was none other than Skip of the Body Donnas, fitness guru who–in his mind–is of greater perfection than the Mona Lisa! Horowitz used his brains to beat the brawn when he wrapped up the Body Donna from behind as he paused to do push-ups in the middle of the match. Then, to spread Ben Gay on the wound, Horowitz beat Skip AGAIN when he lasted through a 10-minute challenge match offered at his request. But wait, there’s more! Following that victory–his SECOND in a row–Horowitz defeated the mystical Hakushi when Skip distracted him from ringside while trying to get Horowitz’s attention. 

Even though a record of 3-500 still doesn’t seem TOO impressive, Barry’s next victory was sure to make believers of those doubting Thomas's! At a grudge match at SummerSlam–with the entire world as his witness-Horowitz stunned Skip yet one more time! The “pin heard around the world” Occurred as Hakushi returned the favor to Skip by stealing his attention for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Barry wrapped him up from behind and planted his broad shoulders on the mat for the 1-2-3! Four in a row! Modest, but possibly the most memorable winning streak in Federation history!

“You know, just as I would tell every kid out there, you can never give up!” exclaims Horowitz. “You have to have the attitude of a leader and not of a follower!” 

Superstar: BARRY HOROWITZ

Height: 6’ 2”

Weight: 231 lbs.

Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL

[lthrblzrbear]

Don Muraco with a tombstone piledriver to some jobber.

[wrestlingfaves]

The Royal Rumble Marathon: 1988

I’ve been re-watching the Royal Rumble, starting with the first one in 1988. Only the Rumble itself.  Let’s begin the marathon:

Warning, spoilers ahead for the past Royal Rumbles…

1988

I remember reading there was a Rumble before the first televised one in 1988. The 1988 Royal Rumble is the one that introduced the concept to the world at large. Battle royals had been used in wrestling for decades, but the Rumble introduced the concept of starting with two men and adding more in various intervals.

The Rumble in 1988 was still in prototype mode, missing many of the staples of later Rumbles:

No participants had entrance music.

Fans weren’t counting down for the next participant.

Managers were allowed at ringside.

No comedy spots.

No rapid eliminations.

No surprise entrants.

No big man going on a rampage, causing multiple eliminations.

No tag team fighting each other.

No “winner goes to Wrestlemania”.

No storyline to the Rumble.

The 1988 Rumble only had 20 participants as opposed to the traditional 30.

The participants, in order of entrance:

Bret Hart (accompanied by Jimmy Hart), ½ of the Hart Foundation

Tito Santana

“The Natural” Butch Reed

Jim Neidhart, ½ of the Hart Foundation

5) Jake Roberts

Harley Race

Jim Brunzell, ½ of the Killer Bees

Sam Houston

Danny Davis

Boris Zhukov, ½ of the Bolsheviks

Don “The Rock” Muraco

Nikolai Volkoff, ½ of the Bolsheviks

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan

“The Outlaw” Ron Bass

B. Brian Blair, ½ of the Killer Bees

Hillbilly Jim

Dino Bravo (accompanied by Frenchy Martin)

Ultimate Warrior

One Man Gang

Junkyard Dog

Bret had the longest performance in the Rumble. Not many highlights in the Rumble as the “tropes” weren’t in place yet. Bret and Tito were my favorites to watch as they are my preferred type of wrestler. Butch Reed and One Man Gang are interesting as they would be in much different spots in the next year. Butch Reed would leave for WCW and form the “Doom” tag team with Ron Simmons. One Man Gang would turn into Akeem the African Dream and form the Twin Towers with the Big Bossman.

Jake Roberts, Jim Duggan, the Ultimate Warrior, and Junkyard Dog received the biggest reactions from the crowd.

Jim Duggan wins the Rumble.

Of the twenty participants, eight have passed away: Butch Reed, Harley Race, Nikolai Volkoff, Ron Bass, Dino Bravo, the Ultimate Warrior, and the Junkyard Dog. If you include non-wrestling participants, the total is eleven: Howard Finkel (the ring announcer) and Joey Marella (the outside referee).

Overall Rating: 4 out of 10

[joearlikelikeswrestling]

[mostbelovednjpwtournament]

Most Beloved WWE Wrestler Tournament

[ringthedamnbell]

In Transition: Bridging the Gap to Hulkamania

In Transition: Bridging the Gap to Hulkamania

Brian Damage The launch of Hulk Hogan as WWF champion and the subsequent birth of ‘Hulkamania,’ was really the starting point for the World Wrestling Federation’s growth from localized territory to national expansion in the early to mid 1980’s. Before Hogan became champion, there needed to be a bridge created to have him be the conquering hero. For years, babyface Bob Backlund was the face of…

[classicprowrestling]

Don Muraco vs The Sandman - 1993