Did You Know?

Wrestling facts and information.

The first Royal Rumble event actually took place in 1987, not 1988; One Man Gang was the victor. The event was such a disaster, though, that it was wiped from the history books.

Most of the milk used in the famous Kurt Angle/milk truck segment in 2001, was water with white food coloring, to prevent stinking up the arena.

Three Superstars have won back-to-back Rumbles: Hulk Hogan (1990 & 1991), Shawn Michaels (1995 & 1996) and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1997 & 1998).

In 533 days as CMLL World Heavyweight Champion, Dos Caras Jr. (Alberto del Rio) only defended the title on four occasions?

One Man Gang (George Gray) works as a prison guard in Louisiana.

Billy Kidman and Mikey Batts are cousins.

Former WWF jobber Barry O is the brother of “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr.

Kevin Fertig (Kevin Thorne) played football at the University of Memphis.

In addition to wrestling, Jerry Jarrett owns and runs a successful construction company.

In 1968, Vince McMahon graduated from East Carolina State University with a degree in business administration.

At one time, Vince McMahon approached Verne Gagne about buying the AWA from him.

WWE paid $3 million in 2003 to acquire the AWA videotape library.

Vince McMahon Jr. was Shane McMahon’s best man for his son’s 1996 marriage.

The ladder match as invented by Dan Kroffat (not Phil Lafon) in the 1970s.

Diana Hart (sister of Bret Hart, and the widow of the British Bulldog) is a former competitive bodybuilder.

Hercules Hernandez wrestled as the Assassin #2 (under a mask) at the first Starrcade on November 24, 1983.

Hernandez was the last wrestler to be managed by Freddie Blassie.

Hernandez formed a tag team with Scott Norton called Jurassic Powers in Japan, a name given by Hercules’ trainer, Hiro Matsuda.

Former WWF manager Slick’s real name is Ken Johnson.

The Fabulous Moolah’s daughter Mary (who was called Flossy) wrestled in the 1960’s and 1970’s under the name of Darlin’ Pat Sherry.

In the 1960s, Elvis Presley would pay women wrestlers to come to his California home, and wrestle privately for him.

The Great Khali was once a police officer in India.

Umaga has a tattoo on his Right Forearm of the late Yokozuna holding the then WWF Winged World Title Belt. For easier reference to the fans’ it’s located on the same arm as the one that is taped up for the Samoan Spike.

When Vince McMahon bought Stampede Wrestling from Stu Hart, WWF booker George Scott had to promise to hire Bret Hart, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Bad News Allen and Jim Neidhart, Stu’s top stars.

Helen Hart started to write a book about the Hart Family, but only completed one chapter.

Magazine photographer Jimmy Suzuki suggested that Curt Hennig use the Perfect Plex in Japan, which later became his finisher in WWE.

Referee Nick Patrick is the son of “The Assassian” Jody Hamilton.
Ernie Ladd was famous for wearing a size 18D shoe.

Ladd’s first tenure in WWWF came during the 1964 football off-season.

Bam Bam Bigelow won the Northeastern States Power Arm Wrestling championship at age 18. Bigelow was given the nickname Bam Bam after the character in the Flintstones cartoon.

It was trainer Larry Sharpe’s idea for Bigelow to get his head tatooed like flames.

Bigelow opened a “Bam Bam Bigelow Deli” in Hamlin, PA, but it wasn’t successful.

Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael was one of Lawrence Taylor’s backup men during his match against Bigelow at Wrestlemania XI.

When Hulk Hogan agreed to job to Bill Goldberg on “Nitro,” he was promised he’d end Goldberg’s winning streak.

WWF wanted to book a Dennis Rodman vs. Goldust Wrestlemania match, but when Rodman signed with WCW, WWF booked Goldust vs. Roddy Piper.

Bob Orton Sr. was a high school football teammate with Edward Asner (“Lou Grant”).

Vince McMahon Sr. was a member of the NWA from 1971 to 1983.

Ashley Massaro posed for Playboy under the pseudonym “Ryan MacKenzie.”

Tatsumi Fujinami, the last remaining member of the New Japan promotion from its 1972 start, quit on June 20, 2006.

John Tenta (Earthquake) debuted as Kototenta, which was later changed to Kototenzan.

Tallest full-time wrestler was Jorge “Giant” Gonzales (El Gigante), who was a legit 7’6 1/2″.

Paul Heyman’s ECW peaked at 99,000 pay-per-view buys for a single PPV.

Heyman’s ECW produced a total of twenty one pay per views. Their first was “Barely Legal” on April 13, 1997.

Jerry Jarrett thought Paul E. Dangerously was too difficult a name for his fans to remember, and changed it to Paul E. Dangerly in Memphis.

WWE purchased the Championship Wrestling from Florida library from Mike Graham for approximately $1 million.

Tommy Dreamer and Bealuh McGuillicuddy (Teresa) have twin daughters named Kimberly and Brianna Laughlin.

Buelah McGillicutty briefly portrayed Teresa Pillman in Stampede Wrestling, the “brother” of the late Brian Pillman.

There are only 200 parking spaces at Arena Mexico. Most fans come to the matches via the subway.

Before breaking into pro wrestling, Mexico’s Latin Lover was a stripper in Monterrey.

In 1963, Ricky Romero started training Dory Funk Jr. at an empty Amarillo Sports Arena.

El Texano (real Juan Conrado Aguilar Jauregui) once wrestled as a masked Billy The Kid.

The Sheik and John Tolos used snakes as a prop in the early 70’s, well before Jake Roberts.

Fritz Von Erich was a star football player at Southern Methodist University.
Somoa Joe’s high school football coach was Tank Abbott’s brother. Tank’s dad was one of Samoa’s Joe teachers.

Kenzo Suzuki played Rugby football at Meiji University.

Michael Cole graduated from Syracuse University in 1988.

Ken Shamrock was promised an IWGP title reign prior to signing with WWF.

Jackie Gayda ran track and cross country at the University of Toledo in 2000 and 2001.

Nikita Koloff, Bret, Ted DiBiase and Rick Rude are the only wrestlers that collected money from their Lloyd’s of London insurance policy to never wrestler again. (Although, at the time of his death, Rude was training for a WWF comeback)

DiBiase played for the British Columbia Lions in the CFL.

Simply Luscious was married to former hockey star Ryan Pisiak.

Nidia is from Puerto Rico.