Episode 103 – Santel Slams

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, I discuss one of the greatest “hookers” of all time, Ad Santel. I also discuss how Clash of Champions 9 demonstrated all the warts of WCW in 1989.

Update

I highly recommend Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon (affiliate link) by Brian R. Solomon. Gorilla was one of my favorite announcers and one half of the team that led to me giving WWF wrestling a chance. I knew little about Gorilla’s wrestling career. This book is filling in that knowledge gap.

Main Content

Trained for professional wrestling by George Hackenschmidt and part of “Hack’s” camp for the second Gotch versus Hackenschmidt match, Ad Santel was a dangerous “hooker.” One of the most skilled submission wrestlers of his day, Santel hurt wrestlers, even when he was working, if the wrestler made Santel mad.

Santel used powerful slams to setup his submissions. In 1916, Santel injured both Dick Daviscourt and Charlie Cutler in what were supposed to be worked matches.

Santel also wrestled two famous mixed styles contests versus Taro Miyake, a jujitsu black belt, and Professor Tokugoro Ito, a judo black belt.

I also explain why it’s impossible to believe the story Santel told Lou Thesz. Santel told Thesz that Frank Gotch paid Santel $5,000 to purposefully injure Hackenschmdit prior to the second Gotch versus Hackenschmidt match.

Recommendation

Pat O’Connor versus the Mighty Atlas from Chicago in 1952

Review

Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout on November 15, 1989 at the RPI Field House in Troy, New York. 4,000 fans attended a card with one of the best matches for 1989. Capacity of 4,780 for hockey so probably 5,000+ for professional wrestling.

Road Warriors vs. Freebirds – Freebirds lost the world championship to the Steiners on November 1, 1989 but the match had not been shown yet, so the commentators announced the Freebirds as World Champions. Road Warriors lost the match via disqualification when Hawk tossed referee Tommy Young out of his way.

Bill Apter awards Sting the Most Popular Wrestler of 1989. Apter awards Ric Flair the wrestler of the decade for the 1980s.

Doom versus Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich – Doom’s debut. Doom pins Tommy Rich in a pretty one-sided match.

Midnight Express versus the Dynamic Dudes – Fans cheered the heels beating up the Dynamic Dudes and Jim Cornette knocking Shane Douglas out with the tennis racket.

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams versus Super Destroyer – Not Scott “Hog” Irwin, who retired in 1986 and died in 1987 from a brain tumor at only 35 years of age. Doc beat the discount store Super Destroyer in less than five minutes.

Steiner Brothers versus Skyscrapers – Main event match but it was used to setup future matches between Steiner Brothers, who are the world champions, and Doom as well as the Road Warriors versus the Skyscrapers. If professional football did not destroy Spivey’s knees, Spivey may have been a bigger star. Doom interferes and the heels start getting heat until the Road Warriors make the save. WHY THE HELL IS STARCADE ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER?

United States Champion Lex Luger versus Brian Pillman – Good back and forth match. Makes me wonder who the general was in this match. Pillman goes for a flying body press and bumps the referee. Pillman pins Luger twice while the referee is unconscious until Luger uses a chair to hit Pillman in the head.

Ric Flair versus Terry Funk in an “I Quit” Match – In a year of great matches, this match stands out as one of the best. After Flair wins to end the feud, Gary Hart’s Army attacks. Sting comes out to help Flair and Luger follows to help the heals. Luger tried to grab a chair from ringside but one of the fans grabbed it and was not going to let go.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page.