Sports Hawaii

Okay, some of you are old enough to remember 50th State Wrestling promoted by Ed Francis. Friday nights at the Civic were bigtime. Then Saturday afternoon in the KGMB studios. Who can forget the Saturday afternoon locker room interviews. Let's create a list of all the wrestlers (with their nicknames) and recall your favorite memories. I'll start the list with:

Lord "Tally Ho" Blears

I remember "Wresting Hawaii"
Thor Kamaka (from Waikane)
The Missing Link "Ohhhhhhhh Yeah"
Sammy "Steamboat" Mokuahi
Curtis "Da Bull" Iaukea

Ok nuff for now....

Ripper Collins

Here's another: "Gentleman" Jim Hady

50th State Wrestling Wrestlers
Lord "Tally Ho" Blears
Thor Kamaka (from Waikane)
Pamperpo Firpo "The Missing Link" "Ohhhhhhhh Yeah"
Sammy "Steamboat" Mokuahi
Curtis "Da Bull" Iaukea
"King" Ripper Collins
"Gentleman" Jim Hady

Forgot some of their nicknames but remember the names that wrestled here during that time. Maybe someone can help fill some of those in. Not all had nicknames though.

Handsome Johnny Barend (Yes, yes, Mr. Francis.)
Beaureguard (Ripper Collins sidekick.)
Classie Freddie Blassie (You pencil neck geek.)
Nick Bockwinkel (Man of a thousand holds.)
Harry "Fuj the stooge" Fujiwara (Mr. Fuji)
Neff Maiava (Coconut headbutt.)
Peter Maivia
Chief Billy White Wolf
Pedro Morales
Andre "The Giant"
Hahn Lee (Was also known as "The Avenger" who wore a mask.)
Don Muraco
Tosh Togo (Harold "Odd Job" Sakata.)
Kenji Shibuya
Kongozan
The Masked Executioner (Master of the Claw hold.)
Gorilla Monsoon
The Sheik
Pat Patterson
Ray Stevens
Gene Kiniski
Giant Baba
Don Leo Jonathan (The Mormon Giant.)

I remember in the mid-60's being in the Kindergarden trying to stay up until the 10:30 friday night broadcast. My Dad took me to Conroy Bowl at Schofield to watch it live once... I was so happy... I use to cut out the advertisement with the match-ups for my scrapbook every week.

For awhile in the 70's Russ Francis and his brother (???) wrestling tag team. Finally the Patriots added into his contract that he could wrestle any more.

I remember Ripper Collins had a match with Jim Hady??? who ever lost had to shave their head. After that Ripper Collins wore a mask to cover his bolo head.... the one thing that use to gross me out... when he got whipped into the ropes and rebounded, and got karate chopped across the throat ... he would spit out a big loogy up into the crowd...

Some old pics of wrestling events and cards in the link below.
LINK to 50th State Bigtime Wrestling website: http://www.50thstatebigtimewrestling.com/index.html

Irse wrote:Ripper Collins

Didn't King Ripper Collins have a side kick, Whipper Watson?

How's about Steve Strong

and his cousin Jesse "the Body" Ventura

Also, Big John Stud...
Anyone who could bodyslam him would get a $10,000 Rolex Watch from Bobby the Brain Heenan

BigWave96744 wrote:How's about Steve Strong

and his cousin Jesse "the Body" Ventura

WOW!! SUPASTAH STEVE STRONG!

You guys remember Thor Kamaka? That was one pilau bugguh. LIke throw Hawaiian salt in the eyes of other people and bust beer bottles on his head.

BIK

I rooted for Pedro Morales and Hahn Lee.

Johnny Barend had a 'nerve punch ' he called the ROCKET LAUNCHER. The shtick was he would hit his opponent in the neck or chest and the guy would
start flopping around like he touched a live electric wire.

Pampero Firpo AKA The Missing Link was a hairy man. Long hair that would make a rasta look like a buzz cut. and hair all over his body. One of my classmates was ringside when an opponent ripped chest hairs off of the Link. After the match he goes down to the ring expecting find nothing because ,well it's pro wrestling,has to be fake,right? Well, my friend says he found lots of tiny hairs. OUCHHH

Another classmate came in one Monday and was telling everyone he had met Lord Tally Ho Blears while surfing. Said there was a wave with a big
old guy on it.He says hey Tally Ho! Blears smiles,waves ,and takes the wave on in.

rick martel and the golden greek, forget his name, sammy steamboat with the abdominal stretch move!

i loved going to bloch arena with my dad and brother!

bigislandkurt wrote:

BigWave96744 wrote:How's about Steve Strong

and his cousin Jesse "the Body" Ventura

WOW!! SUPASTAH STEVE STRONG!

You guys remember Thor Kamaka? That was one pilau bugguh. LIke throw Hawaiian salt in the eyes of other people and bust beer bottles on his head.

BIK

In the 80's before and after a surf session, we would stop at this little cart in Waikane where there sold Mini Banana Doughnuts, owned by Thor Kamaka... He was rough sounding like doing an interview... "Eh, Wot you like!!!".... "Uhhhh 1 bag (1 dozen) please"... He would count 1,2..... 10,11, 12... then pause and toss in the bonus 13th and smile.... "HERE!!!" we were all stoked...

Also when I worked at the Kaneohe Jack in the Box (with Chris Hart), Thor's 2nd wife (JoAnn) worked with us. He would pull into the drive way and in classic Thor's voice would yell, "I liiiiiiiiiike 2 Juuuuuuumbo Jaaaaaaaaaaaacks, Laaaaaaaaahhhhge Fries, an one Laaaaaaaage Cok" Dude was so classic... Also his forehead was all buss and looke like The Thing

Wow, after over 30 years, I just found out his Wrestling name was Tor Kamata...
And I thought us kids was talking pidgin when we said Tor instead of Thor..

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pr ... kamata.php