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#OnThisDay in 1975: Stan Hansen wrestled his first match in Japan. At Korakuen Hall, the 26-year-old teamed with Bobby Jaggers, losing to The Destroyer & Anton Geesink when Geesink submitted Hansen. Japan would define Hansen's career.

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The lads. Mike Sharpe, Larry Hennig, Arnold Skaaland, Mr. Atomic (Clyde Steeves), Killer Buddy Austin, Dick Hutton, Lou Thesz and Fred Blassie. April 1962.

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George Gordienko at work. One of wrestling’s finest legitimate heavyweights was also a lifelong artist, studying at St Martin’s in London while still wrestling. He later recalled meeting Picasso in Paris, where the two shared coffee, with Picasso insisting on paying.

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Two unmistakable faces of British entertainment. Big Daddy and Ken Dodd backstage, armed with tickling sticks and looking as though they’ve enjoyed themselves.

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The Mummy, portrayed by Colombian wrestler Benji Ramírez. Introduced in Texas in 1961, Ramírez wrestled in a white mask, long hair and a body wrapped in bandages, presented as a mummy revived in the modern world. The gimmick was devised by Houston promoter Morris Sigel.

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Big Daddy receives a medal from Princess Michael of Kent. By the 1980s, Shirley Crabtree had become far more than a wrestler. He was one of British television’s most recognisable personalities, appearing at celebrity and charity events well beyond the wrestling halls.

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Modesto Aledo, the original Kamikaze of Spanish wrestling. Originally a respected lightweight who reinvented himself as the masked, black-clad “Black Demon”, Aledo became famous for an violent, acrobatic style while keeping his real identity secret for years.

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Allan @allancheapshot.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Big Daddy with Cliff Richard. Two men who became fixtures of British popular culture.

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Leroy McGuirk and Ed “Strangler” Lewis. By this stage, two of wrestling’s great champions were both blind. McGuirk lost the sight in his remaining eye following a 1950 car accident, while Lewis suffered for years from trachoma and eventually became completely blind.

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Dr. George T. Zahorian is still practising in 2026.

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One of those things that breaks your brain: the 6:05 JCP/NWA theme was “Dynamics” by Richard Harvey, a KPM library track from 1981. Used on TBS World Championship Wrestling from 1982–87, hearing it carry on past the familiar first 53 seconds feels completely wrong.

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Acapulco, Mexico, August 1960. A remarkable gathering from the NWA’s 12th annual convention. Whipper Billy Watson, Leroy McGuirk, Sam Muchnick, NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Pat O’Connor, Al Haft, Jim Crockett Sr., Fred Kohler and Vincent J. McMahon among those present.

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Dave Meltzer's original rating system from March 1983.

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Allan @allancheapshot.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#OnThisDay in 1992: All Japan: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo: Jun Akiyama made his professional debut against Kenta Kobashi. From his first match, Akiyama’s counters and composure looked remarkably assured. Kobashi won in just under thirteen minutes.

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I've been listening to Moodymann all evening. It's been a great time.

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Allan @allancheapshot.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Released 34 years ago today. Masterpiece.

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maffew going to wXw Grand Prix @maffewgregg.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

What's the deal with this Slade dude, watched him vs. Mad Dog Connelly at Dean~!!! over the weekend, second time I've seen him. He's got good presence.

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Reposted by Allan

AJPW have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran’s tour.

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This was how The Age of the Fall introduced themselves. #OnThisDay in 2007, Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black & Necro Butcher attacked the Briscoes after Ladder War, hung Jay upside down and let his blood pour over Jacobs. ROH deemed the footage too graphic for the PPV broadcast.

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I am watching this Penta vs. Reigns match from RAW. WWE have a gift of hiring the most annoying ring announcers.

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That's Kobashi with Haru-chan! Every time Kenta Kobashi goes and gets his hair cut, he gets a commemorative photo with the salon's cat. There are lots of photos over the years.

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Genichiro Tenryu and an american fan.

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Ed Sheeran was gifted a platform to do good, but instead of that he didn't want to "offend" a few select rich men.

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Terry Funk vs. Otto Wanz August 23, 1996.

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I wanted to go to the park tomorrow but Prince Edward wants to go as well, and he's closed it. bastard.

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Karl Malenko vs. Low Ki from ACTION/PRODUCE DEAN~!!! Sunday School was super fun. Definitely a notebook match. Both were in incredible shape with a ton of mat wrestling from both. ****1/2

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I’ve been a fan of Ilja Dragunov since Cerberus in wXw. Watching him live in Germany, what struck me was how completely he inhabited a match. In the moment, watching him, his desperation became mine.

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Two months before Survivor Series, Bret Hart and Steve Austin had already wrestled on television, just not in North America. #OnThisDay in 1996, in Sun City, South Africa, Bret wrestled his first televised match since WrestleMania XII and pinned Austin with an inside cradle.

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Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper and André the Giant were no longer confined to wrestling. #OnThisDay in 1985, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ’n’ Wrestling debuted on CBS Saturday mornings, another sign of just how far WWF had penetrated American pop culture.

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#OnThisDay in 1998: WCW turned Scott Hall's real-life alcohol problems into an angle. During a Nitro match with Lex Luger, an apparently drunk Hall was confronted by Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash and Konnan before vomiting over Bischoff. Bischoff later said he regretted the angle.

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#OnThisDay in 1956: NWA Chicago: International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois: Verne Gagne, Antonino Rocca & Wilbur Snyder defeated Dick the Bruiser, Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski, two falls to one. Chicago Bears player Jim McMillen was one of the two referees.

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Jack Cartwheel vs. Mini Vikingo vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Rey Fenix from last night is my PMOTY (Party Match of The Year) Just insanity.

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Genichiro Tenryu waits for the crowd at one of All Japan’s less glamorous venues. #OnThisDay in 1987, All Japan set up a ring in the car park of Yokohama’s Sun Terrace Totsuka shopping centre. The show still drew a sell-out crowd of 3,150.

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#OnThisDay in 2017: Otto Wanz died aged 74 after a short, serious illness. The former AWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion was also Austria’s famous telephone-book tearer. Here he is on ORF’s Sport am Montag in 1983, trying to better his record of 20 books in 30 seconds. RIP.

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