"Dirty" Dutch

He's the "One"

Old School?

For the record... Steve Corino IS younger than me though.

Light travels fast...

the Ants

Dingo Cannon

There are very few Europeans who work as regularly contracted employees in Japan. There are even fewer from Australia. In fact, the only one that immediately comes to mind is Dingo Cannon, who currently wrestles for Okinawa Pro (amongst others).DINGO Cannon Represented Australia on the National Freestyle Australian Team in the Oceana games in Western Samoa in 1992,achieving a bronze medal at these games. He then went on to the Australian championships and world championships olympic freestyle wrestling games. In 1997 he decided to leave Australia and pursue Pro wrestling overseas, and was accepted into the legendary Hart Brothers School of Wrestling In Canada where he began Training.

Cannon was geting ready to go to Japan to wrestle when was injured in the ring,and three operations latter was forced into a most unwelcome retirement in the year 2000. In 2005, he decided that it was time to try for a comeback, as being away from the ring was to hard to cope with. He started training at Golds gym in Sydney,which is where he met his future Tag team partner, the mighty Taipan. Dingo and Taipan trained together and became the IWO( Impact Wrestling Organisation) Australian Tag team champions. From there they made their way to Tokyo Japan together wrestling shows under the name of the legendary Croc Masters.
In 2006 Dingo was offered a contract in Japan with Super Delfin's Osaka Pro Wrestling,the fast paced lucha mexican style japanese wrestling company, and debuted that year as Dingo on Sky Sports TV. Becoming the first Australian in history to sign a full time TV contract In Japan. Going on to wrestle in the Pay Per View Called Hurricane and wrestling for the Michinoku Pro heavy weight title, Dingo then was entered into a tournament in which the winner Would　become the New Japanese masked funny man Ebessan. Dingo went on to win,and made a media frenzy in Japan becoming the New Ebessan Wrestler ( the First non Japanese to hold such an honour ) .

Super Delfin the owner of the company and legend wrestler of the 80's decided to open a new Company in Okinawa. Taking only 7 wrestlers with him, Delfin Asked Dingo to re sign with him and open the new company and become a new masked Character in the name of Kijimuna. Dingo signed a new contract as Kijimuna and left for Okinawa Japan, where he has a full time TV contract with Asian Sky A sports, and is a regularly doing Adverts for Noodle snacks & appearing on crazy Japanese game shows. His wrestling schedule is hectic by anybodies standards, with 7 live shows a week, and most weeks, many more.
With well over 500 matches in Japan under his belt, Dingo is certainly the most successful Australian pro wrestler to ever compete in Japan, and already fast becoming one of the most successful non-Japanese competitors ever.

Austin Aries

Metal Master

And while we're on the subject of OVW... Anyone who knows me, knows I love the gimmicks of old. And what's a better gimmick, than that of the mysterious masked man... A man such as Metal Master.

JD Maverick

OVW continues to be an entertaining wrestling show, week in, week out. Much of my enjoyment comes from the heart of the show, Dean Hill and Kenny Bolin... But some of the wrestlers have come a long way as well since their split with WWE.
And if you;re looking for one to bank on, you need look no further, than the "Top SHelf Talent" of guys like JD Maverick.

LuFisto

Los Guerreros del Infierno

Los Guerreros del Infierno (Spanish for "The Soldiers From Hell") is a Lucha Libre (Professional wrestling) stable based in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico that has existed since 2000. The group was created as a splinter group of Los Infernales and initially used the name until they were forced to change their name in 2001 and then became Los Guerreros del Infierno. When Atlantis joined the group in 2005 they adopted the name Los Guerreros del Atlantida, which is used interchangably with the "Guerreros del Infierno" name. The stable currently consists of founding members Último Guerrero and Rey Bucanero as well as Atlantis.

Bulldog and Kerry Brown

Adrian Street

Kyote

Roy Nelson

Kimbo Slice

"Tank Is Gonna Kill Me" ( repeat )

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar was a champion amateur wrestler who arrived in the WWE with much pomp and circumstance, quickly showing his dominance with a combination of strength, technique, and agility to become the youngest champion in the company's history.

His stay in the WWE was shorter than expected as Lesnar decided he needed new challenges. Tho his propsed NFL career faltered, "The next Big Thing" never stopped looking for places to prove his dominance. The Rock had already cornered the roles for big jawed men in Hollywood, Jesse Ventura had done the same in politics, and Lesnar was rapidly running out of skin to be a canvas for aspiring tattoo artists, so he joined UFC (via New Japan Wrestling, K-1, and the court house).
Brock Lesnar's rise to UFC Heavyweight Champion was even quicker than his rise in WWE... proving, once again for the benefit of all the doubters, that the WWE is the toughest federation on the planet, full of the toughest men.

Lesnar has shown there is life after the WWE, which gives hope to wrestlers like the Boogeyman, Mantaur, Vinnie Vegas, the Red Rooster, and even former WCW Champion David Arquette... Men whose future I have often worried about ( but not, it must be said, as often as I have been worrying that brock Lesnar will see this new cartoon, and actually understand what "brachiate" means ).

Mark Hunt

I've been drawing some MMA toons again recently... more on that later...

Tojo Yamamoto

Yamamoto had success as a heel as an individual wrestler and part of a tag team, particularly in the southern United States, invoking the natural hatred for World War 2 enemies (in his case, Prime Minister Tojo and navy admiral Yamamoto; as successful were the von Brauners, who wore Iron Crosses and goose-stepped around the ring). He was affiliated with Nashville-area wrestling promoter Nick Gulas for most of his career.
Yamamoto later became a manager of other wrestlers. His rise to fame late in his career took place in the late-1980s, when Yamamoto, while in World Class Championship Wrestling, was managing Phil Hickerson, who was known as P.Y. Chu-Hi. They were involved in a lengthy storyline with Eric Embry, involving control of the World Class promotion. Later, Yamamoto and Hickerson worked a storyline with Chris and Toni Adams, which began with an attack on Toni by Hickerson and Yamamoto during a wrestling match at the Sportatorium. Yamamoto and Hickerson left World Class in 1990, but Yamamoto returned to the Sportatorium in early 1991 (under the USWA banner) to manage Embry, who had turned heel.

He retired in 1991 due to health problems which included diabetes. He died in Hermitage, Tennessee in 1992.

Fabulous Ones

Sheepherders

After the Sheepherders left WWC Butch decided that he wanted to return closer to home and went to Australia to wrestle. Luke remained in the United States determined to keep the "Sheepherders" name on everyone’s lips, and started teaming up with "Lord" Jonathan Boyd (Formerly of the Royal Kangaroos). The duo of Williams and Boyd quickly gained a reputation of one of the most violent, hard hitting teams in the business.

Jimmy Valiant

Midnight Express ( circa 1982 )

Kendo Nagasaki

Kazuo Sakurada debuted on June 21, 1971, in the old Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance against Kim Duk. When the JPWA collapsed in 1973, he joined All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 1976 he made a North American tour, and his stock increased in earnest.
Mr. Sakurada found his earliest success in Stampede Wrestling. He defeated two-time champion Leo Burke to win his first and only Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship on May 20, 1978 in Edmonton, Alberta. He then became highly regarded in Stampede's tag team division, defeating Keith and Bret Hart in early 1979 to win his first International Tag Team title with Mr. Hito. Their second win came later on the same year after the defeat of Dory Funk, Jr. and Larry Lane, only to be toppled once again by the Hart brothers.

In the early 1980s, Sakurada had started working in various southern promotions starting with the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. During this time, he began using the "Kendo Nagasaki" gimmick, a Japanese Samurai character previously made famous by British wrestler Peter Thornley dating back to 1964. This incarnation was vastly different however; rather than wearing a mask, Sakurada wore face paint and a highly alternate style all together. His fierce character also made famous the Asian mist and frequently employed the Kendo stick as his signature weapon. As Nagasaki, he found a most prominent win in his victory over Jerry Lawler for the NWA/AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in 1982. He would lose the title back to Lawler before pursuing new territory.

After the Memphis territory, Nagasaki worked for Florida Championship Wrestling and Southeastern Championship Wrestling. He faced some of the top competition in the Florida territory throughout 1983 and 1984, and on January 22, 1984, he captured the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship from Mike Rotundo. This kicked off a rivalry with the reputable Billy Jack Haynes, resulting in his title victory over Nagasaki in March of the same year. Later, he performed on WCW television, using the stage name "The Dragonmaster". While there, he joined Gary Hart's J-Tex Corporation stable consisting of Terry Funk, Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer, and Keiji Mutoh (previously Super Black Ninja). This heel group, conceived in 1989, feuded with the Four Horsemen until ultimately disbanding the following year after a blow off steel cage match.

get sheiky baby...

Dutch Mantell

mister J - Ace Caricaturist

And anyone who notices a slight resemblance between Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and Skull the Troll from PVP... good on you... now go buy some PVP books... he's funnier than me anyway... sigh.

Dream Machine

the Brotherhood

Team Extreme

Abyssmal

the Sandman shops

Cybernetico

Jeff Jarrett

In the summer of 2002, the "King Of The Mountain" Jeff Jarrett organized the number one growing Professional Wrestling corporation today, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Not only is Jeff Jarrett the creator and founder of TNA Wrestling but he is also a former NWA Heavyweight Champion, WCW Heavyweight Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, & WWE Tag Team Champion.
His new four disc set ( Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain ) covers Jarrett's early career working for his father all the way up today to where he is in TNA. Throughout the four disc set, you will hear from Jeff Jarrett himself, TNA President Dixie Carter, Terry Taylor, TNA Executive Jim Cornette, TNA Creative Writer Vince Russo, TNA ring announcers Mike Tenay, Don West, & Jeremy Borash, The Harris Brothers, and members of the TNA roster including Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Scott Steiner, AJ Styles, Mick Foley, BJ James along with a few other people as well. The set is presented just like Kurt Angle's "Champion" two disc set as where Jarrett will discuss one topic which would then lead to a match.Also throughout the set, you will get 23 plus matches in their entirety along with a few great TNA moments involving Jeff Jarrett such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's first live PPV event where Jeff Jarrett confronted country singer Toby Keith, Jeff Jarrett attacking Hulk Hogan in Tokyo, Japan from 2003, and also the announcement of Kurt Angle coming to TNA.

A good set, but flawed from the fact that the bulk of Jeff's career was fought in companies where he unfortunately has no rights to his matches. That aside... and entertaining package well worth your checking out.

the Recliner

Yoshi Tatsu

Baron Von Krupp

Making his debut as a professional wrestler in 1957, the first half of George Momberg's lengthy career, as Dutch Momberg, was not particularly memorable. In 1972 he finally hit upon the gimmick that would make him a star, the character of the 'evil German', Killer Karl Krupp.

The German heel gimmick had been around a good twenty years by this time, first popularized by Hans Schmidt and carried further by later stars such as Fritz von Erich. A late entry into the field, Killer Karl Krupp was among the most wildly over-the-top of them all: with eyes bulging, head shaved and a short black beard framing a leering grin, Krupp was the very image of a wildly cartoonish yet frightening wrestling villain. He accessorized for the part with monocle, riding crop, heavy black boots and black ring cape, and delivered ranting promos in an affected German accent rife with mangled pronunciations ( wrestling has after all, never been accused of subtlety ). Utilizing other familiar staples of the German heel gimmick, Krupp goose-stepped to the ring, threw stiff-arm salutes, and used an Iron Claw as his finishing move. What was unknown to the public at the time was that the Dutch born Momberg hated the Nazis who had occupied his homeland, and he did the over-the-top gimmick as a way of mocking them, Hogan's Heroes-style. Despite these theatrics, Krupp was a convincing brawler in the ring. Remembered for often completely demolishing his opponents, he relished in inflicting pain on them with little regard for whether or not he was disqualified in the process of doing so.

During the 70's, Krupp had much success in the U.S, including defeating Leo Burke for the ESA's IW North American Heavyweight Championship, as well as sucessful runs in Texas, Detroit and Protland. But it was really Japan where he had many of his early successes. He co-held the NWA International Tag Team Championship twice between February and April 1973 (once with Johnny Valentine and once with fellow 'evil German', Fritz von Erich ). He also reached the final rounds of the 1974 and 1975 New Japan Pro Wrestling World League Tournaments, both of which he lost to Antonio Inoki.

In 1980, Krupp came to Memphis where he eventually joined Jimmy Hart's First Family of Wrestling stable and tangle with Jerry Lawler. He returned before long to Atlantic Canada, however, where he had a memorable run in Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, holding the European Title and feuding with The Great Mulumba and Hercules Cortez. In the mid-'80s, near the end of his career he toured New Zealand ( as mentioned in yesterdays post ), the high point being winning the British Commonwealth title from Steve Rickard.

In Scott Teal's Whatever Happened To... #41 newsletter, Ed 'Moondog' Moretti explained that Krupp had difficulty separating his wrestling character from real life. "Killer Karl Krupp... what a nice guy. I love him to death, but I think he actually believed he was Killer Karl Krupp. He had a partner in the Maritimes named Hans Hermann, who wrestled in Calgary as Butch Moffitt, the Jackal. We were at home and Krupp was telling him ... this is in a German accent now ... 'You cannot go outside. You cannot be seen at the beach with your family. You are a German wrestler and need to live this gimmick twenty-four hours a day if you want to get over."

the Assassin vs Avenger

One of my first feuds I remember following, was that of the Avenger vs the Assassin ( tho who was actually under the mask remains a mystery... even tho he was unmasked to culminate the feud ). On The Mat, the local tv show, had masked guys before, but not as regulars, and not two at the same time. A great high flyer, and an evil doer aligned with the likes of Baron Von Krupp ( seen below ).

Wonderful memories, that I hope will soon be relived by the upcoming "A Kiwi Century On The Mat" documentary. The filmakers have set up their own website, and you can check out their progress - here.

Hugh Morrus

PWI again...

PWI turns 30! Mid Year report!! Photos of Daffney by Lee South that will make you wish you were wearing chain mail underwear!!! And all the other usual features to amuse and amaze... Pick it up while you can.
Oh... and that cartoon guy... Trying to make friends again...

One of the Greats

Goldust

you know, that team...

I can't even remember the name of this team... D-Lo and one of the Headbangers... oh, don't tell me... ummmm...

Leviathan

Before he was Batista, he was the demon Leviathan...

Tho I defy anyone to tell me, even without the fangs, that he isn't a freakier looking creature these days...

It reminds me of a previous cartoon I've drawn... now that I think about it...

the Blue Boy

Cheerleader Melissa

Crowbar

"Bullet" Bob Armstrong

When he was a child, Joseph James's father took him to see Gorgeous George wrestle. The young James was impressed and intrigued by the flamboyant performer. As a young man, James served in the Marine Corps of the United States armed forces and was stationed in Korea. During his recruit training in Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on Parris Island, South Carolina, James was named Honor Man. After leaving the military, he began working for the Marietta Fire Department as a firefighter in 1962.

He debuted as a wrestler in the same year, adopting the ring name "Bob Armstrong". By 1966, Armstrong had become a popular face in the Savannah, Georgia area, and in 1969 he ceased working as a firefighter and began focusing on his wrestling career.
Armstrong achieved considerable popularity in the Southeastern United States, particularly in Alabama and his home state of Georgia. He frequently wrestled for affiliates of the National Wrestling Alliance, and on October 9, 1974 in Miami Beach, Florida, Armstrong unsuccessfully challenged Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
While bench pressing a dumbbell weighing upwards of 180 lb (82 kg) in a gym in Huntington, Georgia, the bench that Armstrong was lying upon broke, leading to the weight falling on his face. Armstrong's face was severely damaged and his nose was torn entirely off, and he required $38,000 USD worth of plastic surgery to repair it. While undergoing surgery, Armstrong donned a wrestling mask to conceal his disfigured features and began using the ring name "The Bullet". As "The Bullet", Armstrong feuded with the Stud Stable in Continental Championship Wrestling. He eventually discarded the mask after his surgeries were complete, but retained the nickname "Bullet" for the remainder of his career.

"Hedge"