We’re going to jump back to 1966 for a pair of back to back TV episodes of WWWF Heavyweight Wrestling from Washington. On these episodes, the company begins to focus on the new upstart Antonio Pugliese, who is billed as the cousin of Bruno Sammartino. We’ll also get a look at manager Bobby Davis who brings his monsters to the ring, the likes of The Beast, and King Curtis Iaukea. All of that plus Ron Etchison makes his WWWF debut, Smasher Sloan is on the show, and much more.
WWWF “Heavyweight Wrestling From Washington” TV 1/6/66
We’re now in a new year, with new stars headed in and making waves. The Maltese Madman – Baron Mike Scicluna, is currently in the middle of an undefeated streak and challenging the World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino at the Garden. Prince Curtis Iaukea (the future “King”) has washed ashore from the isle of Hawaii, Bruno’s “cousin” Antonio Pugliese is being groomed, and Bobby Davis is back in town with his wild man, The Beast. That’s just to name a few.
Ray Morgan is your announcer.
1. 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match: Arnold Skaaland & Antonio Pugliese vs. Angelo Savoldi & Tony Altimore
Altimore’s biggest “fame” was as one half of the tag team “the Sicilians”, in which he teamed with a young…er Lou Albano. Hulk Hogan has also gone on record as stating Altimore was his chaperone early on in Hogan’s big WWF run. Hulk claims Altimore was stuck with Hogan as sort of an agent, to keep an eye on Hulk and make sure he didn’t party too hard. Pugliese is promoted as the cousin of World Champion Bruno Sammartino. As you’d imagine, that’s a fabricated story in order to get Pugliese (the future Tony Parisi) over.
Fall #1: Altimore is one ugly sucker. He’s like a fat Burt from Sesame Street, unibrow and all. We’ve got Skaaland on Altimore, then Altimore takes over with a front chinlock. Pugliese tags in with a kervat style chinlock, and an arm stretch that Morgan calls a “Vibrator”. Pugliese proceeds to sit on the back of Altimore and ride him around like a horse, but manages to do it in the most boring way possible. The heels get Pugliese in their corner but a moment, but Pugliese comes right back and starts beating the crap out of both men… It’s back and forth, a heel in the face corner, then a face in the heel corner. Finally, Skaaland tags back in and grabs a Full Nelson on Savoldi. Altimore comes in to make the save but accidentally hits Savoldi. Not Angelo and Altimore are threatening to go at it. The heels resolve their issues and Savoldi lands a backdrop on Arnie. Savoldi tries a second backdrop but Skaaland counters with a sunset flip for the first fall in 11:25. Miguel Perez used the same exact finishing sequence on the last show I reviewed.
Fall #2: Skaaland handles himself well as the second fall begins. Savoldi accidentally nails Altimore in the heel corner for more issues between the two heels. Pugliese tags in, and we eventually end up with all four brawling around the ring. Order is restored, Pugliese dominates Altimore, and pins him after a knee to the back and a jackknife pin, which Morgan calls a “crocodile clutch”.
Skaaland & Pugliese win in 2 straight falls.
2. The Beast (w/Bobby Davis) vs. Pete Sanchez
Good to see Bobby Davis back in the WWWF area. The most famous of the men to use the Beast character is likely Yvon Cormier, but this specific incarnation is John Yachetti, who had a run against Bruno Sammartino. He’s short, stocky, and as you’d imagine, hairy. Yachetti looked the part, barefoot and in a loincloth, but his height, or lack thereof was fairly noticeable, even for the 1960’s. The Beast with lots of chinlocks, bodylocks, and forearms. Bobby Davis yells at the referee for no reason other than effect. Davis also sneaks in some chokes and hair-pulling on Sanchez, he even works over Pete’s leg/knee from the outside. The Beast continuously looks over at his manager for advice, which I felt was a nice touch for the character. Beastie applies a bearhug, and then the Boston Crab finishes this in 5:18. After the match, the Beast won’t release the Crab until manager Bobby Davis makes him. Davis takes all the time in the world to walk over and make his Beast release.
3. Ron Etchison vs. Smasher Sloan
This is Etchison’s debut in the WWWF. you may remember Sloan from my last review… Well, my thoughts on him haven’t changed. He’s like a poor man’s Crusher. The crew cut and the turtleneck bully sweater are about as “cool” as this guy gets. Headlocks, chinlocks, front facelocks. Smasher finally starts unloading with knees and stomps, wow the action. Etchison comes back with a headbutt to the gut that barely connects, but Sloan sells it anyway. Ron lands a dropkick and Smasher goes to the floor to stall for a minute. The bell sounds for a curfew of time while Sloan shits around on the apron. WOW… Just when I thought this guy couldn’t get worse….
Black’s Final Thoughts: The first match was a throwaway, designed to get over the newcomer Pugliese. It’d be less than six weeks before they stuck Pugliese with Johnny Valentine and slapped the US Tag Titles on them for most of 1966. Pugliese would then win the US Titles again before leaving in mid 67, returning sporadically over the next ten years, even having a World Tag Title run with partner Louis Cerdan (Gino Brito). That said, the match was long-winded, Pugliese was hardly impressive at this stage in his career, and Skaaland was more of a manager to Bruno at this point, that also worked the prelims. The Beast was a fun character for the times, but it’s hard to get past his short stature when trying to get yourself over as a wild monster-like character. Even still, Bobby Davis aided this match. Etchison would prove to be a decent worker over his long career, but not on this night. Not sure if Smasher Sloan dragged him down, or if he just hadn’t reached his potential yet. To recap, the tag match is blah, the Sloan match was equally as bad as his prior match I reviewed, and the Beast match was the seasoning on this show to give it a little bit of flavor. Not really an effective show, but I say go ahead and watch the Beast segment. Not only do you get a chance to check out more rare Bobby Davis footage, but you also get a glimpse at one of the earlier characters of the golden age.
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WWWF TV 1/13/66
Ray Morgan once again you’re announcer for this show. There’s an MSG card coming up on January 24th and with the NYC transit strike finally over, Morgan voices that repeatedly throughout the show and hard sells the big Sammartino vs. Scicluna match that’s headlining the Garden.
1. Prince Curtis Iaukea (w/Bobby Davis) vs. Steve Stanlee
From a once-legendary tag team with brother Gene, Steve Stanlee has been relegated to enhancement status to the point where his heel persona is irrelevant. Probably for the best as Stanlee had to be in his mid 40’s by this point, and his retired brother Gene was really the talent of the duo. Prince Curtis we know better as KING Curtis Iaukea, or as the manager “The Wizard” circa 1986/1987 WWF where he managed Kamala and Sika, or even later in the mid-90’s as “The Master”, the scar headed cave-dwelling leader of WCW’s Dungeon of Doom. Even back then, Iaukea bellowed his grunting voice as he laid into his opponents. Manager Bobby Davis was on a roll with monsters at this time, managing the likes of the Beast, Mongolian Stomper, and now Iaukea. Curtis hasn’t quite scarred his skull up just yet, but he looks to be pushing near 400 lbs. He mauls over Stanlee with some brawling style tactics, but then busts out a rarely seen hammerlock takeover!!! Nice! Iaukea even hooks a grounded headscissors, before feeding Stanlee to manager Bobby Davis who gets in his shots. Iaukea goes back to the brawling, raking at Stanlee’s face, catching him with the toe of his boot, then whipping him out to the floor. Once back inside, Iaukea runs Stanlee over and drops a big splash for the win in 4:32.
2. 2 Out Of 3 Falls: Tomas Marin vs. Hector Serrano
Fall #1: Well, we’ve got a pair of enhancement guys here filling in TV time this week with Serrano playing the heel. Lots of feeling out, then Marin uses a leg bar, then it’s Serrano’s turn to work a wristlock. Serrano does some choking and face raking to get over the fact that he’s an evil heel. Some more jockeying for position leads into a crisscross spot and Marin catches Serrano with a dropkick for the fall in 8:10.
Fall #2: Serrano controls most of the early going of the second fall until Marin catches him in a body scissors. Serrano manages to escape and he tosses Marin to the floor. Tomas returns on the apron with a shoulderblock that sends Hector down to the mat… Then MARIN HITS A SLINGSHOT SPLASH back into the ring!!!! 1….2….Serrano kicks out??!?!?!?!?!? Are you serious? All these generic finishes, and THAT doesn’t get a three? Serrano then bails to the floor and stalls for a good TWO TO THREE MINUTES. And I’m not talking “Macho Man” Savage in Memphis stalling that at least drew heat. I’m talking, booooring stalling. Serrano gets back inside a couple of times, but takes a shot and again goes outside… He stalls for a good five minutes in all… FIVE MINUTES!!! This goes on for so long that announcer Ray Morgan starts cutting PSA ads, reminding us to drive safely… Anyway, Serrano finally gets back in the ring and delivers a flying headlock takeover. Serrano tries again, but Marin counters with a back suplex and gets the pin in 11:39. Half of which featured Serrano on the floor…. literally!!!
Marin wins in two straight falls!
3. Antonio Pugliese (w/Bruno & Skaaland) vs. Tony Altimore
It’s big to note that Bruno Sammartino is at ringside to give his “cousin” Pugliese the big rub. The hard sell for the upcoming MSG show continues via Ray Morgan. We’re reminded the NYC Transit Strike has ended after some 12 days and that should encourage fans to come on out to MSG on the 24th of the month. Pugliese works the arm of Altimore early, then a side headlock. They do a Full Nelson spot with a couple of comedy escapes by Altimore thrown in. That livened things up a little. Pugliese does a handspring flip over Altimore as he had dropped down. Pugliese hits a pair of NICE looking dropkicks and Altimore goes to the outside to recover. Pugliese whips Altimore into the corner but runs into a boot from Altimore. Tony Altimore goes for another drop-down, but Pugliese puts on the brakes and scissors his legs around Altimore and winds up executing a body scissors roll up similar to that of Rob Van Dam. The scissors roll-up gets the win in around 9:20.
Bruno jumps in to congratulate Pugliese. Ray Morgan claims this to be Pugliese’s first win in the U.S., I guess that tag match last week doesn’t count…
– It’s interview time to close the show. They’ve been pushing the Baron Mike Scicluna vs. Bruno MSG match hard throughout the entire show, and now a couple of heels stop by to talk with Ray Morgan about said match. We have Tony Altimore and Tarzan Tyler to give their expertise. Altimore feels the Baron is the best challenger to date and will take the belt. New Yorker Altimore then drops his wrestling heel character and quickly address the Transit Strike. In a sincere comment, Altimore acknowledges the recent 12-day NYC transit strike that affected millions of people. Altimore mentions that the strike had just ended and gave his blessings to the NYC community for staying strong and said he looked up to them. With like ten seconds of time left, Tarzan Tyler says he knows what the Baron is going to do to Bruno. Then he just walks away…. Oooooooooookay.
BJack’s Final Thoughts: Lots of good stuff here for me. I loved seeing King Curtis in the WWWF, and with Bobby Davis no less. It was cool to see how Iaukea could brawl, but he was also accomplished as a wrestler as well, which he showed a little here. Just cool to have that footage, period…. I also didn’t mind the Pugliese/Altimore match as once you got past the first half of the match it was pretty good for the time period. Pugliese looked great with his handsprings and dropkicks, even the scissors roll at the end surprised me a little. Altimore was a great heel enhancement, he “got it”, and what time he wasn’t selling, he’d throw in a comedy spot to keep the fans entertained. Even the interview at the end of the show had good intentions. They were really trying to push Baron Mikel Scicluna hard against Bruno. Also, getting to hear the NYC Transit Strike discussed throughout the program on the very day the strike ended, well, that was pretty cool as you’re sort of witnessing history. The only thing that sucks about this show is the jobber vs. jobber 2 out of 3 fall match used as filler to fill out the show. Marin was good in his role, and Serrano is probably one of the best enhancement guys ever, but they were out there to stretch time, and outside of a crisscross spot and sloppy slingshot splash, that entire match was minutes of nothing, LITERALLY NOTHING. Serrano stalling outside the ring for 5 or 6 minutes was inexcusable for TV. Maybe a serious contender heel would have gotten more heat in that position, but an enhancement guy doing it just reminded me of “Iron” Mike Sharpe matches at MSG, and if you’ve seen those then you know what I mean…. In all, I liked this show, everything but the Marin/Serrano match, which unfortunately ate up 20+ minutes of time.
