'Rowdy' Roddy Piper passes away, age 61

Wrestling Legend 'Rowdy' 

Roddy Piper passes 

away age 61

Wrestling legend 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper passed away at the age of 61 after suffering a heart attack on Friday 31st July in his sleep. 

Piper, known as Roderick George Toombs had survived previous battles with cancer. 

The wrestling veteran, named as the best villain in the business, known for his charismatic Scottish portrayal earned the Canadian legions of respect from fans, experts, insiders and staff. Many regard the legend as the best superstar of all time lagging behind The Undertaker, but leading the front as the most entertaining bad guy in wrestling ever.

Piper was infamous for the creation of in-show talk shows, with his most notorious show, Piper's Pit. His most prominent and controversial moments include the coconut bash to 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka, which helped grow the business and sport of professional wrestling to higher levels. 

Piper received a fitting tribute at the opening of Monday night Raw the following week from his passing. He received a deserving 10 bell salute, only one month after the loss of another great in the late Dusty Rhodes. The WWE roster wore T-Shirts as a mark of respect, but was found to be in bad taste later among the program with its levels of oversell than respect for the fallen veteran. 

Piper had notorious feuds with heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan, celebrities including Mr.T and the originator of a new age of wrestling movement, rock chick Cyndi Lauper, with the assistance of Captain Lou Albano often at her side. 

UFC fighter and female favourite Ronda Rousey commented on the passing, where Piper had given her permission to use the 'Rowdy' part of her name, donated by Piper himself as a mark of respect to a growing talent in their field. 

She said of the veteran- "I just want to say that we lost a really close friend, Rowdy Roddy Piper, who gave me permission to use his name as a fighter," she said after her 34-second win in Brazil. "And so I hope him and my dad had a good time watching this today."

Piper and his family, to which Wrestling Wonders sends its full condolences, have called for a worldwide tribute of silence during Piper's funeral. The ceremony will occur on August 11th in Oregon, at 10.30am that time. Everyone is encourageD to partake in a minutes silence, if not more, at that time to honour the great departed Piper. 

WWE CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon led a glowing tribute of Piper too. 

Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world. I extend my deepest condolences to his family.

The shock passing comes after Piper was hounded by a company called Podcast One, who had been harassing Piper over a podcasting series he was most popular for, getting in trouble for a joke about 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Austin, who did not like Piper and a comedian making a light hearted joke about him, as they did with others, forced Podcast One to cancel Piper's shows. WWE later dropped Piper swiftly from a legends contract to protect Stone Cold, who is fronting the promotion of WWE's new video game. 

As any health professional knows, copious amounts of stress to one person among a time of instability and hounding can lead to greater health problems and has been vividly linked to cardiac arrests and other coronary conditions leading to passing. Podcast One, Steve Austin and WWE all bear a shoulder of blame here, whether they like it or not. While no one else will discuss the issue, WWE, not as mild as the other two fully involved, share a level of responsibility.

Podcast One and Austin, lead contributors, should be highly ashamed of their petty actions only a fortnight before Piper's passing, have contributed to immense levels of instability, stress, anxiety and trouble. Piper was visibly distressed over the issues building to his levels of upset. Piper did nothing wrong. 

For WWE, it should do right for once by Piper and install its level of aftercare more prominently by distancing itself from all problems occurring or growing. That includes the already known ignorant abuser Steve Austin. WWE will need to ask themselves one question. Is monetary greed to sell some random thing soon to be the past really worth it when it destroys the legacy WWE built its house upon? WWE need to distance Austin from its game and cancel the podcast indefinably, for good. Though WWE have installed Austin for bragging rights to sell a video game, WWE do not need Austin to sell it, even if he is the feature. Plus WWE should think about who and how it manages its future products, even in brainstorming sessions. Austin already has a negative reputation and now WWE have agreed to partner with him in what is extremely disgraceful attitudes. Fans can play their part by boycotting the video game and the casts, too. neither of them are actually great anyway, are they? 

For WWE it needs to establish a new age of respect, not bland favourites on its own ego, which is growing at a dangerous rate for the company's self-destruction to a future product. WWE itself is becoming outdated, boring, bland, lacking characters and no skill or respect among its elite boast of superstardom entertainment. It needs to re-assess itself and its attitude, regardless of 'I like them' hires for a random act of desperation to sell a minor thing. A major superstar has fallen and your contributions have played its part. Maturity with respect may well be its future requirement to regain. 

Piper, among all the other greats gone and soon to go, deserve that much. So do the fans, experts, stars and business. Sidestep the ego and think about someone other than yourself for one moment, and you just might, get it right.

May one of the greatest legends of wrestling Rest In Peace.  

© Max Waltham 06th August 2015

All Rights Reserved

WWE Hall of Fame 2013 revealed. Trish going in!

Trish Stratus enters WWE Hall of Fame

 at Eleventh hour change!

WWE have secured diva Trish Stratus a place in the Hall of Fame class of 2013 scheduled at Madison Square Garden after reaching her at the eleventh hour last week. The original place was potentially marked for Sable.

WWE’s other inductees this year have confirmed Mick Foley and Bob Backlund. D-Generation X will also go in as now will Trish Stratus.

Deserves honours nonetheless

All members of DX will enter. Triple H, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, Shawn Michaels (again?) and X-Pac. WWE diva Chyna, an original member, however, will not be inducted.

Kamala has been discussed early on as rumour though high on the list to seek membership to the HOF.

Triple H has been personally aiming to acquire Bruno Sammartino into the prestigious class, though Vince McMahon’s feeling isn’t that fussed with Sammartino due to bad beef over the years. Sammartino has rejected previous offers from Vince due to the HOF being a farce with non-wrestling celebrities and ridiculous stars that contradict the legitimacy of a true legend inducted. WWE’s Hall of Fame consists of legends, a few wrestling personalities, a game show host, a comedy chicken and a convicted rapist.

Triple H has personally flown to ‘Tino’s home and believes this to be a ‘making’ of his power and style if he can ‘pull it off’ and acquire Bruno. Bruno is about honour, prestige and wrestling talent.

DX used to even mock what is seemingly at
WWE's reasoning for snubbery

Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts was one name being discussed and could make up the numbers if Sammartino doesn’t ‘comply’ with WWE’s request. Roberts has been long overdue.

Although, there doesn’t seem to be anyone named for the celebrity spot. We feel Cyndi Lauper may receive the nod this year, though if she doesn’t WWE may gear towards eventual inductee David Arquette.  Should Jake Roberts finally get his honours it would be the best and fitting option to place Alice Cooper into the celebrity wing. Lauper, Cooper and certain others paved a way that deserved their celeb honours in wrestling.

When it comes to WWE’s HOF booking, they select the most valuable star name, then the WWE Universe feel they pick random, pointless, non interesting stars or personalities to make up the surplus numbers.

The fact WWE chose to select its own choices without legitimacy, taints its lineage, something Sammartino has high concern with. The fact it wants all of DX in, but leaves out one member adds contradiction to the ceremony. Inducting certain people twice is becoming a farce among itself. HBK and Flair taking two honours is ridiculous and the whole point WWE miss is that those going in are the wrestlers/performers on one entry alone. So, even if say, Flair/HBK is part of a group and they were inducted as solo beforehand, then it means that the group they were in can get their honours meaning you’re not inducting DX, you’re inducting all the members but as a mass cluster in recognition. HBK, for example, always remains as a member who made it first.

Probably wont ever gain entry

Another example. Triple H, some say is likely to gain a three time record inductions spree as part of groups including DX and solo performances. All those members, A,B,C,D and E are lined for induction. Say A is HHH and B is HBK, then A goes in. B is already in, and can join on stage with his comrades, or induct. A will not gain another nomination. Not because they don’t deserve it, but because they have already been inducted. Do you understand?

The nWo, for example, many believe Hogan is trying to gain another entry from, would send in Hall and Nash, but Hogan has already made the honours, therefore can celebrate but already sits in the ceremony, therefore has no need to go in again, and again,, and again. You go in once. That’s it.

We mentioned in our Sable article that ideally Trish and Lita going in next year at Mania 30 together would have been much better and a fan delight. WWE rebuked that ideal. WWE have been seen by many Universer's as only going for headlines in mass media outlets than honouring the ceremony and it's performers, another issue sitting firmly with Sammartino.

Let's see how it unfolds on Raw every week then, shall we?

 © Max Waltham 29^th January 2013

All Rights Reserved

Fabulous Moolah Obituary

The Fabulous Moolah:

28 fabulous years defining a generation

A year and a half in the making,  and kept under wraps for a while since for may reasons including credible respect to the late female whilst certain timing in the wrestling world was not right to publish, now Wrestling Wonders exclusively honours one of the greatest female champions in history.

Born July 22nd, 1923, Mary Lillian Ellison would go on to become the most cemented female wrestler of the sport.
 
She began inspiring female grapplers most notably as part of the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection tandem bearing witness to her battle against Wendi Richter and pop icon Cyndi Lauper. Defeating Richter in 1984,  Ellison gained her very first WWF women's championship.
 
The four-time champion, every reign lasting in length, earned the longest title reign in history by any professional athlete among the WWF.

Winning the NWA World Women’s championship in 1956, she held the title over an impressive near thirty years.
 
Her career started in 1949 trained by promoter Mildred Burke. Her first bout was against June Byers on May 26^th. Her first characterisation, Slave Girl Moolah, brainchild of Jack Pfeiffer, joined male wrestler Johnny Long, her future husband.

As early as 1950, Moolah abetted “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers contributing appeal to male audiences, also helping him against competition. Turning sour in the realms of reality, Rogers, a charismatic and handsome wrestler at that time, sought more from her personally, which Ellison rejected, allowing herself to avoid becoming part of a sexual relationship which then led to their on screen partnership to become redundant. 

Still in the ‘50s, Ellison moved on with her career shepherding Elephant Boy, a Mexican wrestler portrayed by Tony Olivias which soon sparked controversy with the audience in that era. Entering the ring, she planted a kiss as routine to her beau on the cheek. Audiences were very particular regarding ethnicity back then and fans considered interracial connections with the wrestlers untoward and forbidden. The Mexican was considered black to the audience. Shortly after this period, Moolah made the decision to part ways with the company. To this day, it remains a mystery whether this reception caused her departure from said organisation, under Pfeiffer’s rule.

Embarking on a new chapter, working with Boston promoters, Ellison was soon headed to Vince McMahon's Sr to link with his Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1955.

The following year in ’56, the women's world championship was vacant, a perfect time for Moolah to participate in a thirteen woman battle royal besting Judy Grable as the last woman remaining to capture the title. This title shares its heritage with the NWA world women's championship. Under control of Billy Wolfe, the NWA neglected to recognise her as NWA champion since rebuffing his advances in previous years, with strained relations, politically.

Subsequently, McMahon Sr rewarded her accolades re-branding her “The Fabulous Moolah.” Even retired grappler June Buyers broke tradition of retirement to face Moolah for the honourable championship, which Buyers could not wrest from her adversary’s waist. Moolah’s first championship rule lasted a decade, totaling ten outstanding years in the sport. She defended successfully against many opponents including a face from her past, Judy Grable.

Buyers eventually re-retired in 1964, leaving Moolah to be finally acknowledged as NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) champion which melded her as the very first undisputed women's world champion. Betty Boucher ended her longstanding as champion in 1966, only for Ellison to restore rule weeks later. She also traded it to Yukiko Tomoe, on a tour of Japan in ’68.

Banned from wrestling at its most noted home for the sport, Madison Square Garden, women’s wrestling entered a new era of monumental historic change on July 1st 1972, as Moolah became the first woman to ever wrestle in the garden itself. Female wrestling was shifting into a rapid change worldwide. Lifting a ban with the New York Athletic Commission, Moolah persuaded the state of New York to accept female wrestling in June 1972, cementing a legacy encouraging all females after her.

Stronghold to the title and reforming female stance on the sport, in the late 70s, Ellison bought legal rights to the championship. She went on for another six year reign after being without said championship for two days, when transitional champ Evelyn Stevens held it in 1978. 

During ’83, the WWF was expanding. Vince McMahon Jr, (Vincent Kennedy McMahon) convinced Moolah to sell him the championship. Issuing a national outreach, the WWF acquired the title, where Moolah and McMahon, bartered exclusivity to the company and in doing so went on to became the first WWF Women’s champion.

Plunged into a new era, pop/rock icon Cyndi Lauper began a fierce war of words with Captain Lou Albano. Albano caused enough outrage to create a topic of mainstream culture from the feud, sparking the highly influential Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection. Requiring a powerful female to silence Lauper’s protégé Wendi Richter, the pair met on PPV. Representing Albano, Moolah’s title found itself on the line. Richter downed Moolah’s attempt in a hotly anticipated challenge for the title at PPV, The Brawl to End It All. Albano joined Moolah’s corner in support. The pay-per-view was broadcast on the MTV music channel, beginning the WWF's major dominance in media relations. The company made public knowledge of Moolah’s accomplishments, spanned over the previous twenty-eight years as champion.

Moolah featured in a programme supporting Leilani Kai in her battle with Richter as champion in February 1985; however the underlying tension backstage was becoming somewhat sour. The relationship between the WWF and Richter was waning. Moolah, instructed to don a mask saw her regain the championship on November 25th in what would be a controversial decision. Ugly scenes unfolded as Richter had not been informed beforehand she was scheduled to lose the title to Moolah, shielded by her mask as “Spider Lady.” This was classified as the original screw job reminiscent to the Montréal double-cross in 1997 involving Bret “Hitman” Hart and Shawn Michaels. Livid, Richter decisively quit the organisation swiftly whilst Moolah continued on as champion over the coming two years.

Moolah continued on in battles with Velvet McIntyre and Sherri Martel (Sensational Sherri) over the next two years.

June 25th, 1995 approached where Moolah accepted her honours as first female wrestler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Meeting old friend Pat Patterson, Moolah then re-surfaced for one last run in the WWE. Now featuring slender females, and archaic framed bikini models fully engrossed in sexually motivated angles, Ellison featured on Smackdown in 1998, receiving a guitar over her head by Jeff Jarrett. Accompanied by her trainer and friend Mae Young both added to comedic angles in a tastefully humorous display with sheer skill given. They proved equals to the younger girls on offer, despite the aging process.

Utilising her experience, Moolah returned to action, teaching then champion Ivory a lesson on the Raw brand, in September 1999. Meeting at No Mercy, Moolah, at a gracious seventy-six years of age proved to the world once again how to strengthen women’s wrestle, removing the title from Ivory to become the most respected ever in the sport. Ivory would relieve her of the title eight days later.

In her downturn period away from the business, Moolah also trained females and sought bookings for them with federations. Girl Wrestling Enterprises (GWE) was opened with business partner and later husband of nine years Buddy Lee. The company had high aspirations and a demanding schedule with its goals which included appearance maintenance with hair and make-up presented accordingly whilst acting womanly while dating men who were in the professional wrestling business was advised against.

Moolah came under fire also, accused of supplying talent to promoters with unsuspecting females to provide sexual affection. Susie May McCoy (Sweet Georgia Brown) spoke of being raped on occasions, confided to her daughter while trained by Moolah and Lee. Alternative statements revealed promoters wouldn’t extend agreed wrestling payment until further demand was fulfilled romantically in the ‘60s. Allegedly, Moolah forbode females attending gay bars and influenced them to consider becoming heterosexual, a response met with contradiction. Accused of being a shrewd businesswoman, females under her tutelage conclude Moolah demanded half of their payments received when booking against high profile talent including a couple of matches lined up with Wendi Richter. Moolah was accused of pinching bookings for herself at later dates. Launching the IWA (International Wrestling Association) a non-profit organisation aiding retired wrestlers in the late ‘80s – early ‘90s, she spent the remainder of her years training in Colombia, where she switched to support men learning.   

Unstable Diva Victoria soon fell to Moolah on September 15th, 2003. To celebrate her birthday, she became the first octogenarian to compete in a WWE ring. Seeing an opportunity, “Legend Killer” Randy Orton strode out to congratulate Moolah’s victory. Marking his respect, Orton laid out the 80-year-old with an RKO. Moolah signified another bout of professionalism and adoration for the fall fabulously.

She would make appearances in 2006 and 2007, including Wrestlemania 23 and the draft lottery, while also featuring with Vince McMahon and William Regal. That would be her last showcase in August 2007.

For a young female in a male dominated world, aiming to put female wrestling onto the radar in a positive light, The Fabulous Moolah became the beacon of light to all females around the world inspired to make something more of themselves and the audience. Realising a lucrative market, she sent the benchmark for all aiming high.

Personal differences and issues of allegations, for which Moolah sidestepped in part, took the long way around. Training, booking and wrestling without sexual influences herself, created the platform of female wrestling rather than eye candy gaining notorious respect by all her peers years to come and in the future. The only pinnacle of female wrestling in the ring, able to re-structure an entire division, Moolah remains Queen of the ring. The biggest challenge for the future will be upholding that legacy for females worldwide. No one will ever emulate Moolah, and no one is trying to, but aiming to maintain the platform she created should continue to be a priority.

With a career filled with yearly reigns, everyone meaningful and monumental with influence, it is no wonder this female grappler left an air of hope for all of today’s performers. If they can find their niche, and work at it tenfold, perhaps, on some level, those parameters of women’s wrestling can resurface in a somewhat backward portrayal.

The Fabulous Moolah, at 84, stood the test of time for every decade of her life in the ring. Blossoming from a fifteen year old girl to a fully fledged leading lady; Mary Lillian Ellison truly became the “First Goddess of the Squared Circle” where this woman changed an entire dimension in the sport she loved. Ellison passed on November 2nd 2007 due to a blood clot from shoulder surgery. R.I.P. X

© Max Waltham 30th October 2012