• Old School WCW Veteran Celebrates His Birthday
Old School WCW Veteran Yuji Nagata celebrates his birthday today.
Yuji Nagata wrestled for Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling promotion in 1997 & 1998, and was managed by Heel Manager Sonny Onoo.
During his time in WCW, he feuded with fellow Japenese veteran Último Dragón.
Nagata is a former 2 time IWGP Heavyweight Champion (NJPW’s World Title) after winning the belt in 2002 and 2007.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY YUJI NAGATA!
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• Old School Wrestling Veteran Celebrates His Birthday
Old School Wrestling Veteran Lance Von Erich (Real name: William Vaughan) celebrates his birthday today.
After wrestling for Don Owen’s Pacific Northwest “Portland Wrestling” territory in 1984 & 1985, Vaughan was brought to World Class Championship Wrestling in Dallas Texas by promoter Fritz Von Erich to become a (kayfabe) Von Erich.
They explained to the WCCW fans that Lance was the son of Fritz Von Erich’s (kayfabe) brother Waldo Von Erich.
Vaughan left the Dallas territory in 1987 and continued to wrestle on the indies, as well as internationally, touring several countries such as India, South Africa & Malaysia.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANCE VON ERICH!
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• Old School NWA Legend Would Have Celebrated His Birthday
Old School NWA Legend Lou Thesz would have celebrated his birthday today.
Lou Thesz is considered one of the greatest pure technical mat wrestlers of all time, some might even argue he was the greatest.
If you combine all of Thesz’s 3 NWA World Heavyweight Championship reigns, he was the Champ for more than 10 years combined.
In 2016 he was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of their 1st annual “Legacy” wing inductions.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & REST IN PEACE!
April 24, 1916 – April 28, 2002
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• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (April 24, 2001) – Old School Wrestling Legend Passed Away
On this day in 2001, we lost Old School Wrestling Legend “Handsome” Johnny Valentine (Real name: John Wisniski) at the age of 72 as a result of a number of injuries and complications.
Johnny Valentine was the legendary father of WWF Legend Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and while his son got inducted in 2004, Johnny has yet to be (posthumously) inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, which is most likely going to happen as part of the annual ‘Legacy Wing’.
In 1973 he won the “Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year” award by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
REST IN PEACE JOHNNY VALENTINE!
September 22, 1928 – April 24, 2001
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