• Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Celebrates His Birthday
Old School WWF Attitude Era Writer & WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo celebrates his birthday today.
Russo originally started as WWF Magazine editor Vic Venom in 1992 but was promoted to the WWF Booking commission in 1996.
Vince McMahon has confirmed on several occasions, that he ended up using only about 20% of Russo’s ideas, but rejected about 80% of them, so when Vince Russo jumped ship to Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling in September 1999 and was given free control as the head booker to use 100% of his own ideas, it was not at all surprising that his creative decisions made them lose a huge amount of money and basically killed WCW financially.
Like him or hate him, but he’s still considered one of the most controversial figures in professional wrestling history.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VINCE RUSSO!
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• Old School Wrestling Veteran Would Celebrate His Birthday
Today would have been the birthday of Old School ECW/WCW/WWF Veteran Mike Awesome (Real name: Michael Lee Alfonso).
Mike Awesome was the real life cousin of Hulk Hogan’s nephew, fellow Old School WCW Veteran Horace Hogan (Michael Bollea).
After years in Japan (FMW), Mike wrestled for Paul Heyman’s Extreme Championship Wrestling until he joined Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling in April 2000, while still holding the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Awesome, now under WCW contract, ended up dropping the title a few days later at an ECW event in Indianapolis, by losing it to WWF Wrestler Tazz, who then lost the belt the following week to Tommy Dreamer.
When Vince McMahon bought WCW in march 2001, he was signed to a World Wrestling Federation contract and became a member of the WCW/ECW Alliance during the infamous Invasion Storyline.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & REST IN PEACE!
January 24, 1965 – February 17, 2007
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• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (January 24, 2000) – Old School WCW Veteran Passed Away
On this day in 2000 we lost Old School WCW Veteran Bobby Duncum Jr. at the young age of 34 due to an accidental drug overdose.
He was the son of legendary Old School Wrestling Legend Bobby Duncum Sr., who used to be a big name (NWA, AWA, …) during the 60s, 70s & 80s.
Duncum Jr. wrestled for Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling from November 1998 until September 1999.
Most fans will remember him as a member of ‘The West Texas Rednecks’ alongside Curt Hennig, Barry Windham & Kendall Windham.
Together they performed the legendary song “Rap Is Crap”.
REST IN PEACE BOBBY DUNCUM JR.!
August 26, 1965 – January 24, 2000
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• Legendary Old School Manager Would Celebrate His Birthday
Today would have been the birthday of Old School NWA/WCCW Legend “Playboy” Gary Hart (Real name: Gary Richard Williams).
Most of you will remember him as a manager in World Class Championship Wrestling promotion and Jim Crockett Promotions / World championship Wrestling.
Among his clients were famous Wrestlers such as The Great Muta, Al Perez, Gino Hernandez, Terry Funk and Kendo Nagasaki.
Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of their annual “Legacy Wing” inductions.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & REST IN PEACE!
January 24, 1942 – March 16, 2008
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