Meanwhile, The Tonga Kid lost his final match at an independent event when he teamed up with Angel Blanco Jr. to face Solar and Solar Jr. Earl Hebner joined WWE in 1988 and spent over a decade and a half in the company, during which he became well-known to the WWE Universe. RELATED: 10 Greatest WWE Golden Era Wrestlers, RankedLadd won a number of regional titles and was a master heel during the 70s wrestling WWWF champions Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund, NWA champion Harley Race and the AWAs top titleholder Nick Bockwinkel. RCW Tag Team Title: The Wrecking Crew ( Dean Richtor & Shaun Martens) defeat The Voros Twins ( Chris Voros & Patrick Voros) (c) - TITLE CHANGE !!! During his stint with JWA, Antonio Inoki faced Bruno Sammartino in one of the most controversial matches of all time. [5], From 1974 to 1978, they participated in several matches in Japan, organized by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, defeating other notable wrestling tag teams including Kantaro Hoshino and Seiji Sakaguchi as well as Osamu Kido and Riki Choshu. Played by Satoru Sayama, who Bret Hart once called the Bruce Lee of professional wrestling, Tiger Mask I was both a real-life wrestling character and the star of a popular Japanese cartoon. Theyve also shared rings with two promising Scottish standouts, Carmel Jacob and Nikki Storm, as well as Japans Tsukasa Fujimoto. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Mascaras is one of the best-known Luchadores in Mexico and spent the bulk of his time wowing crowds in the U.S. and Japan during the 1970s. At six feet, nine inches tall, he was one of the few men who could almost measure up to Andre the Giant. Unknown wrestler getting flipped by Little Bruiser. His first run lasted more than 1,700 days from 1975-1980. With Grand Wizard by his side, it did not take long before Billy Graham became a WWE Heavyweight Champion, in the process toppling Bruno Sammartino. A warrior and fighter inside the squared circle, Terry Funk managed to win a title with almost every promotion that he worked with. Wrestling became an international phenomenon with the expansion of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Be the first one to comment on this story. Stan Hansen was one of the toughest wrestlers in the '70s, running through everyone and making his name in both the United States and Japan. Honored as the best tag team of 2014 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the brothers had a lengthy feud with Luke Harper & Erick Rowan and its safe to say both teams delivered in some incredible matches. Hooks are illegal in conventional amateur wrestling but have high rates of success against even the most athletic and experienced of competitors, essentially removing rules from professional wrestling. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. Updated on February 1, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: The 1970s didn't feature the flashiest wrestlers in professional wrestling history, but its wrestlers were some of the toughest. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To show dominance over the American, Inoki applied a real submission move that Sammartino somehow managed to overpower. He worked mostly in the AWA and was a tag team specialist, winning titles in the 60s with Harley Race. All of this when the AWA sported one of the deepest rosters in territorial wrestling. [7], After the death of Billy, Benny tried to continue wrestling, partnering with Andre the Giant, but was not successful without his brother. One year after their debut in the WWE, the Wild Samoans would win their first-ever tag team championship. As much a wrestler as a cultural ambassador, Mscaras starred in over 20 films. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Because of his ability to stand out and cut amazing promos, many WWE fans flocked to the ring to see the superstar in action. They made their WWE debuts in 1995 as The Blu Brothers, participating in the Royal Rumble Match and eventually losing to Davey Boy Smith and Lex Luger in the opening bout of WrestleMania 11. museum. Hence, she has made her Instagram profile private. The world of sports has seen its fair share of successful twin tandems, including NHL's Sedin brothers, MMA's Nogueira brothers, football's Pouncey brothers, and the Lopez brothers competing in the NBA, to name a few. In a book that became to be known as 'The People of the Abyss' London described the time when he lived in the Whitechapel district sleeping in workhouses, so-called doss-houses and even on the streets. Two years later, Vince McMahon, Sr would come knocking and, in the process, signing Andre the Giant to the WWE. I believe this was broadcast on 26 August 1997. Having made appearances in Japan, Mexico and North America, The Headhunters (consisting of twins Manuel and Victor Santiago) are best known for their stints in WWE and ECW. Blood, barrel chests, and mutton chops. A major star of 'Midget Wrestling' Littlebrook was born in England in 1929. During her wrestling career in the WWE, Fabulous Moolah won various Womens World Championship titles. Rhodes made some appearances in the WWWF in the 70s, but it was the NWA where he had his biggest success. In the latter half of the decade, the Sheik teamed with Abdullah the Butcher in a string of matches against the Funks in what can be described as complete insanity. Koloff is one of the only former WWE Champions who is still not in the WWE Hall of Fame. Tito Santana began his wrestling career as a jobber for other well-established wrestlers and heels. When he retired, Kowalski started a wrestling school and ended up training Triple H years later. The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. Ted Dibiase. However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked. While the 1970s may seem like a bit of a forgotten time for wrestling, some of the best wrestlers ever performed in this decade. Studds most memorable opponents include Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. In his debut night, Tito Santana and Ivan Putski would win the World Tag Team Titles from Johnny and Jimmy Valliant. Moreover, there were instances when the Wild Samoans would eat raw fish during interviews or simply begin picking their noses. The twins have a victory over the Ron & Terry Garvin, and competed against legends such as Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami. It was loosely called a sport, and anything went! However, the company released him and his brother from their contracts in mid-2005. 7. In WWE, he beat Superstar Billy Graham for the WWE Championship in 1978 and held the title for five years before dropping it to Iron Sheik. He held the AWA World Championship for 4,677 total days. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . ( 1960) -. And of course, the omnipresence of Hulk Hogans red and yellow logo will forever be etched into wrestling history. Superstar Billy Graham dropped it nearly a year later to Bob Backlund, PWIs 1978 Match of the Year. Luke & Butch continued brawling across America throughout the '70s and '80s, capturing championships in various National Wrestling Alliance territories and Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation. Trained by the legendary Killer Kowalski, Big John Studds debut in the WWE would be alongside his trainer and partner. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70s wrestler of all time. Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki became two of the most popular Japanese wrestlers of all time. Kayfabe has also evolved to become a code word of sorts for maintaining this "reality" within the direct or indirect presence of the general public. Countless wrestling entertainment talent lives on in our history and memories. Celebrating their birthday in 2015, Adams sent her twin a heartfelt message: Brittaney is not a professional wrestler. Andre the Giant won his only world title in 1988, but he was a man who never needed a title to be the biggest star in any company he wrestled in. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kowalski became a great tag team wrestler, while also becoming a top rival for world champion Bruno Sammartino. Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972. Both Bart and Brad, who spent the majority of their time in WCWA, took on all comers such as Kevin Sullivan, Matt Borne, The Moondogs, and a tag team called The Thrillseekers, a duo made up of Chris Jericho and Lance Storm. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartinos childhood was quite tough. In the '70s, he was part of the WWE and was still on top of the world until his retirement in 1977. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. The Hart . Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. Thanks to photographerDavid Maciejewskiwe can see pictures of thelittle wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. They dont quite look alike, but to the Olsens credit, they often wore matching outfits, which facilitated the gimmick, also helping tag teams like The Fabulous Ones, The Dicks, and The Basham Brothers to look like similar siblings in the past. A symbol of the spirit of Lucha Libre, Mil Mscaras is one of the few masked fighters ever inducted into WWEs notorious Hall of Fame. Along with Ronnie himself and his, "It is time for art to flow into the organisation of life." You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. The Samoans were a staple of Vince McMahon, Sr. and his WWF company in the 1970s and early 1980s. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. And, if youre honest, youll just drag up from the depths all the times youve hated or felt passionately about something and play it. His later years were spent training the up-and-coming legendary children of NXT and his own biological children, Cody and Goldust, remain in the top tier of wrestlings biggest stars to this day. Despite that, Andre was someone that territories brought in to beat their biggest heels, and he sold out every appearance. Born in a wrestling family, Mil Mascaras began his training at an early age. Sika and Afa Anoai enjoyed lengthy stays in multiple territories and often championship success followed. One of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time, Antonio Inokis contribution to the world of wrestling cannot be ignored. [6][4], Billy McCrary died on July 14, 1979, at the age of 32, following a motorcycle accident in Niagara Falls en route to a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Impresarios were the managers who chose how a wrestler could gain fame and interest among the fans, creating personas and improvising matches to make them more interesting. Graham would then go ahead and hold the championship for about 10 months making it one of the longest reigns by a villain. Ron and Don have been wrestling since the late-1980s, competing against The Rock n Roll Express, Shane Douglas, and The British Bulldog in their early days. One of the first true giants in professional wrestling, Haystacks Calhoun weighed more than 600 pounds making him one of the biggest wrestlers of all time. As you will notice, this list features some of the biggest wrestlers in the history of wrestling, a trend that the WWF adopted back in its early years. At one point she even worked as Nature Boys valet. 3. A few years later, he retired as a referee due to injury and became a road agent. Surely, Jimmy and Jey are set aside by some in favor of Tyson Kidd & Cesaro or The Prime Time Players, yet theyve been holding down the fort for a while and excel in entertaining matches. The Golden Era and the Attitude Era gave wrestling fans some of the most electrifying matches in WWEs history. In the United States, in the First Golden Age of professional wrestling was in the 1940s and 1950s. Koloff went on to the NWA where he became a top villain as the leader of the Russians, with his kayfabe nephew Nikita Koloff and Krusher Kruschev. As the match got underway, it could have been anybodys win; until the grand finale. Neither of the brothers has competed since 2019. Both flashy and furious, Mil Mscaras is considered one of Mexican wrestlings first international stars. Obviously, the gimmick was an unsuccessful one. Of the two, Jack proved to be the star. Matches frequently went up to an hour on a regular basis. They laced up the boots to face tandems like Harlem Heat and The Hollywood Blondes, both sporting mullets and looking like long-lost cousins of Ricky Morton and Dan Spivey. 12K views 6 years ago Led by the NWA in Detroit this territory was highlighted as the first renegade promotion in the USA, their battles were bloody their feuds were intense with such stars as The. While Andre the Giant took part in various high-stakes matches in his professional career, it is his match at Wrestlemania 3 against Hulk Hogan that would earn him a spot in the anarchs of sports entertainment. The company released Dean from his contract in 2007. He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has. twin wrestlers from the '70s. Benny then opened a pawn shop and worked as an auctioneer in Hendersonville. After leaving WWE, Adams joined IMPACT Wrestling, where she became one of the top female wrestlers, winning three Knockouts Championships and one Knockouts Tag Team Championship. While Olsen is best known for his time in Chikara, Delaney is a familiar face to WWE fans, competing in the revamped ECW against the likes of Matt Hardy, Tommy Dreamer, and Mark Henry, to name a few. During their reign as tag team champions, the Wild Samoans would go head to head with various teams including Rick Martel & Tony Garea, Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson, and The Strongbows. This ones a little cheeky, but with reason; the Olsen Twins (not to be confused with the starlets of Full House), were branded as twin brothers in Chikara, yet Jimmy Olsen and Colin Delaney are not real-life brothers. Little Bruiser in Chicago, September 1, 1972. There have also been twins who haven't worked together on camera. Andre started his career in 1964 and by the 1970s he was a top star all over the world. Tipping the scales at approximately 1,470 pounds, The McGuire Twins were once the worlds heaviest twins in the Guinness Book of World Records. They both left TNA in 2014 and havent competed since. Starting her career at the age of 15, it wouldnt take her too long to start snatching titles. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. These guys could keep their fans crowds on the edge of their seats for 30, 45 or 60 minutes with no effort at all. The twins are former CMLL World Tag Team Championship, but wrestling fans will most likely remember them for appearing in the 1996 Royal Rumble Match as The Squat Team. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. A pioneer of womens wrestling, Fabulous Moolah had an illustrious wrestling career that saw her become one of the biggest female superstars of all time. The Blossom Twins had high hopes in the wrestling industry as two twin girls growing up in the United Kingdom. He worked as a villain when he was given the title, with Lou Albano as his manager, but when he broke away, he became one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of his era. Her reigns as womens champion lasted for 8, 6, and 10 years in her run as the top female wrestler in the world. Wrestling began featuring enhanced, hyped character traits and storylines. Her matches with her aforementioned nemeses were attended by sold-out crowds in Japan and bolstered the reputation of Japanese womens wrestling worldwide. During that span, he notched victories over Lou Thesz, Dory Funk Jr., Gene Kiniski, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, all of whom held the same title at least once during their careers. The 56-year-old also entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. Although perhaps better known these days for his bombastic and foul-mouthed twitter rampages, Iron Sheik was a key heel throughout the 80s. Flair had nothing but praise for Race upon his death in 2019: Without Harley Race, there was no Ric Flair. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. A force to reckon with, Big John Studd dominated matches with much ease. During his run in the land of the rising sun, Mascaras wrestled Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, and other legends, while performing acrobatic moves that would become a staple of the Japanese style. WWE's Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century 2 Roddy Piper 3,754 votes #5 of 48 Professional Wrestlers with the Best Stage Names #4 of 32 The Best Brawlers In Wrestling History #14 of 49 The Best Wrestling Announcers Of All Time 3 Randy Savage 4,962 votes #138 of 183 The All-Time Greatest Action Stars #206 of 248 The Best Marvel Movie Actors Ever Born in England, Robinson is one of the godfathers of strong style and is considered one of the best ever by Japanese fans. [1][2], The twins were born in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Referee George Gadaski talks to the legendary Little Beaver (back to camera) with tag partner Jamaica Kid to his left, and rivals Billy the Kid and Cowboy Bradley to his right. Both Manuel and Victor were eliminated by fellow behemoths, Yokozuna and Vader. This secret weapon made Mr. Fuji one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the WWE. Morales also became the first Triple Crown Champion in company history after winning the World Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships. While other '80s wrestlers are known as much for their bombastic personalities as for their actual fighting ability, its the latter quality that continues to endear industry insiders to Hart. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. RELATED: 10 Best Pat Patterson Moments In WWE HistoryPatterson also became one of the most important men behind the scenes when he retired in the '80s. With adopted names like Little Bruise, Sky Low Low, Billy The Kid, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo, men (and a few women) who might have eked out a living in the circus started a spectatorport. WWE billed Andre as an undefeated wrestler until his loss to Hulk Hogan, but that was not entirely true. It is his ruthlessness and fearless nature during matches and interviews that saw him pull crowds. Weve compiled a list of 15 wrestlers whom we believe stood out during the 70s and helped propel the company to greater heights. Stan Hansen was one of the toughest wrestlers in the '70s, running through everyone and making his name in both the United States and Japan. The world of sports has seen its fair share of successful twin tandems, including NHLs Sedin brothers, MMAs Nogueira brothers, footballs Pouncey brothers, and the Lopez brothers competing in the NBA, to name a few. When they returned to WWE, they adopted the names 8-Ball and Skull, joining their real-life cousin Brian Lee (as Chainz) and Crush in The Disciples of Apocalypse. On top of that, the win would mark one of the longest reigns as Bruno would retain the title for 8 consecutive years. His over-the-top video packages established him as a kind of miraculous meta-human that, despite or because of their inherent campiness, catalyzed his global superstardom. The Dynamite Kid was one of the most innovative wrestlers of the 1980s. Standing at 610, Giant Baba was one of the biggest wrestlers in the WWE. Little Bruiser in Chicago, September 1, 1972 Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968. Cant you almost hear the raspy, strained shouts of Macho Man Randy Savage? Competing since the mid-1980s, The Batten Twins have tussled against some of the best in the world, but they never quite got the recognition they wanted. A major star of Midget Wrestling Littlebrook was born in England in 1929. Jack and his brother Gerry were the original Brisco brothers, not to be confused with the ROH pair. St. Petersburg. He went on to win one world title. After working for AWA for a few years, Tito Santana eventually attracted the attention of Vince McMahon. During WWEs first ever Main Event broadcast in 1988, fans in attendance at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis witnessed devastation as Hulk Hogan, the WWE Champion at the time, was forced to surrender his title to Andre The Giant after beating him at WrestleMania 3 a year prior. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. Please consider making a donation to our site. These guys could keep crowds engaged for 30, 45, or 60 minutes with ease, as that was the length of their matches on a regular basis. Cowboy Bob Bradley was born Robert Claton Bradley in Dickens County, TX, in February 1935. Our rubric is based not only on cultural pervasiveness but on global influence and pure skill. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartino's childhood was quite tough. RELATED: The 10 Best Wrestlers In The World Outside WWEHe later went to the WWE where he would become the first masked wrestler to appear at Madison Square Garden while working alongside legends like Superstar Billy Graham, Andre the Giant, and Dusty Rhodes. According to Wikipedia, kayfabe, /kefeb/ is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as "real" or "true", specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not of a staged or predetermined nature of any kind. His reputation for playing mind games with his opponents never superseded his actual in-ring acumen. This win at Madison Square would mark the beginning of a 170 days reign before dropping the titles to another promising duo, the Wild Samoans. Because of his immense popularity back in the 60s and 70s, Haystacks Calhoun got the opportunity to go head to head with some of the biggest names in wrestling at the time. Bobo Johnson also wrestled under the name the Brown Panther. Best known for his tag performances with Louie Louie and later Rocky Johnson, Bobo was one of the earliest Black midget wrestlers alongside Haiti Kid. Backlund was a collegiate All-American and a former NCAA Champion. Giant Babas most memorable match would be a tag team match with Andre the Giant against Demolition at the Wrestling Summit. With the sex appeal of a Chippendales performer, this Ravishing fighter was a WCW legend before career-ending injuries forced him to stop performing in 1997. Perfect Curt Hennig and grandfather of Curtis Axel, but during his time in wrestling, he was one of the top stars in the world. Entering the ring to Queens infectious anthem, Another One Bites The Dust, Junkyard Dog was a paradigm of pure power. In fact, it was the Crush Gals that catalyzed All Japan Pro Wrestlings international following. Eventually, the character morphed into a deranged barber who cut the hair of his opponents following his decisive victories. Jimmy and Jey Uso, for example, joined WWE in 2009 and have achieved a lot throughout their 13 years with the company. By that time, Johnny Valiant had moved on to managing and Jimmy had become the Boogie Woogie Man. DiBiase ran rampant in NWA, NJPW, and WWF throughout the 80s and proved himself to be a paragon of in-ring excellence in each federation. Twin brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso are the sons of former wrestler Rikishi and members of the Anoa'i wrestling family. The Big Cat was an AFL All-Pro before he had a Hall of Fame career as a professional wrestler. Known for his signature evil laugh, The Million Dollar Man bragged about you guessed it his extraordinary wealth while trouncing opponents around the world. Ultimately, promoters in Canada would run out of acceptable opponents to face this giant. He lost it to Pedro Morales but cemented his place in history. 14. After briefly competing in Deep South Wrestling in 2006, WWE parted ways with both Mike and Todd. 18. Jaguar Yokota for a time was considered the best wrestler in the world period. While Inoki never accepted nor denied these claims, however, this is just but one of the many incidences that took place back in 70s that fans were never aware of. They were tough, savage-like and had some of the hardest. The Phelps twins, 36, will forever be known as Ron Weasley's lovable older twin brothers, Fred and George, roles they played from 2001 to 2011. DONATE, Before the money moved in, Kings Cross was a place for born-and-bred locals, clubs and crime, See what really went on during that time in NYC's topless go-go bars, Chris Stein 's photographs of Debbie Harry and friends take us back to a great era of music. In the world of pro-wrestling, no other set of twins are as well traveled as The Harris Brothers. And although his identity is now known worldwide, hes one of the few masked wrestlers to have never revealed his face to the public. ( 1990) AWA All-Star Wrestling was a syndicated television series featuring wrestling matches as promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). After meeting Frank Valois, a Canadian promoter, Andre would later relocate to Japan before moving on to Quebec Canada. This, and a ton of hard work, became the blueprint to win championships for specific sets of twins in WWE. The result, a ripped cauliflower ear and tons of bandages. Its no surprise that The Crush Gals are often considered the greatest womens tag team of all time considering the duos perfectly honed and incredibly powerful movesets. When it comes to pro-wrestling, weve seen twins trick their opponents, help one another out, and dish out the punishment on foes that take their adversaries for granted. Its almost impossible to overstate the precision and crispness of Harts technical abilities and his resilience in the face of some very real tragedies is beyond admirable. Dubbed the Executioners, the duo would go ahead and capture the World Tag Team belts in the same year. Although the conceit might seem silly, Sayama had the skill to back up the story: his match at NJPW Sumo Hall Show in 1983 (against Dynamite Kid Thomas Billington) was the first fight Meltzer ever granted a 5 Star rating. Cole WWE.com Kent and Keith Cole were WCW regulars during the mid-1990s, a mid-card act who would beat other jobbers but usually lost to more established teams. In the 70s, kayfabe was alive and well! Mascaras has been inducted in the WWE, NWA, and Professional Wrestling Halls of Fame. Being a Luchador, Mascaras has never stepped into the squared circle without a mask.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'sportlister_com-sky-3','ezslot_23',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportlister_com-sky-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'sportlister_com-sky-3','ezslot_24',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportlister_com-sky-3-0_1');.sky-3-multi-116{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Make no mistake, though, that didnt mean the action wasnt good. It would be beyond cliche to call Andre larger than life but its an appropriate descriptor considering his largesse both in and out of the ring. Good luck trying to get that out of some of todays professional wrestlers. In his final match, Rikishi teamed up with Danni Deeds and Todd Quality to defeat Adam Ryder, Marty Sugar, and Shreddz at a PPW event. In the '70s, he had a chance to work title matches in the WWWF against Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales before returning to the AWA, where he finally became a babyface.He ended up feuding with former allies Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens. While some of these siblings have previously worked in Vince McMahon's company, others have never competed inside the squared circle. Three years later, a young Mascaras would make his international debut in Los Angeles where he faced various wrestlers including Goliath, John Tolos and Ernie Lad. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. Knowing what was to follow, the venue was apposite. Both Hebners served as referees, with Dave taking on more of the backend stuff like promoting and working as a road agent. Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki were key figures in the Japanese womens tag scene during the 80s and even had success as a duo in the WWF. This made Koloff one of the only men to ever beat Sammartino in a WWE match. In the early-1990s, The Cole Twins became a tag team to keep an eye on in WCW, competing regularly on shows such as WCW Worldwide and WCW Saturday Night. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. However, long before these emerging stars ever eyed a career between the ropes, there was a rugged brother tag team travelling the territories in the 1970's as "The Islanders".