This time around we're looking at Wrestling World from October 1974
First up some pics of the Valiant Brothers, recently crowned WWWF tag team champions.
They look like nice lads. Although they're definitely starting to pick up some battle-scars
Dick The Bruiser was already a grizzled veteran by 1974. He was still wrestling well into the 1980s.
Meanwhile Johnny was Rookie Of the Year in 1969
Poor Johnny is looking a bit battered.
I'd also want to have a word with whoever dressed that head wound.
Were they drunk at the time?
Shit.. I hope that isn't a bit of his face hanging off.
Next up, a couple more nice young men.
Maaaaayyyybe not.
Maybe their mothers shouldn't have named them "Brute" and "Skull"
Brute and new partner Bulldog Brower deploy a bit of charm here.
Take a moment to note how close the audience are to the ring.
No barrier either.
This is why 1970s "Heels" frequently had to fight their way back to the dressing room.
One of the things I find fascinating about these old mags is reading the profiles of guys I've never heard of.
Like this cheerful chappie.
Naturally I googled him and Ron Martinell seems like an interesting guy.
Served in Vietnam in the Army, Navy and Marines then became a wrestler.
Crippled in an auto-accident that doctors thought would leave him in a wheelchair forever...
but returned to the ring to become Continental Champion in 1980.
He has a book on sale Heaven, Iron and I.
Skipping ahead a bit, Andre The Giant battles Japanese legend Antonio Inoki.
Then scares the crap out of some other grapplers.
Inoki, Kowlaski and Vachon are all pretty big blokes and Andre makes them look like kids playing with daddy.
There's a piece next about whether Kung Fu should be allowed in wrestling.
(This was during the 1970s Kung Fu craze, remember.)
Mad Dog Vachon clearly fancies his chances.
Following by the near obligatory "Lady Wrestlers " piece.
Daisy Mae and Joyce Grable wait for the bell to ring.
Female Hillbilly gimmicks are surprisingly rare.
When I say "Surprisingly" I am of course being very sarcastic.
Veteran Belle Starr tries to roll Vicki Williams over into a Boston Crab.
This is going to hurt a lot so Vicki is reluctant to let this happen.
The British Wrestling scene was clearly big enough to be of interest to American readers.
The scary looking Ken Davies tries to strangle Mel Cartwright with his own elbows.
Johnny Czeslaw was a refugee from Communist Poland who became a popular star
in British rings. Later on, Czeslaw did some acting before losing his eyesight to a brain tumour.
He died in 2014.
Lastly, Betty Nicoli looking sweet and innocent in a glamour headshot.
What's that?
"Didn't the cover say something about mud wrestling?" I hear you ask.
Oh alright then.
Here's actual pro wrestlers War Star and Jackie West ruining their hair in a mud puddle that looks a wee bit chilly to me..
That's all folks.
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