The Last Match: 80's Big Men

It has been a very long time since I wrote a The Last Match blog post.  Recently though I came across match footage of The Big Boss Man's last match and it was in Japan.  So I took a look see and sure enough he did, so I thought it was time a new The Last Match post.

Big Boss Man Ray Traylor

August 31, 2004 Tokyo, Japan IWA Japan 10th Anniversary Show

Semi Final: defeated Freddy Krueger

Finals: was defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan for the vacant IWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hard to believe the final matches of Ray Traylor's career were in Japan, although at only age 41 when he passed away less than a month after these matches, I don't think he intended them to be.  After his WWE fun finished in 2002 he didn't wrestle again until March 2004 when he was brought to Japan for IWA.  His final tour was August 28th through the 31st.  You can find his last match on YouTube. 

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

May 12, 2019 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Destiny World Wrestling

defeated by Gursinder Singh

In a career that spanned 40 years I best know Hacksaw for the 2 x 4 carrying, cross eyed, flag carrying all American WWF mid card guy.  It wasn't until many years later that I saw his Mid-South run where he was on top of the territory.  When he entered WCW I would have like to have seen him return to his Mid-South style rather than continue his WWF character.

One Man Gang

March 28, 2009 Franklin, Pennsylvania International Wrestling Cartel: Night of Legends

defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Also known as Akeem the African Dream, Gang wrestled for 32 years debuting in 1977 with runs in Mid-South, World Class, before going to the WWF.  He debuted as the One Man Gang in 1987 and in 1988 debuted the Akeem character, joining the Big Boss Man as the team the Twin Towers.  He left the WWF in 1990 wrestling on the independents until 2001 with a couple of short stints in WCW where he won the WCW United States Championship.

Earthquake

July 19, 2003 Tokyo, Japan All Japan Pro Wrestling

teamed with George Hines & Robbie Brookside defeated Hiroshi Hase, Masayuki Kono & Shigeo Okumura

John Tenta ending his career in Japan is fitting as he began combat sports career as a sumo wrestler in the Japan Sumo Association and in pro wrestling with All Japan Pro Wrestling.  He joined the WWF in 1989 in a very memorable segment sitting on Dino Bravo while he did pushups and then attacking the Ultimate Warrior when he attempted the same.  After a good run with the WWF he followed Hogan to WCW where he had a string of gimmick names and then had to walk around with half  beard for a few months.  His last WWF run was a member of the oddities under a mask as Golga before ending his career back in Japan with All Japan. 

Until Next Time!

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They Wrestled in TNA II

Part two of this topic takes a look at those who have either wrestled or just made an appearance in TNA that you may not have known appeared.  I was surprised to discover a few of them myself. 

Steve Corino
June 19, 2002 eliminated in Battle Royal Huntsville, Alabama
February 12, 2003 defeated Low-Ki by DQ Nashville, Tennessee
February 19, 2003 with The Sandman defeated by Raven & Low-Ki Nashville, Tennessee
March 12, 2003 with The Sandman defeated by Ron & Don Harris Nashville, Tennessee

The King of Old School made his debut at the first ever TNA Weekly PPV competing in the twenty man royal rumble style match for the vacant NWA World Championship.  He was eliminated by Brian Christopher.  Corino would later return to TNA in early 2003 for a month getting involved with fellow ECW Alumni The Sandman and Raven.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan & Moondog Spot
March 19, 2003 Nashville, Tennessee at the Fairgrounds

I can't even begin to try to explain this but on this episode of the weekly TNA Pay-Per-View "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan & Moondog Spot teamed up to defeated Mike Sanders and Glen Gilberti in under two minutes.

Super Crazy
March 5, 2003 Nashville, Tennessee at the Fairgrounds

Super Crazy came to town for a one night only appearance losing to Jerry Lynn.  You can find this match on YouTube.

New Jack
April 16 - July 16, 2003 Nashville, TN

New Jack wrestled in ten matches winning four of them.  In almost every match he wrestled in was a hardcore stipulation of some kind. New Jack with Mustafa also made an appearance but not in a match at TNA Hardcore Justice 2010. 

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Re-Post: Big Time Wrestling results, Augusta, Maine 3/27/2011

Re-Posted from my original blog as I am removing all wrestling references off of it making it a family blog.

The crowd was a legit 1300 - 1400 people and boy did they LOVE "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan!!

The meet & greet got started a little late, but once it got rolling it went very smooth.

Toro Loco pinned Cameron Matthews with a sick DDT

The Scuffling Hillbillies: Cousin Larry & Uncle Sonny defeated Black Talented Wrestlers: Slyck Wagner Brown & Bobby Ocean with a roll up after Slyck accidentally hit Ocean with a foreign object

Interview with Johnny Fabulous & Mr. TA setting up an Augusta Street Fight vs. "Diamond Back" Jack Maverick later in the evening

Amber w/ Playboy Jimmy James defeated Barbie with a school girl while holding the tights

Extreme Rules: Heavyweight Champion: "The Franchise" Shane Douglas pinned Tommy Dreamer after a while match with a Belly to Belly Suplex. The wrestled all over the civic center, through the crowd, up the stairs, and more. Dreamer exploded several beverages all over Douglas but mostly the crowd. The Delfonzo's ran in causing the distraction which lead to the Belly to Belly, then Douglas declared the new Triple Threat was born. Pre-match Douglas cut a promo in his usually style, Vince sucks, Dixie sucks, I revolutionalzied the business in the 90's.

Intermission time with photo's in the ring with Dreamer & Hacksaw plus everyone came back out around the civic center and signed autographs, took pictures, and what not.

Tag Team Champions: Hot Commodity: Scott Reed & Danny Miles defeated The Delfonzo Brothers: Tony & Bam Bam by disqualification when Bam Bam pulled the ref out of the ring as Scott Reed had Tony pinned for the 3 count

"Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase & Virgil come to the ring and cut a promo. "Playboy" Jimmy James et all come out and challenge Dibiase to a match to which Dibiase replied that he doesn't need to break a sweat on these guys, when you have money you can pay people to do it for you, hahahahahaha. Which lead to:

"Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan & Rush defeated "Playboy" Jimmy James, Antoine Roy, & Benny Juxx w/ Amber & Lord Weatherbee when Hacksaw pinned Juxx after his 3 point stance clothesline.

Main Event
Augusta Street Fight: "Diamond Back" Jack Maverick defeated Mr. TA w/ Johnny Fabulous in a wild brawl. These guys brought out the trashcans, cookie sheets, frying pans and cheese graters blooding each other, then battled all around the civic center. The finish came when the camera man, revealing himself to be AJ Mitrano, attacked Jack Maverick laying him out. Which lead to Mick Foley coming out and making the save which allowed Maverick to pin Mr. TA. After Foley applied to mandible claw to Johnny Fabulous.

Mick Foley then told a couple of good stories. First of all, the last time he was in Augusta was in 1996. Sitting in the back of the Arena Dewey was holding his hand over his ears as it was loud. Steve Austin asked Foley, has he being doing that all night? To which Foley replied, yes except for your match when he was holding his nose.

The second was, he was driving through Auburn earlier and saw the Fireside Inn which had a sign and big photo stating, Muhammad Ali stayed here May 25, 1965 after defeating Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, in room 218. So Mick paid the extra $39 so he could stay in the same hotel room as Muhammad Ali. Which means we can now go stay in the say room that Mick Foley & Muhammad Ali slept in.

All in all it was a fun show with a lively crowd. All the wrestlers were very approachable and friendly and everyone, from my point of view, had a great time.