– Mike Mooneyham
Danny Miller might have never left his hometown of Fremont, Ohio, had it not been for his big brother.
Danny, the younger brother of Dr. Big Bill Miller, a collegiate and professional Hall of Fame grappler, made the decision to turn pro in 1955.
And he’s never looked back.
With the 5th anniversary of Penny Banner’s death coming up on May 12, it is a great time to repost Mike Mooneyham’s eloquent tribute to the legendary woman wrestler.
It’s never easy writing about the passing of a pro wrestling legend. It’s even harder when the legend happens to be a close friend.
Penny Banner, who I’ve always known and will forever know as “Pretty Penny,” left us early Tuesday, peacefully at home and in the arms of her beloved daughter, Wendi.
The records may list her chronological age as 73, but to those who knew Penny, she was ageless, timeless and forever young.
– Mike Mooneyham
Mention the name Anderson to a grappling fan, and chances are good that the conversation will quickly turn to one of the greatest tag teams in pro wrestling history.
Few names have such a rich heritage in the wrestling business. The Anderson Brothers represent tag-team royalty, and set the bar high for duos that would follow and try to emulate their style and success.
– Mike Mooneyham
Looking for some good wrestling material to peruse as we head toward the biggest show of the year?
There’s a number of top-notch books currently on the market, and they all offer a little something for everyone.
Most wrestling fans fondly remember James J. “J.J.” Dillon as the colorful manager and strategic leader of the famed Four Horsemen.
That elite unit, with Dillon at the helm, is universally regarded as one of the greatest factions in the history of the business.
– Mike Mooneyham
If you followed professional wrestling back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, chances are good that you’ll remember the venerable New Zealander Abe Jacobs.
Chances are even better that you’ll remember his signature hold — the Kiwi Roll.
A look back at one of Mike Mooneyham’s classic great columns from The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham
By Mike Mooneyham
Feb. 24, 2002
Today’s column is not about the return of the NWO. Nor is it about the ratings, The Rock or Wrestlemania. Many younger readers may have never even heard of the man to whom this article is devoted. But without him, there’s a chance I might not have ever written my first line on the subject of professional wrestling.
It’s a tough pill to swallow when one of your childhood heroes passes away.
It’s even tougher when that hero is one of your best friends.
Rip Hawk, who was born Harvey Maurice Evers, died Dec. 22 in Hereford, Texas. He had been in and out of hospitals for much of the past year, and had spent the last several weeks in a rehabilitation center.
Thousands of rabid fans will converge on the North Charleston Coliseum on Tuesday night when World Wrestling Entertainment comes to town for a Smackdown event.
One of those fans, however, will be looking forward to the show more than most.
James Island native Pete Kaasa, who has been wrestling on the independent scene for the past two years, will be on hand for a WWE tryout.
–by Mike Mooneyham
He calls himself the “Intellectual Savior” of WWE.
His mission, he boasts, is to bring enlightenment to the unwashed masses.
It’s a gimmick, of course, but one that draws big-time heat and could potentially make Damien Sandow a top-tier heel in World Wrestling Entertainment.
