The Phantom of the Ring

Remembering The Professor

In this business I’ve met many a class act, from Lou Thesz to Dick Hutton to Bruno Sammartino. But there was one class act people told me about whom I never got the chance to meet. And that was Angelo Poffo. Besides being an exceptional grappler he was also an exceptional human being. From all accounts Poffo was one of the true gentlemen of the game, gracious and modest with the fans outside the ring, but also most protective of the rule of omerta. He was one of the few grapplers who took his family with him when he traveled, and thus it was no surprise that he stayed married to the same woman for 60 years. He got his two sons into the game and they also turned out to be stars who didn’t need their father to hand them numerous championship belts in order to be over with the fans. They were already over, and their careers were proof of that fact. His death on March 4th only deepened my regret at not meeting him, for he was an intelligent man, and I’ll bet he had a lot of stories to tell. Now I see him in Heaven’s Cauliflower Alley Club, sitting with Thesz, Blassie and Hutton, sharing the stories I never got to hear.

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Mary Rummel, the mother of wrestler Candi Devine lost her long battle with cancer this week.

Our prayers and condolences go to Candi and her family and friends.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

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The Phantom of the Ring

Phantom – Jack Brisco, R.I.P.

The sudden death of Jack Brisco on February 1 left the wrestling world saddened. For many, he was the first NWA champion they grew up watching, and he was one of the last “pedigreed” champions (those with solid collegiate wrestling backgrounds) to hold a world’s championship.

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Funk’s Corner – Jack Brisco, He Brought Respect and Credibility to Professional Wrestling

Sometime around 10 am February 1st, 2010 I received a call from Bob Ryder, the first of many to let me know that Jack Brisco had passed away. Like some shocking events I will always remember where I was at the time, in front of Publix listening to country music while waiting for Marti to return to the car with groceries. I left the car and went into the store to let Marti know that Jack Brisco had passed away.

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Press Release: Pro Wrestling Legend Passes Away

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010

CONTACT: Shannon Rose, (813) 960-8412 or (813) 389-0801; info@mediaproductions.tv

WRESTLING HALL OF FAME LEGEND JACK BRISCO PASSES AWAY AT THE AGE OF 68

(Tampa, FL) – Friends and fans of the late WWE Hall of Famer, Jack Brisco, were saddened to hear that the legendary grappler passed away earlier today from heart complications.

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Memories of The Great One, Jack Brisco

Article & photos by Mike Lano

Just after losing wrestling’s greatest friend (Georgie Makropoulos),  today we’ve lost its modern-day greatest athlete with those amazing amateur credentials of his that Kurt Angle told me in 2001, “blow me away.  This guy was and will always be an incredible talent.”

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The Phantom of the Ring

Ida Mae Martinez, RIP; The January Phannies

The world of wrestling, and in particular, women’s wrestling, lost one of its pioneers when Ida Mae Martinez passed away at the age of 78. Ida was more than a pioneer, though. She was a survivor in the truest sense of the word. Nietzsche once defined the superman as a person who has overcome his existence to move to a higher way of life. Based on that, Ida fit Nietzsche’s parameters to a tee, for no one I have ever met overcame more of life, of the cards dealt to her, without becoming resentful and embittered than Ida. She bubbled with life, keeping her sense of humor and, most important, her humanity, which is a tough thing to hang onto in the world of pro wrestling.

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Crowbar Press

New releases – We’ve moved! – wRESTle In Peace: Georgiann Makropoulos

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My radio show partner Evan Ginzburg who lived mere blocks from Georgie,  came up with calling her wrestling’s Den Mother.   That couldn’t be truer, as she touched everyone’s life in the business. From the top, top stars; the McMahon and Carter families more recently to nearly all fans.

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We at PWDigest would like to extend our symapthies and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Georgiann Makropoulos.

Thanks to WrestlingFigs.com for the following:

WrestlingFigs.com has just learned that our very own Georgiann Markopoulos passed away today at the age of 67.

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