My friend Simply Badd shared this link with me on Facebook. He was there when this went down. If you want to know just how wild things were when Memphis wrestling ruled the Gardens, have a look.
Category: Louisville Wrestling
Louisville’s wrestling past
If you’ve read Bluegrass Brawlers, you already know some of the tales from the 1930s-1950s about Heywood Allen and the Allen Athletic Club. This coming year I am doing more research on the Allen Club and “that gang of Allen’s” that brought pro wrestling legends like Lou Thesz, Orville Brown, Bronko Nagurski, Buddy Rogers, Baron Leone, Mae Young, June Byars, Mildred Burke, Fritz von Erich, and many more to Louisville every Tuesday night at the Columbia Gym.
I am putting this post out in the hopes I can track down relatives, descendants, or other folks who might have info on Allen and his various cohorts. The names I have (so far) are listed below who were part of Allen’s gang (or his story in general). If you have information on any of these folks, please message me and let me know. I would love to hear from you!
Heywood Allen
Heywood Allen, Jr.
Francis S. McDonough
“Miss Betty” Bessie McDonough
Kid Scotty Williams
Blacksmith Pedigo
“The Black Panther” Jim Mitchell
Stu Gibson
George Lewis
Wild Bill Cantrell
Sgt. Buck Moore, LMPD
Johnson S. Mattingly (former KY Athletic Commissioner)
Mel Meiners
For OVW fans who received WWE 2K15 for Christmas
A fan named Keith Woosley used the create your own arena and logo features in WWE 2K15 to re-create a familiar location for Louisville fans: the Davis Arena of Ohio Valley Wrestling.
What have you used the arena and wrestler creation features to make?
Punk vs. Hero
This is one of the greatest matches that most fans have never seen. An outstanding duel more than a decade old featuring CM Punk and his greatest rival, Chris Hero. This one gets a mention in Bluegrass Brawlers and is on the short list to be featured in a new book I’m starting soon. Block out an hour of time, get a snack and a drink, and enjoy an indy masterpiece.
Two Years Ago Today
It was two years ago today I went to Ohio Valley Wrestling’s last TV taping of the year. That night I met up with Erin, an old friend who has been a fixture behind the OVW concessions counter for years, and told her my intention to write a book about Louisville wrestling.
Six days from now, many wrestling fans in Louisville and elsewhere will find that book, Bluegrass Brawlers, under their Christmas tree.
It’s fitting that today is the day I officially launch this blog. I’m very excited to continue sharing stories about wrestlers and wrestling, past and present.
And if you enjoy Bluegrass Brawlers, there’s much more to come!
