Matches My Dad Talked About, Vol. 1: Bob Backlund vs. Superstar Billy Graham

By: Chris "Sledge" Douglas

There are a few matches my dad has talked about nonstop ever since I let my interest in the pseudo-sport become known.  ESPECIALLY one spot in particular... and it wasn't even the finish!

Dateline: February 20th, 1978
Place: Madison Square Garden, NY



My father reminded me of this match on Thanksgiving day.  The way he described it I wasn't really able to visualize what he was talking about.

Then I saw the move at 2:16.  PURE GENIUS!  I'm absolutely flabbergasted that nobody has used that counter since!  It's great!

Of course, I hope I'm not spoiling anything by saying that this was Backlund's first of two WWF title reigns!  It's over 30 years old (People get ridiculously anti-spoiler sometimes)!

It's really something when one particular spot in a match can make that match so memorable.

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Antonio Inoki's Most Interesting Matches

By: Chris "Sledge" Douglas

Antonio Inoki is rather prolific.

Before his official retirement, Antonio Inoki was an IMMENSELY popular Japanese wrestler. So popular, in fact, that he has faced almost EVERYONE in the wrestling business from his generation!

From Hulk Hogan to Ric Flair, to Vader and even Muhammad Ali, Inoki has been quite successful, pretty much fitting the 'hero' mold that Hulk Hogan did here in the US. He is so well known in Japan it's absolutely amazing. In fact, when I was teaching English in Japan, my students did this skit where "Inoki" (a student in Inoki facade, replete with the trademark oversized chin) would slap some inspiration into the attendees.

Here, in no particular order, I'd like to present the most interesting opponents (from an American perspective) that Antonio Inoki has ever had.

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