Hercules Ayala (known in the Central States area as Crusher Ayala so not to confuse him with Hercules Hernandez, I suppose), Bruiser Brody, Jerry Anderson, Dave (D.J.) Peterson, Dusty Wolfe, Gypsy Joe, Mr. Pogo, Hacksaw Higgins, "Diamond" Timothy Flowers, Kamala, Tommy Sharp, Grizzly Evans, M.E.B. (The Man Eating Beast aka Rick Link), Ken Timbs, Pork Chop Cash, The American Starship (Eagle ("Dangerous" Dan Spivey/Waylon Mercy) and Coyote (Scott Hall/Razor Ramon), Barry Windham, Crusher Blackwell, Ric Flair, The Road Warriors, The Rock ‘N Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Wahoo McDaniel, Stan Hansen, Baron Von Rasche, and "Hacksaw" Butch Reed.

Managers included: "The Epitome of Wrestling Managers" Percival A. Friend, Sheik Abdullah The Great (The Master of Illusion), Honey, Jimmy Hart, Slick, Downtown Bruno (Harvey Wippleman in The WWF), Mr. Russell Sapp, Esquire, "Gorgeous" Gary Royal (Royal also wrestled).

Sonny Myers and Bobby Whitlock were among the Referees there. Bill Kersten, Kevin Wall and the late Rick Stewart were among the commentators.

The Central States area recognized the Central States Heavyweight Title, the Central States Tag-Team Title, the Central States TV Title, and the Missouri State Title.  In the 1960’s, they recognized a US Heavyweight Title, and in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, they had a North American Tag Team Title.

The Central States Title was originally called the NWA Heart of America Heavyweight title in the early 1950’s.  It became the Central States title in the early 1950’s.  Some of the people that held the Central States Title include: Sonny Myers, "Wild" Red Berry, "Iron" Mike DiBiase, "Cowboy" Bob Ellis, The Spoiler, Ted Oates, Jerry Oates "Easy" Ed Wiskoski (later known as Colonel DeBeers), (Sgt.) Bob Slaughter, "Bruiser" Bob Sweetan (Mr. Piledriver), "Colonel" Buck Robley ("Nobody calls me yellow"), Ron Starr, The Assassin, Bruiser Brody, Dewey Robertson (later known as The Missing Link), Super Destroyer, Dick Murdoch, Ted DiBiase, Tully Blanchard, Hacksaw Higgins, "Crazy" Luke Graham, Sr., Mr. Pogo, Porkchop Cash and Akio Sato. "Bulldog" Bob Brown held the Central States Title at least 16 times.

Among the tag teams that held the Central States Tag Team Titles are: Bryan St. John and Randy Alls ("Ravishing" Randy Rose), Bruiser Brody and Ernie Ladd, "Bulldog" Bob Brown and Dick Murdoch, Pat and Mike Kelly, Buzz Tyler and J.J. Dillon, Ricky Romero and Eddie Gilbert, Dewey Robertson and Hercules Hernandez, Yasu Fuji and Kim Duk (later Tiger Chun Lee), Mike George and Mark Romero (aka Mark Youngblood), The Sheiks (Sheik Abdullah The Great and Roger "Nature Boy" Kirby), The Grapplers, The Uptown Boys, Mr. Pogo and Gypsy Joe, The Batten Twins (Brad and Bart Batten), The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels), The Thunderfoots, The MOD Squad (Basher and Spike), Porkchop Cash and "Gentleman" Ken Timbs, The Warlord and Karl Kovac, The Montana Cowboys (Mike Stone and Rick Patterson), Bob Brown and The Cuban Assassin and Rick Patterson and Steve Ray.

Among the wrestlers that held the Central States Television Title are: "Bruiser" Bob Sweetan, Black Angus Campbell, Terry Taylor, "Hangman" Bobby Jaggers, Rufus R. Jones, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Bobby Fulton, "Colonel" Buck Robley, Art Crews, Gypsy Joe, Marty Jannetty, Gary Royal, Akio Sato, Mike George, Vinnie Valentino, "Hustler" Rip Rogers, Mike George and Masa Chono.

The Missouri State Title was won by Harley Race in a tournament final in September 16, 1972 when he defeated Pak Song. From 1972 to 1985, the Missouri State Title only changed hands in St. Louis.  Other people that held the Missouri State Title include: Johnny Valentine, Terry Funk, Gene Kiniski, Dory Funk, Jr., Bob Backlund, Jack Brisco, Dick Slater, Ted DiBiase, Dick Murdoch, Dick The Bruiser, Kevin Von Erich, Ken Patera, Kerry Von Erich, Crusher Blackwell, Ric Flair and David Von Erich. Harley Race held The Missouri State Title seven times.

NEXT MONTH:

We’ll take a look at Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels before they were stars.