Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Larry Sweeney 1881
Wayne Munn 1895
Happy Birthday:
Raymond Rougeau (71)
Tim Storm (62)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Chick Garibaldi 2-18-1961 at the age of 47
Mildred Burke 2-18-1989 at the age of 73
Kerry Von Erich 2-18-1993 at the age of 33
Eddie Gilbert 2-18-1995 at the age of 33
Tony Altomore 2-18-2003 at the age of 74
China Mira 2-18-2006 at the age of 73
Nelson Frazier, Jr.\Mabel 2-18-2014 at the age of 43
Ivan Koloff 2-18-2017 at the age of 74
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show
I would like to just take a moment to thank everyone who listens and shares my podcast, The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show. Already in 2026 we have had some fabulous episodes in our 1985 Territory Review Series with our amazing family of co-hosts in each episode.
I’ll just run down some Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Programming Notes for this season so far and what we have planned coming up on the podcast show.
1985 Territory Review Series:
January 7th: Episode 40: The World Wrestling Federation with Steve Gennerelli
January 14th: Episode 41: Championship Wrestling from Florida with Howard Baum and Bruce Owens
January 21st: Episode 43: World Class Championship Wrestling with Lance Peterson
January 28th: Episode 44: Memphis Territory with Tim Dills
February 4th Episode 45: The American Wrestling Association with George Schire
February 11th Episode 46: Continental Championship Wrestling with Ron Fuller
Today’s New Episode 48: Jim Crockett Promotions with Jamie Ward
Coming Episodes:
February 25th Episode 50: Mid-South Wrestling with Greg Klein
March 4th Episode 51: Portland Wrestling with Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson
Our bonus episodes so far:
January 19th Episode 42: Gene Kiniski’s 60th Anniversary of winning the NWA World Title with Steve Verrier and George Schire
February 16th Episode 47: Gino Hernandez 40th Anniversary of his passing with Lizzy Flanagan
Coming Bonus Episodes:
Coming this Monday, February 23rd: Episode 49: RIP Salute to the Life and Career of Frankie Cain, The Great Mephisto with Scott Teal
Starting toward the end of March, we will begin our 1976 Territory Review Series as we take a tour through the territory system in 1976 and review and relive some of the amazing personalities, territories, towns, buildings and the 1976 NWA World Championship run of Terry Funk all still to come in this year’s season of episodes of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show!
One Thing I Learned About Ivan Koloff
He began his wrestling career under the gimmick of Red McNulty, an Irish heel who wore an eyepatch.
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, premium investors get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Premium Investors.