Wrestling Weekly: Summer of ’71, pt. 1

We have a fun, old school centric-show today looking back at the start of a successful run in the Mid-Atlantic territory for the team of Danny Miller and Les Thatcher!

That’s the main point of conversation before we open the mailbag, but there’s some other things that come up both before we get there and along the way. Before we get there, we’ll spend a few minutes on what Les was up to in Florida before getting the call to return to the Carolinas, including a match (7:15) that Vic thinks desperately needed several weeks of vignettes on TV so that it could’ve been the gold mine that it should have been.

We’ll then segue into looking at the start of the Miller/Thatcher team’s time in the Carolinas, which included a very successful June of 1971 (18:59) with wins over several name teams in the area. It also sparks Les to pull out a few old programs to run down some cards that took place in Florida, Mid-Atlantic, and in Ohio as well that include some fascinating matches.

Then we’ll open the mailbag to answer your questions about how important finishing moves were back in the day (54:29), why babyfaces today have no friends (58:53), the most painful bump Les has ever taken (69:47), and whether or not using wrist wraps while weightlifting is cheating (74:19).

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

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Wrestling Weekly: Les loves NXT, Danny Miller memories, Brock Lesnar

Just how big a risk for WWE is Brock Lesnar’s return to the Octagon at UFC 200? Les Thatcher and Vic Sosa will talk about it from WWE’s perspective on the latest Wrestling Weekly!

We’ll start with Les sharing some thoughts about his good friend and former tag team partner Danny Miller, who passed away this past Monday at the age of 84, as well as remembrances of the late Emily Miller (no relation) who was a longtime fan in the Mid Atlantic area. 

From there, we’ll spend a few minutes discussing the one and only Muhammad Ali (18:35).  After that, it’s time to look at Brock Lesnar’s return to UFC (22:18) and how it impacts WWE.  We’ll wrap the show by discussing the latest NXT Takeover special (35:52), and why it has filled Les with hope for the future of the business. 

Subscribers can listen by clicking the link below or right-clicking to save.

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Former WWWF Tag Team Champ Dan Miller passes away

Dan Miller, a pro wrestling star for about 30 years, passed away this morning one day after his 84th birthday.

Miller was the younger brother of Hall of Famer Big Bill Miller.  The two were often tag team partners including a run in 1965 where they defeated Bill Watts & Gorilla Monsoon to win the WWWF U.S. tag team title, the forerunner of today’s WWE tag team title.

Miller consistently held regional titles throughout North America as well as the All-Asia tag title with Frank Valois in Japan.

He had settled in Florida where he worked for years behind the scenes for the Florida wrestling office.

Brian Blair sent a letter on Saturday informing a number of his friends that Miller was in hospice care and it wouldn’t be long until he was in a better place.

Miller made the request to go into hospice care a few days earlier.

Miller was best known for a tag team with his older brother, but also held major tag team tiles with Ron Etcihison, Whipper Billy Watson, Nick Kozak, Fred Curry, Jose Lothario and Fritz Von Erich.

During his career he also held the top singles titles in Texas, Florida, the Mid Atlantic region as well as for Leroy McGuirk’s promotion in the days before the Mid South era.