Tag: Portland WrestleCast

Portland Wrestlecast: Don Owen vs. The OWF

Posted on by Jim Valley

In 1988, Portland had a very brief promotional war when Billy Jack Haynes came back to Oregon after a few years in the WWF. He ran opposition to Don Owen by starting the Oregon Wrestling Federation.

Billy Jack brought in wrestlers like Kevin “Nailz” Kelly, Fred Ottman, Corporal Kirschner, Johnny Ace, The Terminator, Bryan Adams, Ray Candy, Rip Oliver, and Ricky Santana. Billy had the talent and a television show, but couldn’t get the OWF going strong enough to run live events. On this episode of the Portland Wrestlecast, Ricky Santana talks about the formation of the OWF and why he and others left so abruptly.

Ricky would go back and work for Don Owen. Santana talks about Don’s reaction to his return, his tag team with Curtis Thompson (aka Firebreaker Chip from WCW), and when he could tell that Portland Wrestling was coming to an end. 

Note: One OWF promo is insensitive.

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Portland Wrestlecast: 1986 with Ricky Santana

Posted on by Jim Valley

Ricky Santana has wrestled all over the world: the WWF, WCW, NWA, Japan and, in 1986, he found himself in the Northwest.

1986 was a year of transition for Portland Wrestling. As the WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions went national, Don Owen continued to run big cards in the Memorial Coliseum every quarter or so. Ricky Santana was part of a crew that included such Portland legends as Rip Oliver, Mean Mike Miller, and Fidel Sierra (a.k.a. The Cuban Assassin, The Assassin, and Top Gun). But there were other wrestlers on the roster who you probably haven’t heard much about like Abudadien, Brady Boone, Scott Doring, and Coco Samoa.

Ricky talks about the fans, the party scene, living at The Bomber, payoffs, how to get more money from Don Owen, making towns, Elton Owen, shoot matches, and what life was like for wrestlers working the Portland territory in 1986. 

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Portland Wrestlecast: Mike Rodgers on 30 years of Pacific Northwest history

Posted on by Jim Valley

Fresh off last week’s Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas, I talk with this year’s recipient of the James Melby Award, Mike Rodgers.

The Melby goes to the pre-eminent journalists in wrestling and our Dave Meltzer won it two years ago. For 30 years, Mike wrote “Ring Around the Northwest”, a wrestling newsletter focused on the Pacific Northwest. 

In this week’s episode of the Wrestlecast, Mike and I talk about his early fandom in the 60s and wrestlers like Lonnie Mayne and “Tough” Tony Borne, including their famous match at the the Portland Memorial Coliseum that drew 8,000 fans. We move onto the 1970s and talk about Beauregard, The Claw, Bull Ramos, Jesse Ventura, Gino Hernandez and the debut of “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

From there, we talk about Portland stars in the 1980s and 90s like Billy Jack, Rip Oliver, The Grappler and much more.

We cover lots of history and great memories in this episode. 

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Free Portland Wrestlecast: The legacy of ‘Playboy’ Buddy Rose

Posted on by Jim Valley

This weekend marks 10 years since the death of “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

If you only know Buddy from the Blow Away Diet in 1990 WWF, then this show is for you. I talk with Rich Patterson, longtime Portland Wrestling fan and Buddy’s friend, about Rose’s legacy. We talk about Buddy’s feuds with Bull Ramos, Jesse Ventura, Jimmy Snuka, Dutch Savage, Roddy Piper, and more.

Plus, we discuss how Buddy helped bring talent into the territory who may not have otherwise worked in Portland.

With his recent induction into the WWE Legacy Hall of Fame, Rose’s promotional video only covered two of his WWE runs. This show will fill in the gaps for Buddy’s career. We cover Buddy’s early life, his Portland highlights, and what his life was like after his full-time career ended. In addition, Rich tells a story about a gross thing Andre the Giant did to Buddy in a match.

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Portland Wrestlecast: ‘Golden Boy’ Jerry Grey on 1980s wrestling politics

Posted on by Jim Valley

The mid 1980s were a transitional time for Portland Wrestling as established stars like Billy Jack Haynes, Rip Oliver, and Buddy Rose were in and out of the territory.

Former wrestler Jerry Grey was there and seemingly caught in the middle of a political game between Billy, Rip, and Buddy. With Buddy reportedly going into the Legacy wing of the WWE Hall of Fame, Jerry joins this week’s Wrestlecast to tell stories about “Playboy” during this period of Portland wrestling, what the crowds were like, and how fans reacted to wrestlers like Bobby Jaggers, “Mean” Mike Miller, and Ricky Vaughn (better known as Lance Von Erich) on top of the cards.

1985 was also the year of the first WrestleMania, so find out what it was like to be a territory wrestler in this era. 

Please consider helping with Jerry’s medical expenses as he battles stage 4 colon cancer.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Scott Norton

Posted on by Jim Valley

You know Scott Norton was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a member of the NWO. But before he was world famous, he was teaming with Steve Doll, fighting The Grappler, and learning the ropes in Portland Wrestling.

In 1990, Norton worked double duty as the ridiculous lumberjack character Scott “Flapjack” Norton for Verne Gagne in the AWA and as “Crusher” Scott Norton in Portland. The end was near for Portland during this time: the crowds were down and Scott could only afford to live in half of a trailer. Not a whole trailer. Half.

Hear about Norton’s learning experiences while he worked the territory with a young Raven, The Equalizer (better known as Evad Sullivan), and more. Scott paid his dues in Portland, and he talks about all he learned and the good and bad times of working in a Portland territory that was on its last legs.

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Portland Wrestlecast: The legend of Tom and Gloria Peterson

Posted on by Jim Valley

Editor’s Note: This is a free edition of the show. No subscription needed!

With catchphrases like “Wake Up!” and his famous flat-top haircut, Tom Peterson as synonymous with Portland Wrestling as Buddy Rose or Don Owen.

Tom and Gloria Peterson sponsored Portland Wrestling for almost 25 years. With the recent passing of Gloria at the age of 89, I look back on the legacy of two Portland legends on the latest Portland Wrestlecast, a weekly show focused on the Portland, OR, territory.

First, we talk with historian and Portland native Rich Patterson about what made Tom and Gloria such local icons. Then, Portland Wrestling announcer Don Coss talks about his personal relationship with the duo.

There were a couple of nights where things got crazy during interviews and Tom’s merchandise was destroyed. One night, Tom turned lemons into lemonade, while on another night, he got legitimately angry and got revenge.

If you grew up in Portland, you will undoubtedly want to listen to this show that honors two icons of the city and Portland Wrestling.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Dr. D’s real-life rivalry with Buddy Rose

Posted on by Jim Valley

Before he infamously slapped reporter John Stossel on ABC’s 20/20, David Schultz came through Portland. And on this episode of the Portland Wrestlecast, Dr. D talks to me about his feud with Playboy Buddy Rose.

While it wasn’t unusual for a wrestler to come into Portland as a heel and then turn babyface to feud with Rose, it was unusual that Schultz never became a good guy during his entire Portland run. Hear Schultz talk about his real-life issues with Buddy and if he was ever supposed to turn.

In addition, Schultz gives his thoughts on the other wrestlers in the territory at the time, including Dizzy Hogan (Brutus Beefcake), Rocky Johnson, Hack Sawyer (Brett Wayne Sawyer), Dutch Savage. and more. Dr. D didn’t seem to like his time in Portland very much — and he will tell us why as we take you back to the summer of 1981.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Toni Rae Borne’s marriage to Buddy Rose

Posted on by Jim Valley

There are bad people and abhorrent behavior in all walks of life, including professional wrestling. This episode of the Portland Wrestlecast may be too intense for some people. If you have been affected by domestic violence, you may want to skip this show. 

Toni Rae Borne grew up around the wrestling business. She’s the daughter of Tough Tony Borne and sister of Matt Borne (a.k.a. Doink the Clown). For the first time, she talks about her brief real-life marriage to northwest legend Playboy Buddy Rose.

Toni goes into detail about how they met and the violence that surrounded their tumultuous relationship. There are police reports and newspaper articles outlining Rose’s behavior. Now, in her own words, Toni Rae describes the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of Buddy Rose.This is a very serious interview about a real-life situation. 

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Portland Wrestlecast: Toni Rae Borne, daughter of a legend

Posted on by Jim Valley

We’ve talked about her since the very first episode of the Portland Wrestlecast. Now, Toni Rae Borne joins me to talk about her memories of Portland Wrestling.

Growing up as the sister of Matt Borne and the daughter of Portland legend “Tough” Tony Borne, hear her stories about growing up with a father in pro wrestling, traveling across the country, how her father told her about the realities of the wrestling business, and how she protected kayfabe even once fighting a girl from school.

Toni Rae also fondly recalls the man who was possibly the biggest star ever for Don Owen: “Moondog” Lonnie Mayne. She even talks a little bit about her brief and tumultuous marriage to “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

Toni Rae has a unique perspective on a very key part of Portland Wrestling: the 1960s and 70s, including a crowd of over 8,000 at the Portland Memorial Coliseum.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Raven in Portland Wrestling, pt. 2

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s part two of our conversation with Raven — who was Scotty the Body in 1989 and 1990 in the Portland territory.

During this interview, Jim Valley talks with the former “Scotty the Body” about his feud with referee Sandy Barr that actually popped the territory, his relationship with promoter Don Owen that eventually led to his departure, how booker Len “The Grappler” Denton helped a young Raven out (but Scotty the Body didn’t realize it at the time), what it was like working different towns in the territory, where he partied, who he partied with, and what he learned during his formative years.

Be sure to check out Raven’s podcast “The Raven Effect.”

Also this week, a preview of next week’s episode with Toni Rae Borne, Buddy Rose’s former wife and daughter of Tough Tony Borne and sister of Matt Borne, aka Doink the Clown. 

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Portland Wrestlecast: Raven in Portland Wrestling

Posted on by Jim Valley

You know him best as Raven, ECW’s grunge-era cult leader. Before he was dark and brooding, he was loud, brash, and colorful as Scotty the Body in Portland Wrestling.

This week on the Portland Wrestlecast, Jim Valley talks to Raven about his time as Scotty the Body in Portland. Scotty was responsible for many firsts in the history of the territory: the first heel color commentator, the first valets (Ginger and Veronica) who were regularly involved in the territory, and the first wedding in Portland Wrestling history. 

Raven talks about Roddy Piper, The Grappler, Steve Doll, Johnathan Boyd, and others. In addition, he gives his opinion on whether Portland was more traditional in its booking and presentation.

This episode takes you back nearly 30 years to December of 1989 as Raven gets his first chance to consistently work main events and get plenty of TV time.

Don’t forget to check out his podcast: The Raven Effect for more great stories.

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Portland Wrestlecast: The night Santa attacked Billy Jack Haynes

Posted on by Jim Valley

While Don Owen did promote a show at the Portland Sports Arena on Christmas night, it was never the biggest or most important show of the year. However, it’s Christmas time on this week’s edition of the Portland Wrestlecast.

If you ask fans who grew up in the 80s about the most memorable holiday angles, there’s one with a Christmas connection that will definitely be on the nice list: the night Rip Oliver dressed up as Santa Claus and attacked his longtime rival Billy Jack Haynes on December 21, 1985.

While wrestlers dressing up as Santa is nothing new, there was something unique about this angle and the history behind it. 

On this episode, I talk to both historian Rich Patterson who was in the “crow’s nest” the night it happened and legendary Portland Wrestling announcer Don Coss, who called the action and has the backstory on everything that unfolded as well as some stories about Christmas in Portland and memories of Oliver, Haynes, and Owen.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Remembering Larry and Curt Hennig

Posted on by Jim Valley

Before he was perfect, Curt Hennig was a young, green wrestler in Portland Wrestling. Then, he won his first-ever pro wrestling title, the Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship, with his late father Larry “The Axe” Hennig.

In this edition of the Portland Wrestlecast, I recaps Curt’s career in Portland, including his feuds with Buddy Rose and Rip Oliver.

Then, I talk to his father, the legendary Larry “The Axe” Hennig who passed away earlier this week. Larry reminisced about how their tag team victory was more than just a wrestling angle and how the entire family came out from Minnesota to experience it. In 1985, the Hennigs would team again in Oregon, this time facing AWA Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors at the famous Don Owen 60th anniversary extravaganza.  

In addition, Larry remembered a memorable fishing trip on the Columbia River when he and Curt accidentally discovered a nudist colony.

If you’re new to the podcast, it relives the memories of Don Owen’s Portland Wrestling territory and every week, I recap the history and interview the people who made the territory so memorable. 

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Portland Wrestlecast: Dynamite Kid in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on by Jim Valley

You know Dynamite Kid from England, Japan, Calgary and the WWF, but do you know he also had a run in Portland and Don Owen’s territory?

Not only was he a former Pacific Northwest Heavyweight and tag team champion, he played a key role in one of the most famous angles in Portland Wrestling history: the babyface turn of “Playboy” Buddy Rose in 1983. 

In this edition of the Portland Wrestlecast, I talk with Rich Patterson, a longtime friend of Buddy and the man who is responsible for saving all of his video collection. They look back on how and why the Kid came to Portland, his short time teaming with Buddy, his affiliation with Rip Oliver and his Clan, injuring a young Curt Hennig and Dynamite’s thoughts on Portland, Buddy, Don, and Billy Jack Haynes.

While Dynamite’s time in Portland was less than a year, it was a key part of the territory’s history. While you may know a lot about the career of Dynamite Kid, this show has part of his history that you may not have heard.

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