Some of the earlier memories of going to wrestling matches, was when my dad brought me to the baseball park in Hamel MN in the late 1960's. The wrestlers I remember from that night were, Tiny Mills, and a match between Harley Race and Verne Gagne. A few years later I remember another card in Hamel, a tag team match between Red Bastein, and Pepper Gomez vs Dr. X and Double X.

Years later, after moving up to Milaca MN, I used to bowl against Tiny Mills, in a bowling league at Lakeway Lanes in Milaca. Tiny had a Chapperel Snowmobile business near Milaca, and at one time ran for Sheriff of Mille Lacs County in the early 70's. Tiny would sponser some pro wresting matches at the Milaca Armory.

I used to go to the Civic Center in Hammond, Indiana to see bi-weekly AWA wrestling shows. The likes of Bobby Heenan, The Valiant brothers, Jimmy and John. Wilbur Snyder,Ernie Ladd, Ox Baker,The Texas Outlaws Dick Murdoch and Dusty Rhodes,Baron Von Raschke. Man,you have really stirred the memories. I used to take my younger brother and man did we have a ball.

I also remember going to the old Minneapolis Auditorium, and the St. Paul Civic Center to see the AWA matches.

One of them was a cage match between the Crusher and Nick Bockwinkle. Nick had his trusty manager Bobby Heenan. Man could they rile up a crowd.

Then there was the East-West connection vs The High Flyers at another match. Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis would strut out in their boas, and other garb. I know Adrian died in a car accident, but I wonder what happened to Jesse Ventura? Oh yeah! He became my Governor. Man was that a mistake huh?

Much earlier I remember a match between pretty Boy Larry Hennig and a 600+ pound wrestler by the name Man Mountain Mike. Larry walk out in discuss because he couldnt do a thing against Mike.

Then who can forget watching Andre the Giant, at the Battle Royals. I remember one battle Royal where the Mad Dog would rake Andre's back with his sharp finger nails. Then Mad Dog would point at another wrestler. Andre would think that the other wrestler raked his back, and the other wrestler would pay. I wonder in how many cities, they would use that script.

I think of some of the great tag teams in the AWA.

#1,of course, was Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher. They always restored order in the AWA.

A personal favorite of mine were The Road Warriors. Then, you had:

The Valiant Brothers,Jimmy and John.

The Black Jacks,Lanza and Mulligan.

Texas Outlaws, Dirty Dick Murdoch and Dusty Rhodes.

Pretty Boy Larry Hennig and Handsome Harley Race.

The High Flyers, Greg Gagne and Jumpin'Jim Brunzell.

The Vachons, Mad Dog and Butcher.

The Barons, Von Raschke and Von Krupp.

These were just a few off the top of my head, but it will get you started.

Many people don't remember Red Bastein. He had many tag team partners like Red Lyons, Pepper Gomez and then there was Hercules Cortez. Red Bastein and Hercules were driving to the Twin Cities from Winnipeg and one of the wrestlers fell asleep behind the wheel. Hercules was killed in the car accident near St. Cloud MN.