Dallas Blog

I grew up watching Saturday Night Wrestling on Channel 11. While the adults played Canasta the kids were banished to the TV room, where we couldn't wait for Bill Mercer on the black-and-white Zenith. I remember Blackjack Mulligan and Frtiz Von Erich and Ivan Putski and "Bulldog" Danny Pletchis and ...

Not gonna kid you. I was never a huge fan of rasslin'. Was it me, or did it seem kinda, I dunno, fake?

Nonetheless, it'd be sacrilege on my part to let this weekend's festivities in Houston pass without mention. As part of the WWE's Wrestlemania XXV, the Von Erich family will inducted into pro wrestling's Hall of Fame.

Well, since this here blog’s namesake was the old tin-roofed rasslin’ joint down on Industrial I feel obliged every now and then to post vintage Von Erich footage.

But my only review of Kevin Von Erich, um – how do I put this delicately? – horsing around with son, Ross, is this:

Wow. -- Richie Whitt

Now, and only now, I've earned the right to call this joint The Sportatorium.

Just got my grubby little hands on Gentleman’s Choice, a new documentary by Dallas film producer Mickey Grant. Better late than never, those of you who stumbled onto this site looking for professional wrestling vignettes will be rewarded.

Through extensive interviews and gold-mine footage, Grant tells the tale of former wrestler “Gentleman” Chris Adams. If you fondly recall the ‘80s heyday of the Von Erichs, Bill Mercer, Bruiser Brody, matches with shaved heads at stake and sellout crowds from Texas Stadium to Reunion Arena to the Cotton Bowl to, yes, even The Sportatorium, this ditty is a must see.