2002 Southern California Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame

[Steve]

This is also on the main SCU site.

2002 Southern California Hall of Fame Nominations

The Southern California Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame's annual induction will take place on 15 March 2002. To be eligible for nomination the Hall of Fame you must have been in the wrestling business for at least 15 years, or be at least 35 years of age, or be deceased, and if they were nominated the previous year they must have been listed on at least one ballot. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame nominees must be listed on 60% of all submitted ballots. Nominees who fail to be listed on any ballots will not be eligible the following year. Nominees who were listed on 20% or more of the ballots will be automatically nominated the following year.

Automatic Nominations (Nominees listed on at least 20% of ballots in 2001)
WRESTLERS
Bobby Bradley
Buddy Rogers
El Santo
Gorgeous George
John Tolos
Lou Thesz
Mil Mascaras
Perro Aguayo
Ray Stevens
Rikidozan
Sting
The Destroyer
PROMOTERS
Gene Lebell
Mike LeBell
ANNOUNCERS
Dick Lane

To nominate new wrestlers, promoters, referees, announcers, or venues please reply to this thread or email (mailto:hof@socaluncensored.com) with no more than FIVE nominations. The reason for the limit on the nominations is so that the nominees list remains managable. Please make sure all of your nominees are eligible before sending the email or posting. You may post reasons why you feel your nominees should be in the Southern California Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame. The nomination period will end February 28th, 2002. Voting will begin March 1st, 2002.

Not Eligible in 2002
WRESTLERS
Ray Steele
Hector Guerrero
Jimmy Lennon
Moondog Mayne
Gordman & Goliath
Ricky Ataki
Kinji Shibuya
Massa Saito
Fisico Nuclear
Dr. Jerry Graham
Vandal Drummond
PROMOTERS
Martin Marin
Ron Rivera
Rick Bassman
ANNOUNCERS
Jeff Walton
VENUES
Hollywood Stadium
Hecto Plaza
All-Nation Center

If you have any questions or suggestions please email them to hof@socaluncensored.com

[Steve]

Now that all the HOF info is up, I'd like to make my first of several nominations for this year.

Edouard Carpentier - The first AWA / WWA World Champion. The belt was given to him after he defeated Lou Thesz in one of the most famous matches in wrestling history. When Carpentier was recognized as World Champion by the AWA it ended the NWA's (and Lou Thesz') claim on the undisputed world champion. Held the WWA title four years before being beaten by Freddie Blassie. Won it a second time in 1963.

I will post another later today.

Steve

[Rev]

Bobo Brazil -- The Jackie Robinson of American Pro Wrestling, Brazil toured the entire nation, slowly breaking down the color barrier.

[Rev]

Gory Guerrero - Legendary tag team partner of El Santo in La Pareja Atómica (The Atomic Team). Father of Mando, Chavo Sr., Hector, and Eddy Guerrero. Grandfather of Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Art Barr - The "American Love Machine", Barr was a member of Los Gringos Loco, and a regular tag team partner of Eddy Guerrero in La Pareja Del Terror (The Team of Terror). Headlined the first lucha libre PPV (and quite possibly the best PPV to EVER come out of SoCal) AAA/IWC When Worlds Collide.

--
Rev

[CALIFORNIA OBSERVER]

Hey REV
I love ya and all.....but, I dont think I'd put Art Barr on the list since he got his start in the Pacific Northwest for his dad's Oregon promotion ....I believe in 1988.
Im down w/ Gory.
Arrrt Barrrrrrr was the man! Ahoy matey's

[JakeInDf]

Can refs be nominated for the Hall Of Fame as well? If so I would like to nominate these two.....

Suavecito: He was a promoter & partner with Alex Knight for many years. He has also reffed and been around the scene for a long time. He has worked mainly with WPW as of late but he has been involved with the American & Lucha scene for over ten years in Socal.

El Indio: He is a member of Mexico's Mendoza family. He has been wrestling and reffing in Socal for over a decade. He might just be the best ref in Socal. He has been known to do spots and even dives in matches.

[Steve]

Yes refs can be nominated and I added Suavecito and El Indio to the nominations list.

Steve

[Rev]

dont think I'd put Art Barr on the list since he got his start in the Pacific Northwest for his dad's Oregon promotion ....I believe in 1988.

This is indeed true. However, Barr was an important part of AAA's shows in the Southern California area in the early 90's.

Hell, Rikidozan ain't from SoCal either. =)

[The Game]

Alex Knight: Has been wrestling for over 30 years. He was one half of the tag team "The Medics" in the 1970's and use to headdline matches at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. He is still wrestling today in his 50's under the name of Jason the Strong and is the AIWA champion. Not to mention he has trained Rod Price, The Ballard Brothers, Stephan DeLeon, and Frankie "Destruction" Dee.

[Justin Crast]

1. Jim Londos
2. Hijo del Santo
3. Chavo Guerrero Sr.


Justin

[Steve]

Chavo was elected in 2001. He is allready in. I should have listed the 5 that are allready in the Hall of Fame. Here they are now:

Elected in 2001
Freddie Blassie
Louie Spicolli
Chavo Guerrero Sr.
Roddy Piper
The Grand Olympic Auditorium

[Justin Crast]

Not only did I only mention three nominees in a post titled "Five Nominations", but one of them is already in the HOF.

Nigga please.

Justin

[jack mehoff]

I take this Hall to be wrestlers that wrestled in So Cal for a significant period of time?!

My nomination, other than ones on the list from last year, would
be Al Madril.

[jack mehoff]

I forgot one more, since the Grand Olympic is already in the Hall, you've gotta have ring announcer extrordinaire, Jimmy Lennon.

[BobBarnett]

He was the most famous ref in the world in the late 60's, early 70's.

[jack mehoff]

Didn't he check out a few years ago? He didn't take shit from any wrestlers. Did he ever actually wrestle?

[jack mehoff]

On the topic of announcers, I'd like to nominate Miguel Alonzo (I hope I got the name correct). He announced Luche Libre from the late 70's thru the 80's on Channel 34-KMEX. I think he got a gig for a short period w/ the WWF in the 80's also, doing voiceovers for WWF on Channel 52 here in Los Angeles. Maybe one of the original "Spanish Announce Team".

[Steve Yohe]

I would nominate these wrestlers:
1) Jim Londos
Headlined Lou Daro's first card in 1923. Semi final on opening card at The Olympic Auditorium and was the leading draw in the city until the mid-40's. Greatest draw in our history and maybe history of the sport.

2) Ed Lewis
Main evented thro out the 20's, 30's & 40's. Lived in LA. One of the most famous wrestlers in history.

3) Joe Stecher
Wrestled more in the 20's than Lewis and Lewis was always afraid of him. Main Event on The Olympic's first card.

4) Man Mountain Dean
Biggest draw of 1934. Drew 23,000 to Wrigley field vs Londos. Sold out the Olympic and turned away 5,000.

5) Sandor Szabo
#1 or #2 face in Calif from 1935 to 1962. Introduced the suplex to LA and ended up helping Strongbow book at The Olympic.

[Benjamin Tomas]

I remember "Red Shoes" Duggan refereeing matches for the WWF at the Sports Arena in the few years following Wrestlemania 2.

[Steve]

Because of the recent server troubles the Hall of Fame has been delayed by a couple days. The list of nominees for this year will be out tonight or tomorrow. Sorry.