In The Ring of Honor
Posted: Dec 14th 2007 By: mikeiles
Two Oklahoma Legends Appear in Upcoming Documentary Film
Danny Hodge and Cowboy Bill Watts
When wrestling was considered "real", the business resembled nothing of its current state. No one climbed a ladder in the ring, fireworks didn't signify an entrance, the combatants did not rehearse the match backstage, and most of all, the wrestlers had to be tough and were paid according to how they proved their worth.
Two Oklahoma natives proved that they were truly the real deal when it came to the strength, endurance, and talent that it took to stand tall as titans of the sport. Danny Hodge and Cowboy Bill Watts were indeed the main event.
Danny Hodge's amateur career has gone unmatched. In his early years, he had won the All State Jr. High School Championship and had not stopped winning all the way to the NCAA Championship for the University of Oklahoma in which he had won several years in a row.
After representing the United States in the Olympics and taking home the silver (much controversy over the judging) and a stint at winning the Golden Gloves boxing championship, his professional career saw him win both Jr. Heavyweight and Tag Team titles several times.
Bill Watts' influences include Danny Hodge. This pro football player turned wrestler won several Heavyweight and Tag Team titles for various promotions throughout the US and held the All Japan NWA International Tag Team Title for Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling. Cowboy Bill Watts teamed with Bruno Sammartino in the WWWF and later split to face each other in sold out arenas such as New York's Madison Square Garden. After many successful years in the ring, he focused his attention to running promotions such as he and Jim Ross' UWF and also Ted Turner's WCW.
Both of these legends tell tales of what it was to be a wrestler, the tragedies that befell them, and their opinions of and interactions with wrestling champion Bruno Sammartino.
The film, In the Ring of Honor, chronicles Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino's career and personal life as well as the nature of the business in years past as compared to today's WWE. As told by over three dozen pro wrestlers and several industry personnel, promoters, and fans.
The film is slated for a spring 2008 release.
Produced by Sandro Finamore and Franco Frassetti
Directed by Franco Frassetti
Edited by Reham Ahmed
For photos, info, screenings: InTheRingOfHonor.com
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
- 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
Week of Sun 06-09 to Sat: 06-15
- 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
- 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
- 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Champion
- 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
- 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
- 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Champion
- 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Champion
- 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Champion
- 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
- 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
- 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
- 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
- 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
- 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Champion
- Mark Wilson Jun 9th Today!
- Jamie Jun 9th Today!
- Jim Barnett Jun 9th Today!
- Dick Listener Jun 9th Today!
- Dutch Savage Jun 9th Today!
- Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th Today!
- Dick Dunn Jun 10th
- Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
- Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
- Mathmagician Jun 11th
- J. D. Richards Jun 11th
- King Parsons Jun 11th
- D'Licious Jun 12th
- Baby Blimp Jun 12th
- Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
- Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
- Steven Dane Jun 12th
- Zac Royal Jun 12th
- Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
- Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
- Geronimo Jun 13th
- Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
- John Pfanz Jun 13th
- Neo Genesis Jun 13th
- Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
- Mikey D Jun 13th
- Bill Ash Jun 13th
- Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
- Trey the Bae Jun 15th
- Sean Ryan Jun 15th
- Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
- Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
- Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
- Paul Linam Jun 15th
- Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
- Paul Jones Jun 16th
- Brock Landers Jun 16th
- Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
- Jef Tiger Jun 16th
- Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
- Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
- Talos Jun 17th
- Ray Martinez Jun 17th
- Rob Justice Jun 17th
- Mario Galento Jun 17th
- Bad Boy Jun 18th
- Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
- Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
- Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
- Cam the CODA Jun 18th
- Johnny Angel Jun 18th
- Andy Dalton Jun 18th
- Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
- Mike Two Jun 19th
- Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
- Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
- Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
- Billy the Kid Jun 19th
- Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
- Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
- Professor Ito Jun 20th
- Jon Cross Jun 20th
- David Kyzer Jun 20th
- Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
- Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
- Rick Russo Jun 21st
- Super Star Jun 21st
Oklafan Quiz
ECW announcer Matt Striker wrestled Vordell Walker at the Christian Wrestling Entertainment event in tulsa in October 2005