Review of The Hard Way
Posted: Aug 10th 2014 By: www.crowbarpress.com
Don Fargo is one of the overlooked stars of the classic era of pro wrestling. He was a headliner in almost every territory in which he appeared ? New York, Amarillo, Dallas, Tennessee, Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Louisiana, just to name a few.
As famous as he was for his ability to draw crowds to the arenas, he probably was more famous for his hijinks behind the scenes. Stories about the wild lifestyle of professional wrestlers abound. Many are true, but there also are many that are either downright false or exaggerated to epic proportions over the passage of time. Rest assured, the stories in this book about Don Fargo are all true, regardless of how outlandish or implausible they may sound. The stories about his pranks and wild lifestyle are talked about to this day by those who were witness to the events.
For the first time, Don tells, in detail, the story about what happened when he and his tag-team partner ran afoul of a group of motorcycle outlaws, and how he inadvertently wound up on the wrong side of the law on more than a few occasions. He also tells stories about pulling ribs on his fellow wrestlers, including well-known celebrities like boxing champ Joe Louis, and classic, hilarious stories about many of the well-known wrestlers of the golden era of pro wrestling. Don tells the story about how he met Jackie Fargo, how they formed the tag team that became known as the Fabulous Fargos, and the story behind how they became the first team to be billed as "world tag team champions" in Madison Square Garden.
He shares stories about winning the 1952 Mr. Pittsburgh bodybuilding contest, being punished by veteran wrestlers when he tried to get into professional wrestling, dangling from the roof of the King Edward Hotel in New York, riding naked on the roofs of cars traveling at high speeds, nailing a certain body part to a table, and getting his hand stuck in ? well, let?s just say, somewhere you wouldn?t normally put your whole hand.
Fargo talks about how he created the more than 13 different characters he portrayed in the ring, his discovery of the "hard way," for which he became famous in wrestling circles, his problems with drugs and alcohol, and the friendships he developed along the way.
Included are more than 300 photos taken during Don?s career, many of which have never been published.
This is the most detailed book ever written that ties together important events in wrestling history with the hilarious shenanigans that went on behind the scenes. You?ve never read a more entertaining life story than this one.
Supplemental Information
Polling Booth
Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?
Spotlight in History
- 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
- 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27
- 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
- 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
- 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
- 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
- 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
- 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
- 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
- 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
- 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
- 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
- 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 06-25 2026 Bang Bang Bennett def. Jacob Edwards for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
- 06-26 1961 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Champion
- 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 06-26 2009 The Handsome Spoiler became the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
- 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
- 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
- Ignition Jun 27th Today!
- Reckless Jun 27th Today!
- Jason Kirby Jun 27th Today!
- Kuda Jun 27th Today!
- Dan Barnhart Jun 27th Today!
- Bill Dromo Jun 28th
- Claire Jun 28th
- Doc Hearon Jun 28th
- John Tidwell Jun 28th
- Boris Malenko Jun 28th
- J. J. Blake Jun 28th
- Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
- Malico Jun 28th
- Kenny Mack Jun 28th
- Barbara Galento Jun 29th
- Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
- Killaman Jaro Jun 29th
- Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
- Ed Lewis Jun 30th
- Terry Funk Jun 30th
- Li'l Joe Jul 1st
- Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
- Jake Hollister Jul 1st
- Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
- Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
- Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
- Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
- Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
- Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
- Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
- Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
- Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
- Blake Wilson Jul 4th
- Bree Ann Jul 4th
- Barry Windham Jul 4th
- Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
- Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
- Little Tokyo Jul 5th
- Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
- Terry Kage Jul 5th
- Richard Pierce Jul 5th
- Dalton Bragg Jul 6th
- Sandor Kovacs Jul 7th
- Steven Sterling Jul 7th
- Thunderbolt Patterson Jul 8th
- Toby Keith Jul 8th
- Tuck Davion Jul 8th
- Ralph Hammonds Jul 9th
- Alexander Gold Jul 9th
- Jerry Grey Jul 9th
- Skidz Jul 9th
- AXL Jul 9th
- Billy Jack Haynes Jul 10th
- Daemon Storm Jul 10th
- Gary Poppins Jul 10th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon







