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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