As legends go, no doubt, not too many of today’s pro wrestling fans will even vaguely know the name of Johnny Weaver. Even Mr. Mal himself will reveal that, as a pro wrestler, my memories of this man are few, and are instead resigned almost exclusively to his color commentary work with Bob Caudle on the National Wrestling Alliance’s World Wide Wrestling program from back in the day. But did you know that Weaver is credited as inventing the sleeperhold?Better known then as the “Weaver-lock” this submission manoever even led to a great angle that Mr. Mal lived through, back in the 80s, when Weaver “taught” the hold to the great Dusty Rhodes in his battle against the dastardly Hiro Matsuda and an up and coming Lex Luger. To hear Rhodes scream passionately in his Southern drawl of “learning the Weah-vah lock!” was a thing of beauty, especially when we all knew (even back then, amid the height of our glorious markdom) that it was nothing more than a sleeper hold.

Regardless, it brought Weaver into our reality as a former pro wrestler, and not just another voice behind the camera. It made him real to us. Adding this to the memories of his almost-as-equally distinctive drawl announce the pending arrival on that week’s NWA show of such luminaries as Rocky King or Lazer Tron made him a true, sure-fire Hall of Famer in our days of pro wrestling’s past — now one man less, with the passing of Johnny Weaver yesterday at the age of 72. Rest in peace, oh master of the Weaver lock . . .

- Mr. Mal

For a great article on Johnny Weaver’s career, click here.

The pro wrestling world was hit yesterday with yet another loss. Former WCW star David Sheldon who was known as “The Angel of Death” and the infamous “The Black Scorpion” was found dead in his home yesterday morning. He wrestled for many promotions including WCW,WCCW, Jim Crocket Promotions, Texas Wrestling Federation, National Wrestling Alliance,Global Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, and Universal Wrestling Federation. Over his career he was one half of the Russian Assassins with Jack Victory and also a body guard for the Fabulous Freebirds. In the early 1990’s Sheldon held the TWF Tag Team Championship with Abdullah the Butcher. In 1990 he was awarded the vacant WCCW Heavyweight championship. His career was cut short by a leg injury during a match with P.N. News. Due to the injury WCW pulled P.N. News off the air and was released from the company. In a ironic note Sheldon was scheduled to face Bruiser Brody and Kerry Von Erich at the times of their deaths. David Sheldon wrestled his last match in 2000 for WCW. He was 43 years old at the time of his death. We here at wrestlersramblings.com would like to send our thoughts and prayers out this David Sheldon’s family during this tragic time. I will have more information on his passing as soon as it’s available.

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The word legend is one so easily tossed around in the world of pro wrestling that, truly, it long ago has lost its effectiveness. That being said, regardless of one’s definition, in the world of women’s pro wrestling, arguably the best women’s wrestler of all-time — the Fabulous Moolah — truly stands a legend among legends. In memory of her passing at the age of 74, today for our Old-School Sundays, we are pleased to offer fans a glimpse into this illustriou women’s career, one that spanned more than 50 years including a reign as WWF Women’s Champion for an unprecedented 28-straight years. It was finally broken by Wendi Richter in July 1984, although Moolah — under the guise of the masked Spider Lady — would eventually recapture the title. After various other title wins and losses in subsequent years, she became a cameo performer almost right up to the time of her death on WWE TV, appearing with Mae Young in a series of highly-entertaining and popular vignettes on WWE RAW and various World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-views. Moolah’s legacy will live forever. Rest in peace, Lillian Ellison, you will live forever in the world of pro wrestling as the Fabulous Moolah.

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