Mi, mi, mi . . . me! Mr. Mal, that is, as in — it’s my birthday today, so we’re going to make this edition of Old School Sundays nice and quick in order to allow me to get to celebratin’! For those that are new to the site, Sundays is the day that we take a look at the days of yesteryear in the world of pro wrestling, focusing on performers and performances worth remembering. There’s no set pattern as to who we honor, however, and each week is the proverbial Forrest Gump box of chocolates. This week is no exception. Given that Mr. Mal is a wrestling fan reared in the Yellow Finger-era of Hulk Hogan’s WWF (not to mention Ric Flair’s NWA, Nick Bockwinkel and Curt Hennig’s AWA and Owen Hart’s Stampede) I always celebrated my birthday knowing that somewhere elese, two well-known names of that era were likewise doing the same: Danny Spivey and Nikolai Volkoff. No better time that the present that to honor both of these veterans with a look back at their abilities, thanks to YouTube.

For Spivey, Mr. Mal found a match that he was actually at, meaning, in the arena — to see this one live, when it happened — eleven rows from ringside. It is from a Saturday Night’s Main Event, featuring Spivey teaming with Tito Santana against the Hart Foundation. This was back in the day when Spivey was being pushed as a Barry Windham-clone, after taking over Windham’s role in the tag team coupling of he and Mike Rotundo. Interesting note here, however, as the week prior to this match, Rotundo left the WWF and Santana was a late substitution in the advertised match. The duo of Spivey and Santana would be short-lived, as Tito would go on to form Strikeforce with Rick Martel (after Tom Zenk left the Can-Am Connection team of he and Martel) and Spivey would job heavily in the WWF before leaving a few years later for the NWA, eventually forming the powerful Skyscrappers duo with Sid Vicious, and for a short time, “Mean” Mark Callous — best known today to wrestling fans as The Undertaker. Also included here for your enjoyment is a more ruggest, vicious Spivey during this NWA era, as part of the Skyscrappers duo as they face-off against the legendary Legion of Doom, the Road Warriors.

 CLICK HERE to see the exciting Road Warriors-Skyscrappers conclusion!

As for Nikolai Volkoff? What more can you say? Part of the immortal teaming of he and the Iron Sheik – managed originally by Mr. Mal fav “Classy” Freddie Blassie — Volkoff was the strong man and Sheik the devious, technical suplex machine that dominated the 80s WWF like few other teams. Featured here are these two WWE Hall of Famers as they enrage the crowd pre-match with Volkoff’s singing of the Russian National Anthem, plus, a great treat for true old-school fans, as I’ve found a rare treat of Volkoff tangling with the late, great “King Kong” Bruiser Brody from Sam Munchnick’s St. Louis’ Wrestling promotion. A true battle of the big men!

CLICK HERE to see Volkoff battle Bruiser Brody! EXCELLENT MATCH!!

In addition, I’d like to set out a song dedication of the tune, “Happy Birthday to Me” by the band Cracker (one of my favs) to all those who likewise share this special day with Mr. Mal, Nikolai and Spivey. As a bonus, I’ve also dug up a humorous vocal rendering by The Rock, serenading Stephanie McMahon from a WWE RAW long, long ago . . . in a galaxy far, far away. Now let’s hear ya! Mi, mi, mi, mi . . . Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to Mal! Happy Birthday to me!! Thanks for stopping by! Now pass me a present and an extra big slice ‘o cake!!!

SEE Cracker sing Happy Birthday to ME! CLICK HERE!

- Mr. Mal 

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 CLICK HERE to see the night WrestlersRamblings.com came face-to-face withAbdullah the Butcher — and barely lived to tell the tale!!! See the savage brutality!!!

 CLICK HERE to read about the night Mr. Mal first saw the brutal Original Sheik in person — from ringside!!! 

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 14th, 2007 at 12:01 am and is filed under Wrestling History, WWE News and Views, Old-School Sundays, Wrestling Videos, Pro Wrestling Bios, World Wrestling Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.