1950's Wrestling Interviews (Bockwinkel, Blassie, Moto, Sharpe)

[@BilbusWilbury]

Nicky Bockwinkel! LOL I've never seen Nick Bockwinkel when he wasn't at least in his late 40s early 50s in the mid 80s AWA... what a gem of a video.

[@jeffreycoogan09]

@Billy Mcpherson That's when he first started out. I wonder if people watching him back then thought that he would go on to be such a legend in sports entertainment. R.I.P Nick Bockwinkel.

[@earlkoppelman5710]

Met nick in san francisco.was wrestling that nite in oakland.Very impresses.Carried himself as a real pro...

[@themeanestofgenes2409]

I've never seen a babyface Bockwinkle!

[@santosjerez1586]

@@jeffreycoogan09 Legend that single handed Folded the AWA by refusing to sell to Hogan ....

[@jeffreycoogan09]

@Santos Jerez That's way Verne Gagne and Hulk Hogan mixed like oil and water.

[@freebirdforever2674]

Oh man...Bockwinkel was such a young baby in this interview! Being a kid in the 80s and having seen him in his latter days, this just blows my mind! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@dougfredricks2017]

Wow. 👍 such a great nostalgic post. AWA champ Nick Bockwinkle

[@tecurran64]

Captain pecker checker!

[@Paul-qo1hb]

Remember seeing Nick Bockwinkel listed as the AWA heavyweight champion in Pro Wrestling Illustrated in the 1980s and late 1970's.

[@altfactor]

Classie Freddie Blassie was one of the best interviewees, especially as a villain. He would call anyone he hated "Pencil-Neck-Geeks".

[@DyspotikOriginal]

That blassie interview was so great. "I'm the greatest" and in the same breath "a modest man" was so funny

[@markelliott8183]

This is incredibly classic material.

[@taylorvaughan9452]

G

[@benjaminlucas1635]

Even in the 50s, Blassie looked old. He kept the same look up until the day he died.

[@Dark_Asteroid]

Freddie is truly a gift to women, modest and unassuming. A real mandude.

[@DCMcNeilJr]

This is quite possibly the greatest set of interviews ever. Ever! The look on Jules' face half the time. It's fab.

[@stewartberger7734]

Mr Moto one of the old time great wrestling characters.....Blassie stole the show as always

[@liverpooloflife8731]

Just loved the way the interviewer physically pushed Mr. Moto out of the room.. Wow.. Bockwinkle with a crew cut...

[@greatmcluhansghost7134]

that was my grandfather Jules Strongbow. he was a big man in wrestling and a big man in life!

[@gbody2617]

I love the old stuff all the way until WCW and WWF died.

[@ProbertFire]

Wow.....look how young Nicky Bockwinkel is!! And humble! His mic skills certainly improved over time. A treat to see this clip of him.

[@theholyvineofdavid647]

He was 54 in 1987, so he had to be about 24-26 here

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

Watching this really makes me miss kayfabe. I think we all had that moment where we knew maybe something was up but it was real to us dammit!

[@leaonardland9001]

Yeah!

[@timgutierrez2211]

Remember, it is NOT classy Freddie Blassie, it is...."The classy Freddie Blassie". I recall in the early 1960's as a boy in LA you could walk down town and look in store windows. I loved walking by the TV store with the TV's on different stations, and in the day one of them always had Pro wrestling on. I remember watching Fred Blassie in his prime and walking into the shp to see the TV he was on. This is before the world turned upside down. Blassie was an incredible wrestler and entertainer, as was Gorgeous George. I believe that Mr. Moto was actually Toru Tanaka who went on to play Odd Job in the Goldfinger movie and wrestle as Proffessor Toru Tanaka. Mike Sharp I wasn,t too familiar with was one big solid dude. Much respect to these men who lived this tough life out of love for it or necessity. You never realize until you get older how you can get trapped making a living in a specific occupation.

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

I love when Moto insists that he is a very clean wrestler!

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

He used an illegal judo chop when the ref want looking the rat.

[@undergroundwarrior70]

Actually Mr. Moto was a very clean wrestler. It was around 1963 or 1964 my mom and I used to watch wrestling on TV, KTLA channel 5 out of Los Angeles, CA. on Wednesday nights. Wrestling, Boxing (on Thursday nights) and Roller Derby, the Los Angeles Thunderbirds (also known as the L. A. T-Birds on Sunday afternoons. All of it at the Olympic Auditorium.

[@Lfdjake91]

This is the REAL Jules Strongbow. Not to be confused with Frank Hill who played Chief Jules Strongbow the kayfabed brother of Chief Jay Strongbow.

[@The2701666]

cant believe bockwinkle was sooo young and he talked sooo humble

[@JW-do2wc]

This was during the earliest promos of wrestling when television was starting to appear in every household.

[@wednesdayoverall9021]

This was after DuMont had ceased existing as a network

[@MrCarl220]

Even back then, Blassie used 'Pencil Neck Geek!' LOL!!

[@TheManiacalSatanist6]

Classie Freddy Blassie was one of the best heels of his time, UNDOUBTEDLY!!!!!

[@SirManfly]

Freddie was the man in the 50's, former World Champion !

[@superruben702]

Nick bockwinkle is a dang baby right here, when I was a kid I always thought he looked old, I appreciate him more now that I’m old and can see what great all around skills he had

[@GlorifiedTruth]

Thanks so much for posting. What a treat to be able to watch the King of All Men from back before I was born.

[@JimmyFoxhound]

Holy crap Iron Mike Sharpe's dad was a unit. He was huge! 🤣🤣

[@undergroundwarrior70]

I do remember Freddie Blassie and Mr. Moto when I was a kid in the 60's. The other wrestlers I never heard of. Blassie calling Mr. Moto J#! on TV. That's the way it was back then. Not anymore.

[@digital2500]

Mike Sharpe was the father of Iron Mike Sharpe "Canada's Greatest Athlete"

[@stevep4574]

Absolutely

[@derekvietro784]

Bret hart being a close 2nd

[@nealthompson404]

Hmmm... I thought "Canada's greatest athlete" was Gene Kiniski.

[@derekvietro784]

@@nealthompson404 top 5 with Gretzky

[@digital2500]

@@nealthompson404 That was the way he billed himself.

[@7beers]

Freddie Blassie looked about the same 30 years later.

[@wednesdayoverall9021]

in 1990?

[@chrisruth7057]

Fred Blassie was in his early 40s back then I'm guessing about 41 or 42 but he looks like he's 52

[@kwmusic4560]

@Robert A. Lofgren Jr. Fred Marzino was fucking awful.

[@kwmusic4560]

@Robert A. Lofgren Jr. Nope. He was terrible. Not even the level of a Frankie Williams, Cougar Jay or Bob Marcus.

[@kwmusic4560]

@Robert A. Lofgren Jr. Everybody remembers Frankie Williams. Nobody remembers you. That tells you everything you need to know. Also, learn the difference between "your" and "you're".

[@jeffsalamon6756]

This is when it still was wrestling fan since late sixties. CLASSIC.

[@Frankiarmz]

Great glimpse into the past ! Thanks for posting

[@AnupamMukherjee316]

How does Freddy look the same after more than 5 decades?

[@Mycosyco1]

Thank you for sharing this. Very entertaining.

[@Bizarronumber4]

Blassie was the greatest!!

[@jimmymurphy7789]

4:08 - "Nah, I don't want to hear any more out of you ! ....(nudges Mr. Moto away)" I love it. Looks like the announcer is big & bad enough to kick all of their asses at the same time.

[@tombakerfx]

I'd never seen that Blassie interview before...so THANKS for posting so all these pencilneck geeks out here could hear and see the great fred Blasie from the early days!!

[@steeltownbrown52]

Mike Sharpe (Sr.) = Hamilton Ontario Stand Up!

[@c.l.freeman7654]

Wow, look at Bockwinkle. I always thought he looked old as hell but didnt known he was wrestling in the 50s

[@Stayinoutoftrouble]

Thanks for posting - vintage Tricky Nick.

[@Cre8Lounge]

The first guy Mike looks like Mr. Incredible.

[@MrDoneboy]

Freddie KILLED IT!

[@merccadoosis8847]

Excellent video! I hope all your videos are like this gem.

[@Viperzzz-k1s]

Damn!..Blassie was even old back then!

[@robertcornelius3514]

Blassie was 60 in his thirties.

[@MrSsfsfsf]

wow, really interesting footage!

[@maximillionzen]

Wowwww....Bockwinkel age 20... No pompadour...just mind blowing! Insane

[@LannieLord]

OMG I did not realize how handsome Bockwinkel was when he was young !!!!!!!!!!!

[@jessekellerthecollectingne5058]

Freddie blassie was decades ahead of his time when it came to cutting promos.

[@GETole]

Good stuff. Thank you for sharing.

[@rsuriyop]

That Mr. Moto must've been like the inspiration for Mr. Fuji's character years later. I could certainly see the similarities. Because you know America still needed a sneaky, diabolical Japanese heel to carry on the torch once Moto retired.

[@OaktownABQ]

This is amazing -- thanks for posting!

[@dannycruz5446]

Wow "Nicky" Bockwinkel looking almost unrecognizable there.

[@ronaldshank7589]

"Classy" Freddie Blassie:The King of Men! These 4 Wrestlers must've really been something else back then. The Good Guys were good, and even the Bad Guys were at least somewhat polite... until you got 'em riled up, that is! Great stuff here, and I'm glad I subscribed!

[@SirManfly]

wow! Bockwinkel was young!!

[@timcarr6401]

Freddie said he wants "to take his hats off."

[@fightsports66]

Freddie Blassie is just like abe vigoda, he always looked the same. I bet if we saw his baby pictures he would have the same head and haircut.

[@lackdeaver9934]

So Blassie was born a 60 year old man?

[@hcjc57]

Fred Blassie - King Of Men!

[@OldSchoolRasslin]

This is from a time when wrestling was great and America was great! Not like today.

[@gregp103]

Wrestling isn't great today, but America is. Thank you President Trump.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Nicky a little shy at the mic. Boy that will change.

[@davidmeltzer1871]

1962-I love these interviews

[@nassermj7671]

Take a good look boys & girls. No roids, pep pills and miscl junk. PURE GOOD OLD FASHIONED HARD WORK! Honestly earned.

[@LeVontrellJones]

You think athletes didn't roid up in the 50's? In addition to that being patently false, it's pretty naive.

[@bluefukingreene]

freddie killed it...

[@frankchilds9848]

I dig Mister Moto! Along with Nicky they were popular in Honolulu, and Freddie was here too! Your video bring back memories of when life made sense!

[@Staszu13]

This is the original Jules Strongbow, who started out as an actor, became a wrestler, and later a promoter. He died in 1975. The wrestler most of us know as Jules Strongbow was named Frank Hutchinson, is a legit Native American, and took his ring name from this guy. For that matter Joe Scarpa, AKA Jay Strongbow, took his last (ring) name from Jules as well.

[@voodoo49]

Is this one a true Native American?

[@Staszu13]

@@voodoo49 I don't know

[@Lfdjake91]

Mr.Moto certainly looks threating in his sweater & suspenders.

[@yardlet6]

@kdemonde Second generation wrestler. His dad was Warren Bockwinkel.

[@ferox965]

Blassie looks the same!!!!

[@MattAttack54]

These are Real Wrestlers I don't care what anybody says.

[@danlivni2097]

Nick Bockwinkel at 4:12. Nick is probably in his early 20s in this interview.

[@robertbishop5357]

The Mike Sharpe in the interview, was that Iron Mike Sharpes dad?

[@larrylairsonjr5129]

Yes

[@japanpro1]

mr moto, charlie yamamoto was from gardena, ca.

[@kdemonde]

@TNO73 He looks great, i grew up watching mainly WWF wresling being from New York so i didnt have the opportunity to watch Bockwinkel wrestle but watching videos recently assures me that you are right, he was a talented and articulate wrestler.

[@brihev4355]

i'm surprised you could say "making love" on television in those days.

[@jarnec9428]

I don't know why there was debates about Obama in the comments. Shouldn't we just appreciate these steroid free wrestlers who are clean and well versed in the art of making love?

[@rmartin7558]

Clean? Fat chance, 'roids have been around forever.

[@ronthompson95]

Omg that is Iron Mike Sharpe? I didn’t realize he was that old. I know he has passed on. He must’ve just took a four hour shower before this video.

[@Jiltedin2007]

@imjustpassinthru Are you kidding me? My whole family were Wrestling Maniacs. Ever since we came to Los Angeles back in 1967, we would have Wrestling on every week on KTLA Channel 5. And do you remember when Dick Lane would get a break from Wrestling, he would do an ad on Reliable Mortgage Incorporated from his own Announcing Booth? And do you also remember the Lakers and Angels being broadcast on KTLA Channel 5? Known back then as "Golden West Broadcasting".

[@bettydaw1970]

i was being sarchastic when i said it sucks..its flippen awesome, i mean pre-youtube u would have never seen a clip like this!

[@TheImparter]

Wow look at short hair, 20 something, babyface Nick Bockwinkel. Incredible.

[@Jiltedin2007]

@imjustpassinthru Also, I forgot to mention back in the Old days, KTLA Channel 5 also did UCLA Basketball. Do you also remember those old days of KTLA Channel 5? Dick Lane was probably an actor before I was born, considering that I was born in 1962. And also back then, Dick Lane was the announcer for Roller Derby when KTLA also did the Thunderbirds. Back then I thought that Roller Derby was like Wrestling on Roller Skates.

[@handsomeclem208]

The LA T-Birds were never a part of the original Roller Derby, but were the marquee team in Roller Derby's rival promotion, Roller Games; LA's Derby team was the LA Braves, which skated from 1954 until 1965, relocating to New England in 1966, becoming the Northeast Braves in 1968 after the original New York Chiefs were disbanded in 1967.......

[@TheRaizeX]

I would say this was more early 60s.

[@warrenclarkable]

Blassie said the men don't like him? I was a fan of his and I'm a straight guy! What a great man. Makes me lol.

[@MediaM5]

wow , at first i wasnt looking at the video when mike sharpe sr spoke..it sounded almost like his son iron mike sharpe...iron mike sharpe was huge in stature just like his father. i remember when being trained by mike in brick nj he spoke of his father fondly.

[@TNO73]

@kdemonde Yeah that is him. Even in his laster days in the AWA he was still awesome. Great wrestler & a great mic man.

[@Jiltedin2007]

R.I.P.: Nick Bockwinkel and Freddie Blassie 😢

[@israeliteking1947]

fook those pale-skin devils !!! 😂😅🤣

[@cljustice]

Classic.

[@straightpipec6099]

That’s great

[@nohbuddy1]

Blassie was born old

[@imjustpassinthru]

Jules Strombow makes all those guys like tiny. Strombow used to be a wrestler, as I recall. Does anyone remember the announcer Dick Lane on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles?

[@desmondcastro3679]

Nick looks like around 22 years old here.

[@HerecomestheNixs]

I thought Moto couldn't speak English from what announcers said?

[@goonguymonkey611]

John Ralph Bilbo is the announcers real name.

[@Tony02062]

Saw Iron Mike in Boston in 70s

[@donclark4685]

The interviewer was a former Wrestler himself by the name of Jules Strongbow.

[@wednesdayoverall9021]

He was the booker and matchmaker for the promotion

[@davebrakefield161]

It's not the same Jules Strongbow from the 80s.

[@lewis9702]

Freddie Blassie probably looked like an old man when a toddler.

[@robertbishop5357]

Is Mike Sharp the father of Iron Mike Sharp? Aaah Mr. Moto ......most honorable and sneaky wrestler. Freddy Blassie =a pencil neck geak=priceless. Nick Bockwinkel = a great interview always.

[@SclafaniBagni]

right on man

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

This is before Blassie went sideways with the biting and teeth filing.

[@imjustpassinthru]

@Jiltedin2007 ... Dick Lane was a Hollywood actor in his younger years. Do a KZbin search for this video: Joe Penner and Dick Lane in The Day the Bookies Wept. Dick Lane is the one on the far left doing the talking.

[@jonnychingas5757]

Wrestling from Hollywood Legion Stadium. Jules Strongbow "Locker Room Interviews" his sponsor was TAFON Diet tablets,

[@voodoo49]

I doubt that he used them. - haha - I used to work at Mike's Pizza in the Valley back in '65 and '66, and he used to come by a lot and get a pizza to take with him. If I got a chance, I'd ask him about the upcoming card at the Olympic Auditorium, cause we used to go regularly. He wasn't a real talkative guy, but he was ok.

[@gbody2617]

All of these men were some of the greatest of all time!

[@markraza9762]

tor dr moto kamata and classie fred blassie looked and sounded great!!!!!!!!!!!

[@shannonfiedler7854]

This is not Tor Kamata. While Kamata worked as Professor Moto at one point, this is the original well known West Cost "Charlie Moto"

[@dedrickmcconnell621]

I think Flair took a little from Blassie, and of course a lot from Buddy a Rogers!

[@brucemoose9792]

Willie Two Bears. Looking for any info on him. Wrestling world mag he was in. 1974.