WTF? Wrestling Magazine Collection 100

[@prowrestlingmags]

UPDATE: While searching my programs from Canada, I discovered The Spoilers championship belt that he’s wearing on the Boston Garden program for the match against Pedro Morales. It is the Canadian Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship!! Update 2: Several have asked me about who my custom belt maker is. If you have Instagram from what I am told, you can see his fantastic work here and also contact him to have something made. I say “ I’m told” because I’m not really on social media. I don’t have a Instagram account. Honestly, I don’t really even know what instagram is sad to say. But check him out, he is the very best! You won’t be disappointed I guarantee you that. The Belt Lab: instagram.com/thebeltlab?igsh=MXBkMDQ2NHFmOWdubg==

[@jconhudson]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!! WTF is right! No words Bill!! Just absolutely unbelievable, amazing man!!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Jc I appreciate you always coming back, and your supportive comments about me and the ch! It’s great to have you here!

[@christopherbenedict77]

I'm a lapsed wrestling fan of about 25 years from Long Island with zero interest in the current product, and I really dig your videos because each one is like a history lesson as well as a time capsule that takes me back to my childhood in the 1980s when I watched wrestling religiously, traded tapes to see stuff from other territories, and bought every magazine on the racks. Congratulations on 100 episodes, and I'll absolutely be tuning in to watch the next 100.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Hey man, thanks for commenting, and thank you very much for what you said, I deeply appreciate that. Comments like yours are the reason I continue making these videos. You are not alone my friend, just about everyone of us here feel / lived through exactly as you just described yourself. The shit they call wrestling today and the 20 plus years prior have been pathetic, embarrassing, and insulting to us. It left us fans of the “Sport of pro wrestling” behind with no place to go!! For many of us it left a tremendous void. My channel in a way has brought many of us fans together to relive some of the magic feelings we once had. Thank you for your continued watching and support!

[@evanthomason5734]

Amazing collection.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@@evanthomason5734 thank you. Thanks for watching.

[@eazytooquik]

Cograts on the 100th video. I have enjoyed all of your videos. Once again, your room is truly amazing. Great videos with great info about the time & the wrestlers in the magazines.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Much appreciated friend! Thank you for your kind words and for always coming back to watch my videos.

[@GodOvGrind666]

Very Kool. 👍👍👍👍

[@Rico-je4yy]

What a collection! Nicely done talking our way through it. I enjoyed it.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks a lot for spending your time watching. Glad you liked it.

[@StaryHope0098]

Congrats on 100!! Yo the thank you goes to you! Your videos are incredible, you have the most impressive collection ever! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and all of your amazing collection with us m! So again thank you Bill. This is an absolutely amazing video. That room is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You deserve way, way, way more credit, more subscribers and views for the content and information you provide. YOU ARE LIKE NON OTHER!

[@prowrestlingmags]

I love it! Thank you friend! Ppl like you are the reason I’m here! Thank you for you heart felt comment. Much appreciated

[@DoubleRR44]

Love this stuff Bill! Great work and collection!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much. Glad you like them! Always appreciate you spending the time to watch.

[@ETheChosenOne]

Congrats man I love your vids and keep em coming!!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks for always coming back and for your compliments!

[@thebeltlab]

Congratulations on your 100th video. The 100th video deserves to be celebrated with a long video like this. 1 hour and 42 minutes! Amazing.

[@prowrestlingmags]

I love ya brother! You are the very best at making these belts! You are unmatched when it comes to crafting your designs. You made my videos videos better. I’ll add your link to a pinned comment for anyone who wants to reach out to you. Thanks Mohammed, much appreciate the support you give back to me! (Just don’t make any ICW belts for anyone lol) 😆

[@drsilverage]

Wow, what an INCREDIBLE collection, sir! I'm a longtime wrestling fan (since 1972) born and raised up here in northern New England, so WWWF/WWF/WWE was what I cut my wrestling teeth on until about 1981ish. So, Bruno, Graham, Strongbow, Sonny King, Koloff, Morales, Albano, Blassie, The Grand Wizard, etc. were on my weekly tv screen. I Loved Billy Graham in his tie-dye days, man! I have a collection of various 70/80's Apter mags and such but NOTHING compared to the awesome collection of wrestling history you've amassed and congratulations on such a tremendous display of the sport of kings. Thank you so much for sharing so much of this great collection, sir. !00 videos? Weeeeell looks like I've got a ton of videos to catch up on! Thanks again and I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful world of wrestling, amigo!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much. I appreciate that comment very much. I’m more happy that you found the channel. Please don’t expect much. It’s just me and an iPhone. the original plan was to show a handful of videos to help collectors complete their collections, because I own every issue ever printed 1951 to 1993. But to my shock, the channel had grown and people didn’t want me to stop. Therefore, I continued on making a variety of different magazine videos showcasing the wonderful times as you mentioned above. I hope you find them interesting enough to come back again. There’s no advertisements, no plugs, no filler just straight to the point that’s the way it will always be.

[@PremierWrestlingEnterprises]

Congratulations on 100 glorious videos. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching each & every one of them. And, I look foward to so much more from this channel.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@@PremierWrestlingEnterprises I appreciate that friend. Thanks very much for watching these and for your comment.

[@jeffsteele759]

Just came across your channel by watching some 80's pro wrestling on KZbin! Great collection of magazines.I love Pro Wrestling from the 70's & 80's especially and also Boxing.I'm 50 and grew up as a kid in the 80's.There used to be a book store in my city as a kid growing up and they sold a lot of the Pro Wrestling magazine and i bought some of them and comic books that are from the 70's & 80's.Great channel and collection

[@prowrestlingmags]

Oh nice. Glad you found it! And I’m more glad you liked it. You’re at just the right age group for the content of this channel. we are all fans here from the era of “the sport” of professional wrestling. I rarely venture into the 90s and beyond. We are somewhat dominant in covering fantastic 70s to about the mid 80s. We only cover the magazines and programs of that time. There’s no plugs, no advertisements and no filler. It’s just straight to the magazine cover discuss the topic on the cover, then move onto the next. Pretty simple format, I hope you come back. Each video is quite different and its own way.

[@michaelrose3101]

Great stuff Bill. Happy 100th to you. Only a short way in, up until Boxing collection. Watch in entirety a bit later even if sections at a time. Thanks for your commitment 👏 very much always appreciated. 🎉

[@prowrestlingmags]

I very much appreciate you my friend. Thanks for being a big part of this channel. You are among the few responsible for keeping this going. Thanks for all the positive energy, complementary comments, and stories that you have shared over the years. I can’t remember where you’re from was it Australia? I show something from there. Forgive me if I’m mistaken.

[@michaelrose3101]

@prowrestlingmags 100 percent Bill, land of Aus. Great memory you have and greater memories you share. I already noticed so far in, on a card somewhere, Dingo The Sundowner who was Les Roberts early 70s.

[@grizzloradams1413]

Bro! I am in awe of your incredible collection! I just found your channel over the last few months & I truly love it! Congratulations on your 100th video & many, many thanks for the awesome content!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much. I appreciate that. Thank you for reaching out with your positive vibes and kind words. I’m glad you found the ch!

[@WrestlingwithClassics]

Watch them all had no idea until I seen the title? 100 episodes, truly remarkable!!! Congrats buddy!!

[@prowrestlingmags]

And you commented here! Quite remarkable in and of itself lol thanks man! I always appreciate you watching, you gotta wicked collection too, have you made any unboxing lately? Yo know every time I open a figure that I has been sealed for a long time I think of you, then I feel like a piece of shit for opening lol. Kevin’s box gotten messed up a little so that was a little easier to convince myself to do it. But the sheik? Idk man, I’m 50/50 on it. Every time I go to do it your face pops up lol. Thanks man

[@unc23sports]

Congrats on your 100th episode! So much knowledge, so much wrestling history! Cheers 🍻 here's to another 100!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much! lol idk if I can squeeze another 100 out of it. I try to have each video different. It would be really easy to just grab my phone and start recording a bunch of covers just because I have nothing else to do. But I wanted to have meaning behind each video, a topic of discussion of sorts. I try to bring awareness and attention to some of the territories that went under the radar. Give praise to the men and lady wrestlers of a time that’s long gone, so they aren’t forgotten. With the collection I have I can easily see another 99 vids tho😂 thanks for watching.

[@todderickson1062]

Amazing!! Thanks for doing what you do!!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Hey bro, I’m happy to see you comment. I heard what you’re going through and my prayers are with you, like for real!! That’s a really shitty thing to have hang over your head. I know exactly how you feel. The same happened to me 30 years ago. Only I actually did it. I was looking at a lot, but in the end i got extremely lucky. It’s amazing how fast your life can turn on a dime. I mean it when I say it you’re in my prayers for whatever that’s worth. It’s the worst I know it all to well..I wanted to end it all at the time, but I just pushed forward! Honestly I think you’re gonna be ok. Thanks for always watching and commenting. I look forward to many years ahead of you commenting because you will be. Peace brother!!

[@stephengennarelli1808]

Congratulations Bill on your 100th episode. An amazing accomplishment and a great collection.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks for all your great comments, compliments,and stories shared. You’re a big reason I’m still here man! There’s not many places for us fans of yesterday to go! I’m glad to have a platform for us to look back on!

[@stephengennarelli1808]

@@prowrestlingmags Amen to that, and to the next 100 and beyond!

[@scrapbookboxing1094]

Absolutely love this

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks for watching.

[@bryangeruntho3509]

Congrats! Great video here. Love those Boston Garden programs. Didn't realize you were so into the boxing mags. too.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much. I love Boxing! Hard to be a fan today tho. But I try. More than I can say for today’s wrestling anyway. The magazines were equally as good as the wrestling because Stanley Weston published them. I have hundreds of karate kickboxing and martial arts mags from the 60s-80s as well. Thanks for watching

[@ernestcruz6316]

Always cool to see another video from you! I mentioned to you about my story of how Steve Anderson (Bobby Heenan's co-writer on his two books) called me out on his Weasel Tales KZbin channel, so in honor and recognition of your 100th video, here's the story: My original KZbin "handle" was elc1960, and even though I no longer use that channel it's still open. Anyway, I subscribed to Steve's channel because I enjoyed listening to the raw tapes that went into the writing of those books. One of the installments was about Hulk Hogan's entry into the AWA and his wrestling related encounters with Bobby Heenan during that time. During the introductory piece at the beginning of the video, Steve said that the first times Hogan had ever uttered the phrase "Hulkamania's running wild" were in the AWA. Well, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that statement was untrue because I had seen Hogan at least a couple of times in WWF doing interviews in 1980 on Championship and All Star Wrestling using that phrase, and I'd seen two different Hogan promos on Championship Wrestling on Peacock where he said that to Vince McMahon. I guess my big mistake was mentioning it in the comments section, and Steve saw it and took exception to my remarks. The following week's installment of Weasel Tales opened with him talking about what topics would be covered in that video, and all of a sudden his tone changed and he called me out as "elc1960", accusing me of not knowing what the hell I was talking about. I knew exactly what I was talking about, and set about going back through the episodes of Championship Wrestling to find which ones contained that line. After a while I reconsidered, reasoning that while he may be an authority on Bobby Heenan, he certainly didn't know everything about Hogan, and truth be told, neither do I, not by a damn sight. But I knew that much about Hogan, that he had used the Hulkamania line while in WWF in 1980, and I no longer felt that the burden of proof was on me. I never unsubscribed from his channel, but I've never been back there. Maybe one day I'll go back, but not without being armed with the episode number, broadcast date and timestamp of the event's occurrence. So there you have it, my "dirty laundry" aired in public. Again, congratulations on 100 videos! As I said before, you keep making them and I'll keep watching them!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Wow thanks for sharing that story. I never heard of that guy before but I know the type of person. Never wrong and knows everything. Thats the #1 reason I don’t use any social media outlets. It’s been great getting to know you here! Thanks for the continued positivity and great comments.

[@ernestcruz6316]

@@prowrestlingmags Thanks man! Mind you, I loved his books and would recommend them to anyone who loves pro wrestling. He's just a shade too thin-skinned for my liking.

[@prowrestlingmags]

I wanted to continue in my first reply last night but I was pressed on time: You may not be aware of this but you have been most imperative/essential to my channel! Guys like you are why I made the 100th! It’s been really cool to have connected with you. Thank you for always spreading positivity, as well as your personal experiences and very well rounded knowledge on the sport of wrestling! Your love for wrestling shows in each of your comments. Thanks for being part of this man!

[@ernestcruz6316]

@@prowrestlingmags Aw shucks...thanks man! The stuff I can tell an older fan would bore a younger fan to tears and have people saying "Okay boomer" or calling me Grandpa. Seeing all those older magazine covers brings me back to when I first started watching wrestling. Thanks Bill!

[@prowrestlingmags]

@ernestcruz6316 yes and I’m glad those stories would bore the younger fans, because this ch isn’t for them! It’s for us older fans, when pro wrestling was real. The fans who were forgotten about and left standing alone wondering wtf happened? And where did it all go! I know you’re a little older then me. I’m in my mid 50s. I know every generation has there’s changes. Some for the good, some for the bad! You were around to see the huge change from the 60s mat wrestling to the 70s blood and violence. That was a good change. Nice mix. But the nightmarish kiddy cartoon change that occurred in the mid to upper part of the 80s was an atrocity. But I’d almost except over the total trash today.

[@seanfitzpatrick9392]

Congratulations! Love the WBC belt! The trademark green!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Me too, absolutely love that belt. I’m waiting to get Tyson and or Leonard to signed if. Mike is gonna be tough right now with the fight coming up etc. thanks for watching.

[@seanfitzpatrick9392]

@@prowrestlingmags I also like the Ring Magazine belts. Very distinctive. Used to have a lot of meaning as far as true champions in their respective divisions.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@seanfitzpatrick9392 absolutely man hundred percent agree with you

[@doxbane]

Congrats on your first 100! let's get the next 300 videos done now lol, always look forward to your stuff. First time I've seen Brody without a beard I think?

[@doxbane]

actually maybe with just a close-cut beard, my bad

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much, appreciate you watching. Yea Brody during his earlier years 74,75, he had a tight beard. There’s a few picks of him without the beard in the Japanese memorial issue after he passed away, but they were a year or two before he started wrestling.

[@Jammer90210]

Ahhhhh yeahhhhh!!!! I love it when I see a video of your entire basement magazine room! I can get lost in those videos for as long as you allow it to be recorded. It is so crazy to think the first video I ever watched of yours was a basement room magazine video from August of 2022 and I mentioned how you sounded like Stevie Richards in it! Ha ha ha. Brother, thank you so much for inspiring me to do my own channel, to influence me and give me ideas how to display my magazines, and to just being a really great friend! Even though we met and knew each other through social media, you feel like a friend I had for years somehow, so I think we must have known each other in a past life. We somehow click for conversation and interests. Congratulations on this video, and being a wonderful human being. I am also glad I could help you get Billy Graham and Harley Race figures too! I recently did some work on my wrestling magazine room so I have to do a video for it. But your wrestling magazine basement is just incredible, it's like a museum. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. You sir will always be the King of what we do. I only try to do half of what you do with your videos. I always plug you in my info to check out your channel because I know you are the main guy for this. I am just glad you hold me in the same regards as yourself with this hobby. Thank you for being an influence, a teacher and most importantly, a friend!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Luv ya man. Thanks for the heartfelt comment. I enjoy talking with you about this stuff!! I always appreciate your comments and input. Crazy isn’t it Bill. That’s how powerful wrestling was. How it pulled people together. That’s the magic of Kayfabe. The mystery behind it, Is it real? Is it not? Half the fans were one way on it, the other half had questions if it was fake. The magazines gave it serious credibility. For the most part in the 70s early 80s fans/ppl all heavily lean towards it’s not fake, because we loved it so much. The mystery was there and that’s what made it great. The magazines were the high powered magnets that pulled us in and wouldn’t let go! One day in the mid 80s it was all exposed. That caused a major split in fans. Half left and new generation came in. Those of us who left, or should I say been left behind and standing there with no place to go wondering what happened? where did my wrestling go. Once it was gone, all we had were our magazines to relive the great feeling we once had. As time went on us older fans had no place to gather to relive the wonderful days. But that high powered magnate never let go of us! Those magazines didn’t change and neither did our love for them. These magazines helped shape and form many many relationships with people who otherwise, never would’ve met each other. And it’s happening right here on this channel with all of us. That’s fucken awesome! For that is the reason I’m still going making these. I’m working with Bill Apter on an upcoming vid in the works. Won’t be done til around end of oct. But I’ll have other vids out before that one. So some cool stuff ahead.

[@jkbruins43]

Look forward to all of your videos.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks for always coming back and making 100 possible.

[@erikk.5202]

I haven't even watched the entire video, but I want to say congratulations on your 100th video Bill. To say I love your channel and content is an understatement. And, I think I speak for many people when I say that. Your channel takes me back in time to the true glory days of regional professional wrestling. My only complaint is you don't do enough videos...lol. And, I like that you also spotlight boxing from the 70s and 80s as well. Keep up the great work Bill. Thanks again for all you do for us here.

[@prowrestlingmags]

That’s for always coming back man. You’ve been here since day one, I always love hearing your input. You’re a big reason I kept this show going. It’s was nice becoming friendly with you because of this ch!

[@erikk.5202]

​@@prowrestlingmagsBill, your collection never ceases to amaze me. I would be like a kid in a candy store if I stood in front of all these magazines. Seeing your entire collection makes me think of when I would look at all the back issues listed in the Weston magazines. Again, your collection is insane in a great way. 👍

[@prowrestlingmags]

That’s what I wanna hear man, the day I cease to amaze you will have to be the day I pull the plug on this whole operation. Stay tuned brother. I got some more tucked away in my back pocket that I haven’t shown that just may keep surprising you.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Erik did you notice around 1:16:00 into the vid I asked you a question about a famous comic book collector/dealer in Queens, New York. It was his copy of the Sportatorium in Dallas with the tickets that I acquired. I was wondering if you remembered his name he had an ad for his store in Queens in every single comic book issue ever printed everyone from all over the world ordered from him, I can’t even begin to look it up because I can’t even know his name. I know you were into comics pretty heavy, me I just dabble in it thank god. Comics are Way too expensive of a “habit” for my own good.

[@erikk.5202]

​@prowrestlingmags I did, and at the time, I drew a blank. Now, I think I know. Was it from the Koch warehouse? I don't remember his first name but Koch is the last name.

[@Dani-en7ps]

An hour and 42 mins? Really? You’d think for 100th vid you’d show a lot more than just this! Haha WOW INCREDIBLE video. WTF is an awesome title. AND the thumbnail Pic of you? It’s nice to put a face to the voice after all these years. Congrats Bill, here’s to another 100 🥂

[@prowrestlingmags]

Haha I know, I should have went another hour with this one. Another 100? Jesus idk about that, I don’t think there’s enough material for another 100 but hey what do I know, this was only supposed to be 10 videos right lol? thanks for always coming back to watch and comment.

[@rmc25]

:: gets popcorn :: THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME

[@prowrestlingmags]

A big thanks for being a big part of this ch! Really appreciate you and all the positive vibes? 🤘

[@backyardcommish3503]

Hey Bill, another great video. I tried to post comments twice and not sure why they are not posting. I was really looking forward to this one, it did not disappoint. Awesome content. Take care brother, Ron

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks Ron. Very much appreciate ya watching. I didn’t realize how long this went. I really need to cut them shorter so ppl can get through them. This was almost a feature film. I heard a few guys say about that with commenting. Strange. Idk why that is. But glad you commented.

[@backyardcommish3503]

@@prowrestlingmags I did want to follow up too when we were commenting back and forth on your last video Bill, I mentioned I could not watch the older videos. It was on my PC. If I watched thru my phone or iPad, its fine. Not sure why. Also, your figures are really cool. Great idea to have them match the mag covers. I really love the variety of the programs you always show. Stuff I have never seen before or will again. I was obsessed with belts back in the day. Every photo in the old mags that had a title belt I would analyze the pic and hope to see as much detail as possible, which was very rare. So its great to see how much you highlight those titles and the belts. And your autograph collection is insane. I would assume you obtained them several different ways, but were the bulk thru wrestling reunion shows or personal appearances? A video on the autos and how you obtained them would be cool to watch, just a thought? You are such an asset to the old school wrestling fan. I feel like I go back to late 70's-eary 80's every time I watch.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@backyardcommish3503 hey man thanks very much. I appreciate your heartfelt comment. I truly appreciate how much you like the vids even with my horrendous recording skills. I should have been hired for the new Blair witch project. The signed mags happened over a 30 plus year time period. Most I got in person, but I have one very good friend who I’ve known for 30 years and he’s dealer. He’s the only person I ever bought signed mags from. The only person I can truly trust. Bud Carson. He would attend shows and I’d have him get my stuff signed. I’d also send him a box of stuff through the mail to get signed at his shows in the Philly area and mail them back to me. I absolutely obsessed with the championship belts and what territory they’re from and their lineage. They are the coolest asset to a wrestler. I buy books that were strictly about the championship belts and the meaning behind them and the people who held them. I get lots of information that way. Most of the time tho I’d bury my nose into the magazines and read up to discovered a lot of the information. Especially in the 50s and the 60s issues when the magazines were treated more like a sport. The magazines would write the articles as a sporting event rather than a joke or spectacle, making a mockery of it. So yes, I wasted a lot of countless days and nights studying the belts from all over and the lineage of which they came. I’m absolutely addicted to that lol it’s one of my favorite things to research on. Thanks again man!! Really appreciate it.

[@backyardcommish3503]

@@prowrestlingmags In all honesty I think you do a great job with recording the videos. Flipping through the magazines with one hand, while keeping the other hand steady while filming probably is not very easy. The footage is never off center from the subject you’re talking about. The comment in your response about the Blair witch Project and also your comment in the video about Dramamine was hilarious. In addition to that pamphlet that talked about Hercules knocking up a grandmother. I almost fell out of my chair. Funny shit, brother. Plus, it was very well said when you mentioned the coolest asset to a wrestler is the belt. I couldn’t agree more. What are a few of your favorite belts? We both grew up WWWF fans so for me, Graham/Backlund’s belt was by far the best, the tag team titles were right there since they were so similar to his belt. Back in the day I thought the NWA belt was ugly and the AWA belt was too big. I appreciate them more today. The old NWA US title was really awkward looking, but I remember it seemed like every pic in the mag either Steamboat Flair or Snuka were wearing it. I remember watching WWF TV when Ted DiBiase showed up with the North American title. I remember Running up to the TV to get so close so I could make out the details of the belt. It was such a cool thing because all we had were the world title and tag team title belts. The TV show when Patterson beat him for the belt they actually had some real close-ups of it which made my day at the time. I could talk about this shit all freaking day lol sorry for rambling

[@TBone2000Man]

Wow amazing

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks for always coming back man

[@Rico-je4yy]

Don Jardine as the Super Destroyer was a big-time heel in Mid-Atlantic in the mid-70s, according to my memory. LOL. I seem to recall Mid-Atlantic showed a bad black and white photo of him and identified him as Don Jardine after being unmasked at a house show that may or may not have happened. It was a way to explain him leaving the territory.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Yes you are correct. I can’t be sure of the territory that happened in. For some reason, I thought that happened in Dallas. But you could be right, it could’ve been mid Atlantic area. Or possibly we’re both right and they use that same gimmick in both locations due to the lack of anyone knowing about it back them. I know he did unmasked and leave in Dallas. Just not sure the angle that they played to achieve it. Thanks for commenting and for watching.

[@TheRealDannAlexander]

I was the 100th like. 🤘Love the history.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks man.

[@jefferysteen1041]

Congratulations

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks man!

[@lamontricks1074]

Congrats my guy and holy shit 😮

[@prowrestlingmags]

That’s for being part of this ch man! Appreciate you very much.

[@philcole910]

Amazing collection Bill!!! Appreciate you sharing. I have a huge collection of programs myself. We need to connect some day & possibly do a little business. 👍

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks man. Appreciate you checking it out!

[@MikeParkerCollects]

Great stuff! Will have to go back and check out your other videos. Signed mags are one of my favorite collectibles but sadly, my setup only allows a small portion to be displayed.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Thanks very much. Some signed mags are mixed in every video. I do have a vid that shows most all the signed issues. But can’t remember which one it was. May have been the 3rd full collection video. Dont believe it’s the 2nd one. Thanks for watching. Hey no size is to small man. We make it work how we can! The important thing is you have a collection! And you’re saving these great magazines from extinction.

[@bradanderson7779]

What an amazing collection of magazines and memorabilia. I’d travel to see this collection if it were a museum. 100 down, keep them coming. Thank you!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Appreciate that, thanks very much. Thank you for spending your time watching.

[@Paul-qo1hb]

Never knew Dr. Wagner held the NWA strap.

[@prowrestlingmags]

That’s the NWA Worlds Light Heavyweight title defended in Mexico. Different than the NWA World title. They have the same look tho. It’s says light heavyweight champion on the belt. It was established in 1952 Gypsy Joe being the first champion.

[@TBone2000Man]

Was Jerry a cool guy would love to be able watch the old Memphis library

[@prowrestlingmags]

Yea very much so. You can buy the dvds called classic Memphis wrestling I wanna say there’s 20 volumes, sold by high spots sports through their website also on eBay and Amazon, in the neighborhood of 15 bucks. And they do an awesome job, capturing all of big moments, of Memphis TV matches and the Colosseum shows.

[@Fantomaslives]

Do you have any of the lutte internationale magazine from Montreal published in the 80's ? It was in french.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@@Fantomaslives I do yes, not many. Just a handful. They don’t come around very often. I’ve had them for years and years. Can’t even remember where I got them. I thought I showed a couple in this vid, but maybe I didn’t. I know I did show them maybe 4-5 videos ago. Someone from Canada asked me if I would show them.

[@Fantomaslives]

@@prowrestlingmags Thanks i will check your last videos

[@jkbruins43]

Do you have contact info for the guy who does the custom belts? They are awesome.

[@prowrestlingmags]

I don’t have access to it right now. But I pinned a link to his page in the comments. So go to the top comment and click, his link is there. He’s the best.

[@donkeyrockusa]

Your collection is absolutely INSANE, Bill!!! Are you willing to share the name of your custom figure maker, and your custom figure-belt maker?

[@prowrestlingmags]

Yea great guy. 100% professional, he’s the best!! I trust him like family, so no worries. He’s located in Indonesia, but shipping is pretty quick around or just a bit over a week to get it once shipped. I’m not on social media. He told me the best way to get him is through his Instagram. I know nothing about Instagram, so if you have that here is the link. If you don’t have that, let me know. I’ll find another way for you to get a hold of him either by email or Facebook if you have that. You will see pictures of my stuff on there from what I hear lol instagram.com/thebeltlab?igsh=MXBkMDQ2NHFmOWdubg==

[@mereness]

Always blown away by your collection! What magazine holders do you recommend/use (bag/board and clear racks)?

[@prowrestlingmags]

Ahh. I grab anything I can fit into the space. It’s a lotta custom shelves to work in certain spots. Many places I did it kind of backwards, I found the place where I wanted to hang it, and then made the shelf fit somehow, rather than put up a shelf first and put the magazine up if that makes sense. In those situations I used a lot of wood, nails, cement screws, and glue to make it happen. The ones on the back wall are 4 inch floating wall shelf made of wood. I have a few plastic 4 inch shelves, but they are terrible for holding weight and bend, so I will hang something light on those. Like one or two mags an a figure. But I definitely recommend a hard plastic or wood type shelf. On the other side of the wall, you’ll see the magazines are stacked 4 high. They are simply called four tier plastic magazine racks and you get them on Amazon they are great. They can hold roughly 30 magazines, depending if you bag and board them. You can fit a little bit more if not boarded. And yes, every issue I own is bagged and boarded. I use the brand crystal clear magazine bags for all my signed issues on display. Those are way more expensive but they cut back on the glare and they are super super clear. I hope this helps answer some questions!

[@mereness]

@@prowrestlingmags Great info. Appreciate it!

[@prowrestlingmags]

Anytime. Hit me up with any questions I’m glad to help!

[@jldraw]

Just wrapped up watching the Netflix documentary on Vince McMahon and couldn’t help but think of Bruno Sammartino. I was born in 1969 so unfortunately only caught the tail end of Sammartino’s career and regrettably never saw him wrestle live. But I came away with a revelation from that documentary that one of the reasons Sammartino walked away from WWE in the late eighties was likely due to not wanting to be around that greasy man any longer. I love the wrestling Vince McMahon promoted but since the turn of the century have been wrestling with the fact that so many of the wrestlers and talent who worked for WWF after McMahon bought out his father in 1982 have a serious blind spot when it comes to Vince McMahon and professional wrestling as a whole bordering on amorality. I really think the majority of them have difficulty separating right from wrong and that is the very attitude that drove Sammartino away, the ability to justify anything for the sake of business or professional wrestling.

[@prowrestlingmags]

My feelings for WWF and McMahon are no secret throughout this channel. The people who have been here with me from the start know exactly how I feel about him and their three ring circus. My exit from watching my once very beloved WWWF/WWF was the day I walked out of the closed circuit venue after Mania 3. I never watched another Wwf match since. I do try my best to keep a lid on it while I’m speaking on topics pertaining to the WWF and McMahon. But at times my deep rooted hatred, and total distain take over and the lid gets ripped off when I talk about that vile piece of shit. I was actually looking forward to seeing this when I heard they were doing a series. I’m not on social media. I don’t follow anything wrestling related on the Internet therefore, I am totally in the dark when it comes to today’s wrestling and the new documentary type series. It wasn’t until I started to watch episode one and seen the guests speaking. I said to my self wtf! They were all his wrestlers and family members. We’re not gonna learn anything about McMahon and his life, we’re gonna see how great he is and how great he was for wrestling. I surprised myself tho, I think I made it 14 minutes before I shut off.

[@patrickm7483]

Only 3 minutes in, but looking forward to it. I just wanted to make a comment because I thought your seeking out things when Bruno wasnt champ was interesting. I dont collect or have much knowledge of the Bruno, but I find it interesting what happens in between title reigns. Or even something like Iron Sheiks brief reign.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Yea it’s tough to find things from Bruno’s time away. I like challenging myself with little subsections to search out. It teaches me the untold history aspects, which I find extremely interesting. After he lost the WWF title the second time, he went to Puerto Rico and won the heavyweight championship there! That’s hardly ever mentioned. I show several things from Bruno’s Indy run from the early 70s in past videos that I didn’t include in this video. I was trying to show things I never showed before. In the NWF Territory Video I discuss Bruno’s NWF title run he made against the champion Waldo Von Erich. Two years later that feud began again for Bruno’s WWWF title. It was a very hot feud at that time period. I how ya like this one!

[@patrickm7483]

​@@prowrestlingmagsReally awesome! A few things -- The Wrestling Movie Review magazine seems educational. Not sure if my wife will agree or not. 56:24 I am not necessarily a Von Erich guy, but cool seeing the blurb about David Adkisson going to college 22:19 17 matches?!? Looked awesome Not related to wrestling, but loved seeing a little of your boxing stuff. What was your feeling heading into that Tyson - Spinks match? I was a big fan of Tyson (or at least how he fought) but it dawned on me today that the first live (on tv) match I saw with him was Bruno I. So he was pretty much a legend (funny how it is easy to forget the challenge that Tillis or Tucker, for a few rounds at least, gave him) but I think it was the Spinks dismantling that solidified it.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Ahh yea.. the wrestling Movie Reviews (I have both vol 1-2) was very classy publication. Bruno Cobo: Yes that Cobo show was jammed packed. Even Giant Baba came in. I have several dozen of the sheiks body press programs and not one of them were that stacked. Bruno in the main event vs the sheik was gold in Detroit. The house drew big money, there was no reason for a screw over with nearly 42k at the Gate. It in Tyson: I was 19 when that fight happened. I can’t think of a person alive (well in my 19 yr old circle anyway) who thought Spinks had a chance. As good as Spinx was maybe on another night the fight could’ve been more competitive. But that night was Mike’s night, he came out conquered and destroyed. He hurt him early, and put him away fast! That was Tyson at his sharpest. What I remember the most about that fight was Mike’s ring entrance, and the music (if you want to call that) for which he walked out to. Really wild ,it was this crazy weird but very intimidating based tone. I don’t know how to describe it. It was very different, very intimidating and quite chilling. We just got the vibe that Spinks was going to die. Although Mike is my favorite boxer/fighter of all time. I realized he is certainly not the greatest boxer or champion of all time. I believe, had he not got married, got rid of his trainers and management he could have went undefeated. But that night, defeating Spinx I feel what is best performance of his career. But it slowly went downhill after that match. A year or two ago I made a boxing video with the rise of Mike Tyson. If you want to check it out it’s on the channel here, I show all of his magazine covers he was ever on. Except for the first ring issue. Which I now have in my possession. Actually two of them, my father’s! I found them at my father’s house when I was visiting a while back. That’s an extremely expensive issue of the Ring magazine first appearance in 1986

[@patrickm7483]

@@prowrestlingmags I will have to check that video out. While I dont know that Rooney is the greatest trainer by any means, he was seemingly perfect for Tyson as it was still an extension of Cus D'Amato. By the Bruno fight eight months later, I was a full fledged boxing fan. So that people would ask me how long I thought an opponent would last. Buster Douglas (crazy that Tyson only had two defenses between Spinks and Douglas) would surely be dispatched in quick order and I didnt even program the VCR to record it. I came home and it was going into the 8th. I was shocked to see it was still on...shocked to see Tyson with a swollen eye. Then Tyson got that knockdown and I thought well, I guess Tyson survived this...only for Douglas to rise and finish him off two rounds later. Thankfully they played the replay later, so I got to watch the whole thing. The thing is...even after the prison time, when he came back I still thought he would beat Holyfield both times...and it is likely he would have never beaten Holyfield if by mental makeup and Drive alone.

[@prowrestlingmags]

@patrickm7483 yea man. I agree 100% mike was molded by the cus camp! That change was the biggest mistake besides marrying that bitch that he ever made. I don’t know if you have read any of Mike’s books or the books that were written about him. Mike himself uses the term “brainwashed” cus brainwashed him but In a good way. He was a troubled street kid from a split family, the kind of kid who needed strict structure, once he strayed away from that, he got in trouble. He also said something very important, Cus taught me how to be a fighter, how to win the championship of the world, but he didn’t teach him how to deal with the success and how to deal with all the leeches that come along with that success. Had cus not died, his life would have been much different. If you watch the video I go into a little more detail that coincides with your comment above. I breakdown a few aspects of his life that I learned from the different books. It was maybe a five minute rant that someone would probably find boring but for a fan of Mikes who didn’t know the information might find that pretty interesting, I didn’t directly quote the books. I just paraphrased. Shockingly it was one of my least watched videos. I was expecting that to be pretty popular. Wrestling fans in comparison to boxing fans is a totally different animal. Especially when it came to the magazines. Boxing magazine fans are few and far between in comparison to the wrestling mag fans.

[@zestyclose_village68]

You’re much younger than I thought you would be.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Ha in my mid 50s sad to say, some make up and good beard dye is my secret 😂 thanks for watching.

[@TBone2000Man]

Really would like to see some stuff from nwa Los Angeles the good stuff

[@prowrestlingmags]

Ahh T that is some of the hardest shit to find. LA is something Im always looking for. Either it was all wiped out in an earthquake, people buy it the instant lists online, or people just don’t sell their LA stuff. I have a little bit though! Well, more then a little, but I’ll look closer to see how much and if I can pull off a video with what I have. I’ll make it happen somehow for ya.. I try to find stuff all the time with Mascaras, Sheik, Funk, Piper, and local guys also like Ric Drasin or Rock Riddle. Anything with the Americas champs defending the title. I’ll check my stuff and get it together and see if I have enough material.

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Love to stay, but the camera work is making me seasick, then there's dozens of comments all saying the exact same thing. Maybe I'll be back at some point.

[@prowrestlingmags]

Can’t blame ya friend! I’m fucken terrible. I can’t watch it either. I’ll end up having a stroke! The bigger the TV the less it looks like it’s shaken, like on 65 inch and up It’s not noticeable. Phones and TVs 30s and 40s are a little rough to view. Thanks for trying though. Much appreciated!. That’s why I give the Dramamine warning usually before one of full collection videos. Out of the 100 vids there’s only 4 like this. The other 96 are on a tripod. Only problem with that is it shot vertical I absolutely hate doing it that way. Main reason for that is I want the magazine cover to be in the entire shot and the main focus point without a distracting backdrop. They are cropped a bit so it does stretch out and fill in the screen better, but again on a bigger tv. These videos weren’t meant to be for entertainment in anyway, they were just too expose collectors to the different covers out there so they could see what they needed to complete their collections. But over the past few years this channel has turned into something a little bit more for ppl. But thanks again man.

[@aliensyndrome4280]

1 Hour 5 minute and 49 seconds- who is that girl with Jake Snake Roberts and Gino Hernandez?

[@prowrestlingmags]

Back then she was Gino’s valet known as Andrea the Lady Giant. A year or so later became Baby Doll with Tully in Mid Atlantic

[@kingrobthegreat7446]

care to sell some??

[@prowrestlingmags]

Never! I never sold one in my life, never will ever. I had a goal to get every issue from every publication ever printed from 1951 to 1993. I did that, if I sell, I wont be complete anymore. Thanks for watching.

[@phildodson6141]

How can you not like the midnight express!?

[@prowrestlingmags]

Yea.. I guess I made it sound worst then I really feel about them. When I said I wasn’t a “big fan” I didn’t mean that I dislike them at all! I liked them they were great. But I was a road warriors fan too and they battled a ton so they were on the opposite side of my cheering quite a bit! Absolutely liked them as heels! I meet them got things signed they were super cool dudes too.