July 20, 1972

This week, I would like to honor the memory of Cowboy Lang, a midget star from the 60's thru the late 70's, who was found dead in Portland, Oregon on Sunday. For a little guy, he brought a lot of energy and vibrance to the ring every time he stepped through the ropes. Rest in Peace, my friend.--Percival

The front page of the sports section of the Kansas City Star had a story on the Central States heavyweight belt being held up by promoter Gust Karras the week before. In a much heated dispute between Handsome Harley Race and Cowboy Bob Ellis, the title was held up due to the manner that Race won.

Of course, Harley Race, the Handsome One, had other ideas about the win. He claimed that Ellis was beaten fair and square and should not have to meet him again in Kansas City, Kansas the following Thursday night.

Gust Karras had the final say in the matter as he was the matchmaker for Heart of America Sports, based in Kansas City, Missouri. He was also owner of his own promotion in St. Joseph that booked events in a four-state area.

I was as proud as could be also because, the previous Thursday night, Black Angus and Roger Kirby beat Rufus R. Jones and Danny Littlebear for the North American Tag Team title belts. There was a lot of celebrating into the wee hours of Friday morning. Angus and Kirby would be destined to be champions for a long time into the future.

The card was destined to be another sellout for the Memorial Auditorium, which was a hotbed and the center of the best promotion in the United States. Gust Karras made sure that he brought the very best to the Midwest, and he spared no expense in doing so.

Controversy between the athletes made it very special to those of us who were involved in the territory. To show you how much competition was involved in getting to the Central States Belt, Omar Atlas, who was in the semi-main event, was in the opening match against Billy Howard, a 239-pounder from Minneapolis. They wrestled to a 15-minute draw and then were both involved in a six-man tag team later on the card.

It was one of the many times that promoter Gust Karras had the chance to show the fans what he called a good, clean scientific match. As far as I was concerned, they wasted their time because neither one got aggressive and took the opportunity to pull hair or punch with a closed fist. There just wasn't any excitement in the match, I concluded.

The second match on the card had Roy Bass, from Tennessee, facing a newcomer to the Kansas City ring, Les Thornton. He had just finished up a tour of Calgary and was the North American Heavyweight champ there. Thornton beat Roy Bass with a lot of underhanded tactics that he called LEGAL HOLDS in Great Britain. I would later have a few encounters with the pug-nosed cheater in the future.

The third match on the card had Archie "Stomper" Gouldie meeting Joe Chun. It was a well fought 20-minute match that found the cagey Oriental nearly knocking the Stomper out of his boots with the huge hard judo chops he gave him.

The fourth match would have been a main event in any arena in the territory. It was a six-man tag team event featuring Rufus R. Jones, along with Omar Atlas and Les Thornton, meeting "The Gaucho" Juan Sebastian, Billy Howard and Roy Bass. Four of these men had grudges to settle among themselves because of the first two matches on the card. Gaucho and Rufus R. Jones were the only two fresh men in the ring.

As the match began, Billy Howard was shoved out of the corner by Bass and Sebastian, as they didn't want any "Pretty Boys" on their team. Billy was very dejected until he connected with Rufus R. Jones, and the fists began to fly. Billy showed his teammates that he could be just as tough as they were, and maybe a little more, as he gave Rufus a good wrestling lesson until Rufus tagged in Omar Atlas.

Within a few moments, Omar had Billy tied up in an Airplane Spin that won him the first fall of this three-fall event. Billy tried to stand up after the three count and fell out over the top rope onto the arena floor. His partners were so mad at him, they began to beat up on him, and it ended in Billy being sent to the dressing room by promoter Karras.

As the second fall began, Roy Bass entered the ring against Omar Atlas, and, suddenly, he dug into his cowboy boot and came out with a chain behind the referee's back. He turned and blasted Atlas in the head and followed him to the mat for the three count. It was over in record time, and Bass hit the floor to keep away from the referee Frankie Diamond.

To be continued …

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee