The Big "O"

The first time I met Bob Orton Sr. was in Kansas City in 1972. He was a headliner on a big card at the Memorial Auditorium in Kansas City, Kansas. I went to take care of some self centered … non-caring ... selfish … inconsiderate wrestling promoters and fans that had given a lot of abuse to Angus Campbell, better known in the wrestling world as Black Angus.

Bob came over to our dressing room and stuck out a huge hand and said, "Hello, kid ... welcome to the big top." I graciously accepted his hand, and a conversation began, along with a friendship that has lasted over 30 years. He told me how much I looked like a manager that he had in New York City by the name of Bobby Davis, but I was much better looking then him. Davis, a fine manager, was a key element in the New England wrestling area and had a lot of superstars under contract. He had also been manager to Buddy “Nature Boy” Rogers, who held the NWA heavyweight championship.

Bob went on to tell me a story about how some 10 years before, he had been in the WWWF area, then known as Capitol Sports, owned by Vince Mahon Sr. . He was a top draw with major superstars like Argentina Rocca, Miguel Perez, Ricky Starr and a host of others. He told me of sellouts in huge arena of the East Coast, such as Madison Square Garden. Television did a lot for the guys, but most of the return gates were from prior matches at the same buildings. There was enough interest the way that matches ended that fans came back in droves to see their heroes win .

The Uline arena in Washington D.C. was the major sports arena before RFK had been built. Many other superstars from the New York office had been there and set attendance records but none like the six-man tag match that had been advertised for over a month in 1961. Buddy “Nature Boy” Rogers, Bobby Davis and Bob Orton Sr. were to meet Bobo Brazil, Edouard Carpentier and Johnny Valentine. The arena had been sold out for over a week, and Vince Sr. had extra bleachers brought in and sold them out in record time too. Bobo, Valentine and Carpentier were in the ring awaiting their foes. It took over 25 uniformed officers to escort Rogers and Davis to the ring. The officers had to make a special trip to get Bob Orton Sr., “The Big O.” Fans hated this man with a passion and for the remarks he had made about Bobo and his partners on television.

The match began with Bobo wanting Orton in the ring. Bob had other ideas about getting in the ring and stayed on the outside, taunting the fans and letting Buddy Rogers start the match. Rogers and Bobo had been in some bloody altercations all over the East Coast. They were not strangers to each other. They began with fists flying and kicking the heck out of each other. Bobby Davis even got in a few licks himself and then tagged out. Bobby was not an official wrestler, but, as the match progressed, he used many holds that he bragged about in television promos.

At the five-minute mark, Buddy tagged in Orton, and Valentine leaped over and tagged in Bobo. The roof nearly came off the arena when the two came nose to nose in that ring. They just seemed to be trying each other’s patience, and the crowd was so intense that four older black men in the front couple of rows dropped dead. The heat that was there was indeed a bonfire, not just a little cookout. Bob and Bobo hooked up, and the police that were stationed at ringside were barely able to keep the fans out of the ring. Medical personnel were busy attending to the four guys that had died.

The match was like none other that had been seen before. There was more than a grudge to be settled here. It was a matter of pride between the two huge men. Battling with all the intensity they had ... Back and forth the battle went ... Bobo finally tagged in Carpentier, and, a few minutes later, Orton tagged in Bobby Davis, and the match was over within a three-count. The fans went home happy, but the key issue was not over. Who was the better man ... Bobo or The Big “O” ?

Bob is retired now and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. I recently visited with him and his family and enjoyed every moment of it. We had a great dinner at the Peppermill on Las Vegas Boulevard, and he took me on a guided tour of Las Vegas, showing me a lot of things that most visitors would never see on a regular vacation. He is still as cantankerous as ever, enjoying the prime of his life. He will be 75 in July . I will try and get back to Las Vegas to see him again soon.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree