PERCIVAL A.
FRIEND:I have met
Reggie a few times and had the honor of being on a few
cards with him. He is and was more than an ICON and a role
model ... he is and was a true gentleman that has given his
life to the business. There aren't many that can stand in
his shoes.
A great many stories have been written about 'da crusher'
and some may have been true but you have never heard
anything but nice about the guy...never any negative
superlatives. I should get my thinking cap on and start in
remembering some times spent with the man that made
Milwaukee famous. LOU
THESZ: Reggie was a weightlifting bodybuilder
(he did both) and became a credible wrestler. He had a
tough
guy image, was a great attraction, and was a good guy. I
liked him. MOOSE
CHOLAK: The Crusher was a
great guy who had great upper body strength. He was very
popular in Pittsburgh in
the late 50's early 60's and it was the interviews where he
really shined. Verne Gagne used to purchase copies of the
interviews for sale in other television markets at one time
and these interviews helped popularize the Crusher even
more. (Thanks to Ken Stanhibel for the information).
MIKE SOMA (A.K.A. Race
Bannon): I loved to work
with Crusher he was as light as a feather to work with. I
remember one time we were doing TV and during the match he
grabs me by the sides of my head and gives me a head butt.
I take a huge bump and as I'm lying there I hear the ring
announcer yell, "My god, look at the hair he knocked off
that guy." I had just had my hair dyed and cut so as
Crusher removed his hands from my hair all this hair is
just floating in the ring. Then he yells out, "A few more
of these and this dollysister will be bald." He was
something else. EDDIE
SHARKEY: The Crusher ...
"An
old good friend and every time he was on the card, we all
made money. I knew him years before I got in the wrestling
business." (Thanks to the Upper Midwest Newsletter for use
of Sharkey's comments.
JIMMY
VALIANT:
I started wrestling in 1964 and my goal is to go till 2004.
I would like to be able to have wrestled for 40 years just
like "The Wrestler Who Made Milwaukee Famous" The Crusher.
George, the Bruiser and Crusher were the first characters
to wrestle where everybody loved them no matter what they
said or did. This opened the door for myself, Dusty,
Superstar Graham and Jesse the Body. We all became
character good guys. Crusher was a master at interviews and
he was a very great and kind man. I loved him. (Click Here to visit
Jimmy Valiant's web page).