wrestling news stories on Newser

We'll Miss You, Randy 'Macho Man' Savage

John Johnson — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:04:43 CDT

News that Randy "Macho Man" Savage died in a car accident age 58 has triggered plenty of nostalgic tributes: David Brown, Yahoo Sports : "A small part of my childhood died. ... Other than Hulk Hogan or Andre the Giant, no WWF rassler was more popular than Savage in the late 1980s,...

'Macho Man' Randy Savage Killed in Car Accident

Matt Cantor — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:17:06 CDT

"Macho Man" Randy Savage, the WWF wrestler and Slim Jim spokesman, has died in a Tampa car accident, TMZ reports. The 58-year-old had a heart attack while driving, said his brother. The Jeep sped through oncoming traffic and struck a tree head-on, highway officials said. Savage died in the hospital;...

ASU Wrestler Wins NCAA Title—With 1 Leg

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:59:59 CDT

The NCAA may be better associated with madness in March, but it was all inspiration last night as Anthony Robles, an Arizona State University wrestler born without a right leg, snagged an NCAA title in what he says is the final match of his life. The 125-pounder took a 7-1...

High School Wrestler Refuses to Face Female Opponent

Nick McMaster — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:28:50 CST

The Iowa state wrestling meet—a prestigious high school competition for the sport—has its first female victor. Along with controversy: Cassy Herkelman's male opponent withdrew rather than wrestle her, the Des Moines Register reports. "Wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," explained Joel Northrup....

Wrestling Dynamo Captain Lou Dead at 76

Nick McMaster — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:00:43 CDT

“Captain” Lou Albano, a professional wrestler who also enjoyed success as a mainstream entertainer, died today at 76. Starting in the late '50s as one-half of tag team “the Sicilians,” Albano’s wrestling career spanned four decades. With his signature look—Hawaiian shirt, rubber-band goatee—and a landmark decision to mix...

GOP Lukewarm on Wrestling CEO's Senate Bid

Nick McMaster — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:44:12 CDT

With Linda McMahon eying him as the ultimate takedown of her takedown-filled career, Sen. Chris Dodd has reason to be nervous. The former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment has sharp business acumen, star power—and, perhaps most significantly, $30 million she’s willing to spend to wrest his Connecticut Senate seat...

Wrestling Goes to the Beach

Kevin Spak — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:15:54 CDT

Wrestling aficionados think they’ve found a formula to put their sport back on the map. Just put the contestants on the beach—and make them take their shirts off. That last part is key. “High school girls love cut and in-shape high school guys,” says one USA Wrestling board member....

Seattle Smacks Down Fake Wrestling League

Katherine Thompson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:39:32 CDT

Seattle has put the smackdown on a mock-wrestling circuit that stages WWE-style bouts in bars, putting the fake league is in the strange position of trying to prove its antics aren't a sport. Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling, which started as an "art joke" in 2003, says it's merely staging theatrical "fight...

Indie Wrestlers Hope for Big Time

Matt Cantor — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:00:00 CST

The WWE isn’t the only pro-wrestling battleground: Outside the mainstream are several indie wrestling leagues where lesser-known fighters can duke it out, the Wall Street Journal reports. There’s little pay—sometimes only $25 a night—and crowds can range from 20 to 18,000, says one contender. But there’s plenty...