Dick Hutton

Their championship reign also produced another important run against two guys we're going to talk about in a second, and that's Ricky Romero and Gorey Guerrero.

On October 2, 1958, DiBiase and Nelson defended the World Tag Team Championship against Larry Shane and Ricky Romero and Amarillo on a major card headlined by Dory Funk Sr.'s controversial victory over Dick Hutton in the NWA World Heavyweight Championship match.

Nelson's role during this period illustrates something important about how Sarpolis operated the West Texas Territory.

It was not built solely around champions.

He wrestled Fez.

He wrestled Dick Hutton.

He wrestled Pat O'Connor.

Almost all of those guys, I think Whipper Billy Watson, all those guys who held the world title had legitimate, really strong matches with Funk in West Texas.

Yes, number 19 would be the giant Mormon Don Leo Jonathan.

He was one of the most credible heavyweight challengers of his generation, and his presence in Amarillo reflected the territory's connection with the whole wide NWA network.

Number 20 would be Dick Hutton.

Probably the most interesting name on this list from a wrestling standpoint because he was from Amarillo.

Jim, the opening contest listed here, actually the intermission bout is the first bout listed.

Jesus Ortega versus Cowboy Dick Hutton.

Good Lord.

Mr. Moto versus Rocky Hunter.

Um, uh, Sammy Burg was a well-known West Coast name at that point in time.

Uh, Mr. Moto, of course, the, one of the classic names of '50s and early '60s wrestling.

Dick Hutton against, is that Bull Ortega, J- Jesus, or Jesus Ortega?

It may...

But I saw him live in St. Louis.

I saw almost all of the NWA world champions in St. Louis, with the exception of Dick Hutton and Bu- Nature Boy Buddy Rogers.

Those were the two that I did not see.

Lou Thesz, I didn't see wrestle, but I saw him on Wrestling at the Chase making an appearance a couple of times when he was visiting St. Louis.

My sister Vicki and I saw Pat O'Connor's retirement match on January 1st, 1982.

So those first NWA world champions, I saw Lou Thesz make appearances.

Never saw Dick Hutton.

I saw Pat O'Connor more times than I can count, on TV and at Kiel Auditorium in the Checkered Dome.

He would only drop it to a legitimate wrestler, and he, he wouldn't even drop it to Verne or Pat O'Connor, who had been an Olympic wrestler.

He had to drop it to Dick Hutton, who he thought was the, the best wrestler of the group.

In September... on September 16th, Pesek is back in the, uh, ring with Eustace, and he wrestles Eustace again on 9/28, but this time they're not in Sydney, they're in Melbourne.

And so far, that's his 11th match on this tour.