The contestants in this week’s “Rewind-Mania” are then-NWA world heavyweight champion, Pat O’Connor, and the challenger, the original “Nature Boy,” Buddy Rogers.
We’re told that 38,622 fans descended on the historic Comiskey Park in Chicago to see O’Connor defend his world title — in what was billed as the “Match of the Century.” The show was promoted by vaunted Chicago promoter, Fred Kohler, and featured other notable names like Antonino Rocca, The Fabulous Kangaroos, The Crusher, Haystacks Calhoun and Bob Orton Sr.
This match was recommended to me by author and wrestling-historian Steve Johnson, who co-authored the “Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame” series with Greg Oliver, as well as a terrific biography about the “Golden Greek,” Jim Londos.
‘Rewind-Mania’
If you would like to recommend a classic match, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
By 1961, Buddy Rogers had established himself as professional wrestling’s premier showman — known for his flamboyance and infamous misdeeds, both in-and-out of the ring. The only honor that alluded him was the sport’s grandest prize, the NWA world heavyweight championship. Rogers had tried and failed 34 times to capture the championship (according to Cagematch), losing to Orville Brown, Lou Thesz, “Whipper” Billy Watson and Dick Hutton.
The champion, Pat O’Connor, had held the title 903 days — defeating Dick Hutton on Jan. 9, 1959. Born in New Zealand, O’Connor was a prolific amateur wrestler, turning pro in the fall of 1950. While O’Connor didn’t possess the pomp and circumstance that made “The Nature Boy” a household name, he was one of the most well-respected workers of his era; both as an exhibitionist and a legitimate grappler.
As for the contest itself, this was a best two-out-of-three falls affair—as NWA world heavyweight championship matches often were, in those days. That means that this match can roughly be divided into three phases: the first, second, and third fall.
First fall
Over the last four decades, the primacy of “work rate” has become an invasive element in pro-wrestling analysis, championed by the likes of Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez. So much so, that phrases like “rest holds” have become commonplace in the medium’s discourse — insinuating that wrestling holds are moves used as a bridge between sequences.
This match is proof positive that a crowd’s level of engagement isn’t determined by the contest’s pace or the competitors’ ability to perform incredulous maneuvers. Here, Rogers and O’Connor are wrestling “for the hold,” an expression used by pro wrestlers to emphasize the legitimacy of any given hold.
When O’Connor applied his spinning armbar, the crowd erupted while Rogers writhed in agony.
O’Connor is the aggressor for the majority of the first fall. However, O’Connor’s pursuit backfired, when “The Nature Boy” stunned him with a rising knee from the corner and pinned O’Connor to take the first fall.
Second fall
After a brief intermission, Rogers carried his momentum into the early portion of the second fall. That was, until O’Connor was able to ground the affair, paralyzing Rogers with a toe hold.
The majority of the second fall is spent on the mat, with Rogers trying to escape O’Connor’s grasp.
Ultimately, Rogers escaped, and repelled off the ropes to deliver a shoulder tackle to the champion. O’Connor used Rogers’ momentum against him, pinning him with his patented reverse cradle off the rope. Today, the move is colloquially referred to as an “O’Connor Roll,” in the champion’s honor.
Third fall
The third fall began in glorious fashion, with both men running the ropes, in hopes of delivering a haymaker. Right before O’Connor could land a right hook, Rogers stopped on a dime to avoid the punch and began strutting around the ring.
Ever the showman, Rogers’ bravado is on full display — infuriating the 38,000-odd spectators in attendance.
While Rogers wasn’t pro wrestling’s first bleach-blonde blowhard, it’s evident that Ric Flair borrowed more than Rogers’ epithet: “The Nature Boy.” While it’s not quite like Flair’s Fargo Strut, it’s a consummate display of arrogance, amidst a firefight.
O’Connor and Rogers ultimately collided near the ropes, leaving both men down on the canvas.
Unlike a modern pro-wrestling ring, there was no ringside area surrounding the squared-circle. Instead, the fans are surrounding the ring — peering over the apron. So, when both men rose to their feet and became entangled in the ropes, they nearly spilled out into the audience.
From there, O’Connor controls the majority of the third fall — forcing Rogers into the corner after a pair of body slams and raining down a barrage of fists. Rogers begged for O’Connor to relent, but the champion continued until “The Nature Boy” was seemingly semiconscious.
Rogers was staggering when O’Connor nailed him with a dropkick, leaving the challenger on the verge of defeat.
O’Connor tried to punctuate the affair with another dropkick, but Rogers quickly evaded —forcing O’Connor to repel from the ropes and crash hard into the mat.
Rogers’ opportunity had finally presented itself, covering O’Connor to win the third fall.
After the match, Chicago’s legendary ring-announcer, Leonard Sterling, declared that Buddy Rogers was the new “heavyweight champion of the world.” When “The Nature Boy” was awarded the championship belt by promoter Fred Kohler, Rogers was a declaration of his own:
“To a nicer guy, it couldn’t happen!”
The aftermath
Rogers’ victory marked an inflection point in professional wrestling. As the NWA world heavyweight champion, Rogers spent the bulk of his time in the Northeast, preferring to defend his title for Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon’s Capitol Wrestling Corporation.
Rogers’ reticence to travel across the country earned the ire of fellow NWA promoters, who resolved to crown a new champion. However, when Lou Thesz did defeat Rogers in Jan. 1963, McMahon refused to recognize the title change in his territory. Thus, the Northeastern territory seceded from the NWA, and the Capitol Wrestling Corporation became the World-Wide Wrestling Federation.
Rogers became the inaugural WWWF world heavyweight champion, holding a title that is now known as the Undisputed WWE Championship — held by John Cena.
This match captures the essence of a heavyweight title match, in a manner reminiscent of boxing’s past. It feels like a momentous sporting event. And, O’Connor and Rogers both were at the peak of their powers, able to captivate an audience through the subtleties of selling and ring-psychology. There’s drama in every toehold, headlock, and armbar. The crowd was invested in O’Connor, who was desperately trying to repel Rogers. Unfortunately, “The Nature Boy” couldn’t be denied.
Rating: ****¾
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