Action Photos 16

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The Masked Gladiator (Ricky Hunter) keeps a tight head-lock on Cyclone Negro in this 1970 match at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The referee is Frank Nocetti. Ricky Hunter came to California to wrestle for Roy as Ricky Hunter in the mid-1960s, as the Masked Gladiator in 1969-1970 and then again as Ricky Hunter in 1972-1973. Wrestling fans never seemed to connect Ricky and the Gladiator together.

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In the same match, The Masked Gladiator struggles to get himself out of Cyclone Negro's Full-Nelson as Referee Frank Nocetti watches for a sign that The Gladiator surrenders to the pain.

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Here is one last photo from that match -- Cyclone Negro looks like he is in trouble as The Masked Gladiator squeezes him around the neck. That is not a sheet of paper in Frank Nocetti's hand -- it is actually an open doorway on the first balcony.

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Big Time Wrestling's Hank Renner talks to Ray Stevens about the helmet he wore during the match you saw on Action Photos 15. Ray had this boxing helmet fitted and padded on the forehead to protect him from Pat Patterson slipping a foreign object into his mask. Pat had knocked Stevens unconscious in prior matches and this helmet saved Stevens and Maivia the night before in an NWA World Tag Team Title match. Patterson and Stevens had been tag team partners for several years in the 1960s as heels, and after Stevens turned babyface, they became sworn enemies.

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Len Shelley grimaces as Ray Stevens tries to escape from his hold on Big Time Wrestling.

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As you can see, Ray Stevens was able to slip out of Len Shelley's hold and he did go on to win the match.

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Miss Wrestling #1, Miki Garcia, shows Big Time Wrestling viewers photos of the wrestlers who will be appearing at the next house show. That is Pepper Martin's photo she is displaying.

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Crazy Luke Graham came into the territory in late 1972. Gerry Monti is on the receiving end of Crazy Luke's suplex on Big Time Wrestling.

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Crazy Luke Graham talks to Hank Renner on Big Time Wrestling.

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Ray Stevens punches Don Carson as he climbs up to the ring. Pepper Gomez is in the background dragging someone by their hair during a tag team match on Big Time Wrestling.

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Hank Renner talks to Ray Stevens about Stevens' big win over The Mighty Brutus the night before at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Stevens put his NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship on the line against Brutus' hair. The Mighty Brutus (Mike Davis) lost more than the match -- his head was shaved in the middle of the ring. That is Hank's barber, Al Tirapelli, on the left. He had the honors that night and got to do the clipping.

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Mr. Paul DeMarco (with Dr. Ken Ramey behind him) and Pat Patterson win another tag team match. Hank Renner (left) and Pepper Martin are sitting at the Timekeepers Table. The bell is in the center of the table, a signal to let the boys know it is time to finish the match.

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Pat Patterson, Dr. Ken Ramey and Mr. Paul DeMarco talk about their upcoming match with Pepper Martin, who was cohosting Big Time Wrestling for awhile.

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Copyright 2003 Viktor Berry

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All Rights Reserved

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