Action Photos 2

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This was taken in 1969 during the time Ray Stevens was defending the NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship against Stan "The Crusher" Stasiak. Stasiak was about to start his match on Big Time Wrestling when Ray Stevens sat down with Hank Renner to watch. You can imagine Stan didn't like that one bit. The set behind them and the dinosaur hanging in the air were from a children's show taped at Channel 40 and was not visible to TV viewers. KTXL Channel 40 had not been taping Big Time Wrestling for too long at this time. The kiddie show's set was replaced by Miss Wrestling's board and picture book soon after this photo was taken.

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Ray Stevens did not like what Stan Stasiak had to say and they almost came to blows right there at the TV station. (They were the coming main event at the next house show.) The referee in the middle of it all is Bob Beedle.

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I don't remember what the angle was here anymore (in a Sacramento match) but either Ray Stevens or Ray and Rocky Johnson had agreed to put up a cash bond of $3,000 for some reason in a match. I remember Roy Shire had demanded that the wrestlers put up the money but I don't remember the reason. The announcer here is wrestler Pepper Martin, who appeared as a cohost on Big Time Wrestling for a while with Hank Renner. Martin lived in Glendale and appeared in many TV shows in the 1970s, usually as a bad guy on The Rockford Files and other shows like that. I see him on the TV Land cable channel all the time.

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Anyone who went to a taping at Channel 40 or hung out at the stage door at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium will remember Leroy Drake (center) who was the gatekeeper to get into the studio for the TV show. He also set up the ring at Channel 40 every week. Detective Chuck Coyle (right) of the Sacramento Police Department was in charge of security at the auditorium for many years. I forget the other officer's name.

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Haru Sasaki and Mr. Paul DeMarco with Hank Renner on Big Time Wrestling.

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Stan "The Crusher" Stasiak delivers his feared "Heart Punch" to Jerry London while referee Bob Beedle watches from a safe distance.

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Peter Maivia throws Enforcer #1 (Clyde Steeves) in this 1969 match on Big Time Wrestling.

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The Great Mephisto taps the toe of his boot to load a piece of lead to the tip, in preparation of kicking Pat Patterson at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Mephisto took Pat's NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship belt that night.

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I think the guy standing on the left knocked out Pat Patterson. Does anyone recognize him? Pat was a heel in this 1970 match. This was the end of a match at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. That is the back of Hank Renner's head in the foreground, to the left of center. (See below for more.)

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California State Athletic Commission Doctor Richard Russell (center) is unable to waken Patterson (a heel then) and has him carried to the dressing room as spectators celebrate Pat's loss. Referee Lou Whitson is in the dark sweater carrying Pat. He later promoted in San Jose with John Swenski.

Copyright 2003 Viktor Berry •

Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California

All Rights Reserved

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