In terms of actual fame, “Count” Billy Varga eclipsed many of his contemporaries as he appeared on many television shows and movies in the 50’s and 60’s often playing…what else? A wrestler!  In the ring however Varga was a draw in the California and Hawaii area and held his fair share of championship belts.  This would include the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and singles championships in Hawaii, Texas and Los Angeles.

The story of Kenji Shibuya mirrors that of so many other Japanese-American professional wrestlers in that Shibuya was born in the U.S. but for the purposes of pro wrestling business he was born and bred in Japan.

A master of the sleeper hold who cut his teeth in the Ohio territory and the Pacific Northwest, Ed Francis would become better known for his role in performing and promoting the Hawaii territory throughout the 1960’s. and the 1970’s. 

When Richard Garza broke into professional wrestling he did so with the pedigree of being a legitimate strongman and bodybuilding competitor.  He had modest success but when Verne Gagne in the AWA repackaged him as “The Mighty Igor Vodik” he found a persona that fit him like a glove.