Crash Holly may have been undersized regardless of the era, but he became the “Houdini of Hardcore” and became the face of the Hardcore division.  He pluckily fought any competitor regardless of his weight disadvantage and when he won the WWE Hardcore Championship and boldly stated that he would fight any contender 24/7, he unleashed a new era in the upstart division.  The Hardcore Title has long since been retired, but should anyone be the face of it, it would be the 22 time champion.  Sadly, he has since passed away, but there is no denying his place in WWE history.

A legitimate tough guy, Hard Boiled Haggerty book ended a successful wrestling career with a couple of years in the National Football League and character roles in Hollywood.  Haggerty never did anything of note in the World Wrestling Federation, but he was very successful in the AWA, where he captured the one half of their tag straps in the early 60’s.  Haggerty would excel in both singles and teams, but he may have become a bigger name in wrestling lore due to his post ring accomplishments than he did because of what he did in it.

Bugsy McGraw seemingly wrestled everywhere in the United States in his long career.   Early in his career, he wrestled under a hood, or with various other personas, but it was late in his career as the eccentric Bugsy McGraw that he is best known for.  McGraw was the most technically sound wrestler, but he didn’t have to be to make his character work.  Had he done more in the WWE (he was there briefly) he may have a better shot.  As such, he is barely an after thought at present.

It is hard to argue that most of the wrestlers we spoke of loved the wrestling business.  Tojo Yamamoto loved it so much; he took his own life when he could no longer be a part of it.  Yamamoto was another Hawaiian born wrestler who wrapped himself in the Japanese flag to get heel heat.  Tojo never reached the big time, but he very good tactician who was a multi time (mostly tag team) belt holder in or around the Memphis area.  He was known as a man who gave back to wrestling, as he was always willing to help younger wrestlers wherever he could.  When Tojo’s health failed, he was a top manager in Memphis.  Sadly, when he could no longer perform that, depression over not being a part of the business he loved got the best of him.