Portland Wrestling on PBS (1970s)
Great rare footage from the unrated Portland Territory.
PBS shot this 30 minute documentary back in the late 1970′s. This piece maintains Kayfabe and is more of a showcase rather than a social commentary.
Well, to be fair, the social commentary is directed at the type of fan that watches wrestling.
Similar to the 70′s NBC Memphis Wrestling piece, the audience is skewed towards the….. dregs of society.
Casting the directors fan focus aside, the piece includes some great footage of late 70′s Portland TV. Making appearances:
Jesse Ventura : Interview + some ring action Jimmy Snuka: Match footage vs the Iron Shiek Dutch Savage: Various interviews and a coal miners glove match Iron Shiek: Dutch’s opponent in the coal miners glove match
The first two parts are good but can be missed. However, the third video is a must view. Dutch Savage gives a great interview in the first minute. Next up is 7 or 8 minutes of the Coal Miners glove match, including unreal heat & double juice.
I swear, real heat like this just can’t be found these days. At 9:00 of the third video a fan attempts to rush the ring and help up the beat-down & outnumbered Dutch Savage. Security holds him back. As Cyrus & Raven would say > Tremendous.
Video Footage (in reverse order, with #3 leading things off)
Next time around: Some 20/20 wrestling coverage
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