Sports Review Wrestling
Fall 1981
By Adam Zimmerman
Today, I want to take a look at this Fall, 1981 issue of Sports Review Wrestling.
Checking out the cover stories; there's a "special investigation" on which vile, terrible "bad guys" must be banned for wrestling, forever. There has also been a recent "dramatic tag-team tourney" held at the Superdome in Louisiana. On the top-right corner of the cover, we see "Savage Girls In Violent Combat," which looks more like softcore porn to me rather than "savage combat" but we shall take a further look and find out.
One of the first things we run into is the "Sports Review Annual Bonus Pinup featuring "Wrestling's Baddest Man" Junkyard Dog. I don't ever remember seeing JYD wearing an eyepatch but this magazine came out in 1981 and The Freebirds did "blind" JYD with their hair cream in 1980 so, maybe this picture was taken during the recovery process following the big match he had with Michael Hayes, drawing 30,000 people at the Superdome.
Next, we see a feature about "Why These Men Must Be Banned!" It features short spotlights on heel wrestlers of the era and the dirty tactics they use that should see them banned from wrestling. Abdullah the Butcher is featured because of his bloodlust. Stan Hansen is spotlighted because of his dreaded lariat which (kayfabe) broke Bruno Sammartino's neck. Don't get me wrong, Bruno's neck was legit broken but it came from a body slam by Hansen. Not his lariat. Finally, Gino Hernandez is featured because... he hates the Von Erichs? Okay. I mean I lot of fans loved the Von Erichs, but if you happened to dislike them for some reason; I don't think you should be banned from all wrestling. Gino Hernandez was very underrated, though, and he deserves more coverage than he ever got. The "Dynamic Duo" team of him and Tully Blanchard was a great tag team!
Next, we see coverage of the tag team tournament from the Superdome. Jake Roberts and Jim Garvin vs Super Destroyer and The Grappler. The Samoans vs Dusty and Andre! There were some classic match-ups in the mix here.
As far as the "apartment wrestling" segment goes... I feel that I'm correct. This feature is more soft-core porn than actual wrestling, but that's how these "Apartment wrestling segments used to go. They were added for a little extra eye-candy in a legit wrestling mag. Variety is the spice of life, as they used to say. I'm not a hater. When I was a younger man, I used to enjoy these features a lot.
It was really fun taking a look at this vintage wrestling magazine with you guys. I look forward to taking another look at a vintage wrestling mag with you guys in the near future!