Home > Sports > Cross Country Smackdown: Pro Wrestling in Canada

Cross Country Smackdown: Pro Wrestling in Canada
Grunts, roars and the smack of flesh on canvas have, for generations, echoed from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. Pro wrestling is a gritty world populated by heroic "babyfaces," dastardly "heels," outrageous managers and outraged fans. We tackle some of the most colourful stories and characters to come out of the wrestling scenes from coast to coast.

WEST

	Gene Kiniski stirs the pot		Jeering Jessie McCall		Stampede Wrestling gets pinned
	The West Coast wrestling legend holds forth on the "God" of wrestling, how to cook pork, and cops on the take. (TV; runs 5:56)		She hollers, she hisses, she even spits – and then makes a mean tea and sandwiches. (TV; runs 4:11)		Calgary promoter Stu Hart pulls the plug on his four-decade family dynasty as the WWF tightens its hold on pro wrestling. (TV; runs 2:41)

WEST		ONTARIO

	Owen Hart's funeral		Terrible Ted the battling bear		Toronto's wrestling saint
	The stunt death of wrestling royalty brings tears and angry words. (TV; runs 2:16)		The furry star has the crowd behind him and a ref on the run. (Radio; runs 4:25)		"Whipper" Billy Watson talks about the toll wrestling has taken on his body and his determination to help crippled children. (Radio; runs 4:02)

ONTARIO				QUEBEC

	Full-contact fans		Wrestling gets huge		Yvon Robert: Quebec folk hero
	Frenzied spectators trash cars, pull guns and hurl dentures. (TV; runs 8:07)		Toronto's love affair with the sport is bigger than ever. (TV; runs 5:01)		"The Lion" made Montreal a wrestling mecca and became a source of pride for francophones. (Radio; runs 3:24)

QUEBEC				ATLANTIC

	Mad Dog's toughest fight		So… is it fake?		The redemption of Sailor White
	Once a hated heel, Mad Dog Vachon has the prayers of a province as he struggles to recover from a terrible accident. (TV; runs 12:29)		The question that haunted pro wrestling for almost a century is answered over burgers at Harvey's. (TV; runs 8:11)		The hell-raising Newfoundland star hit rock bottom and began praying to heaven. (TV; runs 9:18)

ATLANTIC

	Leo Burke, Maritime legend
	A little greyer, a little slower, still beloved. (TV; runs 4:07)

LINKS Related Topics from CBC's Archives Arctic Winter Games Still Standing: The People's Champion George Chuvalo External sites Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame Cauliflower Alley Club The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

6 Additional Clips about Cross Country Smackdown: Pro Wrestling in Canada Printer-friendly topic page Send this page to a friend Add this topic to your personal bookmarks Cite this page

Copyright © CBC 2006 All Rights Reserved Privacy