Klondike Bill

[cwh47]

During 1966 Klondike Bill did different demonstrations on
the TV shows to allow fans to see how strong and tough
he was. One of the things he would do is allow someone
to break rocks or concrete blocks on his stomach with a sledge
hammer.I remember on the WGHP channel 8 show,Charlie
Harville was reluctant to wield the hammer but he eventually
did. Recently I was lucky enough to find to find a newspaper
article that has a brief mention of Klondike doing this.The date
of the card was Sept.22,1966.

[thegreatbolo]

Klondike did this on WBTV-Charlotte as well.

The Great Malenko was to jump off the top rope onto Bill's stomach, but "accidentally" landed on Klondike's throat, causing "a serious injury", which led to the two having a big program which culminated with a main event match at the Charlotte Coliseum (now Cricket Arena).

[cwh47]

Yes sir, when Big Bill Ward interviewed the Great Malenko
afterward,Malenko said there was perspiration on the turnbuckle
which caused him to slip and land on Klondike's throat with his
knee. This angle certainly drew a lot of heat.

[thegreatbolo]

Yes, it really was a big program. Klondike was not permitted to wrestle by "the doctors" for several weeks prior to the "Big Match at the Big Dome" due to his throat "injury".

I seem to recall the big match was part of a LABOR DAY card at the old Coliseum, because a week or so before that, THE GREAT MALENKO wrestled in the main event at a JCP show at the old Statesville, N.C. ball park (I went). During the match, KLONDIKE BILL came out of one of the dugouts and walked around the ring carrying a sign on a stick that said "MALENKO IS A YELLOW SKUNK."

Bill's distraction caused MALENKO to lose the match. (Wish I could remember MALENKO's opponent---I think it was NELSON ROYAL).

[cwh47]

Great Bolo,that is a great story.I love hearing stuff like that from
the good old days of "Championship Wrestling."

I know I sound like an old fogey when I say this,but as good as
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling was under Jim Jr.'s watch,I just wouldn't
trade what I saw from Jim Crockett Sr. for it.

Just give me the days when there were no lights,smoke or
music,when even a good preliminary or mid-card match could bring the crowd to it's feet.

[barry]

Klondike Bill...............If you look at the credits at the end of the old Mid-Atlantic shows Klondike Bill is in charge of lighting...................he was also the grounds keeper at Crockett Park.