Wrestling Snapshot Questions

[aelefson]

Hi-

I bought this photo several months ago. It came with a piece of paper stating the photo is from 1969 and shows the Iron Sheik, Vince McMahon, and Andre the Giant. I think Vince and Andre are correct identifications but I am not certain about Vince. Is that Nikolai Volkoff and not the Iron Sheik? Also, 1969 does not seem right for the year. Is it possibly from 1979? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Alan

[steve B]

The "Jun XX" marking is when the print was developed. That's usually sort of close to when the picture was taken, most people finished the roll fairly quickly and gut it developed and printed very soon after.

[aelefson]

Thank you Steve! I discounted the year because I did not think Andre was wrestling in the US in 1969. Maybe it isn't Andre in the background? If it is, maybe the photo is from the UK or somewhere else where Andre was wrestling at that time.

Alan

[D. Bergin]

I'll be honest. I don't see any of those fellas in that picture.

[aelefson]

You are probably correct given the year of the photo. Oh well. Any idea who any of the three are?

[maniac_73]

none of those three are in the photo

[st.moose]

first thought was -- Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie in the middle? according to wikipedia he wrestled in the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s -- that tattoo makes me think not but cant think of anyone else

maybe Nikolai Volkoff on the left? -- according to wikipedia he wrestled in Stampede Wrestling and various NWA promotions in the 1960s

not sure who is on the right - first thought was Curt Henning but he was too young so thought maybe his dad - Larry 'the Axe' Henning? it's another wrestler not a referee?

definitely an outdoor event - really close to the trees so small venue
isnt there a stadium light stand database somewhere?!

[sthoemke]

Definitely not Vince or Andre. And the other I don't think matches anyone mentioned.

[aelefson]

Thank you guys. I really appreciate everyone's help with this.

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by st.moose

first thought was -- Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie in the middle? according to wikipedia he wrestled in the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s -- that tattoo makes me think not but cant think of anyone else

maybe Nikolai Volkoff on the left? -- according to wikipedia he wrestled in Stampede Wrestling and various NWA promotions in the 1960s

not sure who is on the right - first thought was Curt Henning but he was too young so thought maybe his dad - Larry 'the Axe' Henning? it's another wrestler not a referee?

definitely an outdoor event - really close to the trees so small venue
isnt there a stadium light stand database somewhere?!

I think you are right with Sheik Adnan Al Kaisse. The others are from parts unknown!

[sthoemke]

Definitely not Sheik Adnan Al Kaisse.

Here is a photo of Sheik Adnan Al Kaisse wrestling Andre in 1971.

Prior, Sheik Adnan Al Kaisse ringname was Billy White Wolf, and didn't have a beard.

Andre never had a tattoo on his arm.

[sthoemke]

If you could identify the wrestler with the tattoo, you might have a chance at dating the photo and identifying the other wrestler and referee.

[DaClyde]

That's definitely Killer Kowalski having his hand raised by Baron Mikel Scicluna. I was thinking the guy in the back might be Tony Parisi, but he didn't have a tattoo. I'll dig.

----

I've posted it to the Unknown Professional Wrestlers group on Facebook. Given it is all WWWF talent from the late 1960s, I expect a fairly quick response.

----

Yep, less than 5 minutes. Tony Altomare is the guy in the back, so it was probably a tag match with Kowalski & Scicluna vs the Sicilians (Altomare & Albano), or maybe a 6 man tag with all three in the photo together against some other 3-man team.

[st.moose]

asked at reddit ( https://old.reddit.com/r/SquaredCirc..._june_1969_so/

-- thoughts there are Killer Kowalski v Tony Parisi or maybe Dominic DeNucci

[maniac_73]

Originally Posted by st.moose

asked at reddit ( https://old.reddit.com/r/SquaredCirc..._june_1969_so/

-- thoughts there are Killer Kowalski v Tony Parisi or maybe Dominic DeNucci

Good idea asking wreddit! Definitely Tony Parisi in the Background

[aelefson]

Thank you guys! It is great to have more accurate identifications for this photo. I really appreciate everyone's effort on this.

Alan

[sthoemke]

The wrestler in the background is Tony Altomare.

[maniac_73]

Originally Posted by sthoemke

The wrestler in the background is Tony Altomare.

Great catch on the tattoo! I stand ccorrected

[sthoemke]

Here is a close-up of the tattoo, in case anyone was wondering what it is: