By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Internationally, wrestling came into vogue around 1940 in England, India, America, Japan and some other Asian countries. Female wrestling started a few years later. ‘May Young’ & The Fabulous Moolah were the oldest and most acclaimed female wrestlers. Most of the matches were played between a select group of wrestlers, regions or countries.
After the 1960s, the popularity of wrestling gained momentum & competitions began to take place at the international level. Wrestling received a shot in the arm after the rise & popularity of the ‘World Wrestling Federation'(WWF) as wrestlers from Russia, Canada, Iran, Bulgaria and African countries started entering the ring to compete. Later, more interestingly, wrestling matches became synonymous with glamour, excitement and entertainment. Resultantly, wrestling has now reached every household. Wrestling & grappling have bean a part of the ancient world & such events used to take place in Greece & Rome.
Wendy Richter-04
Wendi Richter is an American professional wrestler & NWA Tag Team Champion who is known for ending the longest winning streak of the Fabulous Moolah at ‘MTV’s “The Brawl to End It All” for the Women’s Championship on July 23, 1984 ,though in reality the latter had lost the title several times between 1956 and 1978, and Richter’s win had in reality only ended a nearly seven-year reign by Moolah as champion.
Victoria Wendi Richter, born September 8, 1960, began her professional wrestling career with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where she teamed up with Joyce Grable & the duo held the NWA ‘Women’s World Tag Team Championship’ twice. In the 1980s, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). She held the WWF Women’s Championship twice and wrestled with The Fabulous Moolah over the title.
After losing to Wendy Richer, Moolah cunningly conceived script to settle the score by sending her protegee Leilani Kai, who defeated Richter in 1985 . Richter regained the title within a month or so later at the 1st WrestleMania.
After losing and regaining the title from rival Leilani Kai at the inaugural WrestleMania, Richter was made to defend her title again at ‘Madison Square Garden’ on November 25 the same year opposite a masked opponent named as The Spider. The bout was conceived at the behest of Vince McMahon who wanted Richter to be defeated by hook or crook. In the match under reference, the masked opponent is seen pinning Richter while the referee counting one-two-three hurriedly as planned. Richter went on attacking the masked opponent to eventually unmasked her to show that she was in fact Fabulous Moolah. Unhappy over her controversial defeat in the ring Richter left WWF.
