When I was 14 years old and had just started to attend pro wrestling, I had not
been smartened up yet, and thought it was ever so real.
And guys like Waldo Von Erich made it easy to believe.
Always in tip top shape, he was a fierce competitor. And when he walked that
aisle in Madison Square Garden to face Bruno Sammartino, riding crop in hand,
did I ever worry about my hero from Italy.
Waldo was a perennial main-eventer in the WWWF. He'd beat one of the stepping
stones like Chief Jay Strongbow and ultimately face Bruno. He was regarded as a
very, very serious challenger. I also saw him wrestle Bruno on the B Circuit at
Nassau Coliseum.
He also teamed with Spiros Arion, who shocked the world when he turned on his
long-time friend Bruno back when turning heel really meant something. They were
part of Fred Blassie's army. Blassie specialized in foreign greats. Arion
actually went three straight months with Bruno in 1975 such was the heat he
generated. Waldo went two.
Waldo did the Nazi gimmick which was hot post- World War II, and less popular
today. I always think of him as one of Bruno's all-time great opponents and one
of the best heels ever. It saddens me that his name isn't heard quite as much
today and his passing brought back so many memories from my own youth. RIP to a
great wrestler and performer.

Evan Ginzburg
www.legendsradio.net