Buddy Rogers vs Johnny Valentine

From Wrestling Legends

The Rogers/Valentine match in New York's Madison Square Garden in the early sixties was indeed a classic! It's a shame that in those days, 98% of the Buddy Rogers matches were not recorded (except against the jobbers in the 'wrestling classics' old films).

Some of the greatest matches of all time in the career of Buddy Rogers have been lost to oblivion. The young fans have no
idea of the incredible showmanship of the original Nature Boy - which made him one of the top draws and money makers of his time.

Rogers ring attitude made him one of the hated wrestlers of all time. Even Rogers loss of his NWA title to Thesz in Jan (a one fall match unfitting showman like Rogers), and then the Feb. 7th 1963 2 out of 3 loss in the rematch, in which one fall was a Rogers DQ) has been (the latter of which) kept quiet since then - and is essentially never written poken of today. In my readings of Rogers career, I found (somewhere) of the DQ which put the Feb 7th Toronto match in Thesz favor. My search for a film of that 2 out of 3 fall match has been futile. Il bet I know why. The earlier Rogers O'Connor NWA title match was recorded. As they say - go explain.

In the Rogers/Valentine matches, every perfected move in each opponents arsenal of entertainment, was used (lets not go into that now).

Throughout the match, Rogers survival everything which Valentine through at him. In the end of the MSG match, Rogers attained the clean pin and the win (using Edward R. Murrows words, I Was There!). Parenthetically, I don't believe Rogers was the NWA champ at that match.

There was no question whatsoever, as to which of the two was accepted as the superior ring man/prowrestler - due to the draw power of Rogers in that period of pro wrestling history.
Steve

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