@allen collamore;Ken Patera has been my inspiration since high-school!!! When walking shirtlessup the avenue on a hot,humid day,I'll stop,flex my arms,then KISS each bicep like Patera used to do!!
In '79 I was stuck with the wwwf, no no wait a minute wwf, no wrong again wwe, whatever !!! Man the south had all the action & the stars. Until TBS was on cable I missed these glory days. Action, excitement, a relevant storyline, modern wrestling can never bring that back.
Ken Patera and Ric Flair rented a house together. While they were learning to become a professional wrestler's. Tony Atlas was the first man in the Mid-Atlantic area that made $75,000 a year.
@@HoustonIsImmortal Don Kernodle said the same thing on his interview for the mid Atlantic gateway website. Some people don’t like it when I say this but you have to fact check some of these guys…they can tell some tales! Everyone who tells the wrestling bear story swears the referee or someone else smeared honey on their ass and the bear chased their behind all night 😖
How is that so when they broke into wrestling at different times. Ken trained with Verne and Billy Robinson in '72. Atlas with the Scott brothers ~ '75. Doesn't add up.
in the eyes of a child like I was back then I'd debate/fight anyone who thought it was fake, especially the southern conference wrestler (not the Vince McMahon production) seeing them in action and the magazine with blood and all.. how could it not be real !!
I was never a Patera fan back in the day, but holy cow - the guy _made_ this match, selling for the (at the time) limited skillset Atlas. Fantastic job.
These two were great! Can you imagine...neither won the world title. Compare Kofi Kingston to Tony Atlas. Atlas was light years better than Kofi could ever be. Patera was a beast! He should have beaten Backlund at least once for the title.
This is NOT the match where Tony won the title. This is a rematch where Tony retained the title. I was at the match in Roanoke when Tony won the title. This is not Roanoke. But still fun to see. Thanks for posting.
I always thought that his legs were always suspect...I was 12 years old when this happened and was like "what's up with his legs?" My grandfather would always laugh...
For such a large man, Tony's legs are really small. He said in an interview that he wasn't ambulatory until he was 3 yo. I think that's why his legs are so small.
What I find funny is that the crowd sounds so loud but the people mouths not moving.Where is all that hollering and screaming coming from? They needed to focus on the one who are actually cheering,not the ones sitting on the front row absolutely sitting still without any lip movements.
Honestly it's either a little bit of _EVERYTHING_ in the background, and the quality is very low, or it's the top rows i guess. Though, if you look closely there were some people that jumped out of their seats.
yeah then vince comes around and exposes it (or allowed) it to be exposed and has been patting himself on the back ever since!!! and puts out total GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!
I love Atlas but let's get real. In the real world, Patera would have defeated him, pinned him, submitted him easily. Atlas would never have survived that full nelson. Atlas was strong but Patera was a powerhouse. Look at this legs. Atlas had chicken legs. Patera would have destroyed his legs.
TheTerryE Ken sure did enjoy torturing Atlas in the swinging neckbreaker, and you could tell he "enjoyed" punishing Atlas afterward in the full nelson straddle, I bet Patera would of rode Tony in that half the night if they'd allowed it....im very sure he would of, heheh
It isn’t a weightlifting contest-have competed in powerlifting and in wrestling....Ken was a lot stronger (one of the strongest men who ever lived IMHO), but it was Tony who won a state title here in Va as an amateur. Think Tony would whip him on a wrestling mat....although Patera had some amateur experience also
That match took place in Roanoke, Virginia. Tony Atlas's hometown
That crowd was on FIRE!!
I know! I seen lots of excited wrestling crowds but this has to be near the top as far as electricity.
how ANYONE can compare the CRAP out there today to THIS is beyond me!!!! this is SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are absolutely right
@allen collamore;Ken Patera has been my inspiration since high-school!!! When walking shirtlessup the avenue on a hot,humid day,I'll stop,flex my arms,then KISS each bicep like Patera used to do!!
How true.
Tony Atlas was the man of that ERA
Atlas has the best built arms and chest in the business but Ken Patera has the same physique as a classic Zeus sculpture from ancient Greece...
In '79 I was stuck with the wwwf, no no wait a minute wwf, no wrong again wwe, whatever !!! Man the south had all the action & the stars. Until TBS was on cable I missed these glory days. Action, excitement, a relevant storyline, modern wrestling can never bring that back.
I agree the south has the better wrestler and script and were not afraid to show blood unlike the north Vince McMahon production
Ken Patera and Ric Flair rented a house together. While they were learning to become a professional wrestler's. Tony Atlas was the first man in the Mid-Atlantic area that made $75,000 a year.
Why was Tony making such a large sum of money? Did his bodybuilding body the reason he got more money since no one else had that kind of look
In his autobiographical book Tony proclaims that he was the first man promoters ever paid to BECOME a professional wrestler back then!
@@HoustonIsImmortal Don Kernodle said the same thing on his interview for the mid Atlantic gateway website. Some people don’t like it when I say this but you have to fact check some of these guys…they can tell some tales! Everyone who tells the wrestling bear story swears the referee or someone else smeared honey on their ass and the bear chased their behind all night 😖
How is that so when they broke into wrestling at different times. Ken trained with Verne and Billy Robinson in '72. Atlas with the Scott brothers ~ '75. Doesn't add up.
They both look like they were chiseled out of marble !! Wow!!
two powerhouses
The fans were so intense back in the day when they thought wrestling was real
in the eyes of a child like I was back then I'd debate/fight anyone who thought it was fake, especially the southern conference wrestler (not the Vince McMahon production) seeing them in action and the magazine with blood and all.. how could it not be real !!
Man, they are LOUD!
Notice the old people also you don't see many anymore
The crowd is going crazy for the Home town man.
I was never a Patera fan back in the day, but holy cow - the guy _made_ this match, selling for the (at the time) limited skillset Atlas. Fantastic job.
They both were limited just 2 Strong Guys !!!
Atlas and Patera both had extensive amateur wrestling backgrounds, but that wasn't going to sell tickets for two genetically gifted specimens
@@mane4689true but atlas was known for bad work
Beautiful
I remember being a 15 yr old kid when Atlas & Rufus R. Jones was my heros, at 55 yrs old..they "still" are.
Atlas missed Leg day.. alot :-/
haha yeah, my thoughts exactly
He still won bodybuilding shows.
@reggieshambley3522
Dude, I'm a fan, but his legs were awful compared to the rest, he admitted it, and was known for tiny legs.
In the comments people talk about Atlas’s legs 1970s Atlas to 1985’s Atlas
Tony was a youngster in this match
Still bodybuilding competitively and working a full schedule.
He put on some mass once he got older and was just wrestling.
What does being a youngster have to do with LEG DAY
He's known for his small legs
These two were great! Can you imagine...neither won the world title. Compare Kofi Kingston to Tony Atlas. Atlas was light years better than Kofi could ever be. Patera was a beast! He should have beaten Backlund at least once for the title.
That's a horrible comparison.
If this is in Roanoke it must be at the old Starland Arena, the seats at the Civic Center went further back.
Wish we could see the whole match.
All old people in front row.
This is NOT the match where Tony won the title. This is a rematch where Tony retained the title. I was at the match in Roanoke when Tony won the title. This is not Roanoke.
But still fun to see. Thanks for posting.
I have to admit patera was good and strong 💪
Tony legs lol 😂 my man
TH-cam Gold!!!
Mr.USA and the STRANG MAN WHAT A GREAT MATCH!
I always thought that his legs were always suspect...I was 12 years old when this happened and was like "what's up with his legs?" My grandfather would always laugh...
Look at how skinny Tony's legs and especially his calves were. He was skipping leg day every day.
That's how some guys in prison looked when they come out of prison.The arms and chest looks 250lbs but the legs and thighs looks 20lbs.
Now I know why Jess Ventura called him Boney Tony. Look at how skinny his calves are and legs in general here. Atlas was all upper body.
Good ending.
Tony obviously skipped Legs Day at the gym quite often...LOL
Back in the day Ken patera was the most hated wrestler
Just listen to those female fans squeal.
For such a large man, Tony's legs are really small. He said in an interview that he wasn't ambulatory until he was 3 yo. I think that's why his legs are so small.
Tony bench pressed 600 lbs in his prime.
600++
Ken Patera would win the Championship back from Tony Atlas and then lose it to Jim Brunzell
Boy Atlas was really putting the raccoon work in.
What I find funny is that the crowd sounds so loud but the people mouths not moving.Where is all that hollering and screaming coming from? They needed to focus on the one who are actually cheering,not the ones sitting on the front row absolutely sitting still without any lip movements.
I thought the same exact thing. The front rows just sat and looked like they were put in timeout.
Honestly it's either a little bit of _EVERYTHING_ in the background, and the quality is very low, or it's the top rows i guess. Though, if you look closely there were some people that jumped out of their seats.
Referee keep clear
How did Tony Atlas' calves hold up that body??
He is ripped tho
Now I done all your feats of Strength now give me a Title Match!💪.If you do this I will say you a Bit strong saw it during those years
Atlas looked like he was walking on stilts.
Patera in the ally would ?
Crazyhow think he only workouts chest and arms, thin legs... I'd be scared there going to break
Tony was vince star.but couldn't talk
He could talk decent to above average, but he let drugs and money ruin him.
Man Atlas had tiny legs
Atlas skipped Leg day
Patera had him beat with the hurt lock 🤣
did the rock steal his I'm the people's champ line from Tony atlas ? seems to me like he did .
Tony skipped leg day apparently
for a few lifetimes...... damn.
Atlas had chicken legs.
Ken Petra should have won with the full Nelson easily
Atlas was sooooooo over back in the late 70s & early 80s. It's too bad that he was a total meat head.
if they only knew how much of an act all this was .....sports entertainment at it's finest!!
yeah then vince comes around and exposes it (or allowed) it to be exposed and has been patting himself on the back ever since!!! and puts out total GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!
Aultun white 💯
@@allencollamore8052 exactly
I love Atlas but let's get real. In the real world, Patera would have defeated him, pinned him, submitted him easily. Atlas would never have survived that full nelson. Atlas was strong but Patera was a powerhouse. Look at this legs. Atlas had chicken legs. Patera would have destroyed his legs.
TheTerryE Ken sure did enjoy torturing Atlas in the swinging neckbreaker, and you could tell he "enjoyed" punishing Atlas afterward in the full nelson straddle, I bet Patera would of rode Tony in that half the night if they'd allowed it....im very sure he would of, heheh
Y'all do know that wrestling is a work, don't you? You guys are talking as if the people here are thinking Atlas won a real fight with Patera.
denzelsnipes69 back in the day they thought it was real and no one in the business would say it was scripted
It isn’t a weightlifting contest-have competed in powerlifting and in wrestling....Ken was a lot stronger (one of the strongest men who ever lived IMHO), but it was Tony who won a state title here in Va as an amateur. Think Tony would whip him on a wrestling mat....although Patera had some amateur experience also
libra42ful -Tony was the amateur champ-he would take Patera in a shoot
Tony Atlas was the man of that ERA