Red Berry (wrestler)
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| Ralph Berry | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Wild Red Berry, The Wild Man, The Brain |
| Billed height | 173 cm (5' 8") |
| Born | November 20, 1906 Pittsburg, Kansas |
| Died | July 24, 1973 (aged 66) Pittsburg, Kansas |
Ralph Berry aka "Wild" Red Berry was an American professional wrestler. He was a multiple time world light-heavyweight champion, and an important smaller wrestler of the 1930s to the 1950s, as well as a famous wrestling manager in his later years.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Berry was born November 20, 1907, in Pittsburg, Kansas.[1] He started off as a boxer in 1923, eventually winning the Kansas State Middleweight Championship. After breaking both of his hands, he decided to change his sport to wrestling.[1] By 1937, despite standing only 5 ft. 8 in. (173 cm), he had won his first title, the National Wrestling Association's World Light Heavyweight Championship.
According to Berry acquaintance and former wrestling manager Percival A. Friend, Berry got his ring name after a promotional stunt. The story goes that Berry climbed a tree in front of Memorial Hall in Kansas City, and stayed there three straight days. The Kansas City Star dubbed him "The Wild Man", and thus was born the name Wild Red Berry.[2]
Berry held the National Wrestling Association's World Light Heavyweight Championship nine times between 1937 and 1947, trading it often with Danny McShain. After the advent of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), in 1948, he held several regional championships for NWA member promotions, including the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, twice in 1949, the NWA Arkansas Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1954, and the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship, in 1952 and 1957.[3] In his feuds, Berry usually played the heel, or villain, except in his hometown of Pittsburg, where he was well-beloved.[4]
During the later part of his wrestling career, Berry managed wrestlers like The Fabulous Kangaroos, Al Costello and Roy Heffernan. He also managed Gino Marella, who under Berry's tutelage renamed himself Gorilla Monsoon.
Outside of the ring, Berry was active in Pittsburg political circles. He was elected Parks Commissioner once, and twice served as acting mayor. He also tried acting on at least one occasion, appearing in the 1953 film My Wife's Best Friend.[1] In his later life, he was both an active Mason and Shriner.[1]
Berry was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Tulsa in 1972.
The following year in 1973 he died of a heart attack.
In 1996 Berry was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
A species of Echinopsis, developed by Bob Schick, was named after Berry.[5]
[edit] Wrestling facts
[edit] Finishing and signature moves
"Gilligan Twist" Leg lock
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
-
- NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tosh Togo
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time) - with Tosh Togo
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- NWA Arkansas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Internationally Known Figure Wild Red Berry is Dead", The Pittsburg Headlight-Sun, July 24, 1973
- ^ The Way it Was: Wild Red Berry by Percival A. Friend
- ^ Wrestling-Titles.com
- ^ Earl Morey, "Memories Will Linger About Local Wild Man", The Pittsburg Headlight-Sun, July 24, 1973
- ^ 'Wild Red Berry' page from the 1996-2004 Schick Hybrids Catalog
