Jackie Fargo
| Jackie Fargo | |
|---|---|
 Fargo in 1961 | |
| Ring name(s) |
"Southern Legend" Jackie Fargo The Fabulous One |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Born |
June 26, 1930[1] Concord, North Carolina[1] |
| Died | June 24, 2013 (aged 82) |
| Debut | 1955[1] |
| Retired | June 18, 1980 |
Henry Faggart[1] (June 26, 1930 - June 24, 2013)[1] was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jackie Fargo. He competed in Southeastern regional promotions and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. A mainstay of NWA Mid-America (later the Continental Wrestling Association), he served as a mentor to Jerry "The King" Lawler and The Fabulous Ones, among other wrestlers in the Memphis area.
Professional wrestling career
Fargo was trained at the Quonset Auditorium in Bowling Green, Kentucky by Joe and Kenny Marshall, and first wrestled under the name "Wild Man Fargo". Fargo was successful with Don Fargo who together won NWA World Tag Team titles in 1958[2] and dominated the National Wrestling Alliance during late 1950s; their match against Antonino Rocca and Miguel Pérez was witnessed by a record breaking 20,125 people at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 1957.[3] Jim Cornette credits Fargo with popularising wild brawls and the use of tables and chairs in wrestling in the Tennessee area, which he sees as one of the origins of the later 'hardcore' wrestling style.[4]
During the 1960s, Fargo won the NWA Georgia Tag Team title with Joe Fargo and Mario Milano as well as enjoying numerous title reigns capturing the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship with Don Fargo, Lester Welch, Tex Riley, Mario Milano, Sonny Fargo, Len Rossi, Dennis Hall, Jerry Jarrett, Mr. Wrestling and Lou Thesz.[2]
He is also the originator of the "Fargo Strut". This charismatic walk in the ring has been copied by wrestlers throughout the industry, including Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and The Fabulous Ones. Jerry Lawler did the strut the most in the Mid-South Coliseum besides Jackie.
A longtime mentor to many younger wrestlers in the Memphis area, he later became involved in a feud with former protégé Jerry Lawler who defeated Fargo in a handicap match with Jim White for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship on March 28, 1973.[2] Fargo later teamed with George Gulas and Tojo Yamamoto to capture the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship title several times during the early 1970s, becoming the first NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions along with Gulas and Dennis Hall in November 1973.[2]
Although retiring in 1980, he joined Jerry Jarrett's Continental Wrestling Association to help The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn) in their feud against The Moondogs before their departure in 1984 and retired shortly thereafter.
On June 19, 2002, Fargo appeared on the very first NWA TNA Weekly Pay Per View along with other NWA Legends.
Personal life
On January 1, 2012, it was reported that Fargo had been hospitalized with pneumonia.[5] The week before his death he was found unconscious in his home. He was taken to the hospital where he was in critical condition. He died on June 24, 2013.[6]
In wrestling
Finishing moves
Championships and accomplishments
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (1 time) with Don Fargo
- Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Gulf Coast Version) (2 times) - with Joey Fargo (1) and Jack Donovan (1)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)[7]
- NWA Chicago
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) (1 time) with Don Fargo
- NWA Mid-America / Continental Wrestling Association
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Randy Fargo
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (5 times) with Tojo Yamamoto (2) and George Gulas (3)
- NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) with George Gulas and Dennis Hall
- NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (22 times) with Don Fargo (2), Lester Welch (3), Tex Riley (1), Mario Milano (2), Sonny Fargo (3), Len Rossi (2), Lou Thesz (1), Dennis Hall (1), Jerry Jarrett (4), Don Greene (2), and Randy Fargo (1)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (15 times) with Don Fargo (9), Joe Fargo (1), Mario Milano (1), Len Rossi (1) Herb Welch(1), Robert Fuller (1), and Jerry Jarrett (1)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2014[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Jackie Fargo". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ↑ "Shooting with the Legends: Don Fargo". 1wrestlinglegends.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
- ↑ The Slippery Slop of Hardcore Wrestling
- ↑ Martin, Adam (January 1, 2012). "Report: Jackie Fargo hospitalized for pneumonia". WrestleView. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ↑ Jackie Fargo Passes Away At Age 85
- ↑ http://www.walkertexaslawyer.com/nwaringside.com/home/hall-of-fame/2013
- ↑ Caldwell, James (2013-11-26). "News: Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame announces 2014 HOF class". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
External links
- Jackie Fargo at the Internet Movie Database
- Online World of Wrestling profile
- rovers-wrestlers-and-stars-the-quonset-auditorium-in-post-world-war-ii-kentucky