RIP Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart

[CaptainCrunch]

I remember after the Bulldogs left Stampede Wrestling and came back to Calgary, that the foundation were still at their height of tag team glory. They were allowed to come back to Stampede Wrestling for a one night only appearance at the pavilion. They were going to face the Bulldogs.


By this time, Davey was at the height of his steroid abuse and looked like an over stuffed sausage. Dynamite was a shadow of himself and was more often then not drunk or stoned when he wrestled, this was before the infamous Bulldogs breakup.


But the Foundation came to town and the pavillion was packed and there was a buzz, because the Harts were huge stars by then.


The Bulldogs rolled out and got cheered like crazy, then the Foundation came out, I think they were in pink and black. And they promptly went into heel mode. Bret went into the ring and leaned in the corner and Anvil took about 5 minutes to take Bret's shades off while yelling at the audience.


You could see that Anvil and especially Bret were different and far better performers and wrestlers then they were when they left Stampede, and frankly they carried the Bulldogs to this tremendous face melting match. In the end I think it ended in a DQ, but I remember Anvil and Hart going back to the dressing room and Anvil was just taking it all in. Then he grabbed his beard and laughed and he was gone.


As amazing as that time was, it's kind of sad looking back now, because not only are so many members of the best of Stampede Wrestling gone. But that match was the height of the return of Stampede Wrestling and it really started to disintegrate after that leading to its death.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by ernie

I don't follow wrestling anymore and really stopped following it sometime in high school (graduated in '92).

I fondly remember Stampede wrestling. They would tour the little towns in western canada and would allow the kids to come down and watch them set the ring up etc. If things were running smoothly they'd even let some kids get up into the ring learn some things. I've been lightly body slammed by Bruce and Bret and taught how to go into the ropes by Keith Hart. The Harts being the face of the brand were always very personable. Bad News Allen also seemed pretty good. The Angel of Death was a dick. I don't recall meeting The Anvil but the Hart foundation was the era I watched and I remember always looking forward to the HArt Foundation matches. It sucks to see all these people that had some impact on your life you pass on. RIP Jim.

I think it was Heath McCoy that wrote a great book about Stampede Wrestling. I can't remember what it is called but it is filled with stories of all those great characters back in the day. Great read if you are a fan.

[CaptainCrunch]

Pain and Passion, and its a very good book. there was another book that was written and I'll look at my bookshelf tonight that basically talks about all the tragedies of Stampede Wrestling and the wrestling business in the 80's

[Buff]

I 2nd the recommendation for Pain and Passion.

I wasn't aware of another book about Stampede Wrestling specifically.

There was the book on Stu Hart, which I also enjoyed and recommend.

[CaptainCrunch]

the book called Dungeon of Death by Scott Keith.


It came out after Benoit's death and it focused on Benoit's career, but it also talked about the Hart Family Curse. It has a ton of biographies in it about Stampede Wrestling alumni who were negatively impacted by working in the wrestling business who had major stops in Stampede Wrestling.


Scott Keith knows his stuff, but the book is really erratic.