WICHITA FALLS, Texas – In the middle of downtown Wichita Falls, in the building affectionately known as big blue, you’ll find a class dedicated to crushing your opponents.
These hopeful athletes are learning the sport of wrestling with the goal of one day, being the main event. They have the inspiration they need right below them in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Cowboy Johnny Mantell has been tussling between the turnbuckles since the 70s.
Today he’s the caretaker of more than 100 years of wrestling history, but back in the day he put the three count on some of the biggest stars.
“I wrestled André the Giant, Lopez, Gene Kiniski, Pedro Morales, Victor Rivera, Stan Stasiak, Piper, all the Von Erich boys, I mean I just have been so very blessed in this business to get to do what I’ve gotten to do,” Johnny shared.
From some of the earliest wrestlers to the progression and popularity of the sport, you’ll be surprised by some of the facts you find at this faction that includes everyone. For example, did you know Abraham Lincoln was a professional wrestler?
Al Farat has also made his mark on the mat.
“Man, it’s nostalgic to be able to look around and see all of these different people that I’ve worked with, and not even people that I worked with, people that I grew up watching,” Farat said.
Each year the hall inducts a handful of wrestlers. You’ll find babyfaces and heels, legends and lore.
“It’s something we need to keep the history alive and tell that story,” Johnny says. “I know with a lot of these living legends in here they feel the same way. They want their story to be told from now on.”
This hall honors hundreds of wrestlers, some have become superstars, others have simply continued the tradition of this theatrical sport but all of them have made sacrifices. They’ve endured physical pain and relentless training that the next generation of wrestling greats is willing to withstand in order to get in the ring and maybe someday in the hall below that keeps them motivated.
“Whether you’re an avid fan or a closet fan you have some connection to professional wrestling,” Johnny explained, “and I think that when you walk through these halls here you’re going to find somebody in that connection in your mind that you’re going to relate to from your childhood or your youth or some time you spent with a family member and I think that’s what’s so important about this hall. I honestly believe that we’re becoming a bucket list for a lot of people.”