Medium: Film
Title: Paradise Alley
Bio: A mobster’s hired muscle by day and a grappler by night, Frankie the Thumper almost picked up his biggest win against Kid Salami had he not been disqualified for continually attacking Salami after the round was over. In his defense, it was the 22nd round and he was probably getting tired of waiting for Salami to finally go down.
Signature Move: Thumping.
Month: June 2016
Kid Salami
Medium: Film
Title: Paradise Alley
Bio: The slow-witted breakout star of Paradise Alley’s wrestling league easily defeated all comers. However, his win against Frankie the Thumper will forever be tainted due to the ref awarding him the victory on account of Frankie unrelentingly beating the crap out of him after the 22nd round was over.
Signature Move: Doing what his two older brothers tell him to do.
“The Human Crane” Kid Morgan
Medium: Anime
Title: Karate Master
Bio: Despite being able to lift a car, the gigantic Kid Morgan was another in a long list of American wrestlers who fell prey to Ken Asuka in a series of wrestling vs. karate bouts.
Signature Move: Airplane spin.
Red-Headed Killer
Medium: Anime
Title: Karate Master
Bio: Red-Headed Killer was a racist pro wrestler who really disliked Japanese karate masters. He lost his vision to the dreaded eye-poke of doom.
Signature Move: Xenophobia.
“The Red Scorpion” Tam Rice
Medium: Anime
Title: Karate Master
Bio: Tam Rice was a no-nonsense wrestler, who was really more of a boxer. He hated karate and was responsible for ending anime Rikidozan’s U.S. undefeated streak.
Signature Move: The Scorpion Punch.
Karate Master
Karate Master
1973 – 1974
Karate Master was an anime series that aired in Japan about… karate. It also depicted American wrestlers and wrestling fans as xenophobic hate mongers. I have no idea whether or not this was supposed to be aimed at kids or adults at the time it came out, but the adult me definitely appreciated it more than 10-year-old me ever would have.
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