Wrestling fans call for Fabulous Kangaroos and Rick Martel to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame; Cyndi Lauper, Andy Warhol, Dave Wolff, Mickey Rourke and Jim Carey to be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame (Celebrity Wing)

The Australians (Larry O'Dea and Ron Miller) should also be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame says Australian wrestling fans and insiders

WWE Super Show-Down in Australia sparks Australians to recall great Australian professional wrestlers from yesterday who may be been overlooked or temporarily forgotten by WWE powers that be

Cyndi Lauper Dedicates Song To Wrestling Legends - 28th August 2018

Let's not forget Andy Kaufman - Jerry Lawler - Jim Carey (Man On The Moon) connection either

Mickey Rourke portrayal of professional wrestling in 'The Wrestler' was magnificent, but is it too edgy for a WWE Hall Of Fame nomination; Paul Heyman could be suitable inductee for Rourke re barbwire tie in!

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The Fabulous Kangaroos

The Fabulous Kangaroos were a professional wrestling tag team that existed in various forms from 1957 until 1983. The first incarnation of The Fabulous Kangaroos was formed when Italian Australian Al Costello teamed with Australia native Roy Heffernan and adopted an "Ultra Australian" gimmick complete with boomerangs, bush hats, and the song "Waltzing Matilda" as their entrance music. Costello and Heffernan are arguably the most famous version of The Kangaroos, regarded as one of the top tag teams to ever compete in professional wrestling, and are often credited with popularizing tag team wrestling in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Later versions of The Kangaroos saw Al Costello team with Ray St. Clair in 1967, and then with Don Kent from 1968 until 1974. Don Kent went on to team with Bruno Bekkar, and later Johnny Heffernan (a storyline cousin of Roy Heffernan) to keep The Fabulous Kangaroos name alive until 1983.

The Fabulous Kangaroos made their last appearance in 1983, but almost a decade later, the then 72-year-old Al Costello managed a team known as "The New Fabulous Kangaroos" in the American Independent circuit. The New Fabulous Kangaroos consisted of little known wrestlers Mickey Doyle, Denny Kass and Al Snow; of the three, only Snow went on to national and international recognition.

Both Costello and Heffernan died before The Kangaroos were honored as the first tag team to ever be inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, which started a tradition of inducting a new team every year. (Wikipedia)

The Australians. (Larry O'Dea and Ron Miller)

Larry Davies (1944 – 30 June 1997) was a professional wrestler best known as Larry O'Dea. He was one half of the tag team known as "The Australians" with Ron Miller.

Larry made his professional wrestling debut in the 1960s for George Gardiner Promotions[4] in Australia then soon left for New Zealand[5] before joining World Championship Wrestling in 1964.[6][7] In 1971 Davies started teaming up with Ron Miller as one-half of the tag team "The Australians" touring the United States and in 1973 he went on a tour of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling[8][9] Davies became a co-owner of Australian wrestling company WCW Australia along with Ron Miller in 1974 up until 1978.

In 1980, he went back to New Zealand.

Davies had a match with his son, Jeff O'Day, at World Championship Wrestling's Clash of the Champions XIX as participants in a tag team tournament for the then vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship. They were eliminated in the first round by The Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy).

In December 1993, he wrestled a tour of India for Indo-Asian Wrestling.

Larry remained involved in the wrestling industry until his death from liver cancer on 30 June 1997. (Wikipedia)

Rick Martel. A former AWA champion and WWF Tag Team Champion (with Tito Santana, as Strike Force). Martel was an extremely talented professional wrestler. One of his classic matches vs Billy Robinson is currently showing on the acclaimed WWE Network in the 'Hidden Gems' vault.

Billy Robinson vs Rick Martel. 24th March 1983. WWE Network: 'Hidden Gems'

Rick Martel and Tito Santana join forces to become 'Strike Force'. Circa 1987

Rick Martel (AWA Champion) and Ric Flair (NWA Champion)

Cyndi Lauper named several wrestling legends at a concert last night (27th August) in San Diego, where she opened for Rod Stewart. Before she performed The Goonies 'r' Good Enough, she dedicated the song to "her adviser of many years, Captain Lou Albano," as well as Roddy Piper, The Fabulous Moolah, Andre the Giant, Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Sheik and Wendi Richter. She mentioned that she managed Richter and "knows a few moves." She also played the video of the song during her performance, which starred Piper, Albano, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, Volkoff and Sheik, and included a cameo from Steven Spielberg. (Thanks to Wrestling Inc. reader Brian Reed-Baiotto)

(WrestlingINC)

Media Man agency

Cyndi Lauper would be a logical choice to induct into the WWE Hall Of Fame. Suitable persons to induct her would include Hulk Hogan, David Wolff, Wendi Richter, either of the late Robby Piper offspring, and Pat Patterson. We look forward to hearing what the WWE powers that be think of our recommendation.

Lauper and Hulk Hogan. MTV Music Video Awards

Lauper and Wendi Richter celebrate their victory at the inaugural WrestleMania in New York

Lauper, Liberace, Wendi Richter, Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan. WWF WrestleMania publicity photo

Piper interviews Lauper on the one and only Piper's Pit

Piper, Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan. Piper's Pit. 1987 build up towards WrestleMania III. Lauper was a key part of the glory days of Rock 'N' Roll wrestling which moved pro wrestling wrestling into the hearts and minds the world over and made in pop culture the world over! Pubic thank you to Cyndi Lauper.

The late Andy Warhol being interviewed by 'Mean' Gene Okerlund at the first WrestleMania

Mr T, Lauper and Hulk Hogan

Lauper performs at Concord, Sydney, Australia. Photography by Eva Rinaldi

Cyndi Lauper: Girls And Guys Have Fun Today At Concord, by Greg Tingle and Eva Rinaldi - 25th March 2011

I'd be waiting for this for what feels like a lifetime.

Today, via a live recording of Network Nine's 'Today' show, I got to enjoy a Cyndi Lauper performance, and boys and girls, did we have fun.

I knew that Cyndi was is Sydney, as the word of this good news was all the buzz with news media, photographers and fans, but fortunately I got tipped off about the Goodard Park morning appearance just the night before with an article appearing in The Inner West Courier.

The live 'Today' show started at 5.30am, however Cyndi and the band didn't appear on stage and kick off their performance until 7.15am or so.

The crowd was pumped, as were television presenters Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson and Richard 'Wilde' (in another lifetime) Wilkins.

I was fortunate to get to the park earlier and was able to find a spot really close to the front of the stage. Soon after I got there, hundreds more flocked in and we started to feel like sardines for a while, but security was onto it and was able to reduce some of the stress.

It's amazing how good Cyndi looks and sounds for her youthful 57. Her vibrant energy radiated the stage and the audience, and genuine warmth and appreciation was reciprocated.

I was delighted to hear that the ultra talented New Yorker has a son of 13 years of age, the same delightful (most of the time) age of mine. Cyndi told the story to Nine's entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, of junior who once partly took over her show with 'Do You Want To Shout', and how he definitely has some musical talent.

The singer performed 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun', Time After Time', 'True Colours', as well as a few new numbers that she will also perform on her current Australian tour.

My only complaints were that there wasn't an open bar and that the sausage sizzle finished about just as fast as it started. The ques for food and drinks were too long, but we weren't there for bites anyway. We wanted entertainment, and boy did we get it. Go girl, and thanks to Channel Nine - your still my One also.

Yes, we had heaps of fun, and I really look forward to seeing Cyndi's indoor performance in Sydney at the State Theatre, which will occur on the 31 March and the 1st of April. A double dose of fun. Can't wait.

Mickey Rourke and the late 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. 'The Wrestler' promotion

Rourke and Evan Ginzburg (associate producer of The Wrestler)

Andy Kaufman and Jerry 'The King' Lawler interviewed by David Letterman on The Tonight Show. This may be the highest rating network television segment of all time. If not, its very close. Apparently Letterman and his producers were not in on the act! Jim Carey would later play Kaufman in the 'Man In The Moon' movie.

More Traditional WWE Hall Of Famers

'Nature Boy' Ric Flair, Bob Backlund (one of the most under-appreciated / under-rated ever?) and Nick Bockwinkel. Many would say that Martel did not get the credit he deserved also.

Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr. and Dory Funk Sr.

Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat and 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair (pre WWF)

Hulk Hogan (back with WWE since Sept 2018) and the late, great 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper

Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff. In September 2018 Orndorff's son along with wrestling and sports fans helped raise over $10,000 to help save Paul's house. Orndorff is not in great heath but he is a legit legend and one of the most worthy WWE Hall of Famers. Orndorff was a key part of some of the biggest feuds and angles in the history of professional wrestling, mixing with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, 'Cowboy' Bob Orton, Mr. T, Don Muraco, Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan and Ken Patera.

Campbell's Tomato Soup. Largely made famous via Andy Warhol's pop art. Interview Magazine website

Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Cans

References

Museum Of Modern Art: Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Cans 1962

Multimedia

Cyndi Lauper - The Goonies 'R' Good Enough

A look back at the birth of Hulkamania (multimedia)

News

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Terry Funk best professional wrestler of all time says Media Man agency; Closely followed by Harley Race, Kurt Angle, Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat, A.J. Styles, Chris Jericho, Chris Beniot, Eddie Guerrero, 'Cowboy' Bob Orton, Ken Shamrock, Bret 'Hitman' Hart, Dolph Ziggler