The true lifeblood of professional wrestling has always been the good old-fashioned feud. Nothing hooks fans like personal grudges—betrayal, jealousy, and raw emotion. From legendary showdowns that spark fierce debates among historians to rivalries that raked in massive profits (and even inspired riots), explore ten of the hottest pro wrestling feuds of the 1960s and ’70s!
1. Lou Thesz vs. Buddy Rogers: The Clash of Tradition
Lou Thesz, the no-nonsense grappler, squared off against the flamboyant Buddy Rogers in a January 1963 showdown for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship—a clash that would go on to define wrestling history. Photo Credit: NWA.
When you combine total opposites in-ring psychology and totally different personalities in and out of the ring, you have the possibility of real heat between the competitors.
Lou Thesz was a classic athletic wrestler. He knew where and how to hurt you badly if need be. A no-frills guy, Thesz focused on legitimacy and serious aspects of professional wrestling.
Often led to the ring by former champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis, their appearances marked a who’s who in credibility. You got exactly what the marquee promised when Thesz hit the ring.
By contrast, Buddy Rogers was a flamboyant, arrogant figure in the wrestling world. At the time, this was unique. Not quite over the top as Gorgeous George, Rogers instead generated the type of heat that in those days could be dangerous.
Rogers became a main eventer around 1950 and defeated Pat O’Connor for the NWA title in Chicago by 1961.
Let’s digress a bit into why there was a personal issue between Lou Thesz and Buddy Rogers.
On one night in the 1950s, Lou and Buddy were talking in the dressing room. All was good until Rogers allegedly began insult the old timers, mainly Strangler Lewis.
Lou was infuriated that his friend and mentor was being badmouthed by a man who didn’t have true wrestling credentials.
From then on, Lou loved hearing that he and Rogers would go to a sixty-minute draw. According to Thesz, he could torture Rogers for the entire hour. Anything from blowing him up, stretching him a bit, and working stuff was on the table.
Rogers was a tough man in his own right–he was a policeman in New Jersey before getting into the business. Very few, however, could get the best of Lou Thesz.
The ending of the feud came in Toronto on January 24th, 1963. At the time, rumors began spreading that Rogers would primarily work for Vince McMahon Sr. in the Northeast moving forward. The WWWF had yet to be created, but it would soon after this night.
This did not sit well with NWA President Sam Muchnick. As the rumors slowly became more credible, Sam called upon the semi-retired Thesz, asking for one more world title run. Lou agreed, and the date was set.
Sam was in Toronto that evening to see this title change. The choice to have Thesz there was simple: If Rogers balked or would try something funny, Lou would hurt him badly.
When both wrestlers hit the middle of the ring for the referee’s pre-match instructions, Lou asked, "Hey Budro, you wanna do this the easy way or the hard way?"
Rogers, no dummy, chose the easy way. Therefore, Lou Thesz became a six-time NWA champion. Upon the title change, Rogers was declared the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.
2. Ernie Ladd vs. Ox Baker: A Feud That Ignited a Fiery Riot
Ernie Ladd battles the fearsome Ox Baker in a feud that began with a riot and would electrify fans across America. Photo Credit: NWA.
This feud between Ernie Ladd and Ox Baker was unique as it began with a full-fledged riot.
The date was January 31st, 1974, in Cleveland, Ohio. The match was Johnny Powers vs. Ernie Ladd. Ladd was to be awarded $5000 if he could break the Powerlock, Powers’ version of the figure four.
During the match, Ladd was locked into the leglock. As the heat progressed into a possible escape, the newcomer to the area, Ox Baker, entered the ring.
In his interviews before arriving, Ox had bragged about killing two other wrestlers with his Heart Punch (true story here). This got the attention of the fans, and in 1974 what was about to happen was a really bad idea.
Baker entered the ring and immediately tore into the prone Ladd. Powers released the leglock and backed away. Baker then got Ladd up and delivered several heart punches.
The crowd was irate as a chair flew into the ring that Powers blocked.
As the fans got closer to the ring, the mauling continued. Several blades were noticeable from the ring. Powers ran for his life, with Ox not too far behind.
Projectiles were being thrown at the heels. It was a sight to behold that night for all the wrong reasons. Watch the chaos unfold:
Ladd and Baker took this feud all over the country for years. They made good money and mileage with this program. However, this was one feud that almost died before it began!
3. The Assassins vs. The Kentuckians: David vs. Goliath Tag Team Feud
The masked Assassins take on the towering Kentuckians in a classic tag team rivalry that thrilled audiences coast to coast, seen here before a match in WWA in 1965. Photo Credit: WWA.
In the 1960s and into the early 1970s, few tag teams could compete with The Assassins, Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto. The masked team was unique as they made promos without raising their voices. It was as though two well-thought-out, intelligent wrestlers were talking, yet they were the worst of heels. They drew money everywhere they went, and they went across the country topping cards.
The Kentuckians, Grizzly Smith and Luke Brown, were their go-to nemeses. The Assassins would enter a territory and go over on the existing teams. Then, Grizzly Smith and Luke Brown would then arrive, seeking the masked men’s hides.
Brown, being around 6’7" himself, looked the part of a foil as well as a hero.
The Assassins, a little over six feet tall apiece, looked like the underdogs.
The feud went cross country and really popped some crowds.
4. Eddie Graham vs. Boris Malenko: Among Florida’s Most Intense Feuds
Eddie Graham and Boris Malenko battle it out in a Russian Chain Match, a defining moment in a feud that became the talk of the Florida pro wrestling scene in the 1960s. Photo Credit: Loyd Sandgren.
In Florida in 1966, Boris Malenko was the master heel. In contrast, Eddie Graham was the master babyface.
Graham, soon to be known worldwide for his booking prowess, was a double tough guy and was the perfect fit to work with the clever Malenko.
The feud started with Malenko on his way to injuring Sam Steamboat. As Malenko bloodied Steamboat by biting his ear, Graham stormed the ring. Eddie proceeded to punch Malenko’s dentures out of his mouth, then stomped them. This began a long, intense feud!
Gimmick matches were the norm when these two locked up, including the Russian Chain Match, Malenko’s specialty match.
The color red was shed, and hospitals were visited. These two drew large crowds in the state of Florida due to intense interest in their deep animosity. Fans who remember their battles still talk about it as one of the greatest feuds of the day.
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5. Ron Wright vs. Whitey Caldwell: A 10-Year Feud That Defined Knoxville But Ended in Tragedy
Ron Wright and Whitey Caldwell, seen here facing off in an intense match on August 11th, 1967, had a legendary feud that lasted over a decade! Photo Credit: NWA.
The Cazana family had run Knoxville, Tennessee, for decades. On the strength of one feud, they kept the area hopping, and fans loved what they saw.
Ron Wright was the loud-mouthed, cheating, lying ‘hillbilly’ that the locals wanted six feet under, quite literally. Whitey Caldwell, on the other hand, was the local hero that everybody loved.
It all started innocently enough, with a green newcomer accidentally injuring the main star as Wright broke Caldwell’s shoulder, throwing him out of the ring in 1960.
For the next decade, it was those two in all kinds of matches, all kinds of angles, all kinds of tag matches. Ron and Don Wright were as hated as anyone could be.
Whitey would have various partners to combat the brother duo. From Les Thatcher, Kevin Sullivan, and more, the battles never seemed to get stale to those attending the matches within the area.
Tennessee Chain Matches brought out the color red, a lot of it the hard way, with Wright’s trusty "chisel," which looked like a pair of knucks with a small blade on top.
Tragically, Whitey Caldwell would die in an automobile accident in 1972, ending their long series. Friends in real life, this loss had a profound effect on Ron.
The feud would be heavily mentioned twenty years later on Smoky Mountain Wrestling, showing the importance and the legacy that these two created. You could never go wrong on a card with this match in it.
6. Verne Gagne vs. Billy Robinson: A Battle for AWA Supremacy
Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson engaged in a series of technical wrestling clinics as they vied for the prestigious AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Photo Credit: NWA.
This feud was all about the AWA World Heavyweight Championship held by Verne Gagne. Both Verne, an accomplished amateur wrestler, and Billy Robinson, a bona fide shooter, were outstanding athletes. Fans were treated to honest, hard-nosed professional wrestling, a refreshing change from the usual chaos that feuds often brought.
The matches throughout 1974 were intense, with neither man securing a decisive victory. On one occasion, Robinson was declared the champion, only for the decision to be reversed at the next TV taping. Such reversals were never well-received in the business, as they left fans feeling bitter and robbed.
Despite the slow pace typical of the AWA, the matches remained fine showcases of skill.
Verne eventually lost the title to Nick Bockwinkel in late 1975, setting Robinson up for more title matches with the heel champ. Those bouts were barnburners, with Nick ultimately retaining the belt. The series in 1974, however, was one of the highlights of Billy Robinson’s career.
7. The Andersons vs. Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones: Sacrifice for the Win
“Minnesota Wrecking Crew” Gene and Ole Anderson go to war with Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel in a brutal feud that defined tag team wrestling in the Carolinas. Photo Credit: WWE.
Gene and Ole Anderson hit the Carolinas in early 1975, being crowned the new NWA Tag Team Champions. They were mainstays in the area from the mid-60s through the early 1970s, along with their brother Lars.
The people knew them and what they represented. They were the definition of credibility and cruelty in the ring.
Their first main feud for the belts was the defining moment for Ole and Gene.
Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones were the hot new team vying for the titles. Both teams fought to a series of grueling draws, with matches often lasting 60 or 90 minutes. Each bout was memorable for the outstanding in-ring performances. Eventually, Wahoo and Jones secured the belts in a spectacular match, but what followed became the stuff of legend.
In a TV match on June 11, 1975, the studio crowd was electric as the new champs mounted a comeback. Ole was in the ring, taking a beating from Wahoo, while Gene, recovering in the corner, pointed to his head and leaned in.
In a shocking turn, Ole shoved Wahoo head-first into Gene, who bore the brunt of the impact. Ole then pinned Wahoo, regaining the belts at a significant cost.
This moment birthed the Anderson Sacrifice, a tactic that Ole and Gene would use throughout their careers, even at the expense of sacrificing one another for the team.
8. Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods vs. Mr. Wrestling II: The Battle for Atlanta
The original Mr. Wrestling, Tim Woods, alongside Mr. Wrestling II, Johnny Walker. The two engaged in a fierce rivalry that nearly tore the Atlanta wrestling scene apart. Photo Credit: NWA.
The heated War for Atlanta between the NWA and Gunkel Enterprises was in full swing in early 1973 when a newcomer to Georgia named Mr. Wrestling II arrived on the scene. The office introduced a second Mr. Wrestling to allow the original, Tim Woods, to continue working regularly in Florida.
The NWA consistently supplied main event talent to its member promotions, and Woods was a well-known figure in Georgia. The idea of a second masked man filling in while Woods headlined in Florida worked well, and the next move was brilliant.
In June 1973, Woods was granted a world title match against Harley Race. As NWA protocol required the champion to face opponents without masks, Woods unmasked in good faith, believing he had a chance to win.
The match ended in a one-hour draw, and soon after, bitterness began to develop between Woods and his partner. Mr. Wrestling II, a former Georgia state champion, was frustrated at being overlooked for the title shot. This slow-burn tension culminated in a heel turn by Wrestling II in December 1973.
On January 11th, 1974, Mr. Wrestling II used a loaded knee to defeat Ron Fuller and regain the Georgia title. Suddenly, matches between Woods and II were taking place all over the state.
After several no contests, a mask vs. hair match was scheduled for the next Omni Coliseum show in February. The match was stopped due to Woods’ being cut open, and, true to his word, Woods sat in the chair and accepted the haircut, even though he hadn’t been defeated.
Woods quickly returned under the white mask, and the feud continued with more brutal encounters, including coal miner glove matches and death matches. Then, without warning, it ended.
Mr. Wrestling II began to take on a tweener role, and the two kept their distance on the cards. The excellent booking during this time helped define Georgia wrestling, making the promotional war both intense and highly lucrative.
The rivalry finally ended in the summer of 1974 on an episode of Georgia Championship Wrestling. In a symbolic gesture, Wrestling I and II buried the hatchet, literally, and the masked team reunited, going on to face off against Ole and Gene Anderson in a series of bouts
9. Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr.: Technical Masterclass Across the Territories
Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr. put on a masterclass in wrestling as they battled for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Photo Credit: NWA.
This feud epitomized perfectly executed professional wrestling during its era. Jack Brisco, the young lion with impeccable amateur credentials, faced off against Dory Funk Jr., the smooth and seasoned world champion.
Both were scientific wrestlers at the pinnacle of their game, and wherever they went, they sold out arenas.
Each match was a masterclass in wrestling, meticulously explained in the ring. Draw after draw, whether in Tampa, St. Louis, Atlanta, or Houston, the audience left in awe—unless their favorite wrestler lost.
One of their main events in St. Louis reportedly turned away 4,000 people, despite the Kiel Auditorium seating around 11,000—a testament to their drawing power.
The matches were perfectly paced, with every move holding significance. These two were the embodiment of a match made in Heaven within the squared circle.
In Amarillo or Florida, the local hero played the babyface, but in neutral territories, it was a pure babyface contest. Fans adored their work.
Dory dropped the NWA Championship to Harley Race in May 1973, a story worthy of its own chapter. However, on July 20 of that year, Brisco defeated Race in Houston, finally capturing the NWA title.
Now, with Jack as the champion and Dory in pursuit, the feud continued to generate great matches, massive gates, and a high level of excitement.
No gimmicks were needed for a Dory vs. Jack match—just let them tell their story in the ring and savor the spectacle.
10. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher vs. Harley Race and Larry Hennig: AWA’s Brutal Tag Team War
The tough-as-nails duo of Dick the Bruiser and his long-time tag-team partner Crusher Lisowski clashed with Harley Race and Larry Hennig in a hard-hitting AWA tag team rivalry. Photo Credit: AWA.
Before the Road Warriors, there was Dick the Bruiser and Crusher Lisowski—two barrel-chested tough guys who could intimidate even the hardest men with just a stare.
They were known for their love of bars, brews, and roughhousing, and they thrived on tearing their opponents apart.
Their adversaries, Harley Race and Larry Hennig, were equally tough and formed an exceptional tag team.
Their feud over the AWA Tag Team Championships produced some of the most memorable battles in wrestling history.
Week after week, they gave their all and intensity to the arenas around the circuit, exchanging belts and punishing each other relentlessly in a rivalry that seemed like it could go on forever.
The Lasting Impact of Pro Wrestling’s Hottest Feuds of the 1960s and ’70s
These ten legendary feuds represent the heart and soul of professional wrestling’s great past, where personal grudges and intense rivalries captivated audiences and drove the sport to new heights.
Each feud not only defined the careers of the wrestlers involved but also played a crucial role in shaping the history of professional wrestling.
From the technical brilliance of Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr. to the riot-inducing brawls of Ernie Ladd vs. Ox Baker, these tales remind us why pro wrestling is more than just a sport—it’s a dramatic, emotional, and often unpredictable spectacle that has left an indelible mark on fans worldwide, even decades on.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the sport, these hot pro wrestling feuds of the 1960s and ’70s are a testament to the enduring power of a great storyline.
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Rick Fields has been a devoted follower of the pro wrestling business since 1979, captivated at the age of six when he saw a wrestler with his own name on Georgia Championship Wrestling. His early favorites included Austin Idol, Kevin Sullivan, Mr. Wrestling II, and the Masked Superstar, even naming his first cat after Austin Idol. After retiring early due to Parkinson’s Disease, Rick co-authored “The Kanawha County Football Almanac,” a book (available at the above link) on high school football in his local area. Now, he is excited to share his knowledge of pro wrestling’s legends with fellow fans through Pro Wrestling Stories!
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