In professional wrestling, some stories are so outlandish they transcend the ring and become legendary. This is one of those stories. A 150-pound teenage fan not only dared to challenge one of the sport’s most notorious shooters, but he also found himself at the center of one of wrestling’s most unpredictable moments—the $1,000 Sugar Hold Challenge. What happened next left the audience stunned.
No Sugar Tonight: The $1000 Sugar Hold Challenge
Image Credit: WCW.
A bit of scenery is necessary before we paint the main subject of this portrait. To do this, we must enter the Wrestling Time Mobile and set the dial to 1981, destination: Kentucky.
What will we find there?
To pinpoint our location, we’ll probably need to hop out of the Time Mobile and into a rental car (of course, it must be a 1981 Chrysler Cordoba, replete with Corinthian Leather) and head towards Lexington. There, we’ll find the headquarters of International Championship Wrestling, a "renegade" territory not sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance that existed for six short but very eventful years.
The promotion was founded and owned by the Poffo Wrestling Family: Angelo, the patriarch (and a wrestler par excellence in his own right), and his sons Leaping Lanny Poffo and Macho Man Randy Savage.
International Championship Wrestling (ICW) ran shows in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, in opposition to several established National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories.
These events took place at local civic centers and arenas, one of them being the Frankfort Civic Center in Kentucky, which will become more significant later in this story.
Angelo Poffo’s “The Miser” and the Birth of the $1,000 Sugar Hold Challenge
Photo Credit: ICW.
Angelo Poffo occasionally donned the tights, albeit under his masked "Miser" persona — possibly as a concession to his age (then 56), but just as likely due to his well-known frugality.
To compete against their larger and more established competition, smaller rogue promotions often came up with a ‘hook’ to sell tickets and grow their fanbase. In this story, that hook was "The Sugar Hold Challenge."
The premise was simple: if you could break the Sugar Hold, you’d win a $1,000 prize.
Sounds easy, right? But as Judge Judy often says, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"
What is a Sugar Hold and Why is it So Devastating?
Photo Credit: William Harding.
This photo above, taken by William Harding at an AMW show, shows Beau James applying the Sugar Hold on Jordan Clearwater. According to Harding, Bob Roop hooked his leg like this as well.
The title of the Sugar Hold is quite misleading, as there is nothing sweet about it.
From Lockdown to Agony: The Artful Transition of the Sugar Hold
Stevie Richards applies the Sugar Hold on Chris Jericho. Photo Credit: WWE.
According to WWE.com, "The Sugar Hold begins as a typical full nelson, but the wrestler applying the hold forces their opponent face down on the canvas, pressing their knees into the upper back. With the entire body wrenched in pain and limbs immobilized, the opponent has no choice but to concede the match."
Though incredibly painful, the Sugar Hold has largely faded into obscurity, overshadowed by other submission holds. However, back in 1981, it was regularly applied by none other than the 280-pound powerhouse, Bob Roop.⬤
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Bob Roop: Wrestling’s Shooter Extraordinaire
Bob Roop, one of pro wrestling’s greatest mat technicians. Photo Credit: ICW.
Bob Roop was one of pro wrestling’s finest mat technicians.
Beyond his in-ring accomplishments, Roop is a talented writer, and we’ve been fortunate to have him contribute to our website. You can check out his work here.
As for the other key figure in this story? Enter William (Bill) Harding, an unlikely 19-year-old, 150-pound teenager from Frankfort, Kentucky.
William Harding: The 150-Pound Teenager Who Accepted the Challenge
William Harding from the ICW Sugar Hold days. Photo Credit: William Harding.
William Harding’s introduction to wrestling came at a young age, thanks in part to his father, a local police officer who worked security for the Jerry Jarrett-owned Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), also known as the Memphis Territory.
William would often accompany his dad to shows at the nearby Frankfort Civic Center, where he met many of the territory’s stars, including Jarrett and Tojo Yamamoto.
Though in many ways your typical 19-year-old, Harding stood out in a couple of key areas. His self-discipline, shaped by years of training in karate and judo, and his keen analytical mind would play a significant role in this story’s outcome.
While most 150-pound teenagers would be terrified at the thought of stepping into the ring with an Olympic wrestler who outweighed them by 130 pounds, Harding approached the challenge with logic, not fear.
The Sugar Hold: Solving The Puzzle Through Logic Or Luck
William Harding’s sketch of The Sugar Hold. Photo Credit: William Harding.
Harding meticulously sketched the Sugar Hold in the image above, but despite his careful analysis, he couldn’t initially envision a way to escape. As powerful as logic is, it sometimes falls short of offering a complete solution.
Fortunately, serendipity stepped in where logic could not.
After leaving his sketch on the ottoman to grab a snack, Harding returned and had a moment of clarity. Viewing the drawing from a standing position, he suddenly saw what he had missed while seated.
Drawing from his judo training, Harding realized that the mechanics of the Sugar Hold closely resembled a standing hip toss, with the key difference being that the wrestlers were lying prone instead of standing.
In his mind, the person ‘trapped’ in the hold actually had the upper hand—though only Harding had figured this out.
Defying the Odds: Harding’s Unexpected Victory Over Roop
Dan & Benny In The Ring podcast. Photo Credit: Dan Sebastiano and Benny Scala.
"I told my friends about it," Harding explained. "They told me I was crazy. I told my grandmother, and she begged me not to do it. I told my grandfather, and he said, ‘No, you’re not gonna do it.’ I told my dad, and he absolutely forbade me from even going down there."
So, did Bill listen to the wisdom of his elders and stay home? Well, if he had, the story would end here. But it doesn’t.
The infamous Sugar Hold Challenge took place on June 3rd, 1981, at the Frankfort Civic Center. Let’s turn things back over to William Harding as he recalls that fateful night.
"When I got there, there were about three or four matches before they even got to the challenge. They did it right before intermission, so I didn’t watch the other matches. I just kept my head down, focused on what I was going to do.
"When they finally called us down, there were four of us. We all had to sign waivers. The first guy was about Roop’s height, rather skinny, wearing black jeans and a silky black shirt. He was being kind of a smart aleck. So when they laid down, and Bob put the Sugar Hold on him, the referee said ‘Go,’ and the guy was done in three seconds.
"He screamed, waved his hands, and Bob let him go. He got up looking so disgusted.
"You don’t disrespect these guys because they’ll make you pay for it, big time," Harding continued.
"The guy in front of me, who was going third, mentioned he was in the Army and was talking about what he was going to try. He got a little nervous after seeing the first guy, but I was still worried about him because of his combat training. I thought, ‘Okay, this guy might know what to do.’ He actually lasted about fifteen seconds before he submitted!"
Face to Face with Destiny: The Intense Encounter with Bob Roop
Bob Roop in a promotional shot backstage in ICW. Photo Credit: WWE.
The interview continues: "I got in the ring and walked over to him. I didn’t even look Bob in the face because all I could focus on was his uniform—the Olympic rings and the USA boots—and I thought to myself, ‘Geez, this is really happening!’
"I laid down on the mat, and I remember hearing the referee and Bob giggling. Bob said, ‘Well, okay then.’
"He got down on the mat and put me in the Sugar Hold. It was one of those moments where time kind of stands still. I could almost see the dust floating in slow motion in front of me, and I kept my eyes on the referee, knowing that as soon as he said ‘go,’ I had to act. I planned to go between the ‘g’ and the ‘o,’ just to get the first move off before Bob could react.
"So, there I was, locked in the Sugar Hold. The referee said, ‘Go!’ and I went with everything I had. I twisted my body and brought Bob over, face-first into the mat.
"[Roop] didn’t flip all the way over, but he moved far enough that I could spread eagle on the mat, getting my right arm down just enough to lean into it. I actually had him in an exaggerated armbar."
From Laughter to Shock: The Unexpected Transformation of a Pint-Sized Contender
Much like these pro wrestling fans pictured here, the fans that night couldn’t believe what they witnessed between Bob Roop and William Harding! Photo Credit: WWE.
"The crowd’s reaction changed immediately,” continued Harding. “Everyone had been laughing at me when I first got in the ring—they thought it was hilarious! Here was this puny guy stepping in after they’d seen the others, and then, all of a sudden: shock!
"The atmosphere shifted, and now it felt like an MMA crowd on their feet, jumping around. I still had him in the armbar, and the referee kept asking if I wanted to give up. I was just trying to figure out my next move because Roop was still on top of me.
"I planted my right arm, pushed up like I was doing a push-up, and managed to get all the way up with him still on my back. My plan was to slip my legs out from under him, switch to a full armbar, and lock his arm like I had originally intended. Just as I got to the top of that push-up, though, I heard him say, ‘****, this boy’s strong!’ But before I could get my legs out, he grabbed my left leg and swung me around, trying to reset the hold. Except, I went too far.
"I landed on my back, and as soon as I hit the mat, I kicked my legs up and scissor-locked his head.
"Now, neither of us was in a comfortable position—my nose was literally about 8 inches from my right knee, his arm was locked around my head, and I had his head trapped in a scissor lock. All I could do was push back against his arm and try to slip my head out while crushing his.
"This went on for about 15 or 20 seconds. I heard him tell the referee, ‘Get this boy off of me; he’s killing me!’
"I finally managed to slip my head out of his arm, rolled him to the side, and kicked away from him. I think I might’ve kicked him right in the chest, trying to break free.
"I jumped up, threw my arms in the air, and the whole place erupted—people were jumping up and down, screaming. Bob was still on the mat, the referee was still down, and I turned around to see the audience behind me going crazy. Then I turned back around, and the referee was on his feet, and that’s when everything went haywire.
"He started saying, ‘No, no, no—you didn’t beat the time limit! You didn’t win!’
Haywire? Absolutely. Other words come to mind, like melee or fiasco, but we’ll leave it at that.
In any event, William Harding’s victory was nullified. The reason? He didn’t beat the time limit. That would be understandable, except for one minor detail: there was never a time limit in the first place!
Chaos Unfolds After the Challenge Begins
Photo Credit: Bob Roop.
Initially, William Harding challenged Bob Roop to an immediate rematch, but Roop declined, pointing out that Harding had ruptured some blood vessels in his eye during their previous bout.
Harding then asked the referee to point out the timekeepers, who were seated at ringside. However, the "officials" he expected turned out to be a couple of kids who looked more like Bill and Ted searching for their next excellent adventure. When one of them told Harding he had failed to beat the time limit, William questioned the absence of a visible clock or even watches on their wrists. Without another word, the timekeepers simply got up and left—clearly, that excellent adventure couldn’t wait!
Determined, Harding returned to the ring and grabbed the mic.
What wrestling fan wouldn’t want to stand in the middle of the ring, mic in hand? I’m sure many would have been tempted to pull a classic Rock line like, "Finally…" though at the time of this incident, The Rock was just a 9-year-old kid dealing with 3rd-grade problems.
Harding didn’t mince words. He cut straight to the point and shouted, "Where’s my money?!"
At this point, Bob Orton Jr. entered the ring and casually suggested that if William didn’t walk away, he might find several of his body parts permanently relocated.
Undeterred, Harding took hold of the mic once more and repeated his demand for the prize he felt he had rightfully earned.
It wasn’t long before Harding was escorted out of the ring by the arena manager and two local law enforcement officers working security that night. They led him to a storage room, where he spoke with Sam Harrod, the local sheriff, who asked for his side of the story.
A little while later, Sheriff Harrod returned with Angelo Poffo, who ‘generously’ offered Harding $250 for his trouble. Harding declined. Poffo then upped the offer to $500, which Harding also rejected.
Poffo left the room but didn’t leave the building.
A short time later, Sheriff Harrod returned to the storage room and escorted Harding back into the ring. The crowd, who had been booing earlier when Harding was led away, erupted into cheers upon his return.
In the ring stood Angelo Poffo, Sheriff Harrod, the referee, and Bob Roop.
The Controversy: Victory Denied by a Non-Existent Rule
William Harding proudly shows off his Sugar Hold Challenge winnings: a check of $1000. Photo Credit: William Harding.
At this point, Angelo Poffo announced that due to a "miscommunication" regarding the time limit, they had decided to award Harding the $1,000 prize. However, the payoff came in the form of a check rather than the bag of silver dollars that had been originally promised.
Looking back, it seems likely that this was Poffo’s way of saving face for his promotion while appearing generous rather than openly admitting that the challenge had been successfully beaten. After all, seasoned wrestling fans know that a clean finish in the ring is about as rare as a four-leaf clover—or spotting Elvis at a Burger King.
A Twist in the Tale: The $1,000 Payout and a Lasting Legacy
William Harding and Bob Roop meet on the 37th anniversary of the Sugar Hold Challenge at 2018’s CWF Fanfest III. Photo Credit: William Harding.
Angelo Poffo, along with his sons Randy and Lanny, continued running ICW for several more years before the promotion folded in 1984.
Bob Roop wrestled until 1988, when injuries from a car accident ended his in-ring career. Today, he resides in Michigan and remains active with the Boy Scouts, leaving behind a storied wrestling career of his own.
William Harding’s Journey from Martial Arts Instructor to Appalachian Mountain Wrestling Icon
A recent image of William Harding (right). Photo Credit: William Harding.
William Harding, the central figure in this remarkable story, is alive and well, residing in Trenton, Kentucky.
Over the years, he pursued a career as a martial arts instructor and became involved with Appalachian Mountain Wrestling (AMW), continuing his connection to the world of physical combat and wrestling.
Bob Roop’s Take on the Infamous Sugar Hold Challenge
Bob Roop being interviewed recently. Photo Credit: Hannibal TV.
"What happened is [Harding] got away!" Roop explained years after the event. "[William’s] shoulders were very narrow. If it had been Godzilla, a 300-pound guy, no problem. But the smaller guys, my arms are long enough that in order to clamp and get in this armpit and make it tight, a guy needs fairly wide shoulders or a big, thick chest and back. This guy was a martial arts guy, so he’s very limber, and he’s also small. I couldn’t crank the hold. It didn’t fit; it wasn’t a good fit, and he got away."
Author’s Note: Harding addressed this during his appearance on Dan & Benny In the Ring. He completely disagrees with Roop’s explanation, firmly asserting that he broke the hold through technique, not because of his size or flexibility.
As a postscript, before giving Angelo Poffo too much credit for his "generosity," it’s worth noting that his willingness to pay Harding the full prize may have been slightly encouraged by his conversation with Sheriff Harrod. The sheriff informed Poffo that failure to pay in full might result in an overnight stay at the local "Steel Cage Motel"—a place with excellent security but few amenities, not even a key.
In 2018, on the 37th anniversary of the Sugar Hold Challenge, Harding and Roop reunited at a Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) reunion show in Lutz, Florida. They shared an amicable breakfast and reminisced about the unforgettable evening.
Oh, and despite the rumors, Roop did not request that no sugar be placed on the table.
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Benny J. Scala is a senior writer at Pro Wrestling Stories and co-host of the Dan and Benny In the Ring podcast. He is also a writer/promoter for Jimmy Valiant's Boogie’s Wrestling Camp and Hall of Fame Museum (BWC). Benny is a licensed Florida Realtor and recently joined the writing staff of the Through The Fence Baseball website. He has been a fan of professional wrestling since the late '60s.
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