Author: “It was one of the most surprising wrestling upsets in the history of the sport. Fans were left shocked and confused. Things did not go to plan.”
In professional sports, the name of the game is winning championships, but upsets make for great stories too, and fans love talking about them. Rooting for the underdog is fun, but it’s even more fun when they win!
Shocking Upsets in Sports
Notable upsets include the 1969 New York Mets baseball team coined "The Miracle Mets” who upset the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. The Mets, for years, consistently lost at least 100 games per season. Them having a winning one seemed an impossibility. Becoming World Series champs after only their 8th season in existence without the advantage of today’s free agency system? Fuhgeddaboutit!
Baltimore would again succumb to a New York team, but this time in American football during the 1969 Super Bowl III contest held between "Broadway" Joe Namath’s Jets, 18-point underdogs, and the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts. Namath guaranteed a victory, and he delivered the shocker. This is still the Jets’ only Super Bowl win.
On February 11th, 1990, fight fans will remember James "Buster" Douglas and his TKO victory over an "Iron Mike" Tyson, who was proving unbeatable entering the bout with a 37-0 record. According to Las Vegas oddsmakers, Douglas, who was a 42-1 underdog, was supposed to go down and go down hard like all of Tyson’s previous opponents. That fateful bout held at Japan’s Tokyo Dome, changed both competitors’ lives forever, and the sport of boxing was left reeling in the confusing aftermath. It is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in any sport.
Memorable Wrestling Upsets
We could name other notable upsets, such as the Duke Blue Devils eliminating the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in the 1991 NCAA Tournament semifinal. Or even another college basketball example is when Villanova stunned Georgetown in the 1984 NCAA final.
But enough of that. We’re here to talk pro wrestling. When it comes to upsets in wrestling, every generation has a match or two that will always be remembered and talked about years later. Sure, if you’re a fan and a regular reader of Pro Wrestling Stories, you know our beloved sport is a work where the wrestlers are not really competing against each other. They’re cooperating to entertain the crowd. If you didn’t know this, I apologize, and I won’t go into the secrets of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either.
Despite the nature of wrestling being a work, the upsets are considered "real," and the fans can live them just as passionately as the examples of "legit" sports above. They can be as unexpected and shocking as any upset in competitive sports.
A Misconception About “Jobbers”
In wrestling, we have what many fans unfairly call "jobbers" or "underneath guys." Now, most wrestlers would instead be called "professional wrestlers." Recently, WWE has decided to name them "enhancement talent." Nonetheless, we can agree that these undercard performers were there to make the other guy look good, and they rarely (more like seldom) won a match. In this piece, these journeymen will be referred to as "preliminary wrestlers."
Not everybody in wrestling gets that big push, and these guys are the workers who helped push the next star by being glorified sparring partners if we were to borrow a boxing term. In wrestling, one guy needs to lose or do "the job," as they say, and another has to win and be "put over."
When you’d watch wrestling on TV during the ’80s and ’90s, it was usually a given that the guy with a normal name, no theme music, nondescript look, and who was already in the ring, was NOT going to win the match and was most definitely going to get a beating. This applies to tag teams as well. The Road Warriors in the ’80s practically made a career out of dismantling and laying waste to hapless teams like the Mulkey Brothers (who did have an upset win against the Gladiators) in a matter of minutes. These are now called "Squash Matches." Preliminary wrestlers drew as many fans to the matches as the referee and announcer, but they were needed in the grand scheme of things, and their roles in the business were important.
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Watch Mongolian Stomper Make Quick Work of Star Fighter #1:
Unknown to most at the time was the fact that these workers were, in some instances, rather successful stars in smaller territories or were at the end of their careers trying to stay in the game after years of at least being mid-carders somewhere else. Rusty Brooks would apply to the former, and SD "Special Delivery" Jones is more similar to the latter case. But in most instances, they never won anywhere, and their role in the different promotions was "to job." You didn’t really think Starfighter #1 in the above video had a chance at winning, right? Well, that was the sentiment when Sean Waltman, wrestling as The Kid, faced Razor Ramon in 1993.
1. The Kid (Sean Waltman) Pulls off an Amazing Wrestling Upset Over Razor Ramon
With kayfabe in full effect and fans not understanding how things worked, preliminary wrestlers facing the heel would get cheered by the fans as if their unabashed fervor and enthusiasm could elevate him against impossible odds. It rarely happened, but when it did, it was memorable. Case in point, the amazing upset by The Kid (Former Lighting Kid, and later X-Pac/Sean Waltman) against Razor Ramon in 1993. His name was promptly changed to 1-2-3 Kid, an upset that still resonates amongst fans today.
Before arriving in WWE, Waltman succeeded in the Texas-based Global Wrestling Federation and Pro Wrestling America from the Minneapolis area, where Eddie Sharkey, frequently called “The Trainer of Wrestling Champions,” helped him get his start. But this was unknown to most WWE fans at the time. To them, he was sure to become Razor Ramon’s next victim. After all, he was barely hovering at 190 lbs.
Watch “The Kid” Win a Huge Upset Victory Over Razor Ramon:
In the two rematches, Razor promised $10,000 if The 1-2-3 Kid could beat him again. It finished in a wild double count out with The Kid taking the sack of money, but not before he got concussed when he suffered a horrific tumble from the top turnbuckle and landed face-first on the concrete.
2. The Epic Title Reign of Bruno Sammartino Is Cut Short by "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff
On January 18th, 1971, the fans in attendance witnessed what was perhaps the most unexpected loss by the beloved Bruno Sammartino, whose title reign lasted for seven years and eight months. Ivan Koloff, with a slam and a knee drop off the top rope, silenced the crowd to the point where Bruno, in a shoot interview conducted by Joey Styles and Bill Apter, says that he thought there was something wrong with his hearing, the silence was that deafening from the stunned MSG crowd. There are pictures from New York newspapers with fans crying, almost as if Sammartino had died in the ring. Bruno also mentions that he hadn’t foreseen his loss having such a dire effect on the people and felt really bad about it afterward.
In turn, in an interview with Two Man Powertrip of Wrestling, Koloff said he only felt bad for 5 seconds! He recalls that the referee, sensing that there might be trouble from the crowd, instructed Koloff to go to the dressing room, and that’s where he eventually got the belt, instead of in the ring. Later trying to leave the arena in a cab along with Lou Albano, his manager for the bout, they almost got lynched by like 50 people. You can read more about this memorable moment in wrestling in our article entitled, “Bruno Sammartino and Ivan Koloff: The Night They Shocked the World.”
3. The Iron Sheik Wins the WWF Title From Bob Backlund – A Wrestling Upset That Left Fans “Outraged and Confused.”
After accepting the Iron Sheik’s Persian Club Challenge, Bob Backlund injured his neck, shoulder, and possibly arm in the storyline. When he had succeeded in his third attempt, an angry Sheik attacked him from behind, injuring Backlund.
He entered into the December 26th, 1983, title defense against the Sheik with these injuries but felt healthy enough to proceed with the match anyway. While in the Sheik’s Camel Clutch, "The Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland, who was Backlund’s manager at the time, was concerned over his well-being and threw in the towel.
The title was relinquished, and The Iron Sheik claimed victory in front of an outraged and confused crowd. "Ayatollah" Fred Blassie quickly grabbed the championship belt and celebrated with Sheik in the ring. He’d unwittingly strapped the belt upside down around Sheiky Baby’s waist for a moment. No matter; they were champions!
Backlund’s title reign had lasted almost six years after defeating "Superstar" Billy Graham in 1978, and most fans did not see this loss coming. This soon ushered in a new era, the era of Hulkamania. The Iron Sheik was a transitional champion and never held singles gold again in the company.
Instead, he found tag team success with partner Nikolai Volkoff. They became infamous for generating white-hot heat from the fans by constantly pushing their political ideals and denigrating everything the United States stood for.
Watch the Fallout From the Iron Sheik’s Upset Victory Over Bob Backlund:
4. “Wildfire” Tommy Rich Pulls off One of the Most Memorable Wrestling Upsets by Defeating Harley Race
Filled with youthful exuberance and a fearless attitude towards life, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich became an NWA world champion, albeit for only four days, when he defeated the legendary Harley Race on April 27th, 1981. Tommy considers Race the "greatest champion there ever was" and feels blessed to be mentioned with all the rest of the former NWA champions.
5. Ronnie Garvin Cements One of the Greatest Wrestling Upsets Over Ric Flair
Ronnie Garvin also cemented his place in wrestling history when he knocked off the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair to win NWA World Championship gold on September 25th, 1987, in a grueling and bloody Steel Cage Match.
6. Mikey Whipwreck Pulls an Upset Victory Over The Sandman
Mikey Whipwreck was a former member of the ring crew at 5’7" and just 170 lbs, but on October 25th, 1995, he added to his accolades the ECW World Heavyweight Championship after defeating The Sandman in a violent Ladder Match.
7. David Sammartino vs. Ron Shaw – One of the Most Surprising Wrestling Upsets in the History of the Sport
Those are just some examples of what most fans would consider upsets in pro wrestling and was not meant to be a complete list. But what happens when a true undercard worker, a preliminary wrestler, scores a victory over someone whose last name is Sammartino?
In 1984, he began to compete in the WWF and got a big push thanks to his father, who still had a lot of influence in the company. Seconded by Bruno Sammartino, he faced Brutus Beefcake at the inaugural WrestleMania. Later, his father came out of retirement for a few matches to team up with his son against Beefcake and "Luscious" Jimmy Valiant. Bruno was still a good draw, especially in the Northeast, where the fans adored him. His son David was somewhat popular, but without his father, he was primarily relegated to the undercard and not in the main event as he expected. It is theorized by many, including Bruno, that his son was being used only to lure him out of retirement.
He became a reliable hand in the ring. He worked with top talent, including Andre The Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Bobo Brazil, Mil Mascaras, Pedro Morales, Bob Backlund, Sika, Mad Dog Vachon, Dan Spivey, Pat Patterson, and Hulk Hogan (to name a few). He obtained wins over Iron Mike Sharpe, Rene Goulet, and Chief Jay Strongbow.
“The Big Upset”
Even though Ron Shaw had more experience than David Sammartino, probably nobody that night ever imagined he’d be getting a win over the youngster in a match that would later be called the "Phantom Submission Match" or "The Big Upset."
It is called this because Gorilla Monsoon, who was announcing the match, was in denial that David had submitted to Shaw’s bear hug, even though it is pretty clear when watching the video that Sammartino, after being body-slammed repeatedly by Shaw and later put into a bear hug, indeed submitted. No Montreal… umm Philadelphia screwjob going on here.
Referee Dusty Feldbaumer and ring announcer Mel Phillips seemed lost in what they were supposed to do next. The referee spent a good minute aiding David and helping him get up off the mat. He sold the bear hug like a pro and slowly returned to the dressing rooms after acknowledging the crowd. It was a strange finish. Confusion permeated the building.
After the match, Gorilla Monsoon said, "Maybe we best get a hearing aid for (referee) Dusty or somebody. David Sammartino never gave up in his life. Even if he’d broken a rib on any of those slams or cracked a rib, this youngster has too much guts to give up. He may be waving his arm in pain, but I don’t think he said, ‘I quit.’ It’s not within him to do that."
Even the rough Philly fans knew something wasn’t right and could be heard yelling "Bullsh$t!" at what they were witnessing. Several were standing around; a few were clapping and cheering Ron Shaw’s big upset. In turn, he relished the moment and continued to kick Sammartino after his unlikely win. When announcer Mel Phillips officialized the decision and said, "The winner of this bout by a submission, Ron Shaw," before leaving the ring, Ron Shaw, adding insult to injury, spit on a defeated David Sammartino, who still lay prone. Monsoon quickly said, "I doubt that," in response to the official decision.
Watch: Ron Shaw shocks The Philadelphia Spectrum by defeating David Sammartino in what is now dubbed “The Phantom Submission Match”
The Aftermath
Nobody can spin this match and tell you that it was as shocking as Bruno losing his title to Ivan Koloff or when Harley Race lost to Tommy Rich, so I won’t even try. But Ron Shaw, although having years of experience under his belt, wasn’t booked to win this match. And in the eyes of most in Philly that evening, he had a zero chance of leaving victorious. Without a doubt, in the eyes of the fans, he was only a preliminary wrestler that would once again lose, like he usually did. Why would anything be different on this particular night?
Frustrated at how the company was underutilizing him, David Sammartino quit the WWF soon after this match. He sent a statement and protested to management by ending the match the way he wanted, not how management had booked it. Eight months after his WrestleMania appearance, he was gone from the company.
After a brief run in the AWA, where he unsuccessfully challenged Stan Hansen for the championship in 1986, he returned again to the WWF in 1988 until he got into an altercation with a fan. Herb Abrams’ UWF hired his services in 1990, and in 1995 and ’96, David briefly appeared in NWA New Jersey and WCW. He wrestled sparingly afterward and seems to have had his last match in 2010, where he wrestled against Larry Zbyszko and later in the year with him as his tag partner. He now works as a personal trainer.
Bruno Sammartino’s son makes occasional appearances at conventions and said in 2006 in an interview with wrestlingepicenter.com that despite not speaking with his dad for 15 years, he still loved him. Both he and his father were just stubborn. He also says that he doesn’t feel that Zbyszko stole his thunder early in his career, but he does wish that he had some of the breaks Larry had gotten. He wishes that he could’ve done better in wrestling and been a world champion somewhere, but is thankful for what he could accomplish.
"When he first started,” Gorilla Monsoon once said, “I told him ‘don’t try and follow in your father’s footsteps, make some of your own, do your own thing,’ and he certainly has."
In 2015 on his website bigronshawwwf.com, Ron Shaw gave an update about his life after wrestling. After spending years driving a tractor-trailer after leaving wrestling, he moved from Philadelphia into a gated community in Fort Myers, Florida, in 1999 and took off about 45 lbs. He still actively works out and loves to golf about four times a week. He enjoys playing the guitar and shooting pool at home. On July 6th, 2021, he was interviewed on the Dan & Benny in the Ring podcast and mentioned this article you’re reading.
When Shaw was asked about what exactly happened that night with David, he kept it under wraps by saying, "The only thing I’m going to say is this: It’s up to the wrestling fans to decide what that match was," he says with an enigmatic smile. "It’s whatever the wrestling fans think it was. That’s the great mystery about this thing."
Some people may say in the end that "David screwed David" and that he has nobody to blame for the shortcomings of his career but himself. But ask yourself, "What measuring stick have we compared him with? Who in the end can become another Bruno Sammartino?"
“David Sammartino’s memory is a little fuzzy.” – Ron Shaw.
After reading this article, Ron Shaw kindly reached out to us to share his side of the story, which can be read in full below.
“I first want to say that David Sammartino was a great wrestler with an excellent knowledge of holds and counter holds and was very strong. I know this as I was the first to wrestle him on TV in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he made his debut. We did not chop meat, kick, etc. It was a clean-holds and counter-hold type match until I body slammed him hard into the mat, where he then gorilla-pressed me over his head for his first win. This was the only match we ever had on TV, and in some past interviews years ago, he had said he squashed me many times on TV and that I was basically a jobber.
“David’s memory is a little fuzzy, and he doesn’t know my history before our meeting in 1984. Six months after becoming a pro, Vince Sr. took me to the side, gave a young kid a great compliment, said I was a natural, and gave me a push as The Executioner, where I worked all over.
“In 1982, I started with Kowalski’s International Wrestling Federation and its TV show called Bedlam From Boston. I became of the top heels managed by Wild Bull Curry.
“Then it merged with Bruno in Pennsylvania, where I teamed with Hans Schroeder as the top heel tag team as we faced David and Manuel Soto a few times. Shortly after that, I became a face after a bloody turn of events as Schroeder turned on me on TV. Bruno interviewed me several times to build up the match between Schroeder and myself.
“Some fans believe I was good friends with David, but I never traveled or shared a room with him, and the only time I saw him was in the dressing rooms. The night David was scheduled to wrestle me in Philadelphia, The Hulkster and then Bobby the Brain Heenan came up to me and gave me a warning where they thought I would be made an example of in the ring. I have been in shoots before where I never broke but most certainly damaged a young wrestler’s arm and shoulder ’cause he was making me look bad in the ring.
“Or the time Irish Davey O’Hannon spoke to me before a match when the Samoans Afa and Sika were going to work against me and a new kid, who must have been bragging and talking crap in the dressing room.
“In that match, they beat the crap out of him where it just looked like a normal match where all the punches and kicks were stiff. The kid left the ring with a punctured lung and was bloodied. Earlier in the evening, he introduced himself to me as the flower lady’s son who always sat at ringside with his mom at the TV tapings in Allentown, where they gave out roses to the faces as they returned to the dressing rooms. It was his first and last match.
“So as I stepped into the ring, David and I faced each other, and I gave him two blows behind the neck and seven bodyslams later, my hand was raised. In the interview [Monte and The Pharaoh Variety Show], he said I let him hurt his back, and I was the better man that night. I don’t know if I would let anybody purposely hurt my back. Even though this is one of the most talked-about upsets, I still consider pinning Chief Jay Strongbow my biggest win, as he was a veteran of some 30 years and had victories over Iron Mike Sharpe and Rene Goulet.
“It’s an honor to be in ‘WWE 50’ and the ‘WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment’ with the biggest superstars because of that match and almost winning the battle royal at The Brawl to End It All at MSG on July 23, 1984, which MTV broadcasted.
“David and I had some things in common. We both wanted to be wrestlers when we were about 8 years old, and our fathers were our heroes. And yes, it was damn cool knowing what this business was really about at an early age.”
You can keep up with Ron Shaw on his website BigRonShawWWWF.com or his YouTube channel.
These stories may also interest you:
- Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers – The 1963 WWWF Title Screwjob
- Gorgeous George and the Don Eagle ‘Chicago Short Count’ Screwjob
- The “Original Screwjob” – How Vince and Moolah Screwed Wendi Richter
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