Ray Stevens vs Al Fredricks

[Inediblehulk]

For someone racing the clock, Fredricks sure wastes a lot of time. Didn't look a bit upset about losing, so I guess it's cool with him, though.

[kevinhardy]

good match

[tparke09]

i was wondering who this frederick guy was, wouldnt haven't thought paul jones until i read the comments

[tparke09]

i was wondering who this frederick guy was, wouldnt haven't thought paul ones until i read the comments

[Mality]

This, my friends, is pro wrestling...not "sports entertainment"!

[eslubin]

what a master

[NickPycks6]

It's a shame there's no Walt Harris interview---that era was his prime.If anyone has him with Harris PLEASE put it up.

[wildwildwest1414]

@NickPycks6 Ya but you can see some good walt harris bay bombers roller derby interviews.

[NickPycks6]

@wildwildwest1414 Any Harris is good but with Stevens it was his BEST STUFF!!!!!

[wildwildwest1414]

@NickPycks6 Ya I agree those two were something else.

[japanpro1]

i first saw ray as nick bockwinkle's parnter in the awa (mpls, mn) in the early 70s. by then he was a consummate heel, ray 'the crippler' stevens. for years i lamented the passage of classic pro, but having discovered strong style japanese pro in the last few years, i realize we were easily entertained back then. of course, fans of today's wwe are way too easily entertained.

[rwg1961]

I grew watching Ray Stevens wrestle on TV in Northern California (Big Time Wrestling--Roy Shire). This is the first match I've seen where he is the heel.

[melbz1266]

ray stevens one of the best if not the best ring general ever.he is what a heel is all about.

[Lfdjake91]

Ray Stevens was a one of the all time great workers & heels & a true wrestling legend, who sadly is almost unknown to many young wrestling fans today.

Likewise Paul Jones (Al Fredricks here) was a great underrated wrestler who many fans are unfamilair with or remember only as a manager.

[maceomaceo11]

@Lfdjake91 Wow, that is Paul Jones. Love this truly classic stuff and that people are around using modern technology to spread information about wretling history.

[winklewis1]

That guy Al Fredricks and Paul Jones from the old Mid-Atlantic area are one in the same.

[jodon7916]

You guys are so right. Nobody did an interview like Ray, and no announcer ever played a better "straight man" than Walt Harris. Had Ray decided to be a stand up comic rather than a wrestler, nobody would ever have heard of Don Rickles. I still use his wisecracks to keep my students in line and have a pic of him and Pepper Gomez on my wall to remind of where I get my material.

[pornguy2]

"The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be"

I am a big Bret Hart fan, but he virtually never

wrestled in the SF-Bay Area, so this honor

must go to Ray Stevens.

I had the pleasure on a few occasions in the early 1960s to take the mail from Ray for Roy Shires the SF promoter at the time.

I have no idea why Ray had to get the mail to

the box (which I picked up), but he took the time to answer all my questions and he was

a hell of a tipper. Great athlete!!!

[loughran30]

The Best interview of them all

[cstomp1]

Excellent match. I wonder where this took place. That's definitely the great Sam Menacher calling the match. He was most well known for his announcing in Dick the Bruiser's WWA territory out of Indianapolis.

[ccie12933]

Wow, that is definitely "Number One" Paul Jones!

[WrestlingFreak300]

Instant Classic

[1KOOLROCKNDAN]

thanks this is great you know ray did his job when you hear all the boo's reminds me of gene and ole anderson when they use to get boo's heels don't get enough credit most times these guys i mentioned sure knew how to work a crowd thanks again

[ringtalk3]

He's been gone almost 13 years, and yet Ray Stevens is still a SF Bay Area icon! The best ever!

[NickPycks6]

Can any one find him with Walt Harris?He was at his best with Harris

[vividwatch47]

He once ripped off Harris' suit jacket when he turned his back!

[NickPycks6]

Once he bet Harris on his next bout--the losser had to buy the winner a new $200suit(big money for 65}---Stevens said all the hicks in Frisco wore cheap $25 suits.After he lost he tore the suit up and threw it at Harris.

[vividwatch47]

He and his tag team partner (an later opponent Pat Pattersson certainly deserve to be in the Bay Area Sports Hall Of Fame if they include wrestlers (which

I doubt they will!)

[2y4life]

Ray Stevens is a true pioneer and legend. At 2:30, you can see where Ric Flair took some of his "begging" from.

[Lfdjake91]

Yeah, even Flair has said what a huge influence Stevens had on him.

[melbz1266]

al fredricks is paul jones?

[mamacornettesmoney]

Yes. I believe that is #1 Paul Jones.

[Lfdjake91]

Wow, I almost did not even recognise Paul Jones here. Look how young he was then.

[fishm61]

Is this Stevens clip on any of the Ron Miller Australian DVD's? It's great.

[rotmahne]

No question, Ray was the best ever.

[IanMIchaelLindsay]

This was alright, I found a clip from the 1950's/ 60's. Someone won with an Indian dead lock. Anyone know what this video is? I play with 1960's band (UK) The Searchers, love vintage wrestling, me and my dad went to Liverpool Stadium every Friday night. Love to know & see the move.

Ian M. L

[ringtalk3]

The greatest wrestler of all tinme!

[ewejonas]

Ray Stevens was ridiculously ahead of his time

[JCPv3]

thank you for the best worker of the 60's Ray Stevens.

[OaktownABQ]

Ray was the best. I remember watching him as a heel for Roy Shire in San Fran in the '60s. There was nobody better.

This shows Ray at his "heel" best -- eye gouging and hair pulling his opponent, then complaining to the ref when his opponent does it to him!

The post-match promo was also vintage Ray, the way he griped about Fredricks running out of the ring, when RAY was the one doing the running.

Someone on Kayfabe Memories told me that Al Fredricks later became "Number One" Paul Jones.

[Babyfaceref]

The greatest of them all! Thanks Man!

[DocFarnoff]

Never got to see Ray Stevens in his prime. I can see why other wrestlers rave about him. Awesome! Thanks again GA08!