Philadelphia the City of Brotherly Love, loves not only their sports teams, but their professional wrestling as well!! Whether it was the Arena on Market Street, The Spectrum or the Civic Center, Fans have come out and supported the talent in the ring, ESPECIALLY the ones that gave their true Blood, Sweat & Tears that the Philly area fans would respect and love, especially if they were the bad guys!!

In the late 80’s, Early 90’s, New local wrestling Promoter Joel Goodhart with his Rasslin Radio Program, Squared Circle Fan Club and the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA) started to draw at times over 3000 people to his legendary Super Shows at the Philadelphia Civic Center which featured many of the big names in the wrestling business but also featured the future stars of the business and main attractions. 

There was 4 men and 2 Bloody, Iconic and sometimes possibly even insane feuds of these men which helped draw thousands to see these 4 men absolutely decimate each other for their love of the business, the sport, the fans and their characters.

These 2 feuds were

Johnny HotBody vs Tony “The Hitman” Stetson

“Mad Dog” D.C. Drake vs Larry Winters

These 4 men truly set the tone and turned the Philly wrestling fanbase into what became known as hardcore fans or smart marks. They changed the business in Philadelphia with their violent style of wrestling that at most times did not stay contained to the squared circle but anywhere in the building and sometimes the parking lots. 

They were ahead of their time, because after TWA went out of business, and few years later ECW had taken over from the ashes of what the TWA started and these 5 men including Joel Goodhart and now had an Extreme style in almost every match!!

We saw a new arena that became legendary around the world, and to this day 30 years later still holds many wrestling shows and shows honor and respect to many of the legends who graced those walls.

Well, these 5 guys didn’t have the chance to shine inside the legendary ECW now 2300 Arena, BUT they should still be shown the respect by hanging a banner in the rafters to honor these 5 guys!!

So please sign my petition and let’s make this banner of respect be hung. 

Sadly, Larry Winters has since passed away, but let’s show these surviving Philly Legends respect. 

Remember the Names & Raise the Banner

Johnny Hotbody

Tony “The Hitman” Stetson

Larry Winters

“Mad Dog” D.C. Drake

Joel Goodhart