June 21, 2011
Memories
Dave was a very solid wrestler. He wasn't as spectacular as some of the boys we had. They believed in him. He had a full-nelson that was pretty hard, not too many people broke it on him. Once he got it, he did a pretty good job on you. Putting a full-nelson on a guy like Don Leo Jonathon, you'd have to have a ladder to do it. If you could take the liberty of trying to knock a guy like Jonathon down to get the full-nelson on him. He was so big, not too many people bothered him.
Stu Hart, from a Nov. 1997 interview with SLAM! Wrestling
I remember when I was a kid of about 12 or 13 watching Dave Ruhl and Sweet Daddy Siki battling in a match on Stampede Wrestling. Siki had hidden a short length of wood under the ring and soon started beating on Ruhl with it. I was so upset I didn't watch wrestling for over two years
Bruce Fairman, Moose Jaw, SK
I have numerous memories of Dave Ruhl: there was his short lived fan club which distributed a newsletter by each copy being written in ORIGINAL handwriting (i.e.: wasn't photocopied!). The most memorable match was a chain match with Stan Stasiak. Lots of blood (or a reasonable facsimile) with Dave the clear victor. This was a response to an out-of-match attack by Stasiak which several weeks earlier had sent Dave to the Holy Cross Hospital with what was said to be a broken neck (from a pile-driver on the floor outside the ring. He was out of action 6 weeks.) And I remember how Dave often didn't show for his billings and someone else took his place, but when he was there he delivered a solid show of skill which usually finished with his full nelson or the more spectacular Indian Death Lock.
feil in BC
Dave Ruhl!! What memories. Dave vs the Stomper, Ox Baker, Abdullah, Waldo Von Erich. His willingness to "Box", the full nelson. He was a very tough customer!! I think the "Pig farmer from Hannah" will always be remembered!!!
Dave Z
SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Dave Ruhl
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REAL NAME: Dave Ruhl
BORN: August 12, 1920 in Watts, Alberta
DIED: December 21, 1988 in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Dave Ruhl was a fierce competitor and mainstay of the Stampede circuit in
the 1960s
and 70s. He's best remembered for his epic battles with Sweet Daddy Siki and
Archie
'The Stomper' Gouldie over the North American title. Ruhl started wrestling
in 1946
and went right up until 1974, when an injury forced him to retire. Besides
being well-
known in the Prairies and the West Coast, Ruhl also travelled on many
occasions to
Japan and the Far East.
Apart from wrestling, Ruhl was a member of the Army, Navy And Air Force
Veterans
Club and continued to farm with his brother Henry during most of his career.
Dave was a very solid wrestler. He wasn't as spectacular as some of the boys we had. They believed in him. He had a full-nelson that was pretty hard, not too many people broke it on him. Once he got it, he did a pretty good job on you. Putting a full-nelson on a guy like Don Leo Jonathon, you'd have to have a ladder to do it. If you could take the liberty of trying to knock a guy like Jonathon down to get the full-nelson on him. He was so big, not too many people bothered him.
Stu Hart, from a Nov. 1997 interview with SLAM! Wrestling
I remember when I was a kid of about 12 or 13 watching Dave Ruhl and Sweet Daddy Siki battling in a match on Stampede Wrestling. Siki had hidden a short length of wood under the ring and soon started beating on Ruhl with it. I was so upset I didn't watch wrestling for over two years
Bruce Fairman, Moose Jaw, SK
I have numerous memories of Dave Ruhl: there was his short lived fan club which distributed a newsletter by each copy being written in ORIGINAL handwriting (i.e.: wasn't photocopied!). The most memorable match was a chain match with Stan Stasiak. Lots of blood (or a reasonable facsimile) with Dave the clear victor. This was a response to an out-of-match attack by Stasiak which several weeks earlier had sent Dave to the Holy Cross Hospital with what was said to be a broken neck (from a pile-driver on the floor outside the ring. He was out of action 6 weeks.) And I remember how Dave often didn't show for his billings and someone else took his place, but when he was there he delivered a solid show of skill which usually finished with his full nelson or the more spectacular Indian Death Lock.
feil in BC
Dave Ruhl!! What memories. Dave vs the Stomper, Ox Baker, Abdullah, Waldo Von Erich. His willingness to "Box", the full nelson. He was a very tough customer!! I think the "Pig farmer from Hannah" will always be remembered!!!
Dave Z