Retired Pro Wrestler, Chuck Marbry
Patch: Welcome wrestling fans to another edition of Patch’s Place. This time we talk to a former wrestler by the name of Chuck Marbry. Welcome to the Squared Circle News, Chuck. We usually start off with a few basics, such as height, weight, hometown, and hobbies away from the ring.
Chuck Marbry: 6 ‘ 230lbs while I was wrestling, home town of Norwood, NC. Hobbies anything outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking, and I love to read.
Patch: How did your love of wrestling begin?
Chuck Marbry: My love of professional wrestling was a gradual thing, in my high school at the time we did not have a wrestling program, so I played football, and threw the shot put on the track team. After high school, I got involved in boxing and Judo, and wrestling was an outgrowth from those two.
Patch: When did you know without a shadow of a doubt that wrestling was something you wanted to do?
Chuck Marbry: I knew wrestling was something I wanted to do because unlike team sports, you had no one else to blame if you lost, and I kind of liked the individualism of it.
Patch: Who were you trained by?
Chuck Marbry: I was trained by Johnny Powers, Bulldog Brower, and Ivan Koloff of the old IWA. We spent about six months training in the old Triad Arena in Greensboro. The Training School started out with about 80 or so , and after the first day that was cut in half, and soon there was just four of us left.
Patch: What was your first match and who won it?
Chuck Marbry: My first match was with with my best friend , Gene Ligon, and we went to a twenty minute draw. It was one of the most memorable matches of my life, because we were both so raw and green, and we did twenty minutes of nothing but highspots, because we still didn’t know any better. Then we went back to the dressing rooms and literally collapsed, wondering what we were doing wrong, because we were young, strong and in shape, and we were dying out there !
Patch: How did you feel going into that match?
Chuck Marbry: Going into that first match, I was as nervous as I have ever been in my life, wanting to make a good first impression.
Patch: Which did you prefer–singles matches or tag matches?
Chuck Marbry: I guess I preferred tag matches, simply because early on that’s what I did more of and became accustomed to, and my creative juices seemed to flow better that way.
Patch: What promotions were you with?
Chuck Marbry: Promotions I was with… I started out with the IWA, and when that folded here in the States, I worked with a lot of small Independent outfits, the only one I can recall right off hand now was the NAWA, and the WPW, and finally caught on with Jim Crockett in The NWA.
Patch: What were some of the titles you held?
Chuck Marbry: In the NAWA, I won their Tag Team belts as Executioners, and also in the WPW won the North American Heavyweight Title as the Masked Maniac.
Patch: You wore a mask. Why?
Chuck Marbry: The reason behind the mask was simple. As a heel, or bad guy, I wanted to be able to go get in my car and not have 4 flat tires, or be able to go get something to eat after a match and not have people throw stuff at you !
Patch: Did you have any notable feuds?
Chuck Marbry: With the independents back then, and them not really having TV, there were not any real classical “feuds” that I was involved in, although when I got to the NWA I used to hate having to wrestle Wahoo Mcdaniels ! He was a great worker, but his chops would leave you sore for days !
Patch: Did you wrestle hardcore or oldschool?
Chuck Marbry: No “Hardcore” I was strictly “Oldschool”, my forefathers in the business would disown me or anyone else they brought in if they thought they were involved in what is called “hardcore” today, as well as a lot of other stuff that passes as professional wrestling today, for that matter !
Patch: Who was your toughest opponent?
Chuck Marbry: I think my toughest opponent would have to be Karl Von Stroheim, and Old School German wrestler who kind of took me under his wing early on and taught me a lot about wrestling and about life. He used to live in Kernersville, NC, and I would go up and train with him, and once after working out, we decided we wanted to go get some KFC. I had a new Oldsmobile Cutlass with a white leather interior, and I didn’t allow anyone to smoke in my new car. Since I didn’t know Kernersville well Karl was going to ride along to show me where the KFC was. As soon as we got into my car, the first thing he did was light up a Camel ! Well I looked at him, he looked at me, and I reached over… and pulled out the ash tray !
Patch: Did you sustain any severe injuries while wrestling?
Chuck Marbry: No, no severe injuries that kept me out of wrestling, although I must say I can feel the bumps now in the knees and elbows and back today maybe more than I did then !
Patch: What did you think of the fans?
Chuck Marbry: Back then the wrestling fan was great ! You could always count on them for heat and to rally and they were loyal, and made the business worth it !
Patch: Did you work as heel or face, and which did you prefer?
Chuck Marbry: I worked as a heel and I preferred it, I just found it easier, although in real life I really am just a big Ol teddy bear! In the ring, Its easier to get people to dislike you than to like you.
Patch: You are now in the ministry. Can you tell me how that came about?
Chuck Marbry: I have been in the full time ministry now for 19 years. Its a calling I have had , looking back, since childhood, but one that I didn’t answer until around the age of 30. Since going into the Ministry, I have completed College, Seminary, and begun work on a Doctorate of Theology.
Patch: Any final words for our readers?
Chuck Marbry: I would just like to tell fans of “Old School” wrestling to support as many Independent wrestling groups as you can, because Pro Wrestling usually goes in cycles, and good old fashioned Pro “rasslin” will make a comeback if the fans support it!
Patch: Thank you for your time. God bless!
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