Many wrestlers who try to make an impact in the ring get booed by fans when they enter the arena, spend a few years in professional wrestling, and eventually leave the sport. There are very few who are loved by everyone, ranging from wrestling fans to the crew to even fellow professional wrestlers. Arnold Skaaland is one such wrestler who was loved by everyone, and leaves behind a glorious legacy and countless friends after his death. He fought when he was young, managed different champions in his career, but his link to professional wrestling never got weak.
Arnold Skaaland fought in World War II as a United States marine before entering the world of professional wrestling in 1946. He was initially known as “The Golden Boy” because of his ability to move quickly and use his wits and toughness in the ring to his advantage. The Golden Boy travelled around the world to fight with many wrestling legends. He fought some historic matches with many NWA World Champions, and gave them a fight of their lifetime. The Tri-City Herald had this to say about the prolific wrestler in 1950: "Skaaland, one of the fastest and one of the most clever wrestlers in the game today, is 23 years old and rapidly headed for the top spot in the wrestling world." His illustrious career brought him to Japan, where he refereed the famous match between Freddie Blassie and the teacher of legendary wrestler Antonio Inoki, the great sumo wrestler Rikidozan.
His professional wrestling career saw its peak when he made a tag team with Spiros Arion. Arnold Skaaland used his swift grappling techniques, astonishing speed, and great power to win the United States Tag Team Championship. This is the same Tag Team Championship which has evolved into the prestigious World Tag Team Championship today. It will be justified to claim that Arnold Skaaland was one of the people who initiated and strengthened the world of professional wrestling in the United States, as he was a shareholder in Capital Wrestling Corporation, which transformed into the famous World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in later years.
Arnold Skaaland’s win as the Tag Team Champion was not the only time in his life where he was loved and admired by millions of wrestling fans around the world. He later gained unprecedented levels of popularity when he reentered the world of professional wrestling to manage two famous WWE champions, Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. Under his guidance, both wrestlers won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
However, there was one instance which brought a bad name to the career of Arnold Skaaland, but established a repute of loyalty and friendship. This paradox came when he was managing Bob Backlund, and the famous Iron Sheik challenged Backlund for a WWE Championship match. Unfortunately, Bob Backlund was suffering from a neck injury, and the Iron Sheik trapped the WWE champion in his infamous finishing move, the Camel Clutch. The pro-wrestling move pressurized the neck of neck of Bob Buckland, who seemed to be in intense pain and in need of medical help. Arnold Skaaland, who was blinded by loyalty to his long-time friend and client, disregarded the wrestling rules and threw a towel in the wrestling ring to distract the opponent. However, Bob Backlund lost the match and Iron Sheik became the new WWE Champion. Disgraced in the world of professional wrestling, Arnold Skaaland left the arena and isolated himself for some time.
However, fans from around the world will always Arnold Skaaland as a great wrestler, a loyal friend and a professional manager. And it was Bob Backlund who inducted Arnold Skaaland in the WWE Hall of Fame in 1997. Fans poured into the arena to watch the induction ceremony of Arnold Skaaland, but no one knew at that time that this phenomenal wrestler would die quietly in 2007, at the age of 82, and would leave his fans mourning. Upon the death of Arnold Skaaland, many wrestling fans believed that this was not merely a death, but a chapter of professional wrestling closed forever. However, the legacy of Arnold Skaaland will live on, and will inspire many young wrestlers to come.
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