Wrestling Icons in Transition: Billy Graham, Toru Tanaka, José Lothario, and the Masked Superstar in 1979
When fans picked up the February 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling, they held more than just a wrestling magazine in their hands. They were opening a window into the lives of their favorite grapplers at a time when televised updates were rare and the wrestling world still revolved around regional territories. This particular issue carried a fan-favorite feature, “Where Are They Now?” — a column devoted to answering the letters that poured in daily, asking about the whereabouts of wrestling’s biggest names.
For readers in the United States and beyond, this was more than just trivia. It was a glimpse into a wrestling world that stretched far outside their local arenas. It was reassurance that their heroes and villains were still active, still battling, and still shaping the future of the sport.
The year 1979 was a transitional moment in professional wrestling. The old regional territory system remained firmly in place, with stars moving from one promotion to another, but hints of a larger shift were beginning to appear. Wrestling fans had no cable television, no pay-per-view, and certainly no internet to keep them connected to events happening outside their immediate region. Instead, their knowledge of wrestling’s wider world came from the pages of magazines like Inside Wrestling, which acted as the lifeline between fans and the stars they admired.
The “Where Are They Now?” feature in this issue provided crucial reassurance to fans who wondered about the careers of names who had moved out of their local spotlight. Superstar Billy Graham was still wrestling actively, touring in California and continuing to showcase the flamboyant physique and over-the-top bravado that made him one of the most magnetic figures in the sport. Professor Toru Tanaka, the martial arts-inspired villain known for his nerve hold, was on an international tour of New Zealand and Australia, a reminder that wrestling’s influence reached far beyond American borders. José Lothario, the veteran grappler beloved for his technical skill and charisma, had stepped back temporarily from the ring to rest after years of relentless competition, a reflection of just how demanding the wrestling lifestyle could be. Meanwhile, the Masked Superstar was reported to be terrorizing opponents in Georgia with his feared Cobra Hold, his anonymity preserved behind the mask that kept fans endlessly speculating about who he truly was.
Together, these updates captured a wrestling world in constant motion. Wrestlers did not disappear; they shifted territories, reinvented themselves, or found new audiences abroad. For fans of 1979, these short glimpses into their heroes’ lives were invaluable, a reminder that their favorites were still out there, fighting, and that the spectacle of professional wrestling extended well beyond the borders of their hometown arenas.
By the late 1970s, Inside Wrestling had established itself as one of the premier wrestling magazines, blending storytelling with reporting in a way that no promotion’s TV broadcast could.
The February 1979 issue’s “Where Are They Now?” feature exemplified this mission. Fans were not simply given match results or promotional hype — they were given stories. Each wrestler’s update came with a small black-and-white portrait, the kind of intimate photo that gave readers the sense of being let in on a secret.
The effect was powerful. At a time when kayfabe — the portrayal of wrestling as legitimate competition — was still carefully protected, Inside Wrestling walked a fine line. It maintained the mystique of characters like the Masked Superstar while offering tangible updates that made readers feel informed.
For many fans, flipping through these pages was their only connection to the larger wrestling world. In an era without internet forums, social media, or streaming archives, Inside Wrestling was the bridge between arenas thousands of miles apart.
The layout of the “Where Are They Now?” column was simple but effective. Each wrestler was given a short write-up paired with a headshot:
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Billy Graham’s photo showed him as the archetype of power and swagger, reinforcing his reputation as a showman.
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Toru Tanaka’s portrait presented him with stern intensity, emphasizing the aura of danger surrounding his nerve hold.
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José Lothario’s image captured him as a veteran grappler, calm and respected, contrasting the younger, flashier stars.
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The Masked Superstar’s masked visage reminded readers why his identity remained one of wrestling’s enduring mysteries.
The writing style was conversational, echoing the fan mail tone. It reassured readers that their questions were being answered directly, as though the magazine were the only conduit between them and the larger-than-life personalities they admired.
- Superstar Billy Graham – Still active, touring in California, and maintaining his status as one of wrestling’s most notorious villains.
- Professor Toru Tanaka – Engaged in a high-profile tour of New Zealand and Australia, bringing his martial arts persona to new audiences.
- José Lothario – On a temporary hiatus, resting after years of wrestling at a grueling pace in both the U.S. and Mexico.
- Masked Superstar – Dominating in Georgia with his Cobra Hold, his identity still hidden and his mystique intact.
Each update offered readers both comfort and excitement: their favorites weren’t gone, they were simply on a different stage.
For collectors today, the February 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling is a treasure. It represents an era when wrestling journalism shaped fan perceptions as much as the in-ring action itself.
Why is this issue collectible?
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Historical Timing: This was just before the 1980s boom that would transform wrestling forever. It captures the sport while it was still firmly rooted in the territory system.
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Featured Names: All four wrestlers profiled in “Where Are They Now?” went on to have lasting legacies, making this page a mini time capsule of wrestling greatness.
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Cultural Significance: For fans who grew up in the 1970s, owning this issue is like reclaiming a piece of their childhood — flipping through the same pages they once studied cover to cover.
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Collector Demand: Vintage wrestling magazines are highly sought after today, especially those featuring stars who influenced future generations of wrestlers.
When you hold this issue, you’re not just reading a magazine. You’re holding a tangible piece of wrestling’s living history.
Much like Life Magazine did for world events, Inside Wrestling served as both reporter and storyteller for the wrestling world. Its features endure because they offer more than results — they preserve the fan experience. Every letter answered, every profile printed, and every photo published carried the weight of fan connection in an era without instant communication.
Today, these magazines serve as time capsules. They show us how fans engaged with wrestling long before cable or the internet, and why those connections mattered so deeply.
If you’re eager to explore more issues like Inside Wrestling February 1979, there’s a rich archive waiting for you.
👉 Browse the full collection of wrestling magazines here:
Original Wrestling Magazines Collection
From the 1960s through the 1990s, you can trace wrestling’s evolution as it was first reported — from territorial stars to global icons.
The “Where Are They Now?” feature in the February 1979 issue of Inside Wrestling remains a fascinating piece of wrestling history. By offering updates on Billy Graham, Toru Tanaka, José Lothario, and the Masked Superstar, it reassured fans that their favorites were still active and still making headlines, even if far from home.
Today, the issue stands as more than reading material — it’s a collectible artifact, a window into how wrestling was consumed and remembered. Just as fans once turned these pages eagerly for news, collectors now treasure them as preserved voices from a different wrestling world.