On To Better Things: The Portland ChaptersEpisode 8: Don Muraco, Rocky Venturo, and Pat Patterson

From the skinny kid making his debut to the man who changed wrestling forever—this episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters traces three incredible careers that all ran through Portland.

Host Frank Culbertson looks back at three names who each left a unique mark on wrestling history:

🔥 Don Muraco — His very first professional match took place in Portland in 1970 under the name Don Morrow. He was raw, lanky, and just starting out—but within a decade, he’d become “The Magnificent Muraco,” a fixture of WWF television and one of the defining villains of the 1980s.

💪 Rocky Venturo (Phil Lafleur / Dan Kroffat) — An underrated talent who arrived in Portland in 1985, he was a smooth, athletic worker who impressed everyone. After earning a title shot against Ric Flair, a knee injury derailed his run—but later, alongside Doug Furnas, he’d find international success as one of Japan’s most respected tag team wrestlers.

🏆 Pat Patterson — A legend in every sense. Patterson worked the Northwest early in his career and returned briefly in 1969 and 1977. From Portland rings to the Royal Rumble, his impact on wrestling stretched far beyond the ring—as a performer, innovator, and mentor.

Three careers that began—or came back—through Portland. Three stories that show how this territory shaped wrestling’s past and future.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
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