THE TWELVE WRESTLING DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

It is perhaps only a little bit surprising that wrestling fans, like many other people, have wives and girlfriends (and sometimes both). The following spoof is therefore intended as an expression of empathy and appreciation for long-suffering spouses and significant others. As such, we offer this variation on the traditional carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” as sung by the befuddled wrestling fan:

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A stripe-shirted blind referee

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four kicks to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight Canadian Destroyers
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine World Class wedgies
Eight Canadian Destroyers
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten Garvin stomps
Nine World Class wedgies
Eight Canadian Destroyers
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven cobras clutching
Ten Garvin stomps
Nine World Class wedgies
Eight Canadian Destroyers
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve grudge matches*
Eleven cobras clutching
Ten Garvin stomps
Nine World Class wedgies
Eight Canadian Destroyers
Seven Atomic Noogies
Six chairs a-breaking
Five Fingerpokes of Doom
Four knees to the groin
Three choke holds
Two eye gouges
And a stripe-shirted blind referee

* Grudge matches to be determined by wife/girlfriend as any two of the following three:
(1) flaming ladders in a toxic mud pit,
(2) piranha attached to electrified barbed wire baseball bats
(3) exploding chain-link tables while blindfolded and wearing a coal miner’s glove scaffold match

~A very large thank you to Cindi Augustine for providing the inspiration and for her substantial contributions in the creation of this silly little parody.~

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

BOOK REVIEW - PAIN AND PASSION: THE HISTORY OF STAMPEDE WRESTLING

To get directly to the point, the title says it all and this book delivers. Author Heath McCoy, a pop culture writer for The Calgary Herald newspaper and a young man that grew up watching the Stampede Wrestling promotion as a fan, presents an affectionate and fair-minded look at both the Hart family and the company they operated for decades. McCoy’s take on the Stampede Wrestling circuit places the reader directly inside any one of Stu Hart’s old vans as the boys hit the road on a seemingly endless number of challenging (some would say brutal) tours.

On the plus side, the book is much more than a collection of amusing anecdotes. Rather than taking the lazy man’s approach by simply gathering and retelling old stories from the road, the author has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of what made Stampede Wrestling singularly exceptional in the grappling world. Of course, the story begins and ends with the promoter, along with his special and unique family.

As a child, Stu Hart grew up under the harshest conditions imaginable. Given his background, it’s not difficult to understand how the youngest member in a family of five would become a hard-nosed wrestler, then a promoter. When he was a child, Stu’s father stubbornly consigned himself, his wife and their three children to live in tents on the prairies through several harsh Canadian winters, thanks to a property dispute. How Stu would eventually raise his own family and run his wrestling business makes for a fascinating read. (Naturally, he took a very different approach from his old man, although there were hardships during some lean years). It’s fair to say that even those that are familiar with the tale will find more than enough rich detail, all of which serves to flesh out the picture.

But just what was it that made Stampede Wrestling so meaningful to so many wrestlers and fans? Different people will come to different conclusions, and none will necessarily be off base. It all began with Stu Hart’s vision of the sport. To him, professional wrestling had to appear as a competition. Having been trained by Jack Taylor, a legendary shooter in the business, Stu became a highly respected practitioner of his craft everywhere he went.

The author goes into this aspect of Stu’s early life in wrestling in a way that draws vivid word pictures without overstatement. Every bit as vital as the story of Stu’s travels within the business, his meeting and marriage to the beautiful Helen Smith is touching. Cynics that don’t know otherwise might proclaim their personal story as little more than a romantic fantasy. While they’d be wrong to dismiss the couple’s partnership in such general terms, in a sense it can be rightly said that Stu and Helen enjoyed a tender relationship amidst a world of brutality, ersatz or otherwise.

The stories that comprise the bulk of the book focus on the years of successes and occasional failures on the circuit Stu came to shape into Stampede Wrestling. They are sometimes shocking, frequently funny and unfailingly entertaining. As well as producing a viable wrestling product, Stu and Helen also believed in the maxim to be fruitful and multiply. The result was 12 healthy and beautiful children, 8 boys and 4 girls, and every one of them became involved in the world of pro wrestling through direct participation or marriage.

But it’s the wrestling lore and the well-documented narrative that invites the reader to join in, to become involved and share in the triumphs and defeats, the joys and the tragedies that comprise the Stampede Wrestling story. In its strongest years, the circuit typically featured outstanding, even breathtaking wrestling, thanks to an influx of talent from around the world. Just as well remembered are the never-ending series of pranks, some of which went beyond the pale to border on near-criminal acts. It’s all recounted on these pages with no punches pulled.

If it wasn’t obvious going in, it becomes abundantly clear that the rough humor which is invariably a part of the wrestling trade was a key element in the fabric that made Stampede Wrestling what it was. In fact, one comes away with the distinct impression that the Calgary company was Swerve Central. Once, two of the Hart brothers, Bruce and Owen, conspired to pull off a beauty on Brian Pillman. Brian had recently graduated from the Hart training camp and was now appearing with Bruce as one-half of Badd Company, the North American tag team champions. Lodging for the night in a sparse hotel in a small town, Brian met up with a lady acquaintance after the matches.

Having little else to do and feeling frisky, the Hart boys found a mangy stray dog and decided to feed the animal, then dress it up in Pillman’s Badd Company outfit (which included such accoutrements as sunglasses, leather jacket and bandana). Struck by a shared sense of inspired lunacy, they placed the dog under the sheets in Brian’s bed, where it promptly fell asleep. Before leaving the room, the duo put the finishing touches on the prank by removing all of the light bulbs, guaranteeing the shock effect would be heightened at such time as when Brian returned.

Pillman finally arrived in the early hours of the morning. The ensuing howls from both the surprised wrestler and the newly ordained Badd Company pooch awakened everybody on the floor. A mad dash followed, as Brian tried to escape down the hallway from what must have appeared to him as a crazed and rabid fan-dog. The mutt, no doubt having been startled by an unknown assailant, ran after the wrestler. Others stuck their heads out of their rooms to see what all the fuss was about and some of them too joined in the chase, forming something of an informal line of dog and running athletes.

But amidst all of the rough humor and great athleticism that characterized Stampede Wrestling, there is an all-pervasive sense of sadness and tragedy that is very much a part of the chronicle. The passing of those who died far too young figures into the account; fortunately, Heath McCoy relates this without descending into morbidity. The facts are discussed in an honest but sympathetic manner, especially the tragic death of the youngest member of the Hart family. As wrestling fans are more than aware, Owen fell to his death during a WWE show while performing a stunt he hadn’t wanted to do. The sobering story and its aftermath is not glossed over in the telling, nor should it be.

There are small quibbles to be had with some of the portrayals and perceptions found in the book. Most are of the trivial and unimportant variety. It’s to be expected in any endeavor where many different people are involved in relating their version of events, and personal accounts will undoubtedly vary. Nevertheless, “Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling” by Heath McCoy and published by ECW Press, is a well-researched book that invites anyone, be they a confirmed wrestling fan or not, to gain an understanding of the people in the business on a very personal level. The reading experience is engrossing and rewarding. It’s fair to state that this entry is far more substantive and provides greater depth … and heart, no matter how you spell it ... than many similar attempts in the field of wrestling journalism.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

THE DICK THE BRUISER VS ALEX KARRAS AFFAIR

One of the all-time most memorable battles to ever take place in wrestling may or may not have been a work. While it definitely occurred in 1963, the memory remains as vivid to long-time wrestling fans as if it took place yesterday. For those who may not be familiar with the Dick the Bruiser - Alex Karras encounter, a little background is in order.

Dick the Bruiser, who was born William Afflis, had been a disciplinary problem all his life. This is not to suggest he was completely incorrigible, as he successfully attended the University of Nevada, Reno. While not a scholastic standout, he did well enough to stick around and establish his name on the football field. However, as was to be the case for the rest of his days, it was a lack of self-control that caused Dick’s difficulties in the “real world.” Before he was done with college, he changed his first name from William to Richard, as his football eligibility had expired under his original name.

There was little doubt that Afflis would enjoy a stellar career in the world of pro football. He became the defensive captain for the Green Bay Packers and attained a reputation as one of the toughest and meanest players in the history of the sport. So much so, that his famous gravelly voice came about thanks to a cheap shot on the field; he was the recipient of a vicious elbow-to-the-voice-box from an opposing player.

When Dick Afflis entered pro wrestling in the mid-1950s, it was an ideal fit. Because he was a powerfully built tough guy with a reputation that preceded him from his exploits in the NFL, and because he already was in possession of the aforementioned gravel voice, he was a natural. The Bruiser-to-be trained hard and learned the intricacies of wrestling, then never looked back as he brutalized his way through the business.

The man was a walking riot waiting to happen. Dick the Bruiser made a grand total of one tour of the New York area, in 1958. A tag team match was signed in November, with Dick teaming up with the equally despised Dr. Jerry Graham. Their opponents were the beloved babyface duo of Antonino Rocca (one of North America’s first wrestling high flyers to hit the big time in New York) and his partner, the talented and equally acrobatic Frenchman (via Montreal), Edouard Carpentier.

The day after the bout took place, newspaper reports circulated around the country about what had occurred. On that infamous night, Madison Square Garden erupted into a full-scale riot at the conclusion of the bout, due to the highly charged actions of a certain Mr. Afflis. Because the New York State Athletic Commission tightly controlled wrestling in the state at that time, they had a long-standing edict that nothing “too wild” would be tolerated.

Dick the Bruiser took such rules as a personal affront. Whether or not it was pre-planned or spontaneous, he went out of his way to administer as much damage on his adversaries as possible. Focusing his ceaseless attack on the beloved Rocca, he grounded the flying Argentinean and mauled him badly. The fan’s outrage built to a furious roar, but Bruiser only increased the intensity in a relentless pursuit of inflicting as much damage as he could.

Finally, the overflow angry crowd couldn’t stand it any longer and surged towards the ring. When all was said and done, more than 300 people (including several police officers) were injured in the ensuing riot. The New York State Athletic Commission acted quickly, and Richard Afflis was banned indefinitely from appearing in New York again. It was his choice never to appeal the decision or attempt a return to the northeast region.

One might think the guy would have learned something from that outcome and pull back a bit. It only made sense that by using a certain amount of restraint in the future, Dick’s own career would flourish. After all, even the greatest wrestler in the world would minimize his career opportunities if he was to continue facing suspension and/or banishment. Still, such realities failed to deter a man hell-bent on brawling. Psychiatrists would undoubtedly have had a field day with him, but the fact is that Dick the Bruiser took rules in any form as a personal offense. As a result, it became a point of honor for him to push codes of conduct as far as he could, obliterating them whenever possible.

Undoubtedly, the “highlight” of the Bruiser’s wild career was his confrontation with Alex Karras. The talented Greek was a high profile football player with the Detroit Lions, and would go on to make a name for himself as an actor (Paper Lion and Blazing Saddles are but two in a well-established film career). Karras, who was a very tough competitor on the NFL gridiron, possessed a good sense of humor and was equally well liked and respected by teammates, and even those he faced on the field. Still, everyone knew not to push Alex too far, as he was an extraordinarily powerful man that would respond in kind when challenged.

It was in 1963 that a confrontation between the Motor City hero and the man with no use for rules came to pass. In retrospect, since Karras was the reigning football star in town and the Bruiser had recently invaded Detroit, it was probably inevitable that their paths would cross. That’s exactly what happened, although as in most things having to do with Richard Afflis, it didn’t take place in the usual manner.

As the story goes, Bruiser decided to come a-calling in person. He went to a local bar that was partially owned by Karras, knowing he would find him there. At first, the two sat and talked about sports and their respective careers. Then, Alex made a comment that riled Dick. Although eyewitness accounts varied, it was virtually unanimous that the remark was mild and not intended to provoke.

Still, that was the opening Dick the Bruiser sought, and he challenged the footballer on the spot. Karras instead offered to meet Afflis in a wrestling ring, and Dick responded with something like, “How’s about right here, right now?” Within seconds, they were throwing punches. Alex’s buddies tried to intercede, but even with all that manpower the police had to be summoned. Before Karras AND his friends AND the police could finally subdue the crazed wrestler, the bar had been virtually destroyed. The brawl spilled out into the street and, according to official reports, several innocent passersby became involved. The only thing missing was a large group of enthusiastic people chanting, “EC-DUB! EC-DUB!” three decades before Extreme Championship Wrestling came into existence.

When it was all over, many of the participants, including several policemen, had received their fair share of injuries while attempting to calm the fighting mob down. Local promoter Johnny Doyle knew a dream grudge match when he saw one. He called each of the protagonists into his office (separately) and made an offer for a one-time-only bout. The deal was signed, and on the night of April 27, 1963, Detroit’s Olympia Auditorium was packed to the rafters. So great was the interest that reports were filed in newspapers all around the country.

The match was as one might expect. It offered violence of the type that was atypical of its day. With no hold being too vicious and no act too sadistic, it was brutality in its purest, most basic form. At one point, Bruiser received a nasty gash above his eye that continued to bleed heavily for the remainder of the match. Even as a one-eyed madman, Dick the Bruiser managed to defeat the valiant but overmatched Alex Karras in just under 15 minutes of wild action. They never met again, either in or out of the ring.

There are but a handful of grueling, memorable matches that remain etched forever in the minds of those that saw them. Bret Hart facing off against Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania XII in 1996 is one of them. Of course, Mick Foley’s attempt at suicide in 1998’s Hell in the Cell Match, seen at WWE’s King of the Ring PPV, is yet another. But it would be wrong to neglect the Dick the Bruiser vs. Alex Karras match, which should be included in this same rarified category and considered as a forerunner to hardcore wrestling.

To this day, the question remains: was the bar room brawl worked, as some claim? Was promoter Johnny Doyle really smart enough to dream up the bar room confrontation and then convince both Afflis and Karras to comply with the concept? Or was it actually a case of a brawling hothead instigating violence on his own?

Personally, I’ve talked to many wrestling veterans and none claim to know for sure, although most of them have opinions one way or the other. And frankly, after so much time, it would now be almost disappointing to get the definitive answer. The story has been a part of wrestling lore for so long that it has taken on mythical proportions. Perhaps it’s best to simply leave well enough alone and be satisfied with the story itself. Suffice it to say that in this case, we don’t really need to know for sure.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

This column is dedicated to the memory of Mark Markley, a perfect pro wrestling name if ever there was one. (It was legitimate). Mark passed away unexpectedly in his Lynnwood, Washington home on Sunday, September 23rd, one month after celebrating his 50th birthday. Among his many and varied interests, Mark was a knowledgeable wrestling fan that grew up an enthusiastic supporter of Don Owen’s Portland, Oregon promotion from the time he discovered it in the 1960s until the company shut down in the early 1990s. In the 80s, Mark became a standup comic, primarily in the Northwest region, and once opened up for Jerry Seinfeld. He enjoyed a close relationship with his family, and is survived by his sister, Lisa, his daughter, Sarah and his son, Steven. The wrestling community has lost a close friend who always found the upside of life and infused it with his own special and unique sense of humor. With Mark in mind, let’s take a close look at one of his all-time favorite wrestlers, “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

Tucked away neatly in the frequently moist upper left corner of the United States, the Pacific Northwest has always held an allure for those with a love of nature, a spirit for adventure and a sense of community. In 1925, when Herb Owen became the boxing and wrestling promoter in the territory, he introduced a style that spoke directly to the people that lived there.

In 1948, his son, Don, purchased the territory, an act that would be duplicated in the northeast by the father and son tandem of Vincent J. and Vincent K. McMahon four decades later. But Don Owen (and his brother Elton, who co-promoted) had no designs on expansion; they were satisfied keeping their pro wrestling empire limited primarily to Oregon and Washington state. Once television became a reality in the 1950s, the promotion (NWA Portland was the official title) never looked back, resulting in a loyal following that grew steadily and rarely faltered. Because he knew his audience and what they wanted, Owen managed to stay one small step ahead by offering them action that was athletic and exciting, sprinkled with unpredictable dramatic developments and a quirky off-the-wall humor. Portland Wrestling never became dull or routine.

Perhaps the one name that stands above all in association with the territory is that of “Playboy” Buddy Rose. To look at him, Rose was not physically imposing, especially as the years went on. Ultimately resembling a close relative to the Pillsbury Doughboy, Buddy was actually in tremendous cardiovascular condition, as well as a consummate professional between the ropes. A talented heel, the fans jeered him for his underhanded tactics, while quixotically expressing a certain amount of grudging affection, considering him to be their own version of Peck’s Bad Boy. Rose would find a way to tip the scales in his favor every chance he got by applying underhanded trickery, protected as he was by an entourage that ran roughshod everywhere they went. His most prominent partners in crime included Ed Wiskowski (later to become known as Colonel DeBeers), Rip Oliver and briefly, The Dynamite Kid.

Proving that a bodybuilder’s physique wasn’t essential when it came to making a large impact, Buddy Rose was inevitably involved in some of the more memorable moments in Portland. And, according to those that observed the proceedings at the time, one of the memories that has remained among the most vibrant was, after years of infuriating the crowds, Rose turned babyface!

But, before we get into that story, Buddy Rose explains the secret to his success as a heel wrestler. Through the courtesy of his website, Playboy Buddy Rose, he writes:

It's a mixture of ring psychology, charisma, and being able to do the unexpected. If you know how to work that into your own character, you will always be successful. Not everyone gets it. A select few understand how to incorporate themselves into a promotion, and they have the best chance of working their way to the top. You have to be able to see the big picture, and be realistic with how you fit into it.

A simple statement, yet an eloquent one. Buddy Rose, through his ring experience, his use of psychology and his native intelligence, knew how to present himself as someone greater than his physical appearance suggested. After all, there were plenty of overweight men in wrestling that went no farther than their girth would allow. Buddy went well beyond that, to the point where his size was almost ignored, it becoming a minor sidelight unless he himself made it an issue. He took charisma (something he possessed in abundance) and blended it expertly with a ruthless cunning and a dash of seeming cowardice, all of which became the very definition of the Playboy. Combined with his wrestling technique and skill, he caused Northwest wrestling fans to reach varying stages of apoplexy countless numbers of times over the years.

According to long-time Portland wrestling fan, Ben Foxworth, “Buddy Rose was fat. If you saw him, you know what I mean. He wasn’t obese. Just fat. But that didn’t matter because he was exciting in the ring. He could credibly work a 60-minute match and keep you wanting more. No, the rage you felt for him was due to his stuff on the microphone. Unlike many heels, he wasn’t representing the authorities that put us down. He was that jerk you worked with, or went to school with. He always seemed to win and stay on top. When I started watching, Rose was in a blood feud with Roddy Piper. Like almost every feud that involved the Playboy, it started with Rose double-crossing his partner. The matches were brutal and tight, with the interviews being legendary for Northwest fans. Rose did it so well, and he was beyond hated.”

Taking a breath before continuing, Ben went on to say, “Everyone I knew hated Buddy Rose. Like I said before, he was the irritating asshole in your life that made things hard. He was the co-worker that screwed everything up that you had to fix, and yet he still had a job. He was the obnoxious neighbor that made your life hell. He was, just simply put, a real asshole. He seemed to be rich, yet he was a fat, lazy coward. And you just yelled at every fool who teamed with him, ‘He's gonna turn on you!’ And he always did! Buddy Rose kept the heat machine going by teaming with Roddy Piper, then betraying him, bringing in The Sheepherders and then betraying them. He would never go away. Don Owen would bring in hot, viable talent and somehow, always in some freaking way, Rose would run them out.”

So, when someone is so universally despised AND making money for a promotion, why turn him babyface? Isn’t that running the risk of killing the golden goose? Not in the case of Buddy Rose, who showed how it to do it properly, making it a welcome change of pace for both the fans and for himself.

Rose had reached the stage where he was splitting his time between Portland, Japan and the WWF, where he wrestled Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden. In his absence, Rip Oliver, who had been Rose's favorite partner in the northwest, had taken on the mantle of top heel, and he was a great one. His interviews were lucid, his swagger wordlessly proclaiming that he was the cock of the walk. Oliver openly stated that his goal was to cripple his opponents, and his actions were nothing short of diabolical. As Rose had before him, Oliver formed a protective group, which he dubbed “The Clan.”

Close by his side were the hyperactive and dangerous masked Assassin and the maniacal Sheik Mohammed, a short, evil, violent and hairy man who in reality had probably never been any closer to Iran than Spokane, Washington. These three men never hesitated to storm the ring at the slightest provocation, real or imagined, and took over Portland wrestling like a street gang.

Cue the music! The time had come for the heroes to enter the picture. Curt Hennig, who was young, curly-haired and inexperienced but with a bellyful of fire, and Hack Sawyer, the youngest Northwest champ of all time, fought the good fight. And, of course, Billy Jack (Haynes) was a vital factor, too. Fans immediately responded to Billy, who was an explosive force from the first day he appeared. His body builder’s physique and his humble demeanor melded perfectly with his street fighting skills. His feud with Oliver was intense, bloody and seemingly never-ending. What made his occasional victories all the more fulfilling was that in Portland, the good guys didn’t always win. Sometimes, plain and simple, Rip kicked Billy's butt. But Billy Jack got his licks in just as much.

So with the focus squarely on the feud between Billy Jack and Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose’s position had been relegated to number two, maybe even three. Oh, he still had designs on creating another super-group like he’d done in the past, but it never quite jelled for him. He was still a force but had clearly taken a back seat to Oliver, with whom he had an uneasy truce. While they had stopped teaming together, Rose would pretty much stay out of Oliver's business and vice versa.

One week, Buddy happily announced to the world that he was bringing in a new partner. Not just a partner, but someone tremendously respected all over the world; indeed, he would soon be introducing the one man that would help Buddy Rose reclaim his rightful position on top of the northwest wrestling scene. That man was The Dynamite Kid.

Rose made it abundantly clear that bringing in Dynamite was a huge financial burden for him. But the time had come for him to make his move, and if opening up the purse strings demanded it, then the investment would surely be a worthwhile one. The Kid was just what the doctor ordered. Sure enough, a few weeks later, the supremely talented little Brit with a huge chip on his shoulder arrived. Buddy Rose was on his way back to the top, baby!

Well, maybe not. Their very first tag match was a surprising loss, and a visibly angry Dynamite displayed the disgust he felt towards his benefactor by retracting any agreements they had between them. Even more troubling was the fact that almost immediately, he accepted an offer to join Oliver’s crew. Rose, now desperate for the stability he might have by belonging to a group, tried to ingratiate himself by helping Oliver in a match later on that same night. His good intentions backfired, costing Rip an important win. The Clan glowered but did nothing.

The next week, Buddy verbally expressed his frustration with Dynamite going over to Oliver's clan. After all, it was he who had paid the man’s way overseas. The clan viciously attacked Rose and beat him severely, The Dynamite Kid joining in with relish. Not one wrestler came to save Rose, because for so many years he’d taken delight in doing the same sort of thing to them. It was the old adage come to life, the one about chickens coming home to roost. This was proof positive that when you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Nobody wanted any part of Buddy Rose, given his long history of turning on people. The bloody and beaten man finally limped off, barely conscious, to lick his wounds and consider his options.

Later on in the same TV program, Billy Jack and Curt Hennig took on Rip Oliver and The Assassin. With each team having won a fall, the third was interrupted when The Dynamite Kid hit the ring to make it a 3-on-2 beat down. And then … Buddy Rose hit the ring! His head was taped from crown to chin, creating an immediate association with Boris Karloff in the original 1932 movie, “The Mummy.” And damn if Rose didn’t turn the tide by helping Billy Jack and Curt Hennig drive The Clan away. Buddy then completed his shocking turn-around by using the microphone to apologize to the fans for his years of rule-breaking.

Again, a man that witnessed the event, Ben Foxworth, fills us in. “Emotional fans ran to ringside and even began climbing into the ring, where it soon filled up. As referee Sandy Barr and matchmaker Dutch Savage tried to stop the rushing wave, with no luck whatsoever, the fans took over the whole show and it was Buddy ... BUDDY F’N ROSE … who had facilitated it!”

Buddy Rose was a true original. He was, and he remains, a highly intelligent man that understands professional wrestling only as someone who has lived the life could. Still active in the business and approachable via his website, Mr. Rose is a reminder of a time when professional wrestling was fun to follow. He was a talented individual with an aptitude for constructing a personality that was simultaneously infuriating and endearing. All of which paid big dividends to the thousands of fans that watched weekly to see what “Playboy” Buddy Rose would do next.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

WRESTLING WORTH WATCHING: PRO WRESTLING NOAH

Last week, we took a look at Ring of Honor and how it presented something of a hybrid, by blending an old school wrestling philosophy with modern-day sports entertainment action. As in the case of ROH, if you’re someone who enjoys pro wrestling that puts aside over-the-top silliness, nonsensical characters and inane skits, then Pro Wrestling NOAH is the place you want to be. This Japanese organization, which came into existence in 2000, convinces even the most jaded viewer of its legitimacy by relentlessly offering the appearance of a genuine athletic competition. NOAH is the epitome of realism, and any effort required on the viewer’s part to suspend disbelief is minimal, if at all.

What may appear to be a Johnny-come-lately outfit actually has ties to a promotion with a long, storied history. In 1972, “Giant” Shohei Baba formed a company in his homeland, known as All Japan Pro Wrestling. Because he had a well-defined vision along with a philosophy of how to present professional wrestling credibly, All Japan quickly earned great respect for its hard-impact and no-nonsense attitude. It’s not an exaggeration to state that All Japan Wrestling, along with Antonio Inouki’s New Japan Wrestling, were regarded as the two top promotions in the country. They were similar in their respective presentations, although each had his own name for it. In All Japan, it was King’s Road Style, while in New Japan it was known as Strong Style. But no matter what it was called, the image was that of a genuine and true competition.

When Shohei Baba passed away in 1999, the proprietorship of All Japan was left to his wife, Motoko, while the planning of the company’s direction remained with top wrestler and booker, Mitsuharu Misawa. Before long, he became disenchanted with what he believed were poor business decisions, entertaining grave doubts about where the company was heading. His increasing unhappiness caused him to look at the possibility of starting his own promotion, and that’s precisely what he did in mid-2000.

Taking all but a very few members from the All Japan roster, Misawa announced the formation of Pro Wrestling NOAH. Nowhere else in the history of pro wrestling had such a mass evacuation occurred, and it left All Japan reeling in its wake. And, true to his word, the first pro Wrestling NOAH champion was crowned in April of 2001. It was Misawa himself who became the first titleholder, defeating long-time rival Yoshihiro Takayama after a grueling tournament. He held the GHC (Global Honored Crown) heavyweight title for three months before losing it to Jun Akiyama in a great bout at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall.

The name of the company itself is evocative of the mass departure from All Japan. According to Wikipedia, “The promotion's name alludes to the Biblical story of Noah, in which the people and animals in the ark survive the flood and make a new beginning in the world, a story which was seen as a parallel to the wrestlers’ departure from All Japan. NOAH's promotional symbol, an ark with a dove holding an olive branch, refers to this.”

Now, in 2007, Pro Wrestling NOAH is among the strongest and most respected wrestling organizations in the world. Featuring a stellar roster of Japanese and foreign talent, NOAH pays homage to its lineage by adhering to the philosophy of realism. On occasion, two combatants will wander outside of the ring and even resort to the use of a chair as a weapon, but it’s done sparingly and without prolonged exaggeration. Otherwise, it’s all about the testing of skill, strength, strategy and wrestling acumen.

Along with everything else, it’s fair to say the action is not limited to mat work alone. There are plenty of high flying maneuvers to be seen, especially among the junior heavyweights. But they, too, adhere to the NOAH demands of believability while simultaneously displaying death-defying aerial acrobatics. Consequently, the vast majority of bouts become increasingly exciting as they are built to powerful and well-executed climaxes.

We here in Canada are fortunate. Pro Wrestling NOAH can be seen every week on The Fight Network. Adding to the proceedings is The Fight Network’s own Mauro Ranallo, a man with a long history as an announcer in both pro wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts. His easy-to-follow fluid call of the matches is beyond reproach, and one can’t help admiring how comfortable and fluent he seems to be with Japanese terminology. His color man, Dan Lovranski, has been a favorite as host of the weekly radio program, Live Audio Wrestling, and he too knows his stuff. Together, they comprise a refreshingly solid and informative two-man team.

In talking with Mauro, it quickly became clear of his dedication to what he views as one of the best wrestling companies in business today. “Frankly, I’m in awe at much of what I see in Pro Wrestling NOAH. When I’m given to shout, ‘Mama Mia!’ at some of the action, it’s not your typical wrestling hyperbole. It’s because what has just taken place is truly astounding from an athletic standpoint. I’ve seen the best there is in combat sports, and as far as I’m concerned, Pro Wrestling NOAH has reached the pinnacle when it comes to wrestling. The standard that Misawa and company have set would be very hard to top.”

Pro Wrestling NOAH is indeed an oasis in the professional wrestling landscape. A new episode can be seen every Wednesday night on The Fight Network, debuting at 8 p.m. EDT and repeated again at 3 a.m. Thursday. It is also televised several times over the next six days.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

WRESTLING WORTH WATCHING: RING OF HONOR

This week, we'll be taking a look at TV wrestling as it currently stands. If you’re a wrestling fan who finds WWE programming to be, for the most part, silly, uninvolving and frequently insulting, there are several programs The Fight Network has to offer that will cause you to rejoice. In no particular order, they are Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling NOAH and Superstars of Wrestling: Past, Present and Future. We’ll look at all three of them over the next few weeks.

In view of the fact that the very first Ring of Honor pay-per-view debuts on Viewer’s Choice Friday, July 20, it only makes sense to start with them. If you enjoy professional wrestling and watch it on The Fight Network, then chances are good you’ve long since discovered Ring of Honor for yourself. If you haven’t, please consider this to be a gentle but firm nudge in that direction. What you’ll find is a throwback to a time when the action in the ring told a compelling story that rivaled a great movie or, dare I say, literary work.

ROH is quite different from the stuff WWE churns out. The first thing you’re apt to notice is that the matches aren’t rushed. In ROH, it’s not about a couple of “superstars” hitting their signature moves and going home in 3 – 5 minute exhibitions that lack development or cohesion.

Unlike other sports entertainment programming found on Monday night television in Canada, ROH provides a genuine sense of excitement and creativity by building matches to satisfying conclusions that aren’t always predictable.

All of this conspires to invite the thinking wrestling fan to mentally and emotionally jump right in and partake in the proceedings. Yes, there’s actually a sound, rational reason for most everything that takes place, and it’s usually done very, very well. What a radical concept!

Ring of Honor places the accent where it belongs. Often, we’ll find mat wrestling displays that are fluid and beautiful in the same way figure skating can mirror ballet. Frankly, the only obvious difference is that ROH is a hell of a lot more butch!

With ROH, the application of holds and counterholds is their primary strength. That’s important, for that is where both the art and the skill of wrestling are to be found. When properly presented, such exchanges create a breathtaking spectacle to the viewer and, as a result, are captivating.

The knowledgeable ROH fans in attendance, rather than restricting themselves to cheering and booing based on preposterous story lines and angles, respond in the same way as do the educated Japanese wrestling fans. Their exuberant approval (and vociferous disapproval) is based on the aptitude, athleticism and timing on display. It is precisely those elements that earn the fan’s respect, regardless of whether or not the individuals involved are portraying themselves as babyfaces or heels.

Ah, but don’t be misled by that description alone. There’s far more to be seen in ROH. The hardcore fan will have no problem finding the excesses that are so prevalent in modern pro wrestling. Thanks to the triumph of ECW, which launched in the U.S. in 1993 and over time became a cult favorite by imitating Japan’s FMW furniture-smashing style, it’s now standard operating procedure in most promotions. For better or worse, ROH is anything but shy when it comes to using chairs, tables and other miscellaneous accessories on a semi-regular basis. The trick, and ROH generally succeeds, is to keep it within a reality-based context. (This is a subject we’ll place under the microscope in the near future).

In Ring of Honor, there are engaging characters to be found that don’t, as a rule, transcend believability by too great a margin. When someone with an obviously outrageous gimmick does appear, it’s usually for the purpose of mocking the absurdity inherent in the guise. The fans instantly recognize when something or someone is extraordinarily silly, and they will react by hooting and ridiculing it or him in a raucous but good-natured manner. This, of course, is precisely what ROH intended.

But that’s all window-dressing and the mileage varies. Where ROH truly shines is in their ability to tell the story of a match in a believable back-and-forth, give-and-take manner. Yes, it really is that simple. To depend upon juvenile antics and foolishness that adds nothing but an unnecessary distraction would be to mimic WWE.

Somebody’s girlfriend gets caught cheating on him. Perhaps a zombie-like figure has come back to life. Or take any one of a montage of moronic backstage skits that removes any chance for the willing suspension of disbelief. You may see that sort of thing on Monday night, but they’re not happening in ROH.

Instead, viewers are invited to settle in for matches that run, on the average, between 10 minutes and an hour. And when the bouts are over, if you’re one to appreciate encounters that have all the appearance of a genuine contest, you’re likely going to feel exhilarated at the tremendous display of athleticism. After having witnessed demonstrations of in-ring storytelling and wrestling performances designed for people that don’t enjoy being told that they’re idiots, you shouldn’t be too surprised to find yourself hooked on ROH for good.

One last aspect of Ring of Honor will likely impress you to a very large degree. Happily, there are many matches that don’t depend upon a “hate-filled issue” to give them purpose. While the action doesn’t become muted in those instances, nor does the use of heelish tactics disappear completely, it’s more about showing one’s ability to wrestle from start to finish. And when all is said and done, it’s not uncommon to see handshakes, accompanied by a show of respect with the raising of the victor’s hand by the vanquished.

By presenting wrestling in such a realistic fashion, the organization lends authenticity to the proceedings. Again, the ROH philosophy of what constitutes pro wrestling gives us permission to suspend our disbelief despite the worked atmosphere. While it may take a misstep every once in a while, ROH understands what it is selling and avoids insulting the viewer’s intelligence. Compared to things like RAW, it is refreshing and proof positive that wallowing in a preposterous WWE fantasy-land is unnecessary.

Ring of Honor is a company that knows how to sell its product with agility, wit and panache. Professional wrestling is at its best when it’s about who wins and who loses, and of how close one can come to acquiring the championship. To that end, ROH gets the job done by seamlessly blending entertainment with muscular expertise. And while showmanship is indeed a vital part of the mix, it is rarely, if ever, the point.

Programming note: A new episode of Ring of Honor wrestling debuts every Monday on The Fight Network at 9 p.m. EDT and repeats at 12 midnight. It is shown intermittently over the next six days, with the final airing Sunday night. Previous episodes of ROH can be seen during the week at various times.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!

WILL CONGRESS INVESTIGATE PRO WRESTLING?

Before jumping into my second column for The Fight Network, I’d like to extend a large thank you to the folks that responded to my debut effort.

As you might expect, putting together an article about Chris Benoit a few days after the tragic event had occurred was difficult and not at all where I was planning to start. Your positive feedback and comments regarding the piece were very much appreciated, and I encourage you to drop a line anytime the mood strikes. You’ll find my e-mail address at the conclusion of this column.

As I write this, it appears that the U.S. Congress may consider holding hearings as a direct result of the Benoit tragedy. Good on the U.S. Congress and all that. But I'm also old and cynical. Putting aside any praise for turning Congressional attention to an industry that has long needed investigating and regulating, it’s difficult to expect much to come of it. Sure, there'll be a few headlines here and there when somebody says something particularly "news-sexy" and provocative. Great! And then what?

Will Congress actually have the desire and, just as importantly, the testicles to look beyond the surface? Will the legislative branch find the courage to peel back the layers and dig to get at the deeply-established and far-ranging roots that comprise the very structure of the industry? How well will it be able to avoid indulging in self-serving political opportunism by limiting its focus to buzz words like “steroids”? Will Congress have the jam to inspect the entire culture of pro wrestling and sports in general? And finally, will it have the wherewithal to call upon knowledgeable people that are not beholden to the one man who has a stranglehold on the entire industry?

Like I said, I'm old and cynical. I also know better than to pre-judge something that hasn't yet occurred. Perhaps what you are reading right now will prove to be 100 percent wrong and some long-term good will result from the hearings, assuming they even take place. But until that comes to pass, color me skeptical.

Based on the storm clouds gathering on the horizon, there’s a very real potential for a "steroid witch hunt" that may ensnare a few middle-to-lower level employees and possibly a couple of names that are either on the downside of their careers or pretty much out of the business altogether. Meanwhile, the REAL problems could once again be swept under the carpet and life as it currently stands will carry on. Well, at least until the next tragedy takes place, when the outcry is ratcheted up once again and the whole dog-and-pony show is trotted out for an encore.

It’s hard not to recall how Major League Baseball was placed on the so-called "Congressional hot seat" back in early ’05. It was good theater, watching Rafael Palmiero wave a reproving finger at Congress while vociferously denying any manner of drug usage, only to expose himself five months later as a hypocrite and a liar. Same deal with Mark McGwire, who flat-out refused to cooperate with investigators when it came to discussing his possible indulgence in enhancement drugs. The members of Congress were so busy falling over themselves in fan-boy fashion that they happily accepted his and other player’s non-explanations without pressing further. And what was the upshot of the whole thing? What meaningful changes have since been enacted? Exactly.

The thing is, in wrestling, as in all forms of athletics, steroid abuse is a very real problem. But it’s only one part of the big picture. The question of how to fix a corrupt system is something that supersedes any one facet, be it in a worked or shoot sport. And if Congress, with all of the resources it has at hand, focuses on the drug aspect alone, then it'll have missed the point entirely.

We also can’t ignore the fact that steroid abuse is a high profile issue in the public consciousness, and 2008 is an election year in the U.S. Hmmmm ... what’s the sum total of 2 + 2?

To reiterate ... forget about any long-term affirmative consequences if the subject of steroid offenses becomes the primary fixation. Should Congress launch an investigation into professional wrestling with the goal being to catch and punish those that indulge in or supply drugs, and then refuses to take the probe any further, only one piece of the problem will have been exposed. The opportunity for real revisions and restructuring, to incorporate changes that would have a positive, profound and permanent impact will have been bypassed. Sadly and predictably, it'll all just fade away once the TV people find the next hot topic and rush away to position their cameras elsewhere.

Did I mention I'm old and cynical?

Whether you agree or disagree with what you’ve just read, don’t hesitate to voice your thoughts directly to me. I’m always interested in exchanging views with sports fans whenever they care to express themselves. I look forward to our next visit right back here at The Fight Network.

Richard Berger is a freelance writer and editor with an extensive background in professional wrestling. His career includes media production for Stampede Wrestling, ring announcing, regular columns for WOW Magazine and IGN.com, and special feature work for other publications. Between June, 2007 and June, 2008, he wrote a weekly column for The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. To discuss Richard’s articles or just about anything else, contact him at: WriterGuy1A@hotmail.com.

The small sampling of his work found here was originally published at The Fight Network and Live Audio Wrestling. The majority will appear in a soon-to-be-released book along with new material. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available!