RON WEST; BEST REF, OFFICE MANAGER EVER! OLD SCHOOL WRESTLING COMING BACK?

It’s been a hellova year so far…

Brad Armstrong passed away Nov.1 last year. Paul Bearer died March 5 this year.

May 8 marked 11 years Davey Boy Smith passed away.  Two years ago May 20, Randy Savage suffered an apparent heart attack while driving down the road.

14 years ago May 23, Owen Hart fell to his death from the roof of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City.  I was there that night and will never forget the shock and sadness everyone felt backstage.

Last Wednesday, May 15 another colleague, friend and member of the wrestling fraternity passed away.  His name was Ron West.  Ron was a referee and front office manager for all the major promotions from the 1960′s – 1990′s.  In recent years he had been with Cole Brothers Circus doing the same thing he used to do in wrestling.  Managing all the details from set up to break down, there was no one better than Ron West.

No one.

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VEGAS FUEL CONTEST AND PRIZE PACKAGE! WIN FREE STUFF!

I am excited about working with Jordan Coulson along with Man and Jane Naylor at VegasFuel! I’ve tried a lot of energy drinks but VegasFuel is the BEST I’ve ever had…

Saying something is the “BEST” is a bold statement I know. But after trying a plethora of energy drinks over the years, VegasFuel ranks by far as my favorite!

Below are details of a special contest where all you have to do is visit a Rite Aid drug store or GNC, purchase a Vegas Fuel energy drink and win a prize package from me!

SLAM a Vegas Fuel! With Wrestling Legend – DR. TOM PRICHARD!

VegasFuel Energy Drink Experience & Wrestling Legend Dr. Tom Prichard will be giving away
An Official DR. TOM PRICHARD PRIZE PACK!

PRIZE PACK INCLUDES!

*Dr. Tom Prichard’s New BOOK!
YOUR chance to Go BEHIND THE SCENES of the World of Professional Wrestling! Learn what the Pro’s learn – from the man who helped train THE ROCK, KURT ANGLE, DOLPH ZIGGLER & more!
With a Personally Autographed Edition of Dr. Tom’s Prichard’s new book!

*A Dr. Tom Prichard – “Wanted DEAD or ALIVE” t-shirt
Wear the Exclusive t-shirt that Dr. Tom Prichard wore in the ring!

*A Personally Autographed 8 X 10 Publicity Photo!

*PLUS – Dr. Tom will FOLLOW YOU on TWITTER!

*Dr. Tom Prichard on VegasFuel Energy Drink Experience*

DR. TOM PRICHARD: “I recently tried a VegasFuel and I must say that the taste was outstanding! I get sustained energy which helps me stay focused & alert when I’m in the ring, traveling or just in everyday life. You have to go out & buy a VegasFuel and try it for yourself today at both Rite Aid & GNC, when you DO go out and buy one, you’ll find out why VegasFuel JUST TASTES BETTER & You can enter to win my exclusive prize pack! YOU can get entered to win An Official Dr. Tom Prichard Prize Pack just for trying this Outstanding beverage and snapping a pic of the can & receipt (See details below)- It doesn’t get any better than that! I encourage you to go to Rite Aid & GNC and buy one today! It’s my new favorite drink & the DOCTOR always knows best”. – Dr. Tom Prichard

*Try the great taste & great energy of VegasFuel Energy Drink Experience & WIN!
When you buy a can of VegasFuel at RITE AID or GENERAL NUTRITION CENTER (GNC) – Simply snap a picture of your CAN & RECEIPT with date & location of purchase.

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THERE REALLY WAS WRESTLING BEFORE JOHN CENA AND HULK HOGAN!

It’s that time of year again and I couldn’t be more proud of our daughter Aleah for graduating with honors from the University of Tennessee.  Congratulations to her and all the graduating class of 2013.

Jordan Coulson and I are getting dangerously close to launching our “Odd-Cast” and doing something with Vegas Fuel Energy drink.  We’ve all been busier than ever but these projects should come together within the next couple weeks so stay tuned!

I was in Union SC May 4, for a camp and live event promoted by Trans-South Wrestling.  It was a productive day and I believe the participants heard some things they most likely never heard before.

I did have a good time and want to thank everyone for coming out. I wrestled a promising young rookie by the name of Alex Avgerinos at the Fairgrounds Saturday night.  Everyone worked hard and I was impressed with the crowd Trans-South drew.  Derik Vanderford did a tremendous job promoting and I appreciate his hospitality.

I can’t fault anyone for things they have no control over.  Nobody chose when they were born.  I can only hope that people who want to be in the pro wrestling/sports entertainment business today would be students of the game and want to study who and what came before them to blaze the trail.  More times than not, just the opposite is the case.

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SOUTHERN RASSLIN, CRESTVIEW FL, BRAD ARMSTRONG…

Jordan Coulson and I will be doing a weekly “Odd-Cast” covering an array of topics from wrestling, music, current events, etc… and discuss them any way we see fit!  I will have a start date and time very soon and hope you tune in.

I had a great time in Crestview Fl last weekend and am looking forward to doing another seminar and live event in Union, SC this Saturday (May 4) at the Union County Fairgrounds.

Promoter Heath Childs put on a great event in Crestview. It took me back to a time when 500 passionate wrestling fans filled a local armory and got a solid night of action.  They also got to meet and mingle with performers on the card as well as legendary guest, Don Fargo.

Heath was trained to wrestle by Steve and Scott Armstrong and has that old school respect for the business.  The crew he had were professional and it was a pleasure and refreshing being in a locker room full of people on the same page.  Fan interaction on this level is vital and Heath made it as fan friendly as possible.

We went for sushi Friday night and reminisced about the Armstrongs and the old school ways.  The great thing to see and hear was Heath’s passion and respect for professional wrestling.  Some people talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.  Not the case here.  The event was promoted and attention to detail was evident.  I had a feeling I was in the right place.

Passing through Alabama and small towns in the Florida panhandle jogged my memory from the mid to late 80′s.  Surprisingly, not much seemed to change!  The real test would be the crowd in Crestview and they didn’t disappoint.  I don’t know what it is about places like Tennessee, Alabama and Florida but there seems to be more passionate, true-blue wrestling fans than anywhere else.  They remember their heroes like Bullet Bob Armstrong and Don Fargo along with guys like me who stayed a few years and had some career defining moments along the way!

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CHRIS CANDIDO, BUDDY ROSE, BOB HOLLY’S BOOK…

I am looking forward to doing a camp and live event for the Southern Wrestling Alliance next Saturday, April 27 in Crestview, Fl.  I have a camp earlier that afternoon, then a tag match involving Hall of Famer “Bullet” Bob Armstrong that night at the Crestview Armory. Doors open @ 6:30.

April 28 will mark 8 years since my friend and partner Chris Candido passed away.    Chris loved professional wrestling and was a great person.  We all battled demons but Chris had his under control at the time of his death.  He was in a match with Sonny Siaki and broke his leg after taking a freak bump from a drop kick. The match happened over the weekend if I remember correctly.  He flew from Orlando home to New Jersey and I talked to him Tuesday before he went to see his doctor.

Thursday night I got the call from Tommy Dreamer that Chris had died.  I couldn’t believe it.  Apparently a blood clot formed and went to his heart.  It doesn’t seem like 8 years have passed.

Playboy Buddy Rose also passed away on the same day 4 years ago. I had the pleasure of getting to know Buddy Rose in Portland, Oregon   in 1984.  I had some great times with Buddy.  He made his mark in Portland and decided to call the Pacific Northwest home.  When I first arrived, Buddy and Curt Hennig were the first two to come up and let me know they would help me any way they could.  Both are gone but I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with them.  Never a dull moment!

Just finished reading Bob Holly’s book “The Hardcore Truth.”  I recommend this to any wrestling fan or student of the game.  Bob gives his brutally honest view of professional wrestling and WWE.  I’ve known Bob a long time and while we were never the closest of friends, Bob is one of those no nonsense people who will tell you how it is whether you like it or not!

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WRESTLEMANIA RESET: WHAT’S NEXT?

Wrestlemania 29 is in the books and I had an interesting weekend to say the least… Not sure where time went.  The week since getting home has been non stop and writing a blog was next to impossible.

First of all, 7 out of 9 of my WM predictions were correct.  I was unable to see the event live as I had to catch an 8 PM flight from Newark back to Knoxville but I was checking tweets and texts prior to boarding.  It looked like rain was threatening but wound up ‘teasing’ everybody and the weather held up.

I’ve heard good and bad reviews about Wrestlemania 29.  That’s the great thing about wrestling fans and pundits; most are passionate about how they feel and don’t mind expressing those feelings. You can’t please everybody. RAW more than made up for any disappointment the night before in my opinion and we quite possibly might have witnessed a new ‘movement’ of sorts in the way a live event is viewed.  Crowd participation is always an added bonus for performers in the ring and Monday’s crowd took it to the next level!

Dolph Ziggler cashing in his MITB brief case was long overdue in many people’s opinion.  I remember when Gerry Brisco recruited Dolph and he went through the ranks of OVW.  I had the pleasure of knowing him a lot better during his developmental time in Tampa.  Mr. Brisco has an eye for talent and I could imagine him beaming with pride when Dolph defeated Alberto Del Rio to become the World Champion…finally!  Congratulations to Dolph Ziggler for his perseverance, dedication, sacrifice and hard work paying off.

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WRESTLEMANIA 29 IS HERE…

Wrestlemania week is here and it’s going to be a busy weekend.

I fly in Friday night for the PWS event at The Sportsplex in  Metuchen, NJ (www.prowrestlingsyndicate.com) for a 6 PM autograph session and bell time @ 8 PM.  Bret Hart, MVP, Matt Hardy, The Iron Sheik, Paul Ordorff, The Rock and Roll Express, New Jack, Amy Dumas (Lita), John Morrison, Jushin Liger and many more will be in attendance.

Saturday April 6, join Jordan Coulson and me for a Wrestlemania pre show live from Queens NY @ 1 PM!  Check out www.wrestlemaniapreshow.com and @maniapreshow on Twitter. I would like to thank Vegas Fuel and The Guys From Queens for allowing us to use their studio Saturday afternoon.

Saturday night I will be at Shenanigans across from MSG  for a pre Wrestlemania party.  I’m looking forward to catching up with a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over this last year is I didn’t really lose any friends.  I just found out who my real friends were and will see quite a few this weekend.

Unfortunatly I have to fly out Sunday night just as Wrestlemania is getting into full swing.  I’ll catch the replay and see how my predictions faired…

I knew writing a blog would invite comments good and bad.  And did I get slammed for saying I thought WWE did a great job promoting Wrestlemania! Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Even me.

Someone even questioned my being a ”Doctor.” I love it…

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WRESTLEMANIA IS COMING…

On April 6, join Jordan Coulson and I for a Wrestlemania pre show live from Queens NY @ 1 PM!  Check out www.wrestlemaniapreshow.com and @maniapreshow on Twitter. Presented by Vegas Fuel.

Just got off the phone with my good friend and mentor “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and during the course of our conversation he came up with this gem: “Yesterday’s dead, tommorow’s blind; We live one day at a time…”

Words of wisdom to be sure.

March 20 marks two years that Sir Oliver Humperdink passed away from bladder cancer.  Sir Oliver (Red Sutton) grew up a wrestling fan and became one of the greatest managers of all time.  He had a look that got instant heat and a passion for the wrestling business.  He was a great guy and a lot of fun.

March 22 will mark the one year passing of Joe Blanchard and four years since Steve Doll died.  Joe is the father of HOF’er Tully Blanchard as well as being a former wrestler turned promoter in San Antonio.  Joe was always good to me when I started out and was well respected throughout the wrestling community.

Steve Doll had success in Portland, Texas and Tennessee before heading to WWE as one half of “Well Dunn” with Rex King.

Over the years we’ve lost some good friends and great people. The recent passing of Paul Bearer is now the cornerstone for an intriguing match at Wrestlemania.

I love this time of year.  WWE will put on a tremendous show and set the bar higher each year at Wrestlemania.  Truth is stranger than fiction.   Putting matches together and letting them evolve organically can cause twists and turns no one could imagine.  The best laid plans are never set in stone and even then there’s no telling what will happen…

Many of us were saddened by the death of Paul Bearer.  When CM Punk interrupted The Undertaker during RAW and stole the urn at the end of the show, people were outraged at the disrespect and lack of class by WWE.  Now the urn and Paul Bearer’s memory will be used to help the build up for  Taker VS. Punk at Mania. How could they!

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PAUL BEARER AND WWE MOVIE TIME…

I liked the RAW tribute show for Paul Bearer.

I also believe PB himself was looking down smiling with approval of the video tributes as well as Punk interrupting and stealing the Urn at the end of the show.  Percy was a showman and consummate professional.  Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle III/Bill Moody had a passion for the wrestling/Sports Entertainment business.  It was a fitting tribute to one of the real good guys.  Having Punk as a pure antagonistic A-hole was a perfect touch.  Those who thought it was distasteful will never understand. It reminds me of a quote years ago when anyone asked if pro wrestling was fake:

For those who believe, no explanation is needed.

For those who don’t, no explanation will do.

Percy was five years older than me but we grew up on the same style of wild, Southern wrestling and a lot of the same wrestlers.  While he lived in Mobile, Alabama, I grew up in Houston, Texas.  The “Southern ‘Rasslin” and “New York” style was a slight contrast.  Someone explained it as “The New York style was punching and kicking; in the South, they do more ‘wild and crazy’ angles with ‘rasslin.”

Right…

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PAUL BEARER, PERCY PRINGLE, BILL MOODY…RIP

I have too much to do here.  I’ll go next year.  Man, I’ll probably see him at PWS or sometime over WrestleMania weekend.  If not, he’ll understand.  I have too much on my plate right now…

I saw pictures of him sitting down by the stage.  I didn’t know he was in a wheelchair.  I’d read on Facebook that he hasn’t been feeling well, but it has been chilly and the flu’s been going around.  I will make it NEXT year!

Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle/Bill Moody sent me an application last year to attend the Gulf Coast Wrestle Reunion.  I wanted to go.  It’s been a hectic couple of months and I was unable to make the trip.  Life got in the way.  The Gulf Coast reunion will never be the same.  Even moreso, the many lives Percy touched will never be the same.

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