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A Chance To Feel Young Again

A Chance To Feel Young Again

Posted: Feb 21st 2009 By: CMBurnham

Sitting outside his home in Phoenix, Arizona, Roy Wayne Farris says he is barefoot watching the sunset, as he speaks with the Standard-Freeholder over the telephone.

Farris is planning a road trip to Canada and to Cornwall.

"I'm going to pack three pairs of long johns," Farris jokes. His luggage will also include wrestling gear, and maybe a guitar.

In the wrestling ring Farris is known as the Honky Tonk Man, who is famous for his blue jump suit, and his shake, rattle and roll.

He is the longest standing Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, holding the title for a record 64 weeks in the late 1980s.

Farris, 56, now makes a living on the independent circuit, says wrestling is all about feeling young again.

"On a Friday or Saturday it's boring in Arizona if I'm not at a wrestling show," he says. "I've been around for 30 years. It's a fountain of youth. I get to act young, and do what they do."

Farris says he saw the movie The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke.

"I saw most of the movie. It's another wrestling movie exposing behind-the-scenes stuff. In some cases it was very factual," he says.

The movie portrays the struggles of an '80s wrestling legend who still dreams of the spotlight, and continues to wrestle on the independent circuit.

Both Rourke and Farris are scheduled to make appearances this April at Wrestlemania 25.

Farris is the real-life cousin of wrestler and colour commentator Jerry the King Lawler.

Farris has done a bit of ringside commentary, and he says he is interested in working for the WWE again, even if it was behind the scenes.

"It's their call. I'd love to go back," he says.

On the independent circuit Farris sees a lot of young wrestlers trying to make it in the business.

"My advice to them: Don't quit your day job, finish school, continue doing independent wrestling as a hobby, do weights, and learn to be a real professional," he says.

The Honky Tonk Man has made a few appearances at Royal Rumbles, and fought a match at Cyber Sunday against current wrestler Santino Marella. Marella tried to beat Honky Tonk Man's record for holding the Intercontinental Championship, but failed to do so.

A number of controversial stories about the Honky Tonk Man have surfaced in some recent books by those within the wrestling industry. But Farris laughs it all off.

In Eric Bishoff's book, the former WCW boss says his favourite person to fire was The Honky Tonk Man.

"I got a laugh out of that," Farris says. "I don't know what I did to rub him the wrong way. He says I was fired, I say I quit."

In Mick Foley's book he claims that the Honky Tonk Man hit Jake the Snake with a real guitar, causing serious injury.

"He checked one source," Farris explains. "Mick Foley apologized to me about it. My side of the story is different than Jake's."

Farris says he will put on an entertaining show when he heads north to Cornwall.

"It's a family event open to everyone. There will be high-flying matches, and singing and dancing from the Honky Tonk Man."

WWE Smackdown is also coming to Cornwall Friday, but Farris says, "the independent show is cheaper, still just as entertaining, and fans are able to interact with the wrestlers, and it is a family event," he says.

The Honky Tonk Man battles Chez 106 DJ and former wrestler Ben McCully. Also on the bill is wrestling sensation Hannibal.

The Wrestling Super Show event takes place Sunday at 2 p. m. at Murphy's Inn. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

 

Tags: The Honky Tonk Man, WWE, Jerry Lawler, WCW, Jake Roberts

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Spotlight in History

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  • 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
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  • 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
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Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

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  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
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  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
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  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
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