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Missy's Manor: This Weekend's Honor

Posted: Mar 10th 2009 By: CMBurnham

I had one of the best times in recent years at the WSU show on March 7. The promotion was celebrating its second year anniversary. This is no minor feat in this day and age of independent shows that face a dwindling fan base to draw from. Luckily WSU got some hardcore fans that have attended almost every WSU show.

Almost every WSU wrestler has busted their ass in providing memorable moments and entertaining matches to our hardcore audience. Hopefully WSU can be linked towards helping future superstars in getting the needed ring experience that they needed in order to get to the next level. Several future TNA wrestlers have stopped by in WSU on their way to stardom. Roxxi [Nikki Roxx] & Velvet Skye [Talia Madison] showed the WSU audience that they were worthy of making it to the big leagues during their early WSU matches.

The locker room is the friendliest that I have ever seen in my career. There are so many veterans like Amy Lee, Malia Hosaka, Mercedes Martinez, and myself that are always open to help anybody out in putting together a match and on promos. There is no jealousy, since everybody wants to see the younger wrestlers succeed. I never have a problem in mentioning about the greatness of Becky Bayless to any promoter that is looking for a fresh woman that got the charisma, mic skills, and talent. I have seen so many workers from April, Alexa Thatcher, Portia Perez, Annie Social, Becky Bayless, Mercedes Martinez, Angel Orsini, and others work so hard. I hope that they can make it to a bigger playing field that allows them to be the stars that they deserve to be.

The promotion has also featured stars consisting of Tammy, Dawn Marie, Gorgeous George, Christy Hemme, Angelina Love, Velvet Skye, Roxxi, Awesome Kong, Mickie Knuckles, Daffney, Luna Vachon, Taylor Wylde, Molly Holly, Jackie Moore, Ivory, & others.

When they told me that I was getting honored, I initially didn't care. I had the mentality that if WWE or TNA doesn't acknowledge my existence, than why should an award from WSU really matter to me. The award ceremony and respect from my peers from WSU made it one of my career highlights. Maybe as I gotten older, I realized it was the veteran?s responsibility to teach the younger wrestlers to get ready to carry the business.

I was deeply touched when When Missy Sampson gave her speech and mentioned how I'm always approachable for advice to the younger wrestlers. I was also very touched that they played "Hot Stuff" as my ring entrance for the ceremony. I was very fortunate to learn from one of the greatest minds in Eddie Gilbert and playing Eddie's entrance song was a great tribute. I was also very fortunate to have gotten to manage John Tatum in my career.

John Tatum was one of the most underrated heels in World Class and UWF. I will forever be in debt to John for allowing me to be the mouth piece to augment his great talent in the ring.

I try to recommend to the new generation of wrestlers and wrestling fans on picking up old school DVD's that display the greatness of workers like Eddie Gilbert, Jerry Lawler, Freebirds, Ric Flair, and especially Terry Funk that influenced me to love wrestling. I always love telling people that Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy inspired me to get in to wrestling after I saw them on Georgia Championship Wrestling as a teenager. I hope these legendary workers realize on how many lives and careers that they influenced and entertained. I can only hope that I entertained somebody to justify my career.

I always say my biggest regret in the wrestling business was never getting a wrestling figure or ever performing at Wrestle Mania. The respect from my peers on Saturday was almost as satisfying. I want to thank everybody for letting me live out my dreams for over twenty years.

I'm all psyched to be coming back to Houston on 4/3. When ever I think about Houston, I immediately think about Paul Boesch. Paul was one of the few promoters that treated the wrestlers as people. We never had to worry about the percentage of the gate or being screamed at by Paul. He was one of the most honest and respected promoters that ever promoted and is worthy of any Hall Of Fame.

One of the most cherished gifts I ever received was a pair of hand made socks that Paul Boesch's wife knitted for me as a Christmas gift. A simple hand made gift showed how much the Boesch's loved and respected their workers. I was always touched to know that Paul's wife would take the time to knit me a gift.

When Greg Price offered me the chance to sign autographs with Baby Doll at The Legends Of Wrestling Fan Fest, I immediately said "Hell Yeah". Baby Doll is awesome. She was great in Jim Crockett Promotions with Tully Blanchard. Plus she actually talked me out of quitting the wrestling business at one time.

If anybody is in Houston for Wrestle Mania weekend, stop by at the convention. I love talking about the greatness of Mid South and World Class Championship Wrestling. We will definitely be having a blast at Legends of Wrestling Fan Fest @ the George R. Brown Convention Center - 1111 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas http://bookertlow.com

Tags: Missy Hyatt, WWE, TNA, Eddie Gilbert, John Tatum, WCCW, UWF, Jerry Lawler, Fabulous Freebirds, Ric Flair, Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, Baby Doll, MSW