May 1st 2026 03:00am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Pink Boy returns to support the real fighters

Pink Boy returns to support the real fighters

Posted: Sep 21st 2016 By: Dave Schlenker

After I fell off a giant gingerbread house in a dress, I assumed my wrestling days were over.

Turns out, the local wrestling community — led by WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. — has no use for namby-pamby excuses. Sure, I was holding a giant cupcake and wearing a wig when I tumbled from that gingerbread house and broke my wrist. But in professional wrestling, MUCH stranger things happen.

First, an update: My wrist is finally healed following that fateful December evening when a 7-foot-high prop tumbled, tossing its lone passenger — me playing Mother Ginger — onto the stage. It was during a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker," a lovely ballet that was rebelling against its non-lovely cast member.

I spent about six months either in a cast or in a brace, as my 48-year-old scaphoid (a small bone but apparently an important one) declined to heal. The wrist is fine now, although I can predict the weather just like my step-father could with his arthritis.

Fast Forward: Recently, I was dubbed a Real Man who Wears Pink. The Real Men campaign is raising money for the American Cancer Society as part of its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer effort. Pink signifies breast cancer awareness and support for patients.

My fellow Pink Men and I are competing to raise the most money for the cause. I do love a competition. I also despise breast cancer, which took down my mother and continues to plague friends. So I am here to play.

Problem is, I — unlike the other Pink Men — have no marketable skills. At the end of the day, I am a guy who writes cat jokes for a dwindling newspaper readership.

I described this quandary to Funk and his wife, Marti, friends who have been very supportive of local charities. Marti's answer was simple: Come back to the ring, just like you did years ago for two other community fundraisers (one of which, incidentally, helped me kiss a horse for a literacy campaign).

A few things of note here: I am not a big man. I am not even a medium man. The head shot that runs with this column is about actual size. Years ago, when I first approached the Funks about helping me for the literacy council, I envisioned a night of me running around like a scrawny goofball amid guys who could break me at will. The Funks agreed to let me into their ring on one condition. Kill the goofball act and actually wrestle. Like REALLY wrestle. I needed to train with them and actually fight.


I did. And it worked out great, although I was sore for weeks. A year later, I was a guest referee in a match that raised funds for Cameras With A Cause. I thought the referee would be safe, but if you have ever seen professional wrestling, you know there is no safe spot inside those ropes.

So when the Funks invited me back recently to raise money for my quest to punch cancer in the face, I bravely stood up and proclaimed, "Heck no! I still have a boo-boo from that nasty gingerbread-dress incident." But Dory Funk Jr., master of the spinning toe hold and Texas Razor Wire matches, has a
talent for changing the minds of sissi is.

Thus, on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, I will be a guest referee again. Proceeds will benefit Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County. Matches start at 7 p.m. both nights at the !BANG! TV Sound Stage, 2501 SW 57th Ave., Unit 605, Ocala.

I start training soon, and I am nervous. My face hit the mat hard during the last referee gig. No joke.

But I know this much: No struggle — be it wrestling massive humans or weathering stubborn gingerbread injuries — compares to what cancer patients and their families face. Wrestling with craggy bones at 48? No problem. Even if I survive with both wrists intact, I remain a whiny wad of goo
in the shadow of life's real people in pink.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Polling Booth

Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

You must be logged in to cast votes

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 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 Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 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 Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 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 Title
05-01
  • Prince Maivia May 1st Today!
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1

Oklafan Quiz

Who was the last UWF Heavyweight Champion?

  

  

  

  

160

Take the OklaQuiz!