Sep 27th 2026 04:43pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Ten Years Later: Starbird Shows And An Angry Indian

Ten Years Later: Starbird Shows And An Angry Indian

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Back in 2000 Oklahoma was divided into two territories. Rick Garrett ran his promotion in OKC and Rocco owned Tulsa wrestling. Throughout his years running OPW, many organizations tried to come to Tulsa and all of them failed. Rocco took it personal when people tried to take over his territory. He took it even more personal when people he trained and made into stars would leave him to go work for someone else trying to put him out of business in Tulsa. At the end of 2001, the bowling alleys corporate structure decided they did not want to have the insurance liability of wrestling in their venue anymore, so OPW was kicked out leaving a lot of history behind in that building. Many people thought this was the end of OPW. Rocco, who was being sued by his former business partner Pete Maguire, was beginning to get tired of the business. Creatively, he was a little burned out as well. When you run 4 shows a month in the same venue, there were only so many times you can recycle storylines and characters like Canada and Texas Outlaws (which oddly enough are still being used and recycled today). The OPW school was not really producing any stars to take the place of the old ones. Another reason Rocco wanted out was that he had a pretty successful side business with his mobile DJ company and he wanted to free his weekends up to work on that more.

So when a mark named John Crow offered to buy OPW, Rocco said yes. The first time I met John, he put on a good performance. He behaved mysteriously. He had these 3 business partners, but he was majority owner. One of his partners quit week 2. We were told John owned a restaurant and that is where he had all this money to buy OPW. John Crow told us all he had big plans for OPW. He told us his goal was to make us the 3rd largest wrestling company in the United States. He told me and Kenny that we would be part of the foundation for that, and it sounded good to us. At this time I had no idea that this guy had no money and absolutely no credentials. He even paid Rocco to stay on with the company as his booker and consultant. Good for me, because Rocco and I were becoming pretty good buddies. Rocco even brought me on to his DJing company. Of course John?s first act of business was to put on a mask and make himself part of the show as the ?mysterious? new owner. He paid some big busty gal to walk out to the ring with him. I?m sure she made more money than I did and didn?t say two words to anyone in the back. Early on I asked Crow what ideas he had and he wanted to strip the tag titles off Texas and have a tournament where he and his brother (neither of them wrestlers) would win the belts against two giant men in confederate flag masks after Rocco and Vinny gave them a little help. Luckily this never happened, but this conversation is where I started to smarten up about what was about to happen to OPW.

Around this time, Kenny and I got to take our first wrestling road trip. Every year Rocco got OPW booked at the Darryl Starbyrd car shows in OKC. We wrestled about 4 shows over 3 days and Rocco put us up in a pretty decent hotel. This weekend was the first time I hung out with a student named Russ aka "Romero". His official duties were setting up and tearing down rings and working security. His unofficial duties were babysitting drunk OPW wrestlers, including Justin and Kenny. This is also where I learned just what a low tolerance for alcohol Vinny (Brent Albright) had. He smelt a beer and he got tipsy.

One of the legendary guys around at this time was a large Native American wrestler named Chief Red Eagle. Chief had been around for many years and was loved by everyone. But he was also a very scary looking man who looked like he could crush anyone easily. Chief had a daughter about my age. A few weeks earlier she and her friend were hanging around after an OPW show and Kenny and I were talking to them. So one night after a Oklahoma City Darryl Starbyrd show, all the OPW boys are in a hotel conference area drinking around a table. Chief turns to Kenny and says "That was a nice moonsault you did, ICF." Kenny did not do a moonsault, I did. But Kenny still said thanks because he wasn?t about to correct Chief. A few minutes later, a very drunk Chief then asks "Which one of you ICF was talking to my daughter." Kenny froze as I jumped back from the table and pointed at him. I knew there was a chance my friend was about to die, but better him than me. Chief got this crazy look on his face. Kenny's face was filled with terror and he could not get a word out of his mouth. But all Chief did was say "It?s okay, I like you ICF" and he went back to drinking. Later that night, after many beers, Russ loaded Kenny and I over each shoulder and carried us back to our hotel room. We did stop by this one room where a couple of fans were staying. Kenny and I both tried to hit on the girl in the room. My drunk line was ?You aren?t half bad looking for a fat chick. Wanna come back to my room and split some Gatorade?? Russ immediately put me back on his shoulder and took me to my room. Kenny on the other hand, stuck around long enough to vomit twice on her carpet before Russ was able to make it back for him. The next afternoon ICF wrestled Brent in a handicap match. Brent knocked off part of my tooth, as well as made me bite off a sliver of my tongue on a stiff European uppercut. I didn't complain though because the match itself was entertaining and it was the first time I ever main evented. Plus we got paid really well that night. It was a compliment that Rocco trusted ICF to main event one of his shows.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

2
The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS Pro Wrestling Illustrated recently released their 36th annual PWI 500, and coming in at #1 is M. J. F. This is the first time he has been ran... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1977 Dr. X & Porkchop Cash def. The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1982 The Rat Pack (Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne) def. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1985 Brian Adias def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. Eddie Gilbert & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 2003 Brandon Groom became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2003 Tarantula & X-Cal became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2003 Big Daddy Moore def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 Outlaw def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 Rage Logan def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 2008 Shank became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 2008 Seth Allen def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2015 Lil Outlaw def. Little Nasty Boy for the EMWF Heavweight Title
  • 2015 King Midget def. Lil Outlaw for the EMWF Heavweight Title
  • 2019 Stephan Bonnar def. MVP for the WCR Imperial Title
  • 2025 Mitch Onyx def. Bishop Simon for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2025 Triple Crown Tribe (Fuel & Koko) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2025 Birdman def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Title
  • 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Faded Ghoul for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2025 Sgt. Todd def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2025 L. C. Green def. Deacon Hendrix for the RWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2025 Will Chambers def. L. C. Green for the RWE Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-27 to Sat: 10-03

  • 09-27 1977 Dr. X & Porkchop Cash def. The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-27 1982 The Rat Pack (Ted DiBiase & Matt Borne) def. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-27 1985 Brian Adias def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-27 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. Eddie Gilbert & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-27 2003 Brandon Groom became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-27 2003 Tarantula & X-Cal became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-27 2003 Big Daddy Moore def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-27 2008 Outlaw def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-27 2008 Rage Logan def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-27 2008 Shank became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 09-27 2008 Seth Allen def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-27 2015 Lil Outlaw def. Little Nasty Boy for the EMWF Heavweight Title
  • 09-27 2015 King Midget def. Lil Outlaw for the EMWF Heavweight Title
  • 09-27 2019 Stephan Bonnar def. MVP for the WCR Imperial Title
  • 09-27 2025 Mitch Onyx def. Bishop Simon for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-27 2025 Triple Crown Tribe (Fuel & Koko) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-27 2025 Birdman def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-27 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Faded Ghoul for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-27 2025 Sgt. Todd def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-27 2025 L. C. Green def. Deacon Hendrix for the RWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-27 2025 Will Chambers def. L. C. Green for the RWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-28 1979 Mike George & Bob Sweetan became the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 09-28 1982 Mr. Olympia def. Killer Khan for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-28 1984 The Long Riders (Scott Irwin & Bill Irwin) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-28 1986 Buddy Roberts def. Terry Taylor for the UWF Television Title
  • 09-28 2008 Striker def. Al Farat for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 09-28 2013 The C. I. A. (Trevor Mapleleaf & J. B.) def. The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Keebler & Diamond) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-28 2019 Brixton Barricade def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-28 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-28 2024 Shotgun Webber def. Zac Royal for the TIW No Pressure Title
  • 09-29 2007 Luc Lapointe & Beau Dalton became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-29 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-29 2007 Beau Dalton def. Luc Lapointe for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Title
  • 09-29 2007 Kunna Keyoh def. Joe Herell for the UWF06 Violent Division Title
  • 09-30 1963 Bill Miller def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-30 1965 The Daltons/The Fargos (Jim Dalton/Jim Fargo & Jack Dalton [1st]/Don Fargo) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-30 1974 Blackjack Lanza def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-30 1977 Ox Baker def. Captain USA for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-30 1981 Great Kabuki def. Bob Roop for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 09-30 1983 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer I & Super Destroyer II) def. Roddy Piper & Bulldog Brower for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-30 2006 The House of Strange (AWOL & Overdose) def. The Family (Beau Dalton & Luc Lapointe) for the AACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-30 2007 Outlaw became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 09-30 2017 Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Shawn Shields) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 09-30 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) became the MajCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-30 2023 Romeo Reese def. Punk Synister for the MajCW Flawless Title
  • 09-30 2023 Nibira def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-30 2023 Brandon Groom def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-30 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-30 2023 Lunchador def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-30 2023 John J. Bishop def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-30 2023 Lunchador def. John J. Bishop for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 10-01 2002 Pimpology (Jeffrey Parker & Kool Ade) def. The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-01 2002 Bitch the Clown def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2002 The Cookie Man def. Bitch the Clown for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2002 HIMM def. The Cookie Man for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2004 Beau Dalton def. Bobby Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2011 Michael Barry def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 10-01 2011 Maniac Mike def. John E. Stone for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-01 2011 Se7en def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2011 Kevin James Sanchez & Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-01 2011 Drake Gallows & Bobby Star became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 10-01 2012 Brian Lakewood def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 10-01 2016 Dean Lambert def. Kareem Sadat for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 10-01 2016 Running Wolf became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-01 2016 Thunder, Inc. (Rolling Thunder & Tim Bean) def. The Midnight Riders (The Unknown & The Midnight Rider) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-02 2004 Missa Sparkle def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 10-02 2004 Beau Dalton def. Missa Sparkle for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 10-02 2004 Codie Mullins def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 10-02 2004 Beau Dalton def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 10-02 2009 Aerial Assault (Montego Seeka & Ky-ote Joe) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 10-02 2010 Outlaw def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-02 2010 Bleach, Ink (Draven Cross & Korvin Sage) def. The Hardcore Connection (Shane Sanchez & Maniac Mike) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-02 2010 Rage Logan def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 10-02 2010 David Kyzer def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 10-02 2010 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 10-02 2010 Jasper Davis def. Kevin Douglas for the NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 10-02 2010 La Reina de Corazones def. Tasha Simone for the NWA World Womens Title
  • 10-02 2011 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-02 2016 The Urban Misfits (Drake Gallows & Dean Lambert) def. The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-02 2020 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Niles Plonk for the TexPro Red River Title
  • 10-02 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. Niles Plonk & Flex Zerba (substituting for Dexter Hardaway) for the BCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-03 1967 Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis def. The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 10-03 2008 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-03 2009 Arrogant Money (Austin Tacious & Randy Price) def. BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-03 2020 Classy & Sassy (Niles Plonk & Dexter Hardaway) def. The Brotherhood of Holy Hell (Terry Pantera & Dean Lambert) for the BCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-03 2020 Super Beast def. Cody Burns for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-03 2025 Lola the Adventurer def. Skylar Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 10-03 2025 The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) def. The Sweet Life (Colt Killbane & Jake Swayze) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-27
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th Today!
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th Today!
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th Today!
  • Trey Count Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
  • Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
  • Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • James Southard Oct 2nd
  • Funnybone Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd
  • Crystal White Oct 3rd
  • Don Fargo Oct 3rd
  • Johnny TV Oct 3rd
  • Tim Geohagen Oct 4th
  • Dick Hutton Oct 4th
  • Jay Strongbow, Sr. Oct 4th
  • T-Arsenal Oct 4th
  • Bobby Fulton Oct 4th
  • Abyss Oct 4th
  • Studd Lee Oct 4th
  • P. Y. Chu-Hi Oct 4th
  • Violent V Oct 4th
  • Dennis Heflin Oct 5th
  • Joaquin Wilde Oct 5th
  • Spike Oct 6th
  • Mr. Nasty Oct 6th
  • Paloma Starr Oct 6th
  • Rip Oliver Oct 6th
  • Smash Oct 6th
  • Frankie V Oct 7th
  • Tennessee Rebel Oct 7th
  • Rhino Oct 7th
  • Nelly Rivers Oct 7th
  • Terry Orndorff Oct 7th
  • Ripper Collins Oct 8th
  • Moonshine Oct 8th
  • Brett Irons Oct 8th
  • Judy Martin Oct 8th
  • Travis Harkrider Oct 8th
  • Betty Niccoli Oct 9th
  • Andre West Oct 9th
  • Richard Fitzwell Oct 9th
  • Brian Breaker Oct 9th
  • K. J. Everly Oct 10th
  • Shane Morbid Oct 10th

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

  • Striker
  • Michael York
  • The Mayne Event
  • cphs_sweethearts
  • Talon

Card Results

1