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A Humongous Weekend Looms For The Van Camps

A Humongous Weekend Looms For The Van Camps

Posted: Apr 28th 2011 By: CMBurnham

A humongous opportunity now awaits a second member of the Van Camp family.

And the man who once donned the tights as the dreaded Lord Humongous couldn't be more proud of his son.

Jeff Van Camp's namesake is projected to get chosen in the mid- to late rounds of this weekend's NFL draft as a quarterback from Florida Atlantic University. Van Camp Sr. has hoped for this moment since coaching his son in youth football at age 6.

"It's a very exciting time, but I'm also nervous," Van Camp Sr. said in a recent telephone interview. "I'm hoping a team will look at him and take advantage of what he has to offer. Jeff has a good heart and good spirit."

Van Camp Sr. had NFL dreams of his own once while playing defensive tackle at the University of Louisville in the early 1980s until suffering a serious knee injury. But while his pro prospects were dashed, being a member of the Cardinals' football team led to his break in pro wrestling.

He and other players would serve as security guards when the Memphis, Tenn.-based Continental Wrestling Association would run weekly Tuesday-night shows at the Louisville Gardens. Some of the grappling veterans were impressed by the size of the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Van Camp and suggested he give wrestling a try.

"I talked to Jerry Lawler and he suggested I go to the Mid-South Coliseum (in Memphis) one Saturday afternoon to train and become a wrestler," Van Camp said. "I was supposed to go with one of my teammates named Pete Bowen, but at the last minute he got cold feet, so my brother and I drove to Memphis alone.

"I got into the ring with Mr. Lawler, and three hours later he told me, 'You are now a pro wrestler. Here are your booking dates.' "

Not only was he green inside the ring, Van Camp also had no previous pro-wrestling knowledge to draw upon while learning the craft. But working regularly in a regional territory that promoted shows throughout the week helped accelerate the process.

Van Camp originally performed under his real name to tout his football background, but his biggest success came after he left the CWA. That's when he was repackaged as Lord Humongous, a spin-off of a menacing character (The Humungus) from the hit 1981 movie "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." Van Camp donned a white hockey mask and black shroud that covered his entire face except for his eyes.

While primitive by today's standards, the Lord Humongous gimmick was such a hit that others would later play the role after Van Camp left wrestling. Among them was Sid Eudy, who would later become a national headliner in the 1990s under the names Sid Vicious and Sid Justice.

Van Camp worked for a slew of regional promotions through the mid-1980s. The biggest match came in 1985 when Lord Humongous and Jake "The Snake" Roberts headlined a show at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans that also featured a closed-circuit airing of the Starrcade mega-card presented annually by Charlotte, N.C.-based Jim Crockett Promotions. Humongous lost via disqualification and was then covered in the ring by the 12-foot snake that served as Roberts' trademark mascot.

Although he wasn't born for another two years, Jeff Van Camp said he has watched footage of that Lord Humongous match and others. Van Camp Sr. also took his two sons to reunion shows in Alabama about a decade ago so they could see their father in action.

"I have some great memories growing up just being able to watch him wrestle some of the greats," Van Camp said. "I still remember when he wrestled Jake the Snake. He's got that scary mask on, but he's actually a great guy and a great dad. I love him to death."

The desire to start a family with his future wife was the reason why Van Camp Sr. left pro wrestling just when he would have been entering the prime of his career.

"I don't have any regrets," said Van Camp, who now heads the Crime Stoppers division of the Escambia (Fla.) County sheriff's office. "If I wouldn't have gotten out, I wouldn't have had my two sons. In the wrestling life, I was on the road seven days a week and never off except for maybe 10 days for Christmas. That's tough on your family life."

The one-time wrestler's taking such a strong interest in his son's life is one of the reasons why the two have such a special bond.

"I thank him a lot for getting me started into football early," said the NFL hopeful, who is represented by the same firm (California-based Rep1 Sports) that counts quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Brunell and Trent Edwards among its clients. "I don't know what I'd do without him."

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title

Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20

  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 06-14 2025 Skylar Slice became the WAH Womens Champion
  • 06-14 2025 Military Express (Sgt. Todd & Sgt. Hartman) def. Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
06-17
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