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Group advocates Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame for Mid-South Coliseum

Posted: Feb 4th 2015 By: Greg Akers

The Mid-South Coliseum has seen better days ? closed since 2006, the former entertainment venue is in a state of neglect, seemingly given the bare minimum of maintenance attention. And, if a city plan for a new Fairgrounds development proceeds, the building will likely be demolished altogether.

There's been a good bit of resistance to the city's proposed Fairgrounds redevelopment, as has been reported on plenty the past few weeks. Much of the public and political pushback has more to do with what people don't want to happen rather than suggesting alternatives for what should happen. Mostly, critics are skeptical of a plan for a sports complex that would lure in private developers. And many don't want the Coliseum torn down no matter what else happens.

One group, though, has an idea about what should be done with the Coliseum ? and it's based on those "better days" the place has seen. The group's name kind of gives away their idea: "Put the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Mid-South Coliseum." As of Monday, the group's Facebook page has more than 1,700 likes after one week of existence.

For decades, the Mid-South Coliseum was the center of the regional wrestling universe, with Monday Night Wrestling drawing thousands week after week. Legends Sputnik Monroe and Jackie Fargo wrestled there beginning in 1971, and numerous wrestlers who would gain international fame in the 1980s got their start in or found their way to Memphis ? from Hulk Hogan, Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Andre the Giant to The Undertaker and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Arguably the most infamous moment in wrestling history ? Memphian Jerry "The King" Lawler's grapplings with Hollywood actor-comedian Andy Kaufman ? happened right there in the Coliseum in 1982.

Wrestling is still huge business around the world, with WWE as the flag bearer. Per Nielsen Media Research, WWE broadcasts to millions of fans each week with its two shows, Raw, on Mondays, and SmackDown, on Thursdays.

And don't doubt the depth of its cultural impact locally, as Saturday's wrestling night at the Memphis Grizzlies game can attest, including a giveaway of Grizzlies-themed championship belts and appearances by Lawler and Ric Flair. WWE Fastlane will be at FedExForum on Feb. 22.

One of the founders of the grassroots campaign and Facebook group, Kevin Cerrito, believes there's an opportunity at hand for Memphis because there isn't a major Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame already in the U.S., and there's not a physical location for the WWE Hall of Fame like there is for the NBA, NFL, MLB and NASCAR.

(Full disclosure: Cerrito is the host of Cerrito Live on Sports 56 WHBQ/87.7FM on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and I am a regular guest on the show, appearing the last Saturday of each month.)

"Someday, somewhere there will be a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame that is a major tourist attraction in this country," Cerrito said. "Why not put it right here in Memphis? We just happen to have a vacant building that is also the most historically significant pro wrestling venue in the world."

Lawler believes that turning the historic venue into a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum "could be a massive destination for people to come to if it was done right." Lawler also said in an interview on Cerrito Live he would be willing to donate some of his memorabilia to a Hall of Fame in the Mid-South Coliseum.

Cerrito cites the draw of other halls of fame when trying to value the economic impact of a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame drew 668,000 in 2013; Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 441,000 in 2013; the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown drew 262,000 in 2012; the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, saw 208,000 in 2013; the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, brings in a little more than 200,000 a year, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame draws a little less than 200,000.

Dennis Speigel, president of Cincinnati-based International Theme Park Services Inc., told Orlando Business Journal in 2013 he thinks an interactive WWE-related hall of fame might be viable. "(If) WWE has the gun power to develop an attraction that's state of the art where you come see some of the WWE stars participating in matches or just around the area, it could work," he said, when considering a hall of fame in the Orlando area.

Whether or not WWE could be enticed to partner with a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Memphis is a huge question mark and a long shot, but the Facebook group argues an effort should be made by civic leaders. And, Cerrito believes, a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame would be a good tourist complement to the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, which is opening in Memphis in May. That's not to mention that Jerry "The King" Lawler's Mid-South Coliseum could be bundled with Memphis' other "King" attractions: the King of rock 'n' roll's Graceland and the King of the blues' Beale Street.

The three kings of Memphis.

For more information on the group and its efforts, check out its Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Put-the-Pro-Wrestling-Hall-of-Fame-in-the-Mid-South-Coliseum/1088918824467099