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Classic Wrestler Mad That Sport Has Lost Its Class

Posted: Jul 1st 2007 By: CMBurnham

True confession: I am a recovering pro wrestling fan.

My favorite athlete growing up was a faker, but it didn't matter. Jack Brisco was Clark Kent in tights.

That's why my hand shook as I called him the other day. I wanted to get his thoughts on World Wrestling Entertainment.

"I don't like it," he said. "I don't watch it."

My hero.

Now everybody is looking at WWE after the murder-suicide of Chris Benoit and his family. They're discovering Vince McMahon's freak show isn't just harmless schlock. Wrestlers are dying at alarming rates, though nobody cared enough to get alarmed until last week.

When McMahon came to City Hall in March to announce next spring's WrestleMania 24, it was all hoorah and handshakes and jokes about Ashley the Dirty Diva's silicone anatomy. Yes, it's all fun and games until a superstar kills his wife and son and then hangs himself.

Now the Benoit story has become Natalee Holloway on steroids. Just don't say that word around McMahon. He insists steroids aren't to blame, and the media feeding frenzy is totally uncalled for.

Poor Vince. He reportedly lost $21 million as WWE stock plummeted last week. He lost a star performer. At least he hasn't lost his shame.

Of course, how do you lose what you've never had? McMahon long ago turned pro wrestling into a pimped-out joke.

Sure, rasslin' was always a charade. But if you ever saw Championship Wrestling from Florida, you know it was honorable fakery. Wrestlers actually knew how to wrestle. The women didn't all look and act like porn stars.

For a kid in the '70s, there was no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Gordon Solie was wrestling's Walter Cronkite.

The WWE is Paris Hilton. Paris gets ratings, of course, and McMahon has turned America's appetite for drivel into a billion-dollar business.

That doesn't mean we have to like it. Would the great Jack Brisco make it in today's rasslin' world?

"I wouldn't be employed," he laughed.

He was at his auto repair shop in Tampa. It's hard to believe the king of the Figure Four Leg Lock is 65. Brisco got into wrestling because he could wrestle, not because he could preen.

"We had a lot more real athletes with amateur backgrounds," he said.

Brisco weighed 200 pounds when he started in 1965. He hit the gym and started a diet heavy on potatoes and beer. All that, and he still never got heavier than 235 pounds.

McMahon would have looked at him and laughed. Though wrestling pre-Vince has one advantage.

"The guys in my era are still alive," Brisco said.

By one account, 55 wrestlers under the age of 45 have died since 1985. Congress would shut down the circus if that many elephants dropped. But Benoit, Rick Rude, Eddie Guerrero and all others were people, not just WWE characters.

Each death had different factors, from drug abuse to mental breakdowns. But if you believe steroids aren't rampant, you probably also believe Paris Hilton is a virgin and pro wrestling isn't fake.

Naturally, McMahon wants to move ahead and begin "the healing process." We'll know he's serious if wrestlers start looking more like Brisco than Bluto.

Don't count on that. I just feel sorry for any kid brought up watching today's wrestling, assuming their parents are irresponsible enough to let them.

I at least got to reminisce with my childhood hero.

If somebody tries to call one of McMahon's stars in 30 years, there won't be anybody around to answer the phone.

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Spotlight in History

1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31

10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles

10-25

Sheriff Schultz Oct 25th Today!
Paige Turner Oct 25th Today!
Double D Oct 25th Today!
Phil Shark Oct 25th Today!
Halo Oct 26th
Eddie Williams Oct 26th
Anthony Wayne Oct 26th
Troy Graham Oct 26th
Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
AWOL Oct 27th
Miss Linda Oct 27th
Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
MVP Oct 28th
Chris Smith Oct 28th
Jake Boulder Oct 28th
Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
D. J. Hall Oct 29th
Mischief Oct 29th
Debbie Combs Oct 30th
Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
Danny McShain Oct 30th
George Wells Oct 30th
Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
Jayson Boss Oct 31st
Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
Max Leon Nov 4th
Assassin 1 Nov 4th
David Jason Rose Nov 5th
Chris Chaos Nov 5th
Bill Decker Nov 5th
Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
Darin Matthews Nov 6th
Brian Faith Nov 6th
Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
Lu Kim Nov 6th
Ken Patera Nov 6th
Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
Joey Ryan Nov 7th
Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
Keith Watkins Nov 7th
Silverado Nov 7th
King Kong Bundy Nov 7th

1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

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