Apr 26th 2026 07:56am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Former WWF Wrestler and Politician Settles Lawsuit

Former WWF Wrestler and Politician Settles Lawsuit

Posted: Aug 28th 2007 By: CMBurnham

Six years after a restaurant accident that he blamed for ending his professional wrestling career, Brian Blair has settled his negligence lawsuit against Carrabba's Italian Grill.

The civil suit, scheduled to go to trial in October, was "amicably settled" on Aug. 4 and dismissed by Circuit Judge Charlene Honeywell six days later. No terms of the agreement were released, and no one connected with the case was saying Monday what prompted the settlement after almost five years of litigation.

But Carrabba's attorney, Donald G. Greiwe, had filed papers indicating Blair was impaired at the time he tripped over a tray of bussed dishes at the restaurant. And Greiwe's exhibit list included a videotape of a tag-team wrestling match in Nagano, Japan, in October 2001 - more than four months after Blair's accident in the Carrabba's on North Dale Mabry Highway.

A four-sport athlete at Tampa Bay Tech, Blair debuted on the professional wrestling circuit in 1977. In 1985, he joined Jim Brunzell to form the "Killer Bees" tag-team duo in the World Wrestling Federation. He later operated and sold four Gold's Gyms in the Tampa Bay area.

Blair claimed his ring career came to an end on the evening of June 2, 2001, when he visited Carrabba's with his wife and two sons. After taking his sons to the restroom, Blair rounded the bar and tripped over a tray of dirty dishes left in "a poorly lit area," fell and hit his chin against the counter, then continued to fall, striking his right knee, right shoulder and his head on the floor, according to his complaint.

"It knocked the dog doo-doo out of me," Blair recounted in a deposition.

Blair said he remembers his sons crying after he fell and the children suffering "trauma" as a result of witnessing the accident. In his suit, Blair said he suffered "physical handicap" and claimed his "working ability in the future may be impaired."

Blair, 50, filed the lawsuit on Nov. 5, 2002, three days after losing his first run for public office in a race for a Hillsborough County Commission seat won by Pat Frank. In 2004, Blair, a Republican, tried again and won a commission seat in a close contest against Bob Buckhorn.

He continued to press his case against Carrabba's even after his original lawyers quit. Attorneys Nadine S. Diaz and Ron Darrigo, who had taken Blair's case on a contingency basis, withdrew in January 2006, citing "irreconcilable differences" with Blair.

The attorney for Carrabba's, meanwhile, was ready to offer as evidence a videotape of Blair's wrestling match in Japan and two other surveillance tapes of Blair made months after the accident, as well as medical records showing Blair was legally impaired at the time of the fall.

A record filed by Greiwe of an examination of Blair at St. Joseph's Hospital about an hour after the accident showed a blood alcohol of 0.089 percent, above the 0.08 level at which state law presumes an individual to be impaired. Greiwe said in court papers that Blair's fall was the "result of his own negligence."

Asked in a sworn deposition about his condition, Blair denied drinking before coming to the restaurant, suggesting he might have taken "one sip" of Carrabba's house wine before the fall.

Blair also testified he had taken prescribed Vicodin, Vioxx and Xanax "on and off" during his wrestling career, but insisted he was drug-free when he arrived at Carrabba's.

"The day I went to Carrabba's, I was in the best mood of my life," he testified. "I was with my family. We were all smiling and happy, and I was - I know that I - I had a clear mind, if that is what you're getting at. I don't think I took any kind of medicine. I was just a happy camper."

Blair has filed papers to run for re-election in 2008. But as he and his new attorney, R. Christopher Rodems, moved to settle the lawsuit this month, the commissioner was busy fighting off several bouts of controversy that might stick in voters' minds a year from now.

As part of the 4-3 majority voting to kill the county's wetlands protection program this summer, Blair was forced to dodge both citizen and editorial brickbats. Blair and his majority later reversed their stance and voted to keep a revamped program.

At about the same time, Blair was the subject of a St. Petersburg Times story that said he had pressed for work on the Noreast Lake behind his home, a lake where the county has spent more hours than at any of the other 229 lakes in the county. Blair bristled that he had been maligned after a county report called the expenditures appropriate.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

1

Spotlight in History

  • 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

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
04-26
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th Today!
  • Karl Kox Apr 26th Today!
  • Havoc Apr 26th Today!
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1

Tag Cloud

Mick FoleyTNAWWEStingJerry LawlerRoddy PiperRic FlairWCWJim CornetteEd FerraraWWF

Top Viewed Bios

Stan Pulaski Pat Rose Kendo Nagasaki Fantastics Jim Barnett