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Missy's Manor: Missy Talks About Hall Of Fame, Luna Vachon

Posted: Aug 16th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Over the last few years, I had always been baffled on why Bill Apter was not on the Wrestling Observer Hall Of Fame ballot. I assume it was an oversight, since Bill Apter is universally liked by everybody that works in any facet of the wrestling business. Usually when one referred to the wrestling magazine industry, they would use the insider term of ?Apter Mags? to describe it.

In this current day of easy access to up to the minute results & insider information, many modern day fans fail to recognize the importance of the wrestling magazine industry. Wrestling magazines that were usually in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated family played an important marketing tool for many promotions. Magazine covers with wrestlers like Sting, Lex Luger, Kerry Von Erich, Rock-N-Roll Express, Tommy Rich, Road Warriors, Rick Martel, Dusty Rhodes, Mil Mascaras, Rick Martel, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, & others made them a superstar in territories that didn?t receive the television that they were headliners in & even bigger stars to the fans that followed them.

The magazines were influential in making certain wrestlers appear as superstars by the amount of articles, covers, and pin ups that they appeared on. It made many wrestlers be perceived as instant superstars when they ventured out of their home territories. Any article that was written about a particular wrestler, territory, or story line gave a ton of publicity that reached the masses. Plus the coverage was vital for fans that did not have cable television to view other companies. The articles helped in pushing angles & even introducing new wrestlers.

Even a fledging promotion like the AWA in the late 1980?s came across as a power broker by the Apter magazines. Jerry Lawler for example had national coverage by having pictures & articles when his promotion only catered to a few states in comparison to a national touring promotion. Countless independent wrestlers & promotions depended on pictures, articles, or results in order to develop any notoriety or a following. The magazines in some aspects were so influential that they helped convince Jim Crockett to make major plans around Lex Luger based off of the coverage & hype he received.

Another amazing part of Bill Apter?s involvement in wrestling coverage was the amount of access he was granted by many promotions. Very few non-office wrestling people were privileged to access to the wrestlers or tipped off to any world title changes or major angles. Bill Apter had to be clued in on these major developments in order to provide photos & articles. Even the wrestlers knew the importance to Bill Apter?s coverage in which many of us were very cooperative to him and considered him one of the boys. Many of us never minded the usual fake quotes & interviews that were used in the magazines, since they played in to our story lines and characters.

Bill Apter & the Stanley Weston Magazines were ahead of their time when they published Apartment House wrestling pictorials in the 1970?s. The risqu? articles & pictorials provided a ton of T & A to a ton of wrestling fans that were too young for Playboy. Even in 2010, Bill still kayfabe?s me that he had no involvement with the pictorials. There were several wrestling promotions that even put pressure on the Apter magazines to stop publishing the Apartment House coverage by threatening to remove his press coverage to their promotions.

By 1984, Bill Apter & every non WWF photographer was no longer presented press access to shoot photos at ringside. WWF at that point wanted to corner the magazine industry with their slick-color magazine. PWI in retaliation would give even more extensive coverage to the NWA & Pro Wrestling USA to look like they were on the same level to WWF at the time.

Amazingly after 20 years, Bill?s magazine covers & articles are featured on WWE DVD?s that chronicle the territory days. Bill is still respected enough to still be visible and recognizable to many wrestling fans thru his work at www.1wrestling.com, hosting the new line of DVD?s that are put out at kayfabecommentaries.com, and the annual emcee at Ring Roasts.

I owe Bill Apter a ton of gratitude for his involvement in my career by placing me on several magazine covers, articles, pictorials, and a pinup. Even in this current era, I still sign old-school Apter magazines for many wrestling collectors at various wrestling events. When I saw Bill Apter on the ballot, he was an easy Hall Of Fame pick for me in comparison to many other choices that can end up in lengthy debates if they qualify when I discuss it with other wrestlers and fans.

On a sad note, Luna Vachon recently lost almost everything in a house fire. I feel horrible for Luna, since she is such a sweet heart when you get past the voice that sounds like she gargles with broken glass & the tattooed veins on her head. I used to think the voice was part of her character, but amazingly the voice is legitimate. I know she lost all of her wrestling memorabilia that covered her career. I know it doesn?t sound like much to some people. When you calculate all of the injuries, heart break, & frustrations that goes along with 25 years of wrestling, a box full of photos & mementos can sometimes make it all worth while. I'm very sure that Luna would like to have memorabilia that chronicled her career to show her grandchild in the not so distant future.

I love Luna to death for what she did for me at last year?s Ring Roast. When New Jack went on his drunken tirade against me for failing to understand what a roast is in his inebriated state [lets be honest, F*CKED UP STATE]. Luna started screaming at New Jack from the crowd to leave me alone & was about to fight him in my defense. The worst part was Luna would have probably kicked his ass that night.

After the Roast, Luna walked up to me apologizing that she should have beaten him up for me. I was actually touched & will always be indebted to Luna for being one of the few people in wrestling who always looks out for others. Even when promoters tried stiffing the workers or treated somebody unfairly, Luna had no problems in speaking her mind & sticking up for what she felt was right.

I saw an address on Mick Foley?s twitter on where to send donations, at Luna Vachon PO Box 5813 Spring Hill, Fla 34611.

Luna had given so much to the wrestling business. Even a DVD compilation, copies of pictures & magazines, her own wrestling figure, or anything would bring a smile to her face. Even if you send Luna a $5 gift card to Target or Walmart can go along way in rebuilding her home.

Don't forget to stop by @ www.missyhyatt.net. I have tons of reality videos from my wacky wrestling trips, behind the scenes footage, and my life. The reality videos are uncensored, no retakes, and always crazy. I have tons of new pictures of myself and my models added constantly. I have my exclusive no holds barred articles about wrestling. I have weekly chats for web members where we discuss about WWE, TNA, & more. I also have autographed DVD's, trading cards, books, & more that can be purchased @ www.missyhyatt.net

I'm available for wrestling bookings, autograph signings, & Shane McMahon?s old WWE job @ missyhyatt@live.com

Missy Hyatt
1st. Lady Of Wrestling
Observer Hall Of Famer Candidate In 2011
Jesse Ventura/Missy Hyatt For President 2012

Tags: Missy Hyatt, Sting, Kerry Von Erich, Rock-N-Roll Express, Dusty Rhodes, Mil Mascaras, Ric Flair, AWA, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, TNA