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Grappling for Respect

Posted: Jan 15th 2007 By: CMBurnham

A mountain of a man made his way down the runway to a wrestling ring with the energy of two dozen spotlights highlighting every curve of his rippling muscles.

A fan in the audience at the Underground Arena took off his hat and placed it over his heart in admiration of the 330-pound giant. Another slipped off his glasses for a quick clean as if to make sure what he was seeing was real.

Children stood on their seats, mesmerized. Some had American flags clinched in their fists. Others held replicas of championship belts over their heads.

No one could match him. He is their hero. He is The Prophet.

"Pro-phet, Pro-phet, Pro-phet" the fans screamed, shaking their fists at the ring. Yips, yahoos and rebel yells blended with their cheers.

Then his opponent, Tommy Smash, made his grand entrance. Jeers, boos and heckles echoed off the walls.

The wrestlers know what riles the crowd: insults against Sooner football, Oklahoma or anything red, white and blue.

"Get him Prophet" yelled 76-year-old Shirley Collins of Tulsa. "Make him hurt."

Collins, who never misses an All American Championship Wrestling show, is the event's official bell ringer. Her 2-year-old great granddaughter, Makyla Roberts, sat on her lap sipping from a toddler cup while the wrestlers wrangled in the big ring a few feet away.

The arena at 227 SW 25 in the Capitol Hill business district was filled with wrestling lovers of all ages January 6th. The wrestlers of All American Championship Wrestling and its promoters had put on the free event in appreciation of the dedicated fans that attend the regularly scheduled wrestling matches every other month.

Brad Garcia, promoter for AACW, said while the theatrics are good and the display of wrestling skill even better, it's the suspenseful struggle between good and evil that pumps up the crowd.

The good guys are called "faces." The bad guys are "heels."

Garcia said even "heels" are loved for their underhanded deeds. Stunts like swiping an opponent across the head with a folding chair, bashing them with light bulbs and hitting below the belt send the crowd into a tizzy.

Aside from the dramatics, wrestling is real, said Christy Feltz, 36, of Owasso.

Feltz said the bruises her wrestler husband, who she referred to only by his stage name, Bernard Funk, has when he leaves the ring don't wash off with soap and water.

"Most people have the wrong idea about wrestling and wrestlers," Feltz said. "They think it's fake and we're white trash."

She said their family is a relatively normal one. To pay the bills, Funk is a debt collector, but not the kind that breaks legs, she said.

Between her husband and two sons, Josh, 14 and Dylan, 11, wrestling around the house is an everyday occurrence. It's never discouraged, but there is one rule.

"Don't get hurt" she said.

What goes on backstage at a wrestling match is as interesting as the show itself.

Wrestling and boxing legend Danny Hodge mingled with wrestlers between the matches. He demonstrated moves and holds and told war stories of his wins throughout his career. The wrestlers worship him and drink his every word like Gatorade after a hard beating.

Hodge is still in top shape and able to crush an apple with his bare hand. Wrestlers more than half his age say they would love the opportunity to wrangle with him, but they're sure they'd lose.

"He paved the way and opened doors for guys my size to wrestle." said 35-year-old Michael Russell of Guthrie. Russell wrestles under the name Michael James in the 160-210 pound weight class.

"Danny Hodge is the Yoda of wrestling." another wrestler said.

The most important part of wrestling, Hodge said, is believing in yourself, training and "paying your dues." That's the only way a wrestler can work their way up in the organization, he said.

Before ever seeing ring time, a wrestler may spend months or even years setting up the ring, picking up litter after matches and manning the concession stand, Hodge said.

Souljar Mills, 26, of Edmond said he paid his dues, and is still paying, to get ring time as The Prophet.

"You can be the biggest, baddest wrestler in the world, but until you earn respect,; you're nothing." Mills said.

Mills is a martial arts instructor and poet. He said the love of wrestling isn't about money. His average match earns him about $20.

"It's about the kids and the fans that come see us." Mills said. "We love them, as much as they love us."

Caleb Carter, 11, of Collinsville said he likes AACW wrestling for the hardcore matches, where a bloody gash on the arm or forehead is routine.

"The more blood, the better." Carter said.

The next All American Championship Wrestling event is 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20. For tickets, call 604-5509.