While in grad school, I met a pro wrestler at a gym where I had one strength stunt that I performed well, doing a lot of leg presses (with an Olympic Bar, not a machine). I was a one trick pony. He asked me if I would do the stunt at a show and then he could knock the bar over on top of me and hurt me badly. I said, no, I don't want to die, until he told the weights would be hollowed out and the Olympic Bar would be light (the damned bars weigh 45 pounds without the sleeves). I will do just about anything for money.
After that I helped set up rings and props and wrestled in small venues if somebody who knew what he was doing was hurt. I didn't go to wrestling school and I sucked, so I got pinned quickly every time I fumbled around out there. The less time you are in the ring, the less folks can tell you don't have any moves at all. But it was not big time back then and a lot of guys sucked. I got to meet some terrific wrestlers: Superstar Billy Graham, Peter Maiva (The Rock's Grandpa), Bob Backlund (who could really wrestle) and Kevin Sullivan (who was incredibly strong for a little guy).
The tradition of bringing amateurs into the ring continues today in the regional promotions. About 10 years ago, Smokey Mountain Wrestling was sued because a pro seriously beat the crap out of an amateur. The amateur was about 450 pounds of fat, but it turned out he was only 15 and had lied about his age. I don't know why they actually hurt the kid. The story was that the pro was an ex-con who had a mean streak. |
