Sunday May 19, 1996 Madison Square Garden in New York City, 2pm house show. Hunter Hearst Hemsley defeats Razor Ramon AKA Scott Hall while WWF champion “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels defeats former champion Diesel AKA Kevin Nash. What happened next will forever be known as the “curtain call” as the four real life friends held an unauthorized farewell. Hall and Nash have decided to leave for further their careers a bit down the road. A few weeks later both men arrive and are introduced to the rabid fans of the world famous ECW Arena in Philadelphia.

No this didn’t really happen but the crew over at www.KayfabeCommentaries.com asks the question what if Hall and Nash didn’t go to the former World Championship Wrestling and be part of booker Eric Bischoff’s monster New World Order gimmick that led WCW to overtake WWF in the ratings. Producer Sean Oliver isn’t doing the hypothetical arrival on his own. He enlists the man who was ECW World champion in 1996 and a brilliant mind in the business, Raven to be the booker of their arrival. The end result is a 90 minute DVD in their Guest Booker series subtitled Raven Booking Hall & Nash in ECW.

Oliver sits Raven down with a copy of the 1996 ECW roster, a wipe board, some markers and plenty of paper. Raven is told to book Hall and Nash’s arrival in June until the first ECW PPV Barely Legal in April of 1997. That is where the fun begins as Raven races through the entire program rewriting wrestling history. I have to be honest despite growing up in New York and living there until 1996 I was never an ECW fan and had to use several resources to get the lay of the land in the promotion during this time frame. The DVD requires you to suspend reality that Hall and Nash left WWF to get respect they didn’t get as Raven suggests in the feature, instead of the number one reason anyone went to WCW in 1996…Ted Turner’s humongous checkbook.

I will not give away Raven’s booking moves but he makes some interesting choices. Some people will object to the way he introduces the two men to the ECW faithful in the Arena but that is the point of the DVD to give Raven’s version of the booking not Paul Heyman or anyone else. The funniest part is when he basically kicks Oliver out of the seat in front of the dry erase board and takes over. Raven uses every single minute of time allotted to him and then enjoys a meal on camera as the credits roll. Raven should be booking somewhere in the US and being used to better the business.

The item is available through www.KayfabeCommentaries.com for $20. Also through their site you can other great DVD’s with Missy Hyatt, Honky Tonk Man, Tito Santana, Greg Valentine and more in the Guest Booker series with JJ Dillon, Gabe Sapolsky and Kevin Sullivan.

– Alan J. Wojcik
http://alanwojcik.com
(5/6/08)

Wrestler of the (5/6) Week Kenki Muta

Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, profiles the new IWGP champion. A veteran of the ring wars for almost 25 years, Mutoh has worked both sides of the business. He is this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week

The early days

Keiji began his career working for New Japan Pro Wrestling. His early days weren’t very successful. He lost many more matches than he won. Keiji went through several identity remodifications during the first few years of his career.

Eventually,Keiji was teamed with Masahiro Chono and Shiro Koshinaka. Keiji and Shiro would capture IWGP tag team titles. After a successful stint as tag champions, the Powers-That-Be decided to Loan Keiji to Puerto Rico’s WWC for further training.

Keiji took on the mantle of the Super Ninja in Puerto Rico. He received training from Carlos Colon, Abdullah the Butcher and others. They installed a vicious streak in the young Asian that would stay with him his entire career. Colon contacted Hiro Matsuda, in Florida, to take over the training of Keiji. The man who trained both Hulk Hogan and Lex Luger decided to have Keiji mirror another of his students, The Great Kabuki. The name The Great Muta was a tribute to Kabuki. Keiji was promoted as Kabuki’s son, though they were not related. They formed a nasty team known as The Rising Suns.

Kabuki contacted Fritz Von Erich, an old friend, about bringing Keiji to Dallas for further training and exposure. Keiji had a very brief run as the Super Black Ninja before accepting a position with Jim Crockett.

The Great Muta

After leaving Dallas, Keiji unveiled his Muta character. One story has it that the Muta name came about because of Fritz Von Erich’s strong southern accent. When Fritz would refer to Mutoh, it came out sounding like Muta. The Great Muta was a more agile version of his “father”, The Great Kabuki. He utilized the face paint and even sprayed the mist. The mist was actually Jell-o powder spit into the air. The saliva in Keiji’s mouth would make it run like blood down his jaw. While Kabuki had only used green (lime) mist, Muta utilized several colors, including red and yellow. Each mist was supposed to have a different effect on his opponent. The concept was similar to the different forms of Kryptonite and their effects on Superman..

Muta was teamed with Gary Hart in the NWA. Hart had served as Muta’s manager in World Class. Hart created a faction with Muta, Kendo Nagasaki and Terry Funk known as the J-Tex Corporations (J-Japan, Tex-Texas). The faction dissolved after a short time. Muta feuded with Sting and numerous other NWA/WCW faces. After a couple of years, Muta decided to go home to Japan.

Back to Japan

The Great Muta had a very successful run when he returned to Japan. He won all the major championships in New Japan. He won the IWGP tag belts with multiple partners. Muta also kept in touch with the now-WCW organization.Muta was one of the main men who help to establish the working relationship between the two organizations.

Muta has the honor of being the first man to hold the NWA and IWGP titles, at the same time. He would eventually unify the two titles. Muta would team with his former rival, Sting, for several shows in Japan. During this busiest time of his career, Muta suffered a knee injury and had to take some time off to rehab the knee.

When Muta returned, he became a member of the Japanese version of the nWo. That faction was more popular in Japan than the American version was in the states. After the nWo angle ran it’s course, Muta decided to make another trip to the US.

WCW’s Dark Carnival

When Muta returned to WCW, he was teamed with Vampiro and the Insane Clown Posse. Their faction was known as the Dark Carnival. Muta usually teamed with Vampiro. The Demon was later added to the group. That group had mediocre success, at best. Muta would eventually move away from the Dark Carnival faction to feud with Sting. Eventually, Muta decided to head back home. It was reported that he was disappointed in the direction his US career had gome.

Muta out…Muto in

When Keiji returned to Japan, he jumped to All-Japan. This was the equivalent of going from WCW to the WWF/E in the US. New Japan held the Japanese rights to the title of The Great Muta, so Keiji was unable to use Muta or Great in his ring name. Keiji got the last laugh by slightly changing the spelling of his given name. So, Keiji Mutoh became Kuiji Muto. New Japan tried to prevent Keiji from using the Muto name, since it was so close to the Muta name. Their bid to stop Muto failed and Keiji went on to a fabulous run with All-Japan.

Muto also began to work more and more behind the scenes with All-Japan. He would serve as the figurehead for the company for quite some time. His in-ring appearance became fewer and fewer. He would basically would anniversary shows and a few other select dates. Keiji took All-Japan to undreamed of success. He is credited with the boom of Japanese wrestling between 2002 and 2007.

The return of The Great Muta

In 2007, Keiji took an offer from Carlos Colon to work a few dates in Puerto Rico. The crowds embraced the legend. Muta worked a couple of events in the states, as well, before heading back to Japan.

Keiji came to an arrangement with New Japan to return to work for them in early 2008. He was able to re-embrace his face-painted, mist-spewing Kabuki-esque character. On April 27, 2008, The Great Muta took the IWGP championship from Shinsuke Nakamura. After close to 25 years in the ring, The Great Muta has begun the next step of his legendary career.

In conclusion:

Keiji Mutoh never wrestled in ECW, AWA or WWE. Most would expect him to be just a minor footnote in wrestling history books. Mutoh is perhaps the greatest success story to come out of Japan. With training from masters of the mat like Hiro Matsuda, Gary Hart, Chris Adams, Masahiro Chono and so many more, The Great Muta/Keiji Mutoh will likely be remembered as the biggest import to ever work a WCW ring. Many wrestlers have patterned their careers after Keiji. Tajiri used the mist and the savate kicks. Several stars use the Backspring Elbow in the ring. The Motor City Machine Guns use the Muta Slider Leg Drop. Keiji’s influences can be seen all over the wrestling world.

With his IWGP win, Keiji Mutoh has made himself the top man in Japan. Most wrestlers are done with their careers by the 25 year mark. The Great Muta is just starting part two of his career. The Great Muta is now facing a lot of kids that weren’t even born when he started in the ring. For his long-term staying power and for winning the IWGP title, Keiji “The Great Muta” Mutoh is this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week.

–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(5/6/08)

Review: Shimmer 13 DVD!

SHIMMER Women Athletes Vol. 13

Brad Dyckens, esteemed editor of Online World of Wrestling, puts on his critics hat to evaluate the latest Shimmer DVD!

Dave Prazak’s ultra-fantastic SHIMMER Women Athlete’s was riding a huge wave of momentum, on the heels of the crowning of the first SHIMMER champion in Sara Del Rey. The SHIMMER crew presented the thirteenth installment of their celebrated DVD series, featuring North America’s hottest and most talented female professional wrestlers.

Serena Deeb vs. Alicia: The story here stems from when Alicia replaced Serena in the SHIMMER title tournament after Serena was in a car accident on the way to the show. Alicia only made it to the second round but I guess Serena felt she had to get some kind of revenge on Alicia anyway. Maybe Serena thought Alicia was the one who ran her off the road? Serena gets more beautiful every time I see her, and I really hope they begin to build her towards a future title match. If they are, this would be the first step, as she scored the victory and began her ascent up the ladder or success.

Malia Hosaka vs. Josie: Malia Hosaka should be in WWE or TNA, as a teacher and an on-screen performer. Not only does she have the skills and experience, but she is as hot as the sun (figuratively speaking). Josie has done a phenomenal job redefining herself after considerable weight loss. She is now smaller, faster, and full of that all-important piss and vinegar. Josie was taking on somebody who, no doubt, is one of her idols, and must have soaked in benefit of Malia’s experience even in a losing effort. Malia Hosaka gets a well-deserved singles victory.

Lexie Fyfe vs. Eden Black: The British firefly Eden Black, who Allison Danger insists on calling “Indyrific,” went up against the women who would later play the part of Hillary Clinton on the April 21st (2008) edition of WWE RAW - Lexie Fyfe! You could say this was another old-school vs. new-school match, and the new-school rep “Jezebel, oops I mean Indyrific” Eden Black surprisingly made the experienced Lexie Fyfe tap out to the Garden of Eden submission finisher.

MsChif vs. Portia Perez: It sincerely pains me to see my fellow Canadian, Miss Perez, play the part of heel, because she is so young, so cute, and so Canadian! MsChif was accompanied by her Scream Queen partner, Daffney, and took advantage of the clearly frightened Canuck standing in the opposite corner. Portia’s colors are pink and black, but she spent the first part of the match trying to avoid a heart-attack! That’s right, I’m a poet. The noticeably superior MsChif finished young Portia off with a devastating move called “Obliteration.” And the move looked as scary as it sounds.

Inside the ring, the bubbly Becky Bayless interviewed the injured and limping Alexa Thatcher, who explained that she fractured her foot in a “pretty bad accident,” but plans to be back in action as soon as possible. Alicia interrupted with a condescending tone, saying she hoped Alexa would be back. While exiting the ring, Alicia assaulted a suspicious Alexa Thatcher, repeatedly stomping her braced foot. Bitch! Is it just me or has there been A LOT more in-ring “talking” segments since Alicia’s arrival? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Cheerleader Melissa vs. “Portuguese Princess” Ariel: Everybody’s favorite San Francisco treat, Cheerleader Melissa, was prepared to eat the perpetually cheerful Ariel for lunch. This match took place before Melissa debuted in TNA under the mysterious mask going by the name “Raesha Saed.” That last tidbit was for any of my readers who have been living under a rock. Melissa made Ariel look good for about ten minutes before putting her down with the Air Raid Crash finisher.

“Dark Angel” Sarah Stock vs. Daizee Haze: I always knew Sarah Stock was good, but when I finally got to see her in action with my very own eyes, when she debuted with SHIMMER, she instantly became my co-favorite female wrestler - along with Sara Del Rey. It doesn’t hurt that she’s Canadian, either. Sarah Stock’s skills are so superior to everyone else’s, it sometimes makes everyone else look bad by comparison. TNA would be very smart to scoop her up immediately. Her opponent, Daizee Haze, has taken her share of beatings throughout the previous twelve SHIMMER DVD’s - and picked up an inspiring number of wins too. There was a “Little Person” in the crowd, who I’m pretty sure was WWE’s Hornswoggle. Anyway he got up and danced with The Haze a little bit! The crowd wanted more dancing, and the Haze delivered with a weird freak dance which ONLY Daizee could pull off and still look good. The Woodstock flower-child put up a heck of a fight, but Sarah Stock’s flawless natural ability was too much, and Stock continued to plow through the SHIMMER roster.

Dog Collar Match - Allison Danger vs. Cindy Rogers: The bitter Danger/Rogers feud has culminated in a dangerous Dog Collar match. The crowd was about half stunned by the brutality involved in this match. Eventually Danger suffered a cut on her forehead and started to bleed. That’s right folks, blood in a women’s match! Both girls came within an eyelash of winning, only to be jerked back by the neck just when they were about to tap the fourth and final corner pad. There aren’t many possible finishes for a Dog Collar match, but they did the thing where Cindy Rogers carried Allison Danger on her back and touched each pad, only to have Danger tap the pad behind her. They swerved from the traditional finish, and had Danger inadvertently STO Rogers into the corner, giving the villainous “Definition of Technician” a big victory over her nemesis!

Sara Del Rey & Nikki Roxx vs. The Minnesota Home-wrecking Crew (Rain & Lacey): The man-hating Rain and Lacey wore matching outfits with custom made white tank-tops with their names printed artfully on the front. They both removed their tops, revealing their delicious rock-hard abs. I wrote that only because when they read it they will roll their gorgeous eyes at me. SHIMMER champion Sara Del Rey led her partner Nikki Roxx to the ring, fending off any evil-doers with her plastic “death rey” toy gun. This match was booked after the shenanigans that went down during the finals of the SHIMMER title tournament. It was Del Rey vs. Lacey, but when Rain started interfering on Lacey’s behalf, the powerful Nikki Roxx hit the scene and hastily took care of the illegal “Home-wrecker” interference. The Minnesota Home-wrecking Crew are extremely unified as a team, whereas Del Rey and Roxx may not be all that familiar with each other. Del Rey has to be aware that Roxx, like everyone on the SHIMMER roster, is gunning for the SHIMMER championship. I thought for sure that the Roxx and Del Rey combination would crumble at the first sign of trouble. I was wrong. They worked like a well-oiled machine, and finished off the home-wreckers with a Barbie-crusher and a Royal Butterfly.

Final Thoughts: For the first five matches of the card, it seemed like they were throwing the less experienced wrestlers to the wolves. But I guess that is all part of the learning process; at least one of them (Eden Black) scored an underdog victory. As usual, the second half was pure dynamite - featuring three brilliant matches. They are building up several wrestlers for shots at the SHIMMER championship, so there will be no shortage of challengers for the Death Rey. Serena, Melissa, Sarah Stock, and Roxx - to name a few.

If you would like to purchase this or any other SHIMMER DVD, please check out ROHwrestling.com - and also be sure to show your support by checking out www.SHIMMERwrestling.com - Thank you!

–

Legends: The Vopn Erich Family

Our resident philosopher and historian, Jay Shannon, takes a look at the tragic Von Erich family. A third generation of Von Erichs are now plying their trade in the squared circle.

Growing up in Dallas, wrestling could be summed up in two words, Von Erich. My grandfather took me to the Sportatorium on a regular basis to watch Fritz battle Kabuki, Johnny Valentine, Gary Hart and others. After Grandpa passed on, my step-father took me back to watch Fritz’s sons follow in their father’s footsteps. In this edition of Legends, I want to look at the three generations of Von Erichs. They’ve gone from the highest of highs to the depths of tragic lows. They are still considered the cornerstones of (Dallas) Texas wrestling. The new generation will likely outshine their famous fathers and grandfather.

Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson)

He was the patriarch of the family. Fritz had a mediocre college football career at SMU. Fritz would promote himself, in later years, as being a stand-out star on the gridiron. Aftrer college, Jack played pro football for the Dallas Texans. He left the Texans and moved to Canada to play for the Canadian Football League.

In Canada, Jack met legendary promoter/wrestler, Stu Hart. Hart helped Jack create his German character. Fritz was originally promoted as being loyal to the ideology of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. In the 1950’s, the scars of World War II were still fresh. Fritz worked in the Northeast, Ohio region and Canada. Fritz would goosestep to the ring, draped in a black cape. Fritz had the Nazi Swastika on his boots and the cape. Fritz often had to have police assistance to escape the rabid crowds.

In 1959, Fritz’s eldest son, Jack, Jr., died in a freak accident. He was electrocuted and drowned in a puddle of melted snow. The death struck Fritz to the core. He decided to take himself off the road and spend more time with the family. Fritz moved from the Buffalo, New York area to St. Louis. In St. Louis, Fritz didn’t have to tour to make a living. House shows were all within a day’s driving trip from the family’s home.

Fritz began to learn the business end of wrestling from promoter, Sam Muchnick. Fritz also battled against the top stars that came through the St. Louis market. Eventually, Sam and Fritz struck a deal where Sam would back Fritz in purchasing the Dallas territory. Fritz would promote in Northern and Eastern Texas, and Southern Oklahoma areas. Paul Boesch promoted around Houston. The Funks had the West Texas market. Fritz would eventually expand along the Gulf Coast, as well as over-taking both Houston and San Antonio markets.

Fritz would turn the Dallas territory into one of the hottest territories in the US. Fritz converted from the German Stormtrooper character to the Good Ol’ Boy that was back home in Texas. Fritz based the business on his family and a close circle of friends. Fritz’s sons were the focal point of the organization. That would bring unbelievable success to the company. It would also cause the implosion of World Class.

After the deaths of his sons, Fritz sold off his interest in the company to Jerry Jarrett. Fritz went into full retirement. By the end of his life, Fritz had lost 5 of his 6 children. His wife, Doris, divorced him after almost 40 years of marriage. Fritz died of lung and brain cancer on September 10, 1997.

Waldo Von Erich (Walter Sieber)

Walter trained with Red Garner at a local Toronto YMCA. Garner introduced Walter to Stu Hart. Walter went through a few identity changes before hooking up with Fritz. Stu teamed them as a brother act. They were a brutal team that dominated in all the areas they competed in. Fritz was the loud-mouth, arrogant heel that spoke for the team. Waldo was the quiet hulking brute that came in and battled against all comers.

Behind the curtain, Waldo was very polite and kind to children. My own wife, Linda, met Waldo in Ohio when she was a young child. Many years later, she still talks with fondness about how sweet and charming the huge man was to her and her friends.

After Fritz left for St. Louis, Waldo moved to the WWWF. He battled against Bruno Sammartino for the title. After his run in the WWWF, Waldo finished up his career working the promotions around the Northeast US and Canada. Waldo retired in 1979 and moved back to Canada.

After retirement, Waldo invested his money in a lake and a castle. He also began working with physical rehabilitation professionals. Walter created an inverted chair that he sold to numerous sports teams that helped with back injury rehab. Waldo is still alive and well. Waldo has also helped train new wrestlers. His most famous students are Eric Young and The Highlanders (Rory and Robbie McAllister).

David Von Erich (David Adkisson)

David was the stand-out member of the Von Erich sons. He was dubbed the Yellow Rose, a name he first gained in Japan. The Yellow Rose is also linked with David’s Texas heritage. David bore a striking resemblance to his father. David was the first of the Von Erich children to expand beyond the Dallas and St. Louis markets. David walked away from his father’s iron grip and accepted a position in Florida. David received invaluable training from his journey to the Sunshine State. He also became friends with Florida wrestler, Jimmy Garvin. David convinced Garvin to come to Texas to work a program with him. Their feud was one of the hottest of 1983.

David was scouted by the NWA as the next World Champion. He was set, according to Ric Flair, to take the World title from Flair in the spring of 1984. David would never make it to the match. In February of 1984, David, Bruiser Brody and several other World Class stars went to Japan for a tour. David was found dead in his hotel room. Ric Flair claimed that David died of an overdose. Flair said Brody got rid of the drug evidence. The Von Erich family claimed that David died of a intestinal rupture. The truth of what caused David’s death will likely never be known, for sure. David was only 25 when he died on February 10,1984.

Kevin Von Erich (Kevin Adkisson)

Kevin is the last surviving son of Fritz and Doris. Kevin didn’t want to be a wrestler, initially. He had an outstanding football career in high school and at the University of North Texas. An injury derailed his football career. Fritz convinced his son to join the family business.

Kevin wrestled barefoot due to a practical joke. Just minutes before his first match, someone in the locker room stole Kevin wrestling boots. Kevin had no choice but to wrestle without shoes. Kevin found that he was much more comfortable wrestling without shoes. He would wrestle his entire career in his bare feet. Kevin was one of the earliest “high flyers” in the ring. His moves were a combination of aerial moves and solid mat action. His Body Scissors was a brutal move that often led to a win. He also used the family’s Iron Claw as a finisher.

Kevin retired early from the ring due to numerous concussions and other injuries. He was also upset at his father selling the World Class territory to Jerry Jarrett. In addition, Kevin was disillusioned by the business following the loss of his brothers. Kevin held the rights to the entire World Class library until selling it to Vince McMahon. Kevin has made a few appearances over the years, but has mainly focused on his four children and business ventures. One of Kevin’s sons, Ross, is being trained for an in-ring career. Kevin recently sold the family home in Texas and relocated to Hawaii.

Kerry Von Erich (Kerry Adkisson)

Kerry was the most successful of all the Von Erich sons. He took David’s spot in winning the NWA World title after David’s death. Kerry wasn’t as popular with the championship committee of the NWA as his late brother, so Kerry’s reign only lasted 18 days. The loss of the NWA title was a catalyst for World Class pulling out of the NWA.

Kerry accepted a position with the then-WWF. He was billed as the Texas Tornado. Kerry beat “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig for the Intercontinental championship. Kerry left the WWF after the 1992 Royal Rumble and returned home to Texas. Many sources suggest that Kerry was released from the WWE, due to drug issues. Kerry was one of the very few men to compete for ECW, AWA, NWA and WWE. He was managed by Nancy Sullivan-Benoit aka Woman during a brief tour of Eastern Championship Wrestling, which morphed into ECW.

Kerry was also the most troubled of the Von Erich brothers. Kerry was arrested several times on drug charges. At the time of his death, Kerry was facing prison time for forging prescriptions. Kerry also lost his right foot in 1986, due to a motorcycle accident. The amputation was hidden by Fritz and the World Class press machine. Kerry never removed his boot at shows, even in the showers. The fans only learned about the lost foot when Kerry lost his right boot during a match in Las Vegas. Kerry took his own life by shooting himself on his father’s property. Kerry died on February 18, 1993. Kerry was survived by two daughters, Lacey and Hollie.

Mike Von Erich (Michael Adkisson)

Mike Von Erich did not like the idea of wrestling. He wanted to work behind the scenes, especially in video production. Mike was much smaller than his brothers. Fritz forced Mike into the family business as a replacement for David. Mike tried his best and was loved by the fans. He was also passingly successful, holding the American title, the Six-Man title and the Middle Eastern championship. Mike was the one and only Middle Eastern champion. Mike was also voted Rookie of the Year in 1984.

Tragedy changed Mike’s life, forever. In August, 1985, Mike injured his shoulder during a tour of Israel. The surgery on the shoulder brought about a rare case of Toxic Shock Syndrome that nearly cost Mike his life. An extremely high fever is believed to have caused some brain damage. Mike’s responses seemed slowed after the fever. Mike’s speech was also affected. Doctors begged Mike to stay away from the ring, but his family loyalty led to his return.

A combination of medical issues and stress over trying to live up to the family name led Mike into a downward spiral of drugs, alcohol and sexual problems. Just days before his suicide, Mike was arrested on drug charges. Mike was facing jail time over the charges. Mike left his family a note and disappeared. According to the book Wrestling Babylon, Fritz tried to promote the disappearance as a kidnapping. Fritz tried to blame The Freebirds for the disappearance to maintain company integrity. Mike wrapped himself in a sleeping bag and OD’d on Placidyl, a sleeping pill. Mike died on April 12, 1987.

Chris Von Erich (Chris Adkisson)

Mike and Kevin were hesitant to enter wrestling. Chris, on the other hand, dreamed of nothing else. Chris idolized his older brothers and father. Chris began working for his father from a very early age. Chris ran cameras, sold concessions, and helped the stars. The older brothers were concerned about Chris’s health. Chris had severe asthma. Chris also had Brittle Bone Syndrome. While training for the ring, Chris broke his arm after landing from a Dropkick attempt.

Chris had only a few matches, mostly against Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer). Chris’ career lasted for less than a year. Chris became depressed after the loss of his brother, Mike. That depression, combined with frustration over not being able to live up to the Von Erich name, drove Chris to shoot himself in the head on September 12, 1991. He died the same day.

Lance Von Erich (WIlliam “Ricky” Vaughn)

Fritz Von Erich needed new family members in 1985. David had dies in Japan. Mike was on the shelf due to toxic shock syndrome. Fritz originally planned to use Jim Hellwig (The Ultimate Warrior) to play the part of his nephew. Several World Class stars alerted Fritz to a young wrestler in the Portland territory named Ricky Vaughn. Fritz decided to go with Ricky. Hellwig would later be brought in as an ally to the Von Erichs as the Dingo Warrior. The Von Erich brothers objected strongly to the addition of a “cousin”. Their objections fell on deaf ears.

Vaughn was brought in as Waldo’s son. The fans were already familiar with Ricky Vaughn, due to high coverage in various wrestling magazines. Gary Hart mentioned in various interviews that he heard from fans who lost faith in the Von Erichs due to the blatant lie. Fans never quite accepted “cousin” Lance as one of the Von Erichs.

Vaughn got into a contract dispute with Fritz over money in 1987. Vaughn jumped to a local rival promotion without notice. Vaughn was forced to give up the Von Erich name, which was trademarked. He wrestled for a couple of years in Texas and Puerto Rico. Eventually, Vaughn gave up the wrestling business and moved to South Africa.

Fritz was so angry about the whole Lance situation that he broke out of character and admitted in an interview that Lance was not a member of the Von Erich family. In 1987, breaking kayfabe was unheard of. Lance was never spoken of again. He was not mentioned on the television programs after Fritz’s diatribe on Vaughn.

Lacey Von Erich (Lacey Adkisson)

The third generation star is the daughter of Kerry and the granddaughter of Fritz. She had a brief run in FCW, a WWE developmental territory. Rumors were swirling that she was going to be called up to the WWE as Keri Von Erich. That has never been confirmed. It’s actually irrelevant now, as she was released by the WWE in late 2007. She has moved on to work for the Pro Wrestling Revolution group, located in Northern California. She utilizes the family’s Iron Claw as her finisher. I actually met Lacey when she a very small child. She was with her father at a charity show at the University of North Texas in 1990, just before Kerry left for the WWE. She was a sweet little kid who grew up to be a lovely young woman. She has the chance to finally break the Family Curse.

Ross Von Erich (David Ross Adkisson)

The elder son of Kevin Von Erich is being trained by his father for a possible career in wrestling. Ross grew up in Denton, Texas and lived a fairly quiet life. Ross, like his father, was interested in football. Ross has made a few in-ring appearances with his father. Kevin has said in several interviews that he would support his children if they chose to wrestle, but he would not push them like he and his brothers were pushed.

Marshall Von Erich (Kerry Marshall Adkisson)

The younger son of Kevin, Marshall has yet to make his debut. That may be because of his young age. From all reports, Marshall idolizes his family and might want to follow his father and older brother into the wrestling business. Kevin mentioned on the Legends of World Class film, that he wants to give his children a good life and allow them to make their own choices. Marshall lives with his parents in Hawaii, where he attends school.

In Conclusion:

The Von Erich family has undergone multiple tragedies, over the years. Kevin is the only surviving brother. Two of Fritz’s grandchildren are starting careers in the industry. Hopefully, the next generation of Von Erichs won’t have to endure the heartaches and sorrow that their fathers had to face. Regarless of where wrestling takes Lacey, Ross and (possibly) Marshall, they are still part of one of the most talented families to ever step inside a wrestling ring. The Von Erichs are all certified Legends and deserve their place in the wrestling history books.

–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(5/5/08)

Review: Chickfight 8 DVD

The esteemed editor of Online World of Wrestling, Brad Dyckens, puts on his reviewer’s cap to examine a very exciting new DVD.

FIRST ROUND MATCH - Wesna vs. Pandora: The first thing that I noticed was that there was no commentary on this DVD, and that is especially important for me personally when I am not familiar with some of the talent. I don’t know a whole lot about Pandora, although she does share at least one of her physical qualities with former WWE wrestler Rikishi. Wesna has quickly become one of my favorite female wrestlers, after seeing her wrestle only two or three times. The Croatian Panther, as she is known, made short work of Pandora to move on to the second round of the ChickFight tournament.

FIRST ROUND MATCH - Jade vs. Violet: The next match featured a couple of young school-girls who I was entirely unfamiliar with. It didn’t really matter who won, because that person would inevitably be eaten up by Wesna in the second round. ChickFight ambassador Cheerleader Melissa interfered, giving the heel Jade the disqualification victory.

Violet attempted to show respect to Melissa, but the “Female Terminator” went heel and destroyed the British vixen. A irate Melissa cut a colorful promo with some salty language, ranting about how popular ChickFight was in America and how embarrassing it was to see girls like Jade and Violet participating in the UK. Melissa’s true grip was revealed, as she called out Trans-Atlantic champion Eden Black for their Falls Count Anywhere grudge match.

TRANS-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH

“Jezebel” Eden Black vs. Cheerleader Melissa: The feisty little redhead, Eden Black, is so damn good that you easily forget that she is only about a hundred pounds - one of the smallest wrestlers I’ve ever seen. She has that Rey Mysterio quality about her, where she can make you believe that she can compete on an even playing field with just about anybody. This match, however, was a different story, as Melissa really took out her aggression on the local spitfire. The Jezebel fought hard, with all the heart in the world, but Melissa’s brutality was far too much for her to handle. The referee called off the match after Melissa viciously clocked poor Eden Black with a stiff punch/forearm to the face!

FIRST ROUND MATCH - MsChif vs. Kelly Adams: MsChif is the only former ChickFight winner participating in ChickFight 8. The green mist spewing Scream Queen won the fourth ChickFight tournament, and consequently became the first American to win it. Kelly Adams is another young inexperienced wrestler, but I will give her some credit for her obvious potential. Most of these British girl wrestlers are getting some good training from somebody. MsChif put Adams away with one of her trademark finishers - Obliteration - one of the only finishing moves worthy of its name.

FIRST ROUND MATCH - Jetta vs. Skye: When I first saw Jetta about two years ago, I was very much unimpressed. But with each and every time I saw her wrestle, I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was improving at a steady rate, and by this point she has developed into a very remarkable competitor. Likewise, Skye has shown great improvement since I first saw her, but she is not as seasoned as Jetta - who has become the British version of Lacey. Jetta advanced to the second round after making Skye tap out via submission.

Cheerleader Melissa returned to the ring and challenged whoever wins ChickFight 8 to a Trans-Atlantic championship match directly following the tournament final.

SECOND ROUND MATCH - Wesna vs. Jade: Just like I predicted, Wesna destroyed Jade in a very short match, even with botched interference by Jade’s partner, Kelly Adams. Wesna should be well-rested for whomever she faces in the finals.

SECOND ROUND MATCH - Jetta vs. MsChif: This was quite a match. It was Jetta’s chance to prove that she is one of the top female wrestlers in the UK. Wearing pink and black from head to toe, Jetta stretched MsChif repeatedly, building her confidence along the way. What she didn’t realize was that MsChif is one of the most flexible people on the planet, not to mention having an unbelievable threshold for pain. MsChif survived the onslaught and turned the tables, forcing Jetta to submit to her own submission maneuver.

CHICKFIGHT 8 FINALS - Wesna vs. MsChif: You really never know what you’re gonna get when you watch a ChickFight tournament final. The ChickFight people are known to throw in random stipulations or allow excessive violence in order to provide a clear-cut winner. This match featured a familiar weapon, in the form of a ten-foot ladder, which was pulled out from under the ring. Eventually, it was the “Croatian Panther” Wesna who scored the victory to become the ChickFight 8 champion!

TRANS-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Cheerleader Melissa vs. Wesna: Wesna’s victory celebration was cut short by Cheerleader Melissa making good on her promise to defend the Trans-Atlantic championship against the ChickFight 8 winner. Wesna didn’t really have a choice in the matter, but I’m sure she would have jumped at the chance to challenge for the title. This match was brutul, but it was icing on the cake as far as I am concerned. The people at ChickFight could have ended the DVD after the tournament wrapped up but they gave viewers one extra match, which turned out to be the best match of show. Those girls beat the living crap out of each other in and out of the ring for a good twenty minutes before Melissa destroyed Wesna with a Kudo-driver (aka Vertibreaker) for the win.

Final Thoughts: As usual, the production for ChickFight was great, and the title menu design is the absolute best in the wrestling business and is up there with the best in any industry. Wesna really earned her stripes on this night, and will hopefully be a big part of future ChickFight DVD’s and episodes of ChickFight TV (www.chickfight.tv). There is also a special bonus match between Pandora vs. Chelsae Carter (although the menu called her “Bubbles”).

– Brad Dykens
OnlineWorldofWrestling.com
(5/1/08)

If you would like to purchase this or any other ChickFight DVD, you can buy them at most Best Buy stores or you can get them online at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca - For more information please check out ChickFight.TV and watch streaming video samples at ClickWrestle.com. If you’re new to ChickFight than I suggest you check out the ChickFight Starter Kit

Wrestling Birthdays for May!

The Editorial Staff would like to send birthday greetings to all those celebrating the anniversay of their births. Best wishes to one and all

02 - Ray “Big Bossman” Traylor, Duane “The Rock” Johnson
03 - Mike Matrix
04 - Moondog Rex, Mr. Fuji, Scott Armstrong
05 - Bill Watts, Don Kernodle, Hiro Hase, Princess Victoria
06 - Brian Knobbs, Hercules Hernandez, Owen Hart
09 - Bastian Booger, Ron Barrier, Gino Britto
10 - Rico Fredrico, Tito Santana, Verne Gagne
11 - Paul Diamond/Kato
14 - Robert Fuller, Tommy Rogers, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Vader (Leon White)
15 - Don Duffy, Kevin Von Erich, Ron “Faarooq” Simmons
16 - Johnny Rodz, Kama/Godfather
17 - Earl Hebner, Dave Hebner, Alex Wright, Nancy Sullivan-Benoit, L.T. Shannon
18 - Blue Meanie, Jimmy Snuka, Matt Brock
19 - Andre the Giant, Cousin Luke, Dick Slater
20 - Paul Lauria, B.G. James
22 - Brian Pillman, Yumi Fukawa
23 - Julio La Razza
24 - Bambi
25 - Hiro Saito, Tatsutsoshi Gotch
26 - Lance Diamond
27 - Eric Bischoff
28 - Don Curtis, Etsuko Mita, Kimona, Kamala
29 - Samu, Spice (Nitro Girl), Steve Corino
30 - Jake Roberts

– The PWD Editorial Staff
(5/1/08)

Legends: “High Chief” Peter Maivia

Our resident Philosopher and Historian, Jay Shannon, takes a look at “High Chief” Peter Maivia. Maivia was inducted into the 2008 Hall of Fame, this year. He was one of the founding members of the Samoan family of wrestling

Samoans have always had a significant role in wrestling. From Afa and Sika to The Rock, Rosey, Umaga and Afa Jr., the islanders have provided a great deal of excitement and action in the ring. This year, one of the founders of the Samoan family got a long over-due place in the WWE Hall of Fame. He was the father-in-law to fellow Hall of Famer, Rocky Johnson. He was also the grandfather to future Hall of Famer, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This edition of Legends looks at the “High Chief” Peter Maivia.

A real-life Samoan beginning

Unlike many of today’s Samoans who are either from Hawaii or California, Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia, aka Peter Maivia, was born in Western Samoa. Due to his large size, Maivia was recruited by promoters from New Zealand to become a professional wrestler. He worked for both the NWA New Zealand and NWA Australia promotions, holding the top titles in both organizations.

It was during this time in his life, Maivia met his wife, Lia. They would later have a daughter, Ata. Ata Maivia-Johnson is the ex-wife of Rocky Johnson and the mother of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. They would also have a son, Peter, Jr. The Wild Samoans web site also lists another son, Toa, but a source close to the family denies that Toa is actually Peter’s son.

West Coast Samoan tradition begins

Maivia is considered the head of the Samoan family. In the late 1960s, Peter moved to his family to Hawaii. Peter began wrestling for the NWA Hawaii division, a territory that he would eventually purchase.

After spending some time restructuring the Hawaiian territory, Maivia accepted an offer to wrestle in the San Francisco area. He had come to the attention of the promoters due to his involvement with the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Not only had Maivia had a small role in the film, he was also one of the fight scene coordinators.

During his stay in the San Francisco area, a few important things occurred. Peter befriended a young up-and-coming wrestler named Billy Graham. Maivia took Graham as a student and helped to train him. Graham has acknowledged in his book and in interviews that Maivia deserves the credit as the man who created “Superstar” Billy Graham.

The other important development was the introduction of Canadian wrestler, Rocky Johnson, to the family. Johnson met Maivia’s daughter, Ata, at one of the wrestling TV tapings and the two soon began to date. Maivia objected, strongly, to the dating. Dwayne Johnson and Ata both confirmed this in interviews. Many might think he objected to the inter-racial aspect of their dating, but his objection was the fact that Johnson was a professional wrestler. Despite his objections, Rocky eventually married Ata.

NWA World Traveler

As part of the NWA, Maivia began to travel. He would make frequent trips back to the Australia/New Zealand promotions, where he won and lost the Australasian championship. He also began to work the southern and eastern US territories.
In 1975, Duke Keomuka and Fritz Von Erich invited Maivia to come to the (Dallas) Texas territory to wrestle. Maivia would defeat “The Golden Greek” John Tolos to win the NWA Texas Title in November of 1975. Maivia would eventually lose the title to his very own son-in-law, Rocky Johnson, in August of 1976.

World Wide Wrestling sensation

In April, 1977, Maivia accepted an offer from the World Wide Wrestling Federation to compete there. The offer came, in large part, from a suggestion by “Superstar” Billy Graham. Graham wanted to re-pay his mentor for the early training he received in San Francisco.

Maivia began by working house shows and TV tapings against some of the lower level talent, such as Baron Scicluna and Doug Gilbert. Within a couple of months, Maivia stepped up to face Stan “The Man” Stasiak. They had a brief, yet brutal, feud.
Maivia would also both team with and feud against two WWWF/WWF champions, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Bob Backlund. Maivia also helped train Wild Samoan Afa. Maivia’s stay in the WWWF/WWF would only last two years, but he was a major force during his time there.

Heading back to the islands

In 1979, Peter and his family returned to Hawaii. Peter purchased the NWA Polynesian Pro Wrestling territory from the father of NFL Legend, Russ Francis.
During his final years, Maivia would face Bob Backlund for the WWF title, Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA title and Harley Race for the NWA title. He was one of the few men to be a top contender to all three titles, at the same time. Maivia won his final title in 1981, when he defeated Rick Davidson for the NWA Americas (Los Angeles) title.

Passing away and Passing on

Cancer took Peter Maivia on June 13, 1982. Lia and Peter, Jr. took over the NWA-PPW territory. Peter Jr. had a successful career before stepping away from the ring. There is a possibility that Peter, Jr. might return to the ring in the future.

Rocky Johnson’s son, Dwayne, paid tribute to his grandfather by using the combination name of Rocky Maivia, early in his career. Dwayne sports the traditional Samoan tattooing that their grandfather/father wore. Umaga also sports a number of tattoos, including the word Samoa across his stomach.

In Conlusion:

“High Chief” Peter Maivia was the first of many Samoan wrestlers to make a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling. Two full generations of Islander Superstars have followed the path blazed by Maivia. He has finally received his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. For his own wrestling success, as well as the creation and furtherment of the Samoan legacy, Peter Maivia is also a Legends superstar that I am pleased to profile here.

–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(4/29/08)

WWE’s Royals: The Line of Kings!

Our resident philosopher and historian, Jay Shannon, looks at the various Kings that have claimed the title over the past 35 years.

On Monday, April 21, 2008, William Regal defeated C.M. Punk, cleanly, to win this year’s King of the Ring tournament. The tournament has been a semi-regular event within the WWE. Each winner has had the right to claim the title of King. In addition to the 17 men who have won the tournament, there have been 3 others who have used the royal title. In this edition of Legends, I want to evaluate each King.

1. Don Muraco (1985)

He won the first King of the Ring tournament. The former Intercontinental champion never really promoted his royal title. He was the most low-key of the regals.

Suited to be a royal: C

2. Harley Race (1986,1988)

Harley won the second King of the Ring tourney. He also enjoyed a second reign, two years later. The second reign had nothing to do with the tournament. Race had the feel of a king. Harley was one of the best wrestlers of all time. To have him draped in purple velvet and sporting a crown just seemed so right. He is the most regal of all the royals.

Suited to be a royal: A+

3. Randy Savage (1987, 1989)

Randy was near the pinnacle of his WWE career when he won the King of the Ring tournament. He would use that win to elevate himself to the World title, the following year. With his Queen, Elizabeth, by his side, Randy rode the wave of super-stardom for all it was worth.

Two years later, Randy transformed into the Macho King after taking the honorary title from “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. That created royal position had started with Harley Race. When Race left the WWF, the title went to Haku, who lost it to Duggan. The Macho King was a fun character but he had the wrong Queen at his side. Sherri Martel was just a total mis-match with Savage.

Suited to be a royal: A-

4. Ted DiBiase (1988)

The WWE massively dropped the ball with DiBiase’s King of the Ring victory. DiBiase was so wrapped up in his Million Dollar Man gimmick that he barely acknowledged the title.

Suited to be a royal: C

5. King Haku (1988)

Haku was granted the honorary King title after Harley Race left the WWE. Haku had actually worked in the WWF as King Tonga, originally. Haku wore the purple robe and crown that Race had worn. Haku kept his royal moniker until being upset by “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.

Suited to be a royal: B+

6. Tito Santana (1989)

Like DiBiase, Santana royal win was barely noticed. The WWE could really have pushed the Spainish heritage angle. He could have been promoted as the decendant of Queen Isabella or someone like her.

Suited to be a royal: C-

7. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan (1989)

Duggan never won the King of the Ring tournament. He became royalty by dethroning Haku. Duggan, always the mid-carder, was only a royal for a short time. His reign was simply a joke to bridge from Haku to Savage. He was an awful royal.

Suited to be a royal: D

8. Bret “The Hitman” Hart (1991, 1993)

Hart was the first person to win the King of the Ring tournament twice. Hart celebrated the win as being the best wrestler, not a royal persona. This was another situation of WWF missing the mark. Hart could have strolled to the ring in a pink and black robe. His crown could have been adorned with gold hearts.

Suited to be a royal: B

9. Owen “The King of Harts” Hart (1994)

Owen got it right when he won the tournament. Unlike his brother, Owen embraced his royal appointment. He strutted around like a member of the aristocracy. He placed himself in a superior position to others. He was an excellent monarch.

Suited to be a royal: A

10. Mabel (1995)

The man who would one day transform into Viscera, and later Big Daddy V, was an odd sight in royal purple. Winning the King of the Ring was actually the pinnacle of Mabel/Viscera/Big Daddy V’s career. That says a great deal about a man who has spent the better part of the last 15 years in a WWE ring.

Suited to be a royal: B

11. Steve Austin (1996)

The Redneck Royal began his Austin 3:16 era at that year’s King of the Ring. He faced off against Jake “The Snake” Roberts in the finals. After destroying the injured Roberts, Austin cut a seriously twisted promo on Roberts. He berated Roberts for his religious conversion. It was the creation point for one of the biggest stars of all time, but the royalty angle was ignored.

Suited to be a royal: C-

12. Hunter Hearst Helmsley/HHH (1997)

Hunter was set up as a snobby, upper-class aristocrat by the WWE, early in his career. He was the perfect choice to become a royal. According to HHH in the King of Kings DVD, he absolutely refused to wear the crown and robe. HHH actually destroyed two different crowns over the head of Mick Foley.

A few years later, HHH would adopt a Conan-esque look when he began calling himself the King of Kings. As the top man in the industry, the new name suited him, perfectly. As the heir apparent to the McMahon legacy, through his marriage to Stephanie, HHH will likely take over as the King of the WWE, someday.

Suited to be a royal: A

13. Ken Shamrock (1998)

The Most Dangerous Man Alive was a great competitor. He was lousy as a King. He basically ignored the entire royal win. He just moved forward and dominated the competition. Shamrock never rose much above the mid-card level, but he did dominate that area of the roster.

Suited to be a royal: D

14. Billy Gunn (1999)

The Man of 1000 Names added King to his list of noms de guerre in 1999. He did not, however, embrace the royal attitude. He just remained the same D-X-oriented character that he still employs.

Suited to be a royal: C-

15. Kurt Angle (2000)

Kurt was at the height of his career when he took the title in 2000. Kurt had the royal attitude, even though he didn’t strut around in robe and crown. He moved on from the kingly win to face off against the top men in the company.

Suited to be a royal: B+

16. Edge (2001)

Edge had begun working the singles division after a fantastic run with his “brother” Christian in the tag team division. Winning the King of the Ring helped to really launch Edge to super-stardom. Edge really played up the regal mentality for some time. Actually, he still does.

Suited to be a royal: A-

17. Brock Lesnar (2002)

Brock was the Ultimate Warrior of the 21st century. He was in the middle of a massive push when he took the crown. He barely acknowledged his royalty. He was absolutely dreadful as a King.

Suited to be a royal: F

18. Booker T (2006)

After a lengthy retirement, the King of the Ring tournament was resurrected in 2006. Booker T became the most enjoyable of all the royals. He not only embraced his regal position, he turned into a whole new persona. His voice changed to employ a fake British accent. Sharmell became his queen. Booker took the “Macho King” gimmick of Randy Savage and pushed it to level of absolute perfection. He was the best of all the Kings.

Suited to be a royal: A+

19. William Regal (2008)

He’s been a Lord and a Sir. It is only logical that he would eventually become a King. His win over Hornswoggle diminished his rise to royal supremacy, but his domination of Finlay and C.M. Punk redeemed him.

It is still too early to tell how well Regal will embrace the King title. With his on-going aristocrat character, it is likely that he will push the monarch angle to levels close to that of King Booker. He will likely feud with Jerry “The King” Lawler and “The King of Kings” Triple H over the royal title.

Suited to be a royal: A

20. Jerry “The King” Lawler (1974-present)

On July 24, 1974, Lawler won a match that not only garnered him the AWA Southern Championship but also the title of King of Wrestling. It was that title that provided the concept behind the King of the Ring tournament that the WWE now uses.

While Don Muraco is officially credited as the first King of the Ring, Lawler actually would have a legitimate claim to the honor as first King of the Ring. Lawler has carried a crown with him for almost 35 years now. He is the longest reigning royal in the world of wrestling.

Suited to be a royal: A+

In Conclusion:

There have been tons of wrestlers who have utilized aristocratic titles. There have been Princes, Lords, Sirs, Princesses and Queens. The title of King should be granted to only the top men in the business. Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund never won the title of King. There just seems to be something flawed about a system that can elevate unworthy men to royal positions. Of course, art often imitates history.

– Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(4/29/08)

Wrestler of the (4/28) Week: Triple H!

Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, takes a look at the new WWE champion. This week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week is the 12-time champ, Triple H

At Backlash, Triple H survived a brutal Fatal Four-Way Match to claim his 12th championship. Triple H has gone through multiple personality changes over the years. The one thing that has never changed is that he is a superstar and a winner. This week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week was perhaps my easiest choice, ever. Triple H is this week’s award winner as best of the best.

Terra Ryzing

Paul Levesque didn’t start out to be a wrestler. He actually wanted to be a body builder. That would all change when Paul was introduced to fellow bodybuilder, and former WCW wrestler, Bill Kazmaier. Kazmaier felt that Paul had the right look to be a wrestler, so he made a few calls to his wrestling connections.

Paul was sent to Killer Kowalski for training. Kowalski was a brutal, rugged wrestler who passed his talent on to several stars. A flippant comment by Kowalski gave Paul his first character’s name. The comment was something to the effect of “When you face an opponent, you should feel his terror rising.” Paul played with the spelling and debuted as Terra Ryzing. Terra started in the IWF. He won his first title by besting Tony Roy for the IWF Heavyweight title. Terra was a rising star and he would soon move to a much larger format.

Blue Blood Ryzing

Paul continued his Terra Ryzing character when he moved to WCW. That character failed, miserably. Terra was pulled off television for several weeks while his persona was being re-packaged.

The new character played upon Paul’s French heritage. Jean-Paul Levesque was a French aristocrat who looked down on others. There was one slight problem with the new character. The French aristocrat spoke almost no French. Jean-Paul utilized a cheesy French accent in his interviews. Jean-Paul started out with a nowhere feud with Alex Wright. Jean-Paul wanted to work as a singles act, but creative had other ideas.

Jean-Paul was teamed with Lord Steven Regal as the original version of the Blue Bloods tag team. The team really never went anywhere. Jean-Paul demanded to be pushed as a single. When the Powers-That-Be refused, Jean-Paul gave his notice.

Hunter Ryzing

In May, 1995, Paul made his WWE debut as Hunter Hearst Helmsley. It was basically the same snobbish character, minus the bad French accent. Hunter started out in the mid-card pool, but quickly climbed to super stardom. He captured his first title, the Intercontinental title, from Marc Mero in October, 1996.

The next step in Hunter’s ascent to stardom came in June of 1997, when he won the King of the Ring tournament. Hunter took exception to wearing the crown and robe. Some sources say that he didn’t want to go back to something similar to the “Jean-Paul” character. Hunter actually destroyed two different crowns over the head of Mick Foley.

Triple H Degenerating

Hunter had begun using Chyna as his valet. The two had an off-screen relationship, as well. The two had met at Kowalski’s wrestling school. After King of the Ring, Hunter underwent a minor name change. Since he was becoming more marketable, the creative team began to use his initials. The “Triple H” name was actually an homage to “Double A”, Arn Anderson.

Triple H began to align himself with his real-life friend, Shawn Michaels. The two began to wreak havoc on the wrestling community. Owen Hart is credited with the creation of their team’s name. During a promo, Owen called the two “a bunch of degenerates”. The comment was combined with the Generation X title for people of Shawn and HHH’s ages. They were officially dubbed Degeneration X. That would later be shortened to D-X.

D-X would go through several changes over the years. Shawn Michaels was sidelined with a back injury. Triple H recruited X-Pac (Sean Waltman), Billy Gunn (Kip James) and Road Dogg (BG James) to round out the crew. Wrestling legend Rick Rude would become their unofficial manager. They were the dominant force in the WWE between 1997 and 2000. Eventually, the group disbanded and Triple H moved on to the next stage of his career.

Life imitates art: The McMahon-Helmsley era

Stephanie McMahon had become involved, on-screen, with Test (Andrew Martin). They were set to be wed on the November 29, 1999 edition of Raw. Triple H crashed the party when the ref asked if anyone objectedto the wedding. Triple H ran a video of himself and Stephanie getting married at a drive-up wedding window in Las Vegas. After initially being disgusted by the concept of being marriedto Triple H, Stephanie eventually joined her husband as the McMahon-Helmsley regime.

While the on-screen marriage wouldn’t last long, the constant closeness of the two led to a real-life relationship. Triple H dumped Chyna to date Stephanie. The two would eventually marry. Triple H never fails to get a nod to his marriage. The most tasteless of these nods came during the Who is Vince McMahon’s son? angle. It was hinted that Triple H was Vince’s son. That caused an uproar when Vince suggested “…but that means…” and had a look of horror on his face. The possible incest angle was quickly dropped. During the 15th anniversary of Raw, Triple H told Stephanie “I’ll see you at home”. Triple H quickly joked that he’d said “Your brother’s a gnome.”.

The Evolution of Triple H

After the McMahon-Helmsley era came to an end, Triple H went solo. He feuded over the World title with numerous people. Triple H was approached by Ric Flair about creating a new Four Horsemen. Flair and Triple H also recruited Batista and Randy Orton. Everyone expected the group to debut as the Four Horsemen, but the various members of the group disagreed about being an extension of a past group. It was Flair who created the team’s name. They were The Evolution of the Four Horsemen.

The team would overwhelm everyone in their path. It was jealously and internal conflict that would destroy the group. Randy Orton won the World title and Triple H was upset. He instructed Batista to take out Orton with the Batista Bomb. Triple H would eventually feud with all three members of Evolution. His battles with Ric Flair were some of the most brutal and bloody battles in WWE history.

D-X returns

Triple H would continue to be a major force in the singles ranks. That would change, slightly, when Shawn Michaels returned, after a four-year hiatus. Their relationship would start off on a bad foot. After a few matches against each other, the two decided that they were stronger as an unit. Over a few months, Shawn and Triple H would hint about a reunion of D-X by doing the Crotch Chops that the group used as an insult to everyone that they feuded with.

The two re-united to battle Vince McMahon and his forces. That had a hilarious set of matches against the Spirit Squad. They also had a memorable Handicap match against Vince and Shane McMahon and the Big Show. Vince’s head was shoved into the over-sized backside of Show. The team was more about comedy antics that winning tag team gold.

King of Kings and Injuries

Triple H has had major issues with his quads. He has been sidelined, twice, with major tears of the quads. It is likely that Triple H will have a shortened career due to his legs. Triple H refused to give up on his career. He came back from his latest injury to challenge Randy Orton for the WWE title. Triple H won and lost the title in the same night (October 7, 2007). Triple H stayed in the title picture throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring of 2007-08. Triple H regained the WWE title, for the 12th time, at Backlash 2008.

In Conclusion:

Triple H just started the 16th year of his wrestling career. Triple H is almost a sure bet to make it into the WWE Hall of Fame, someday. That has more to do with his talent than with his son-in-law status in the McMahon family.

Will Triple H surpass the 16 championships mark set by his mentor, Ric Flair? That’s really hard to say. Triple H’s legs are his weak point. If he can avoid injury, Triple H will likely eclipse Flair’s success. Even if Triple H has to retire from active competition early, he will still be a major force in the industry. Triple H is one of the most entertaining performers in wrestling history. He is the new WWE champion. He’s also this week’s choice for the Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week.

– Jay Shannon
Jade89512@yahoo.com
(4/28/08)

Wrestler of the (4/21) Week — Petey Williams

Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, profiles the new X-Division champion, Petey Williams. Petey is this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week

Canada has produced some of the greatest wrestlers, ever. Names like the Hart Family, Lance Storm, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, Edge and dozens more have brought pride and honor to the world of pro wrestling. This week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week is another proud son of the Maple Leaf. On Thursday, Petey Williams took advantage of a weakened “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal and dethroned the X-Division champion with the Canadian Destroyet. With that win and Petey’s recent personality change, it is only right that Petey wins this week’s title.

Read more

Katz: My Weekly TNA (4/18) Notebook

The Kingfish Arnie Katz delves unto topics inspired by the 4/17 episode of iMPACT.

Positioning the New Champion

Samoa Joe’s message is a lot different now that he has the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt slung over his broad shoulder. His promo at the top of the 4/17 episode of iMPACT placed him as the representative of the fans, versus the self-centered and narcissistic Scott Steiner.

This may undercut some of Samoa Joe’s cult following, but it’s a necessity if he is to gain the mass following a world champion must command. WWE did something similar with Edge, who lost a lot of his humorous side enroute to becoming a member of the promotion’s main event group.

The change also works nicely with Kurt Angle, who’ll fight Joe in two weeks. The current Angle character is the diametric opposite of Joe’s populist stance.

The X Division Gets a New Champion!

You can quibble about the pace, but the plot that transferred the gold to Petey Williams and, presumably, set up a rematch at Sacrifice was classic booking. Scott Steiner gave Petey Williams the suitcase – and won’t you be glad to see the last of that? — and Maple Leaf Muscle cashed it in right after Jay Lethal beat Johnny Devine in a hard-fought match.

I like the idea of Lethal surrendering the belt to Williams, because the hero is always more exciting as a challenger. It also gives bookers some additional alternatives, like the champion getting beaten badly but keeping the title on a DQ.

Team 3D at Odds?

In a symmetrically booked match, Rhino accidentally blasted his partner Christian Cage with a Gore, but Devon’s accidental attack on Ray negated that and gave the babyfaces the win.

After the match, Rhino and Cage disappeared so that Brother Ray and Brother Devon could fight, verbally and physically, in the ring. (Let’s leave the inadvisability of again feuding Cage and Rhino for another time.)

As a wrestling fan who still clings to a few memory brain cells, I have been here before. The brothers feuding is like Ric Flair mounting the top turnbuckle. It promises a lot, but somehow it never quite delivers.

Of course, Ric Flair did climb the ropes and actually do something in his final match. Now that that has happened, might we not also see a storyline in which Ray and Devon actually do feud? Because I tell you, I am pretty tired of spats that lead absolutely nowhere and I bet I’m not the only one.

That’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column.

– Arnie Katz
Crossfire4@cox.net
(4/18/08)

Wrestling is Wrestling, Not MMA!

The Kingfish Arnie Katz has become a “must read” daily wrestling columnist. This time, he tackles the controversial subject of the role of MMA in professional wrestling.