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Ask the Armpit

August 2005

We welcome your comments and questions on the world of pro wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA), and the Armpit in general.  To submit your comments, please use the form on our Contact Us page.

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Your idea of what to do with the booking is TNA is terrible, terrible, terrible.  You can’t put a promotion into divisions and have them compete three months at a time and then attempt one big pay-per-view.  It just wouldn’t work.  Terrible idea.

James

Oh my god.. I've never been a big fan of football, mostly because it's not really me. I'm a martial artist/wrestler.  However, I absolutely LOVE this line-up (If the Armpit Ran TNA...), blue print, whatever the hell you wanna call it.  It's so creative and it's perfectly split throughout the year. It'll give fans a chance to see just what each division has in their sleeves and gives them time to actually figure out who's who. I do disagree with the part about only showing 1 match a week and show only highlights of the other seven, but I'd most likely be able to handle that.

It's just all neatly organized that even I couldn't do a better job (and yes, I have written my own roster for WWE and even chose out my own champions.. sigh.. imagine, Christian could be champion by now lol.)  Anyway, I loved about 98% of this column and I really that not only TNA, but WWE should do something like this. Throughout the first year, have clean finishes, then in the second or third year, have a heel cheat to win the Heavyweight title.. that way, video packages could be shown of that face who was screwed going the whole year, obsessed with winning that title from the previous year's champion. (I could see Raven screwing Shamrock out of the heavyweight title match (maybe due to Kidman's interference) and have Shamrock train like mad for his chance to get the belt the next year.)

I suggest something like.. have a tournament style for the first year, the second year another tournament style and having the current champions either do commentating, give promos, or squash matches.  Then whoever wins the tournament goes up against the champion and we'll have title change or title retain.  As years go on, the title matches would turn into triple threat, four way, etc as time goes on.

I enjoyed reading this article/column and will be obsessing with it for a while. I plan on becoming a wrestler and always thought they should keep having some type of tournament style, though I could never find a way to keep it going all year long. Question though.. you said the title matches will happen on PPV one year at a time for each category (four PPVs a year) so what other matches will be on PPV? I don't think many people will order a PPV just for one match.

No name given

Armpit: There would be other matches (on the PPV), mostly grudge matches from feuds that developed during the tourney.  But make no mistake about it, the focus would be on the main event.

You mentioned a yet to be determined color commentator. I know you said you didn't want a heel for color but my favorite was Sirus the Virus aka the Jackyl. I recently dug up an ECW pay-per-view, Anarchy Rulz '99 I believe, and forgot about him doing the color. He was the only reason to watch the shitty pay-per-view. When he wasn't screwing with Joey Styles, he was actually being very informative. I think you should watch that pay-per-view. It might change your mind about have a heel for color.

Ciao!

Nicholas

As to your thoughts about booking TNA, I'm in polite disagreement with some of what you said. If it were in my power I'd never let Nash, Hall, Steiner, or Ventura near a wrestling promotion for the rest of their lives. There's simply too much slime attached to them. Nor do I agree as to not airing matches in their entirety. I guess I live in the past but for me the best wrestling show ever -- ever! -- was Bill Watts' Mid-South TV. Granted, by today's standards it's a lot slower, but man did it deliver! Yes, it was soap opera, but it was presented as sport and you cared. And everybody worked, including JYD and Hacksaw Duggan. There's a DVD out of two episodes of the show covering Dibiase vs JYD (in which you'll also see a young but already bald Arn Anderson wrestling as Marty Lunde) and it just pulls you in. Of course it helps that the announcers actually talk about the match taking place in the ring. Watts is criticized for his not allowing top rope spots -- and I like aerial lucha spots as much as the next guy -- but by keeping it grounded he made it look real. I'm sorry, but a Styles Clash and a flip piledriver may look impressive, but they also look completely phony.

Finally, comparing things to the NFL brings up a long-held conspiracy theory of mine that the NFL itself is completely worked. It all goes back to that infamous Mike Renfro catch in the 80's when the Oilers faced Pittsburg. The refs make the calls as befit the team slated to win. Late flags, penalties called with no replay shown... hey, it's all suspicious. Plus you need to consider the merchandising aspect. Anytime a team changes its uniform that team always does well and advances into the playoffs -- sometimes, as when the Bengals first adopted their tiger striped helmet or the Titans getting their name and uniform, going all the way to the Super Bowl. It's all done to get that team's name to the forefront and sell souvenir merchandise. So in that aspect, the NFL has copied wrestling.

I do agree with you about fewer title matches though.

By the way, we have this thing at work where some of us wear Hawaiian shirts on Fridays. Additionally, as part of my new healthy lifestyle, I've been taking an apple to work everyday. So I'm sitting at my cubicle, in my island shirt and munching an apple, when a couple of jokers walk by. "Ah," says one, "Caribbean Cool;" to which the other responds, "No, more like Caribbean Coot." Definitely no respect for age. Rather than say anything, I simply take a large bite from my apple and chew slowly, eyeing them. Finally they realize, if we're going to play this out all the way, that I'm fixing to spit it out on them -- and they make a hasty retreat.

So do you think WWE would be interested in "Caribbean Coot" as a character? Who knows but maybe it could be the next Ralphus. After all, they've done Chavo Classic… and I don't drink.

James Hold

Armpit: The NFL is not worked.  I see your point about Mid-South, but most fans don't have memories of Mid-South to compare things to.  All they know is WWE.  If I ran TNA, I'd only need one 60-minute show per week.  No more, no less.  And in 60 minutes, you can't just show nothing but wrestling matches.  I've seen ECW shows that were built around just 1 or 2 matches, and they were brilliant.

After reading the article about the Lance Storm v. Matt Henstock issue, I had to relay to you some more info. While I was not directly involved with the issue, it does affect me.  Here is a link which details the problems. That link is http://www.livejournal.com/users/lincolnsteen/.  It is a good read and if contacted, he should be able to get you in touch with the rest of the wrestlers involved. Hope this will be of use.

Name withheld
 

I wanted to say that I found your site because my other weekly fix, www.wrestlecrap.com, is no longer being updated as much. As they say, when one door closes, another opens. Keep up the AP parodies (HHH in love with himself made me cry at work)

RD had to stop posting weekly because of his new arrival, R.D. JR, so now he only posts monthly. I have yet to purchase his book, being a poor college student/college library assistant, but I bet it's great.

Thanks again for giving me a reason to look forward to Monday again, since Raw has been sucking the proverbial wang. Although I must say that it was cool being at AWA when Raw rolled through and experiencing the pop for Matt Hardy during the "wedding" angle. Hopefully there wont be too much backlash on the "angelic diablo" for signing with the WWE again.

Must get back to watching Anarchy Rulz...

Scott

Armpit: RD's book (Death of WCW, co-written by Bryan Alvarez) IS great.  Highly recommended to everyone.

Hey there!  Dusty leaving was the best thing for me.  As, now, I have a job again.  Funny how that works out.

Loved your interview with Eric Gar-jew-lo!  Site is fantastic and keeps me laughing.  More interviews please!  Do you take requests??
 

I want an interview with, hmmmm...how about...Wade Keller!  Terry Taylor! Court Bauer!  Ian Rotten!  Steve Corino!  Spanky!

All those would be priceless, just thought of em off the top of my head.

Armpit: I withheld this guy's name, because he is a wrestler for TNA.  I'd love to interview those names you mentioned.  Everyone reading this knows the story between Wade and I.  Corino never acknowledged our request for an interview.  And I have no way of getting in touch with Taylor, Bauer, Rotten, or Spanky.

Hey.  Just wanted to let you know I have only recently discovered your website but I enjoy it very much. It really is seriously funny and I especially enjoy the Famous Quotes and Backstage Fights section.

My main reason for writing is I wanted to tell you that I found your article "If the Armpit Ran TNA..." to be extremely interesting. While I don't necessarily agree with it being a good idea for TNA, I can agree that it should be considered by anyone thinking about promoting an indy company aiming to be different and original. Although the article probably shouldn't be taken seriously I took a serious look at it and found it to be a
remarkable idea.

Just don't be surprised when you read about a half dozen companies structuring themselves this way.

Sylvain

Hello

This is a short e-mail to praise the Wrestling Armpit site. I discovered it a few weeks ago, and I find it to be a very enjoyable and informative site.

I've been a fan of American wrestling since 1986, but I still find this site informative, in-depth and I always learn something new from it. I like the articles because they are a mixture of wit, humor, analysis and insight. I enjoy reading wrestling fan's opinions.

Anyway, please pass my thanks and appreciation to all those responsible for the content on this site. I will enjoy visiting the site on a regular basis. Thank you. 

Stephen

First off, your site is fantastic.  Funny stuff and great wrestling insight.  I particularly enjoyed the mailbag from 7/11 where a reader asked if your articles are all real.  Maybe the “WWE Fires Jesus Christ, Bush and Bin-Laden” article can clear that up for that guy.  A friend of mine sent me this site a while ago, and obviously to read it, you would think it is written by Jim “Ultimate Warrior” Hellwig.  Knowing that he is not dead, is it really possible that he has gone this insane?  Just wondering if any “smarks” out there know if this is the real deal or not.  I hope it’s for real, it would great to know that this steroid freak has gone nuts and legally changed his name to “Warrior.”

http://www.ultimatewarrior.com/choice.htm 

Brian

Another article I enjoyed. However, I feel the need to fill in some obvious omissions from your list of shooters/badasses:

Taz: A legit background in football, wrestling and judo. And besides, if he can't suplex you out of your skin, he can headbutt the hell out of one's ankles.

Roddy Piper: How many riots has this guy created? When you can insult an arena full of Mexicans, fight them all off, and walk out ALIVE, you are a bad SOB. Not to mention, any guy wearing a kilt (read dress) has to be tough.

Terry Funk: Do you have to ask? And according to Mick Foley, Funk's liver is pretty hardcore, too.

Lex Luger: Nah, just thought I'ld throw that in for a laugh.

Fabulous Moolah: Do I think she cant take down Big Show? No. But against the average man, I'm putting my money on Moolah.

Paul Orndorff: Any man who can beat the hell out of a 450 pound accomplished pro wrestler/ex-football player, while wearing his shower sandals, is a tough son of a gun. Imagine how bad he is in his street clothes.

Again, keep up the great work!

Sincerely,

Michael

Armpit: Brad wrote that article, and I hope his follow-up ("The Final Word on Shooters") addressed your concerns.

I was reading the Shoot Fight tournament in where Kurt Angle beat Benjamin in the finals. And I'm not sure if I mis-read or anything like that, but in round 2, you had Daniel Puder over Haas, but then round 3 and 4 saw Charlie in the tourney still, and no Puder!

No name given

Armpit: We F'd up.

!!!!!!!!!!!Some Inside INFO!!!!!!!!!!

This Past weekend Undertaker was attending the funeral of his grandfather who raised him from the age of 3. Undertaker  Refused to shed a tear or show any signs of emotion,  for the man that worked 12 hour days to put food on his plate!!!    REASON?????  Undertaker stated that his grandfather NO-SOLD  his last 5 min. on his death bed,  Undertaker said that his grandfather looked "GREEN"  could not even get his words out and the words his grandfather did manage to say didn't make sense.  Undertaker said that it didn't matter if Jesus gave him a  "push"  or not! "  He  FUCKED up his PROMO!!!    

On a Side Note:  JBL & HOLLY  attended the funeral only to pull a RIB on Undertakers Grandfather for the FUCk-UP>   In which the Undertaker nodded his head in Approval>>>Dressed in his (Ring)  I mean everyday Undertaker Clothes with Eyeliner Make-Up!! 

THIS STORY IS TRUE I WAS THE ONE WHO PERFORMED THE FUNERAL!!!

Father Christopher

1.  is Bill Goldberg going to Wrestle again or is he committed to movies now?

2.  if Goldberg does Wrestle again in Japan do u think he will do full time or part time like he did before?

3.  is it confirmed that Goldberg will Wrestle again overseas or just a rumor?

4.  if Goldberg comes back at some point and Wrestles in Japan do u think he will be the Wrecking Machine like he was in WCW?

5.  why didn't wwe Treat Goldberg the way he Should've been Treated?

thanks man for answering my questions. i am a big Goldberg fan and like to find out info about him.

Armpit: 1.  Committed to movies, and if he wrestles again, it won't be for WWE or TNA.  2.  Part time.  3.  Nothing is confirmed at the moment.  4.  In Japan?  Not a wreaking machine, but not a pansy either.  It only makes sense to make him a wreaking machine if he's going to be around full-time, and he's not.  5.  They're idiots.

Just curious.  Do you think that Shawn Michaels was on the juice during the 90s?  He'd have no reason to now, given his attitude, injuries and legendary status, but I think he probably was back in the day.  How else could he have been so much bigger?

I laugh my ass off at the site every week, by the way.

Thanks,

Michael

Armpit: Yes, I do think he was on the juice in the '90s.  Most wrestlers were/are.

As to the first Flair - Hogan match (unannounced as you
stated), I was at in Dayton Ohio at Hara Arena. Very
much a surprise but it saved a crappy tv taping. The
Brain as Flair's manager was the best part of it and
he got Hogan counted out by hanging on Hogan's leg, if
I recall correctly. I remember the Undertaker beat
Kerry Von Erich at that taping, which made no sense to
me at the time, but it does now in retrospect. 

You should ask what is Raven's favorite food as I ate
dinner at the next booth at the Waffle House in
Marietta last week and he ate many pieces of raisin
toast. You never know who might run into at the Waffle
House.

thanks for your time.

Mark

Armpit: I once had breakfast at a waffle house with many well known wrestling fans from ECW, but no wrestlers.  Waffles and wrestling just go together, I guess.

I was at the first Monday Nitro at the Mall Of America.  It was Labor Day 1995.  I was screaming for "Flyin'" Brian Pillman against Jushin "Thunder" Liger.  That match BLEW me away and was the match of the night!!!  (The Stinger and Rick Flair match was a close second.)

There was one time I saw Jushin get Brian in a compromising maneuver.  He got Brian in a reverse Surf Board.  I had no idea how a Human would escape from that move, but Brian was able to get out of it.  It looked so painful being there and seeing it live.

But THE move of the night, was when Pillman was on his last legs and Jushin climbed up on the top ropes and went to execute what looked like a Double Ax Handle when Brian caught him with a standing drop kick.  He caught Jushin Liger in the chest with his feet as he came off the top rope.  That brought a huge cheer from me as I couldn't believe what I saw!!!  I had a special night that night.  I was a huge fan of WCW from then on until they had the two factions of nWo.  Then I lost interest with the WCW product.

I couldn't believe Luger was there because I had just seen him in the WWF(E).  Back then I wasn't aware of the Wrestling Observer, so me and the whole crowd was shocked, but I immediately started a "Luger" chant.

The best part about that whole night was that it was a free event.  All you had to do was get in line and get a wrist band.  The last Monday Nitro I attended was a 3 hour event.  A friend got us the tickets from someone so it didn't cost us anything.  It was so long that we spent the first 2 hours in the bar and watched it on TV.  That was expensive in there because each beer cost us about $82.50!

Thank you for letting me share that with you tonight.

Have a good one.

Bill

Armpit: That was a very memorable, historic night that I remember very well.


During RAW last night my cable provider, COX Communications, aired a
commercial for Sunday Night Heat.  They showed a lot of old footage
with Matt Hardy wrestling The Undertaker.  They also announced that it
is still airing on MTV.

The unfortunate part of it is was they also showed clips of Crash
Holly and even went so far as to announce that everybody should come
out and see him. Sad.

On a side note, Shelton Benjamin is supposed to be in VA signing
autographs, but not at some sports memorabilia shop, but at Lee's
Tires.  Lee's Tires is some no budget shop that uses girls in low cut
shirts leaning into the camera to sell their stuff.  Not that their is
anything wrong with that.

Just thinking about Holly and his Hardcore 24/7 angle that I loved,
have you ever wrote or considered writing a Best/Favorite Angles or
Gimmick list?  Those are usually fun to write and read I imagine.

Is it just me or has Shelton Benjamin almost killed himself every time
he goes up to the top rope?  I cannot remember the last time he landed
with good footing.

Tom 
 

Armpit: I read in the Observer seemingly every week that the reason these WWE guys slip on those spots is that the ring ropes are so screwed up.  Vince insists on using ropes, not cable.  Everyone else uses cable, and thus high spots are easier.  It took WWE many years to even build a softer ring.  Mick Foley complained in his book how hard the rings in WWE used to be.

Hi Wrestling Professor,

Just a quick question.

I was wondering if you know what they use for the green mist that Tajiri blows in people's faces?  Is it water and food coloring, or something else perhaps?  I'd like to use the trick for a play I'm staging, so I thought you might have some insight into what the mist is composed of.

Thanks for any insight,

Mike Crisolago

Armpit: Sorry, no idea.  Try Googling it.

Ok, I'm in the middle of reading Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling by R.D. Reynolds and Randy Baer.  I'm at the part of the book talking about Ric Flair's return from WWF and the comeback of the Four Horsemen and I have a question.  If Ole Anderson was part of the stable some time ago (which should mean that he and flair had been buds for quite some time) then why is it that, as a booker, he hated Flair?  All I can think of is jealousy.  I was wondering, since you're the only wrestling website I know that returns e-mails, if you could let me know. 

Armpit: Jealousy, like you said.

That shooter guy (Puder I think it was) nearly broke Angle in TWO.  So it
would come down to Former International Champion Ten Years ago Angle,
versus Younger Stronger Angry Black Man Benjamin.

As an angry black man myself (and after the Puder incident) I'd have to
say that Shelton would hand him his ASS and then some.

All Shelton would have to do is punch Angle in the neck or get him in ANY
head lock and it would be GAME.

-DH

Hey Professor I don't suppose the newsletter we be available to people
outside North America? I HATE living in Australia.

Armpit: We love Australia and have many friends/co-workers there.  Of course it will be available there, though postage will cost more.

I love finding used WCW videos from 89-93 in videostores from time to time.
It is a pleasant surprise every time I see one, whether the PPV is good or
not. After your recommendation I decided to go out of my way to get the
Great American Bash from 89. I just can't get enough Funk and the rest of
the card looks good. I know you're a fan of the WCW/NWA stuff of that era
and I was wondering if there are any PPVs from that time that are worth
going out of my way to check out. Don't rack your brain too hard just a few
suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance and keep pittin' brudda.

Matt
 

Armpit: There are many, but don't get them from the video store.  They edit out all the good matches.  The PPV versions are better, and go to a tape trading site like Crazymax.org to get those.  Here are the best bets:

WrestleWar '89

Chi-Town Rumble '89

Clash of the Champions VI (these 3 shows had Flair-Steamboat)

Clash of the Champions IX

GAB '89 (these 2 shows had Flair-Funk)

WrestleWar '91

SuperBrawl '91

SuperBrawl '93

Clash of the Champions XVII

Starrcade '89

SuperBrawl '92

You basically can't go wrong with anything from 1989.  1990 was hit and miss.  1991 was good in the first half of the year.  1992 and 1993 generally sucked except for the shows I listed.  Starrcade '88 is also awesome, as is the very first Clash of the Champions.

Well did you hear the news today?!

First with Bret Hart at WWE headquarters and now
believe this, Dusty Rhodes is also there!!
Dusty appears to be looking for a job with WWE
creative. I hope to god that Big Dust is NOT given
creative. That will be beyond stupid. He ruined WCW,
for a while anyway and almost killed TNA. So WWE, look
at Big Dust's history as booker before you do something
horrible! Well Dusty sucks as booker but at least it
isn't Russo. Well I'm happy about the return of
Tatanka, Spanky, and Noble though. One more thing, did
you see RAW when HBK ripped Hogan apart? That has to
be one of the best things on RAW this year! It was
strong as hell and funny too.

Take it easy man.

No name given

Armpit: I loved the stuff HBK did with Hogan.  Wish he had stayed a heel.

Hi there,

with all the CCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!! that is
perceived as wrestling out there, your site is the best I have ever seen on
the topic.  I was reading the article on Steiner and I believe I pissed
myself.....for real.

I hope you maintain this excellent site, and just for the record:

the best wrestler of all time is the Dynamite Kid.

Midnight express ( Condrey / Eaton) in the top 5

Steroids and high spots do not = a wrestling match

Yours truly,

John

 

Hey

I just wanted to ask you where/when John Cena "admitted to sleeping around on the road, often with 2 women at once"?

It's just so freakin funny and i'd love to know if that's true. ;)

Thanks so much for telling me!

Anja

Armpit: He said it on a radio interview well over a year ago.  Most every wrestler has slept with multiple women at once.  It's no big deal to them.  It's considered one of the perks of the job as part of the entertainment industry.  Ricky Morton and Jake Roberts have done it and are on record as saying it.  Dusty has as well, I'm sure.  Celebrities can get tons of women easily.

Who did Shelton Benjamin piss off so bad that he has to repeatedly job for Chris Masters?

Armpit: No one.  They just want to push Masters to the moon.

I just read the Spike Dudley piece, how did you get him to write for
the site? Anyway it was HILARIOUS. I hope he does more stuff for you

Armpit: This same person sent this next email seconds later....

DAMN YOU Professor.
I guess I should learn to read things fully haha. Oh well good article anyway.

Paul

Armpit: I guess we pulled a 'bait and switch.'

I have a suggestion for a column/article. How about something that details the most infamous riots in professional wrestling? Thanks for a fantastic website. I told one of my friends that they can take away my regional territory from the old Georgia days but hey cannot take away my Armpit!

Thanks,

Brent

Armpit: Good idea, but I wouldn't know where to begin.

Hello . . .

Just want you to  know that I enjoy reading your trivia contests.  They bring back many good and not so good memories.

gmc

Armpit: That's GMC, as in Gary Michael Cappetta, as in the former WCW ring announcer and current ROH performer.

Dave Meltzer and I have never met, but being as he grew up in the same part of the country as me six years before I did, his viewpoint seems to be my own as well,
perhaps having been greatly conditioned by the Pat Patterson babyface model.

(although Dave probably remembers the previous heel incantation)

I have read every newsletter since the summer of 1990 and don't think I have ever disagreed with his opinion, which sort of bothers me, as I periodically wonder if the newsletter has conditioned me.

Who knows?  .....perhaps I would have gotten behind some of the poorer workers or behind the backstage politicians he helped out.

A facet to me that you may find interesting,

I was overseas for two full years and unable to watch WWF television. Every six weeks or so, I got a batch of Observers forwarded to me and it was quite the rush.

After returning to America, I turned on the television and finally saw all the new wrestlers, like Duane Johnson, whose visual images in my mind had only been painted
by Dave. Also, it was interesting to see who aged, or developed the most in that two
years and to see Austin develop a massive upgrade in stage presence. Strange that the rush of seeing the television was never as big as reading the newsletter.

The questions I would have would concern what news Meltzer refuses to cover.....for instance I think he knew about Edge and Lita well before the story broke in his paper, to say nothing of Eddie Guerrero fathering a child, which just made the light of day this week since it became part of an angle.  In the old days, I guess he wouldn't cover legal issues such as the trouble Tananka and the Undertaker got into way back when, but the rules are different now, as the news always gets out and can't be buried.

I would ask about (besides the Brody and Pillman issues), which sheets were the toughest to write.

When the Montreal Screw Job happened, I would ask if he was excited because he knew a huge story had broken, matter of fact, or maybe just a little weary because
he knew his work week was about to get a whole lot tougher.

I would ask who his influences were growing up and if he writes on other issues.

I would ask who got under his skin the most. It seems he disliked Vince Russo back well before anyone else knew who Russo was.

One wonders what Dave might have to do to retain open channels with the WWE and if he ever has to compromise the way he writes in order not to see an information
pipeline dry up...has to play by some of their rules like other reporters must do with politicians.

Yeah, whatever Dave makes..it would be interesting not to only know that, but to know what his yearly expenses are and what money he has turned down, to say
nothing of potential booking positions. Wonder what he does with his spare time, if he even has spare time.

Also, wonder what a book of his stories and brushes with fame and interaction, good and bad, with various wrestlers would have been like for him.

The other interesting topic would be to find out if any of the criticism he gets from inside the wrestling industry concerning his opinions are actually from people who could explain firsthand why Dave's second hand observations might only work in theory and that they can and do occasionally undermine their ability to tell stories
or to get characters over.

I also wonder who helps him out with the processing of the newsletter and how those who know both compare him to Keller and what theories Dave might have as to whether Keller has cut up the insider pie somewhat.

Of course, I also wonder what Dave thinks of his future and if he wishes he could take back any words he has ever written, or predictions he has ever made.

Thanks and sorry if I wrote too much.

Christopher

Armpit: Sounds like one day, we need to pick Meltzer's brain again.

 

In 1988, I was in the LA airport with my family (wife and two sons aged 4 and 2) waiting for a flight back to Seattle. We were in a restaurant near our gate having something to eat when this man with massive muscles came into the restaurant and took a seat at the table next to us. 

The first thing he did was lean over and complimented my wife and I for our two sons.  We spent the rest of the time in restaurant talking about his family and our family.

When we later started the loading process for the flight to Seattle, we followed Hulk Hogan onto the plane.  It was then we made the connection that our friend in the restaurant was probably a professional wrestler. 

We took our seat on the plane; my wife with one son in the row in front of me and our other son seated with me.  Our friend from the restaurant came down the aisle and said “Hi” to my wife and asked where I was.  When he saw me, he greeted me and walked on by.

Behind me were two young Marines who were swooning over our new friend being on the plane.  I turned to talk to them and asked them if they knew who I had just talked to.  They looked at me somewhat incredulously and told me that he was Hercules Hernandez.  I told my wife and we commented that we would definitely have to see if we could see him on TV sometime.

When we landed in Seattle, Hercules walked with my family to the baggage claim area.  He told us that they were in town for an event at the Tacoma Dome.  We said goodbye at baggage claim area forever impressed with the off mat persona of professional wrestling.  We always scanned the TV listing after that in hopes of being able to see Hercules.

Needless to say, I was shocked and saddened to discover that Hercules had passed away last year at such a young age.  On a whim, I entered his name into Google today and found your interview with his daughter, Nichole. Her comments and answers clearly reflected the man that we met in 1988.  Please pass on our belated condolences to Nichole and her family.

Darwin

Armpit: Nichole hates us, but we'll send your comments anyway.