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Wrestling has been my refuge my entire life. Since before I went to school. Before I could read or write. From Minnesota to Albuquerque to Tennessee to Charleston and so many points in between. My dad was a highly educated man with a PhD and he loved it. I caught the bug early.
My first memories go back 64 years or more. My dad used to watch wrestling on an old black and white tv when he was finishing up his education degree in Minnesota. My brother David snd I would watch with him...jumping up and down in our living room. I was 4 and already addicted.
The only name I remember from that period is Verne Gagne. The early experiences from the late 50s to the early 60s were followed by a long stint in the Amarillo Territory. I enjoyed watching Mike London on Albuquerque tv. My first real wrestling hero was Rapid Ricky Romero.
My dad would take my brother and I to matches in Albuquerque and other towns in Texas and New Mexico a few times a year. It was all part of the Amarillo Territory. I became obsessed with the Funk family. All of them. And I still am to this day. I got hooked on live matches then.
I moved to Chattanooga in late 1969 and plopped down in the middle of the Memphis Territory. I watched Harry Thornton on studio TV and attended a number of sessions. I also went to several shows I. Tennessee and Georgia over the next 12 years. My favs were Jackie Fargo and Tojo.
Continental Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling came into the area as well as Smokey Mountain. My faves became Flair and the Minnesota Wrecking Crew and several others including Pez Whatley who was a friend of mine in college at UTC. Met Andre and got to see him live.
Saw many great shows in Chattanooga and at the Omni. Then in 1981 I moved to Charleston SC for work. I continued to watch shows on TV but as the eventual father of 4 small boys my life became consumed with working and getting food on the table for a growing family.
Work and school and being a good dad took up most of my time. I went to very few shows.But I still loved watching on TV and buying the fan magazines. It was and always has been my refuge. My oldest son @DylanWaco developed an early obsession with wrestling and consumed everything
Dylan became a preteen tape trader and watched and read everything about wrestling. He went to many great cards in Charleston with his best friend whose dad worked security at the events. Of course he watched everything on TV as well. I saw a few shows but not many.
In the 90s I started attending a few more shows and got caught up in the TV wars eventually becoming obsessed with ECW. I saw them in Columbia and even took my boys on a trip up north to see some great shows live. I started watching matches from Japan. Terry Funk became my idol.
I moved back to Chattanooga in 2000 and got to see a number of good cards at the UTC Arena. My two youngest sons got hooked on local indie wrestling shows. But I was still very busy teaching school and coaching full time in high school. So I couldn't indulgent habit that much.
Damn I hate auto correct. Carrying on...in 2014 I was forced to retire early because of medical issues. It was the lowest point of my life. But wrestling was still my passion and my refuge. And wrestling saved me. It gave me joy and a purpose again. The stories. The drama.
Because to me pro wrestling is the pinnacle of performance art. We live out our lives in the ring. All the emotion and energy. The stories and the characters and the constant ebb and flow of human existence. The struggle to succeed. It is life itself.
After my forced retirement I embarked in a 6 year journey. I infused myself with all things pro wrestling. I went to hundreds of shows all over the US. From tiny venues to Wrestlemanias. I got to live my passion. I got to truly immerse myself in what I love the most. So much joy
Honestly the best part was meeting so many people who shared my passion. Making friends in and out of the ring has made my life whole again. My personal life has been riddled with tragedy as many of you know. Without wrestling and friends I have made I am not sure I would be here
So thank you to everyone who has loved me and sustained me. I hold you all dear. You lifted me up in my hour of greatest need. Wrestling was the vehicle but you were the driving force. I will do my best to pay it back by practicing kindness and reaching out to folks who hurt.
I miss seeing my friends and I desperately miss attending live shows. I will go again when I feel safe and the time is right.Please wear masks and keep safe distances when you are near other people. I believe in my heart that these dark days will pass and I will soon see you all
