Interview with Brickhouse Brown

I came across this interview on a message board, it was conducted by a guy named Larry Goodman, thought people might find it amusing since Brick works around there so much, one word for this interview KAYFABE!! Enjoy!


I recently had the pleasure of conducting the following interview with Brickhouse Brown. This Saturday night, October 8, Brown will serve as special referee for a Loser Leaves Town match between “The Bullet” Bob Armstrong and Jimmy Golden when NWA Wrestle Birmingham bring wrestling back to the famed Boutwell Auditorium.

Q: You wrestled in every major territory in The South. What was it like working for Bill Watts?

Brown: Bill Watts was one of the hardest promoters to work for. Basically, he fined me for everything from dead batteries to 10 a minute for however you were late. But, you know, you’re talking the wrestling business and I made a lot of money wrestling for him. So, Bill Watts and Mid-South stand out. Every territory got its own little hook that I enjoyed, you know.

Q: What about Memphis?

Brown: Memphis is where I got my first big break. So Memphis stand out real good. My feuds with Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett and Bill Dundee, I enjoyed them all and I made a good living doing it. They gave me a chance to run with the ball and I took advantage of it.

Q: Your team with “Iceman” King Parson was one of my favorites.

Brown: Oh, the Blackbirds. That was real good, too. I had a ton of fun. I wish we could have had a crystal ball and seen the opportunity that we had to go to WCW at that point in time, but we were with World Class and we were their World Tag Team Champions.

Q: Run down the list of people you have trained…the highlights.

Brown: Oh God. The most famous ones have got to be Dallas Page, Lex Luger, Booker T and Faarooq (Ron Simmons). Of course, Jazz and Jacqueline (Jackie Moore), those are the most famous but there have been a ton of others.

Q: I understand that you were trained by Eddie Graham.

Brown: Eddie Graham is where I started at, but actually Terry Funk and Dory Funk trained me in San Antonio, Texas.

Q: How many years do have in the wrestling business?

Brown: 26

Q: Do you train young guys the way you were trained or is it different now?

Brown: I try to stick to what I know best. I would say that the guys that I’ve trained all went on to make good money. And their performance in the ring is like mine or better, so I try to stick to a working formula.

Q: I’ve been a big fan of your promos. Were they influenced by anybody in particular?

Brown: The guy that used to influence my promos was T-Bolt Patterson. You know the time I heard T-Bolt Patterson preach like he was talking in church I say, ‘Now yeah, that’s the way to do interviews.’ Thunderbolt Patterson and “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd, I used to love when he say, “You better pick up the phone and call somebody.” (Laughs) Here’s a quarter. Call somebody that give a damn because it ain’t me. I used to love that.

Q: How about your time in Music City Wrestling with Bert Prentice?

Brown: It was a learning experience, to deal with Bert Prentice. If you can deal with Bert Prentice, you can deal with anybody. I made money with Bert Prentice, so, you know.

Q: I remember you were involved in an angle there were you were dressed as the Orkin man.

Brown: Yeah. I dressed as a pest contol guy to get a guy that was in the ring, so I was spraying the arena with roach spray the whole night. I had the mask over my face so nobody knew who I was. I got in trouble with the Orkin people, though, cuz, you know, I represented the company wrong. They ain’t like a thug and I was representing the company. I did what I had to do. They tried to sue me, too.

Q: Is it true that Bill Watts wanted you to take the Junkyard Dog role after he left the territory?

Brown: That’s very true. When Junkyard walked out on Mid-South, they needed another brohter to come in there and boom, I was there like Superman to save Lois Lane. Just in the nick of time. Yes, sir.

Q: What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in wrestling over the last 20 years?

Brown: The biggest change that I’ve seen? Well, number one, I’ve heard a promoter tell me that I wasn’t the New Millenium type wrestler because I don’t corkscrew dives on the floor off the top of the ring ropes. That’s why I last 26 years, because I ain’t doin’ no shiznit like that. I ain’t gonna jump on the floor and do no dives and jippin’ blackness for nobody. And that’s the difference. That’s why you see me looking good at 45 and Jeff Hardy and Mick Foley can’t hardly walk.

Q: You still do tours of Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico?

Brown: Yes, sir.

Q: What would like to accomplish with the time you have left as an active wrestler?

Brown: Not that much. Just build up that money so I can go into the retirement and get out. I’ve been an ass kicker and I’ve had all the titles that I need. If one come my way, I wouldn’t turn it down, but basically, me, I’m just trying to make my future a little more secure. That’s all.

Q: Of the thousands of matches you’ve wrestled are they any that stand out in your mind.

Brown: Of course, when I wrestled my idol, Terry Funk. That was it. And when I wrestled in my hometown in Florida in front of all my cut buddies and my partners and some of my banger friends. The thing about it is, I am what I am, and my thing is at that point in time, I grew up down south in Florida and you know, I had to get in where I fit in. In Florida, the VLs was the deal. Down south with my Vice Lord brothers, shout out to ‘em. OK? I had to do what I had to do. Ain’t no shame in my game. I had to do that to survive. They were like family and I still have ties to them to this day.

Q: When did you know that pro wrestling was going to be it for you?

Brown: Oh man, I probably knew that in high school. I was in high school on the wrestling team and trying to do a DDT on some folks. They told me, ‘Hey, you can’t do that. This is amateur wrestling.’

Q: You played football at Auburn?

Brown: Yeah, but the scholarship was for wrestling and weightlifting. So I didn’t play football for but one year

Q: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.

Brown: No problem, man. Give a shout out to all my brothersand sisters out there. You done missed the first two biggest events of your life. And I said this often. That’s the birth of your momma and daddy. Don’t miss the third, and that’s Brickhouse Brown comin’ to an arena near you.

The truth about Abby........

I've seen alot of disturbing pictures of Abdullah the Butcher over the years but this is the worst one yet. Is that "Hollywood" standing behind him???

Maybe you CAN'T go home again.....

Well the long awaited "Raw Homecoming" on USA Network has come and gone. Many fans felt like this may be the event where WWE finally got things back on track, I mean with all the star power on this show there's no way they could drop the ball right? WRONG!

As for Piper's Pit, I really don't take issue with it the way many have because I've been waiting for WWE to capitalize on Orton's "Legend Killer" status to call Piper out on treating his dad as a lackey for years, so I think that this is a good thing that will help futher Orton's gimmick.

The Ironman match was another great match in the Angle/HBK saga but the ending was a bit dissapointing but it does leave room for another rematch down the road. Although I don't think I would have opened with a 30 minute Ironman match BUT that's just me.

Great to see Kevin Von Erich in the audience, big ovation for the Texas legend, word on the net was he was also there to finalize the sale of the old World Class Championship Wrestling video footage to Vince for WWE 24/7 and future dvd releases. Good news for us tape trading marks!

OK, now here is where I'm sure to catch some crap from people. Now overall the segment with Austin and the McMahons was decent (especially compared to the current state) BUT after watching the old clips it made it painfully obvious that the timing just isn't there anymore. The whole thing seemed really contrived and it just had the feel of going back to a well that's dried up. The dialogue between Austin and McMahon just didn't flow like before, it was like a poor reinactment, or watching a really shitty improv group. But it was passable for nostalgia untill it wouldn't END!!! McMahon after McMahon. Shane I could live with, hell maybe even Big Steph, but when will they learn to NEVER EVER put Linda McMahon on camera. She is horrible, and I'm not even talking about the fucked up stunner, I'm talking about the fact she shows the raw emotion of a three day old coarpse!!! She makes Lita look like Sally Field. Also, the other thing that bugged was the fact this segment drug on for 20 minutes and all the McMahons sold the Stone Cold Stunner like a bullet to the fucking head. Honestly how does Vince lay there MOTIONLESS for 10 minutes from having his chin dropped across Austin's shoulder?!?!?! Anyway, enough about that.......

We come back from the break and Vince promises someone is gonna get fired, well hopefully it's who ever the dumbass is that wrote that last segment..........

Next up was the "Money in the Bank Loser leaves Raw" Ladder match. Good match, but the ending was the second most predictable one of the night, only to be outdone by our next match.....So it's back to Smackdown for Matt Hardy V.1 at least now Christian will have a friend to hang out in obscurity with.......

Speaking of "going to the well", WWE just never tires of the endless hilarity that is Mae Young and Moolah. Here we have Mae trying to strip for Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Jimmy Snuka, and Ted Dibease. Dibease offers Mae a few grand to put her shirt back on while Snuka bogarts the money and goes to get him a piece. Hot damn, we're back home! Thanks USA!!

I missed Flair's promo, as I was on the phone with Stevie Wonder who called to tell me HHH was about to turn on Flair. Damn, he ruined it for me! Well after getting a rub from HBK and Flair respectively "The Game" is here to bitchslap Chris Masters and Carlito back down to the midcard. If your gonna turn anyway, why not turn before the pin and let them go over? I guess it helped "build the suspense". Whatever. Triple H tries to break Austin's record for longest segment by beating Flair's ass through the commercial break. Can't wait to hear the 30 minute explanation next week. So help me God if this a swerve and Flair joins back with him I will never watch this shit ever again........

We return with the legends standing in the ring. Dusty intro'd a few but didn't get to mention KoKo and his stuffed parrott. The very "pimpishly" dressed Hillbilly Jim or Dr. Death Steve Williams who recently went over on throat cancer(would have been a nice thing to mention for a cheap pop) Anyway, "Duthdy" starts to put over Harley Race when the horrendous music of the ratings killer himself, "Buff 2.0" Rob Conway plays. He comes down making depends jokes and whatnot and gets into the ring. Dusty tells him guys like Harley Race set the table that he eats at everyday. Conway replies with a remark about that being an ironic statement since it looks like Harley has spent a lot of time at the dinner table or something to that effect, it was actually the most amusing thing I've heard out of Conway. Anyway, the old guys attack and Conway gets a punch from Race, the bionic elbow from the Dream, the claw from Kevin Von Erich, and takes a top rope splash from "SuperPerv" Jimmy Snuka. Not bad, a good way to let the legends do something besides sit in the front row.

Bra and Panties match was next. Good for T&A. Not much else............

Next was the Smackdown 6 Man which ends before it starts.......Can't say I was that upset. Don't know if that was the original plan, so they would have an excuse to run in at the end or if the neverending Austin segement got them bumped......Oh well.

Mean Gene brings out the Hulkster. You can tell Vince kicked him in the ass and told him they were low on time cause we didn't get the standard 10 minute milking of the crowd that has become the norm of the Hulkster in recent years. He makes it short and sweet and says he wants to wrestle "Stone Cold" Steve Austin(likely at WrestleMania 22). On paper this is the dream match of all dream matches, the two biggest box office draws ever in wrestling going one on one. However, after seeing Hogan's mobility(or lack of) at SummerSlam, and Austin's bad knees, neck, back, etc. This will have to be VERY strategically booked for it not to fall on it's it face, perhaps they should bring back Pat Patterson for this one, if he could drag a good match out of Hogan/Warrior he can do anything. But, it's now or never and neither one can pass up what could be the biggest money match of there careers.

Due to the time they blew through the main event, although I don't understand having Bischoff in the Main Event for the title. Smackdown guys run in to I guess kick off a new rivalry between the shows that will likely come to a head at Survivor Series.


All and all, better than a lot of the stuff they've been putting out the last year or so but really subpar considering the talent at their disposal. That's just my opinion. I would be interested to read everyone elses.

GENE

My 2 cents on the Rodney Controversy......

Well since I worked there and was even mentioned by name in his post I'm gonna weigh in with my two cents on the whole deal. Now let me preface this by saying, I have no problems with Rodney, I like the guy, he provided a lot of us a place to work every week for several years however I don't know that I agree with ALL the statements he made in that post, but it was very interesting and in some cases informative. Like the fact I never knew that Brian Manness came clean about the fact that he and Kevin White weren't trained by Phil Hickerson. Now Brian was a nice guy and worked better than Kevin, but he was VERY small. I've said it before and I'll say it again Kevin White was a total prick. He had only had a handful of matches and lied his way onto the show but was already acting like a primidonna. I also suppect there is a lot of truth to the statement Rodney made about him being used in Memphis because his dad supplies the ring. But I'm not gonna bother going into that.

As for why wrestling died in Corinth I don't know that he's being totally honest with himself. Yes, from what I've been told the Butlers were total marks and put on some really bad shows BUT things were on a downhill slide quite awhile before that while he was still running. At one time Rodney was drawing some very large crowds(for the area) and the first time they started to go down was when he ditched the local guys and started using all Power Pro guys(which I'm sure in theory seemed like a good idea). Talking about forgetting who made you(and I'm not refferring to me, but rather the guys who had showed up every week for 4 years), the crowd really shit on those Power Pro guys and the crowds went down by half in a matter of weeks. Not to mention the fact we weren't told beforehand that we wouldn't be used, all the regulars showed up one night and was told they weren't needed. Eventually he brought back the regulars but he never seemed to regain the large following he had before. Another problem(in my opinion) was when he started letting more and more half trained and untrained people in the ring. Much like the White/Manness deal people started just showing up from everywhere saying they were workers and getting on the show. Most wouldn't stay long but some managed to linger. Like T-3/Sabu #2, he was the utter drizzlin' shits, but he used him regularly. Guys like Big Daddy Dale, now I like Marty, he's a helluva guy but he didn't need to be in the ring yet, especially against other guys who were just as green as he was. The other thing I don't understand(and didn't then either) was him using guys like Damian Rage. Now, I'm not knocking Damian, he was always a super nice guy, he's learned how to work since then and from what I hear is quite good now, but Rodney was using him regularly even though he admittedly hadn't been trained. Now he goes back and criticizes Damian, well ultimately Rodney is to blame, if you knew he wasn't trained and couldn't work why the hell were YOU using him on YOUR show???? Of course the guy is gonna get in there if you let him. Just like when Neil and I went out there and jumped those guys, and was told to beat the shit out of them, why the fuck were they in there in the first place?? The damage was already done, they had already exposed everything and brought the show to a screeching halt. That kinda shit went a lot further to damage the show than people realized. Now another sore subject for him was his pushing himself in the main events, he doesn't want to admit it but this did hurt him in the long run. Now just be honest with yourself here Rodney, if you go to a show and it's your first time there and the HEAVYWEIGHT champion walks out and he's 5'4 and 118 lbs carrying TWO belts(yes he held TWO heavyweight titles at the same time) it's pretty Goddamn hard to take the promotion seriously, especially when the "smart" fan beside you tells you that same guy happens to be the promoter, not like that was a secret. And your not out there beating guys your own size(cause there weren't many) you did an angle where you went over EVERY big man on the roster in consecutive weeks, huge guys like me and Hoss Williams. That shit makes it hard to suspend disbelief, you have to just shut off your whole brain. But I admit you WERE over with a large portion of the regulars untill.......you fucking turned heel, joined your arch enemy Don Bass(whom you had feuded with for 4 years) and became "The King of Corinth" complete with crown and all. How many people were we working in front of at that time?? Not many, I have tapes to prove it. Anyways after that went over like a fart in church you turned back face. Now from here I don't know much else cause I quit a few weeks later when that shitass Sabu #2 refused to the planned finish for a tag match, saying we might "hurt" him, even though HE had given a guy a concussion the week before. So when you were called over rather than telling him to do the finish cause Neil and I had never hurt ANYBODY, you tell me to just "give him a splash"(the standard generic fat guy finish). Now that coupled with the fact we were wrestling him and a guy called "Iceman" Chris Austin or some bullshit who came out to "Stone Cold's" music and used all his moves and mannerisms (which I thought was a fucking disgrace, made the whole show look like a cheap knockoff) I said, "fuck it" and refused to wrestle and left never to wrestle in Corinth again. It's funny after that Neil and I went to all the boards hyping a "shoot interview" on Rodney exposing him and he actually sent word through Jimmy Blaylock saying he was gonna sue us, and Jimmy said he sounded serious, so.............we posted it the next day. Nothing ever became of it and I saw Rodney at a legends show(in the crowd) a few years later and we talked and I have no problem with him(unless he get's pissed about this post)

The biggest thing Corinth was known for was piss poor payoffs, now he can say what he wants about breaking even but there was a time he was taking in a good door, and those were the nights we might get $5 a piece instead of handing Neil and I a $5 bill to "split"or just a see ya next week. I don't know what Brickhouse, Don Bass, or Gilbert was making but there wasn't much being paid out. That's why people would no show, cause if you could manage to get a paying booking you would ditch Corinth that week and go there and know you could just go back to Corinth the next week. Anyway the point of this isn't a slam against Rodney or anyone for that matter, it's to point out there's more than one side to every story, and I'm sure alot of different guys have a lot of different takes on Corinth and Rodney, but I'm glad Rodney had a show for us to work on every week it helped us get experience and I think all in all it was a good experience for everyone. Again, not trying to stir the pot or get heat with anyone just giving you my take on it all. Take it for what it's worth. If anyone has an opposing view or would like to comment please do so, either here, on Jimmy's board, or you can email me at genejackson@charter.net

Thanks for reading

GENE

"Mega Man" Speaks Out!

Since several folks have expressed interest in reading this and someone sent me a link I'm gonna post Rodney's post from a wrestling message board here for everyone to read, now by posting this it is in no way saying I agree with everything that he said nor is it saying I condone his butchering of grammar and spelling. I just think a lot of people like me who worked for him for a long time will be interested in reading it, so here it is in it's entirety. The former CWA Champion has a lot to say and a lot of people aren't happy about it.


WHAT A PERSON WILL DO TO FORFULL THERE DREAM/ GOAL .

Posted by RODNEY GRIMES on 9/24/2005, 4:51 am
User logged in as: Rodney | Edit Message

HELLO MY IS RODNEY GRIMES. I HAVE WRESTLED AND PROMOTED CWA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. I USELY DON'T COME ON HERE AND TALK ABOUT THINGS. I HAVE SEEN AND LEARNED ABOUT THE WRESTLING BUSINESS.BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE TO EVERYONE. THAT WOULD HAVE A DIFFERANT OUTLOOK ON WRESTLING (PROMOTING/WRESTLING)ON A WRESTLING EVENT.ALOT OF WRESTLING FANS AND WORKERS(WRESTLERS) THINK THAT IT IS EASY TO PROMOTE A WRESTLING EVENT.THEY ALSO THINK THAT IF THEY SEE A BIG CROWD THAT THE PROMOTER HAS MADE ALOT OF MONEY THAT NIGHT.THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.ALMOST 75% OF THE TIME A PROMOTER IS DOING GOOD TO BREAK EVEN.WHICH IS VERY HARD TO DO THIS DAY AND TIME FOR INDY PROMOTIONS.WHICH SOME INDY PROMOTERS DON'T ADVERTISE THERE WRESTLING EVENTS.WHICH IS A DIFFERANT STORY.BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T ADVERTISE THEN MOST OF TIME YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DRAW A CROWD.IF WRESTLING FANS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE WRESTLING EVENT THEN THEY WOULDN'T KNOW TO COME. SO, THE COST PROMOTING A WRESTLING EVENT IS VERY HIGH.A PROMOTER HAS BUILDING RENT,ADVERTISING, RING RENT(IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE),STATE ATHELTIC COMMISSION(IF THERE IS ONE IN THE STATE YOU ARE RUNNING), MOST PLACES INSURANCE, AND YOUR TALENT.SO, IT IS HARD TO MAKE MONEY IN THE WRESTLING BUSINESS NOW DAYS. EVERY SINCE I WAS I LITTLE KID AND CAN REMEMBER WATCHING WRESTLING OUT OF MEMPHIS , TN. THAT WAS ALWAYS MY DREAM OR GOAL WAS TO BECOME A WRESTLER. I ALWAYS ENJOYED WATCHING JERRY LAWLER, BILL DUNDEE, HANDSOME JIMMY VALIANT, DON BASS,EDDIE GILBERT, AUSTIN IDOL,JIMMY HART,JOE LEDUC,JACKIE FARGO,TOMMY GILBERT,AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.WRESTLING WAS SO DIFFERANT THEN. THEN IT IS NOW.BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS.EVERYTIME I PROMOTE WRESTLING EVENT I ALWAYS TRY TO PROMOTE AND RUN MY EVENTS LIKE THE OLE MEMPHIS DAYS THAT I GROW UP WATCHING.I ALWAYS ASKED MYSELF "IF I PAID FOR A TICKET FOR THIS EVENT DID I FEEL LIKE I GOT MY MONEY WORTH?" SO I ALWAYS GIVE MY BEST ON ALL OF MY WRESTLING EVENTS TO GIVE THE FANS WHO BOUGHT A TICKET TO GIVE THEM THERE MONEYS WORTH.(TO MAKE THE FANS WANT TO COME BACK) AND I FEEL LIKE MOST OF THE TIMES I DID. WHEN I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL , I WENT TO THE USWA WRESTLING SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE,TN. WHICH JEFF JARETTEE RAN . THERE WERE SERVERAL GUYS THERE AT THE WRESTLING SCHOOL AT THAT TIME. GUYS LIKE CHARLIE LAIRD,JIM DOTSON(AKA WRESTLED AS JIM HARRIS ),LEON DOWNS, AND A FEW MORE WERE AT THE USWA WRESTLING SCHOOL AT THAT TIME.I DROVE ABOUT 3 HOURS EVERY SUNDAY TO NASHVILLE TO THIS WRESTLING SCHOOL.SO , FINALLY AFTER ABOUT THE 5TH OR 6TH WORKOUT JEFF JARETTEE TOLD ME PLANNLY THAT I NEEDED TO GET INTO THE GYM AND WORKOUT AND GAIN SOMEMORE WEIGHT.AT THAT TIME I ONLY WEIGHTED LIKE ABOUT 118 LBS.SO I TOOK HIS ADVICE AND DID THIS . I STARTED WORKING OUT AND STARTED GAINING WEIGHT .GAINED ABOUT 60 LBS . SO THERE WAS A INDY PROMOTION THAT RAN IN MY HOMETOWN OF CORINTH, MS. THAT LEE AND BILLY RAY HICKERSON PROMOTED AT THE TIME.SO I HAD A CLOSE FRIEND (TOMMY SANDERS WHO ALSO WRESTLED FOR THEM)THAT INTRODUCED ME TO LEE AND BILLY HICKERSON AT ONE OF THERE WRESTLING EVENTS.I TOLD BILLY RAY THAT I HAD BEEN WORKING OUT WITH JEFF JARETTEE IN NASHVILLE, TN.SO, HE TOLD ME SHOW UP THRUSDAY NIGHT TO WORKOUT. SO THE NEXT THRUSDAY NIGHT I GOT INTO THE RING WITH BILLY RAY HICKERSON AND WE WORKOUT.HE SEEN THAT I HAD BEEN WORK WITH AND THAT I HAD THE HEART AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A PRO WRESTLER FOR MY SIZE. THE FOLLOWING THRUSDAY NIGHT BILLY RAY AND LEE RAN A SHOW IN FINGER,TN. WITH USWA WRESTLING OUT OF MEMPHIS, TN. SO , I WENT TO SHOW TO HELP WITH SHOW HAD NO IDEAL THAT WAS GOING TO WRESTLE THAT NIGHT. SO I ENDED UP WRESTLING MY FIRST MATCH IN A MOONDOG BATTLE WITH BILL DUNDEE, MOONDOGS, SCOTT STUD(AKA SCOTTY WREN), AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHICH WAS GREAT. I ALWAYS SAID WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT I WAS GOING TO BECOME A WRESTLER AND FINALLY I WRESTLED MY FIRST MATCH.AND THIS STARTED THIS ROLLER COASTER OF RIDE THAT I HAVE BEEN TAKING AND STILL RIDING FROM TIME TO TME. SO, I WRESTLED FOR THIS PROMOTION AND HELPED CO PROMOTE FOR A WHILE.BECAME GOOD FRIENDS WITH LEE AND BILLY RAY HICKERSON . LEE HICKERSON (AND HIS WIFE (KIDS) MOM , DAD) EVEN MOVED INTO MY HOUSE THAT I HAD FOR RENT AT THAT TIME.EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD. UNTIL I THE TIME THAT I HAD TO ASKED THEM TO MOVE BECAUSE I WAS FIXING GET MARRIED AND NEEDED MY HOUSE TO LIVE IN.I THINK UNTIL THIS DAY THEY STILL HOLD THAT AGAINST ME. SO THEY MOVED AND STOPPED RUNNING CORINTH AND SERVERAL WEEKS LATER . I STARTED CWA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING IN CORINTH EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT.I PROMOTED EVERY FRIDAY IN CORINTH, MS. FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS STRAIGHT.I WAS PROMOTING ON FRIDAY NIGHTS WHEN NO ELSE WAS AT THE TIME.AND WAS DRAWING GOOD ON THE SAME NIGHT AS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYED.WHICH WAS VERY GOOD.IT WAS AMAZING SOME NIGHTS TO SEE WHO WOULD SHOW UP WANTING WRESTLE. AND ALMOST ALL OF TIME I WOULD USE THEM. EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN CORINTH, MS MAN I MISS THOSE DAYS SOMETIMES.A LOT OF THE INDY WRESTLERS GOT THERE START RIGHT THERE IN CORINTH, MS.INDY WRESTLERS LIKE LANCE JADE,BIG HOSS WILLIAMS, THE SOULTAKER,DERRICK KING,DANNY B. GOOD, CHRIS ROCKER,DUSTIN STAR, JETT LOGAN,ALEX KRASIS,BLADE,JOHNNY DOTSON,KEVIN WHITE,"HOLLWOOD"JIMMY BLAYLOCK,NEIL TAYLOR,AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.EVEN KURT ANGLE AND ARRON O'GRADY )AKA CRASH HOLLY HAS EVEN WRESTLED FOR ME WHEN THEY WAS IN POWER PRO WRESTLING.OFTEN SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THESE WRESTLERS FORGET WERE THEY CAME FROM AND WERE THEY COULD COME AND LEARNED THERE TRADE AT . WHEN THERE WAS NO WHERE ELSE TO GO ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. MOST OF TIME WRESTLERS HAVE THERE OWN CLICK .EIRTHER YOUR IN OR YOUR NOT. MOST YOUNG INDY WRESTLERS TODAY DON'T TAKE THERE TRADE SERIOUS.AND SOME DOES.WHICH REALLY HURTS THE WRESTLING BUSINESS.ALSO WANT HURTS THE WRESTLING BUSINESS IS TO SHOW UP FOR YOUR BOOKINGS.IF YOU ARE BOOK ON A SHOW SHOW UP THAT NOT ONLY HURTS THE PROMOTION BUT IT ALSO HURTS YOUR NAME YOUR TRYING TO BUILDED UP. BUT WHAT I WANT TO REALLY TALK ABOUT IS THE THINGS A PERSON WILL GO THROUGH TO DO WHAT HE LOVES SO MUCH TO DO.SOMETIMES I ASKED MYSELF IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WRESTLING BUSINESS AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE NOT.THERE SOME THAT ARE GREEDY AND SOME THAT ARE NOT.SOME THAT ARE REAL GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND SOME THAT ARE NOT WORTH A DAM . BUT THEY THINK THEY ARE MADE OF GOLD AND KNOW EVERYTHING.THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU LEARN AND SEE IN THE WORLD OF WRESTLING. I HAVE HAD SO MANY TELL ME HOW TO RUN A PROMOTION AND THINGS TO DO TO MAKE MONEY IN WRESTLING BUSINESS. BUT I STOP AND ASKED MYSELF IF IT WAS THAT EASY TO MAKE MONEY THEN WHY DON'T THEY DO IT THERE SELFS.I AM NOT AS STUPID AS SOME PEOPLE THINK I AM. "WILDFIRE'TOMMY RICH WRESTLED FOR ME FEW TIMES.I GREW UP WATCHING HIM WRESTLE MANY TIMES.MOST TIMES TOMMY WOULD SHOW UP MESSED UP.ONE TIME TOMMY RICH SHOWED UP NOT BOOKED ON THE CARD, SO MESSED THAT DOUG GILBERT HAD TO DRIVE HIM TO HIS HOUSE.I DON'T SEE HOW HE MADE IT FROM ATLANTA TO CORINTH.ONE THING I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT TOMMY RICH IS WHEN MY MOTHER GOT BAD SICK AND I HAD TO CANCEL A SHOW .WHEN I CALLED TO TELL HIM THE SHOW WAS CANCEL . HE TOLD ME THAT IF I DON'T SEND HIM HIS MONEY FOR THE SHOW, HE WOULD COME TO CORINTH ,MS AND KICK MY ASS.I FELT LIKE THIS WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONALLY OF A PRO WORKER TO DO THIS.WHEN THE PROMOTER HAS A FAMILY SICKNESS.HE SURE DIDN'T GET HIS MONEY HE WANTED.THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE YOU. A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAD DAVE MULLIGAN MAKE ME CWA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FOR THE PROMOTION TO HAVE.DAVE DID REALLY GOOD JOB ON THIS BELT.THIS WAS THE FIRST BELT THE PROMOTION HAD.THEN ALL OF SUDDEN MY BELT CAME UP MESSING. I LET BRICKHOUSE BROWN USE IT MAKE SOME PICTURES WITH IT AND NEVER SEEN IT SINCE. I ASKED BRICK ABOUT IT AND HE TOLD ME THAT JOHNNY DOTSON HAD IT.SO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT SINCE.IT WAS MY MISTAKE FOR LETTING IT LEAVE THE BUILDING.YOU LIVE AND LEARN . SOMETIMES THE HARD WAY. TALKING ABOUT YOUNG INDY WORKERS NOT REMEMBERING WERE THEY GOT ONE OF THERE STARTS FROM.ONE THAT COMES TO MIND OFF THE TOP MY HEAD IS KEVIN WHITE.KEVIN WHITE GOT ONE HIS STARTS IN CORINTH, MS. FOR CWA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.KEVEN WHITE AND BRAIN MANESS SHOWED UP ONE NIGHT TO START WRESTLING FOR ME.THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD BEEN WORKING SOME IN COOKVILLE ,TN.AND THAT PHIL HICKERSON HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.WELL I PUT THEM IN THE RING AND GAVE THEM A GOOD PUSH. THEY WAS OVER WELL WITH THE FANS.THEN ONE NIGHT KEVIN WHITE GOT MAD BECAUSE A WORKER NAMED WAR MACHINE THAT WEIGHTED ABOUT 400 LBS. WOULD NOT BUMP FOR HIM.WELL I GUY THIS BIG IS GOING TO DO MUST BUMPING.SO, HE GOT MAD AND LEFT.WELL COUPLE NIGHTS LATER BRAIN MANESS CALLED ME AND TOLD HE AND KEVIN WHITE HAS NOT BEEN WORKING WITH PHIL HICKERSON.THAT IT WAS ALL A LIE TO GET TO WORK.SO, THE NEXT I KNOW HE IS TRAINED MY BILL DUNDEE .AND IS ON MEMPHIS WRESTLING WHICH IS FINE.BUT I FEEL THE ONLY REASON HE IS ON MEMPHIS WRESTLING BECAUSE OF HIS DADDY GARY WHITE. BECAUSE GARY WHITE OWNS THE RINGS THEY USE SO THEY USE KEVIN .WHICH IF MY SON WANTED TO WRESTLE I WOULD HELP HIM OUT ANY WAY I CAN.I GUESS THATS THE BRAKES YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THAT PULL. I REALLY LOVE WORKING WITH JERRY LAWLER,DON BASS, DUTCH MANTEL, HANDSOME JIMMY VALIANT,TOMMY GILBERT,AND GUYS LIKE THIS . THIS GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND . AND THEY ARE REAL PROS. NOW, THAT WRESTLING IS DEAD IN CORINTH THANKS TO BOBBY AND HIS DAD WADE BUTLER. WHEN I HAD TO CLOSE CORINTH FOR A WHILE TO TAKE OF MY MOTHER THAT WAS BAD SICK.BRICKHOUSE BROWN GOT WITH THESE MARKS.AND STARTED RUNNING CORINTH. WHILE THEY ENDED UP MESSING OVER BRICKHOUSE THEN DOUG GILBERT. THEN KILLED THE TOWN BY USING JUST ANY ANYBODY, FIGHTING BETWEEN THERE SELFS (I THINK THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS REALLY FIGHTING AT ONE TIME), AND THEY RAN THE GREAT WRESTLING FANS OFF BY BEING RUDE TO THEM.SO CORINTH IS DEAD AND WOULD BE HARD TO RUN AGAIN.

PART 2:
VOID. I DON'T KNOW YOU.I DO KNOW YOU HAVE NEVER WORK FOR ME .SO HOW DO YOU KNOW JACK CRAP ABOUT ME OR WHAT I DO OR HAVE DONE.YOU DON'T .ALL YOU KNOW IS HEAR SAY.I DO KNOW THAT YOU WRESTLE FOR THE BULTERS DURING THE TIME THEY KILL CORINTH.NOT SAYING YOU WAS THE ONE KILL IT YOURSELF.THE ONES THAT WERE RUNNING THE PROMOTION KILLED THE TOWN.I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU VIOD. WHAT HAVE YOU EVERY DONE IN THE WRESTLING BUSINESS?WHERE HAVE YOU GONE ? WHAT IS YOUR CLAIM TO FAME IN WERSTLING? LETS FACE IT YOU ARE LIKE SOME OF THE REST YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING.BUT GIVE YOU CREDIT YOU TRY YOUR BEST.AND THATS GOOD.
YOU TALKIKG ABOUT ME WEIGHTING 180 LBS. AND PUTTING THE CWA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ON MYSELF.WELL IT'S LIKE THIS IT'S NOT HOW YOU DO IT , IT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT.AND IF THE WRESTLING FANS LIKE IT AND COME BACK FROM WEEK TO WEEK THEN YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.AND I MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHINGS RIGHT BECAUSE THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING WAS PACKED EVERY FRIDAY.YOU KNOW THEY HAS BEEN MORE WRESTLING FANS COME TO THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING AND WATCH ME AMD WRESTLING PROMOTION THEN ANY PROMOTION THAT HAS EVRY RAN IN CORINTH .AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT 30 AND 40 FANS EACH WEEK.AND IT COULD BE ALOT OF JEALOUSLY ALSO THAT THE BELT WAS ON ME.
A WRESTLER (WORKER) HAS EQUAL TIME TO GET HIS OR HER SELF OVER NO MATTER WHAT THE MATCH IS.IF YOUR GOOD ENOUGH YOU CAN DO THAT.SOME HAVE IT AND SOME DON'T.SIZE DON'T MATTER. NOW DAYS ANYBODY CAN GET INTO RING AND CALL THEM SELF A PRO WRESTLER.IT'S THAT EASY.
FOR AN EXAMPLE , THERE WERE 3 GUYS THAT WANTED ME TO TRAIN THEM . THEY CAME AND WORKOUT FOR 1 NIGHT AND THEN QUIT.THEY CAME TO MY WRESTLING THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. AND THEN THEY WENT UP TO THE ATHELTIC COMMISSIONER AND WANTED TO BUY THERE WRESTLING LIC.AND THE COMMISSIONER SOLD THEM THERE WRESTLING LIC. WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED.I WENT AND ASKED THE COMMISSIONER WHY DID HE SELL THEM THERE WRESLING LIC. WHEN THEY WERE NEVER TRAINED YET?AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T CARE AS LONG AS HE GOT HIS MONEY FOR LIC. .SO, THEY NEXT THING I KNOW THEY WORKING DOWN SOUTH MS. FOR LORD HUGO CALLING THEMSELFS DAMION RAGE, GARY WOOLRIDGE,AND NATHAN LEE.SO YOU SEE ANY BODY CAN GET INTO THE RING AND CALL THEMSELFS A WRESTLER.AND THIS ALSO KILLS THE WRESTLING BUSINESS AND HAS KILL WRESTLING AROUND NORTH MS. AS A WHOLE.
SOMETIMES ON FRIDAY NIGHTS I THOUGHT I WAS RUNNING A BABYSITTING SERVICE INSTEAD OF PROMOTIING WRESTLING.AND IT WASN'T THE YOUNG TALENT THAT I MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE WITH FROM TIME TO TIME.SOME OF THE VETERANS AS WELL WERE ACTING CHILDISH AT TIMES.
MY POINT IS THAT I HAVE LIVED MY DREAM AND I HAVE DID WHAT I WANTED TO DO.I HAVE WRESTLE AND I HAVE PROMOTED.AND STILL DO IT FROM TIME TO TIME. AND THESE ARE JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF SOME OF THINGS THAT I HAVE INCOUNTERED IN THE WORLD OF WRESTLING.
SO, I ASK MYSELF IF IT'S WORTH IT? YES, I GUESS IT IS . SEEMS LIKE WRESTLING IS LIKE A DRUG WHEN YOU DO IT AND HAVE DONE IT.IT'S HARD TO WALK AWAY FROM IT.SO, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FIX AND DO IT AGAIN.

A "Legendary" Post

First off let me just say again I'm saddened by the news of Trae Keller's passing. For those that remember several monthes ago I gave Trae a hard time in one of my 'Cheap Heat' columns in a 'Where are they now?' piece. I wrote some pretty hateful shit about him and was shocked a week later to recieve an email from him. As I clicked on the title I fully expected for him to go off on me and challenge me to some sort of "shoot match" at a show somewhere. Instead, he explained some of the things I took issue with in my column and apologized for "being a prick" at some of the shows I worked with him on. After that he continued to read my column and we swapped emails from time to time. Regardless of what I had thought of him before I gained a tremendous amount of respect for the man because that email was one of the most professional things I've seen in this business. Very rarely does anyone ever acknowledge any shortcomings or wrong doings in this business or even consider apologizing for anything, but he did it when he really didn't have to. Deaths have become a frequent thing in wrestling and we kinda become numb to them especially when they are guys we've only watched on tv, but when it's someone you've worked with and is close to your age it's really disheartening. Again I just want to say after getting to know him away from wrestling that regardless of what anyone thought of his gimmicks, ring work, or any of that other petty stuff, Trae was a class act and will be missed.


Local Legends?

Well after taking up for JD's last column I have to sorta take issue with his newest one. No disrespect to anyone he mentioned in that column but I think we're getting pretty free and easy with the word "legend". Here's an excerpt from that column:

"So what I am saying is that longevity and name recognition is two minor qualifications for being a "local indy legend" in my opinion. Again let me stress I am not talking about how good or bad they might or might not be, I am merely talking about how well known they are by fans and other wrestlers."

"So when I grab that microphone and call myself a real "Mississippi wrestling legend", that is what I mean. I ain't really trying to say I'm that great (but if the fans in the seats want to understand it that way, then more power to them), but really only that YOU know who I am."

Again not a knock on anybody but that's some pretty BROAD criteria. As for people knowing who they are, everyone knows the crazy son of a bitch wearing a sailor har that stands outside the local Wal-Mart and begs everybody for change, but that doesn't make him a "legend" and just because he's hard headed enough to continue to do it for 10-15 years doesn't make him a "legend". Just means he doesn't have a clue... Again I'm not knocking any of the guys you named or you for that matter, but the criteria you are going by simply makes them "known" rather than "unknown" not nessecerily "legendary".

Anyway just my 2 cents on the topic, not saying I'm right. Just my opinion.

"The 28 Year Old Living Legend"
Gene Jackson
(Hey, some folks know who I am..........)

Eat your heart out Triple H.......

It pays to have your daddy start you your own promotion

Well he held out as long as he could but Jarrett finally had to snatch the NWA World title off Raven, in Canada on a non-TNA show no less with help from the newly heel-turned America's Most Wanted. I guess he couldn't bear going into the Spike TV debut not being the Champion. In spite of ol' "Slapnuts" and his antics TNA has improved more than ever during there "dark" period of not being on tv. Unbreakable was one of(if not THE) best PPV they've turned out since going to the monthly format. Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong was an awesome match. Sabu vs. Abyss was far more brutal than anyone expected. Even though I wasn't all that fired up about it, Raven vs. Rhino was a good match, although I know the majority of people (myself especially) got the show strictly for the three way X division match, I still think making Raven's World title match the Semi-Main Event was just another way for Jarrett to tarnish Raven's title reign. Regardless of the fact the three way would have been hard to follow, If "Double J" had the strap it wouldn't have mattered if he was wrestling Mike Tenay in a lingerie pillow fight for the title, they would have been on last.

However, I have to say the X Division title match DID NOT (Credit: David Burcham)
dissapoint! Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe has to be a top candidate for 'Match of the Year'. It will definetly go down as one of the top three Triple Threat matches of all time along with the original three way dance- Shane Douglas vs. Sabu vs. Terry Funk and the Wrestlemania 20 WWE Title Match- Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels. All three guys were phenomenal(no pun intended) in this match. The only part I didn't like, I would have kept the belt on Daniels and go into the new tv show putting over his long title reign and the fact that he'd held it longer than anyone, and show clips of all the people he had defeated. Then they could have started AJ vs. Daniels as a fresh angle on Spike building the story of AJ's quest to get the belt off Daniels instead of Styles(the poster child for TNA) walking in with the belt from day 1. Oh well, I think Samoa Joe should be in the World title picture by the first of the year. He's one of the most well rounded workers on there roster. He's got size, he can mat wrestle, he can work with the high flyers, the big guys, small guys and he's is believable. TNA needs to check out tapes of his nearly 2 year reign as Ring of Honor Champion. As for AMW turning heel, I figure it was done in anticipation of bringing in the former Dudleyz or Team 3-D I think is what they are going by now, at least that's what they used at the WrestleReunion show a few weeks back. If so then it's a good idea cause the Dudleyz are gonna be cheered there more than likely.

WWE Unforgiven 2005

Well I haven't seen it yet but I should have a copy by the end of the week. But having read the results I may have wasted my money even buying a copy of it. I'm sorry folks, and I'm sure some people are gonna dissagree but I have to say this, RIC FLAIR IS TOO GODDAMN OLD TO BE STILL WINNING TITLES. I mean if it was on some of these sad ass "legend shows" it would be understandable, you know these legend shows that turn up EVERY month with these poor guys trying to hold on to what's left of there legacy. I don't mean any disrespect and one match here and there is fine but have you seen some of these guys lately?? It's pretty sad. I've got a dvd from North Carolina of a balding "Fantastic" Bobby Fulton with his trunks pulled up to his nipples still trying to live off his eighties persona. On this same disc you have "Return of the Skywalkers" (I had to order it just to see this) It's a rematch of the 1987 25 Ft. High Scaffold Match between The Midnight Express and the Rock & Roll Express. Folks this was unbelievable. They show the ring announcer during the first match and the scaffold is about three feet above his head. Honestly the scaffold was all of about 8 ft. high. These old guys climb up there and after a few minutes, RICKY MORTON PLUMMETS TO THE MAT AT 90 MPH!! Actually he dangled off the side and then dropped the foot and a half to the mat. My stepson has taken worse bumps from the monkey bars at the park. It was a real sight to see. But anyway my point is, these shows are taking place in front of a few hundred people and those of us unfortunate enough to spend money on the dvd, Flair is on worldwide television. Not really sure how this will play out but I'm willing to bet it will involve some brilliant swerve no one will see coming where HHH will turn on Flair only to have Flair turn and rejoin him two weeks later.......can't wait. Anyway that seemed to be the only thing of note from the PPV. Cena retained, the cage match was said to be pretty good and Lance Cade and Ricky..uh I mean Trevor Murdoch won the oh so prestigious tag titles. Speaking of Ricky Murdoch, I recently picked up the NWA 55th Anniversary dvd which includes him defending his National title and the commentator is just burying his ass through the whole match, saying he's fat and can't wrestle. Not that I'm against bashing Ricky Murdoch but this guy does this through a lot of the matches showing he doesn't know shit about being a commentator. You don't acknowledge that the guys suck in the ring, you try to cover it up and make the most of it, You don't see J.R. on RAW when people blow spots going, "Well that was a clusterfuck, what a couple of dumbasses." Clueless jackoffs like that are the reason the business is in the toilet and will continue to be for a long time to come.

Well that's all for now, but before I ago I want to thank SGWA for linking my column on there website along with Deven Raynes linking me from his. I've added link to there sites as well, go check them out.

GENE