Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[JaseSF]

The F.B.I. joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. The Full-Blooded Italians started as a comedy tag team in ECW made up of mostly obviously non-Italian wrestlers. The team in its original incarnation included African American wrestler J.T. Smith teamed with Italian wrestler Big Val Puccio. Eventually southern Americans Tommy Rich and Tracey Smothers were added to the group along with Italian Little Guido. Oirginally they played up Italian stereotypes making references to the mafia and using hand gestures. Eventually the group would added Sal E. Graziano as manager and become more serious with Little Guido & Tracey Smothers capturing the ECW World Tag Team titles and the JAPW Tag Team titles. Later the pairing of Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke would also capture the ECW World Tag Team titles.

Several years later Nunzio, formerly Little Guido in ECW, would start a new group in WWE that included Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo. While having relatively little success in WWE, they did battle teams such as Los Guerreros, Chris Benoit & Rhyno and The Acolytes. Just as the group seemed to gaining popularity in WWE, they were broken up with Palumbo sent to Raw. Later that year in 2004, Palumbo and Stamboli would be released. In 2005, Vito debuted as Nunzio's new F.B.I. partner but Nunzio abandoned him after the crossdressing gimmick was revealed. At ECW One Night Stand in 2005, a lot of the original F.B.I. reunited to appear including Little Guido, Tracey Smothers, Tony Mamaluke, Big Guido and J.T. Smith. In 2006, when WWE launched a new ECW brand, The F.B.I. team of Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke briefly reunited again along with new manager Trinity. The team was basically jobbed out in WWE despite having great potential and Mamaluke left in early 2007. In the Italy based Nu-Wrestling Evolution Johnny Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo continued their F.B.I. team and became extremely popular in the Italian promotion. In 2008, Little Guido and Tracey Smothers formed yet another F.B.I. team partnership in Jersey All-Pro Wrestling. In their first match there, they defeated L.A.X. to win the tag titles but lost them less than a month later. On the August 8, 2010 TNA Hardcore Justice show, The F.B.I. of Tony Mamaluke, Little Guido and Tracey Smothers accompanied by Sal E. Graziano defeated Kid Kash, Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger in a six-man match. On an August 26, 2010 edition of TNA Impact! Guido & Mamaluke were squashed by Beer Money Inc..

[JaseSF]

Dawn Marie joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Dawn Marie initially got her start on the independent circuit when after jokingly suggesting she'd be interested in a career in wrestling while signing modeling posters for talent agent and pro wrestling promoter Jonathan Gold, Gold took her seriously and called her back saying she was scheduled to appear on a wrestling show in New Jersey. Despite some initial trepidation, she went to the show and managed Tony Atlas in a match with Jimmy Snuka. Dawn Marie would go on to make her pro debut in January 1995 and on the independent circuit would meet future fiancee Simon Diamond. She also met Buddy Landell and Devon Storm who would eventually help train her. She spent four years on the northeastern indy circuit working promotions like Maryland Championship Wrestling and Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation.

In 1998, Dawn Marie was approached by ECW through Buh Buh Ray Dudley who had some interest in her working there primarily in an angle with Lance Storm. She debuted on August 28, 1998 as Lance Storm's manager while he feuded with Chris Candido and his manager Tammy Lynn Sytch. Initially the plan was for Dawn Marie to only have a three week role with the company but the chemistry between Storm and Dawn was so good promoter Paul Heyman decided to keep her around in the role of Storm's manager. Dawn Marie was portrayed as in love with Storm but seemed more clumsy in her execution than glamorous. During the feud with Candido and Sytch, Dawn Marie would be nicknamed "Tammy Lynn Bytch" just to spite Candido and Sytch. When the feud ended, she changed the name to Dawn Marie Bytch which was eventually shortened to just Dawn Marie. She'd go on to lead the tag team of Storm and Justin Credible who were known as the Impact Players to the ECW World Tag Team titles on 2 occasions. Dawn Marie stayed with Storm until he left for WCW in May 2000. She too had been offered a contract by WCW to go along with Storm but turned it down choosing to stay in ECW with fiancee Simon Diamond not to mention she still had two years left on her ECW contract. After Storm left, she'd briefly do some color commentary but eventually came to manage to her fiancee Diamond and his partner Johnny Swinger.

After ECW folded, Dawn Marie managed Diamond on the independent circuit. She also got some further in-ring training from Diamond and Mikey Whipwreck. In April 2002, she began negotiating with WWE. She debuted in WWE on a May 30, 2002 episode of Smackdown! as Vince McMahon's legal assistant. Initially she briefly feuded with Stacy Keibler over McMahon's affections until Vince named daughter Stephanie the GM of Smackdown! with Keibler going to Raw shortly thereafter. Dawn Marie's most high profile storyline was her feud with Torrie Wilson which eventually involved Dawn Marie "marrying" Torrie's dad Al when Torrie refused to have a lesbian affair with her. Eventually in the storyline (kayfabe), Al supposedly died from rigorous sex with Dawn leading to Torrie defeating Dawn at No Mercy 2002 and at Royal Rumble 2003. Later they had another feud which placed Torrie Wilson's career on the line. Torrie would win that one too. Next Dawn Marie ended up in a feud with Miss Jackie after it was suspected Jackie's fiancee Charlie Haas had an affair with Dawn Marie. This led to a match between the two at Armageddon with Haas as special guest referee. Dawn Marie won the match but afterwards Haas admitted to the affair and dumped both women. Her last WWE appearance was at ECW One Night Stand 2005 managing Lance Storm in his match against Chris Jericho. She would be released from her WWE contract on July 6, 2005 after it was learned she was pregnant. In early November 2005, she appeared at an ECW Reunion show called Hardcore Homecoming holding the key for a main event steel cage match between Jerry Lynn and P.J. Polaco. The match was won by Polaco (formerly Justin Credible) after Dawn Marie, Jason Knight and Lance Storm,  his former Impact Players partners, interfered on his behalf. In July 2009, Dawn Marie signed with Dragon Gate USA as a "Live Event Hostess" basically playing a ring announcer role.

Dawn Marie starred in the 1999 independent film The Vampire Carmilla in which she appeared topless. Despite her long relationship with Simon Diamond, the two would never actually get married. Dawn Marie did marry a man named Matt in June 2005 and in December gave birth to their first child. In January 2006, she filed a wrongful dismissal claim against WWE for terminating her contract just because she was pregnant. The case was reportedly settled in 2007. Dawn Marie also founded the charity "Wrestler's Rescue" on September 14, 2008 to raise awareness and help raise money to meet the health needs of retired professional wrestlers.

Larry Zbyszko joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Zbyszko's notoriously hard to spell name was actually chosen in tribute to a legendary Polish wrestler and former NWA World champion named Stanislaus Zbyszko from the 1920s. Zbyszko had a long successful wrestling career starting out in the early 1970s as the protege of the legendary Bruno Sammartino. Zbyszko would go on to win the WWWF World Tag Team titles with Tony Garea and feuded with the likes of Bugsy McGraw, Abdullah the Butcher and Superstar Billy Graham. But what he is initially most famous for arguably even to this day was his unexpected heel turn on mentor Bruno Sammartino attacking him with a wooden chair and their subsequent heated and bloody feud. The turn made Zbyszko absolutely reviled by fans and he had to endure attacks on his car or taxis he was travelling in by fans not to mention being assaulted with an iron pole following a match and being stabbed in the buttock after another one. The feud finally came to an head in a brutal steel cage match during 1980's Showdown at Shea that saw Sammartino defeat Zbsyzko.

After feuding with Bruno's son David Sammartino on the independent circuit, Zbyszko moved to the NWA and Georgia Championship Wrestling and started to lay claim to having retired Bruno as Bruno retired for a time in 1981. While in Georgia, Zbyszko feuded with Tim Woods and Paul Orndorff and bought the NWA National Heavyweight title from Killer Tim Brooks for $25, 000 only to be understandably stripped of the title for acquiring it in such a manner less than a month later. Then he'd go on to win the tournament for the vacant title defeating Mr. Wrestling II in the finals. In 1984, Zbsyzko moved to the AWA where he was initially awarded the newly created AWA America's championship which was used to engage him in a Lengthy feud with Sgt. Slaughter. Zbyszko constantly drew the fans' ire in his bouts with Slaughter and later this would become his routine in the AWA for constantly stalling and delaying any contact during his matches. In 1986, Zbyszko feuded with now fan favourite Nick Bockwinkel but failed to get the upper hand against him. He'd also have memorable feuds with Ray Stevens and boxer/referee Scott LeDoux. On May 2, 1987, Zbyszko would help Curt Hennig defeat Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight championship. As Bockwinkel retired not long after this, Zbyszko started to lay claim to having retired both Bockwinkel and Sammartino.

In 1987, he moved to Jim Crockett Promotions NWA with new manager Baby Doll and soon starting feuding with Barry Windham eventually defeating him for the newly created Western States Heritage Championship. After Baby Doll left, she was replaced by manager Gary Hart who paired Zbyszko up with Al Perez. The NWA at that point which eventually moved to new ownership seemed to have no idea what to do with either Zbyszko or Perez so in 1989, Zbyszko decided to return to the AWA.

On February 7, 1989, Zbyszko won an 18 man battle royal for the then vacant AWA World Heavyweight title last eliminating Tom Zenk. Zbyszko would go on to feud with Zenk, Wahoo McDaniel and Sgt. Slaughter but held on to his title throughout this. He'd also fend off challenges from Greg Gagne and David Sammartino. On February 10, 1990, he'd lose the AWA World title to an unlikely choice in Mr. Saito who defeated him at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Zbyszko regained the title from Saito on April 8, 1990 and went on to successfully defend it against the likes of The Trooper, Brad Rheingans, Nikita Koloff and Harley Race amongst others. AWA was in serious decline by this time however and Zbyszko choose to go to WCW in December 1990 and was thereafter stripped of his AWA World title. The AWA would declare bankruptcy and go out of business in 1991.

Initially Zbsyzko teamed with Terry Taylor in WCW but found an even better and more suitable partner in Arn Anderson. Together as the Enforcers, they defeated Rick Steiner and Bill Kazmeier for the then vacant WCW World Tag Team titles in a tournament final match at Clash of the Champions XVI: Fall Brawl. Leading up to Halloween Havoc '91, the Enforcers feuded with Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham eventually attacking and injuring Windham's hand. At Clash of the Champions XVII, Windham was replaced by Ricky Steamboat who along with Dustin Rhodes defeated the Enforcers for the WCW World Tag Team titles. In December 1991, the Enforcers joined Paul E. Dangerously Dangerous Alliance. When a mistake by Zbyszko was seen as the reason for his Dangerous Alliance's team loss in a WarGames match, the Dangerous Alliance turned on Zbyszko leading to brief feuds with Steve Austin and Bobby Eaton before Zbyszko retired to become a color commentator.

At this time, Zbsyzko started calling himself "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko obviously mocking his old rival "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, himself a former color commentator. Zbyszko initially provided commentary on the weekend WCW Pro Wrestling show alongside Dusty Rhodes and Chris Cruise. In 1994, Lord Steven Regal began tormenting Zbyszko eventually leading to him making a surprise return to the ring and defeating Regal for the WCW World Television title on May 2, 1994, a title Regal would regain on June 23, 1994. In 1996, Zbyszko was promoted to join the WCW Monday Nitro announce team alongside Tony Schiavone for the first hour. In 1997, NWO member Scott Hall began to torment him and try and get him to have a match with him with Zbyszko decided against at the time. At Starrcade 1997, Zbyszko actually faced Eric Bischoff in a match for control of WCW Monday Nitro with Bret Hart as special referee. Zbyszko won the match ensuring WCW maintained control of Nitro. Zbyszko continued to feud with Hall and eventually had a match with him at Souled Out 1998, a match he won by DQ when Dusty Rhodes betrayed him and joined the NWO. Zbyszko returned to announcing full-time in 1999 after losing a retirement match to Curt Hennig. He returned to the ring again in January 2000 as a member of the Old Age Outlaws alongside Terry Funk, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff who were then feuding with a revived NWO but returned to commentary again in February until WCW was purchased by the WWF in March 2001.

As an announcer, Zbyszko wasn't so bad really but often seemed a little too self-absorbed and self-interested as he seemed to stop and restart his in-ring career whenever the mood struck him. Instead of helping to build new stars with his commentary, sometimes he was a little too interested in promoting himself and his own past reputation. Although to be fair Zbsyzko could still go in the ring, he really should have stepped aside for the most part once he had assumed a mostly commentary position.

Zbyszko would actually go on to compete in-ring more on the independent scene from 2001-2005 competing in Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, feuding with Chris Harris in the Tennessee based USA Championship Wrestling promotion where he defeated Harris for the USA North American Heavyweight title but lost it back to Harris less than a month later. On August 27, 2005 at WrestleReunion in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Zbyszko faced Diamond Dallas Page in a match that stipulated if Zbyszko won he'd receive five minutes alone in the ring with sixty-nine year old Bruno Sammartino. Page eventually nailed Zbyszko with his Diamond Cutter but then choose to pull the prone Zbyszko on top of him for the pin leading to Bruno throttling the prone Zbyszko for five minutes!

In January 2003, Zbyszko moved to TNA and sparked a brief feud of respect with A.J. Styles eventually winning the right to be Styles manager when Styles couldn't pin him twice in under ten minutes. The angle however would shortly be scrapped and Zbyszko would again disappear for a while. He'd next return in August 2003 losing a match to Kid Kash after interference from Abyss. On June 2004, Zbyszko finally made a more significant return assisting Ron "The Truth" Killings in his feud with Jeff Jarrett. Following this Zbyszko would be given a Championship Committee role. Eventually this would be phased out but Zbyszko would be made "Director of Authority"  in June 2005. Eventually this would lead to a feud with Raven who felt slighted he was never given a NWA world championship rematch against Jarrett after Jarrett and America's Most Wanted teamed up to get the title away from him. Eventually Zbyszko started bringing in people to make Raven's life hell including P.J. Polaco, The Diamonds in the Rough, Chris Kanyon and Sean Waltman. Following a loss to Waltman with much interference from Zbyszko, Raven was fired. On April 2006, Zbyszko was placed on probation due to his unfair actions towards Raven and Raven was reinstated. At TNA Victory Road 2006, Raven finally got his revenge on Zbyszko defeating him in an hair vs. hair match. After losing a match to Eric Young at Bound For Glory 2006, Zbyszko was fired by TNA a week later. Zbyszko once again returned to the independent circuit and was awarded the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight championship as he'd never lost his AWA World title in the ring. On April 18, 2008, he'd lose this new AWA World title to Brian Logan in a 3 way match that also included Ricky Landell. However when Logan left to join the rogue American Wrestling Affiliates, the AWA Superstars of Wrestling began recognizing Zbyszko as champion again, this time he'd drop the title to Ricky Landell. Zbyszko still makes sporadic in-ring appearances to this day.

[JaseSF]

"Mean" Gene Okerlund joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. "Mean" Gene was a colorful outspoken backstage interviewer and the seeming perfect host for events around and involving pro wrestling. Okerlund got his start in the AWA where he started as a fill-in ring announcer and interviewer for the ailing Marty O' Neil. By the end of the decade, Okerlund had left his radio background behind to take O'Neil's place in the AWA. Okerlund was one of the main voices of the AWA until 1983 especially featured in a backstage and ring interview role but he sometimes did some announcing too.

Okerlund left with several other key AWA figures who went to the WWF at the end of 1983, early 1984 including Hulk Hogan and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Okerlund would stay with the WWF for nine years and usually played host on numerous Coliseum Home Video releases, was the WWF's top interviewer and played host to shows like Tuesday Night Titans and All-American Wrestling. Okerlund actually tied it up in the ring for one special match in which he teamed with Hulk Hogan to defeat George "The Animal" Steele and Mr. Fuji with Hogan actually helping "Mean" Gene pin Fuji! At the first Wrestlemania, Okerlund sang "The Star-Spangled Banner". In 1985, he made a special guest appearance on The A-Team along with Hulk Hogan, Heenan, Ricky Steamboat, The British Bulldogs, Corporal Kirschner and Big John Studd. As "Mean Gene", Okerlund always seemed a goofy, fun character even performing "Tutti Frutti" on one occasion. With his bald head and black mustache, Okerlund never seemed imposing but gave great and believable facial reactions to the shenanigans of the wrestlers.

After Summerslam 1993, Okerlund left the WWF for rival WCW. There he continued his role as interviewer and backstage personality but in the WCW seemed to develop a little more shady personality designed to score and shill dough from fans who wanted scoops from his phone hotline. He only left WCW for a few months in Fall 1996. After that, he remained with WCW until it was sold in 2001. Vince Russo also gave Okerlund a bit of a "dirty old man" gimmick where he seemed to dwell on the breasts of the women he interviewed and would lust after announcer/interviewer Pamela Paulshock. While in WCW and despite a neck injury, Okerlund wrestled in two matches in WCW. In one he teamed with Buff Bagwell to defeat Chris Kanyon and Mark Madden and in another he defeated Madden one on one.

"Mean" Gene made his WWF/WWE return in 2001 helping to announce the Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania X-7 alongside Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. He would go on to host the show WWE Confidential for two years. Prior to his WWF return, Gene also helped to host several AWA classics specials and another Wrestling Classics show. "Mean Gene" would also go on to host "WWE Madison Square Garden Classics" for MSG Network and host the WWE On Demand Hall of Fame section. Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by Hulk Hogan. In June 2008, Okerlund began hosting WWE Vintage Collection which is a perfect fit for him and he does a fantastic job on it.

[HappyGilmore]

"Mean" Gene is one reason I loved wrestling as a kid.  He may not have been much of a play by play guy, but his interview segments were always entertaining and oftentimes added much to a wrestler's character.  He's not the only reason I liked it, but he definitely added a lot.

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Bam Bam Bigelow joins the Singles Hall of Shame. After neing trained in Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory, Bam Bam Bigelow seemed a natural for big success in wrestling. He had a very unique look given his bald head covered with a massive bright red flame tattoo, a background as a bounty hunter, and was a surprisingly agile 400+ pound big man who could move and work better than most inside the squared circle. During his earliest days in wrestling he wrestled as Crusher Yurkof in World Class where he captured the WCWA Television title. Following this he wrestled in Continental Wrestling in Tennessee as Bam Bam Bigelow teaming up with Jerry "The King" Lawler during his heated 1987 feud with Tommy Rich and Austin Idol managed by Paul E. Dangerously. While there he captured the AWA Southern Heavyweight title. In May 1987, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation and first debuted on TV with all the heel managers vying to secure his services. He surprised everyone by announcing Sir Oliver Humperdink as his manager with the two remaining fan favourites. Bam Bam would prove quite popular in his early WWF days given his unique look and his remarkable agility for a man so big. First Bigelow got past Nikolai Volkoff and jilted manager Slick. Next he was chosen for Hulk Hogan's Survivor Series 1987 team and was the last man eliminated during said match giving a very impressive performance eliminating King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang before finally being eliminated and defeated by Andre the Giant. Bigelow continuing wrestling in the WWF for a year despite a knee injury and lost by countout to the One Man Gang in the first round of the Wrestlemania IV WWF World title tournament. He'd end his first WWF stint shortly after this.

Bigelow next turned up in Jim Crockett Promotions NWA in 1988 alongside manager Humperdink and was soon gunning for Barry Windham's United States title. The two had a great match at Starrcade' 88 but Windham eventually defeated Bam Bam by countout. Bigelow however had made a commitment to New Japan Pro Wrestling where he teamed with Big Van Vader to win the IWGP Tag Team titles. In 1992, he left New Japan and performed for several other Japanese promotions. He captured the WAR Six-Man Tag Team titles with Hiromichi Fuyuki and Youji Anjoh at this time. Bigelow also had several independent special match-ups with Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy billed as the Battle of the Bam Bams. Bigelow also had a short run in Herb Abrams UWF where he was a top contender to "Dr. Death" Steve Williams' UWF Heavyweight title.

In late 1992, Bigelow returned to the WWF this time as an heel which actually seemed a much more natural fit for him. At the 1993 Royal Rumble he defeated the Big Bossman. He'd next have a standout performance at the 1993 King of the Ring making it all the way to the finals where he lost to Bret "The Hitman" Hart in a great bout. Shortly thereafter Luna Vachon became Bam Bam's "love interest" and manager. He'd shortly thereater go on to feud with Tatanka and Doink the Clown. Bigelow lost to Tatanka at Royal Rumble 1994 but teamed with Luna to defeat Doink and his midget partner Dink at Wrestlemania X. In mid-1994, he was added to Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation stable where he often teamed with Irwin R. Schyster and the newly heel Tatanka. At Survivor Series 1994, Bigelow and fellow Million Dollar Corporation member King Kong Bundy survived their match against Lex Luger's Guts and Glory team. Next Bigelow and Tatanka were upset in a tournament final for the then vacant WWF World Tag Team titles by Bob Holly and The 1-2-3 Kid leading to him being made fun of by New York Giants All-Pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor leading to an high-profile feud between the wrestler and the football player that would become the co-main event of Wrestlemania XI where he actually lost to Taylor! Despite this, Bigelow soon was turned face and made a buddy to then WWF World champion Diesel. At the 1995 King of the Ring, he teamed with Diesel to defeat former Million Dollar Corporation partners Tatanka and Sycho Sid. Surprisingly as a babyface, Bigelow seemed to quickly fall out of the limelight and left the WWF again following his Survivor Series 1995 match against Goldust.

With rumors swirling that Bigelow had backstage problems with the WWF's Kliq, he left the WWF and started making appearances in ECW. In early 1996 he feuded with Taz. Bigelow also faced and defeated Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy while there with some help from The Eliminators. On November 17, 1996, Bigelow competed in a "U-Japan" MMA event where he was quickly defeated in the first round by Kimo Leopoldo. Bigelow returned to ECW in 1997 eventually joining a reformed Triple Threat faction alongside Chris Candido and Shane Douglas. Bigelow would prove a dominant force in ECW around this time throwing Spike Dudley out of the ring and into the ringside audience and slamming Taz straight through the ring. He turned on Douglas and defeated him for the ECW World Heavyweight title in October 1997 under the guidance of "Ravishing" Rick Rude but lost the title back to Douglas in a classic bout at 1997's November To Remember. He continued his feud with Douglas eventually enlisting Taz to help him. Bigelow however would betray Taz and rejoin the Triple Threat with Douglas and Candido with the pair dumping prospect Lance Storm. At March 1998, he defeated Taz at Living Dangerously 1998 to win the ECW World Television title. After successfully fending off the challenge of the Sandman, Bigelow was finally defeated by Rob Van Dam who had help from Sabu. Bigelow continued with the Triple Threat and feuded with Taz until leaving ECW for WCW at the end of 1998.

On November 16, 1998, Bigelow debuted in WCW. Initially he was used as an upstart challenger for WCW World Heavyweight champion Goldberg. After losing to Goldberg, Bigelow was shifted to WCW's Hardcore division along with former ECW stars Raven and Hardcore Hak (formerly Sandman). He won the WCW Hardcore title once. Next he was put into a stable alongside Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon called the Jersey Triad. Together the trio would capture the WCW World Tag Team titles twice. After the Triad disbanded, Bigelow feuded with Mike Awesome who defeated him in an Ambulance match at Starrcade 2000. Bigelow remained with WCW until it was purchased by the WWF losing his last match on Nitro to Shawn Stasiak. Bigelow would compete briefly on the independent circuit from 2002 to 2006 capturing the NWA Northeast Heavyweight title, the USA Heavyweight title and the USA Pro/UXW Heavyweight championship twice.

Bigelow was a great worker and performed numerous great matches with a wide variety of opponents. He wasn't afraid to help make smaller men look good and always wowed fans with his quick agility and ability to deliver drop-kicks and other moves few men his size could perform as effectively. As a youngster and teenager, he freqeuntly wowed me and I have to admit to having been a big fan. Bigelow died young at age 45. An autopsy revealed Bigelow's death was due to multiple drugs found in his system including toxic levels of cocaine and an anti-anxiety drug. Bigelow had also been suffering from an heart problem.

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Jake "The Snake" Roberts joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Personally I sincerely believe Roberts might have been one of the very best, if not the best, talkers in the history of the wrestling business. He was shrewd, cunning, unpredictable and very snake-like in his interviews rather like the snakes he'd bring out to the squared circle along with him. Roberts was also an extremely good worker and while he never really reached the top of the wrestling card, he nevertheless provided many many entertaining and memorable bouts and boy could he ever give a great, memorable and sometimes chilling interview. He was a master of mind games and in-ring psychology and had a certain dark charm and charisma. His DDT finisher usually put the finishing touch on his opponents in the ring and set them up to be slithered over by one of his boa constrictor pet snakes usually Damien but later there was also Lucifer.

Roberts was the son of professional wrestler "Grizzly" Smith with whom he's had a long estranged relationship. Roberts began his career in Louisiana in 1974 making a name for himself first in Mid-South (where he won the Mid-South Louisiana title, Mid-South North America title twice and Mid-South Television title), Mid-Atlantic and Georgia Championship Wrestling. While in Georgia in 1983, Roberts became a member of Paul Ellering's Legion of Doom faction and starting feuding with Ron Garvin over the NWA World Television title, a feud that lasted until 1984. Roberts would win the Georgia version of the NWA World Television title twice and would also hold the NWA National Television title. Later in 1984, Roberts moved to World Class Championship Wrestling teaming up with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez as they feuded with the Von Erichs. During this time, Roberts won the WCCW Television title and the Six-Man Tag Team titles alongside Adams and Hernandez. In 1985, Roberts made his return to Mid-South Wrestling finishing up his last run there in 1986 after a feud with Dick Slater.

In 1986, he moved to the WWF and proceeded quickly into a feud with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat after brutally DDTing Steamboat on to the floor outside the ring and then placing the snake Damien over Steamboat's prone body and even placed the snake's head in his mouth. Steamboat suffered a concussion from the incident and was knocked out cold. This lead to an intense feud between the two that thrilled fans with Steamboat eventually enlisting a komodo dragon (actually a small alligator) in his fight with Roberts and Damien. Steamboat dominated the matches during the feud which came to a conclusion in a Snake Pit No-DQ match at the Big Event in Toronto and a rematch on "Saturday Night's Main Event" where the initial attack by Roberts occurred. Both men nowadays speak highly of this feud and each shows tremendous respect for the other. Shortly after the feud ended, Roberts started hosting a talk show segment called "The Snake Pit" slightly patterned after "Piper's Pit". Roberts actually wrestled a rare heel vs. heel match against Randy Savage in November 1986 for Savage's Intercontinental title. Vince McMahon expected the crowd to cheer Savage in the match but instead the crowd cheered Roberts who no doubt won many fans over with his talent on the microphone and in the ring. The match ended in a DDQ. The WWF were hoping to get a feud between Roberts and Hogan going around this time but when Roberts attacked Hogan with the DDT on the "Snake Pit", the fans didn't chant for Hogan but chanted "DDT!DDT!" leading to them eventually scrapping those plans and eventually no doubt lead to their decision to turn Roberts babyface.

The face turn came after the Honky Tonk Man attacked Roberts with his guitar on "The Snake Pit". The shot actually caused a legit injury to Robert's neck at the time leading to Roberts eventually supporting replacement Ken Patera in a bout against Honky. This feud led to Roberts, managed by Alice Cooper, at Wrestlemania III challenging the Honky Tonk Man, a match Honky would win through dubious means. Followinbg Wrestlemania and Honky winning the Intercontinental title, Roberts unsuccessfully challenged Honky Tonk several times mainly because Roberts was still too injured it was felt to carry the championship at that time. Roberts had perhaps his most personal and heated feud with "Ravishing" Rick Rude in 1988 after Rude started to act suggestively towards Roberts real-life then wife Cheryl. Next Roberts had a memorable feud with Andre the Giant where he used Andre's fear of snakes against him and used it to eliminate him from a Royal Rumble match and to get a DQ win over him at Wrestlemania V although Andre did win the majority of the matches between the two. Next Roberts moved into a feud with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase over DiBiase's Million Dollar championship. At one point, Roberts stole the unsanctioned belt and placed it into his snake bag daring DiBiase and/or his henchman Virgil to reach in and take it. The feud culminated in a match for the Million Dollar Belt at Wrestlemania VI that DiBiase ultimately won by countout to regain the title but Roberts still got some good licks in on both DiBiase and Virgil. Roberts next had a surprisingly forgettable feud with Bad News Brown before feuding with Rick "The Model" Martel after Martel sprayed his "Arrogance" cologne in Roberts' eyes (kayfabe). This lead to a bizarre and unusual match at Wrestlemania VII with both men blindfolded by wearing black hoods over their heads, a match Roberts ultimately used the help of the fans to score a DDT and victory over Martel.

Roberts next feud was against Earthquake after he (kayfabe) squashed Damien with a pair of Earthquake splashes on national television. In reality Damien was never actually in the bag but Earthquake later claimed he used Damien to make Quakeburgers on television building up the heat in the feud even further. Shortly thereafter Roberts revealed a new larger python snake named Lucifer as his newest pet.

In late summer 1991, Roberts began to show signs of an heel turn when the Ultimate Warrior came to him for advice about the Dark Side in his feud with the Undertaker. Eventually it was revealed Roberts was actually in cahoots with the Undertaker and manager Paul Bearer all along and Roberts began to proclaim "Never trust a snake!". A feud was planned but then Ultimate Warrior was fired by the WWF before it could ever materialize so instead of Warrior, the feud was changed to Randy "Macho Man" Savage whom Roberts offended by crashing his post Summerslam 1991 wedding reception to Miss Elizabeth and giving Elizabeth a present that contained a live snake. Savage, then forced into retirement following a stipulation loss to Warrior at Wrestlemania VII began to be taunted and tormented constantly by Roberts on national television eventually leading to a taping of WWF Superstars of Wrestling where Roberts goaded Savage into the ring only to brutally attack him eventually getting a live King cobra to bite Savage's arm. The snake was devenomized but Roberts had a hard time getting the snake to release its bite during the shocking segment. Savage would shortly thereafter be reinstated and a brutal, intense feud with Roberts would soon follow. Savage and Roberts would both get their brutal licks in and Savage would initially dominate and just as it looked like Roberts might turn the tide of momentum, he was surprise attacked by another man - the Undertaker. The Undertaker would go on to dominate his feud with Roberts and defeat him at Wrestlemania VIII eventually leading to Roberts leaving the WWF.

Roberts next showed up in WCW where he quickly aligned himself with the Barbarian and Cactus Jack to feud with Sting, Ron Simmons and Nikita Koloff. Roberts eventually ended up in a feud with Sting even scoring a win over him at one point. The feud culminated at Halloween Havoc 1992 in a Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal match which turned out to be a Coal Miner's Glove Match, perhaps the worst option on the non-gimmicked wheel. Sting defeated Roberts and Roberts left WCW shortly thereafter.

Roberts next showed up in AAA in Mexico where he started a heated feud with Konnan that eventually lead to him losing an Hair vs. Hair Match to Konnan. In 1996, Roberts returned to the WWF this time as a reformed Bible-preaching babyface. To go along with this gimmick, Roberts revealed a new snake named Revelations. This at the time actually mirrored Roberts actual life as he had become a Christian trying to spread the word. The most memorable element of this run however ultimately proved to be his loss in the 1996 King of the Ring finals to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin after getting injured in a previous bout with Vader. Following the match, Austin mocked Roberts and uttered his arguably most famous catchphrase "Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass". Roberts also had a rather personal feud against Jerry "The King" Lawler. The WWF at this point had plans for Roberts to retire and take on a backstage role with the company but Roberts still wanted to perform leading to him eventually relapsing into alcohol and drug abuse. He was fired in February 1997. Not long after his wife Cheryl filed for divorce.

In the summer of 1997, Roberts made a surprise debut in ECW helping Jerry Lawler defeat Tommy Dreamer but getting in his licks at old rival Lawler too. Roberts was featured throughout the film Beyond the Mat and was portrayed mainly in a negative light which greatly and understandably upset Roberts who believed the film was going to be about those battling drug problems. In 2001, Roberts went to Great Britain to compete and despite winning some championships there, Roberts unfortunately will most likely be remembered for those occasions he showed up to compete in no fit condition to be in the ring. In 2005 prior to Wrestlemania, he made a special WWE appearance and was RKOed by "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton (who ultimately has developed a gimmick rather similar to Roberts).

Roberts had a troubled life but when he was at his best and his focus was in the right place, very few could deliver better in the ring and definitely even less were ever better behind the microphone.

[HappyGilmore]

Jake Roberts biggest enemy in the wrestling business was his own addictions.  I think if he were able to be clean for longer stretches of time he'd have been more than a 'mid-card' kinda guy, so to speak.  He's his own enemy.  In '98/'99 guys his age like Savage, Piper and Hogan were on top of the world during the 'Monday Night War/Attitude' era.  He's addicted and wrestling for $200 at some small show in a gym in Iowa.

[JaseSF]

Jake Roberts biggest enemy in the wrestling business was his own addictions.  I think if he were able to be clean for longer stretches of time he'd have been more than a 'mid-card' kinda guy, so to speak.  He's his own enemy.  In '98/'99 guys his age like Savage, Piper and Hogan were on top of the world during the 'Monday Night War/Attitude' era.  He's addicted and wrestling for $200 at some small show in a gym in Iowa.

I agree with those sentiments and yes it's very sad.

Jonathan Coachman joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. "Coach" will likely be best remembered for his heelish role on WWE Raw be it as a general manager or an announcer who seemed to favor heels. Some no doubt remember him also being constantly ridiculed by the Rock or thoroughly humiliated by DX. Coach was another of those announcers who to me seemed more than a bit too self-preoccupied and self-interested especially given that he actually spent some time competing in-ring or took an active role in on-screen storylines. Coachman started out as an interviewer talking to wrestlers backstage and in ring interviews segments. The most memorable of these for Coachman would definitely be with the Rock, who seemingly too great delight in making Coach look like a fool. For a long time too, Coach played lackey to Raw GM Eric Bischoff. At one point, he would become involved in Bischoff`s feud with Eugene and would even be forced to wear a dress. He would also host the 2004 and 2005 Diva Searchs. Eventually Coach would come to announce on WWE Heat alongside Al Snow and the two would start a rivalry of sorts with Raw announcers Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler even at one point winning the right to announce the main show. In 2004, Coach would get his first in-ring victory over Tajiri albeit with a lot of help from Garrison (Lance) Cade. During an October 2005 angle involving the McMahons firing Jim Ross, Coach became lead announcer on Raw. This was to eventually lead to a match between Coach and Steve Austin with Ross`career on the line but Austin balked when the storyline revealed a plan for Coach to underhandedly gain a victory in the match. Eventually Austin was replaced in the angle by Batista and Coach hired backups Goldust and Vader to be his support in the match which turned out to be a streetfight. Batista won the match but no other mention of Ross was made at that time.

Eventually Coach would be replaced by newcomer and former ECW announcer Joey Styles as lead announcer although Coach and Jerry Lawler still both stayed on to provide color commentary Coach playing the heel role. In January 2006, Coach with the help of the Spirit Squad would defeat Jerry Lawler to get into the Royal Rumble match where he would quickly be eliminated by the Big Show. On an April 24 edition of Raw after Coach hosted a bikini contest, Viscera would come down and perform his Viscagra on Coachman (basically riding him). Following this, Coachman would seemingly quit in protest as to how he was being treated. By May it was revealed Coachman was given a new position as Executive Assistant to Mr. McMahon to help the McMahons run Raw and he even acted as GM when the McMahons were not around. During this time, Coach would aid the McMahons in their feud with DX and also ran afoul of John Cena. On June 18, 2007, Coachman was named Interim General Manager following the kayfabe limo explosion death of Mr. McMahon. During an August 6, 2007 Raw William Regal won the right via a battle royal win to become the new General Manager of Raw leading to Coach suddenly being reduced to being Regal`s assistant with Coach again acting as Interim GM when Regal was injured. On a December 3rd, 2007 edition of Raw, Coach was defeated by Hornswoggle who had hired the APA to help him in the match. Coach became Michael Cole`s broadcasting partner on Smackdown! in early 2008 but was shortly thereafter replaced by Mick Foley. In 2008, Coach left the WWE behind to begin a new career with ESPN where he acts as a sports anchor on Sportcenter and ESPNNews.

[JaseSF]

The Powers of Pain of The Barbarian and The Warlord join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Mostly the Powers of Pain are remembered for their hard-hitting, high impact feuds with the Road Warriors in Jim Crockett Promotions NWA and their feud with Demolition in the WWF that followed shortly thereafter. In both cases, the Powers of Pain it was argued was on the losing side although one could argue they had done significant damage to the Road Warriors and that things were never fully and adequately settled between those two teams. Initially formed in the NWA, the team was put together by manager Paul Jones who paired up his man Konga the Barbarian with new charge the Warlord. The two had an imposing look which was very similar to The Road Warriors of Hawk and Animal who would soon prove their targets. During a weightlifting competition, the Powers of Pain would strike and injure Road Warrior Animal's eye. This would ignite a feud between the two with most fans siding with the original war painted duo - the Road Warriors. During the feud, the Warriors frequently teamed with Dusty Rhodes in six-man bouts against The Powers of Pain and Ivan Koloff. While The POP and Koloff would capture the NWA Six-Man Tag Team titles from Rhodes and the Warriors, eventually the POP would leave the NWA for the WWF and it was argued the Road Warriors along with Rhodes chased them out of the NWA although actually they actually still held the Six-Man titles at the time.

Next the Powers of Pain debuted in the WWF brought in as a pair of apparently hired mercenaries to take down Demolition by Tito Santana, who'd just seen his partner Rick Martel fall at the hands of Demolition and Mr. Fuji. Early on the POP in the WWF were managed by Baron Von Raschke but eventually this was phased out and the POP seemed to be on their own - that is until Survivor Series 1988 when a startling turn of events happened. Mr. Fuji actually turned on his own charges Demolition in favor of the seemingly bigger and more muscular POP despite Demolition having the upper hand in most encounters between the two. With Fuji's help, the POP won the 1988 Tag Team Survivor Series match and were sole survivors on their team finally eliminating the Conquistadors. Now they were all set, as heels lead by Mr. Fuji, to take on Demolition, all of sudden turned face, for the WWF World Tag Team titles. At Wrestlemania V though, Demolition also really wanted to get their hands on the treacherous Mr. Fuji who had betrayed them so they agreed to a 3 on 2 Handicap match. Demolition would eventually win the match by beating Fuji himself and the POP would not long after break up and pursue singles stardom. Upon their return to the independent scene, they would reform their tag team and win the WWA Tag Team titles and later would appear in WCW under masks as the Super Assassins.

The Honky Tonk Man joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Wayne Ferris, the cousin of Jerry "The King" Lawler had a long career on the independent circuit, including some notable successes in Calgary, Memphis and Puerto Rico, before entering the WWF as the Elvis impersonating Honky Tonk Man. Initially meant to be a fan favorite, the fans were quick to boo Honky leading to a rather quick heel turn and Honky becoming paired up with manager Jimmy Hart who acted as his "Colonel". Honky first gained notice by knocking guys over the head with the guitar he brought out to the ring with him most notably Jake "The Snake" Roberts with whom he soon entered into a heated personal rivalry and feud, one that Honky would eventually win essentially because Roberts was legit injured by the guitar shot. But what Honky is likely best remembered for is shocking the world by upsetting Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the WWF Intercontinental title in June 1987. Honky, by using Hart, his guitar, a valet named Peggy Sue and many other methods managed to constantly get himself disqualified in title defense after title defense helping him hold on to the title time after time and frustrating fans who were very much hoping to see the rather annoying and arrogant Honky get his. But Honky kept fending off challenger after challenger including Roberts, Steamboat, Hacksaw Duggan, Billy Jack Haynes, Bruno Sammartino, George "The Animal" Steele and Don Muraco. Honky's next major feud would be against "Macho Man" Randy Savage after Honky dared to put his hands on Miss Elizabeth after she tried to protect Randy from getting hit with the guitar. Honky and the Hart Foundation though did a number on Macho Man until Elizabeth went and got help from Hulk Hogan leading to the eventual formation of the Mega-Powers. Savage got in some licks at Honky as did Roberts and Steamboat but Honky managed to cling on to his title nevertheless. He also fended off the challenge of Brutus Beefcake before finally getting destroyed by the Ultimate Warrior at Summerslam '88 in a defeat the fans had long been clamboring to see.

Honky definitely drew great heat throughout his time on top as Intercontinental champion, so much so he became and still holds the record as the longest reigning Intercontinental champion in history but Honky eventually might have become so annoying that his heat might have I'd argue eventually become very negative not to mention the damage one could argue he was doing to the legacy of the prestigious Intercontinental title. Honky's career post I-C title was never quite as impressive ever again and he usually lost more than he won his share of feuds, the most notable of which was with Dusty Rhodes. He later formed a tag team called Rhythm and Blues with Greg Valentine, who actually dyed his hair black but they too proved rather unsuccessful. After their breakup, Honky faded from the wrestling scene but still remains rather outspoken behind the scenes. He had a brief late 90s stints as a heel color commentator, a manager for Billy Gunn and a forgettable WCW run. More recently, he has made occasional guest appearances since most notably as an opponent for Santino Marella at one point and is still known to sporadically compete independently.

[JaseSF]

Booker T. joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Booker started out in a successful tag team with his brother Stevie Ray who went by the names The Ebony Experience and later Harlem Heat in WCW. They won tag titles practically everywhere they competed and were actually quite dominant in 90s WCW winning 10 Tag Team title reigns. In 1997 while Stevie Ray was injured, Booker got his first taste of singles success capturing the WCW World Television title from Disco Inferno. Booker thereafter moved into feuds over the TV title with Perry Saturn and Rick Martel. In the spring of 1998 after interference from Chris Benoit caused Booker to lose his title to Fit Finlay, the two engaged in a Best of 7 series with the winner to get a title bout with Finlay. The matches were excellent and are still remembered fondly by fans to this day. Eventually after interference from both Bret Hart and Stevie Ray, Booker emerged the winner and regained the TV title from Finlay. Eventually Booker would injure his knee during a match with Bret Hart and Stevie Ray would defend the title in his place eventually losing it. Upon his return from injury, Booker once again captured the TV title, this time from Scott Steiner who however defeated Booker in a tournament final for the vacant United States title. Booker would lose the TV title one month later to Rick Steiner.

After this Harlem Heat would reunite once again with Booker finally convincing Stevie Ray to leave the NWO - before this, they had captured 7 WCW World Tag Team titles, together again in 1999-2000, they'd add three more to the list. Eventually Stevie Ray would turn on Booker and female valet Midnight to form Harlem Heat 2000 with Big T (Tony Norris, formerly Ahmed Johnson). Booker would team up with Billy Kidman to defeat Harlem Heat 2000 at Uncensored 2000. For a brief period of time in these confusing WCW days, Booker joined General Rection's Misfits In Action faction changing his name to G.I. Bro, an old gimmick he'd worked in the past. Eventually he'd return to being Booker T..

During the summer of 2000, Booker was suddenly elevated to main event status following Vince Russo firing Hulk Hogan. Booker would get a WCW World Title bout with Jeff Jarrett and win the title becoming the second African American to hold the title (Ron Simmons was the first). In August, he briefly lost the title to Kevin Nash but regained it at Fall Brawl 2000 only to lose it in controversial fashion to Vince Russo in a steel cage match. After the title was vacated by Russo, Booker won it for the third time by defeating Jarrett yet again. Booker next entered into a feud with Scott Steiner who defeated him for the title at WCW Mayhem. Steiner went on to have a surprisingly lengthy title reign as Booker was out with injury. Upon his return, Booker defeated Rick Steiner for the United States title and finally on the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro, he defeated Steiner to regain the WCW World title for the fourth time. Booker won a total of 23 titles in WCW and was their most decorated wrestler in the history of WCW. When Booker signed with WWE, he was still recognized as WCW World and United States champion.

During the Invasion era, Booker would become one of the leaders of the ECW/WCW Alliance eventually turning heel in the process. While in WWE, Booker gave his United States title to Chris Kanyon and went on to lose his WCW World title to Kurt Angle although he would regain it for a fifth time and started referring to himself as a "five-time" WCW World Champion. Booker held on to the WCW World title until Summerslam 2001 when he lost it to the Rock. He next started teaming with Test to win the WCW World Tag Team titles and together the pair would also capture the WWE World Tag Team titles. At Survivor Series 2001, the Alliance was defeated and forced to disband. Following this Booker remained an heel and joined forces with Vince McMahon along with the Big Bossman against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin eventually costing Austin a match for the Undisputed WWF World title at Vengeance. This led to Austin memorably getting revenge and attacking Booker in a grocery store.

Booker next feuded with Edge over who would star in a fictional Japanese shampoo commercial. When the Brand Extension was introduced, Booker was drafted to Raw and went on to win the WWE Hardcore title twice but lost it again in short fashion during the 24/7 rule days. After briefly joining the NWO in the WWE only to be kicked out by Shawn Michaels, Booker eventually formed a memorable tag team with Goldust turning Booker face. They'd battle the NWO and would challenge the Un-Americans and Christian & Chris Jericho for the tag titles but failed to win them. Finally Goldust & Booker did win the WWE World Tag Team titles at Armageddon 2002 in an elimination match against Christian & Jericho, the Un-Americans and the Dudley Boyz. They'd lose the titles three weeks later to the Un-Americans. After failing to regain the titles, the two decided to go their separate ways and Booker was now at the heights of his popularity and all set to challenge for the World Heavyweight title. Unfortunately for Booker, at Wrestlemania XIX, he'd lose to World champion Triple H.

Following this he teamed with Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels to feud with Triple H, Ric Flair & Chris Jericho. Triple H would eventually get the upper hand here too and Booker now set his sights on the Intercontinental title eventually defeating Christian to win said championship. About a month later due to an ailing back injury, Booker again dropped the title back to Christian. At Survivor Series 2003, Booker returned as a member of Steve Austin's Team in a battle against a team representing Eric Bischoff with control of Raw on the line. Booker's team lost the match. Booker next feuded with Mark Henry who eliminated him at Survivor Series and defeated him at Armageddon 2003. In February 2004, Booker teamed up with Rob Van Dam to win the WWF World Tag Team titles from Evolution members Batista and Ric Flair. They held the titles for a month and successfully defended them at Wrestlemania XX but eventually lost them back to Flair & Bastista. In March along with the Dudley Boyz, he was traded to Smackdown! for Triple H. Booker again turned heel and feuded with Undertaker but had little success. Next Booker set his sights on the United States title held by John Cena eventually capturing it after Cena was stripped of the title by then Smackdown GM Kurt Angle. Due to the controversy, Cena and Booker entered into a Best of Five series for the title which was eventually won by Cena.

In late 2004, Booker again turned face to pursue JBL's WWE Heavyweight title alongside other contenders Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker but JBL managed to fend off all these challengers although Booker did come close to defeating JBL for the title. He thereafter briefly teamed with Eddie Guerrero and had a forgettable feud with Heidenreich. Booker won a Battle Royal Dark match at Wrestlemania 21 and started to pursue the WWE title again eventually running afoul of Kurt Angle. The feud between the two took an unusual turn when Angle started to show an unusual interest in Booker's wife Sharmell. The feud saw Angle sink to new lows as he tried to take advantage of Sharmell but Booker eventually got his revenge and won the feud.

Shortly thereafter Booker started to pursue the United States title again now held by Chris Benoit. Eventually Booker would capture the U.S. title thanks to help from Sharmell. Eventually during a rematch, a confusing conclusion involving two referees led to the U.S. title being put up for grabs in a Best of 7 series between the two men. Booker got injured during the series however and selected Randy Orton as his replacement. Orton eventually won the series and the U.S. title back for Booker all while having some great bouts with Benoit. Benoit would eventually defeat Booker to regain the U.S. title though.

Booker next feuded with the Boogeyman who used his scare and frightening tactics to defeat Booker and terrorize Sharmell. Booker went on to win the 2006 King of the Ring tournament and reinvented himself as King Booker alongside Queen Sharmell enlisting a stable of wrestlers called the King's Court to help him including William Regal and Finlay. King Booker feuded with Bobby Lashley which intensified after Booker and his cohorts forced Lashley to kiss his feet. Lashley defeated Booker in bouts for the United States title. King Booker however would go on to win a # 1 Contenders Battle Royal for the World Heavyweight title and would go on to defeat Rey Mysterio Jr. to win the World Heavyweight title at the Great American Bash thanks to timely help from Chavo Guerrero Jr.. Booker next fended off challenges from Batista and went on to win a Champion of Champions match at Cyber Sunday defeating WWE Champion John Cena and ECW Champion the Big Show. Booker however would lose the World title to Batista at Survivor Series. Booker next teamed with Finlay to battle Batista and John Cena. Booker next feuded briefly with Kane to whom he lost. He qualified for the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania 23 but lost when Matt Hardy threatened his wife's safety. A brief feud with Hardy followed during which Sharmell actually slapped Booker to show her disappointment in him when he lost to Hardy. Next he was taken out of action by the Undertaker as he was injured. Booker was drafted back to Raw in June and entered into a King's feud with Jerry "the King" Lawler defeating Lawler and setting him up to battle the returning Triple H to whom he lost. Not long after this, Booker would be suspended by WWE for violating its Wellness policy which he denied. He and Sharmell requested their release from WWE and were granted it.

Booker debuted in WCW about a month later being Sting's surprise partner in a match with Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash. Sharmell too debuted coming to their aid when Angle's wife Karen interfered. Booker next entered into a feud with Christian Cage and Robert Roode teaming with Kaz to defeat the pair. Eventually the feud was more between Booker & Sharmell and Roode and his manager Ms. Brooks with Booker and Sharmell typically getting the upper hand. In 2008, Booker would again turn heel to pursue the TNA World title first turning on Christian and Rhino and later pursuing Samoa Joe's TNA World title. Eventually Booker would become a member of the Main Event Mafia faction and would introduce a brand new title with himself as the first champion - the TNA Legends Championship, a belt he'd eventually lose to A.J. Styles. Booker teamed with Scott Steiner in the Mafia to win the TNA World Tag Team titles from Beer Money Inc. and successfully fended off challenges from Team 3D before losing the titles in a multi-team match to the British Invasion. Booker made a special one night return to challenge Rob Van Dam for the TNA World title in a losing effort. Booker has recently started competing in Mexico.

"Wild" Red Berry joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. "Wild" Red Berry is most remembered as one of wrestling's earliest and most successful managers leading the Fabulous Kangaroos of Al Costello and Roy Heffernan. He also managed Gorilla Monsoon and Hans "The Great" Mortimer. He would often dress in Australian garb and carry the Kangaroos boomerangs and would sometimes help them use them in their bouts. He was usually seen at ringside wearing a warm-up jacket that read "I Am Right". Before managing, Berry had been a successful wrestler winning the NWA World Light Heavyweight title nine times as well as titles in Central States, Texas, Arkansas and Los Angeles.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson riding a wave of rock 'n' roll popularity were quickly beloved by fans, especially female teenybopper fans. The two were fast and quick, two good looking, mullet wearing young guys who embraced the rocker/party image. They were agile and great at double teaming but also showed a surprising level of toughness able to withstand brutal beatdowns, especially Morton, and still pull out wins. They were very successful and went on to win four NWA World Tag Team titles while in Jim Crockett Promotions. Their matches with the Midnight Express have become the stuff of legend. They later moved to the AWA and even feuded with their imitators the Midnight Rockers there in a great series of matches. Even when well past their prime, they still had great matches with the Heavenly Bodies in Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Throughout all the years, they've rarely split apart and actually team together sometimes even today?! During all their years together, only briefly did Morton turn on Gibson to join the York Foundation in early 1990s WCW but they reformed their team not too long after in SMW.

After initial successes in Memphis where they were first paired together in 1983 and where their gimmick first took off where they battled Randy Savage & Lanny Poffo, the Galaxians and the Bruise Brothers, they moved to Mid-South not long after where they soon were feuding with Mid-South Tag Team champs The Midnight Express, a feud and rivalry that would go on for years carrying over into the NWA and beyond. They'd win their first NWA World Tag Team title over the Russians Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev. They'd lose and regain the titles from the Russians before losing them to "Ravishing" Rick Rude and "Ragin Bull" Manny Fernandez lead by Paul Jones. After Rude left for the WWF, the Express defeated Fernandez and replacement Ivan Koloff to win their fourth tag title before losing them to the Horsemen team of Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson following an attack by the Midnight Express. In 1988, they had their feud with the Midnight Rockers which mostly took place in Memphis. They returned to the NWA in 1989 but with teams like the Steiners and Road Warriors now on top, they were reduced to mid-card status although they still had great bouts with Ole & Arn Anderson and the Midnight Express. The Rock 'n' Roll Express moved to SMW in the 90s and won the SMW Tag Team titles ten times battling against the likes of the Heavenly Bodies, Chris Candido & Brian Lee and the Gangstas. Late in their careers, they had brief but forgettable runs in WCW, WWF (where they were part of a short-lived NWA angle and even battled the New Midnight Express of Bob Holly & Bart Gunn). More recently they`ve had legends bouts against the Midnight Express at Reunion shows but most recently have been working in Booker T.`s PWA promotion where they won the Tag Team titles. Aside from the four NWA World Tag Team titles, the R`n`Rs have also won tag team titles in Mid-South (3 times), USWA (3 times), AWA Southern (2 times), CWA, Korean Pro- Wrestling Association, modern NWA and more.


Bill Mercer joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Mercer was the voice of WCCW arguably during the heights of its popularity in the early 1980s helping to introduce many innovations which forever changed the wrestling business including more backstage vignettes and the introduction of many more camera angles that followed the wrestling action or the movement of the wrestlers backstage. Mercer`s reactions and excitement to all the bizarre going-ons definitely added to things making the shows fun while also involving fans in the action. Prior to this, most wrestling was shot with the same static camera angles. Now fans were thrust much closer and further into the action. Mercer was actually an announcer from way back announcing wrestling as far back as the 1950s and 1960s during in-studio wrestling events. Outside of wrestling, Mercer is best remembered as a play by play radio announcer of baseball, football and basketball as well as wrestling. He was also a news reporter for KRLD and even covered the Kennedy assassination in 1963. He has been inducted in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, the University of North Texas Athletic Department Hall of Fame, the Texas Baseball Ex-Pro's Baseball Hall of Fame, was presented the Oklahoma Sports Museum, Guthrie, Oklahoma: The Bill Teegins Award and was inducted into the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Hall of Fame, April 2009.

[JaseSF]

Torrie Wilson joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Wilson, a former fitness model turning pro wrestling valet and eventually in-ring performer mainly got attention solely for one reason - her looks. In many ways she looked the ideal American blonde bombshell with the perfect smile and a killer in-shape body. Before entering wrestling, Wilson won a Miss Galaxy 1998 competition. Not long after that in 1999 she was hired by WCW. Born in Boise, Idaho, Wilson also had a small town charm going for her and always seemed nice and surprisingly approachable for such a gorgeous woman. Initially Wilson was spotted when she attended a WCW event with her boyfriend. After going backstage, she was asked to escort Scott Steiner to the ring initially as a nWo girl. Kevin Nash wanted to do a storyline with her and she was soon involved in a storyline where she was hired by the nWo to seduce David Flair and turn him against his famous father "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. After David turned heel, Wilson would accompany him to the ring and at the 1999 Bash at the Beach with Wilson as his valet, David captured the WCW United States title from Dean Malenko.

Not too long after though, Wilson disappeared from TV for a while but upon her return, she started managing Billy Kidman and his teammates in the Filthy Animals. Wilson would most be involved in storylines where her boyfriend Kidman got jealous over her giving attention to others be it teammate Eddie Guerrero or later Horace Hogan while she and Kidman were a part of the New Blood faction. Wilson would eventually turn on Kidman giving him a low blow that allowed Hulk Hogan to defeat him at the Great American Bash.

Wilson then diappeared for a while but reappeared at July's Bash at the Beach 2000 and paired up with Shane Douglas leading to a feud between Kidman and Douglas. This led to a mixed tag team scaffold match at Fall Brawl 2000 where Wilson & Douglas defeated Kidman and Madusa. Wilson would be released by WCW in December 2000.

During the Invasion storyline in WWE, Torrie Wilson was brought in as a member of the ECW/WCW Alliance playing Vince McMahon's latest fling and teaming up with Stacy Keibler only to lose to Lita and Trish Stratus in a Bra and Panties match at Invasion 2001. The next night on Raw, Wilson defeated Stratus in a Paddle on a Pole match. Despite her lack of previous in-ring experience, Wilson soon was competing in many WWE Divas matches and actively interfered in matches along with Keibler and Ivory on the Alliance's behalf. Wilson finally turned fan favorite after beginning an unlikely on-screen romance with Tajiri leading to a feud between Keibler and Wilson when Wilson defected to the WWF side during the Invasion storyline. Wilson defeated Keibler in a lingerie match at No Mercy 2001.

After managing Tajiri for a long time, the two finally started to have some problems when Tajiri started to get jealous over the attention she got from other men and started forcing her to wear a geisha outfit and was visibly mistreating her during matches. Wilson finally got her revenge on Tajiri by getting on the announcers table and stripping off her clothes to distract Tajiri and cost him a match with the Hurricane. In 2003, she entered in a surprisingly high-profile feud with Dawn Marie that lasted nine months and saw Dawn proposition Torrie and kiss her, eventually marry Torrie's real-life father Al (storyline) in their underwear and in the storyline he was said to have died from rigorous sex with Dawn (storyline again). This lead to a couple of PPV matches where Torrie defeated Dawn Marie. In 2003, Torrie Wilson did her Playboy pictorial and this led to a storyline feud of jealousy with Nidia after she and Jamie Noble complained that Hugh Hefner choose Wilson over Nidia. This led to Wilson managing Billy Gunn as she battled Nidia and Jamie Noble. Not long after this, veteran Diva Sable made her return and challenged Wilson to a bikini contest which Wilson won and after which she kissed Sable on the lips. Eventually the two former Playboy girls appeared together in a pictorial. This led to another storyline jealousy feud with Miss Jackie and Stacy Keibler. This led to a Playboy Evening Gown Match at Wrestlemania XX in which Sable and Wilson defeated Keibler and Jackie. Later on, Wilson and Sable would have a brief feud with Sable beating Wilson at the Great American Bash. In November 2004, Wilson started feuding with Kenzo Suzuki's manager and wife Hiroko, who became jealous of Suzuki's eyes for Wilson, eventually defeating her in a kimono match.

In August 2005, Wilson and Candice Michelle moved to the Raw brand and attacked Ashley Massaro. Eventually Victoria joined the group to make them a powerful trio. Massaro finally got the upper hand over her adversaries when the returning Trish Stratus agreed to team with her. Stratus and Massaro defeated Wilson & Victoria at Unforgiven 2005. Massaro & Stratus then went on to defeat Michelle, Victoria and Wilson in a three on two Bra and Panties match. This led to Wilson leaving for a short period of time but upon her return she, Michelle and Victoria lost to Stratus, Massaro and newcomer Mickie James. It wasn't long after this that Michelle and Victoria turned on Wilson with Michelle being revealed as the latest Playboy girl leading to a Playboy Pillow Fight between Wilson and Michelle at Wrestlemania 22 that was won by Wilson. In 2006, Wilson made some special ECW appearances teaming with The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer to defeat Kelly Kelly, Mike Knox and Test. At the end of 2006, Wilson entered into an on-screen romance with Carlito that eventually led to Wilson managing Carlito and Ric Flair when the two briefly teamed up with Flair as Carlito's mentor until Carlito turned on Flair and also dumped Wilson. In 2007, Wilson was drafted back to Smackdown! On a September 28th edition of Smackdown!, she was attacked by newcomer Krissy Vaine but this was quickly dropped when Vaine just as quickly left the company. Wilson went on to defeat Victoria in what turned out to be her last match as she retired following injuries. At Wrestlemania XXV, Wilson made a brief return as part of the Invitational Divas Battle Royal and was eliminated by Beth Phoenix.

[JaseSF]

Ronnie Garvin joins the Singles Hall of Shame. I'm sure most people nowadays remember Ronnie Garvin best for his WWF run and heated feud|rivalry with Greg ¨The Hammer¨ Valentine where he went by the named ¨Rugged¨ Ronnie Garvin, a feud in which the two used shinguards to add to|counter the effects of the figure four leglock. Prior to this, Garvin is perhaps best remembered for his brief 1987 run as NWA World Champion upsetting ¨Nature Boy¨ Ric Flair which no one expected at the time until he dropped the title back to Flair a few months later at Starrcade`87. I also remember Garvin for his tag team with ¨brother¨ ¨Gorgeous¨ Jimmy Garvin (actually his real life stepson) and their heated feuded with the Rougeaus in Montreal`s International Wrestling. Many have long considered Garvin to have been a most unlikely choice to unseat Flair in 1987 what with his Barney Rubble like looks and his cheesy knockout ¨Hands of Stone¨ finisher. Garvin is also remembered for his Garvin stomp where he`d move from stomping on one part of the body to another in succession from arm to leg to midsection, a move Randy Orton frequently uses nowadays.

Garvin started out wrestling in the NWA territories teaming with his other ¨brother¨ Terry Garvin. Together they won the NWA Georgia Tag Team titles twice, the NWA Macon tag team titles, the NWA Florida World tag team titles, the NWA Mid-America tag team titles twice, the NWA Southern tag team titles and the NWA Tennessee tag team titles. During this period, they were managed by a young Jimmy. Garvin also won regional tag team titles with Ole Anderson (NWA Florida tag team titles),  Roger Kirby (NWA Macon tag team titles), Jerry Oates (NWA National tag team titles), Tony Charles (NWA Southeastern tag team titles) and `Cowboy` Bob Orton (NWA Southeastern tag team titles twice). In the late 70s, after splitting from his team with Terry and Jimmy, Ronnie had quite a bit of singles success on the territory scene. In Angelo Poffo`s ICW promotion, he had memorable feuds with Randy Savage and Pez Whatley.  Garvin would capture the ICW Southeastern Heavyweight title twice. He`d also win the NWA National Heavyweight title, the NWA National Television title twice, the NWA World Television title twice (Georgia version), the NWA Southern Junoir Heavyweight title, the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight title five times. Garvin would come to feud heavily with Jake `The Snake` Roberts over the NWA World|Georgia Television title eventually coming out on top with the title.

It would be his stint in Jim Crockett Promotions NWA that would prove his most successful though. There he`d feud with Black Bart and Tully Blanchard before entering into a feud with NWA World Champion Ric Flair eventually stunning everyone by defeating Flair for the NWA World title in 1987. While with Crockett, Garvin would also win NWA United States tag team titles with Barry Windham and have a run as NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight champion. While with Crockett, Ronnie also reformed his team with ¨Gorgeous¨ Jimmy Garvin after the Midnight Express threw fire in Ronnie`s face and Jimmy came to his aid. The two had teamed previous to this in the early-mid 1980s in Montreal as heels who had an heated war with the Rougeau family. Following his feud with the Midnights, Ronnie entered into a feud against their bodyguard Big Bubba Rogers (AKA: Big Bossman). At the 1988 Great American Bash, he was surprisingly turned heel helping an heel Barry Windham defeat Dusty Rhodes. Despite being briefly managed as an heel by Gary Hart, Ronnie soon choose to leave the NWA.

He next turned up in the AWA still an heel as he entered into a feud with Greg Gagne over the newly created AWA International Television title with Garvin winning and losing the title back to Gagne. He also feuded with Carlos Colon over the WWC Universal title in Puerto Rico around this time. Garvin would win that title twice.

In 1989, he moved to the WWF with his ¨Rugged` Ronnie Garvin gimmick and entered into a memorable feud with Greg Valentine as I described above. The feud would culminate initially a retirement match that was won by Valentine. This would lead to Garvin spending some time as a referee who proved quite a thorn in Valentine`s side. Garvin so continued to torment Valentine that Valentine asked for him to be reinstated and their feud finally concluded with Garvin defeating Valentine in a Submission match at Royal Rumble 1990. Garvin shortly thereafter left the WWF and moved on to the independent circuit on a semi-retired basis.

[JaseSF]

The Fantastics join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers first teamed as the Fantastics in Mid-South Wrestling, soon the pair of popular pretty boy fan favourites were heavily feuding with the Midnight Express. The two teams had great matches again and again and would continue their feud into World Class Championship Wrestling and later Jim Crockett Promotions NWA. Another memorable feud the handsome bow-tie wearing pretty boys who looked like they might well have had an alternate career as male strippers was with the ugly, brawling and brawny Sheepherders (later better known as the Bushwhackers), then notorious heels. Most of their bouts were bloodbaths but the matches were also quite good. In 1988, they finally had their first real major tag team title success capturing the NWA United States Tag Team titles twice in 1988. They had previously won the UWF tag team titles on two occasions and the WCCW American Tag Team titles and the WCWA tag team titles twice. In 1989, they left the NWA due to problems with booker Kevin Sullivan and Rogers went to Japan while Fulton teamed with his brother Jackie Fulton and headed to the AWA where the Fultons unsuccessfully pursued the Destruction Crew of Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom (later known as the Beverly Brothers). In the 90s, the Fantastics (Fultons) would capture the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Tag Team titles. Eventually Rogers would reform his team with Bobby Fulton but Bobby would also sometimes team with his brother too. The Fantastics had some success in Japan and the independent scene but never again attained the level of success they had enjoyed in the 1980s.

[HappyGilmore]

Torrie was just, eh.  Hot, nice, got better towards the end but then left.

Ron Garvin I liked despite some of the knocks against him: the Hands of Stone and the Stomp, although, I suppose it worked in that 'old school' way.  I was younger when he had his run so I don't remember as much.  But I've seen some stuff I've never seen before on WWE Classics on Demand.

[JaseSF]

"The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Today Mitchell is likely best remembered for his time managing Abyss in TNA as "Father" James Mitchell. Mitchell also memorably managed the Disciples of the New Church and The Gathering in TNA. Prior to this, he's most likely remembered as the manager of the Unholy Alliance of Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri in ECW. Prior to this in WCW as James Vanderberg he managed Mortis (Chris Kanyon) and Wrath (Bryan Adams).

Mitchell is one of the best managers in the business today. He's got a great look and is a great guiding light to misguided big monsters like Abyss (whom would probably be better off with him as manager today). Mitchell should still have a bright future in managing ahead of him but unfortunately managers of his type seem to be getting phased out although certain wrestlers, especially monsters who have trouble communicating, could really use him as a manager. He seems a natural to possibly be paired up with the Undertaker or Kane in WWE at some point or to manage Abyss once more.

Mitchell started off in Smoky Mountain Wrestling where he mostly managed strange gimmick wrestlers under the name Daryl Van Horne. There he managed a man claiming to be a 4000 year old Mummy named Prince Kharis and also managed an evil Samurai named Kendo the Samurai (actually played by several grapplers under the mask including Tim Horner, Scott Antol and Brian Logan).

The managing of gimmick wrestlers continued in WCW as Mitchell, as James Vanderberg, was paired up with Mortis and Wrath who mostly feuded with Glacier and Ernest "The Cat" Miller. When the feud fizzled out despite Mortis and Wrath winning it ultimately, Mitchell was sent home for 2 years following a failed host segment on WCW Saturday Night.

In 2000, as the Sinister Minister, he managed the Unholy Alliance of Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri during their feud with the F.B.I.. Years later at ECW's One Night Stand, Mitchell would accompany Tajiri during his Triple Threat bout with Super Crazy and Little Guido.

In 2002, Mitchell debuted in TNA as the manager of the Disciples of the New Church, a tag team pairing of Slash and Brian Lee. The Disciples feuded extensively with America's Most Wanted and had some great bouts and even traded the NWA tag team titles at one point. Other members of Mitchell's Disciples included Shane Douglas, whom Mitchell managed during his bitter feud with Raven - which resulted in Raven getting his head shaved, Mike Awesome, Malice, Vampiro and replacement teammates for Slash in Kobain, Tempest and Sinn. Most of these guys were short-lived however compared to the core members Slash and Lee.

In 2003, Raven's former proteges The Gathering of C.M. Punk and Julio Dinero turned on Raven and joined forces with Mitchell but this alliance too would prove short-lived.

Mitchell would achieve arguably his greatest success next as the manager of Abyss in TNA in 2005. Mitchell led Abyss to victories over Lance Hoyt, Sabu and eventually the NWA Heavyweight Championship when Abyss defeated Sting by DQ. During Abyss's feud with Sting, Sting tried to break Mitchell's hold over Abyss as he tried to help the big man find his own path. When Abyss finally turned on Mitchell, Mitchell tried to get revenge by unleashing a new monster named Judas Mesias against Abyss. Mitchell also managed Rellik and Black Reign (Goldust) around this time but never again enjoyed the success he had managing Abyss. Honestly Abyss too has struggled quite a bit without Mitchell's guidance. TNA released Mitchell in 2008.

Some other notable wrestlers managed by Mitchell during his career include: Abdullah the Butcher, The Iron Sheik, Paul Orndorff, Brad Anderson, Peggy Lee Leather, Judy Martin, Jimmy Garvin, Jerry Lynn, Balls Mahoney, Moondog Spot, Rick Michaels, Raven and Christopher Daniels.