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I want to start this week by sending out my sincere condolences to the family of John Tolos who left us a week ago at age 77. I never had the privilege of working with John, but certainly know his storied history in the grunt and groan business.
Our first meeting was in Vegas a few years ago at the Cauliflower Alley Club Convention with an introduction by mutual friend Diane Devine. Over the short time we had to converse he came across as an articulate classy gentleman. Witty and clever just as I had always heard his promos were. Not known as a great technical wrestler he was given the “Golden Potato Award” at the banquet that year. Go in peace John.
One of the readers sent me an e-mail asking about the radio show I allude to here on occasions. The name of that program that ran two years here in Cincinnati on the Clear Channel AM station “1360 Homer” was “The Wednesday Nite Main Event” and as the name implies had a three hour block from nine till midnight every Wednesday. I had two co-hosts in “Doc Love” Chris Rosenberger, and Patrick Black who was the guy we picked on ala “Doc” Young on “Wrestling Weekly”.
We had a great time and our phone lines were lit up a few minutes before we hit the air, and stayed that way until we signed off. Over the two years we had a lot of great high profile names from the wrestling community on the show, but to cover just a couple of the highlights that jump to mind. Let’s start with an evening when WWE was running a house show in Cincinnati Gardens and after it was over who showed up in our studio but Mick Foley, D’Lo Brown, William Regal, and Road Dogg. The rest of the broadcast was catch as catch can with everyone floating around the desk from microphone to microphone and we were graced with a duet by Foley and D’Lo of Regal’s then theme song “He’s a Man’s Man!”, and the listeners and callers had a field day.
On a day off Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit were staying here in the city, so the three of us went to dinner and they joined us on the show for the entire three hour run live in the studio.
We broadcast the second Pillman show live from the Gardens in 1999, and had practically everyone wrestling on the show at one time or another. Doc and Patrick handled the show while I did the ring announcing. Speaking of the Pillman events the following year we had one or two stars on the show every segment over the three hours plugging the big show the next week, and I don’t believe that any wrestling talk show can make that claim as our total reached somewhere near twenty five different performers.
All in all it was a very enjoyable run and I always looked forward to Wednesday nights.
In answer to several e-mails; I didn’t see the Matt Striker nude and truthfully have no desire to check out Matt’s package thank you very much!
Had a grand time in Peoria last weekend and enjoyed working with the new kids at HWA, and catching up with a few of the old guard who were there. Mattie Anoia (Rosey), Dean “Jablonski” Visk, Chad Collyer, and referee Joe Kopesz were all on hand and it was fun hanging out with “My Kids” from the original Heartland Wrestling Association crew. They are editing their tapes as I write this and hope that MAVTV likes the pilot enough to make it a weekly staple on the network.
The Peoria road trip also proved I’m getting too old for 600 plus road miles working a seminar and back home in 24 hours!
Just a reminder that next Wednesday night at 9: PM EST we will be honoring my old broadcast buddy Doc Young from “Wrestling Weekly” on “Peach State Pandemonium”. Rich Tate the boss man at www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com will be hosting the show along with a few surprise guests calling in. If you were a fan of WW please give us a call as this may be the final time that Doc and I share a microphone, and share your memories with us.
A lot going on this week, so I’m cutting it short. Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
Les and Harley Race form Elite Pro Wrestling Training along with the principles left by former staff members Ricky Steamboat and Dr. Tom Prichard. For information on the company go to www.epwt.com. To book an EPWT seminar, camp, or trainer contact Les at les@epwt.com.
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout & Instructional Guide” by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at your local bookstore, www.highspots.com or one of several web sites.
The annual Harley Race/ Pro Wrestling Noah training camp is set for September 28th thru October 1st at Harley’s school in Eldon, MO. This year’s special guest is Ric Flair. You can sign up now. All the details are at www.harleyrace.com.
Join Les and Host Rich Tate every Wednesday at 9: PM EST for “Peach State Pandemonium” discussing the wrestling news. Click on www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com .
