GOING BEYOND THE MAT WITH ROLAND ALEXANDER- By Rock Rims

     If you’ve been a fan of pro wrestling for at least a few years you’ve no doubt heard of if not seen the movie “Beyond the Mat” which was first released in March of 2000.  “Everybody knows about that movie” Colt Cabana once said on his podcast and Roddy Piper called it “The Best Documentary ever made about Professional Wrestling.”  The movie which was produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Films and put together and directed by Barry Blaustein, offered a behind the scenes look at professional wrestling and followed the day to day lives of pro wrestlers who were at various stages in their careers.

     And profiled in the beginning stages of their careers were professional wrestlers Mike Modest and Tony Jones, who were part of Roland Alexander’s All Pro Wrestling promotion in Hayward, California.  While people came away from the movie with differing views of Roland Alexander, some having a desire to meet and train with him, some feeling he was a “prick”, and others wanting to bear his children, what I’ve found to be indisputable is that Roland Alexander is a fan of pro wrestling and is very passionate about it.

     I first began communicating with Roland through the California Classic Wrestling Facebook page.  Growing up in Hayward, California (about 45 miles from San Francisco) he was a fan of Pro Wrestling and in particular a fan of Roy Shire’s Northern California promotion.

    “My father had been a prizefighter before meeting my mother and we used to go the store where he would pick up copies of “Ring” magazine because he still followed the sport” Said Roland in our recent interview. “And one day when I was 7 years old, I noticed that there was a small section in the magazine devoted to Pro Wrestling.  And he took notice that I had begun to watch wrestling on television and so one day when we went to the store he said, ‘It’s only fair that if I get a magazine that we should get one for you.’  So I looked around and settled on a magazine called ‘Wrestling Revue’.  And I grew to love that magazine, absolutely loved it!  But my mom hated it because it always came with centerfold full-color pinups of the wrestlers that I would tape to my bedroom wall.  And when I would decide to replace an old pinup poster with a new one, not only would the old poster come off of the wall but some of the paint too.  And that really pissed her off!”

     “After my father passed away I had an Uncle who loved Pro wrestling and began taking me to the TV tapings at the Channel 2 Studios of KTVU.  What a great scene, as it was near the water and they would have the bleachers there, and they would have the play by play guy who was Walt Harris and the athletic commission Doctor sitting at ringside, which really contributed to making things more believable.  I had a wrestling autograph book which was the greatest thing that you could have as a kid.  I got to meet lots of the wrestlers like Pepper Gomez, Edouard Carpentier and others.  I miss that and it’s sad that they don’t have that these days.  Now they have barricades, where before in the 60’s and 70’s they didn’t.  You’d see a wrestler standing in one corner of the ring before the match started and he’d be signing autographs for the fans.  I remember Pepper Gomez doing that, and he’d be facing his corner but he’d also have one eye on his opponent on the lookout of a sneak attack.  Something like that also helped make everything so believable.”

    I can certainly identify with those memories that Roland has of being a young wrestling fan, as two of the important aspects of that era were the existence of kayfabe and the intimacy a fan felt with the sport because they had an access to the wrestlers that you often find in the Indies but you just don’t find with the “Big Two” these days.  One of the biggest scores I ever had as a young wrestling fan was just before a lumberjack match at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where I just casually walked around the ring and collected all of the wrestler’s autographs!

     Roland himself would continue to collect not only autographs but great memories of watching such wrestling legends as Ray Stevens, Pepper Gomez, Pat Patterson, Harley Race, and Rocky Johnson, just to name a few.  In fact, Roland would become friends with many of the wrestlers, with wrestler Paul Diamond (the original one) “smartening him up” to the business when still in his teens, and also becoming quite close with Rocky Johnson.  “I would hang out with and work out with Rocky, play ‘cribbage’ with his beautiful wife Ata, and even babysat a then 2 year old Dewey, not knowing that one day he’d grow up to be known as ‘The Rock.’”

     As the years went by Roland’s appreciation and passion for Pro Wrestling would continue to grow, as would his understanding of the different aspects that went into making a match one worth watching.  Eventually his involvement with Pro Wrestling would encompass much more than watching the Television tapings and Live Events put on by Roy Shire’s promotion or partying with “The Boys”.

     “It was 1991 and I was just too burnt out from my job as an accountant for a corporation and I wanted something else to do,” Roland continued. “Rick Thompson who had been a wrestler and helped the Samoans Afa and Sika break into wrestling, approached me and said, ‘You’ve got to good a head for wrestling, why didn’t you ever get into it, even as a manager?’” And so the idea of opening up a wrestling school was planted in Roland’s mind.

   “Well when I was growing up watching wrestling, there were only 2 schools that I heard of that were teaching wrestling and that was Verne Gagne’s in Minnesota and Stu Hart’s in Calgary.  I would later learn that the best one was being run by Boris Malenko, Dean’s Dad.”  Roland soon found out that there were now many more wrestling schools in the U.S. than he realized.

     “As a result of Pro Wrestling going from regional promotions to National ones like the WCW and WWF, there were lots of wrestlers who were suddenly out of jobs and some were now turning to running schools.”  Roland would also discover a problem in that, while many of the better wrestlers were able to secure jobs with the WWF and WCW, many of the ones who weren’t so good or sound in their craft weren’t able to.  Roland feels that it was some of these who were opening some of the wrestling schools, and thus as a result, it became a case of “the blind leading the blind.”

     Originally known as “Pacific Coast Sports”, the school which would come to be called “The Boot Camp” was opened up by Roland and a partner in 1991. “The first 5 years we struggled a bit and then we got a break when Spike Dudley (a former student of Roland’s) made it big in ECW, as well as when Vic Grimes and Crash Holly had success.” Other graduates of the “Boot Camp” include the Great Khali, Michael Modest, Donovan Morgan, Tony Jones, Brent Albright, and the “Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey.

     Roland feels that there are several differences that separate his school and most others in the U.S.

  “I offer a two year program, although some learn a little quicker and can do it in a year. Because this is a complex sport, a complex performance art.  I couldn’t teach you to be a good cook at McDonald’s in 3 months.  I want my students to be absolutely ready when they graduate, to look good.”  Roland said that one of the biggest compliments he ever received was when Dave Meltzer stood in disbelief when finding out that one of Alexander’s students, who had just impressed Meltzer with his wrestling performance, was only making his pro debut. 

     Training in the APW Boot Camp consists of three stages: Beginner, Semi-Pro, and Pro.  The student learns the basics and fundamentals of wrestling (“We teach 5 different kinds of arm bars.  I don’t know any other school that does that”) and progresses into the higher stages where he learns such important facets of the game as detailed selling and advanced ring psychology.  Roland adds, “I’ve surrounded myself with good people over the years and I believe that we have one of the top 2 or 3 schools in the country."

     And one of those good people would undoubtedly have to be Bryan Danielson.  With the success of the movie “Beyond the Mat” came more awareness of Roland and his school.  “It was good for APW and I’ll be forever grateful” said Roland. (“Roland is known Worldwide” said “Wrestling’s Last Hope” writer Jose Haze) It also led to an increase in revenue for Roland that resulted in his producing 2 well known events in Independent Pro Wrestling history: The King of the Indies tournaments in 2000 and 2001.  The inaugural tournament was considered a success and received acclaim, but it was the 2001 event that proved to be a pivotal point in recent Indy history.

    Going from the previous year’s 8 man to a 16 man format in 2001, the tournament featured a who’s who of North America’s Independent Wrestling talent.  “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson, Low Ki, Samoa Joe, Brian “Spanky” Kendrick, Tony Jones, AJ Styles, Bison Smith, Frankie Kazarian, Doug Williams, Christopher Daniels and Adam Pearce were just some of the wrestlers who participated.  RF video (who distributes the 2 Disc DVD set of the event), whose owner and President Rob Feinstein would go on to found Ring of Honor, has referred to this tournament as the inspiration for the forming of ROH.

     In the opening round Danielson and Spanky would set the tone for the rest of the weekend tournament with an incredible match.  Danielson has said of this match: :  “I wasn’t supposed to win the match, but we put on such a good match that Nick(Bockwinkel who along with the Destroyer was one of the legends in attendance) went up to Roland and told him that ‘that kid should win this tournament. Roland offered me a job to wrestle and train (at APW), gave me a good salary on top of that and the flexibility to do my Indy bookings.”

     Roland paid Danielson $350 a week (Almost 3 times what he normally paid) to be a trainer at the Boot Camp and offered him a room in his house to live in while he was training Roland’s students during an 8 month period in 1992.  Roland loved Danielson’s work ethic, abilities, and attitude.  Roland says, “I like Brian because Brian was a wrestler.  His room was lined with several hundred wrestling tapes and he never came out of his room, he was too busy watching, studying tapes.  He was a student of the game.” And regarding Danielson’s continued success, Roland says “This guy is a wrestler [meaning someone who uses actual wrestling holds and techniques], and at one time Japan and ROH were better for him.  I’m not surprised that he got over, but I was surprised that WWE allowed him to get over, because Vince McMahon hasn’t catered to wrestlers.  Now that Vince’s product has gotten stale, it might be different.”

      The school has had its ups and downs over the years as has Roland’s physical health, and the downturn in the economy has affected many businesses, and while Roland’s hasn’t been immune to that, he continues to persevere.  “The Wrestling School business is a struggle today”, observes Roland. “The California Classics facebook board has rejuvenated me. While I may not like how the wrestling business is today, I still have a large passion for pro wrestling. I started as a fan and I’m still a fan.”  

    In my personal communications with Roland it’s very obvious that he’s still a fan and I’m glad that he is, because he has a wealth of knowledge and memories to pass along.  One of the first lessons he learned from Paul Diamond that he still continues to pass along is “Keep your mouth shut, your ears open, and absorb like a sponge.” 

     That’s wise advice to follow, whether on the mat or beyond.  – RR

     In the near future I’ll be doing an in-depth retrospective of The King of the Indies 2001 tournament complete with interviews, so stay tuned!  Below are links for APW’s website, twitter page and their YouTube channel which has tons of APW matches and a great in-depth panel discussion on the past and present of Pro Wrestling.  You can also keep up to date on my future articles (and take a look at my past ones) via my twitter and blog links which are also below.

APW Official Website: www.allprowrestling.com/

Follow APW on twitter: http://twitter.com/allprowrestling

APW Then & Now http://youtu.be/J-H8cMdOF4I

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME - By Rock Rims

     Pro Wrestling, especially when it’s done right, can be a wonderful world of escapism.  And while on occasion it can still be done right, for those of us who have been following the sport for some time, we know that there was a time when it was done right far more often.  And it’s not just a case of nostalgia tainting our opinions.  We have valid reasons to feel that way.  Daniel Garcia, who’s first exposure to Pro Wrestling came from Mike LeBelle’s Los Angeles promotion in the mid 70’s, is one of those who remembers those days fondly and certainly agrees that it was a great time.  He and I spoke of those days recently at his shop in The City of Industry, California where he sells Pro Wrestling Merchandise.

     “It was the way that they did the angles... You couldn’t drag me to a live event these days…it’s just not the same.  I’d rather sit at home and watch the kind of DVDs that I got from you.  (Tatsumi) Fujinami wrestling against Mando Guerrero or Carlos Mata at the Olympic Auditorium, with them using actual wrestling holds…you just don’t see that anymore.  Even the Lucha mask vs mask matches aren’t the same...back then, they had more meaning, more seemed to be at stake.”

     “When I was young I’d spend lots of time at my Grandmother’s house in East Los Angeles, and my Uncle had a room at the back of the house.  One Wednesday night when I was about 6 or 7, I went back there and he was watching wrestling on television.  And there was Chavo Guerrero on the screen, and there was something about him that just reached out and grabbed me!  There were other wrestlers who would do moves like him, like Mil Mascaras and a few others, but there was something about Chavo that was magnetic.” 

    After watching a few episodes of “Lucha Libre” (as the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium wrestling program was called on L.A.’s Spanish channel 34) Daniel then witnessed an angle develop between Chavo Guerrero and “Maniac” John Tolos that was so compelling that he could no longer remain satisfied to only watch Wrestling on television.  “I asked my Uncle if he could take me to the Olympic to watch the match between Chavo and Tolos, and my Uncle’s girlfriend was a HUGE John Tolos fan.  So she said, “Ok Mijo, we’ll take you.”

    Like many fans who attended their first match, especially during that era, and even more so when it was at such a hallowed venue like the Olympic Auditorium, Daniel spent the whole car ride to the event in excited anticipation.  And the experience made a permanent impression on him, as he was able to vividly recall in detail the fond memory of that evening.  Daniel’s eyes had a far away look as it was obvious that he was being transported back to what was a very special time and place.  “After arriving in the parking lot, I remember being in awe as we entered the building, and I couldn’t believe that I was in the place that I had been watching on TV.  It was like a dream come true.  I remember the ticket taker taking our tickets, the little built-in booths where they were selling beer, the posters on the wall, and walking up the ramp to be first greeted with a view of smoke, and seeing how it hung just below the lights.  And then at the top of the ramp I was able to look down at the ring, and it looked so bright to me!  There was just something special about that building, the atmosphere!”

 

   Daniel would continue to be a wrestling fan, but like many of us, there was a period of time when his interest drifted to other things, and Daniel would become more occupied with his love of Rock music and his participation in a band.  And it was while attending a Comic convention in Pasadena, Ca. in the year 2000 that Daniel would come across a vending table with music memorabilia. But the vendor had much more than music related items to offer.  He also had Lucha Libre merchandise.  Daniel instantly gravitated towards it and soon found his love for Pro Wrestling, particularly old school wrestling and Lucha Libre, rekindled.

   The vendor’s name was Bart Kapitzke, who as it turned out would have much more wrestling merchandise at a booth he operated at the “Frank and Son Collectibles Show” in the City of Industry.  And Daniel, who like everyone who’s ever been to that collectible show, was awestruck on his first visit to the incredibly unique Indoor Bazaar/Swap meet that is Frank and Son’s. 

    “It was amazing, they had so many great items available, and so many different things to see, it’s easy to see how some people can spend all day there looking around.”  At the time Bart, along with 2 partners, was the only one really offering Wrestling merchandise, and after visiting a few times, Daniel saw that was something was missing.  “Bart had his American wrestling and Lucha merchandise, Pat (Wrestling historian Pat Hoed aka wrestling commentator “Larry Rivera”) and Louie had the Japan stuff, and so I brought along some Godzilla and Old School television videos.”  The four worked together for several years, sharing a love for Rock music as well as Pro Wrestling.  “We had some fun times back then, even attending a few Lucha shows in Tijuana together.”

     And it was during that time that I first met Dan as I would stop by the shop for merchandise or to purchase tickets for the AWS independent wrestling shows that Bart promoted. However at the time our conversation with each other was fairly minimal.  Eventually the foursome would go there separate ways and Daniel would open his own shop at a different booth located in Frank and Son’s.  And after you enter his shop, especially after talking to Daniel for a bit, it quickly becomes evident that his shop is an extension of him.  “Everything here comes from my heart,” Daniel says, “its all stuff that I loved and grew up with.” 

     I always say that you can tell a man’s age by the types of cartoons, movies, and interests that he fondly remembers.  And while the shop is relatively small, you can still spend quite a bit of time in the shop browsing from one item to another and enjoying the flashback of good memories and emotions that come flooding back to you.  The shops features a variety of memorabilia from retro movies and television shows like Johnny Sokko and Giant Robot, Godzilla, Speed Racer, The Power Rangers, and from Rock Bands like “Kiss”, and of course there’s the Wrestling merchandise and memorabilia.  And it was Old School Wrestling from the Olympic Dvds that former L.A. wrestler Al Madril was looking for when he stopped at Daniel's shop twice in the last several months.  The second time, I had just missed him by about an hour.  "You just missed him!" Daniel later told me.  "We all would've had a great time talking about the old Olympic days!  He's a very humble guy, and he was looking for old footage from the Olympic, so I gave him a video tape.  He said his favorite times as a Wrestler were when he was working in L.A. and in Dallas."

     While Daniel carries some recent DVD releases from WWE as well as 80’s and 90’s collectible WWF magazines and cards, and WWE Wrestling figures, after a little time it become apparent that it’s the Lucha Libre and 70’s Olympic Auditorium Pro Wrestling genres that are still closest to Daniel’s heart.  And I for one can certainly identify with that.  And mixed in with the Lucha Libre masks Daniel has for sale (including some signed by Legendary Luchadors) and the 80’s Lucha magazines are pictures of Daniel and some of the Lucha Legends he’s met over the years.  And while he proudly displays those picture of he and performers like Dos Caras, Mil Mascaras, Perro Aguayo and Rey Mysterio, it’s the blowup photos of 70’s Olympic Auditorium wrestlers like Chavo Guerrero that seem to be his most prized.

   “My love for wrestling,” Daniel says with a smile, “it all starts with Chavo.”  And that’s another thing that Daniel and I have in common and our enjoyable talks, especially when it comes to the old days of L.A. Wrestling, usually last much longer than originally intended.  And while Daniel shows me the pictures he has of some of Jeff Walton’s old 70’s wrestling programs signed by Chavo, I notice that many of the visitors to Daniel’s shop are regulars.  And after interacting with them and watching Daniel interact with them, it’s obvious that they’ve been made to feel very welcome.  “There’s a camaraderie there” observes Daniel.

     And that I feel is very important.  In a world that is often divided, it’s always nice, and necessary in fact, when people can find a common interest, a common ground, over which to bond.  And I think that can be especially nice when it comes to the Pro Wrestling fan.  While Pro Wrestling no longer has quite the stigma it once had, enjoying a wider acceptance into pop culture than in previous generations, the passion that its ardent fans possess isn’t shared by everyone.  And when those fans do come across someone who shares that passion, especially if it’s for the same genre or performers in Pro Wrestling, then it’s understandable that a comfortable camaraderie is likely to develop.

    In fact, at times being in Daniel’s shop reminds me of those old television shows I’d watch where the men in a small town would gather in the General Store on a regular basis, sitting in chairs arranged in a circle around a pickle barrel and a game of checkers.  No one is in a rush to go anywhere and no one is made to feel they need to go anywhere.  It’s like a home away from home.  “Being in the shop is like an escape for me” says Daniel.  “It allows me to de-stress and for a time get away from some of the other pressures and stresses of everyday life.”  And it seems to provide that same kind of release for Daniels customers, as you can see how much they enjoy being there, and when they find an item they want, it’s obvious that they have many pleasant memories associated with it.  They don’t just purchase merchandise, they purchase an experience. “People’s faces often light up when they find something in my shop that they love or fondly remember from their youth” says Daniel, “And it feels good to see that.”  Confucius once said. “Find a job that you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”  It’s both enviable and admirable that Daniel Garcia has done just that. – RR

 

Daniel Garcia’s shop is located at space #200 in the Frank & Son Collectible Show located at 19649 E. San Jose Ave. in the City of Industry.  He is in his shop on Wednesdays between the hours of  2:30 pm- 7:30 pm on Weds. and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturdays.                                                                                    

www.frankandsonshow.com

 

   In addition to being a fan of wrestling, I’m also a fan of movies.  And one thing I’ve come to notice while sitting through some of the Marvel Comics movies, waiting for the end of the credits to see the bonus footage, is that there’s a hell of a lot of people involved with a movie production.  Certainly many more names that could ever fit on a movie marquee (do they still have those?) or promotional poster.  And while those individuals may not share top billing with the “stars” of the movie, every single one of them is essential to one degree or another to providing the finished product. 

    And I sincerely believe that to be the case as well with Pro Wrestling.  Because regardless of what product or genre of Pro Wrestling that we may be viewing, it takes much more that the in-ring talent to make it work (if it works that is…). 

     Everyone has a story to tell, and while their name may not be the one that’s placed on the marquee, that doesn’t mean they have a less compelling story to tell.  In fact, in some cases they may have an even more compelling story to tell.  It is my intention in future articles not only to profile memorable in-ring performers, memorable territories, promotions, and events, but some of the people behind the scenes or other than the wrestlers who have also contributed to make those people, places, events, and eras so memorable.  And as we have a common interest in either learning something new about or preserving the memory of a time and place that has brought us so much joy, I will also be profiling and interviewing some of those who strive to do just that.  For again, everyone has a story to tell, be they writer, promoter, former wrestler, referee, vendor, photographer, or ringside fan.  And I hope that you’ll join me in hearing some of them.

 

The Superstar Billy Graham Experience - By Rock Rims

“The Times they are a-Changin’…” – Bob Dylan

 

     It was a Friday night in early 1980, and the whole family was excited as we sat in our seats in the World Famous Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.  This would be another memorable night of entertainment for me, as all opportunities to see wrestling live at the Olympic were.  And to add to the excitement, we were seated only 5 or 6 rows from the ring, thus we had a better vantage point of the action than we normally did.  And my Stepfather never let us forget it.

     For while The Olympic Auditorium had Jeff Walton for a publicist, my Stepfather was his very own.  “Man, look at these great seats!  We have better seats than almost everyone! The other kids’ Dads didn’t get them seats like this!”

     The only thing that night that made him feel more impressed with himself took place during the intermission.  Sitting in front of us were two other Latinos who were about 16 years old, and at one point they both turned around, and one of them asked my Stepfather, “Who are you?”  Apparently, they thought he was a wrestler who had decided to get a closer look at the matches.  “Him?!” I thought incredulously.  While my Stepfather was a little bigger than lots of Latinos at that time, I hardly thought that he looked like a professional wrestler.  But then again, he did have a Carlos Mata type of body, and the wrestlers’ bodies at that time would look very different from what many wrestlers would look like in years to come.

     And as I sat there waiting for the intermission to be over and the program to resume, the thought of wrestler’s physiques and Carlos Mata made me flash back to about a year and half earlier, when I first caught a glimpse of what was undoubtedly the greatest wrestling physique at that time. 

     It was 1978, and I was at home watching Wrestling from the Olympic on the UHF channel and they were broadcasting matches that had been recently taped on Weds. August 30^th.  And it was Carlos Mata himself waiting for his opponent to arrive and enter the ring.  And soon would enter a man, who compared to Carlos Mata looked like a Giant of a man, and who had the most impressive physique I had ever seen on a wrestler!  The guy looked more like Lou Ferrigno, the bodybuilder/actor who played the Incredible Hulk on Television than he did any wrestler I had ever seen!  And what made him even more impressive to me, even before he performed a single move in the ring, was ring announcer Jimmy Lennon proclaiming that the man was a former WWWF World Champion.  I knew from the wrestling magazines that Bruno Sammartino had been the previous champion, and after having seen a profile of Bruno on the “Greatest Sports Legends” Television program, I knew that if this “Superstar Billy Graham” had beaten Bruno, he was a man to be reckoned with.  And while he would at times manhandle Carlos Mata during the match, it would still be a few years before I would begin to grasp what a tremendous impact Superstar Billy Graham would make in professional wrestling.

     His stay at that time turned out to be brief, and in actuality, this wasn’t the Superstar’s first trip through L.A.  In fact, after a brief time wrestling for Stu Hart in Calgary, Los Angeles would be the place where a young Wayne Coleman would begin his evolution to becoming Superstar Billy Graham, a legend in Professional Wrestling, and a charismatic innovator and forerunner in Sports Entertainment.

    But in the summer of 1970 it was still “Wrestling” so when bodybuilder turned wrestler Billy Graham showed up alongside the infamous Jerry Graham in promoter Mike LeBelle’s office, LeBelle along with Booker Charlie Moto and assistant Freddie Blassie, had their doubts about the duo. Fortunately, publicist Jeff Walton saw promise in the massive bodybuilder and the Graham brothers were given a shot.  While Billy’s stay was only a few months, the opportunity gave him much needed experience and exposure, and he enjoyed the local bodybuilding scene and the sunshine.  And shopping in L.A. also gave him the opportunity to begin crafting the part of his “look” that involved his wrestling attire. 

     For the “Superstar Billy Graham experience” would eventually become a multi-faceted one, a multi-layered one, with so much to offer.  With the feathered boas, the tie-dyed attire, the jewelry, the entertaining promos, the bumps and selling in the ring, the chiseled physique, and his amazingly charismatic presence, it was like having a multi-course meal at a fine restaurant.  Sure he wasn’t exactly a ring technician, and he’d be the first to admit that, but he excelled so much in presentation, the lack of a vast wrestling repertoire was easy to overlook.  After all, most meals in fine restaurants are presented so beautifully, are made to appear so appetizing, that you quickly forget just how small the portions are. 

     And Billy completely understood that and it was an important part of the psychology of his wrestling.  And it was during his time in Roy Shire’s San Francisco promotion in 1971 that he would learn some of the most important lessons of ring psychology.  Initially, he was paired up with Legendary Pat Patterson and that was the best thing that could happen to Graham at that point is his career.  “Patterson was my mentor, “ Graham would go on to say, and when it came to ring psychology, Graham could hardly have a better one.  Under the tutelage of Patterson, as well as Ray “The Crippler” Stevens, and working with the likes of Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia, Billy would receive an education in what he described in his autobiography as “Mark manipulation”.

     And it’s perfectly normal for people to bristle at the thought that they’re being manipulated (and for some, to be referred to as a “mark”), for it makes them feel as if they’re being taken advantage of, made to appear foolish.  But in this case, I wouldn’t look at it as a “dirty” word.  Because for anyone whoever had exposure to the Superstar Billy Graham experience, they wanted to be manipulated.  That’s because unlike most situations where the manipulator is the sole beneficiary of the end result, here, everyone wins.

     Because Billy gave us what we asked for, what we wanted to see.  We wanted to hear what he had to say, even if it made us angry at times, even if he belittled his opponent, even if that opponent was our hero.  And we were gluttons for the punishment.  What he said on the mic made us want to see him in the ring.  He put asses in seats and viewers in front of television sets, and that was his job.  And no one ever got dragged kicking and screaming to those seats.  It’s where we wanted to be.  His promos were the entrée that whetted our appetite, made us look forward with eager anticipation to what was to come.  If we admired his opponent before Graham took the mic, we absolutely adored him afterward.  It made us root for him all the more so that he would topple the big man with the big mouth. And not only did we hope that our hero would do it, but we also knew that quite possibly, he might.  Because even though he belittled his opponent, Graham was clever enough to also acknowledge his prowess.  After all, who would want to pay or tune in to see him beat a “nobody”?  And yet, not everyone wanted to see the brash, arrogant Graham fall from grace.  His charisma, magnetic personality, and unique look and presentation certainly earned him a share of supporters.  Most wanted to see him soundly defeated, some wanted to see him victorious, but all wanted to see him.

     And he wouldn’t disappoint.  Whether you were rooting for him or against him, when he was in the prime of his career, you always felt as if watching Graham was both time and money well spent.  And that’s a kind of manipulation that anyone can live with.  Billy was an artist, not only in his personal life, but in his professional one as well.  Some artists paint a picture with paints, writers do it with words, but all invite the viewer or reader to participate to a degree, to bring their own perspective, emotions, and interpretation to the experience.  And Billy did that as well, responding to the crowds, leading them where he wanted them to go, getting them emotionally involved, immersing them in the experience.  It was both theater and art at its finest. 

   And in order to do that, Billy would check his ego at the door.  He was a true professional, because for him, it was all about telling a compelling story, what would make the fans fell like they got their monies worth, and would make them be willing to come back for more.  One great example of this was the match where he defended the WWWF title against Mil Mascaras on December 19, 1977 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  While Billy has mentioned that he felt Mil wasn’t willing to sell enough, having watched countless Mil Mascaras matches, I know that Mil actually did a little more selling than he typically does.  Regardless, the pairing still resulted in an exciting match, in large part due to Billy’s consummate professionalism, as he was undaunted by the minimal amount of time that Mascaras spent selling Graham’s holds and moves.

    Once the bell rang, the initial action was fast and furious, with Billy taking large bumps, begging off from Mil’s assault, seeming bewildered, overwhelmed, and consulting with his manager the Grand Wizard, as if to say, “What do I do with this guy?!!!”  And when Billy had the advantage, he was ever the arrogant, cocky, crowing bully, only to beg off again, take big bumps, and flop around on the mat like a fish out of water when his opponent turned the tide.  This was a formula that Graham often employed as part of his ring psychology, and as usual, the crowd ate it all up, and in a way that you just don’t see anymore. 

     Graham always made people want to see him “get his”, receive his “come uppings”, but it never really seemed to happen.  It’s interesting to note that many of his matches ended by count out or disqualification, but I don’t think that mattered much.  That’s not really part of his legacy.  Because even when he lost, he had delayed our satisfaction, increased our tension, made us have to come back for more.  And even when our relief would finally come, it would only be after he would draw things out.  And we enjoyed it more because he made us work for it, and during the time that we did, there was always an element of uncertainty as to what the end result would be.  It’s like comparing an easily won love interest to the one we had to work for. And if selling out Madison Garden 19 times out of the 20 that he headlined the card, if the fact that fans and wrestlers alike are still talking about the great memories they had of Superstar’s career are any indication, then no one’s complaining about the results.  While Superstar Billy Graham’s career at the top of the Professional Wrestling game and his reign as WWWF World Champion were brief, his legacy is immortal. - RR

    

DVD CLASSIC REVIEW: "UWA INVASION A JAPON VOL. 2" BY ROCK RIMS

     Start with an environment that encourages, expects, promotes, and respects a great work rate, add several heaping amounts of veterans and hungry newcomers, and top off with a combination of Japanese and Lucha Libre holds, and high flying, high impact maneuvers, and what do you get?  A recipe for excitement and a great card and DVD that is “UWA Invasion a Japon vol. #2”!

     Japan and Mexico have long had a history of exchanging talent and providing each other with “finishing schools” for imported wrestlers.  And those wrestling fans who are aware of this and that wrestling has much more to offer than what the American promotions or today’s “Big Two” might have you believe, have longed reaped the benefits of that talent exchange.

    And actually, even those who may not be fully aware of this have reaped the benefits.  For without this international wrestling scene and mutual cooperation, the styles, repertoires, and skill levels of such greats as Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and many others, would not have been what they eventually became.

    And one of the greatest periods of times during which this talent exchange occurred was during the 80’s and early 90’s, particularly between Mexico’s UWA promotion and some of the various promotions in Japan.  And the event/DVD which I’ll be reviewing is a perfect example of what can result when wrestling promotions and fans recognize that when it comes to wrestling, “One size does not fit all.”

     This event took place on 11/17/90 in Japan, and was titled “Lucha Primera Clase II”, or as the DVD of the event would be entitled, “UWA Invasion a Japon Volume 2”.  And there are 6 matches on this 2 hr. and 20 min. DVD which has very good-excellent video quality.  And not only is the action great from bell to bell, it also features future legends before they were stars, and has a little something for everyone.  So fasten your seatbelts, and let’s get started!

Match 1: Coolie SZ &  Bulldog KT vs. Monkey Magic Wakita & Masa Michinoku:

This opening match features future Japanese Legends and long time tag partners Gedo (Coolie SZ) and Jado (Bulldog KT) facing off against two other future legends Super Delfin (Monkey Magic) and the Great Sasuke (Michonoku).  Not only do you get to see them early in their careers, but you get to see Delfin and Sasuke before they would don masks.  But don’t blink, because these guys don’t even wait until the bell rings to get things started.  In and outside of the ring, they perform a series of high flying and high impact maneuvers, gaining both the fans and viewer’s attention and setting a great tone for the rest of the event.  It’s a very short match, but they cram a lot into those few minutes.

Match 2:  Bello Greco & Sergio Hermoso vs. Kung Fu & Takeda:

This is the first of what would be 2 comedy matches, and if you have never seen Bello Greco and Sergio Hermoso perform, then you’re in for a treat.  Normally I’m not a huge fan of comedy, and some might think it’s a little out of place in an atmosphere like Japan, where they appreciate actual wrestling, but this tag team has always had a way of performing in a way that wins over even the most emphatic pure wrestling enthusiast.  And shouldn’t wrestling be fun?  Kung Fu and Takeda (who is Japanese) both make clear in Spanish during their pre-match promos their disdain for their “flamboyant” (euphemism for their “gay” gimmick) opponents.  And when they get in the ring, they add their martial arts and lucha libre influenced wrestling maneuvers to Greco & Hermoso’s unique blend of comedy to make for a very entertaining match.  And watching a Bello/Greco match is like eating potato chips:  Once you’ve had one, you’ve got to have another.

Match 3: Blue Panther & Black Power vs. Yoshiro Asai & Kato Kung Lee:

A few years before he would don a mask and become known as the “Ultimo Dragon”, one of the most decorated Junior Heavyweights in Pro Wrestling History (at one time holding 10 different titles at once!), he was simply known as Yoshiro Asai.  And even at this point in his career, he had already thrilled many a fan, both in Japan and Mexico.  In this match he teams up with Mexico’s Kato Kung Lee against Black Power and Lucha Legend “Blue Panther”, also known as “El Maestro” (“The Teacher/Master”).  Many who have seen at least a little lucha (and in the case of Ultimo Dragon, WCW & WWE) are familiar with Blue Panther and the Ultimo Dragon, but there are some modern lucha fans who may have never seen Kato Kung Lee.  And the only way to describe him is: UNBELIEVABLE.  His style of lucha is not only high flying, but it includes martial arts strikes and some of the most amazing acrobatics.  If you’re impressed with the Undertaker walking the ropes, wait until you get a look at Kung Lee “running” the ropes, looking like someone out of “The Matrix!”  This match features great psychology while still maintaining a fairly quick pace, and the participants display great chain wrestling, mat wrestling, high flying spots, and Black Power adds some good high impact moves as well.  It doesn’t matter who you cheer for in this one, because no matter what, the viewer comes out the winner.

Match 4: Gran Hamada, Blackman, & Kendo vs. Los Brazos- UWA Trios Tag Team titles:

Recently I completed a custom DVD compilation of “Los Brazos” for Indy Pro Wrestler Colt Cabana, and this match was the one that I enjoyed the most and just had to include on that compilation. And after watching it again for this review, I realized that I enjoy it more and more each time I watch it.  While Los Brazos can certain wrestle, it’s their comedic genius that’s endeared them to so many fans of Lucha Libre and Puroresu.  This match is a 2 out of 3 falls event and is for the UWA Trios (6 man) Tag Team titles.  And you’ll be laughing your ass off even before the match even starts.  But don’t get me wrong, because this match doesn’t sacrifice good wrestling spots for the comedy, but rather enhances the wrestling with the hilarious spots.

Match 5:  Aja Kong, Bison Kimura, Madusa, La Diabolica, Xochitl Hamada vs. Manami Toyota, Mika Takahashi, Kodru Madea, Esther Moreno, Mariko Yoshida- 10 Woman Elimination Tag match:

     This is the second to last match of the event, but in reality, this is THE HIGHLIGHT of the card, and it steals the show.  It would take a series of articles to document the accomplishments of these participants in the Sport of Women’s Pro Wrestling.  And when I say Women’s Pro Wrestling, that’s exactly what I mean, because these aren’t “Divas” or “Knockouts”, they are women wrestlers.  And even 20 years ago, what they did in the ring was light years ahead of what American Women wrestlers are doing today.  In fact, it was even ahead of what some of the men are doing today.

      Madusa Micelli was well into the second of what would be a 3 year stint in Japan, and while she does a good job in this one, it’s clear that with all of the other talent in the ring, she still has much to learn (and she would), and that’s telling, considering that she was a former AWA Women’s World Champ.  Every participant distinguishes herself, and that includes Legends Aja Kong and Manami Toyota.  And Luchadora Esther Moreno is lighting quick, acrobatic, and reminds me of a female version of Ray Stevens:  Someone who knows how to and is willing to bump and sell.  Whether you’re a fan of high impact, mat wrestling, exchanges and submissions, or high flying, this one has it all.  Plus, this match has great intensity, with the women acting as if they are on a field of combat in a life or death struggle.  For most of the moves are accompanied by a combination of banshee/warrior battle cries. 

     This reminded me of when I went to L.A.’s “Little Tokyo”, searching for Japanese Wrestling and Kaiju videos.  My daughter was very young at the time and a big fan of the “Sailor Moon” video series.  I came across some video tapes with the original Japanese language tracks and I was amazed at how much more I enjoyed them than the English language versions.  The female characters also let out those intense Japanese battle cries and it just really added so much drama to what I was watching and made it more enjoyable.  Well, that and the fact that there’s always something immensely appealing about Catholic School Girl and Japanese Sailor Scout uniforms.

    So you need to see every match on this disc, but if you only had time for one, this would the one.

18 Man Lucha Rumble:

This event features the male wrestlers who had participated in the previous matches on the card and is much like a Royal Rumble, but with a few differences.  For one, instead of one participant being added at intervals, two are added.  And secondly, a wrestler isn’t eliminated by being thrown over the top rope, but rather by pinfall.  This makes for a little less brawling, and less stalling in the corner, with participants basically just holding onto each other.  So while it does have its share of brawling, this match also features more movement and maneuvers than the typical battle royal-type match.

So there you have it.  It’s a shame that with today’s wrestling scene that we have to often look back in time for a great wrestling event, but on the other hand, it’s nice to know that we can.  This DVD offers great bang for the buck, and there are several matches on this program that are worth the price solely on their own.  However what’s especially nice is that you don’t have to settle and that you can enjoy it from beginning to end.

I will be reviewing more old school DVDs, events, and matches in the future, and if you’re interested in this particular DVD title, you can contact me at Rockrims@aol.com for more info.

JAKE "THE SNAKE" ROBERTS: MASTER STORY TELLER

Sport, entertainment, performance, soap opera, spectacle, theater.  These are all ways that Pro Wrestling has been described or can be described, and when it’s performed at its highest level, it’s a combination of all these things. In fact, at that level, it even ventures into the realm of Greek Theater or a moral play, with characters, emotions, and situations that we can all identify with to one extent or another.

     And just as in theater, where there are performers who can draw us into the experience, causing us to leave the world we had inhabited only moments before, so there are performers in Pro Wrestling who’s masterful use of Psychology can be likened to leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that we can easily and willing follow, in expectation of a journey that we won’t soon forget.

     And Jake “The Snake” Roberts was such a master.  He possessed a personal magnetism and presence and combined these with an inherent and developed understanding of the human psyche, knowing just what to say and do to get the desired reaction from the fans.  Jake had that unique gift to gain the fans riveted attention, leaving them hanging onto every word, wondering what he was going to both say and do next.  Now, that’s psychology, that’s genius. 

          In Pro Wrestling, there have always been those who were great on the mic, but were shit in the ring.  The ones who whetted your appetite, making you want to see them either whoop ass on their opponent or have their opponent do that to them.  Yet, their performance in the ring was sometimes anti-climatic, unless their opponent was a great worker who could carry the match.  And when their opponent was less than a stellar performer, you sometimes wished things had ended with the promo.  And then there were those who were great in the ring, but were shit on the mic.  These were the guys who thrilled us with their ringwork, but made us want to reach through the TV screen or from our seat in the audience and knock the microphone out of their hand when they had it.  “Will somebody just give this guy a chair shot already???!!!”

      Jake was one of those rare breeds who had great psychology in both aspects of the game.  While he wasn’t a technical marvel in the ring with an expansive move-set like a Benoit or Guerrero, what moves he did use, were crisp and precise. More importantly, they were used at the right time, yielding the desired effects, physically on his opponents, and emotionally on the viewers. He gave meaning to what he did and when he did it.

    Jake first began his wrestling career in the late 70’s, showing signs of his great potential even early on, as he wrestled in and won titles in various North American territories throughout the late 70’s and early  80’s.  These included Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, World Class Wrestling in Texas, Stampede Wrestling in Canada, and Georgia Championship Wrestling.  Jake refined his physical and verbal skills in the wrestling game and soon, the World Wrestling Federation would come calling, and eventually, to our great benefit, Jake would answer.  While there are various pros and cons to the expansionism that the WWF undertook in the 80’s, one of the pros had to be that it gave a tremendous worker like Jake Roberts a larger platform and stage on which to perform.  This would allow many more fans who might not have access to the regional television programming that Jake previously appeared on, an opportunity to witness his genius.

     Jake wasted no time in becoming a major player in the WWF, utilizing the skills and talents that he already possessed, and adding a new element:  A Giant Snake named Damien.  With his ominous, dark, and menacing persona, it was no wonder that Jake’s snakes had names like “Damien” and “Lucifer”, for with his ability to tap into his dark side, possibly even his personal demons, he often seemed like the Devil Incarnate. 

     Jake’s promos and actions in and around the ring could stir a variety of emotions in the fans, causing some to feel anger, maybe even indignation, yet strangely enough, causing others to cheer.  Perhaps the promos threatened and maybe even scared us because they reminded us of a darkness or potential darkness that exists in all of us, and reminded us of a place that our thoughts may have journeyed to at one time or another.  For we all possess the potential for both good and bad.  It’s just a matter of degrees as to which each one inhabits our lives, actions, and thoughts.  And perhaps that may have also been a part of Jake’s appeal, the fact that so many could identify with one thing or another that he said or did.  Regardless of what particular emotions, thoughts, and feelings he stirred in us, the almost Universal thought was:  We wanted to watch him.

     And watch him we did, as he engaged in memorable feuds with the likes of the Honky Tonk Man, the great Ricky Steamboat, Andre the Giant, the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, and “Ravishing” Rick Rude.  And while the majority of matches involving John “Earthquake” Tenta were far from classics, what was classic was the angle involving “Earthquake”, Jake, and Jake’s snake “Damien.”  During a confrontation on WWF television between Jake and Earthquake, Jake found himself wrapped up and trapped in the ring ropes, watching helplessly as the 500 lb. Earthquake “squashed” Damien as he lied inside the canvas sack that Jake carried him in.  Jake did such an incredible job of reacting to the heinous act, displaying the kind of anguish, agony, and heartbreak that one would expect to see when someone loses a cherished pet or loved one.  And the camera would then pan the crowd, and these people, some of whom even knew at that point that what they sometimes saw in wrestling wasn’t “reality”, were obviously wondering if what they had in fact just witnessed wasn’t real.  Many had looks of shock and disbelief on their faces, while others also had eyes that were beginning to tear up. They could identify with Jakes’ anguish, loss, his disillusionment that people and life could be so cruel.  Jake didn’t just talk and act out a wrestling program; he talked and acted out life.

    Jake’s career would continue with the WWF until late 1992, and afterwards, he would have stints, some memorable, some not so much, in WCW, ECW, Smokey Mountain Wrestling, and again in the WWF.  One of the stints that was certainly memorable, yet I don’t feel garnered nearly as much recognition as it deserved, was his time in Mexico’s AAA promotion. 

    While recently viewing a DVD compilation “A Snake Slithers into Mexico: Jake Roberts in AAA”, I had a chance to revisit Jake’s great run in Mexico.  What made that run all the more memorable and impressive was the fact that, in not one single match of the half dozen that are part of that compilation, do we hear Jake on the microphone or cutting a promo.  Not once!  Here is one of the greatest “stickmen” in the history of Pro Wrestling, not able to speak Spanish, yet drawing incredible heat and attention from the Mexican fans, without using one of his greatest tools in his bag: The mic.

   And Jake didn’t have to resort to cheap heat tactics either, like tossing tortillas to the crowd or spitting on the Mexican flag.  He did it sheerly by his incredible prescence and work in the ring.  His first appearance in the promotion occurred when he showed up in a ringside seat at a “career vs. career” match between Cien Caras and the man once described as the “Hulk Hogan of Mexico”, Konnan.  A packed house of 48,000 turned up to witness this important match at the inaugural “Triplemania” event on April 30, 1993.  And while much of the attention was obviously directed toward the ring where Cien Caras and Konnan were battling it out, much was also being directed toward Jake.  In fact, such was the magnetism of Jake, that when a second camera would sometimes catch a shot of Jake at ringside, people viewing the match on television would pay more attention to his body language and facial expressions than they would to what was going on in the ring.

     Instigator and agitator that he was, Jake would end up interfering in the match, causing Konnan to lose the 3^rd and final fall of the match, thus forcing him to “retire”.  This would set the stage for an eventual feud between Jake and Konnan, when Konnan would return to the rings in AAA just a short time later.  Even without the use of promos, over the next 13 months, Jake would have the fans of AAA screaming for his blood.  Lucha Libre is the only style of wrestling where the “heels” (“rudos” in Mexico) and “faces” (“technicos” in Mexico) are actually designated.  Jake however, needed no such designation.  With his actions and facial expressions alone, everyone knew his role.

    Whether it was his joining the heel faction known as “Los Gringos Locos”, his physical attacks on “mini” wrestler “Mascarita Sagrada” (who’s about 4 ft. in height), or his physical manhandling of female valets accompanying him to the ring,  Jake knew how to light the fuse under an already emotional Mexican crowd.  And even when the fans where constantly throwing debris into the ring at him, Jake would just stand back, with that devious smile of his spreading across his face.  He had them (us) right where he wanted us.  And we didn’t mind a bit. 

     In most Pro Wrestling organizations, the cage match is the culmination of a feud, the “blow off” match.  And while Jake and Konnan certainly had theirs in front of a rabid crowd in Los Angeles, they would take things one step further.  For in Mexico, the ultimate confrontation is a “Lucha Apuestas” match, where the opponents place their hair or masks on the line.  And on May 27, 1994, thousands packed an arena in Tijuana, Mexico to see the ultimate confrontation between Jake and Konan.  And while Konan won the match and the right to see Jake’s hair removed, Jake was a winner too, as were all those who have witnessed that match.  For again, Jake was able to put us where he wanted us, and we were more than willing to be there.

     Jake once said on a WWF television show “If a man has enough power, he can speak softly…And everyone will listen.”  Jake Roberts both recognized that kind of power and possessed it.  And he made us all want to listen.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to both listen and watch Jake Roberts, I wholeheartedly suggest that you do so.  And if your only experience with viewing and listening to Jake Roberts consists of his WWF/E work, then I highly recommend you look into his work in Mid-Atlantic, Florida, WCCW, Mid-South, and AAA.  For that will give you a more complete look at his incredible and compelling body of work.  And I can’t say enough about what a compelling bio that the WWE produced in “Jake Roberts: Pick your Poison”.  While I feel that they kind of dropped the ball when it comes to the limited match selection on the DVD set, the bio/documentary part is perhaps the best and most moving that I’ve ever seen.

   Everyone has a story to tell, and the ringwork and mic work are only a small fraction of Jake Robert’s story.  Like all of us, he has had to face personal challenges, some of which were very unfortunate and even horrific.  We are all to a great extent, products of our environment, but more so I feel, products of how we have responded to those experiences and situations.  While Jake’s ring wars are over, his greatest battles continue in his personal life, as is the case for many of us.  As human beings, we possess an incredible capacity to achieve, and to overcome adversity and triumph over our short comings and personal demons.  And if anything, throughout his highs and lows, Jake Roberts has proven to be human.  I look forward to hearing that the rest of Jake’s story is a triumphant one, for I know he has the power, and I know that we’d want to listen.