Part two
Posted by Terry Rice
on 4/13/2021, 10:33 am
Edited by Terry Rice on 4/13/2021, 10:42 am
We used to do spot shows all over northern Alabama, but every Friday night it was it was a regular loop show in Huntsville at the Madison county coliseum. In the towns where Nick had television the crowds were great. The dressing rooms were literally five minutes from the actual arena. It was an old, seen better days venue but perfect for wrestling. The most terrible acoustics imaginable. At one time thee was a package show working out of Nashville that featured Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, and Boots Randolph, They were booked at the coliseum and afterwards Chet told the agent he would actually pay to NEVER play there again. Usually when a loop town crowds were dropping off Nick would bring in Jackie Fsrgo. He brought Jackie to Huntsville one time and Nick sent me tell Jackie to do ten minutes and go home. Jackie told me, "Pally, tell Nick I'll go home when I want to". I said you'll go home when you are told. I actually said, "yes sir". Another time Wayne Farris was there. He was doing the Blond Bomber gimmick.He had no showed a town the night brfore and I mentioned it to him. He said I'll book a town and when the date comes if I don't feel like going I say "F" it and don't go. I enjoyed working with Tony Atlas in Chattanooga. And with Andre the Giant in several towns when Nick brought him in for a few days. The only guy I never had an opportunity to work with was the Sheik. I consider him and Joe Blanchrd the reasons for my falling in love with wrestling. We did a spot show in Watertown and at 7:45 the building was basically empty. I figured we would be going home. L was trans for Les Thornton that night,By 8:00 the place was packed. Close to 400 people.Nick had a strict rule. No marks in the ring. EVER! It had to do with insurance. There was a guy there, drunk out of his mind, wanting to fight Gypsy Joe. Understand Joe was in his prime at that time. The guy handling the show, Tommy Kerkiles started off telling him no. But, he was a trouble maker and loved to instigate. He said, let me go to the office and call Nick. He came back and said Nick told him to do a battle royal, let the guy in, wrestle him down and slide him out. That might appease him.So, the ring fills with the boys and the drunk. Bell rings. The first thing the drunk does is sucker punch Tojo. Tojo carried a dog collar choke chain in his tights. The kind with the ring on both ends. He pulled it out, slipped his fingers through the rings and commenced beating the dog crap out of this guy. To be more like a wrestler the guy had taken his shirt off before the battle royal and his back was a mass of whelps from the whipping he was getting. The fans in the stands saw their friend being beaten and they started coming off the bleachers to save him. Tojo tells me to give him the hammer I ring the bell with and for me and the midgets to get under the ring and stay there no matter what. Didn't have to tell the colonel twice. The mob, and that's what they were, was gradually backing the boys toward the dressing room. They made it in and barricaded the door, It took the state police 2 hours to get everything settled. On the way to they show Les Thornton asked me how long I had been in the business. I told him a couple of years. Tommy Kerkeles had told him I was a mark and to kayfabe me. During the altercation at Watertown babies and heels stood united side by side, essentially breaking kayfabe. When we were finally able to get back to my car to leave Les said I"ll tell Kerkeles you"re not a mark anymore. Part three to come.
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T. Rice