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B. Brian Blair
Rich Ingling
Darla Staggs
Vance Nevada
David Lawson
Royal Duncan

Dan Murphy
Herb Simmons
Bob Cook
R Bruce Tharpe
Ricky Santana
Pamela Morrison



















Dear CAC Members,
On behalf of the Executive Board, it is my honor to bring greetings to our members across America and around the globe -- all the men and women connected by the sport of professional wrestling through the Ring of Friendship.
It is with great enthusiasm that we greet the opportunities to work with ourmemberstotacklesomeoftheir challenges away from the ring and the screams of adoring fans. Truly, it is through this work that I get to see the passion of the Executive Board as we discuss how we can bestprovideaidtosomanyinneed.
The work of the Cauliflower Alley Club is administered year-round. The needs of our brothers and sisters grow with each passing year, and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide assistance to those who have given so much to us all -- to the promoters, to their peers between the ropes, and, of course, to the fans whose love of the game fuels the sport for us all.
Itisbecauseofthisworkthatweare so excited to re-connect each year with our members at the annual reunion in Las Vegas. The reunion not only allows us to meet face to face with friends once again, but
also to see the results of our work and to see the joy on the faces of those who have benefited from the Club’s support directly.
AsIlookaheadtothe2025reunion, I am really excited about the lineup that we have in store for you all. In addition to a great slate of honors that you will read about in the pages of this issue (and the next), I am pleased to announce the first annualCACLegendsRoast,featuring guest of honor Mick Foley. “The hard core legend” has taken many big hits in the ring, but perhaps the stiffest are yet to come when he facesoffagainstapanelofroasters among his peers and professional comedians that will be joining us in Vegas thisAugust.
I am also excited about the work that is already underway through
our Advisory Board and team of volunteers as we prepare for this year’s reunion. We have reviewed your feedback from previous years and we are working to improve the member experience each year. I hope that you will see that reflected in our efforts in 2025.
If you don’t already have your tickets, I encourage you to get them soonandplantojoinusforour59th annualreunion this summer.
Keep buzzing,

B. Brian Blair President and CEO
“Don’t
For Justin Race, the insanity and gruelling travel schedule of a world champion,wasjustpartofgrowingup.Asthe son of Harley Race - seven time world champion and well regarded as one of the toughest men of his generationJustin saw life through a different lens than many of his peers.
“When I was in the locker room and it was time for dad to wrestle, he would just nod at someone like Bruiser Brody, RicFlairortheFunksandsay‘watchthe kid’,” Justin recalls. “Some would throw a football around with me, some would bounce me on their knee. And I even learned to play cribbage in those days. My dad would warn me about the language that I might hear back there and he’d instruct me plainly: ‘Don’t tell your mother.’Thatwasallpartofgrowingup.”
As the only son born toHarley and wife Evonna, he and his mother would get to travel with Harley from time to time as his schedule allowed. Justin was in the building the night that Harley won his seventh world title in St. Louis. “It was a special moment for me and our whole family.”
But while many fans and peers knew Harley solely through his body of work, Justin’s memories of his father, who passed in 2019 at age 76, are of aman


thatenjoyedhisprivate,familylifeaway from the spotlight. Due to his aggressive travel schedule, when Harley was home, his focus was on his family and not his trade.
“Dad always made time for me and we were best friends,” says Justin. “One time I was at school and I was called to the principal’s office. Thinking I was in trouble, I didn’t know what to do when I saw my dad standing in the office. ‘You have a doctor’s appointment’ Harley stated in his gravelly voice. In truth, Harley had spring his son from class to go fishing. It was another of many occasions where Justin would receive the sage advice to “don’t tell your mother.”
The softer side of Harley -- the one who visited the Children’s Mercy Hos-
pital to hand out presents, or his role as a spokesperson for the Multiple Sclerosis Society are part of his life that the wrestling community was not privy to. It was a softness and sincerity that he passed along to his son.
“Be humble and give everyone your time no matter what,” Harley told him. “Even if it’s an autograph, go slow and make it legible so people can read it, what is a minute of your time, might be a lasting memory in theirs.”
Harley Race was an active member of the Cauliflower Alley Club and a frequent reunion attendee. He willbe honored posthumously this year.
- Brian Marks
Aversatile performer that can adapt to any circumstance and make any opponent look credible, he has remained in highdemandandalongtheway earned some exciting international opportunities as well. Tours of Lebanon, Puerto Rico, and Japan have all provided opportunities for international growth and exposure.
After34yearsinthering,hehassuffered his share of injuries, the price paid for a career in the squared circle. In recent years,shoulderreconstructionandknee surgeries have sidelined him from actionbuthavenotdampenedhispassion for the sport.After a year-long recovery for his most recent knee procedure, he was back in the ring in title contention as this newsletter was going to press.
How many wrestlers can say that their first professional match took place on televisionfortheWWEagainstaformer World champion? That was indeed the case for an 18-year-old Steve Rivers, when he made his professional debut on a TV Taping in Calgary against the Iron Sheik in 1991.
Growing up in Calgary, Rivers was a fan of Stampede Wrestling and spent his teens in the weight room hoping to join his heroes between the ropes one day.Itwas inthegymthathehadoccasiontomeetDaveyBoySmith,between his WWE stays, who offered to get him startedonthepathtoaringcareer.That ledtoanintroductiontoBruceandRoss Hart and soon he was on his way.
While still learning the ropes on the road with the Harts, Rivers (under a few ring names) appeared on multiple WWE TV Tapings when the schedule weaved through Canada. Among those you can find him in action against on YouTube include Razor Ramon, The Repo Man, Damien Demento and the Legion of Doom.
However, Rivers earned his reputation in the sport by grinding it out on the independent scene across western Canada -- from Winnipeg to the west coast
including some of the punishing campaigns into the arctic across the frozen ice roads of the Canadian wilderness.
“On those tours, no matter how stiff the ring is - you look forward to wrestling, because that’s the easiest part of your day,” shares Steve. “The rough bush roads, the minus fifty degree climate, and the lack of urban conveniences makes it a rough tour to endure. I watched many guys crack on those trips and never wrestle again.”
“Wow! I am deeply honored andalmost speechless,”Riverssaidwheninformed that he had been selected for the 2025 CAC Independent Award. “This isn’t anything that I had ever thought about and I am honored to even be considered.”
Steve has been a regular at the reunions in recent years, missing very few over the past decade, often found in the Ron Hutchison posse and with his peers from Atlantic Canada. Rivers returns to Las Vegas thisAugust as the latest honoree in our Independent Award class.









Maria Bernardi was among the first members of Cauliflower Alley Club, (her membership number was #3) becoming aware of the group when co-founder Mike Mazurki would host weekly luncheons in Los Angeles. She asked Mike if she could attend and was warmly welcomed.
BornMyrtleNellWhittleinMonticello,FloridaonJune31925,shewasthedaughterof wrestler Nick Bernardi. Among her earliest known matches were in December 1950 in Los Angeles where she was one of four ladies on the undercard of an Argentina Rocca - Kimon Kudo main event. Among her ring foes during her mat career were Clara Mortensen, Lynn O’Connor, Wanda Crellin, Rita Martinez, and Mars Monroe. She officially retired from the ring in 1963 at age 38.
With the CAC, Maria would officially take the role of secretary, but her role as a the coordinator of the earliest benevolence for the Club soon became on of her key roles. Mazurki would direct her to have turkeys delivered to the homes of wrestlers each Christmas so that everyone would have a hot meal to enjoy. She was sworn to secrecy about the donor of the turkeys that arrivedondoorstepsaboutthecity,though.
Maria served as a board member of the clubintothe1990’s,asseeninthephotoat the bottom left, presenting honors in 1994 to SherriMartel.
MariadiedonMarch20,2006inLosAngelesatage80andherasheswerescattered of the LosAngeles County Coastline.
Thank you Maria for your decades of service to the CauliflowerAlley Club.
We will present more notable figures from theClub’shistoryinupcomingissuesofthe newsletter.


“This man feels no pain!,” fans heard blasting through their TV screens as Jim Ross called the action in 1992 after Cactus Jack had delivered a flying elbow drop from the ring apron to the floor. Those of us that have been along forthewholerideofMickFoley’scareer mightwondertoourselveshowtruethat statementis...becauseanyONEofhis exploits in the name of wrestling would haveendedus,letalonethecumulative impact of them all.
It’s hard to explain Mick Foley to a fan that isnewto thesport. What is it about this burly, limping heavyweight is it that has imprinted on us each in such a strong way that even thirteen years since he last competed inside the ring, we are still so deeply in awe of what he accomplished between the ropes?
Our connection to Mick Foley (or Cactus Jack, or Mankind, or Dude Love, or even Jack Foley) is as unique as his personas in the ring. Depending on where we were first exposed to him -- has fandom crosses barriers and genres like no other. And this doesn’t even begin to touch on his post wrestlingcareerandcameoappearanceshe makes today. Through fireballs, barbed wire, cages and blood, Mick Foley has emerged as one of the most beloved characters of alltime.
Youcandraw from any periodofhiscareer and identify a match, a promo or a moment that still stands out as impactful. His wistful manner of drawing fans into the madness of his own creation is truly a marvel.
Awrestler, an author, astand-up comedian,anactor, apodcaster ...Foley has defied definition by any one title, creating success, notoriety and relevance in all that he pursues. And whether its a
specialguestappearanceatawrestling event or an autograph signing, fans who have lived vicariously through his struggles and triumphs still turn out in droves for a chance to meet the hard core legend.
His connection with the fans may even eclipse all that he has accomplished betweentheropes.Surely,whenheappearsateventsacrossthecountry,fans come to share their favorite memoryfrom an interaction on the indies, to his death match experiencesin Japan, and yes of course, that fateful fall from a fourteen-foot steel cage.
For his lifetime achievement as a professional wrestler and performer -- and someone who has excelled beyond the ring,theCauliflowerAlleyClubispleased to honor Mick Foley as our 2025 Iron MikeMazurki award, ourhighest honor.
It will be a busy week for Mick, who will kick off the festivities on Monday night as the guest of honor for the first ever CAC Legends Roast and then cap off the festivities as the main event of Wednesday night’s banquet. Oww, have mercy.

There was no escaping the thundering presence of John Nord during his ring career and with a little recent help from theCACbenevolentfund,he’sstilltearing up thestreets of Minneapolis.
Unleashed on the wrestling world by Eddie Sharkey, Nord was awarded RookieoftheYearbythereadersofPro Wrestling Illustrated magazine in 1985 and worked for the AWA, World Class, and Pacific Northwest Wrestling before landing in the WWE in 1991. Stays in Japan and with WCW wouldalso follow during a 14-year ring career.
Over the years,hewasknownby a few names - The Berzerker, Nord the BarbarianandYukonJohn,amonghisbest known aliases.
Recently, John, now 65, ran into some challenges when he developed a bad infection in his right leg.
“I was in and out of the hospital for the better part of nine months and at one pointdoctorswere convincedthatI was going to lose the leg,” John shared with The Ear. “It was a real battle, but we saved the leg. My right knee though, there was a lot of bad damage, and it made getting around really difficult for me.”

Stillwantingtobeactive,Johnneededa mobility scooter to help him still get out and about in his neighborhood. That’s when he got the call from the CAC.
“You know both Brian [Blair] and Darla


[Staggs] have been really awesome to me, man. It’s been nothing but unconditional love from you guys, man. You couldn’thavebeenbettertomeandI’m eternally grateful.”
John was able to get the scooter that he needed and is able to stay active around his neighborhood. But now that he has discovered what theCauliflower Alley Club is all about, he has vowed to make his first foray to Vegas this summer for the 59thAnnual Reunion.
“I’ll be cruising in there with my buddy Len Denton. I’m glad to participate in what you guys do and do whatever I can to pay it forward to the next guy because that’s what this business is all about,” says John. “When you have been fortunate enough to receive a gift you need to pass that on to the next guy , I really believe in that. “
We look forward to welcoming John Nord to his first CAC reunion this Augustand continuingourmissiontosupport wrestlers in need.


In their biography, ”Blood, Sweat & Cheers”, Bushwhacker Luke describes the scene when they arrived at Vince McMahon’sofficein1988tohearaproposalthatheplannedtomakethem fan favorites after almost two decades as brutal villains around the globe.
“Butch leapt from his seat and up onto his knees atop Vince’s desk. With his face mere inches from McMahon and spit raining from his mouth, Butch exclaimed, “Vince - take a look at these two mugs,” as we put on our best Sheepherder grimaces, “if you can makebabyfacesoutofthesetwofuckin’ faces, we’re all for it!”
Truly, it was a surprise to all as they had been raucous, riot-causing villains in every territory since first landing in North America in 1973. It was a recipe for success in every territory that they appeared and they spent time in a lot of them. Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Portland,Hawaii,Japan,TheCarolinas, Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Memphis, Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation.
Their boisterous demeanor ensured that they grabbed the attention of the fans (and their foes) upon arrival in the territoryandtheticketbuyersturnedout at the box office to see someone, anyone, serve them their comeuppance.
Their smash-mouth wrestling style, scarred foreheads and toothless snarls madethemeasyfoilsforthefanfavorite teams of the day including the Fantastics,The Rockn’Roll Express,theFabulous Ones, and more over the years.
With more than 40 years together as a tag team, and also learning the businessofwrestlingsowellthattheywould becalleduponinbookingrolesinsome of the territories they would visit, they have earned every accolade of their
blood-soaked legacy in the sport.
Asateam,theirimpactisunmistakable. Though partnering for the last time in 2002 in Puerto Rico, the honors have continued to come their way.
In 2003, they were listed by Pro WrestlingIllustratedmagazineamongthetop 100 tag teams of the magazine’s publishing run (1979 - 2003) at that point. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Sadly, a 2023 reunion was cut short when ButchMillerunexpectedlypassedaway while in California for a fan convention.
Still, the lasting memories of the team thathasbornethenameTheKiwis,The Sheepherders and the Bushwhackers overtheyearscontinuetobediscussed and viewed through platforms like YouTube. Their impact and record as a team truly stands the test of time.
Bushwhacker Luke will be in attendance at this year’s reunion to accept the CauliflowerAlley’s Tag TeamAward as we welcome the Bushwhackers to the CAC Ring of Friendship in 2025.
- Vance Nevada

James Jeffries and Ms. Frankie Jay have been making an impact in Iowa’s wrestlingsceneforoveradecade.They both work for Impact Pro Wrestling in Iowa and have impressive resumes.
Jeffries was awarded the National Wrestling Hall of Fame/Dan Gable Museum’s Impact Person of the Year in 2018, while Ms. Jay was the inaugural IPW Women’s Champion.
Both Jeffries and Ms. Jay have had theirfairshareofbigmatches,arguably their best match has been each other. Jeffriesfondlytellsthestoryofhowthey met when he was assisting at the IPW trainingschoolin2012.“Iwasjustthere to be atackling dummy for the newstudents but ended up falling head over heels.”
By 2013, Jeffries and Ms. Jay were attending the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Reunion together. “That was the first Reunion we attended and were blown away by how great the organization was.” They’ve been to nearly every CAC Reunion since.
Seven years later, the couple took a brief hiatus from ringing their opponents’ bells to ring wedding bells instead. On September 5, 2020, they got married. And in 2021, welcomed the birth of their son Kerry. “We both agree thatthebestthingwegotfromwrestling was our son,” Jeffries says.
Despite the highs, wrestling has risks. On July 20, 2024, during a match, Ms. Jay landed awkwardly from the second rope and tore her ACL and her meniscus. Any wrestler who has suffered an injury during a match can empathize with how quickly your thoughts can spiral. Impressively, Ms. Jay was able to struggle through and finish the match. It was after the match, though, that the real struggle began.
She’d require surgery, time off from work and physical therapy to help her recover. The young family needed help. “We felt very comfortable asking the CAC for help because everyone involved has welcomed us with open arms and is a positive part of our lives,”

Jeffries says. “Without the help of the CAC, things would’ve been much more difficult.”
“Receiving help was a true blessing,” Ms. Jay says. The CAC helped with medical expenses, but also showed them what the CAC is truly about. “It’s wonderful to know that our wrestling family is so caring and supportive,” she says.
It’smorethanfinancialassistance.“The CAChelpedkeepourspiritshighduring a stressful time,” Jeffries says. “Words of encouragement from Brian, Darla, Rich and other board members were
able to easeour minds on top ofeasing the burden of paying for reconstructive knee surgery.”
Aiming to return to wresting this summer, Ms. Jay is looking forward to being in the ring with her old friends and hopefully some new faces.And Jeffries wants everyone to know how grateful his family is for the support the CAC has given. “Thank you for everything –we feel very blessed. We look forward tocontinuingtomakewonderfulmemories with the CAC in the future.”
-DylanRobson

There is a lot to report from our members all around the country. Let’s start with some of the latest book releases that celebrate the lives and travels of some of our brothers.
CAC Advisory Board member and a regular fixture of our annual reunions, DanMurphy,issettoreleasehisfourth wrestling book as this newsletter goes to press. Some may know of his previousefforts“BodyslamsinBuffalo”,“SisterhoodoftheSquaredCircle”and“The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers”. His latest effort, released by Crowbar Press is “Ed Don George: The Remarkable Life of an Olympic and Pro Wrestling Champion.”
Speaking of Crowbar Press, past James C. Melby Historian honoree Scott Teal continues to churn out great works about the stars of the territory era.Hislatest,“RaisingCain:FromThe Inferno to Great Mephisto” has recently been released.
While on the subject of books,a project iscurrentlyintheworkstobringthephotographic works of the late Bob Leonard to a new generation of wrestling fans.Bob,whowasanardentsupporter oftheCACandamemberoftheBoard, was among the sport’s most prolific photographers, spending decades at


ringside for Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling. Bob’s wife Winnie and daughter Christi have been collaborating with Vance Nevada to publish a book celebrating the 100 greatest images shot by Bob over the years, including select passages and remembrances written by Bob himself before his passing. It’s possible we could see that project released later this year.
CAC Lifetime member Joel Goodhart is presenting a major event in Philadelphia on May 3. Reviving his previous brand--TheTri-StateWrestlingAlliance (the pre-cursor to ECW), Joel will present “One and Done” with a wrestling show and convention featuring a starstudded line up. We understand that Joel has pledged some of the proceeds from the event to support the CAC Benevolent Fund which supports so many each year in the world of wrestling.
Three recent filmreleases arecelebrating the legacies of two warrior women of the ring. Of course, most will have heard about the Mildred Burke bio pic “Queen of the Ring” which has been released in theatres across the United States this Spring. Starring Emily Bett
Rickards as Mildred herself, the film also features appearances by some of the top ladies in the sport in other supporting roles. For instance 2023 CAC Women’s Wrestling Honoree Mickie James as Fabulous Moolah, Trinity Fatu as Ethel Johnson, and Toni Rose as Clara Mortensen.
In addition to this feature film, “Lunatic: The Luna Vachon Story” just made its world premiere at the Canadian Film Fest in Toronto in March. The documentary, written and produced by Sinn Bodhi’s sister-in-law Kate Kroll, herself a woman wrestler, best known as Calamity Kate, was a passion project that included the participation of Paul Vachon, Penelope Paradise and others.
The third, “Delta Dawn” spotlights the careerofCanada’sDawnMurphy,perhaps the first native Canadian female wrestler to tour Japan (as the tag team partnerofMadusaMiceli).Thefilmhas beenfeaturedattheDOCNYCfilmfestivalinNewYorkaswellastheVancouver film festival and has been winning awards along the way. A few featured cameosinclude2013RisingStarAward winner Bobby Sharp


















In February, it was announced that one of this year’s CAC honorees would be recognized for their sterling efforts in advancing the careers of others and passingontheskillsofringcrafttofuture generations. At our upcoming annual Reunion, respected veteran Dr. Tom Prichardwillreceive the Ron Hutchison Award, which recognizes excellence in the role of a trainer and is named after the inaugural recipient of the plaque in 2014. I recently had the chance to talk with Tom, and while his schedule as an active performer has been succeeded by his mentoring duties, he still has many physical reminders of his days in the ring. At the time of our discussion, he was recovering from a rotator cuff surgery to heal a nagging shoulder wound from his glorious career.
Boasting a portfolio stuffed with singles and tag team gold, and around 46 years of experience in the world of professionalwrestling,itislittlesurprise that Prichard had the tools to establish himself as one of the premier teachers in the industry. While Tom is likely best remembered as a member of the stalwart Heavenly Bodies tag team that dominated Smoky Mountain Wrestling, theformer‘DoctorofDesire’achieveda glittering career in the territories. Stints in every corner of the United States
enabled Tom to adapt to all audiences, long before he landed an opportunity to regularly work for the World Wrestling Federation in 1993. It was a run which provided Prichard with further tag team championship glory as one half of The Body Donnas, leading to broadcasting duties and backstage roles which further rounded his outlook.
“My philosophy in wrestling is simple. The basics and fundamentals never go outofstyle–theaudiencewantsaction, and the real art is in telling a story and connecting with the people. But only a small number of talents can really connect with the people and those are the few who become stars.”
And there is no doubt that Prichard has had great success when it has come to the development of stars, having provided early guidance to a rollcall of future headliners including The Rock, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle, as well as Edge and Christian. Due to his passion in refining the skills of others, and his credentials in virtually every aspect of the business, Tom would eventually become a key contributor to the developmental system of WWE. He would be recruited to lead training for Deep South Wrestling, before moving to Florida Championship Wrestling, where he
would work alongside a class of talents who were encouraged to strive to the top of the profession.
“As my friend Steve Keirn would say, pro wrestling is just an opinion. But it should always be spectacular, with showmanship, pizzazz, and feature talent with the intangible ‘it factor’. I think audiences look for authenticity. And by watching the careers of those who progressedfromFCWtoWWE,itwasgenerallythetalentswiththemostauthentic personaswhogotoverwiththecrowds. Roman Reigns was one, as was Cody Rhodes. Cody is an example of a star who is equally over with men, women and children. Another former trainee was an ex-footballer, Titus O’Neil, and he has since become an ambassador for WWE,” remembersTom.
And while Prichard primarilyspendshis days developing the skills of promising young talent, he still pays close attentiontothechangingtastesofaudiences across the globe and understands that wrestling is an evolving art form.
“The attention span of a modern wrestling fan is different, so a present-day wrestling product must be different. Due to today’s means of watching television or video clips on a phone, audiencesareusedtoan elementofinstant gratification. Modern-era talents must try to ‘catch their fish’ by hooking fans into stories that reflect their wants and needs,” notes Prichard.
Indeed, while storytelling in pro wrestling is unique in that it is an interactive experience for many fans, Tom also stressesthe importance for wrestlers to learnhowtoimproviseandadaptwhere needed,
“Sometimes, talents need to learn how tofailinordertolearnhowtoreallywin. Totakechancesandtrydifferentthings, while remembering to take their time and think things through when things don’t go to plan. Take a story involving Jake Roberts as a prime example. In one of Jake’s early bouts against Len Denton, the pair tripped while working a front face lock spot and the crowd responded in awe, thus creating the DDT - one of the most memorable finishing

moves in all of wrestling. It is a great example for talent to remember the importance of calling things on the fly.”
During Prichard’s days as a performer, he was frequently acclaimed as one of the most versatile wrestlers in the circuit. His selfless teachings, based around a methodology of adaptability, has forged a legacy which will survive for generations. The fraternity of the CAC are excited to honour Tom as a deserving recipient of the Ron HutchisonAward.
- Bradley Craig






Advertise in the Banquet
The banquet program is circulated for free to every member in attendance at the banquet and has become a valued souvenir from the event that members take home with them.
Advertise your wrestling promotion, podcast, product, store, and more. You can also wish your congratulations to a specific honoree (first come, first served)
To reserve your ad, contact Vance Nevada at vancenevada@hotmail.com
Pre-payment is required to confirm your ad space.
If you have attended a CAC Reunion, you’ll know that the Hospitality Room is at the heart of our annual reunion. It’s a gathering place for honorees and attendees, home to the annual cribbage tournament, and the place for selling and sharing one-of-a-kind memorabilia and collectibles. You can reach EVERY attendee of the CauliflowerAlley Club reunion in the Hospitality Room. Book a Full Table: $125.00 Share a Table: $75.00 per vendor
To reserve your table, or for more information, contact Dan Murphy at dtmirishdan@gmail.com
Pre-payment is required to confirm your table.











