July 2025 The Ear

A Family Tradition of Excellence

Natalya to be honored in Las Vegas

SERVINGOURMEMBERS

EXECUTIVE BOARD

B. Brian Blair

Rich Ingling

Darla Staggs

Vance Nevada

David Lawson

Royal Duncan

ADVISORY BOARD

Dan Murphy

Herb Simmons

Bob Cook

R Bruce Tharpe

Ricky Santana

INTHISISSUE

ON THE COVER:

Dear CAC Members,

I can’t contain my excitement for August and my chance to see you all in Las Vegas for our 59th annual reunion. In all of my travels throughout the year for personal appearances and fan events, I look forward the the annual CAC gathering the most. And I’m sure when you look at this year’s event schedule you’llunderstand why.

Though we only meet once a year, the work of the Executive Board begins before some travellers are even home from Las Vegas, taking the feedback (both positive and negative) from our members, and exploring ways to improve the reunion, add activities and attractions to create the most engaging reunion experience, and to honor the deserving men and women of our industry.

I’mreallyexcitedaboutwhattheExecutive and Advisory Boards have collaborated on for this year. The first annual CAC Legends Roastfeaturing Mick Foley will assemble some of the funniest comedians andwrestlingcolleaguesforwhatis sure to be an outrageous evening to kick things off.

In addition to the two nights of awardsandbanquets,wealsohave

B. Brian Blair

autogrpah and photo opportunities in the hospitality suite, video gaming, the poolparty and more.

I’m also really excited to share that this year’s reunion will feature not one but TWO raffle belts -- one by Kevin Huston at Legacy Belts as well as an additional commemorative Mick Foley championship belt all the way from Gabin Mannall at Main Event belts. This creates an added opportunity for lucky members to take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir from this year’s event.

The attention to creating a memorable reunion experience all serves to help us achieve our fundraising goals and allow us to provide maximum support to our brothers and sisters of professional wrestling when they need our assistance the most. Each year, we provide aid to our colleagues for medical needs, recovery from natural disasters, to assist with costs of living inthe face of occupational illness or injury, and more. This work, in aid of the wrestlers that have given each of us so much remains at the heart of what we do each and every week throughout the year.

So I hope that you will all plan to join us this year at the reunion. In addition to the schedule of events that I have touched on in this col-

umn, I hope that you will each take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, heroes andfans.Sharestories, laughsand aheartyhug. Sadly,wenever know when that moment may be our last.

Come, enjoy, take lots of photographs and make many memories. I’ll see you all in Las Vegas.

Keep buzzing,

B. Brian Blair President and CEO

Natalya:ARecordSettingCareer

3rdGenerationStarNamedforLouTheszAward

For decades in professional wrestling, wehaveallheardabouttheperilsofthe Hart Dungeon - a gritty makeshift wrestling mat in the basement of Stu Hart’s Calgary mansion. This brutal training regimen has proven to hone the skills of future world champions and Hall of Famers. Not just within the Hart family itself --through Stu’ssons, son-in-laws, and grandsons, but a veritable who’s who of the sport. The toughest of men in the sport emerged from that camp.

However, perhaps one of the brightest stars of them all is a woman. Raised in abusinessthatsawherfather(Jim“The Anvil” Neidhart) and uncles all competing at the top tier of theindustry around theglobe,Natalyahasnotonlyfollowed in their footsteps to join the family business, buthasexcelled andcontinuesto break records along the way -- among her family, as a female performer and asa history-makinggenerational talent.

From her pro debut at Calgary’s Ogden Legion Hall on August 23, 2002 she has set herself apart from her peers on campaigns across Canada, the U.S., England and Japan before signing with the WWE in 2007, emerging on the Smackdownbrand the following year.

Remaining continuously with the WWE since that time, her 18-year tenure

eclipses the WWE careers of most all of the Hart family, and rates as one of the longest women’s careers in the company.

But that’s not the only record that she has broken. She has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for most matches for a female WWE wrestler (1,514), most wins by a female WWE wrestler (663), most appearances on pay-per-view for a femaleWWEwrestler(75),mostWrestleMania appearances by a female WWE

wrestler (8), most WWE RAW matches (174), and most WWE Smackdown matches (200). It’s startling to consider thatmanyofthoserecordswereformally recorded in 2021 not at the sunset of Neidhart’s career, she still has a lot of mileage left.

Whether it be in history-making performances, including the first women’s match ever contested in the Saudi Arabia, her ground-breaking cross-promotional appearances for Bloodsport and the NWA, Natalya’s career is one without parallel.

Natalya, and her husband T.J. Wilson (better known to American audiences as Tyson Kidd) are continuing another family tradition. They have installed a ring at their Florida home for a training centre that they have christened “The Dungeon 2.0” where they spend their time away from the spotlight helping to hone the skills of the emerging generation of stars -- in the same fashion that they each got their own break three decades ago.

Natalya joins us in Las Vegas next month as the 2025 recipient of the Lou Thesz award, and we cannot think of a moreworthyrecipientofthisprestigious honor.

- Vance Nevada

FromRingRulertoRegulator

ElFantasmaclaimsthe2025LuchaLibreAward

The Cauliflower Alley Club created the Lucha Libre Award in 2018, to honor the greatest Luchadores in the history of the sport. And 2025 will be no different, as we welcome the legendary El Fantasmaintoourfamilyandhonorhim as the recipient of this years Lucha LibreAward.

Born in Michoacan, Mexico, El Fantasma (based after the iconic comic stripthatactuallydebutedin1936,“The Phantom”,andisoneofthemostpopular comic strips everinMexico, andhas beenrunninginnewspapersinSpanish for nearly a century) debuted in Lucha Libre in 1979, trained by the legendary Villano I. He quickly rose to the top of the cards atArena Mexico and became

one of the most popular and recognizable luchadores and a “must see” performer. CMLL, the world’s oldest pro wrestling promotion, has their anniversaryeventeveryyear,andin1980,their 47th Anniversary featured the main event of El Fantasma challenging for the NWA World Middleweight championship against Sangre Chicana (which went to a no contest). Many agree it wasbraveofthepromotiontothrowthe young El Fantasma in a major role so early in his career, but it was said he performed incredible that evening and rose to the occasion.

El Fantasma would continue to wrestle all the topnames and all the top arenas in Mexico, from the legendary Arena

Mexico,toElToreodeCuatroCaminos, the main arena for the UWApromotion, whichonaweeklybasisformanyyears in the 1980’s, was constantly drawing over 20,000 fans, to Arena Coliseo, and everywhere in between. He also branched out, and wrestled manytimes in the country of Japan, all over Texas, California, and everywhere else. With his recognizable mask, outfit, and persona, he drew huge crowds worldwide.

Throughout his amazing career, the legend of El Fantasma grew, especially when El Duende que Camina (The Walking Ghost) risked it all and put his mask on the line. He did this many times in his career, against some of the biggest names in Lucha Libre, and was the victor every time.The biggest victory of such, wasa mask vs hairmatch in 1980againstthelegendaryElSatanico.

Eventoday,weareremindedofhislegacyintheWWE,ashisson,SantosEscobar (who did wrestle for many years in Mexico as “El Hijo del Fantasma” honors his father by naming his faction “LegadoDel Fantasma” (The Legacy of El Fantasma), along with himself and Angel Garza and Berto (Humberto Carrillo), who are prominently featured on WWE television (the Garza’s are even the currentAAATagTeam champions).

One more thing of note about El Fantasma, in Mexico City, they have a commission that oversees Lucha Libre, called the Box y Lucha commission. This exists to prevent the luchadores from bad dealings with promoters and that all advertised title matches and hair/mask matches happen as promised to the fans in attendance.

Who is the current commissioner? You guessed it, El Fantasma, who can be seen prominently at all events in MexicoCitywheretitlematchesorhair/mask matches occur. And now we are honored to have him in attendance here at the Plaza, receiving the highest award we can give a Luchador, the 2025 Lucha LibreAward!

- Roy Lucier

SPOTLIGHTINGOUTSTANDINGCONTRIBUTORSINCACHISTORY

SYLVESTER STALLONE

As the Cauliflower Alley Club has enjoyed a long association at thejunctionofprofessionalwrestling,boxingandacting,itshould comeasnosurprisethatamongourpastmemberswasafamiliar name from Hollywood -- Sylvester Stallone.

Best known for his role as Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” boxing film series, many members may recall that two years after his 1976 breakthrough role, he made his directorial debut on a film focusedonprofessionalwrestling--“ParadiseAlley”.Incidentally, ParadiseAlleywasreleasedthesameyearthatStallonebecame a member of the CAC (as pictured below).

In 1982, his inclusion of “Thunderlips” (Hulk Hogan) in Rocky III maywellhavepositionedtheHulksterforhismeteoricriseduring the WWF’s national expansion -- and their friendship endured decades, with Stallone later inducting Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1984) and inducted as a non-participant into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2010), Stallone’s career has crossed multiple boundaries and amassed fans through them all.

Stallone was honored with a “ReelAward” by the CauliflowerAlley Club in 1983, though he was unable to attend the ceremony to accept in person that year.

Dr.MikeLano’sCanvasCavity

PhotosandTextbyDr.MikeLano

Mick Foley has long been both a man ofcharacterandamanofmanycharacters. Plus, the perfect Iron MikeAward Honoree for this year’s Vegas reunion. Mick along with Shane Douglas were both trained by global legend and longtime CAC attendee Dominic Denucci (several time WWWF World Tag Title holder with CAC past attendees Victor Rivera and Irish Pat Barrett). Both Foley and Douglas shot to stardom separately, reunitingin the 1990’sECW once it turned “Extreme.”

HewasnicknamedMickbyhisdadwho was a lifelong Yankees fan who idolized Mickey Mantle. And like past CAC honorees Bubba Ray Dudley, Taz and Tommy Dreamer; Mick was at Madison Square Garden to see the famous Jimmy Snuka/Don Muraco bout, enraptured by Snuka’s dive which convinced all of them to become pro wrestlers themselves. Mick rose to pre-WWF/E fame in Memphis, Dallas for several promotionsincludingGlobalwithanothermentorinbookerEddieGilbertandof course for CAC’s own Joel Goodhart’s TWA which was the precursor to Extreme Championship Wrestling!

Mick has always put over his mentor Denucci with respect and flowers and has long been recognizable globally for hisdecadesofcanvasart aswellas his

non-wrestling many accomplishments. He was a regular on-air correspondent for Comedy Central’s Daily Show with Jon Stewart besides landing on Howard Stern and many other syndicated major radio shows and late night talk shows where many audience members knew him only for those non-wrestlingrelated appearances! Like USA Cable Network’s GvsE,Heels,TheBig Show Show, Squidbells, 30 Rock and countless other tv shows around the world,

most of the time also promoting wrestling. And films like The Peanut Butter Falcon,IAmSantaClaus(Mickstillhas his “365 days/year, dedicated Christmas room”) and many others including theupcomingmovies:TheHeartBrake, Robot Dracula. He’s beena regular for years like Jerry Lawler on comedy/horror film host Svengoolie’s national Saturday night show talking about not just prowrestlingandgenrefilmandTV,but alsocurrenteventsandhisfavoriterock and pop artists.

And of course his NY Times best-selling books that have all were 5-star and well-regarded, including his children’s books.

August18-20thforour 59thCAC inLas Vegas at the Plaza Hotel & Casino on fabulous Fremont Blvd also has worldclass honorees like Nattie Neidhart getting our Lou Thesz Award. Nattie is a regular cohost Thursdays on SiriusXM’s Busted Open show and she’s talked about Lou working for her grandfatherin fellow legend StuHartnot long after Stu’s Stampede promotion began, defending the NWA World Title! Unlike when Freebird Michael Hayes got this same award and famously said at our podium “Thesz must be turning in his grave with me getting this,” Lou

would’vebeamedatNattie’sathleticcareer to date with WWE but also her foraysintoformerUFCWorldChampJosh Barnett’s MMA-esque Game Changer Wrestling BloodSports promotion this year, opposing Miju Yamashita which after her win, set up Nattie then going to CACer Billy Corgan’s NWA where she had another matchof the yearcandidate against NWA Women’s Champ Kenzie Paige at the Crockett Cup in of all places...Philly! BTW, Nattie helped sell out bothshows.

Our 2025 Lucha Libre honoree, El Fan-

tasma, who idolized wrestling legend RayMendoza;succeededRayasCommissionerforBoxyLuchaenCiudadde Mexicoafterahugelysuccessfulcareer in Mexico but also in Los Angeles for the Lebell/Eaton family and Fritz Von Erich’s Dallas territory.

Alloneneedstosaytostartputtingover the incredible attention to history detail from our Jim Melby double-honorees Pat Laprade and Bertrand Hebert are their incredible books they’ve written together onAndre The Giant, Mad Dog Vachon, and “Mad Dogs, Midgets &

Screw Jobs: The Untold Story Of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling.” With more to come besides all their decades of online, radio and other media research on our industry. Past honoree Sandy Parker is shown here (above), center stage between BruceSwayzeandMadDogVachonon her left.Atthe2007 CAC reunion,there was a great group of our Canadian sisters & brothers with us. The CAC broke news of her passing recently. She was a pioneering lady wrestler who had international success, including a championship run in Japan.

Whoelsewillwehonorthisyear?

Men’s,Women’sandInternationalHonorees

Recognized worldwide as “The Madman from the Sudan”, Windsor, Ontario, Canada’s Larry Shreve struck gold when he first appeared as Abdullah the Butcher in 1967 for promoter Sandor Kovacs. For 44 years, his reign of terror knew no geographical limits, tormenting fans (and fan favorites) in Canada, the U.S., Japan, and Puerto Rico while building on his notoriety with every successive tour stop. Abdullah will join us at this year’s reunion and will be recognized with the International Award, celebrating his achievements and exploits around the globe.

Whether you remember them as The Bushwhackers, The Sheepherders, or have followed their careers long enough to remember them as The Kiwis, the partnership of Butch Miller and Luke Williams left a swath of destruction in their wake for much of their careers--withstays,andtitlereigns,most everywhere that they appeared. Bushwhacker Luke will be on hand at the reunion to accept the 2025 Tag Team Award on the team’s behalf.

Dr.TomPrichard’sinfluenceasatrainer and mentor has a wide reach across the industry for the past two decades, stemmingfromhisdaysintheOhioValley Wrestling developmental system, through his work with WWE Talent Relations and work with present emerg-

ing talents plying their trade across the U.S.Dr.TomjoinsustoreceivetheRon HutchisonTrainer’sAward next month.

At the helm of Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling, long-time promoter Herb Simmons will be recognized for his contributions to the sport as an independent wrestling promoter in our second year recognizing this award category. There’s no doubt that given his strong relationships with a wide array of talent that has appeared for him over the years, that he will have a lot of supporters in the room to share their best wishes.

In Canada, few wrestlers have had the kind of run that Steve Rivers has enjoyed over the past 35 years. Initially trained by Davey Boy Smith and Ross Hart, Rivers has worked with many of thetopstarstocomeoutofCalgaryand continues to be sought after for main event appearances. Rivers will be the receipient of this year’s Independent Wrestling award.

Best recognized by wrestling fans under the name Jazz, Carlene Begnaud has enjoyed a 28 year relationship with professional wrestling since her introduction to the sport through Rod Price in 1998. Her reigns as both NWA World Women’s champion and WWE Women’s champion have cemented her legacy in the history books. Jazz is coming to Vegas to collect an overdue Women’s Wrestling Award which was intended to be awarded in 2020.

“Cowboy” Bob Orton is a regular attendee at our annual reunion and foes at the Cribbage board understand why he was called “Ace” during his ring career. The middle link of a three-generation family wrestling legacy, Bob will be recognized with a Men’s Wrestling Award at this year’s reunion.

Another long-standing member of our club, Harley Race will be honored with a special posthumous award which will be accepted by his son Justin Race. The eight-time NWA World’s Heavyweight champion and well-reputed toughguywillnodoubtbespotlightedin adifferent manner when hissonshares stories from an often unseen side of a travelling world champion.

And of course, this year’s “Iron” Mike Mazurki award will be presented to MickFoley.Mick’scareerasawrestler, a writer, and an all-around ambassador for the sport of professional wrestling more than qualifies him for a lifetime achievement award in our industry.

All this, plus a few other honors will be bestowed at this year’s reunion. Do you have your tickets yet? You can get yours now on our website at www.caulifloweralleyclub.org

2025SeminarSeries

LookingBackandLookingAhead

Here’syourchancetotakealookbehindthecurtainortore-livesomeofthemagicmomentsandmemoriesfromtheterritoryeraofprofessionalwrestling.RickySantanasteps intotheroleofseminarcoordinatorfor2025topresentthefollowingsessions thisyear:

TUESDAY,AUGUST 19

11:00AMFlorida Championship Wrestling panel

Celebrating a legacy of legends - thetalent that was produced at 106 N.Albany Hosted by R. BruceTharpe Panel: Joe Malenko, Fidel Sierra, Ricky Santana, Abdullah the Butcher, Bushwhacker Luke & The Grappler

1:00 PM The Evolution of the Women’s Wrestling Revolution

From the beginning until now: From GLOW to WOW a story worth telling Hosted by Paula Sierra Panel: Patricia Summerland, MaliaHosaka, Judy Martin, Jazz, Big Rig Betty, and Holly Swag

WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 20

11:00AMPortland Wrestling “The Final Years” (1986 - 1992)

Hosted by Roy Lucier Panel: Ricky Santana,Top Gun,The Grappler, and Joey Jackson

1:00 PM The Road to Stardom:

Climbing the Wrestling Ladder from Independents to the Big Stage Hosted by Ricky Santana Panel: Herb Simmons (promoter), Tom Prichard, Gary Jackson, PaulLee, and Steve Rivers

TagTeamChampsofRingHistory

abookerandpromoterforaneight-year stint. As well as a manager, Bertrand was head of creative for an RDS television pilot, TOW wrestling, before trying his hand at writing.

Meanwhile Pat had dabbled with some writing on a wrestling website and his first involvement in pro wrestling was for FLQ, Paul Leduc’s promotion in Montreal. At a show held three days after the 9/11 attacks, Laprade acted as a bellringer for a ten-bell salute in honour of those who had been lost in the tragedy. It was this small gig which connected Laprade to the promotion, where he was able to subsequently attempt a varied range of roles.

With a Ring of Friendship that proudly extends to every level of its fraternity, the Cauliflower Alley Club has continued to value many contributors from the wrestling community that operate beyond the ring. At this year’s upcoming Reunion, the acclaimed historian ‘tag team’ of Bertrand Hébert and Pat Laprade will be honoured with the James C. Melby Award, in recognition of their body of work in preserving the rich heritage of the industry for future generations.

Discovering pro wrestling at age ten, Bertrand Hébert initially followed Promotions Varoussac, a few years before the Montreal-based company changed itsnametoInternationalWrestling.Bertrand was first hooked by an interview with Mad Dog Lefebvre and later grew to become a huge fan of Rick Martel.

Similarly, Pat Laprade was six years old when his dad brought him along to his first wrestling event at the old PaulSauvé Arena. It was not long before Pat was watching pro wrestling every Sunday morning, also following the Montreal territory starring his childhood hero Dino Bravo, and a host of other homegrown stalwarts including Gino Brito and The Rougeaus. Within a few years, Bertrand and Pat had individuallybecomefansofthesteadilygrowing WWF, which had acquired many of the

local stars that first drew their attention to the sport, and then both grew to appreciate the industry in its entirety.

Starting in 1989, Bertrand would act as aMontrealcorrespondentforProWrestlingIllustrated,andcreditsBillApterfor being the first to believe in him beyond the province. Hébert also worked as a referee for Lutte Lanaudière and Northern Championship Wrestling from 1993 and went ontogain experienceinother aspects, operatingfirstandforemostas

“I stayed a year with the FLQ. It was there that I started managing, cutting promos, working backstage, and I even had one match! After a year, I left for ICW, Ludger and Serge Proulx promotion still in Montreal. There, I learned a lotaboutimprovisingandringannouncing. I was a heel ring announcer, plus I was managing one of the top guys, I was in people’s face all the time! So FLQ gave me my first break, and ICW allowed me to improve my skills,” remembers Pat.

The initial input had firmly hooked Laprade on the business, who had already been learning as much as he couldaboutthebusiness,tolearnabout

his craft. Iteventuallyled to anopportunity with the brand leader in sports entertainment that he had followed since childhood.

“I managed, booked, promoted, wrestled 7-8 times just enough to know it wasn’t for me! I had done commentary once or twice, but I really didn’t like it. Butyearslater,whenTVASportsasked me to do this on TV for the WWE, I couldn’t say no! I also got involved a lot with women’s wrestling. I was part of the first women’s wrestling promotion in Montreal, the ALF. Years later, I got involved with Femmes Fatales, firstas aringannouncerandbackstage interviewer, and then as a promoter,” Laprade recalls.

In2004,Lapradestartedworkingonhis first book project: a wrestling almanac on Quebec wrestling. He also created awards for the province, as well as a Hall of Fame to recognise its legendary figures.

“For the fifth edition of the almanac, I wanted to create something special: a top25ofthebestQuebecwrestlersofall time. I asked a bunch of wrestlers, journalists, historians. Sometime after the list was made, Killer Kowalski passed away. And the publicist of the IWS, a local promotion in Montreal, Michael Ryan, had written a very good piece on Kowalski. So, I asked him to write the top 25 with me, especially the English part. While we were working on it, he came up with the idea that we should interview the wrestlers themselves and write what he called ‘side stories’, like the Rougeaus winning the WWF belts in 1987, and stuff like that. Soon after, we realized we had the basis of a book on Quebec wrestling, which had never been done before. But Michael’s work didn’t allow him to keep working on the project and so, I asked Bertrand Hébert to tag along. Bertrand had collaborated on an article for one of my almanacs.

I remembered he had many archives and newspapers clippings about Montreal wrestling so I knew he would most probably be interested. Sure thing, he was! The first thing Bertrand wanted to do was to write about his favourite wrestler of all time, Rick Martel. I asked him for 3,000 words. He did 12,000 or so - I knew I had the right person!”

Sadly, Michael Ryan passed away in April 2013, three months after the book

wasreleased.However,Laprade’spartnership with Hébert continued, as they collaborated on further titles. The first, Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs was voted Best Pro Wrestling Book of 2013 by the readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and this was followed by an acclaimed biography on Mad Dog Vachon. Laprade would partner with Dan Murphy on Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women’s Wrestling, while Hébert enabled Pat Patterson to share his unique journey in Accepted: How theFirstGaySuperstarChangedWWE andtourtheworldinsigningevents.Beyond writing, Bertrand continues to act as a manager for various talents, and backstage at San Restriction Chrono.

Bertrand and Pat would next reunite for the definitive biography of one of wrestling’s most mythical performers. Following on from a lauded HBO documentary in which Laprade was a field producer, The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of André the Giant was a triumph, revealing much about the life of the man beyond his legend (and often exaggerated exploits).Whiletherehadbeenothervalid accounts of the larger-than-life story of André Roussimoff, none had gone into the painstaking detail to depict the joys andsadnessofprowrestling’smostbeloved giant and tell his story in such a

completeform.

Butthenagain,itisahighstandardthat we have come to expect from the duo. Pat and Bertrand have dedicated their careers to accuracy, as they strive to document what they can about an industrytheyboth love in further projects, including an upcoming book on Dino Bravo. The pair want to ensure that wrestling’s past is long remembered and honoured. This August, we get the chance to honour them as the first partnership to receive the prestigious Melby.

The moment will be special to Laprade, who feels that the brotherhood of the CAC is irreplaceable, as it celebrates contributions from every aspect of the business. For Hébert, each Reunion is important, as it brings back memories of many colleagues who have since passed.

“PatPattersononcetoldme,‘ToiHébert tu connais la lutte’, receiving the Melby in Vegas from the CAC, he will be right there in that moment with me,” smiles Bertrand, whosewrestler son hassince adoptedtheringnameZakPattersonin tribute to a dearly missed friend.

-

Bradley Craig

AveryWhiteReceives2025CACScholarship

Thecommitteealso provides ascholarshipinhonorofthelateDickBeyer.The 2025 Destroyer Award winner was Jacob Stephensonof Wilson Central High School.

TheDestroyerAwardwaspresentedby CAC member and scholarship committee member Kurt Beyer and his sister, Kris.

As per tradition, Stephenson also was presented with an authentic Destroyer mask, which he donned onstage.

The 2025 CauliflowerAlley Club Scholarship was presented toAvery White, a senior at Frontier Central High School (Hamburg, New York), on May 20 at Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant in Blasdell, New York.

Sponsored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, the $1,000 prize is one of seven scholarships awarded annually by the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Committee. The awards are given to high school wrestlers who have demonstrated excellence on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community, and who have exhibited exemplary sportsmanship and good character.

The Cauliflower Alley Club award has been awarded each year since 1996 when the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Ilio DiPaolo, the former wrestler and CAC supporter, who passed away in 1995.

Avery White is the first female recipient of this CAC award. Dan Murphy, chair of the Cauliflower Alley Club Advisory Board, represented the CAC at the event and presented the award to White.

“The entire team of volunteers at the Cauliflower Alley Club are very grateful to everyone that supports our mission offinanciallyassistingpeoplethatmade a living in the wrestling industry. We have also been blessed in our ability to

assist these dedicated student athletes through the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund,”saidCauliflowerAlleyClubPresident Brian Blair. “Thirty years ago, this programwasbroughttotheCACbyour esteemed long time life member, ‘The Destroyer’DickBeyerandhasbeengoing strong ever since.

“None of this would be possible without the support of our members and contributors to the CAC Benevolent Fund,” Blair said. “We cannot say thank you enough.”

The Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund was createdwiththehelpofmembersofthe Buffalo Bills organization, including former quarterback Jim Kelly, trainer Bud Carpenter, and equipment manager Woody Ribbeck. To date, the Scholarship Fund has raised more than $1.6 million for various organizations in Western New York, including Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, the Center for Handicapped Children, Kids Escaping Drugs, Buffalo Police Athletic League, People Inc., and other charities.

FormoreinformationontheIlioDiPaolo ScholarshipFund,pleasevisitwww.iliodipaolos.com.

- Dan Murphy

FromLastIssue...

Here are the answers from last issue’s “Name that Honoree” rookie photo quiz:

Top Row:

George Gordienko

Nick Bockwinkel

Leo Burke

Second Row:

Sgt. Slaughter

Pat Patterson

ShawnMichaels

Bottom Row: Bret Hart

Eddie Gilbert

Ivan Koloff

REACH THEMALL

Advertise in the Banquet Program

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.

TABLE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

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.

2025CACReunionTickets