March 2018 The Ear

OUR 2018 HONOREES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS

WRITERS

Billy Blade

Evan Ginzburg

Ron Hutchison

Dr. Mike Lano

Karl Lauer

Dean Silverstone

Paul Stratoti

Brian Westcott

Royal Duncan

PHOTOS

Billy Blade

Johnny Bradford CAC Website

Carmine DeSpirito

Dr. Mike Lano

Joe Mauriello

Wayne Palmer

Joyce Paustian

Scott Romer

Dean Silverstone

Paul Stratoti

Jim Valley

Dan Westbrook

MARCH COVER PHOTOS:

Tony Storm - RiverHorse Wrestling

Photography - Alan Rolette, Blue Demon

Jr. - Mike Lano, Princess Victoria - Vicki Otis, Alexis Smirnoff - Joyce Paustian, Don Luce - Tom Burke, Roy McClarty

- Public Domain, Steve Keirn - CAC Website, Shawn Michaels - Tom Buchanan

DECEMBER COVER PHOTOS:

Santana Garrett - Paul Stratoti, Harlem Heat, Mickie J. Henson, Kevin KrossCAC Website, Greg Valentine, Baron von Raschke - Chris Swisher

* As with any project this size, photos are provided with no copyright or unknown photographer. We appreciate and thank the photographers that have taken these photos.

Welcome to Spring CAC'ers, Spring is upon us, our staff has been digging up new stories and photos to send you. Our steady eddies lead the way. Karl climbs out of his hole to see his shadow and realize he has three more articles to write before the end of the year. Mike Lano brings us a flowery tribute to the women of wrestling. Dean takes a Spring Break (recovering from five broken ribs).

"Leaf" it to Ron Hutchison to write a great piece stemming from his dandy(lion) seminars he is presenting at the reunion. Branching out in new directions, CAC welcomes member Evan Ginzburg (associate producer of the movie The Wrestler) to our writing team and he rose to the occasion writing about our old buddy Bruce Hart. Buy Bruce's book, it's very insightful. Super Tramp proves he's not pushing up daisies, he's pushing up carrot Tops and proving that (trees company). Not allowing our photographer's special to lay fallow we leap into the colorful world of photographer Paul Stratoti as he exhibits his handicraft. and finally, Brian Westcott does some heavy shovel work digging up title histories for all our 2018 Honorees.

After all that, boy, I'm bushed. So without "robin" more space and holding you hosta(ge) I'd like to plant two lips on the heads of all involved and shower them with accolades.

cac Quiz - can you find the 20 references to Spring in the above letter? See page 16

Special Collector's Issue

It appears that the Mr. peabody & Sherman Way-back machine made a short stop on the cover of our last issue without our knowledge. The cover read "2017", not 2018. Since we don't honor the same people year to year it was, of course, wrong. Since our policy on errors, omissions, and corrections is always to do a "make good" we have reprinted the correct cover on page 3. So for all you collector's out there, you now have an error issue (our last "Ear", which as you know errors make collectibles more valuable - coins, baseball cards, etc.) and the first cac Double cover issue (which you are holding now) ever published which, naturally, raises it's value. When you sell both issues to fund your retirement I work on a 20% retainer. please send to the cac Benevolent fund. Thank you for your time, we hope we haven't inconvenienced anyone, there is still time to get your plans together for the reunion. Yours truly, your Editor.

As always * = were or are a member of the CAC.

OUR 2018 HONOREES

TRaINER'S aWaRD STEVE KEIRN

oUR HoNoREE'S TITLES

By BRIaN WESTcoTT

(Number in parentheses signifies how many times)

LOu THESZ/ART aBRaMS aWaRD SHaWN MICHAELS

• San antonio: Texas all-Star Texas Tag Team Title-(2)

• Kansas city: NWa central States Tag Team Title

• aWa World Tag Team Title-(3)

• Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title-(2)

• WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title-(3)

• WWE World Tag Team Title-(4)

• WWE World Heavyweight Title-(3)

• WWE European Heavyweight Title

• WWE RaW World Heavyweight Title

• San antonio: TWa Heavyweight Title

• WWE Tag Team Title

IRoN MIKE aWaRD

BaRoN von RASCHKE

• Montreal: aWa IWa Heavyweight Title

• Indianapolis: WWa World Heavyweight Title-(3)

• Indianapolis: WWa World Tag Team Title

• Kansas city: NWa central States Tag Team Title

• charlotte: NWa Mid-atlantic Television Title

• NWa World Tag Team Title-(3)

• florida: florida Television Title

• aWa World Tag Team Title

• NWa World 6-Man Tag Team Title

• Minnesota: pWa Tag Team Title-(2)

Tag TEaM aWaRD HARLEM HEAT

Booker T.

• Dallas: gWf Tag Team Title-(2)

• Texas: Texas all pro IWa Title

• WcW World Tag Team Title-(11)

• WcW World Television Title-(6)

• WcW World Heavyweight Title-(5)

• WcW United States Heavyweight Title

• WWE World Tag Team Title-(3)

• WWE Hardcore Title-(2)

• WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title

• WWE United States Heavyweight Title-(3)

• WWE RaW World Heavyweight Title

• TNa Legends Title

• Edmonton: pWa Heavyweight Title

• florida: ScW florida Southern Heavyweight Title; Stevie Ray

• Dallas: gWf Tag Team Title-(2)

• Dallas: gWf North american Heavyweight Title

• WcW World Tag Team Title-(10)

MEN'S WRESTLINg aWaRD GREG VaLENTINE

• cleveland/Buffalo: NWf Tag Team Title

• amarillo: NWa Western States Tag Team Title

• Los angeles: NWa americas Heavyweight Title-(2)

• Los angeles: Beat the champ Television Title

• Louisiana/oklahoma: United States Tag Team Title-(2)

• charlotte: NWa Mid-atlantic Tag Team Title

• charlotte: NWa Mid-atlantic Television Title-(4)

• charlotte: NWa Mid-atlantic Heavyweight Title

• NWa World Tag Team Title-(4)

• Toronto: NWa canadian Title

• NWa United States Heavyweight Title-(3)

• WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title

• WWE World Tag Team Title

• puerto Rico: WWc caribbean Heavyweight Title

• WcW United States Tag Team Title

• puerto Rico: WWc Universal Heavyweight Title

• Dallas: NWa North american Heavyweight Title-(2)

• New England: IcW Heavyweight Title

• Illinois: aWf World Tag Team Title

• portland: portland Wrestling Northwest Title

• florida: UWW florida Title

• Michigan: NSWa Tag Team Title

• Michigan: NSWa great Lakes Television Title

• florida: cpW Tag Team Title

• omaha: aWa Midwest Tag Team Title

• florida: SEcW Heavyweight Title

• Toronto: NWa United States Heavyweight Title-(3)

• Wisconsin: aWa BcW Tag Team Title

• Illinois: WcpW League Title

MEN'S WRESTLINg aWaRD

ALEXIS SMIRNoFF

• Montreal: Tag Team Title

• Montreal: aWa IWa Heavyweight Title

• San francisco: NWa World Tag Team Title

• San francisco: NWa United States Heavyweight Title

• Kansas city: NWa central States Heavyweight Title

• Japan: IWE IWa Heavyweight Title

• atlanta: NWa georgia Tag Team Title-(2)

LUcHa LIBRE aWaRD

BLuE DEMoN JR.

• Mexico: WWa World Welterweight Title

• Mexico: Mexican National Cruiserweight Title

• Mexico: WWa World Middleweight Title

• Mexico: UWa World Junior Heavyweight Title

• NWa World Heavyweight Title

• california: pWR Heavyweight Title-(2)

• california: pWR Tag Team Title

TRaINER'S aWaRD

STEVE KEIRN

• alabama: United States Tag Team Title

• Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title-(16)

• atlanta: NWa National Television Title-(2)

• Memphis: cWa Tag Team Title-(2)

• florida: NWa florida Tag Team Title-(12)

• florida: NWa Southern Heavyweight Title-(2)

• florida: NWa florida Heavyweight Title-(2)

• florida: NWa United States Tag Team Title-(3)

• florida: North american Tag Team Title

• San antonio: ScW World Tag Team Title

• florida: United States Tag Team Title-(2)

• florida: florida Tag Team Title-(3)

• Memphis: cWa International Tag Team Title

• Tampa: fcW/pWf Tag Team Title

• Tampa: fcW/pWf florida Title

• Memphis: USWa Tag Team Title

• New England: cWa Television Title

WoMEN'S WRESTLINg AWaRD SaNTaNa GARRETT

• florida: ccW Ladies Title-(2)

• florida: USWa Women's Title

• florida: USpW Women's Title

• florida: ScW florida Women’s Title

• Las Vegas/Los angeles: WoW World Tag Team Title

• florida: ScW florida cruiserweight Title

• florida: pWR cruiserweight Title

• florida: UScW Women’s Title

• florida: BpW Tag Team Title

• NWa Women’s World Title

• florida: Ring Warriors Battling Bombshells Division Title

TUE, May 1 aT NooN

All proceeds go to the CAC Benevolent Fund

SEE JoE MaURIELLo foR SIgN-Up

oR THE REgISTRaTIoN DESK IN THE HoSpITaLITy/NoSTaLgIa RooM

Registration starts Monday

Some of the members who have bowled at or made appearances at the Dr. Ken Ramey Wrestle-Bowl or have joined us for the fun include: adam pearce*, Ross Hart*, akio Sato*, Vicki Weaver, greg Valentine, Brian allen (Illinois referee), Stan Hansen*, Wilma Beyer*, and Ken Ramey* himself.

TUE, May 1 aND WED, May 2 WHo WILL pREVaIL IN

2018?

Registration starting Monday in the Nostalgia Room

Buff up your cribbage skills or just play for fun. put the tournament on your list of things-to-do this year.

aLL pRocEEDS go To THE cac BENEVoLENcE fUND.

Help the fund and have some fun. See you at the tournament.

LIST of WINNERS:

'03 Paul Vachon '04 Larry Hennig

'08 Dave Bodell

'09 Destroyer

'10 Destroyer

'11 Bill White

'12 Riki Ataki

'13 Andrew Carmichael

'14 Tim pulkrabek

'15 Dave Bodell

'16 Bill White

'17 Tim Pulkrabek

one Saturday afternoon or evening in late 1969 my father had the Sheik’s* “Big Time Wrestling” program playing on our black and white television when I noticed this middle aged man celebrating ecstatically to see some blood pouring out of a front head wound on his opponent. I was hooked! also during this time WUaB-TV was airing the National Wrestling federation’s monthly TV tapings for promoter pedro Martinez for what veteran wrestling fans recognize as cleveland, ohio’s original and longest lasting pro wrestling promotion.

Before long I was a fixture at the cleveland arena where I began taking instamatic shots of some of the major National Wrestling federation and National Wrestling alliance/Detroit stars in attendance. Soon, I had articles published in Body Press Magazine and shortly thereafter I had articles published in the Big Book of Wrestling. Having had very limited success in getting my photos into the newsstand magazines I turned to CAPW in January 2001 whereby the late promoter JT Lightning allowed me unfettered access to photograph his ringside cards for his website where I gained 8 additional years of experience in exchange for him to do “whatever I want with them.” During this time I helped him deliver his sell out of april armageddon 2006. from 2005 until 2016 I produced photo shoots, conducted interviews with select wrestlers, wrote regular reports on CAPW as well as a few other indie feds such as IWC, KSWA and Firestorm Pro programs for the pro Wrestling Digest website.

I am looking forward to continuing on in celebration of our rich CAC history with new and exciting reports, many of which will be published at www.thegorillaposition.com.

BIO: I’ve been a newsstand magazine photographer/ writer since the sixties and covered every CAC event since the late eighties.

#TIMESNoW for our Women In Wrestling (Ladies first)

With the rest of the world celebrating women in the workplace, I wanted to dedicate this column to all our WoWs (Women in Wrestling) by saluting the modern-day heart and soul of cac in Jan Ross. We lost her a year ago, and the tremendous void she left on all levels of the biz have been tough for everyone who adored her. Jim recently brought this photo of Jan that I took 4 years ago at cac posing with our raffle belt to Hallmark cable channel's daytime talk show. He was only there to demonstrate cooking heart-healthy chili, but got asked to discuss Jan who was the “strong style” partner in their long marriage. can’t imagine the strength it took J.R. to do so, but he shared some wonderful memories of this remarkable woman. She'll forever be the best.

talent for APW, Shimmer, Chikara, ROH, Femmes Fatales, Mexico and Japan before WWE sent her to NXT to become one of the best trainers ever. She’s not related to another genius in Mike Tyson’s boxing trainer, cus D’amato, although the former “Del Rey” had been billed as “D’amato” years back. Sara’s helped most all WWE’s current female athletes who’ve deservedly headlined TV main events plus some that did the same over at Impact/GFW.

atlanta’s

Ann Gunkel was the first name femalepromoter to participate in a wrestling war which took major guts as she often out-drew the more powerful, betterfunded NWa.

Even though many top male brains were there already or brought in to try to defeat Ann like brilliant Bill Watts, she outdrew them in many key Georgia cities. Space prevents me from doing her justice, but ann at the time was Ray gunkel’s widow who’d died, unrelatedly, after facing ox Baker. Despite the deck stacked against her and the NWa admittedly sending in Trojan horses to “help her out” while instead reporting everything back to them instead, Ms. Gunkel kicked butt. fireball-throwing Sheik Ed farhat’s wife Joyce (who valeted him a decade earlier as princess Salima) helped run their trend-setting 70’s Detroit Big Time promotion with all their wild characters. "fabulous Moolah"* (Lillian Ellison) of course promoted much of women's wrestling in the 60's-mid 80's when WWf went national. She said "Johnnie Mae Young*" basically helped break me in, but I learned promoting from "Billy Wolfe". Mae (debuted in 1939!) had quite the career for decades as a tough biz pioneer, and it was rewarding to see her and Moolah celebrated in WWf/E from the mid-90's attitude Era on, plus having the Mae Young Classic Tournament named for the only wrestler to best Thesz's* 7-decades of wrestling as she worked 9. There were of course other pioneers starting with Mildred Burke*, June Byers*, Mae Weston*, Nell Stewart, Ella Waldeck*, Penny Banner*, Gladys "Killem" Gillem*, Cora* and Debbie combs*, Boni Watson and other legit athletes. as female Thesz-esque shooters, pioneers Burke and Byers had no peers. The outside-the-ring horrors they suffered through during their careers while simultaneously breaking new ground for others deserve mega-respect. More recently, Brilliant Sara amato was a world-class global in-ring

While WWE’s Stephanie McMahon-Levesque is a great on-camera performer, her quieter strengths for years have been accomplished behind-the-scenes overseeing departments well beyond her lead roles in creative, good-will functions, branding like the great Sue aitchison*. Both continue championing for women to grow and succeed at corporate/Titan Towers. Ms. McMahon-Levesque has helped hire women from all backgrounds and demographics. Talent-wise, as WWE’s roster has become larger and more diverse with talented athletes from many more disciplines (like Ufc’s Shayna Baszler and her 4-Horsewomen sister Ronda Rousey) they’ve been brought closer to parity with male workers' tv-time. International stars like Japan’s asuka and Kaira Hojo/Sane have obviously shined, elevating the entire talent pool. Wrestling also grew when we added female voices like Boni Blackstone plus 80’s ring-announcer Mike Mcguirk*, on to Lillian garcia and Jojo. Vickie guerrero verbally excelled playing that fictitious heel gM.

Joyce Paustian* photographed the biz longer than any woman on Earth and that includes Linda Roufa. But at times, even Joyce had to deal with discrimination. Like in 80's Illinois when she was prevented from shooting ringside, told by the Commission "we worry being female, you might not be able to get out of the way fast enough and could get hurt.” Joyce said she’s thrilled amateur women wrestlers have been encouraged in recent years to get into wrestling at the high-school, collegiate levels, and even compete at the Olympics. She hopes more girls each year take advantage of those opportunities. and we’ve thankfully seen quite a few from a myriad of more traditional sports like gene LeBell*-trained Rousey who medaled ala Angle at The Olympics.

It’s impossible space-wise to properly credit current name wrestlers like Becky Lynch, charlotte flair, Naomi, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss and the many Shimmer, Shine indie stars like Nicole Savoy and Mercedes Martinez. Many we’ve honored at cac: Kay Noble*, Jean antone, Leilani Kai, Sherri Martel*, Luna Vachon, Malia Hosaka*, Candy Devine, Trish Stratus*, gail Kim*, Melissa Anderson*, Beth phoenix*, Molly Holly*, awesome Kong*, Tracy Brooks (Viv Vachon posthumously). Maybe WWE HOFer Madusa soon. 2018 honoree Santana Garrett has been a celebrated global star from TNa to Japan’s Stardom, plus “Shined” on many cac-related wrestling shows. Had the honor of covering “Bailey’s” first matches near where I live, facing talent like gail Kim and candice Larae. We’re all proud of 3rd-gen champ Nattie Neidhart who's exemplified professionalism on every level. Like the best, she grew up watching, loving and respecting the biz. We salute women like her who’ve dedicated their lives to learning their craft, spending the countless hours in dank dojos,

Blue Demon Jr.

Santana Garrett

Harlem Heat

Mickie J. Henson

Steve Keirn

Kevin Kross

Don Luce

Roy McClarty

Shawn Michaels

Alexis Smirnoff

Tony Storm

Greg Valentine

Princess Victoria Baron von Raschke

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/BADGES

You can pick up your badge from CAC personnel stationed inside the door of the Hospitality Room between 11 am to 5 pm Mon. (april 30) or 11 am to 4 pm Tue. and Wed. (May 1, 2).

PayPal purchases were occasionally a source of some confusion. This year the cac is asking that if you purchase a banquet ticket–please bring the receipt from PayPal for the purchase to the Vegas reunion with you, and show it when you pick up your badge. In case there are any questions, your receipt will clear up the matter immediately. The club apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause, but this is a surefire way to make certain everyone gets what they paid for. MERcHaNDISE TaBLES: If you’re interested in renting a table to sell merchandise in the nostalgia room, please contact Scott Hosey at shosey@powerplaysportscards.com as soon as possible.

HERE IS WHaT yoU NEED To KNoW

BooK yoUR HoTEL aND gET yoUR REUNIoN TIcKETS NoW!!!

HoTEL RooM: as always, the gold coast has guaranteed the cac great special rates on rooms. Starting at $40 (deluxe) or $45 (premium) per night for the nights of april 25 through May 5. To book your room, and to get these special rates, call the Gold Coast Central Reservations hotline at 1-888-402-6278 (toll-free). Make sure you mention that you’re with the cauliflower alley club, and give the operator the cac’s group Reservation ID (or “group code”) acac18. otherwise, you can’t get the discounted cac rate. You can also book on the web at www.goldcoastcasino.com/groups by using the code above. These special rates will expire when the number of rooms the Gold Coast has guaranteed to the club runs out. SO PLEASE DoN’T WaIT To MaKE yoUR RESERVaTIoNS. If you’re late for the special rates, you can still get excellent daily rates from the Gold Coast at the above number and website. All rooms include free WiFi. If you have a Players Club card or are eligible for discounts by any other means, please advise the gold coast you’re with the cac anyway, so you’ll be put on a master list of CAC members, which really helps out the club.

BocKWINKEL BLoWoUT & BaNQUET: for tickets to Tuesday’s Bockwinkel Blowout and Wednesday night’s Banquet, please cut or photocopy the order form found in this issue and mail it to the CAC (see form for details) with your payment. you can also pay for your Blowout and Banquet(reunion) tickets through paypal. See www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/ shop

2018 FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT

BoWLINg & cRIBBagE ToURNaMENTS

You can sign up to compete in the bowling and cribbage events only if you’ve purchased a reunion ticket and have a badge. Entry fee for either event is only $20, WITH aLL pRocEEDS goINg To THE cac BENEVoLENT fUND, which provides financial assistance to veterans of the wrestling business who are in need.

THE BocKWINKEL BLoWoUT aND BaNQUET NIgHT

It’s true that these two events, on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively, offer excellent food and drink. But the big draw is the Awards ceremonies where major stars of the ring are honored by the cac at the Blowout on Tuesday, you can dress casually. on Wednesday, banquet night, wear your best attire as the banquet is a formal affair. Doors each night will open at 5 pm. No one without a reunion badge will be allowed entry. Once inside, a host of pro wrestling industry people mingle and create memories.

THE HoSpITaLITy/NoSTaLgIa RooM

This is where you can meet up with old friends and peruse the numerous vendors who will be selling all manner of unique and interesting memorabilia and exclusive items. Be sure to meet your friends here: the place where everyone congregates.

cac T-SHIRTS

Do not forget to visit the cac t-shirt table capably manned by all-time great guys and referees Charlie Smith and Bobby Simmons. They will be selling this year’s reunion shirt, designed as always by Charlie. Buy them in the Hospitality/ Nostalgia Room.

THE aNNUaL BELT RAFFLE

Once again an incredible championship belt has been donated to the CAC that will be raffled off at the close of the Wednesday night banquet. you can buy a raffle ticket (or twenty) in the Hospitality Room. Also available at the Bockwinkel Blowout and the Wednesday Banquet. all the tickets will go into the big wheel in the banquet room and a winner will be selected at random. So buy your tickets early and often.

LIVE WRESTLINg

Be aware that there is live wrestling being presented as well. For the last few years, Billy Blade’s Vendetta pro Wrestling has been kind enough to organize not one, but TWO big nights of live matches on Sunday (april 29) and Monday (april 30) provide an extra shot of fun to coincide with the reunion. Although the CAC itself does not have anything directly to do with these events, the club is delighted that Vendetta Pro Wrestling chooses to present them at the same time the reunion is taking place. So get ready for another double-header of excellent ring action this year.

THaNK YOu BILLY!

QUESTIoNS?

If you have any more questions, you will probably be able to find the answers by visiting us on the web at www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/ reunion-faqs.

2018 cac LEaRNINg SERIES

Legends, Fitness, Family, History and Controversy!

ask any touring wrestler from the territory days and you'll find that they'll all agree that the greatest education they received in the business was, most likely, from the endless hours and travel days that they traveled by car or van with each other exchanging stories and information. Most often upwards of 300 days a year, night after night, mile after mile, the wrestlers of the territory era were guaranteed a learning experience that, unfortunately, just doesn't exist for today's young talent. Gone are the days when wrestlers plied their trade for months and years on end, day after day and territory after territory to put food on the table for their families. Gone are the territories that once existed across North america that enabled such an enriched learning opportunity. The territories may be gone but many of the territorial wrestlers are still with us. Most are no longer making the full time grind and when they do travel, for the most part, gone are the days when they'd travel with up and coming talent who were able to benefit from their years of experience.

Fortunately, we here at the CAC have been blessed with the opportunity to have so many of these legendary figures in our midst each and every year. They've made a living in the business, picked up knowledge from so many of their contemporaries and, thankfully, are willing to share their knowledge gained from a bygone era with today's up-andcoming talent.

In 2018, in addition to its' traditional seminar subjects, the cac Learning Series will attempt to capitalize on this abundance of riches that we have within our midst like we never have before.

It's a bygone education that you were able to get on the road that the CAC will attempt to recreate this year, not in a car, but in a discussion setting. It's an opportunity that no young wrestler should miss!! Please remember that entrance to any of the CAC Learning Series events DoES require the purchase of a 2018 reunion ticket. The lanyard that you'll get to confirm your banquet attendance is your ticket to all of the fun goings on at the 2018 cauliflower alley club Reunion including any and all of the Learning Series events. Without further ado here is the lineup for your 2018 cauliflower alley club Learning Series. as usual in the pro-wrestling world: card subject to change without notice.

please visit www.caulifloweralleyclub.org for news on all of the seminars. all seminars will be held in Salon D.

The seminars are open only to CAC members who have a reunion badge. There is no additional fee to attend.

Tuesday May 1, 2018

10:00 aM: "Ring Shape: Health, fitness and Nutrition"

presenter: Ricky Najjar and guests. (pro wrestler, fitness competitor, personal trainer, event director: fittest athlete contest)

Having experience not only in the ring but also on the bodybuilding and fitness stages, Ricky Najjar has an abundance of knowledge, especially as it pertains to health, fitness, and nutrition for pro-wrestlers. Ricky will instruct seminar attendees how to present your best possible self by concentrating on how to get into shape, how to stay in shape and what foods to put into your body to obtain ultimate health benefits. at press time Ricky was planning on bringing in some cool fitness related give-aways for his seminar attendees so grab your seat early on Tuesday morning and get ready to participate, stretch, and listen in as this dynamic young dynamo shares his knowledge and give-aways with you!

12:00 pM: "Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs! -- LIVE"

Special guest: Michel "Justice" Dubois (a.k.a. alexis Smirnoff)

The cauliflower alley club makes a foray into something a bit different in its yearly learning series as it begins to explore and discuss lessons learned from and in the territory era. First up, a look at the rich history of professional wrestling in the Canadian province of Quebec. Quebec, canada, and specifically Montreal, has a rich wrestling history that pre-dates the infamous "Montreal Screw Job" by many, many years! The first ever midget wrestler booking office was located there. It is home to an abundance of legendary wrestling families including the Rougeaus, the Vachons, and the Leducs and, of course it was the very first North american wrestling territory of WWE legend pat patterson as well as the man later to be known as "Andre The Giant".

Join Bertrand Hebert and pat Laprade, the co-authors of the book Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs! as they relate tales of this fascinating wrestling territory. Joining in on this panel discussion will be 2018 Men's Wrestling Award Honoree Alexis Smirnoff, who started his storied career in his native province of Quebec as Michel "Justice" Dubois!

2:00 pM: "all in the merica to the World!"

Beyer

Kurt

Dan Murphy

featured guests: Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer, Kurt Beyer Host: Dan Murphy

(Author Bodyslams in Buffalo, co-author Sisterhood of the Squared Circle, Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine Senior Writer)

There aren't too many wrestlers around with the pedigree and credentials of the legendary Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer. The "World's greatest Masked Man" has had a career that began in the mid-1950's and has taken him around the world capturing titles wherever he went including the Los Angeles based World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship three times and the American Wrestling Association championship once which he won as "Dr. X" by defeating Verne gagne. He inducted "Gorgeous George" into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010 and in November of 2017 was awarded with the prestigious "order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays" by the Japanese government for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the united States. Along with Rikidozan, "The Destroyer" to this day holds the record for the most watched live professional wrestling match of all time with 60 million viewers watching the 1963 Japanese pro wrestling match.

Dick's son Kurt has, naturally, been around the pro wrestling business all his life. He followed his dad and uncle, perennial Canadian favorite Billy "Red" Lyons, into the grappling game after training with his dad and, later, Japanese legend Kenta Kobashi at the all Japan Dojo. Working extensively in Japan, Kurt debuted for All Japan Wrestling in Jan. 1993 and later that year worked the first ever father-son tag team match in Japanese wrestling history. Kurt has also competed in Germany, wrestled in the United States and put his family's patented "figure four leglock" submission hold up against the "spinning toehold" of Dory Funk Jr. in a submission hold vs. submission hold match held in front of a capacity crowd at the Budokan Arena in Tokyo.

Together for the first time in a cac seminar setting, this father and son tandem will discuss their careers including their career highlights and what it's like to train at the all Japan Dojo. What it's like working and living as a gaijin in Japan. The differences between working inside and outside of North america and, in Kurt's case, what it's like being the son of a wrestling legend and whether or not there were pressures and/or expectations put on him.

Hosted by the very knowledgeable and articulate Dan Murphy (who like the Beyers is also an upstate New york native) this cac Learning Series presentation will definitely be one that you won't want to miss!

Wednesday May 2, 2018

11:00 aM: "The Evolution of the Business. Is professional Wrestling Its own Worst Enemy?"

Host: a.J. Kirsch

(2016 “Rock The promo” champion, WWE Tough Enough Contestant, Reality TV star and Hoodslam Wrestling Host, commentator and announcer)

The term "fake" has long been regarded as a dirty word in professional wrestling, a business that was once believed to be a pure combat sport, the outcomes of which were determined solely on genuine athletic competition.

It is now common knowledge that professional wrestling is a performance. Yet, to this day, the term "fake" is often met with vehement and

continued from page 7

• florida: SHINE Title

• florida: NpW Women’s Title

• New Jersey: gcW Women’s Title

• Japan: Wonder of Stardom Title

• Los angeles: WoW World Title

WoMEN'S WRESTLINg aWaRD

pRINcESS VICTORIA

• WWf Women's World Tag Team Title-(2)

• NWa Women's World Tag Team Title

CHARLIE SMITH REFEREE

aWaRD

MICKIE J. HENSoN

• florida: IcWa Television Title

• Refereed for: Florida Championship Wrestling Professional Wrestling Federation World Championship Wrestling WWE Raw SmackDown ECW

continued from page 15

venomous defense.

poSTHUMoUS aWaRD

ROY McCLARTY

• Iowa/Nebraska: NWa World Tag Team Title-(2)

• British columbia: pacific coast Tag Team Title

• Vancouver: NWa canadian Tag Team

Title RISINg STaR aWaRD

KEVIN KROSS

• Nevada: fSW Heavyweight Title

• North carolina: MVW Heavyweight Title

• california: MpW championship

MEN'S WRESTLINg aWaRD

ToNy STORM

2011 - central Empire Wrestling - Tag Team Champion (alongside Tim Rhodes) - oskaloosa, Iowa

2015- NWa Southeastern - Deep South Heavyweight Champion

2017 - NWa Southeastern Deep South Tag-Team champion (alongside Mason price)

2018- Destiny christian championship Wrestling - United States champion

A.J. Kirsch returns to the CAC Learning Series with, not so much a seminar, but a discussion on why referring to professional wrestling as "fake" is, in his opinion, accurate exploring the knee-jerk reaction to defend professional wrestling; why the term and the defense are actually two different arguments; and why assuming they are one in the same is detrimental to both the art and the business.

Join us at 11 am Wednesday morning for what promises to be the single most controversial seminar the cauliflower alley club has ever offered!

1:00 pM: "The Territory Era - Wrestling in the pacific Northwest (pNW)"

Bass photo by Mike Lano

Dean Silverstone photo from the collection of Dean Silverstone Jim Valley photo from the collection of Jim Valley panelists: fidel "Top gun" Sierra, Len "The grappler" Denton, Ricky Santana, "Bad Boy" Bobby Kincaid (a.k.a. Bobby Bass), Dean Silverstone. Moderated by cac Radio co-host Jim Valley.

With names like Dutch Savage, "Moondog" Lonnie Mayne, "playboy" Buddy Rose, Roddy piper, "The grappler" and "Top gun" Dave Sierra, in many cases getting their starts and/or biggest career breaks in the pacific Northwest, the area has been a hotbed for professional wrestling as far back as 1925 when Don owen's father, Herb owen, began promoting professional wrestling in Oregon.

continued from page 12

finessing their skills and all those involved in wrestling at whatever level. Remembering Lita starting out training herself, transing herself to Mexico just to get work, later inspiring legions of future stars to get into wrestling (like aJ Lee) is as awe-inspiring as her in-ring.

Shattering the glass-mat for near-parity in all industry areas, including creative, must continue. Let’s keep moving, paying it forward. We have more work to do to get there in an oft male-dominated business, but the time really is now. Before I forget, I want to thank President Blair for his tremendous efforts having us honor greg Valentine this year. greg’s also been a major supporter of women in wrestling dating back to his Johnnie fargo early 70’s days. The great Shawn Michaels who we'll honor with our Abrams/Thesz Lifetime Achievement Award is meta. Of his many championships, Shawn's first was central States Tag with Woody farmer well before his AWA and WWF/E history was made. With Shawn now a big "entrant," this is going to be an amazing CAC/Vegas!

ANSWERS FROM WELCOME QUIZ

1. Spring

2. digging up

3. to see his shadow

4. flowery

5. Spring Break

6. "Leaf"

7. stem(ming)

8. dandy(lion)

9. Branching out

10. rose

11. pushing up daisies

12. pulling up Carrot Tops

13. trees

14. lay fallow

15. bush(ed)

16. "robin"

17. hosta(ge)

18. plant

19. two lips

20. shower

Fortunately, over the past couple of years, we here at the CAC continue to be visited by a contingent of pacific Northwest wrestling legends and this year some of those legends have agreed to "talk shop" about what it was like wrestling in this territory.

We could hardly do justice to the rich history of the pNW in just ninety minutes so this year the cac Learning Series will take a look specifically at the states of oregon and Washington as we leave the pNW canadian province, British columbia, for, perhaps, an in-depth discussion of its' own at a later time.

Joining us for this unique cac event will be a couple of wrestlers that lived the pNW wrestling lifestyle and a promoter that many considered to be an outlaw promoter when he opened up his office in Seattle, Washington.

Len "The grappler" Denton, the masked menace that was the scourge of the territory will, no doubt, have a lot to say on his time with Don owen's portland Wrestling office.

"Top Gun" Fidel Sierra, under three different character names, held every title in Portland Wrestling. He's been both a face and a heel in the pNW and some of the fondest memories of his career can be found here. Mr. Sierra will be on hand to discuss his storied pNW career but security might be needed if things get too heated between old rivals "Top Gun" and "The Grappler"!

Scheduled to complete the panel will be Ricky Santana (former NWa pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Television, and 6-time Tag Team champion), "Bad Boy" Bobby Kincaid (also known as Bobby Bass) and Super Star Championship Wrestling promoter (now longtime CAC Executive Board Member) Dean Silverstone .

find out why Don owen insisted that Bass change his name upon his arrival in Portland Wrestling in the late 1970's. Hear his take on the late Lonnie Mayne and other 70's stars of the pNW mat game.

find out why Dean Silverstone was considered to be a pNW "outlaw". Why he was labelled a "devil in disguise" by another pNW promoter. How he "almost" had a private meeting with Cher as well as his working relationship with superstars "Big" John Quinn and "Crazy" Chris Colt.

The characters they met. The lessons they learned. Their favorite and least favorite memories. Was Portland Wrestling really considered to be a "small man" territory at one point in time?

No subject will be off limits as the cac Learning Series takes a look at the storied history of wrestling in the pacific Northwest by some of the men who lived it. This is one that no young wrestler, true student, and/or wrestling historian should miss!!

BIO: Evan Ginzburg* is the Associate Producer and appears as himself in The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. He is the Associate Producer of the full length documentary 350 Days starring Bret Hart and Superstar Billy Graham*. He is also the Producer of the award winning documentary Theresa Sareo: Alive Again featuring Gary Sinise and Lanny Poffo*. He is a 25 plus year radio veteran formerly with 50,000 Watt WBAI-FM 99.5 NYC (Pacifica Radio) and now with The Evan Ginzburg Show on VillageConnectionRadio.com. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn.

An Interview with Bruce Hart

Bruce Hart had a unique childhood. And a wrestling career that helped change the business.

“I can’t recall there was a time when there wasn’t wrestling,” Bruce remembers fondly. “My dad, Stu, was strictly kayfabe and the heels and babyfaces would be in separate parts of the house and stay in character. There were legendary shooter types down in our “dungeon” like Luther Lindsay, George Gordienko and gordon Nelson. Guys trying to get into the business had to go through the 3-headed dog at the gates of hell. Some like archie “The Stomper” gouldie became quite successful. fritz Von Erich and the kids and Doris had a trailer in the backyard. I remember dad had the wrestling bear hibernating in the basement and we locked my brother, Wayne, in his cage; dad raised hell when he found out. There were midgets, bald-headed wrestlers, ladies, Nazis and Russians. We had cows, chickens and horses and the neighbors likened us to the addams family and Beverly Hillbillies.”

Bruce recalls his father having reservations about his kids going into wrestling. “My dad was acutely aware of the promoter’s kid syndromebeing pushed as champions whether they had the ability or not. So, he was even harder on us. Kendo Nagasaki was our lead heel around 1973 and he worked me into a great angle and got my wrestling career going. It sort of paved the way for Brett and Keith coming in later and made Stu a little less adamant about the size thing. Steve Wright and a lot of the Japanese guys came over here too, like Lyger and Hase and Kawada and they went back to Japan and brought those elements over there.”

Bruce remembers going to England in the summer of ’77 and its dramatic effect on the business. “When I went to England there was some remarkable talent- Tony charles, geoff portz, Roy St. clair, Jimmy Breaks, Pete Roberts, Mark Rocco and George Kidd who was Scottish. I met two prospects, "Dynamite Kid" and "Davey Boy". Dynamite was

about 18 and a seemingly withdrawn, skinny kid and I was astonishedtruly a revolutionary style. Back in calgary business wasn’t great and I pestered Stu and he brought him in. When he walked in everybody rolled their eyes, but he and "The Cuban Assassin" tore the house down. Brett wasn’t that excited about getting into wrestling, but seeing Dynamite proved a big catalyst. We sent Dynamite to Japan and he and "Tiger Mask"-Sayama revolutionized the business. He paved the way for the dynamic smaller guys. My going to England and Dynamite coming here set in motion Brett, Davey, owen, Pillman, Benoit who were a byproduct of that.”

Stampede Wrestling and the business continued to evolve in the 80’s. “around 1980 I had gotten over, as did Dynamite, but we were still playing second fiddle to these big heels. My dad and I were never on the same page as far as booking, but Brett and Keith were leaving at the time and he asked if I would take the book. It was kind of a bare bones crew. Dick Steinborn called and said he had just won a version of the Jr. Heavyweight Title and asked if we’d bring him up to defend. Dynamite was a heel and I was a face so we wrestled each other with the winner getting the shot. I went over Dynamite which was somewhat of an upset. Steinborn told me they were phasing out the belt and he'd be happy to drop it. So out of the blue, “boom”, I snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and this was one of my defining moments. Best thing, business exploded; we were selling out for 3-4 years after. guys like "Honkytonk"*, Mike Shaw and the others I mentioned became great workers during that time.”

Bruce has reservations about leaving wrestling. In September, 1984 the ring announcer says, “This is the last night. Stu Hart has sold the territory to Vince McMahon.” This was done behind my back. Vince was going to take Brett, Davey Boy, Dynamite and Neidhart like he was doing my dad a big favor, although they were among the best workers in the business. Stu wanted to start up again, but he lost his top talent. We put together a splinter crew with Mike Shaw, "The Cuban Assassin", and I trained guys like pillman, Benoit and Lyger. I was developing all these stars who would end up in WWE. My dad got tired of being a farm system and pulled the plug again. I’m now a full-time teacher and host of Hart Beat Radio. Visit Evan ginzburg’s Old School Wrestling Memories on Facebook.

Bruce Hart and Bob Johnson* can be heard on Hart Beat Radio at www.blogtalkradio. com/hartbeatradio. Bruce Hart’s autobiography is Straight From The Hart

BIO: Was with the CAC for 36 years 1979 thru 2015 including 24 years, as Executive Vice President, Board Chairman and CEO.

MEMoRIES aRE MaDE AT THE CAC...

We have members like "The Destroyer" Dick Beyer* who was a member when I joined in 1979 and I don’t think he has missed more then one or two times in 38 years. His matches with Freddie Blassie* and Mr. Moto* were countless classics. I think it would be a safe bet that they wrestled each other in the California area not less then 200 times over a 5 year period. The point being when those two (Dick and freddie) met at a CAC, after not seeing each other for several years, it was a sight to see. at the Sportsmen’s Lodge, Dick was sitting in the coffee shop when Blassie quietly came up behind him and broke wind, then shouted out “that’s how you beat me every time, you gassed me out”. Without turning around Dick knew who it was. The whole room enjoyed the minute. Blassie was one to take advantage of every opportunity to get a laugh.

Over the years I would get a call from a family member when one of the members had died. These were the hard times but also the allowed us to show our concern for the family, that was the only part of being the CEO of the club that was hard. When you have been around 53 years you have as many if not more who are gone then are still around. It’s hard to come up with a name of the wrestlers of the 40's, 50's, 60's, and even the 70's who were not a part of the CAC at one time.

The program was quite different, we had WEEKLy lunches and there would be from 15 to 50, if someone from out of town was coming in. It was always on Wednesday at noon at the famous Spaghetti Factory on Hollywood Blvd. Maria Berardi would make several phone calls telling you who was coming in, then each of them had 5 others to call, thus in a short time all 200 members living in SoCal knew about it. Then if you

were available you would come. on two occasions the room we usually used was just too small. It would seat around 90/100 and when that happened we basically took over the whole place. Both Lou Thesz* and Baron Michele Leone* were in town for a TV sportscast on their first ever $100,000 gate some 25 years prior on May 21, 1952. grandstand was $2.75, the gate was $101,652, do the numbers over 25,000. They had not seen each other in almost 20 years as this match was repeated in 1953 at the Hollywood Legion. But being two old school pros when they met it was “Lou you're looking good”, “Baron you look different without the long hair but in fantastic shape” then a firm hand shake and a pat on the back. The second time was when Buddy Rogers* joined the club and called and said he would be at the lunch and was bringing Billy Darnell* and Bob Mccune* (a 1949 Mister america and worked as Lord pinkerton).

There were other wrestlers who had drawing power (remember back then it was only guys and gals that were either wrestlers, boxers, stuntmen or actors who played them on the screen). as much as all of us in the business loved the fans and knew they were our success, the CAC was a closed club the first 26 years until Mike’s death in 1991.

So, having drawing power from your peers only was a very big deal. Others who had this respect would let us know they were coming; Count Billy Varga*, Judo Gene LeBell*, Leo Garibaldi*, Lord James Blears*, gory guerrero*, Ernie Ladd*, Red Bastien* and Nick Bockwinkel* the later two becoming CAC presidents for 8 years each.

In closing, a project that I did a few times was helping a member find missing family. Today you have the internet, and all the DNa and stuff, but not in the 70's and 80's. I had a call from a fireman in florida asking if I could locate a certain wrestler, he was told by his late mother he was his father. They had been married for only a few days when the mother's father took her home and had the marriage annulled. And the wrestler was given a restraining order not to ever see her again, this was in the 1960's when these laws were very strict. He never knew she was pregnant. Fifty years later the son wanted to meet his real father who was now in his mid-70's

I am not giving names here as I have no permission to do so. I knew the wrestler in question and knew his health was not the best. I called his brother and told him the story. We confirmed that the marriage did happen and that it was annulled. Everything checked out, called the wrestler, told him he had a son, and what did he want me to do. He said he would love to meet him. They got together, the son took him back to Florida, took care of him, and he lived out his life with a son and grandkids he never knew he had. This is another side of the CAC in the past. Things like this take a lot of time and do not always work out. This is when all the time spent makes it all worth it.

Our benevolent program really does a lot more then send out some money. I spend a lot of time on the phone with those we help. Being an old guy I have probably been there and have a broad shoulder to lean. I use e-mail but still prefer to pick up the phone and talk.

Gwyn Davies - Dec 5

"The Real Deal" O'Brien, Ring Announcer - Dec 5

PAST CONTRIBUTORS

Alfred Ticineto, Jr. - writer, photos

Brad McFarlin - photos

Brian Blair - writer

Brian Kelley - writer

Brian Westcott - writer

Chuck Thornton Collection - photos

Dan Westbrook - writer, photos

Darlene Kreis - writer

Greg Oliver - writer, photos

ibhof.com - photos

Jeff Leen - writer

Jeff Sharkey - writer, photos

Joe Pottgieser - photos

Johnny Griffin - writer

Jon Langmead - writer

Joyce Paustion - photos

Kari Williams - writer

Michael McCurdy - writer

Mike Rice - graphic artist

PamElla Lee - photos

Pat Laprade - writer

Ron Hutchison - writer

Steven Johnson - writer

Thomas Rude - puzzles, writer, photos

Vance Nevada - writer, photos

Tom "Z-Man" Zenk, Thomas Erwin Zenk - Dec 9

Pato Soria, Ruben Pato Soria - Dec 15

Mt. Fiji, Emily Dole - Jan 3

Rotten Reggie Love, Johnny Evans - Jan 7

Joey Kaos, Joe Pertowski - Jan 9

Terry Nylands - Jan 11

- Jan 18

- Jan 21

Marlin Sr., Thomas C. Marlin - Jan 24

Sahori, María Jovita Ramírez Zamora - Jan 25

Jeff Zwerin - Feb 23

Thanks to greg Oliver - SLAM! sports slam.canoe.com & www.caulifloweralleyclub.org

CAULIFLOWER ALLEY CLUB MEMBERSHIP

NEW RENEW

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Cauliflower Alley Club

53rd Anniversary of The CAC Gold Coast Hotel/Casino, Las Vegas

April 29th to May 2nd 2018 See the matches at the CAC Reunion

Sunday and Monday Night

April 29th & 30th

Vendetta Pro Wrestling presents Casino Royale 2018

Wrestler/Promoter Billy Blade

Real Name: Billy Traughber

Hometown: Santa Maria, ca

amateur Sports: played football, basketball, baseball, track, cross country. Went to the Nationals three times in crosscountry.

Boyhood Wrestling favorites: Ultimate Warrior as a youngster, Rob Van Dam when I got older.

first pro Match: Empire pro Wrestling, 2000

Who trained you: Jesse Hernandez, Billy Anderson, Tom Howard Where have you wrestled: US, Australia, Japan, Portugal, Mexico

Promotions you've been involved with:

1) Vendetta pro - current

2) all pro Wrestling

3) pro Wrestling Revolution

Wrestlers you've wrestled: Matt Hardy, Kamala, Greg Valentine, Honky Tonk Man, John Morrison, chavo guerrero Jr., D.H. Smith, LaParka, Tracy Smothers, alberto Del Rio, as well a many other stars over a 19 year career

IN THIS coRNER: BILLy BLaDE

Billy has a wrestling school commonly called "Kayfabe College"

Since the summer of 2016 Billy has promoted the "Midget Mania Tour." (which also includes women wrestlers) in california. Some of the talent includes El Torito, felinito, Lil chola, , Buggy (NXT), Sage Sin, and La Rosa Negra (Japan, puerto Rico). He plans on expanding in the future. Billy was on the "Hulkamania Tour" of Australia in 2009. Hulk Hogan wrestled Ric Flair every night. His team was Rock of Love (Billy Blade and Kadin anthony).