We are truly excited about the upcoming 58th reunion August 19th - 21st! We have been working diligently to assure that this years reunion will be an exciting and memorable event!
We are always exploring how to improve the reunion experience in every area possible - from stage lighting, live wrestling matches, karaoke, meet and greets with some of our honorees, vendors, swag sales, seminars, cribbage tournament, Filsinger game tournament, as well as other fun experiences you will only find at a CAC reunion.
We have procured some of the finest talent in the country to be honored at this year’s reunion. Our all volunteer staff has cohesively commited countless hours to ensure that we leave no stone unturned for your entertainment.
Our reunions are the CAC’s premier fundraiser in order to fulfill our mission of assisting people from the wrestling industry that have fallen on difficult financial times. With this said, I highly implore you to make plans to join us at the 58th CAC reunion at the Plaza Hotel and Casino as soon as possible!
We have kept our room rates and reunion ticket prices as low as possible in order to make it affordable for the entire family. If you have been wanting to attend a CAC reunion in the past, now is the time to take that step and join the many members that come on a yearly basis... there is never a dull moment, as we have something for everyone!
Be sure to check out our website at caulifloweralleyclub.org, in order to keep up on the CAC’s latest happenings.
Thank you very much my dear friends and I wish you continued health and happiness... See you in August!
B. Brian Blair President and CEO Cauliflower Alley Club
About the Club
CAC Mission Statement
To financially assist those in the wrestling industry that have fallen on hard financial times.
CAC Oath
“I will adhere to all CAC bylaws and principles and promise to do what is in the best interest of the CAC with integrity, kindness, humility, and gratitude to all of our members, peers, past associates, and honorees as we conduct ourselves with these principles to all.”
CAC Creed
Let us recognize that the CAC was established as a club for wrestlers, boxers, movie people, assorted friends and companions. Now, we are people from the world of wrestling that are dedicated to the belief in the need of a club of kindred souls who enjoy camaraderie, companionship, togetherness and friendship of each other. We believe in the history of wrestling as well as promoting the future of wrestling. We further believe that through our selection of officers and staff (who have given, for free, their personal time, talents and finances) that they will make the correct decisions to build the reputation and membership of the club and continue its business into the future.
The pioneering David McLane
Our inaugural independent promoter honoree
The Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC) proudly announces that wrestling impresario David McLane has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the “Karl Lauer Independent Promoter Award.” This prestigious accolade recognizes McLane’s outstanding contributions to the world of professional wrestling, particularly through his innovative and groundbreaking promotions, GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) and WOW - Women Of Wrestling.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, David McLane’s journey into the world of wrestling began as a fan, captivated by the legendary Dick “The Bruiser” and his renowned Indianapolis-based wrestling promotion. It was here where McLane along with his classmate, famed photographer Scott Romer started photographing for the wrestling magazines such stars as The Crusher, Bobo Brazil, Bruiser Brody, Jimmy Valiant and others. McLane’s childhood passion for the sport evolved into a lifelong commitment, including his active involvement in Dick “The Bruiser’s” wrestling promotion and then spending time with Verne Gagne, Jerry Jarrett and the Crockett’s in Ohio.
Fast forward to the present day, and McLane stands as a trailblazer in the wrestling industry. As the creator of GLOW, McLane introduced a groundbreaking concept that showcased the talent of female wrestlers in a unique and captivating way. GLOW became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s, leaving an indelible mark on the wrestling landscape, however, McLane wanted more for women’s wrestling.
Building on the success of GLOW, McLane launched the short-lived
Powerful Women of Wrestling before later creating WOW – Women Of Wrestling with Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. WOW - Women Of Wrestling, which is the only globally televised all-women’s entertainment franchise and seen in 100% of the U.S. markets via syndication, continues David’s mission to elevate women’s wrestling.
The Cauliflower Alley Club’s 58th annual reunion, scheduled for August 19-21 will serve as the backdrop for the presentation of the “Karl Lauer Independent Promoter Award” to David McLane. This momentous occasion offers wrestling enthusiasts a unique opportunity to celebrate McLane’s contributions to the sport as well as the contributions of other honorees, to be announced.
President Brian Blair has also recently announced the creation of the Jim Ross Announcer’s Award which will be awarded for the first time at our 2024 Reunion. Watch for more details on that award at the inaugural honoree in the next issue of The Ear.
- Ron Hutchison
STING TO MAKE A SPLASH
As the 2024 Iron Mike Mazurki Honoree
As I write this, I’m smiling. There is an adage that warns that people should never seek to meet their heroes, as they never live up to expectations. Well, when I was eleven years old, I had the chance to meet mine, and he was every bit the superhero I expected him to be.
Like many superheroes, my childhood idol had a secret identity. Before I met him, I knew very little about Steve Borden, but I knew everything there was about The Man Called Sting. After our (thankfully non-fatal) encounter, I realised how lucky I was to have picked a role-model who exemplified so many positive attributes. He is generous, kind and has shown commitment to good causes such as Make-AWish and The Starlight Foundation. It is in recognition of Sting’s efforts to further the positive image of professional wrestling that The Cauliflower Alley Club is set to award him with the coveted 2024 Iron Mike Mazurki Award.
After bursting onto the territorial scene in November 1985, Sting first found notoriety as a tag team wrestler alongside Jim Hellwig. Their short-lived Freedom Fight-
ers moniker was altered upon their arrival in Bill Watts’ UWF promotion, as they became The Blade Runners, smashing their opponents with power-based offence in short matches across the territory. When the team disbanded, Sting continued to show promise before the promotion was sold to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987. It was not long before the charismatic youngster first grabbed national attention in a superlative bout opposite Ric Flair during the first Clash of Champions event in March 1988. It was an early chapter in what many considered the signature feud of JCP’s successor brand, the Turnerowned World Championship Wrestling. It was a series of matches which would eventually bring Sting his first World Heavyweight Championship on 7th July 1990, at The Great American Bash in Baltimore. When Flair departed for the WWF the following year, a second World title victory over sporadic tag partner and reallife friend Lex Luger truly positioned Sting as the face of the promotion.
During his legendary run as The Franchise of WCW, Sting’s intense wars against factions such as The Four Horsemen, The
Dangerous Alliance and the New World Order created some incredible moments for the industry. His long-gestating feud with ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan resulted in a record-breaking pay-per-view audience for the company, which tuned in to watch him regain the World title at Starrcade ’97. However, ‘The Stinger’ also garnered widespread acclaim for his matches against a myriad of opponents, including Big Van Vader, The Steiner Brothers, Cactus Jack, Diamond Dallas Page, and The Great Muta.
Following the closure of WCW in 2001, Sting was one of the first major stars to bolster the ranks of TNA/Impact Wrestling, which hugely broadened mainstream awareness for the organisation. After a much-anticipated stint with WWE, ‘The Icon’ took up the opportunity to close his in-ring journey with a celebrated run in AEW. Despite his position as the resident legend of the company, Sting refused to rest on his laurels, and provided fans with some of the most daring performances of his amazing career. This included a 2023 match at Wembley Stadium in London, in front of the largest audience to have paid
to see a pro wrestling event in history, before his retirement on 3rd of March this year.
Whether Sting’s face has been painted in the futuristic swirls of the ‘Blade Runner’ tag team, the colourful patterns of his ‘Surfer’ persona, the brooding black-andwhite tones of ‘The Crow’, the outgoing siren-red of the ‘Wolfpac’, or the manic smudged appearance of his ‘Joker’ character, a drive to take chances and reinvent has been a key factor in his success. And while many will cite the Scorpion Deathlock or the Scorpion Deathdop as two of the most famous signature moves in wrestling history, Sting’s repertoire was equally vast and ever-changing. His athletic style complemented his character, as he fused daring aerial attacks, power moves, and solid matwork into one tight, explosive package. His vertical leap seemed superhuman every time he launched himself into the cosmos with his famed ‘Stinger Splash’.
Continually topping the list of ‘most popular’ wrestler lists, Sting’s unique connection with the fans has led to longevity at the highest level, and he has worked as a main-event wrestler in five separate de -
cades. He was the subject of one of the first biopics on a wrestler and has occasionally crossed over into the realm of acting. However, despite being a performer of great versatility, Steve Borden’s favourite role is that of a devoted family man in his life beyond the ring.
Sting’s career has been laden with title glory, including sixteen World title reigns for several companies across the globe, and he has been honoured with multiple Hall of Fame inductions. But his most cherished accomplishment came outside the ring in 1998, when he fully committed himself to his faith. In the years since, the selflessness of ‘The Stinger’ has been obvious, as he has continued to spread a message of hope to others. He is a tremendous ambassador for professional wrestling and embodies the values of the ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki Award, which is given every year to “individuals who have made exceptional contributions to professional wrestling and have exhibited outstanding dedication to the sport both inside and outside the ring.”
On a personal note, I became a mega-fan of pro wrestling after first discovering Sting during the earliest WCW shows to
be aired on ITV in the United Kingdom. There had been other wrestling content on British shores for years before that, but ‘The Stinger’ possessed a charisma which connected to this then-young viewer in a way that no other wrestler had before or since. During a time when many of my classmates were fixated on the adventures of Spider-Man or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the in-ring exploits of Sting gave me a superhero who embodied dignity, class, and hard work. In March 1993, I had the opportunity to meet ‘The Stinger’ during a tour of the UK, in my hometown of Aberdeen. It remains my fondest childhood moment.
Sting’s amazing and storied career sustained my passion for pro wrestling, which eventually led this ‘Little Stinger’ to pursue a longstanding interest in writing about the industry and its rich history.
Along with everyone in attendance, I will be pleased to rejoice as he receives his richly deserved honour at his year’s CAC gathering. Like so many others, I am indebted to his contributions.
Thank You Sting.
Bradley Craig is a pro wrestling historian and author based in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the founder of The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame for Scotland and collaborated with Jeanie Clarke on her autobiography Through the Shattered Glass.
Benevolence in Action - Scott Romer
Wrestlers Dylan Bostic and Rip Rogers were almost daily visitors to Scott when he was sidelined in hospital.
In August of 2022, Rip Rogers and I were in Seymour, Indiana, about half between Louisville, Kentucky and my hometown of Indianapolis. Rip and his high school classmates were gathering to mark their 50th reunion, and thanks to Rip, I was hired to photograph the event. It became a night I will certainly never forget.
I was at my car, getting ready to bring more gear inside for the photo booth, when I suddenly didn’t feel right. I went inside to the bathroom. It was a hot summer day in Indiana, and I just assumed it was the heat. I splashed some water on my face and then cupped my hand to take a drink. That’s when I knew something was really wrong. I couldn’t swallow.
I found Rip and told him I wasn’t feeling well. I asked him to get me something, and he did. He brought me some chips, which did me no good because, as I said, I couldn’t swallow. That’s when they called the ambulance.
I went to the hospital in Seymour where they began running tests.
Rip left the reunion about half way through to come and check on me. I stayed in Seymour only a day or so while they diagnosed me as having a stroke. They sent me by ambulance to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
I remained in St. Vincent’s for two weeks. They inserted a tube in my stomach to give me nutrients as I couldn’t swallow. I had a few visitors who dropped in on me, including Rip Rogers, Dylan Bostic, John Cosper, Mad Man Pondo, and my sister Cindy. Seeing them show up really lifted my spirits, and I’m thankful I was able to talk and visit with them.
After two weeks in St. Vincent’s, they shipped me to rehab for another two weeks. It was a difficult recovery, and truthfully, I’m still not 100%. Looking back, there were definitely some warnings signs. My blood pressure would soar way up and then back down, but still in the high range. The hospital diagnosed me with high blood pressure and diabetes. Thanks to changes in my diet, I’ve dropped 30 pounds, and I was able to come off the blood pressure medicine.
In September of 2022, despite the health scare, I made my way to Las Vegas for the CAC reunion. I’d already purchased my ticket, and I was determined to go. CAC is family, and they proved it while I was still in recovery. I received two phone calls, one from Herb Simmons, and one from Rich Ingling, who advised me the CAC might be able to assist me. I filled out a few forms, and sure enough, CAC donated enough money to cover my rent for two months!
I am forever grateful to the Cauliflower Alley Club for being there and being family when I needed it most. It is truly a blessing to be part of such a caring community that looks out for its own. Thanks again to Herb, to Rich, to everyone who visited or reached out during my time of need. I’ll see everyone later this year in Las Vegas, and I can promise you two things.
One, you’re going to see a healthier, happier me.
And two, I will not be taking any more candy from Carmine DeSpirito. Read my book if you want to know why.
Benevolence in Action - Fidel Sierra & Fantasy
When a natural disaster struck their Florida home, the CAC was there to help Fidel Sierra and Fantasy on the road to recovery through the CAC Benevolent Fund
The troublesome duo of Fidel Sierra and his ever-present valet Fantasy have raised the ire of countless wrestling fans over the years with their antics in and around the ring. But to friends and colleagues at the Cauliflower Alley reunion, the familiar faces of Dave and Paula are enough to bring a smile to our face year after year.
While the duo have survived many harrowing esperiences in wrestling arenas over the years in Puerto Rico and the southern States but it was a disaster at home that had the veteran wrestling couple on the ropes.
Last year, in a span of three months, their Florida home sustained damage
from flooding twice, causing more than $5,000 in damages each time.
“It was tropical storms causing high tides”, says Dave. “It wasn’t even from hurricanes - nobody expected it.”
Having been members of the Cauliflower Alley Club for many years and recognizing the mission of the club to help people out, they reached out to Rich Ingling and Darla Staggs. The CAC, through our benevolent fund were able to provide some aid to help them recover from nature’s onslaught to their home.
“I was embarassed to have to ask”, Dave admits. “But the respect from everyone involved was so reassuring and we are so grateful.
“The Cauliflower Alley Club has helped so many people. To me, that’s why I’m always promoting the CAC and encouraging people to join.”
The CAC Benevolent Fund helps to address the urgent needs of wrestlers and their families at their greatest time of need. It is at the heart of our club’s mission to support the men and women who have given so selflessly to our sport.
Fidel Sierra has been a fearsome foe in the squared circle.
The World’s Most Dangerous Announcer
Gary Michael Cappetta celebrates 50 years in wrestling
Ring announcers are often overlooked for their contributions to the art form of professional wrestling, but they are so vital to its presentation and mass appeal. Their expert use of vocals can generate great anticipation, not only in their tailored introductions which accentuate the personalities involved in each match, but also when a contest is at a critical point. As a childhood fan of WCW, I had the privilege of witnessing the superlative work of ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Announcer’ Gary Michael Cappetta firsthand, as he added tremendous value to the product. Cappetta could immensely heighten the drama of any bout when the time limit was close to expiring, and his booming calls would herald the excitement when a new champion was crowned. I had the opportunity to speak with Gary, as he celebrates his 50th anniversary in professional wrestling.
Growing up in New Jersey, Cappetta was eleven years old when he first saw pro wrestling, becoming an immediate fan of the great Bruno Sammartino, the reigning champion of
the World Wide Wrestling Federation. However, it was a chance occurrence which led to Gary’s eventual involvement in the industry at 21 years old.
“I was at ringside for a show on June 29th 1974 in Wildwood, New Jersey, and there was not an announcer, so I volunteered to announce from ringside. One week later, on July 6th, was the first time I stepped into the ring, also in Wildwood, and the WWWF promoters kept bringing me back,” remembers Cappetta.
At the time that Cappetta started announcing, he was working as a high school Spanish teacher. The ability to communicate had come naturally to the young pitchman, and within two years of his first appearance, he would soon be featured on the WWWF’s televised broadcasts. He has fond memories of this early time in the northeast wrestling scene, and the individuals who helped him along the way.
“My friendship with ‘Gorilla Monsoon’ Bob Marella, was the most special because he was so generous to me, both
personally and professionally, before even I knew I had any performing talent. Gorilla gave me my first opportunities and put me on WWWF TV for the first time - all my gratitude goes to him for believing in me from the start and then allowing me to hone my craft,” he recalls.
At the time Gary started, the business was still a closed shop and fiercely protected from outsiders. It took a couple of years for the New Jersey native to earn the trust of the roster of in-ring talents.
“For the first two years, I wasn’t allowed to be in the locker room and was kept separate from the wrestlers. It wasn’t until 1976 when I started announcing for the WWWF weekly TV show that I was allowed backstage. That’s when I began forming friendships with the wrestlers. Some, like George ‘The Animal’ Steele and The Wild Samoans began to use me as a ‘prop’ to enhance their characters,” laughs Gary.
Cappetta remained with the WWWF/ WWF until 1985, then split his time working for the American Wrestling Association and Jim Crockett Promotions. From 1989, he secured an exclusive gig working for World Championship Wrestling, the successor promotion to JCP which had been acquired by the Turner broadcasting empire the previous autumn. Beyond his live event work, Gary was no stranger to a production studio. He would often be featured in taped segments on WCW programming and, after his stint with the company ended, he was recruited to record vocals for the Acclaim Entertainment’s Legends of Wrestling video games.
At the time that Gary left WCW, his run totalled nineteen consecutive years on weekly television, spanning from 1976 to 1995. Following this, he
began work on Bodyslams! Memoirs of a Wrestling Pitchman, his 2000 autobiography which provided a unique insight into the business. Written by a man who probably witnessed more historic matches from ringside than anyone, the book started as a therapeutic process to keep Cappetta’s mind busy in his transition to a normal life after two decades of a hectic existence on the road, before evolving into one of the most celebrated accounts of the industry.
Since the publication of his memoir, Gary made a return to the industry in 2002, for a four-year stint with Ring of Honor. While Cappetta returned to teaching in the years since his WCW career ended, he is still active with appearances in the independent circuit, fan conventions, seminars and hosts an entertaining one-man show in which he shares his countless mat memories. He also made a guest appearance for All Elite Wrestling in February 2020, which marked the first time he was shown on Turner television since his WCW days.
A proud Lifetime Member of the CAC, the entire pro wrestling community is dear to Cappetta. Enduring a long career that took him across the United States, and into Europe, Gary still enjoys the opportunity to share experiences with the people who attend gatherings that celebrate an industry he loves.
“I feel like I’ve always known about the Cauliflower Alley Club. Recognising and celebrating the contributions of past and present wrestling personalities, and the fans who appreciate their work, makes the CAC such an important organisation,” stated Cappetta.
Bradley Craig is a pro wrestling historian and author based in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the founder of The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame for Scotland and collaborated with Jeanie Clarke on her autobiography Through the Shattered Glass.
Tip of the Hat
Each year, hundreds of members convene on Las Vegas to join in on the festivities of the annual Cauliflower Alley Club reunion. It serves as a great place to gather with old friends, meet new ones, and to re-visit the stories that we love to tell again and again.
Only a portion of what we get to experience in person ever makes it to the pages of The Ear - but the truth is that so many of our members have fascinating stories about when they first became fans of wrestling, the heroes that inspired them to step foot in the ring themselves, and of course the colorful stories that are better than fiction.
The team of photographers and writers that contribute to capture as much of that magic as possible in celebration of our members are a vital piece of helping us to connect throughout the year in between the reunions that we all enjoy so much.
The international team of ardent fans, published authors, celebrated historians, award-worthy photographers, that each contribute to not only The Ear, but the official club website as well as our social media channels each deserve a CAC Tip of the Hat for their tireless efforts throughout the year.
The United States, Canada, Scotland, Japan, New Zealand ... the reach of the club is international and we strive to represent that in our coverage of the club and our spotlights of the members both active and retired.
To all of our contributors, we share a heartfelt THANK YOU.
If you know a member whose story should be featured in an upcoming issue of The Ear, contact the Editor Vance Nevada at the e-mail address found on the Table of Contents.
We want to celebrate you. Help us tell your story. The Ear is about YOU.
Canvas Cavity Salutes Decades of Female Legends
Text and images by Dr. Mike Lano
As a collective family, we lost CAC honoree Joyce Grable recently and her life continues motivating and affecting many around the world as she fought health battles for years, without a tap-out. Joyce was not just incredible in-ring, not just a multisingles and tag champion but also a role model and passionate wrestling historian. Respect is a key word in this column, and Joyce (Betty WadeMurphy) exemplified that, also being enshrined in the PWHF, St Louis HOF, Women’s Sports HOF first voted “Girl Wrestler Of The Year” in PWI in 1973.
Last column we saluted male legends of Cauliflower Alley and now let’s pay respect to our many great female wrestlers, historians, photographers, referees, promoters who’ve excelled in every aspect of the business in the last century to current. Most all of them said on our stage that they had to work harder than their male counterparts just to get work while surviving many obstacles. Their tireless contributions improving this industry continue with the current generation.
And incredible athletes they always were and continue being. One need only look at what multiple CAC attendee Sara Del Rey/Amato has accomplished as not just a global wres-
tling decorated champion but what she’s done for years in WWE’s developmental helping train and finesse so many current and future superstars. Former CAC Board Member Melissa Anderson, AEW athlete/trainer Serena Deeb, Madison Rayne and others deserving our respect, praise and thanks. All of these women and more (whatever one’s preferred pronoun) remain major power players and on an equal level as “the boys.” And remember that term refers to both male and female wrestlers.
Since Cauliflower Alley Club grew from our casual lunch beginnings in downtown L.A. on to our last 23 years of 3+ day mammoth, “Superbowlesque functions, the CAC has honored many of these ladies in attendance.
Our short list has to start with June Byers and one of several top global stars she trained in Penny Banner. Fabulous Moolah and Johnnie Mae Young, Cora Combs and daughter Debbie. Ella “Crowbar” Waldek promoted CAC’s 1995 ancillary event near her home in Tampa. That’s where we first had Ata Maivia-Johnson attend with Rocky and their son Dwayne who sang some Elvis with then wife (and still business partner) Dany Garcia at our podium.
CAC’s also honored Mae Weston, Donna Christanello, Ann Casey, Terese Theis (who broke her longtime husband Ray Stevens into the biz in Memphis!), Princess Victoria, Betty Clark, Peggy Lee Leather, Misty Blue, Darling Dagmar, Diamond Lil, Barbi Dahl, Black Venus, Sandy Parlow and more while one of CAC’s best in Malia Hosaka, unforgettably and emotionally honored Bambi/Selena Majors in 2019 . Who can forget the years wonderful Luna Vachon attended later getting CAC-honored on-stage by her father breaking into tears?
The first California Women’s champion was CAC regular Betty Niccoli who brought along her workhorse husband Akio Sato and they were saluted on-stage as one of our first power couples, which later included Beth Phoenix and Adam “Edge” Copeland and their collective trainer Ron Hutchison. Ron was also one of the lead presenters to WWE HOFamer in Trish Stratus. Which was the same year Stardom sent three of their top athletes in current WWE Women’s champ Iyo Sky, WWE Tag Champ Kairi Sane and Stardom HOF legend Mayu Iwatani. WWF tag champions who’ve attended and been honored on our stage include Leilani Kai & Judy Martin as well as former WWF women’s champ Rockin’ Robin Smith. CAC’s also honored Lisa the Adjuster and Brtney Brown, Killer Kowalski trainee, who put her over big time that year. Brittney returned the favor in helping honor Kowalski at another reunion.
Other HOFers we’ve honored since the move in 2000 to Vegas include WWE’s Molly Holly, LIsa Marie Varon and Ivory/Lisa Moretti. Lisa’s “sister wrestlers” from the original syndicated 1980’s GLOW that spawned 4 seasons of the more recent Netflix show (co-starring “Awesome Kong” Kia Stephens) had an entire Baloney Blowout saluting
them with plaques. GLOW standout honorees Jeanne “Hollywood” Basone and Cheryl “Lighting/Lil Mo” Rusa first began attending CAC in 1993!
Several years ago, Debbie Combs and Malia Hosaka at our Monday night wrestling show, honored (in-ring) many top female legends from the 70’s-90’s in a special, “unsanctioned” event no one there will ever forget. A ton of planning, trans and more went into what was one of the best collective shoot tributes ever.
From TNA we’ve had Gail Kim, ODB, double-honoree Santana Garrett and more attend our reunions.
1994 honoree Sherri Martel was a triple-threat in being not just a world class world champion wrestler but a great manager, valet & promo expert in not just the AWA and WWF but also in Antonio Pena’s AAA then growing lucha promotion managing Eddy Guerrero and Art Barr (Los Gringos Locos) where her attempted promos En Espanol have to be seen to be believed. She was emotionally inducted by her lifelong friend and fellow CAC honoree Candi Devine with whom she broke into the business thanks to the Poffos. Melissa “Missy” Hyatt attended her only CAC at the Sportsman in 1991 where she memorably brought her then boyfriend, actor Jason Herve.
Amazing women in other wrestling roles have been honored. This list has to start with Gorgeous George’s wife and valet Cherie Dupre who memorably had her head shaved when GG lost a hair vs hair to Whipper Watson, refused to go thru with it and Cherie “took one for the team.” Honoree Sue Aitchison rarely misses a CAC and for decades she’s been WWE’s heart/soul, devoted front office employee, overseeing their charity outreach work. WWF’s very first female ring announcer Mike McGuirk is also a CAC regular, still proud of her dad Leroy who was an NWA Jr World Champion as well as one of the greatest wrestling promoters ever (particularly in Louisiana and Oklahoma). Mike remains dedicated
to helping other females break any remaining glass ceilings as she did and she’s done my podcast as well as many others in and at CAC events where female podcast and radio hosts like Izzy and Denice Salcedo rule.
Just a few who’ve attended CAC include Diana Hart Smith, Bunny Love, Angel Valiant and Nancy Sullivan Benoit (at our 1995 Tampa ancillary function). Influential and recognizable globally, we’ve had beloved CAC regular Ata Maivia Johnson who’s mother Lia remains one of the few female promoters ever in the biz (along with Ann Gunkel). Marti and the late/ great Vicki Funk attended many CAC’s over the years. Jimmy Snuka’s widow Sharon typically comes with Ata, as the pair travel also to most WWE major events. Well after Paul Boesch passed, his widow Valerie kept attending until her passing. Barbara Goodish (who along with CAC’s Darla Taylor and JJ DIllon’s daughter Pam Morrison comprise their own famous Horsewomen Group) is deservedly on our board and hasn’t missed a CAC in years. Becky Jardine and many others equally loved and respected by our community have been CAC regulars. Female wrestling historians from Diane Devine to the late Georgiann Makropoulos have been CAC-honored as well as female wrestling mag-
azine photographers like Linda Roufa, Kathy Dowd, Ruth Oman and more.
Linda and Stephanie McMahon attended our last ancillary New York CAC where we honored Vince McMahon Sr’s widow Juanita Wynne just prior to her passing in 1998.
Honoree Madusa Micelli’s been an outstanding on-stage, awards night M.C. for us in recent years besides all the records she set in late 80’s thru 1990 All Japan Women besides her accomplishments in the AWA, WCW and WWE. She trained at AJW’s dojo similar to Dynamite Kid & Chris Benoit but lived and worked in Japan longer than any female or male athlete to date.
I worked a year doing publicity for Antonio Inoki’s 1996 World Wrestling Peace Festival and Senator Inoki asked me which Japanese female wrestlers I’d like to honor at that year’s CAC. He didn’t disappoint in bringing with him world class multi AJW champ Chigusa Nagoya (also of the famous Crush Girls championship team) and Devil Masami who got a huge pop from perhaps our biggest, best CAC ever prior to the Vegas move, where we’ve only continued growing. And having far more female members from every facet of the business than ever.
Heeding the words of the official Advice from referees James Beard, Kevin Jefferies & Curtis Barnum
An experienced referee can almost go unnoticed in the midst of the incredible action in the ring. When two master performers hold the attention and the motion of a capacity crowd, wrestling’s “third man” may be seemingly invisible. But for wrestlers, the effectiveness of a great referee in telling a story between the ropes can’t be understated.
Among the ranks of our membership, we are blessed to have some of the sport’s greatest officials of all time as well as some who are emerging in their trade. So we convened a panel of referees reflecting more than 80 years of combined experience to ask them for their best advice for those who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
For this, we brought together 2016 Referee Award winner James Beard, 2023 Referee Award winner Kevin Jefferies and seven year pro Curtis Barnum and we remembered our first day of wrestling camp - ears open, mouth shut. Boy are we glad we did.
“I see a lot of young referees ‘oversell’ things in the ring”, says James. “The expressions and body language you use must look natural and fit with
whatever you are trying to sell without being over the top. I tell wrestlers ‘work like it’s a shoot’. I take it seriously. That’s how I’m going to respond to them and that’s how I want them to respond to me.”
“I find that today’s officials try to be in front of the camera and want to put themselves over way too much”, says Kevin. “[Wrestling] is about the wrestlers and not the referee. In all the years I have been doing this I have always tried to stay away from the
camera and give the spotlight to the wrestlers. After all, that is who the fans are paying to see - not us.”
“Attend training as intensely as a wrestler so that you learn the psychology to best understand how to be in the best place at the right time”, says Curtis. “I encourage referees to take bumps and learn some basic wrestling so they understand what wrestlers experience and it can help you identify a potential injury when it occurs..”
“Developing or enhancing your instincts is important”, adds James. “It is important to understand timing in regard to moves and holds and have a grasp on the proper pacing of a match. Know how to do your job is not enough - knowing when to do it is just as important.”
“Officials need to be able to work with the wrestlers”, says Kevin. “Though I don’t see this is much with today’s generation. Many wrestlers don’t know how to utilize a referee to the best of their ability to get the crowd going and to get themselves over. If you know how and when to use them to your advantage, they can be a huge asset to your match and the response
that you generate on that evening.”
“A referee’s credibility must always remain intact”, Curtis reminds us. “There may be some variations in the rulebook from company to company so make sure that you are aware of what is locally recognized. Enforce the rules and be assertive in your duties. Don’t allow yourself to get buried.”
“Appearing to be meek or a weak rule enforcer does not help to enhance the match nor get the wrestlers over”, says James. “All this does is make you look foolish. If you allow things to slide it makes you look like a fool and the fans get mad at YOU - taking the heat off of the wrestlers and putting it on the referee. If the bookers and wrestlers don’t allow you to be a strong and consistent rule enforcer, they are allowing the heat from the match to slip from where it belongs -- and what the promoter is paying for.”
“Your credibility starts by dressing the part”, Kevin advises. “Black pants, black socks, black sneakers and a black and white referee shirt or the official referee shirt for that promotion. You have to look professional for the audience to recognize you as an authority. And my personal pet peeve is referee’s wearing a watch in the ring. Promoters have an announcer to relay time cues, but with experience it becomes pretty easy to figure out when five, ten or fifteen minutes have elapsed in the ring.”
“The more time that you spend between the ropes, the better sense of time you will develop”, says Curtis. “If
you don’t have a timekeeper to rely on, or there isn’t a big clock on the wall in the venue, it often falls to the referee to ensure that the matches run on time, so training yourself to accurately measure time is a value skill to have in your career.”
“There’s an old saying some of the guys who knew the difference used to repeat when talking about a good referee” confides James. “It takes three of us to do it right. Anyone who’s ever made a living in pro wrestling should understand it takes the combined efforts and cooperation of all those who work inside the squared circle to create the most compelling and exciting matches. If you leave any part of it out, you are not getting what a pro wrestling match was designed to give to those watching.”
“Referees taking bumps in the ring today has become an increasingly
common thing”, notices Kevin. “This is wrong. There has to be a reason for it to happen. And, when a referee takes a bump, it shouldn’t appear as crisp and smooth as what the wrestlers do. The intention is to shock the audience - so when it’s right to take that bump, the crowd should be horrified for that referee.”
“Wrestlers remember, If your shoulders are down for a full three, your referee has gotta count it”, Curtis urges. “Nothing stinks worse that a fumbled three count where a referee has delayed because the pinfall before him is not the finish. It’s on you to kick out.”
We would like to thank our panel for sharing with us their experience and insights on officiating for professional wrestling. There are a lot of great tips here for aspiring referees among our membership.
First Time at the CAC Reunion - “The Vixen” Jade
Jillian Hagen and husband Nick Szalanski at the 2023 CAC Reunion at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas.
Often, when you ask active wrestlers if they have considered attending the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion, they will respond by saying that they don’t believe they have reached a level of achievement that would warrant their inclusion in the club. They are often surprised to learn how inclusive the club is - welcoming veterans, rising stars, and people who have fulfilled a variety of roles on camera and behind the scenes in the sport.
Truly, the future of the club requires that we welcome emerging and active wrestlers from the independents and the major companies to get involved. In 2023, among the first timers to attend the annual reunion was Vernon, British Columbia’s Jillian Hagen, best known in the ring as “The Vixen” Jade.
Active across western Canada and with one tour of Japan on her resume, Jillian has been wrestling since 2018 and is among one of the most popular attractions on the Thrash Wrestling roster. Along with her mentor and tag
team partner, Riea Von Slasher, the “Von Vixens” have carved our an impressive record as a tag team duo. “I still consider myself to be green in
the sport of wrestling, but I felt warmly welcomed and valued there,” says Jillian of her first CAC reunion experience. “Everyone was super kind to me and made me feel like I belonged there which meant a lot to me as I had never attended before or met the majority of the people in the club.”
“At the meet and greet by the pool, I talked with a few guys that had worked for the WWE and they were super nice and took the time to chat with me. Some even came up to me at the banquet dinner and remembered me and continued our conversations.”
“I enjoyed the sessions in the Learning Series, especially the panel that spoke about the history of my own home territory - the Pacific Northwest.”
“My favourite part was watching Riea get recognized by the club and the industry for her career. I was bawling my eyes out. I was so incredibly happy for her.”
“The whole reunion was an amazing experience and I will definitely be returning in the future!”
“The Vixen” Jade in action against TNA’s Jody Threat.
In Canada, all roads lead to Wrestling Academy
Wes Barker
Across Canada, the excitement is building for the third annual Wrestling Academy/Lutte Academy tournament which will take over Montreal this fall.
The competition, which will pit 20 men and 14 women against one another for four cash prizes of $10,000 has attracted a national slate of competitors, a number of Cauliflower Alley Club members among them.
The tournament was created by Jacques Rougeau, former WWE World tag team and Inter-Continental champion and has grown each year with larger cash prizes and additional bonuses for the winners of the competition. Previous winners include Jeremy Prophet, Jessika Black, Shaun Moore, Kat Von Heez and more who fans may recognize from television appearances on AEW programming in recent months.
In January, it was announced that in addition to the cash prizes up for grabs, the four winners of the 2024 tournament will win a scholarship to train at Bandido’s Gym in Mexico City for one week and complete their Mexican stay with a match for World Big Lucha.
The Rougeau family, of course are no strangers to developing talent. Four
Rylie Rose
generations of Rougeau wrestlers have stepped through the ropes since 1946. Jacques himself operated a wrestling school years ago which produced talent including current WWE headliner, Kevin Owens.
Among those competing in this year’s competition include 2023 Independent Wrestling honoree, Riea Von Slasher, 2013 Rising Star Award winner Bobby Sharp, and two first year members of the club - “The Prospector” Wes Barker and “Relentless” Rylie Rose. Also signed to appear in this year’s tournament is veteran, Vance Nevada, who continues to maintain one of the most aggressive ring
schedules across the country.
Barker, who is now just a year into his wrestling journey began his training with TNA wrestling’s “Champagne” Singh in Calgary and as we got to press is currently furthering his wrestling education training with Booker T in Texas.
“This national tournament is a huge opportunity for me”, says Barker. “Sure, to take home one of the $10,000 prizes would be great, but even the opportunity to seize exposure on a national level against a field that represents some of the best in the country could open up many doors for me in the coming year. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for this opportunity at this stage in my career.”
Drawing on support from generous sponsors and collaborating with his partner Nathalie, Jacques had to select the entrants for this year’s competition from a field of 53 applications.
“The response from the wrestling community has been amazing and the selections were really tough”, says Jacques. “It’s a lot of work to produce a tournament like this but I am excited to see what the competitors bring to the table and may the best men and women win.”
Riea Von Slasher
Bobby Sharp
Bill Howard (Howard Newell), October 7 (Age 78)
El Loco D. Clown (Winston Jordan), October 8 (Age 45)
Randy Johnston, October 12 (Age 67)
Rob Rage (Rob Thomson), November 4 (Age 45)
Absolute Andy (Andreas Ullman), November 23 (Age 40)
Dropkick Murphy (Mike Willis), December 3 (Age 40)
Jim Breaks, December 25 (Age 83)
Killer Khan (Masashi Ozawa), December 29 (Age 76)
Francisco Ciatso, January 20 (Age 48)
Mongolian Mauler (Peter Miller), January 22
Ice Train (Harold Hogue), January 23 (Age 56)
Dario Romero, January 31 (Age 83)
Ian “Bully Boy” Muir, February 5 (Age 81)
Asashi, February 5 (Age 21)
Chris Markoff (Risto Zelevarov), Feb 10 (Age 85)
Anthony Gaines (Anthony Nicometi), Feb 24 (Age 30)
Ole Anderson (Al Rogowski), Feb 26 (Age 81)
Virgil (Michael Jones), Feb 28 (Age 72)
Paul “Butcher” Vachon, Mar 1 (Age 86)
Cauliflower Alley Club Membership
UNITED STATES: $36.19 (USD) CANADA/MEXICO: $36.19 (USD)
OVERSEAS: $46.39 (USD)
UNITED
$408.45 (USD)
$459.45 (USD)
$561.44 (USD)
2024 CAC Reunion Tickets
REUNION TICKETS: $159.39 (USD) PER PERSON
INCLUDES:
3-DAY ADMISSION TO HOSPITALITY ROOM & SEMINARS ENTRY TO THE TUESDAY NIGHT “BOCKWINKEL BLOWOUT” ENTRY TO THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT BANQUET
NOTE: HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IS NOT INCLUDED IN TICKET PRICING
