CAC Sellout

During the 13 years I was in the profession of wrestling, I always enjoyed sellouts. They represented an achievement or goal that I set upon every time I got in front of a microphone. I tried every avenue to make fans so mad at me that they would pay their hard-earned dollars to see me get mine from whomever the opponent was facing us.

For the most part, I was very successful in most attempts at these endeavors and occasionally had trouble getting into the buildings that we were booked in.

I remember once in Topeka, Kansas; I had been on KTSB, and it was hours before the scheduled boxing match with Angus facing Danny Littlebear in a 10 round battle. I was on Ron Doole's program, "Dialing for Dollars," and being as cantankerous as I ever was. The switchboard lit up at the studios from angered viewers complaining about the words I had spewed forth about Danny Littlebear and Indians in general.

That evening, I had to be brought to the arena in a police cruiser and given a eight-man escort into the building, as riot-minded fans, mostly native Americans, as they called themselves, pushed diligently at the officers guarding me to get a poke at me and make me take back what I had said on television.

Friday and Saturday of this week will be another sellout of records that I am happy to be a part of. The CAC at the Riviera in Las Vegas will be the site of the largest reunions that there has been a record of in Las Vegas. Tables will be filled to capacity with the maximum the room can hold. It will give me a chance to once again rub elbows with and shake hands with people I was involved with in wrestling and hug all the girls. It will give me time to take more pictures and hear stories from the past that have been an ongoing part of our days on the roads of life. It will give me a chance to see friends that I have not seen in many years.

Names that read like a who's who will be attending this great event, like...

Harley Race, whom I managed in Kansas City with tag partner Black Angus. Dusty Rhodes, The American Dream. Penny Banner, former Women's Champion and a real LADY. Stu Hart, the man that made the Calgary Dungeon famous. Lou Thesz, many times NWA Champion. Pampero Firpo, the Wild Man from Argentina. Bruce and Ross Hart, wrestlers and promoters.

Juan Hernandez, Mr. Karate, who will be getting an award for his involvement in Martial Arts and wrestling. Bruce Swayze, a fantastic light heavyweight. Irish Paddy Barrett, a star of my youth. Jimmy Valiant, The Boogie Woogie Man. Sir Oliver Humperdink, Manager Elite. Larry Hennig, The AX from Minnesota. Tiger Conway Sr. and Jr., a fantastic father and son combination.

Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods and his wife, Tyger. Wahoo McDaniel, famous for two sports. Nick Ackerman, NCAA Champion. The Destroyer, Dick Beyer, and his wife, Wilma. Danny Hodge, former World's Junior Heavyweight Champion, and his wife, Delores. Rowdy Roddy Piper, wrestler and actor. Chris Benoit, NWA champion. Stan Kowalski "The BIG K," manager and promoter.

Tito Montez, star of the late 60's and 70's. Judy Grable, Women's Champion and barefoot contessa of the ring. Ida Mae Martinez, former Women's Champion of the 50's. The Fabulous Moolah, a quarter-century holder of the Women's Championship. Johnny Mae Young, a star performer from the early days of ladies' wrestling. B. Brian Blair, wrestler and writer. Scott Casey, former wrestler and now in security for a large casino. Angelo Savoldi, another great man from the Golden Age.

Denny "Tarzan " Miller of movie fame will be there. Allen Koss from Cheers will also be in attendance. Red Bastien, wrestler and president of the CAC. Walter "Killer" Kowalski, wrestler, trainer, and book author. Karl Lauer, wrestler and Board Director of the CAC. Chris and Tom Drake, Board Members of the CAC. Jason Sanderson, wrestler and promoter. Paul Farber, Chief of Police, wrestler and manager. Dan Palmgren, fan for many years.

If I have missed anyone or have not listed them, it is not out of disrespect to the honor they have put into our great business. I am just getting aged and have a built in excuse for not remembering everything.

Please … if you are in Las Vegas, come over and say hello to me and have your picture taken with me. Smile and I will smile with you...

I will have more on the trip to the Las Vegas CAC soon and also the trip I will be making to Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympics next week.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers