Kansas City

Thursdays were a tradition in Kansas City. You could always get the best wrestling that Gust Karras and Heart of America could book. Top named stars and new arrivals alike were there to get into the biggest battles.

From the days of Orville Brown, Bobby Bruns, Ralph "Wild Red" Berry, Sonny Meyers, Pat O'Connor, Ronnie Etchison, Frank Aultman, and many more too numerous to mention, Kansas City was the hotbed of the wrestling industry.

Almost every top named athlete in the business wanted to be in that ring to compete against the nation's best. They came from all points of the globe to try their skills at being Number One.

I had sent Angus Campbell in from a very cold Alberta to be a part of the festivities. Right away, they started to treat him as an ingrate and were very unkind and downright rude towards Angus. They would shortchange him on payoff money and play pranks on him like putting him in matches with partners like midgets and girls.

He let me know about it after a month, and I told him that Kansas City had better get ready for a rude awakening. I assured him that I would be in Kansas City the following Thursday night and not to worry.

I also had a young man by the name of "Black Jack" Earl Black under contract, and he was being given the same kind of treatment because they did not understand him when he spoke.

I had called Gust Karras at his offices in St. Joseph on Wednesday from Mansfield, Ohio and informed him that the following night I would be in Kansas City. Gust started to spit and sputter on the phone telling me that Angus was doing very well and that there was no need for me to be there.

I got back to Detroit at about 2 a.m. from Mansfield, packed a suitcase, and jumped back in my Cadillac and headed to Kansas City. Arriving at 3 p.m. the following day, I went to the offices of Heart of America Sports in the Hotel Kansas Citian.

All the stooges were there, including Danny Littlebear, The Stomper, Bobby Whitlock, Steve Bolus, and Moody... their referee! I asked to see Mr. Karras and was told that he would be there around 5 p.m. and to take a seat. I, in fact, did not appreciate their cordial invitation and left the building. Angus had checked into the hotel, and I went to see him.

Angus was so happy and elated to see me that he started to cry. He told me of the jokes that had been played on him and the torments trying to get rides to and from the various towns where he was to wrestle in. I stopped him in his tracks and told him that all that was behind him, that I was here now, and I would make sure that he was not treated in that manner anymore.

As we were ready to leave the lounge area, who bumps into me but Les Thornton, the little pugnacious, spoiled rotten, snake in the grass that I thought we had left in Calgary. He let me know in a few short words that I should be more careful where I was walking. He said that it would be best for my health that I get a Seeing Eye dog and a red cane if I couldn't see someone as big as him trying to get through an aisle.

Angus stepped up and told Les that if he didn't get lost, Angus would clean the floor with him, as we had done in Calgary a while back. Hotel security and a couple of other wrestlers that happened to be near soon broke up the conversation that could be heard up on the third floor.

I retired to a hotel room for a short nap of about two hours, and then Angus and I went to the auditorium together. I had forgotten about trying to meet with Gust Karras and work out the difficulties concerning Angus. As I entered the rear door reserved for wrestlers, I was met by a guy that had to be all of six feet eight inches tall and had to weigh at least 300 pounds. He was not going to let me in, but Angus assured him that I was in proper authority to be there.

As we entered our dressing room area, I was amazed to see so many of the greats in wrestling there. Bob Orton Sr. came over and extended his hand in friendship to me and welcomed me to the Big Top. I went to Mr. Karras following a brief talk with Angus.

As usual, Mr. Karras was surrounded by his "YES MEN," and I was at first not allowed to get near him. Security was as tight, and I was not happy about that, as I had been used to a free hand wherever I had been before. Gust did not rise from the huge cushions of the sofa that had NWA in huge letters on the back. He just said, "Welcome to the Midwest, Mr. Friend."

I informed him that Angus was being mistreated, and that I was here to settle that matter, and that I would be at ringside with him from now on. Gust asked if I had a manager's license, and I quickly produced one that I had gotten about ten minutes before our meeting. I also produced a wrestler's license made out in my name, which got a few glances from the "YES MEN" standing nearby.

I asked to see all the contracts that had been drawn up for future opponents of Angus and Earl Black. Gust was very polite and asked his assistant and secretary, Marjorie, to reach into his case where he produced a stack of papers at least five inches thick with future matches on them.

I began to look over the contents when Bill Kersten stuck his head into the room and said that television promos were beginning, and he needed all the guys to come out. I asked to meet with Mr. Karras the following day in St. Joseph to work out all the details. He agreed, and we left for the studios in the rear of the auditorium. Little did I know that Gust was aware of the nasty deeds that had been done to Angus. He seemed to be a gracious host, but he had not told me everything.

To be continued....

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers