Celina, Ohio

This past week, former wrestling great of the 1950's-1990's , Luis "Ariba" Martinez, was in Intensive Care at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago. He has regained some of his strength and has returned to the nursing home where he resides now ..... Also, Lord Littlebrook , retired NWA Midget Champion, has taken a turn for the worse, suffering a small stroke a few weeks back. The doctors are optimistic and ask that we keep both these wrestling greats in our prayers--Percival

I was asked by the board of directors of Midwest Championship Wrestling to attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony and wrestling card yesterday. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of functions like this. I meet more and more people who make an impact on my life and make me very proud of the profession I was in 30 years ago.

The day began at 10:30 when Dave Drason Burzynski, former manager of many champions, and Rob Bauer, a wrestling historian, picked me up at my home just outside of Toledo. The trip was one that I had looked forward to for almost two months since getting my invitation to attend.

As the sleek silver Lincoln Continental eased onto I-75 south, I began to recall the many trips I took on this same road to southern Ohio towns like Lima, Dayton and Cincinnati, to name a couple. I began to go into my briefcase and get my notes out to review for the afternoon luncheon and get together.

The miles seemed to speed by, and, soon, we turned off the interstate at Wapakoneta, boyhood home of Neil Armstrong. They also have a space museum dedicated to him. If you are ever in the area, please stop and see the wonderful exhibit to a man that dared the elements and made history happen.

We soon passed the exit for St. Mary's, Ohio, and I thought of my "little friend" Dylan Everage and wondered if he would be attending the event tonight. I wrote about meeting with him about a year ago when attending a similar event for MCW.

It wasn't long before we were at the Chinese buffet, and the afternoon began to unfold. First to arrive were the Flying Tigers (Carl Ben Patrick and Larry Wilson). I met with Dave St. Onge and Woody Lee. I also met Dave Ross, who was the broadcasting voice of Midwest wrestling, and many more, as there were nearly 100 people attending the luncheon.

Following a super meal, we were each asked to introduce ourselves to the crowd and tell a little bit about our lives and what we are doing now. I was asked by Jim Lancaster to give a short speech about the Cauliflower Alley Club and my induction into their Hall of Fame on April 17, 2004. I took a great deal of pride in speaking about its beginning and how it has grown to over 5000 members worldwide. I was given a nice round of applause for my efforts.

Next to take the speaker’s podium was Dave Drason Burzynski, who spoke of the Midwest Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame and what it meant to him as an inductee that day. He spoke of how his dream of being a professional wrestler and manager became a reality through hard work and dedication. He applauded the young lions of today that go to the many various independent functions and perform before local crowds.

We finished up the luncheon by chatting with fans and families before going to the local high school for the evening’s event. Many people came up and just wanted to relate to us in the profession as their friends. I had the opportunity to take some great pictures and will be sharing them in the weeks to come.

Arriving at the high school around 4 p.m., I watched as some of the local guys that would be appearing on the card that evening were stretching and limbering up for their matches. Mike Thobe was one that caught my eye. He literally set the house on fire a couple of hours later. We had a chance to speak for a few moments, and he was kind enough to take some pictures with me.

Jeff Garman and Tim Cox were another couple of local guys from the Celina-St. Henry area that had appeared on cards recently, and they came over to say hello. They were involved in a tag team event later that evening against the Kansas Outlaws.

I then had the distinct pleasure of meeting with Austin Medlar, a grassroots kind of guy that is taking the tri-state area by storm with his ringside actions. As a vociferous, nonstop manager of most of the champions on the card that evening, he reminds me a lot of myself in my earlier years. We spoke for nearly an hour before his twosome of Roughhouse Roger Ruffin and Psycho Sam Cody arrived in their Paddy Wagon just outside the side entrance of the building.

To be continued....

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree