02/02/2016
I would like to thank everyone who liked this page, the Brotherhood of the Ring was something I was taught from the first day I was in wrestling school in 1982 till my last day of in-ring work in 2015. These medallions were a symbol of my love for this business and all the brothers and sisters who have ever stepped inside the squared circle. We have all paid the price in our blood, sweat and tears. We have all seen those lonely miles and miles of open road travelling to and from bookings in both small and large venues. We have all heard the cheers and boos from fans in small town America and arenas in big cities. Success didn't come easy to most of us, everyone must pay their dues and I for one wouldn't have it any other way. Learning this business from the ground up, from ring crew to respected hand and for some super stardom. But one thing bonds us all together...we all had the same dream to become a professional wrestler.
Today at 63, I no longer can do what I worked so hard for, today I am a shell of what I once was, the years of bumps, bruises and broken bones have taken their toll. Every morning, I get up at 4:30 am and head to the gym by 6, not to work out to stay strong and toned for the look of a wrestler but for my fading health, my heart which needed surgery last year, my neck that needs surgery soon and my back which absorbed all those bumps which numbered in the thousands, that no longer allows me to stand up straight.
Today, I no longer say..."I am a Wrestler"...because I am not. But I sadly admit I no longer say proudly..."I was a Wrestler", I no longer look forward to being at shows or watching shows (except for New Japan specials). My years in this business were the happiest years of my life and I will never forget the many friends or fans I have met. I believe things have changed and those that came before and blazed the path, upheld the honor and gave their all to the business are from a different time and were taught a different way to wrestle.
I in no way mean this to sound like sour grapes or frustration because I'm no longer relevant in today's business. I accept my position of former worker and the finality of what no longer in the business means. My mentor and friend Ray Classens passed away this year and the torch had been passed again and again and again from our day. We will always be Brothers of the Ring but sometimes Brothers are not the same and the business isn't either... maybe that's a good thing.
