This column is dedicated to the memory of Nelson Royal who was a wrestling legend before the word legend was thrown around with such alarming frequency. When I first read the news, here on KM, I balked. It was either a mistake or some idiot playing a very stupid joke. Sadly, it was neither. Mr. Royal was one of the very best to grace a squared circle, and one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. I guess the Great Booker had some big plans for him. Think of the classic matches he's having against Johnny Valentine and Gene Anderson right now... Nelson, I hope to see you in Heaven someday. God Bless You and Rest in Peace.

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The Great American Bash on tour 1986 was the highlight of the summer. The Rock and Wrestling Connection presented by the WWF had NOTHING on the Country and Wrestling Connection. I was twelve years old at the time and saved up ALL summer to buy two ringside tickets that year in Fayetteville, NC to hear David Allan Coe sing (God, that man was LOUD! ) and see The Bash. In Fayetteville, Ric Flair defeated Robert Gibson, Road Warriors beat the Koloffs, Wahoo beat Jimmy Garvin, America's Team and Baby Doll beat the Midnight Express and Jim Cornette, Jimmy Valiant and Manny Fernandez blasted Barbarian and Shaska Whatley,... as Archie and Edith sang... " Those were the days... "

Jimmy Garvin is now a pilot and the thought scares me. I wouldn't want anyone who thought they could defeat Wahoo McDaniel in an Indian Strap Match to fly me anywhere. Going into the Bashes, Wahoo had NEVER been defeated in an Indian Strap Match and he came out of the bashes the same way. Jimmy Garvin didn't get ONE SINGLE VICTORY over Wahoo that summer.

Ron Garvin and Tully Blanchard in tape fist matches, which were more like boxing matches than wrestling. Blanchard, for those who were keeping track, actually won this series with a mere one KO more than Garvin. (And all the fans of WCW talk about the Armstrong Curse... WHAT ABOUT THE GARVIN CURSE IN 1986, DAMNIT???)