I never met the man, but it seemed to me like Billy believed all that what was said about him, because in the mid 1980's he decided that being a wrestler was not good enough, and that he would become a businessman and a wrestling promoter. Around 1988 Billy opened his own gym as well as his own wrestling promotion. To his credit Billy brought in some good talent, Ray Candy, Johnny Ace, JT Southern, Mike Kirchner form around the country as well as proven locals like Mike Miller and Rip Oliver. Oliver at the time was a major coup because since Buddy Rose had departed he had been the number one heel in the promotion for several years. Billy's promotion was an epic failure. He brought in guys and probably overpaid them and when the attendance was not there the promotion spun down in flames, and his gym went under as well.

Billy dropped out of sight for a while. But he returned to Don Owen and showed up on TV and put Carl Styles over as the 'true master' of the Full Nelson. He apologized to the fans, to his dad and to Don Owen for his past transgressions. His dad may have forgiven him, but when he returned to the ring for the promotion it was obvious the fans did not, and the cheers, while still there were nowhere near as thunderous as they had been. Owen who hung on as long as any region was smart enough to smell the change in the air and turned Billy Jack heel.

For what it is worth, I thought Billy was more entertaining as a heel then he ever was as a face. His promos were filled with disdain for the lazy, local fans who MADE his gym go bankrupt as well as his pure anger and hatred for promoter Don Owen who he was not shy about grabbing in the Crow's Nest, these interviews were probably more of a shoot in terms of emotion then we knew at the time. How entertaining was Billy as a heel, well, he made a feud with Demolition Crush, Brian Adams, no offense to him, I just never cared for his work, hold my interest and look forward to their matches and interviews. When the TV show left the air in December of 1991, Billy was the most hated man in the Northwest, but, he was still putting butts in seats, Billy always was able to put butts in seat in the Northwest. 

Billy gave plenty of memories to the NW fans, but in hindsight his is a sad story of what could have been for a man who had it all, but wanted more.

NEXT MONTH:

The aura of the Portland Sports Arena