Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives!
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Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives! |
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- Charles Laffere A Hippy Epiphany Before we start this week, I would like to share my thoughts about the passing of two great wrestlers. Stu Hart passed away on October 16, 2003 due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 88. Stu was not only a father of two of the greatest wrestlers of the past 20 years, Bret and Owen Hart, but also one of the greatest—perhaps THE best-- promoters from Canada through his Stampede promotion. Stu Hart was a truly historical figure, as his career bridged the “carny” days of wrestling into the era of sporting competition and showmanship that defined the territories. He transcended the business and became a revered icon in Canada, for in 2001, Hart was awarded the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. I know of no wrestler stateside who has received such comparable acclaim. A Yahoo or Google search will reveal much more information about the life of this great man, as will a swing by the Stampede section here at Kayfabe Memories. My lasting memory of Stu Hart comes from the must-see “Wrestling With Shadows” documentary. During a key passage, we are introduced to the Dungeon, a Spartan basement in the Hart family home that has a wrestling mat and little else. Two aspiring grapplers make the trek downstairs, with one outwardly cocky and somewhat derisive of Stu Hart’s prowess at an advance age. Stu stretches a kid into an almost tearful submission. Bret then relates how the Dungeon would make you decide if you wanted to be a wrestler, because a training session with Stu could seem to be a literal life or death situation. Stu Hart was preceded in death by his wife Helen, as well as his son Owen. He leaves behind 11 children and numerous grandchildren. While the Hart family has known its share of heartache through the past several years, I pray that his relatives may find peace in their time of sorrow. Michael Hegstrand, known to us as Hawk of the Road Warriors and the Legion of Doom, passed away at the age of 45 in Seminole, Florida on October 19, 2003. I really don’t know what to say about the Warriors/LOD other than they, along with the Freebirds, revolutionized tag team wrestling in the 1980s. The duo was exciting and unique the first time I saw them on TBS’ Georgia Wrestling. Their entrance music was perfect. Whenever Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” kicked in, with its monolithic drum thump and its seesaw, buzzed out, fuzzed out power chord echoing, completed by Ozzy Osbourne’s distorted intonation, you knew somebody was in for an ass kicking. Then the Warriors would charge the ring, diving in under the bottom ropes, in all their shining, malevolent glory, complete with face paint, shoulder pads with metal studs, and buzz cuts. Garish? Try telling that to them in the midst of a monsoon of violence. The Warriors were unstoppable in Georgia, the AWA and Jim Crockett Promotions throughout the ‘80s and provided unforgettable matches, along with an indelible image that would be copied by many, including the UWF’s Bladerunners, for the fans who saw them. My condolences to the Hegstrand family during their time of loss… “We are
the champions - my friends “We Are the Champions,” Queen. Yes, you certainly were. But, what of Mike Boyette? At different points in his life, he was a Naval Veteran, a judo champion with enough skill to try out for the U.S. Olympic team, and a consistent main-eventer and title holder in Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling. For his work in the UWF, he has a special place in many of our memories. However, that place isn’t located within a mile or three of the pay window… More...
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