Goodbye, Tony Watts

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise in the most puristic form.

I know. It has been over a year since I updated this column. Since leaving Mississippi I have not been involved in pro wrestling, so I simply quit writing this column. Why write about something I am not involved in and do not keep up with much anymore....

With that said, there is now something I have to say.

I have made mistakes in my life, lots of them. Never, however, have I regretted a mistake more than the one I made a couple of weeks ago while I was in Mississippi. I had planned to take the long way home and go through Southaven and visit an old and dear friend, Tony Watts.

Certain events transpired at home, and I decided I needed to postpone my visit and return home to St. Louis. I decided to wait to visit Tony until I was in Mississippi again in three weeks. I sincerely regret that decision, because Tony passed away a few days later.

Tony was a friend. We made many, many road trips together to various wrestling events in Arkansas, Tennessee, and all over Mississippi. He was quite a character. He always had something funny to say. In wrestling, he was quite a referee, even if he was, at times, the crookedest referee in the business. He always said, "I am gonna call it straight down the middle." His definition of "middle" was different from most people's definition, lol, and I gave him the nickname "Weasel." I always introduced him as Tony "The Weasel" Watts, or "The man whose nose arrives ten minutes before the rest of him, Tony The Weasel Watts." He always had some wise crack to make back at me, and we would argue back and forth all during the show. Fun times.

After his refereeing days, Tony was involved in wrestling as an owner and promoter at XOW wrestling, where he and I actually announced together sometimes. Those were fun times.

So many memories... DWA in Ecru at the fire station, XOW, DCW, JWS, EPW, SGWA, TFW, and the list goes on, and so do the memories.

Tony Watts, you will be missed. I am sorry I did not visit you when I had the chance. I will always regret that decision. Fly high, Tony "The Weasel" Watts. Thank you for being my friend. Rest in peace. And thanks for the memories.

Axeman

Pro Wrestling EGO 11/19 in Jackson, MS

Pro Wrestling EGO
Great Southern 8 tournament
The Hideaway 
5100 I-55 North
Jackson, MS 

DATE: November 19 for the Great Southern 8 tournament.  

On the card:  

Jon Davis vs. Blake Wilder.  

Logan Creed vs. Orion Taylor.  

Jake Parnell vs. El Saiko Gato.  

Kyle Hawk vs. Davey Vega. 

Tickets are $10, $6 children ages 5-10, and free for children under 5.  

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

Bell time is at 7:00 p.m.

Tried N True Pro Wrestling 11/19 in Clarksville, TN

 

 

Tried N True Pro Wrestling  

Wilma Rudolph Event Center 

1190 Cumberland Drive

Clarksville, TN 

 

Date: November 19, 2016  

 

On the card: Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett (w/Karen Jarrett), Samuel Shaw, Crimson, Chris Melendez, Crazzy Steve, Andrew Everett, Madison Rayne, Jayme Jameson, Chelsea Green, Jocephus Brody, Shawn Shultz, Jeremiah Plunkett, The Young Lions (Lex Lee & Kevin Kaufman).  

 

Advance tickets are $25 VIP, $15 general admission and $10 military general admission.  

 

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for VIP and 5:30 for general admission.  

 

Bell time is 7:00 p.m..

The Axeman Speaks November 21, 2015

Picking apples about five weeks ago in Illinois. 

Couldn't get Parker to look at the camera for anything, lol!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise in the most puristic form.

Greetings Axmaniacs! Surprise, gasp, yes, I am updating my column. Give me a break, it has only been three months this time, lol. This column will serve one purpose, and that is to answer emails, texts, and FB inbox messages that have been sitting here way too long.

So here we go....

Jim Bishop writes: Who do you consider to be the top ten wrestling announcers past and present? Well, Jim, you probably know me by now, and since this is my column I will give you who I consider to be the top announcers, but will not necessarily limit it to ten names. Also I am including a couple of the greatest ring announcers I have ever seen: Gordon Solie, Jim Ross, Bill Mercer, Dick Lane, Lance Russell, Dave Brown, Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, Boyd Pierce, Howard Finkel, Gene Oakerlund, and Mike Tenay. That's more than ten, but oh well....

Janet Bishop writes: Do you think a match between Alundra Blayze and Paige will ever take place? Janet, are you related to Jim? Anyway, I would love to see it. I have always thought Alundra Blayze (Madusa, as I prefer to call her) has one more run left in her. But let's be realistic. We are talking about a WWE run, and since it is WWE, I must say no. WWE has their own agenda, and they continue to dictate what we will like without regard to what we would like. So no matter what we think, if it is not on WWE's radar, forget it. And it's not. What I really would like to see is Paige vs. a mystery opponent at Wrestlemania, and that mystery opponent turn out to be Madusa. And I would love to see Paige get her arrogant, gothic little butt whipped. But don't get your hopes up.

GeneInNewAlbany writes: OK, Axeman, give me the names of several former WWE Divas you would like to see return to WWE. This is an easy one! Trish Stratus, Mickie James, Molly Holly, Gail Kim, AJ Lee, & Maryse.

Tom Vinson writes: What ever happened to Buggy Nova? (Or have you ever even heard of her)?
Buggy Nova, now that is a name I have not heard in a while. After her brief stint with WWE in NXT, it is my understanding she went back to the west coast and is now wrestling in several of the indie organizations out there. I have been told she also turns up occasionally in the Cincinnati area. So she is still around.

Tom also writes: Is Su Yung still wrestling? Yes, her name turns up occasionally on cards around the country, namely Shine Wrestling and Battling Bombshells. I have not seen her name anywhere else, but I am sure she is wrestling elsewhere also.

Brenda Allison writes: What is the best lady custom wrestling company out there right now? That's easy. Ultimate Women's Wrestling, otherwise known as UWW. You can find 'em on Facebook.
The company is run with the utmost professionalism. You will like doing business with them.

John Todd writes (among other questions which I am not going to answer): Which current women in WWE is WWE not using correctly, in your opinion. Actually, WWE is doing better with Divas than they ever have. One mistake they made is signing sarah Stock to a contract to teach in NXT but not utilizing her, at least part of the time, on RAW or Smackdown. She is a tremendous talent which they are wasting. Now don't get me wrong, she will be an outstanding instructor in NXT, no doubt about that. But she also has much to contribute and would be a valuable addition to the Divas roster. Another female personality WWE did not use correctly is Lana. Everyone wanted to see Lana vs. Summer Rae, but WWE had other plans. Now their chance to use Lana is all but gone. They will put her back with Rusev, but we have seen that before.

While I am on my soap box, there are two members of the Divas roster that need to go, at least for a while. Now, most will probably not agree with me, but Brie and Nikki Bella have had their run and done all they can do in WWE. It is time for them to move on. They should bow out soon, while they are still on top.

Sasha Yumaguchi writes: Whatever happened to Hollywood Jim Creasy? Sorry, I never heard of him. I know of a former promoter named Steve Creasy. I know, of course of Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock. And I know of Jim Casey, who has been a wrestling manager for many years, and still manages occasionally. But I know of no Jim Creasy.

MiguelinLouisiana writes: Who do you feel were/are the top announce teams in wrestling? Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan were great, as were Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross. Lance Russell and Dave Brown were, in my opinion, the best of the best.

Ashley Montgomery writes: Why do you no longer do an end of the year "best of" column? I simply do not get around to shows like I once did. There was a time I was announcing three or four times a week, and when I was not announcing I was traveling around the mid-south going to see various shows. Several years ago my work schedule got in the way, and I found myself announcing once a week and not able to see many shows. Now that I have moved to Missouri, I see little wrestling. I am no longer on top of things like I once was.

And finally, TheBEASTfromthe EAST writes: Who is the best wrestler, in your opinion, in the Mid-South area at this time? Look, I have been gone from wrestling in the Mid-South for months. From what I have seen and heard, however, Dustin Starr gets my vote. Maria gets my vote for manager/valet also. The Power Couple is the best thing going in the area, from where I sit.

That's all for now, my friends. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any comments or feedback, good or bad, email me at axemanchopchop@yahoo.com.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks 8-10-2015

My grandkids having fun Saturday. I am so blessed!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise in the most puristic form.

Greetings Axmaniacs! This column will address one thing that has been on my mind lately. So... Let's talk about Lana!

We all remember when Lana debuted in WWE as the manager/valet for the evil Rusev. But shortly after that, fans started to cheer for her. Much of it (about 99%) was due to the fact that she is drop dead gorgeous, plus the fact she also has a great deal of charisma.

Then WWE, in all their infinite wisdom, came up with an idea. They split up Rusev and Lana. They paired Lana up with Dolph Ziggler, of all people. That entire angle was stupid, to say the least. Anyway, WWE was reportedly positioning the beautiful Lana for a big push. Now, however, it appears that WWE may have dropped that idea in favor of giving Eva Marie the big push. Lana's push will reportedly be scaled back.

Really? REALLY?! To that I say BULLSHIT! This is the most mind blowing, stupid, ridiculous thing WWE has ever done. Eva Marie is a joke. She can't wrestle her way out of an Alabama mud puddle! The girl can't work. She has very little, if any, charisma. So the powers that be in WWE reportedly believe they should give her a push instead of Lana. Unbelievable!

Think about it. In my last column I mentioned WWE really improving and strengthening the Divas Division with Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks all called up to the main roster. The Divas division looks great! It is enjoyable to watch ladies wrestle in WWE again. Then you have Naomi, Tamina, and The Bella Twins and a couple of others - now the Divas Division has so much to offer, so much talent (I do wish AJ Lee was still around to be a part of what is going on). Then there is Eva Marie. Does Eva Marie have the talent that the aforementioned ladies have? NO! Eva Marie does not even belong in the ring with them. Not yet. Maybe never.

Can Lana wrestle? I don't really know, I will admit that. I suspect she can. However, it is obvious the fans want to see Lana. They want to see Lana in the ring. I don't ever remember anyone in any WWE crowd chanting, "We want Eva Marie." But every week it is, "We want Lana!" WWE, however, does not appear to be listening. That is a shame. However, it is not the first time WWE has killed off something the fans wanted in favor of something or someone who WWE wants the fans to want.

So, all you Lana fans out there, and I am one of them, enjoy the small amount of camera time Lana will be getting when she comes out and beats up what's her name... You know, Rusev's new stooge, I think they call her Summer Rae or something like that, who also has no talent or charisma.

Some say maybe WWE will go ahead and give Lana the push in an angle with Summer Rae. The two seem to have a catfight every week. Frankly, I hope so! Maybe Lana will eventually get that big push. However, we must remember, it is WWE.

We will just have to wait and see what WWE has planned. I hope the folks at WWE use their brains.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks 7-27-2015

One of those rare occasions when all the grand kids are together in one place. I am blessed!


The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise in the most puristic form.

Greetings, Axmaniacs! I have several topics to address today, but first I will answer an email. Suzy from Selmer, TN, writes: "Axeman, I thought we had this straightened out years ago. However, you are again using the word 'puristic' in your opening paragraph. I told you before, that is not a word. Really, Axeman, you need to stop trying to invent words and just stick to the English language." OK, Suzy, I don't know who appointed you to be in charge of what words I use, but I will have you know that the word puristic is in fact included in Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. So please find another hobby. You do not know as much as you think you know.

Now, on to other things....

Hulk Hogan, you been a baaaaaaaad boy! It has come to light that Hulkster used the "N" word at some point in the past. It was a stupid thing for Hogan to do. He should be smarter than that. It was not the first time a wrestler has said something stupid, and it won't be the last. What Hogan said was wrong, and he knows it.

When the comments came to light, in a classic example of WWE over-kill, WWE fired him and erased any and all references to Hogan from the WWE website. They even removed his name from the WWE Hall of Fame.

Are the powers that be in the WWE trying to make an example of Hogan? They should look a lot closer to the top of the WWE totem pole to find someone to make an example of... Like, maybe, Vince himself! Yes, Vinnie Mac is also guilty of dropping the "N" bomb. Don't believe me? Check this out:
https://www.facebook.com/WWFOldSchoolWrestling/videos/882775638474855/?fref=nf

Shock! Gasp! He said it! He really said it! Yes he did, but he is still employed by WWE. Why, you might ask? Vinnie Mac is still there because he is the boss, the top dawg, the big cigar.

When WWE fired Hogan, they issued the following statement: "WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."

When the footage of the boss using the "N" word surfaced, what did WWE do? Nothing of any substance. WWE supposedly issued a statement saying the skit in which the "N" word was used was "an outlandish and satirical skit involving fictional characters, similar to that of many scripted television shows and movies."

Hmmm.... So, Hogan used the "N" word several years ago in a situation that did not even, as far as I can tell, involve WWE, and WWE fired him for it. Vince, the head man at WWE, used the "N" word in a WWE skit during a WWE broadcast, and WWE issues a weak, pathetic little statement trying to do damage control.

Does anyone see a double standard here?

WWE has, for years, not been shy about crossing racial boundaries and creating controversy. Now, suddenly, WWE decides to do an about face. Hmmm... Given WWE's history of crossing the line with reference to racism, their actions with regard to Hogan seem strange.

Now, I am not in any way in favor of using the "N" word or any other racial slur. No organization should allow the use of racial slurs. When someone violates the policy, the situation should be dealt with. Period. The policy and the punishment should apply equally to everyone from the top down.

While Hogan's words were very wrong and cannot be defended, his ejection from the WWE Hall of Fame is not warranted. No matter what stupid remark he may have made on some two bit tape in the past, his contribution to wrestling, and specifically to the success of WWE, cannot and must not be ignored. WWE cannot re-write its history.

One of two things should happen: Either WWE should reinstate Hogan and add his name back to the WWE Hall of Fame... OR... Vinnie Mac should resign immediately or be fired from WWE, and any and all references to him should be deleted from the WWE website. The same should apply to any other WWE star, past or present, who has crossed the line. To fire one and not the other for the same no-no is an injustice, and WWE knows it. For that matter, everyone else knows it, too.

On to another topic:

Speaking of WWE, they have managed to do something right! They have kicked up their Divas division about ten notches with the addition of the ladies from NXT. Now, I really hope this is a sign that WWE is finally going to take ladies wrestling seriously instead of just using the Divas as eye candy and involving them in gimmick matches that are just plain stupid. These ladies from NXT, as well as a number of the Divas, can actually work, and WWE would be wise to realize that and proceed accordingly. In fact, WWE would be wise to drop the term "Divas" and maybe use the term "Female Wrestlers."

Moving on:

Who would have thought Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling and TNA, the company he helped start and the company that gave him the royal shaft, would be working together on anything? Well, it is not really as much of a surprise as one might think. Jarrett still, as far as I know, owns a chunk of TNA. He stands to lose some money if TNA goes under, which they are dangerously close to doing. Jarrett being involved with TNA again can only help TNA as they try to climb out of the huge hole they have dug for themselves. On the other hand, GFW is about to take off and enjoy lots of success, and a working relationship with TNA gives them access to the TNA talent roster, which can only help GFW. It is a win-win situation.

Moving on:

I have been keeping up with the various promotions in the Mid-South area. I am happy to see all of them doing well. I want to wish EPW well in their upcoming event, "AIWF Showcase." This should be an awesome event, and you should plan to see it if at all possible. I wish I could be there.

That's all for now, my friends. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any comments or feedback, good or bad, email me at axemanchopchop@yahoo.com.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks, June 11, 2015: The many faces of The American Dream

I was actually working on another column when I looked at a post on Facebook about the death of one of the all time greats in pro wrestling, Dusty Rhodes. So that column is on hold so I can write this one.

By now it is no secret that Dusty Rhodes has passed away. Numerous tributes have been written, so I am not going to be repetitive. Here are a few personal thoughts and memories of Dusty Rhodes.

Years ago, when I was just a kid, Dusty Rhodes passed through Fritz Von Erich's Big Time Wrestling, which was the forerunner to World Class Wrestling. The first time I remember seeing Dusty Rhodes was on the old, black & white TV in our kitchen. He had just arrived on the scene and was on the TV running his mouth, when Fritz walked up and said, "Welcome to Texas, Dirty Dusty Rhodes." Well, Rhodes did not appreciate being called "Dirty" and that one little incident with Fritz escalated into a classic feud. After that I must have watched Dusty Rhodes a hundred times in numerous organizations, and every time I saw him I was entertained. Whether you loved him or hated him, he ALWAYS entertained. He always delivered the right thing at just the right time.

Many years ago I received an email asking me to describe Dusty Rhodes in 10 words or less. Here was my response: Charismatic, colorful, legend, genius, creative, leader, respected, mentor, teacher, great.

We'll leave it at that.

Thank you Dusty Rhodes, for all you did for wrestling. You will be missed. Thanks for the memories.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks 5-14-2014

This is what I plan on doing a lot more of in the future, spending time with my kids and
grandkids. God has been verrrrry good to this old man!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise in the most puristic form. (Does that bring back memories? lol...)

Greetings, my friends! I know I said I would write two more columns before I left Mississippi, but I changed my mind. It is all here in one column. This is the last column I will write from Mississippi. In about 8 hours I will be on my way to Missouri, to a new chapter in my life. 

I want to say thank you to all my friends who attended the going away dinner Jimmy and Tia arranged for me at O'Charley's a few days ago. I had a blast! A big thanks to Jimmy, Tia, and anyone else who had a part in arranging it! It really meant a lot. I will never forget it. Thank you, Tia, for the photos.

Also I want to thank my fellow writers at Wrestling News Center and everyone else who posted on WNC and on FB saying all those nice things about me. You have no idea how much all of those kind words mean to this old man.

Also, a very big thank you to Edith Poole and all the crew at EPW for a very memorable night this past Saturday night. Not only was it an outstanding show from beginning to end, I got to shave the head of an individual who has been a thorn in my side for over 10 years, Dustin Burcham. Dustin just thought he could outsmart Axeman lol.... The dinner they had for me after the show was an awesome surprise. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in preparing food and getting all that together. I was very glad my two grandkids from Texas, Isaak and Harley, were able to be in attendance. Isaak attended his first wrestling show when he was three years old at EPW, and was a regular at EPW and other places until they moved to Houston a year ago. Harley had never been to a wrestling show before and she loved it. Once again, congratulations to everyone at EPW on a spectacular show, and again, thanks for letting me be a part of EPW since day 1.

Many people have asked me what my involvement in wrestling will be from this point on. Well, I would like to say that I will continue to announce, but the truth is, there are very few promotions in Missouri, thanks to the ridiculous regulations and fees imposed on wrestling organizations by the Missouri Athletic Commission. They have run almost all the wrestling organizations out of the state. There are one or two groups left, and I will check them out, but truth be told, I am almost certainly retired as far as announcing goes.

I do intend to continue to write for Wrestling News Center on a limited basis, so The Axeman will continue to speak from time to time. Yes, you will have to continue to put up with me in that capacity.

I will also do whatever I can to advertise and promote ladies wrestling in any way I can, no matter where the group is running. I have always been a huge fan of ladies wrestling, and that is not going to change.

Speaking of ladies wrestling, I want to mention an outstanding ladies wrestling organization, UWW in Union City, Tennessee. This is a group that does custom matches, and they do a taping just about every month. This company is off to a good start, and I am sure they will see much success. The reason they will be successful is because the owners, Little Bit and Jason, are doing things right. If you are a fan of ladies wrestling, check out Ultimate Women's Wrestling at their website, www.ultimatewomen'swrestling.com. Order a custom match - you can call the shots and have it the way you want it. You will be glad you did. Tell them Axeman sent you.

Before I go any further, I want to answer one email.  John Todd writes: "What are some of the most memorable wrestling shows you have announced during your career, or maybe I should say, the most enjoyable shows?"

There have been many, but the three that stand out in my mind are the show TFW did several years ago with the stars from Chikara; the WNC Awards Show at UCW in Union City, TN in 2014; and the EPW show this past Saturday night.

OK, now I am gonna talk about some folks!

First of all, I am really glad to see Pure Destruction, Brody and Cody Hawk, are back together and once again standing tall and kicking ass in wrestling in the Mid-South. PD was doing just that back when I got involved in wrestling in this area, and I have missed them. Welcome back! There is no better kick ass tag team anywhere in the Mid-South, in my opinion.

Speaking of tag teams, I must mention HGH, Justin Rhodes and DC. If you had told me a few months ago that these two guys were teaming up, I would have said it would never work. Do not get me wrong, both of these guys are awesome wrestlers, but I would never have thought their two different wrestling styles and personalities would have ever worked as a team. Boy, was I WRONG! These two are fabulous! The chemistry is perfect, they work together very well, and each seems to know exactly what the other is thinking. I have never seen a bad match from this team, and I predict much success for HGH in the future.

Ok, on to Nathan Aulridge. The first match I saw Nathan in several years ago was a disaster. However, Nathan has come a long way since then. His in-ring work is as different now as night and day. He has learned how to cut a darn good promo, too. To make a long story short, Nathan has all the ability, personality, and instinct necessary to go as far in this business as he wants to go. Period.

Another young man I want to mention here is "The Playboy" CT Jordan. It is my understanding he has been involved in wrestling for several years, but I had never seen him work until recently. While he has a long way to go, I am expecting great things from him in the future. It is obvious he has had some very good training. His desire to learn and excel is obvious. He will go far.

I could go on and on talking about various people, but I will stop there.

Right now there are a number of promotions in the Mid-South that are having very good shows. IWF is back. They do a monthly TV taping, and their broadcast airs every Saturday night on WCBI in Tupelo, or you can view the current and all previous shows at www.IWFslam.com. There is UCW in Union City, TN - Very good shows week after week after week. If you are ever in that area, check them out. There is RSWF in Memphis, the 2014 WNC Promotion of the Year, check them out! SGWA in Southaven, great shows every week. EPW in Booneville is on a roll, they are having some awesome wrestling shows, check them out! SPWA in Ramer, TN, every Saturday night, from what I have seen they are a very good group, you won't go wrong there! OWO is another outstanding group in the area. They do not have shows every week, but they do have at least one show a month, and I can assure you, they are good shows. I probably left someone out, but my point is we have a bunch of good wrestling in our area every week. Get out there and support your favorite group, you will be glad you did. Tell 'em Axeman sent you!

That's all for this column. If you have any feedback inbox me on FB, send me a text, email me, or leave a comment here. I will answer back. Thanks for reading!

It's been real, it's been fun, but all things have to come to an end. I appreciate all of you. I hope we meet again some time down the road.

And now, for the last time from Mississippi, The Axeman has spoken. Chop chop!

The Axeman Speaks 5-6-2015

The photo above is my granddaughter, Ella, along with her cat Max. Isn't she beautiful?

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone. However, everyone should always agree with me, because I am the quintessential example of wrestling knowledge and expertise! (Does that bring back memories? lol...)

Greetings Axmaniacs! I have promised to write a column before I leave North Mississippi, but I am going to have to break that promise. I have so much to say that I will have to write two columns. So this is the first of two.

This column will be all about answering emails. actually, I will answer one email that contained a whole bunch of questions. The email is from Nicole Fowler, you know, the Nicole Fowler who used to write and ask me who I think is the top 5 or 10 in a whole bunch of categories. I have not heard from Nicole for several years, but as I always say, I will not attempt to list the top or best, but will list 5 or 10 of the top or best. You know the drill....

Nicole's first question (and I like this question): Axeman, I would like to know, if you could book your dream all ladies card, who are 10 of the ladies you would choose?

OK, this one is easy. Brandi Wine, Malia Hosaka, Lil Bit, Amber O'neal, Crazy Mary Dobson, Su Yung, Barbie Hayden, Melanie Cruise, Great Cheyenne, Aida Marie, and Mackenzie York. Oh wait, I have been told Crazy Mary Dobson is now in WWE training at NXT, so I guess it would have to be Million Dollar Baby. Oh, and I could not possibly leave Nikki Lane off the card. Oh, and I would have to have Mary Elizabeth Monroe on the card. I am sure there are others, but if I had these ladies on my card I would be more than pleased. I know that's more than 10, but these are who I would want. Oh, wait, I would have to include Claudia Del Solis on that card also.

Next question: Who do you think the five most beautiful WWE Divas are who are NOT involved in WWE any longer are?

Five of the most beautiful ex-WWE Divas are: AJ Lee, Maryse, Kelly Kelly, Trish Stratus, Gail Kim. Oh, but we can't leave Madusa off the list. Oh, and there is Molly Holly. So, since this is my column, there are seven of the most beautiful.

Next question: There was a tag team around the area several years ago, two guys who are midgets, I think they called themselves Little Guy Corporation or something like that. Do you know whatever happened to them and if they will ever be back in wrestling in this area?

The team was called Little Guys, Incorporated. I have to be honest, I have no idea where they went or what they are doing now. If anyone knows, please email me or leave a comment at the end of this column. I am curious myself.

I have been told Jerry Lynn won referee of the year. Didn't he win it once before?

No. Jerry Lynn has never won referee of the year. However, Joey Lynn did. He is the only referee to win the award two years in a row, having won in 2013 and 2014. Also, in answer to another of your questions, Joey is in my opinion the best referee in this area. Turtle is a close second.

Next question: Please list all the promotions you have announced for.

I can't. I will try, but I know I will leave some out. Let's see, there was MUWA, TFW, All Pro, DWA, MCWA, JWS, XOW, XWO, OWO, CWA, MLW, IWF (once), DSW, there was one group in Tennessee and one group over in Alabama whose names I cannot remember. I won't list the groups in Oklahoma and Texas I announced for years ago. They are all defunct anyway. Oh, I left out SGWA. Oh, and there was UCW. And years ago there was ASWF back when Aaron Polston was running it. I am sure I left some out.

Next question: Who were your favorite announce partners over the years?

The Mayor Oscar Barlow, Kimble Winstead, Al Hall, Big Dave, Nathan Lee, Gene Jackson, Mama Denise.

What are some of your biggest disappointments in wrestling?

Oh my... TNA, Lacey Von Erich, the demise of TFW, LeeLee quitting wrestling, the demise of DWA, and the demise of DCW.

Next question: You have gotten to rub elbows with a number of wrestling legends over the years. Who are some of them?

Yes, I have been fortunate to have met a number of stars, including Doug Gilbert, Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee, Dusty Rhodes, Mick Foley, Jimmy Valiant, Downtown Bruno, Big Daddy V, Bobby Eaton, Buff Bagwell, Kamala, Don Bass, Molly Holly, Dutch Mantell, Jackie Fargo, and Paul Bearer, just to name a few.

Next question: If you could choose any two female wrestlers to team up an make a tag team out of, who would you choose?

I would choose Aida Marie and Little Bit, and I would call them "The Small Package."

Last question: What are some of your favorite tag teams over the years?

OK let's see... Pure Destruction, The Asylum (Psycho & Wraith), HGH, The Elite, Legion of Doom, Dungeon of Pain, Family of Pain, and The Pink Flamingos.

The Axeman Speaks March 6, 2015

This is one of my favorite photos, one of those rare occasions when we are surrounded by grandkids! It does not happen often, but I am retiring in April and moving to St. Louis, and will be spending a lot more time with some of them!

Greetings, my friends, and SURPRISE! Yes, I am writing a column! I know, it has been months, but I decided to write one tonight because I actually have some free time. No work tonight! Too much ice. so, I decideed to answer some mail. Now, I don't receive nearly as much mail as I once did, and that's because I don't write columns and answer mail much anymore, lol, but I received one today that I do want to answer, so here we go!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

But first, my friends, I need to take time to post this photo of Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock attempting to launch his boat last summer. He just could not figure out why it won't come off the trailer. He also could not figure out why his truck would not start. Folks, I post this as a public service. If he ever does get that boat in the water, he's going to be dangerous. Boaters, beware!

OK, first email I will answer:

Devon Riley writes: "Axeman, I seen you at that show at the Salvation Army and you gave Dustin Star an award. I thought you hated Dustin Star. Whats up with that?"

OK, Devon, let's correct your grammar first. It's I saw, not I seen. Also, I really think you should spell Dustin's name right, it is Starr. First of all, I never hated Dustin Starr. I did have some heat with him at one time, but that was long ago. Yes, D-Rock and I did present him with the 2014 Wrestler of the Year award that night. Didn't mind presenting it at all, I was happy to do it. I wrote a column over a year ago where I buried the hatchet, so to speak, with Dustin. I have no heat with him any more. I congratulate him on winning that award. I believe he deserves it. Dustin has come a long way since the time when I had heat with him. Life is too short to hold grudges and have heat with people.

I cannot miss this opportunity to congratulate Miss Maria on being voted Valet of the Year for 2014. I was honored to present her with her award as well. Now, I have to say it should be against the rules for a lady to be as beautiful as she is, lol. She is a great valet.

Dustin "Five" Starr and Miss Maria, known in wrestling as "The Power Couple," have risen very quickly to the top in wrestling in the Mid-South, and they will be on top for as long as they want to be, you can count on that.

Nicole Fowler writes: "Who do you think the best three or four lady wrestlers in indy wrestling are?"

Well, Nicole, you obviously do not know me very well, because if you did you would know that I don't like to say who the best are, because there are so many good wrestlers out there. So I will say that the following ladies are AMONG the best: Malia Hosaka, Brandi Wine, Barbi Hayden, Little Bit, Sarah Stock, Melanie Cruise, Great Cheyenne. I am sure I left someone out who deserves to be on the list.

In another email, Nicole writes: "Who do you consider to be the best WWE Diva?"

That one is easy. The best, and also the most gorgeous WWE Diva, is AJ Lee. Period, enough said, AJ Lee. The best.

Don Todd writes, "What do you think about the WWE Hall of Fame inductees this year?"

Glad you asked!
RIKISHI: Deserves to be there.
THE BUSHWHACKERS: These off the wall guys were on top in WWE and elsewhere for a long time. They deserve to be there, but I must say there are other great tag teams that also are just as deserving, if not more so.
MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE: Should have been there in the Hall of Fame a long time ago. Finally, things have worked out, and I am glad they did. Elizabeth should be inducted with him.
ALUNDRA BLAYZE (MADUSA): It's about time! More than deserving, and I think she needs one more WWE run!
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: Why? WHY?!!

Daniel Bennett writes: "Whatever happened to Su Yung? She was on everyone's card in this area at one time, then Lawler got her into WWE, and then she was released by WWE after she and Lawler split up. She seems to have disappeared. She was so pretty, and she was not a bad wrestler either."

You are right, we don't hear much from Su Yung these days. I was pleased to see her name on the card at the upcoming Shine 25 event in Florida. So she is still around.

And finally, Adenar Nokaboru writes: Whatever happened to that big black wrestler, I think he was called Nino or Neno. He was very good, but he just seemed to drop out of sight."

Yes, he was good. He was very good. And yes, we don't see him very often any more. Neno, Where did you go?  I know you are out there, so listen up, we would like to see you more often on future OWO or EPW or SPWA cards.

 
Speaking of OWO, I finally got to see my first OWO show several weeks ago. In fact, I ended up announcing that night. I also, as mentioned earlier, was at the OWO awards show. Both were very good shows. I am impressed with OWO, and I hope to be able to see other OWO shows in the near future. This is a good group, and I recommend you see their shows if you have the chance.

EPW is on a roll again in Booneville, MS. Every Saturday night EPW is having some great shows, and they are having some big crowds. I announced there a couple of weeks ago for the first time this year, and I really enjoyed it. It was fun. EPW is a great organization, it is fun again, and as always you never know who will show up or what will happen at EPW. Check them out, every Saturday night on Highway 145 South in Booneville, MS.

I also went to Ramer, TN, a few weeks ago to see SPWA. Again, I was impressed with what I saw. These guys put on a great show that night and it was a lot of fun. Great crowd, no bad matches at all that night, a very enjoyable show. Check out the show in Ramer if you are anywhere near there, you will be glad you did.

That's all for this week, my friends. I hope to see you all at a show somewhere in this area before I move in May. Maybe I will even write another column before then, lol.

If you have any feedback, good or bad, email me at axemanchopchop@yahoo.com, or inbox me on fb.

Oh, by the way, I have more to say about the other WNC award winners, which I will save for my next column, if there is one lol....

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks 6-2-2014

 The photo above is my Grand daughter, Harley, taken a few days ago during my trip to St. Louis.
 Isn't she a doll? I am truly blessed!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

Greetings, wrestling fans! Two columns on the same day?! I know, I have not updated in a while, so you get two columns in one day.

This column will address a situation that has recently occurred in indy wrestling in this area that I find absolutely absurd.

It will never cease to amaze me when so called "professional" wrestlers do things that are completely unprofessional. It has been said, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Yet time and time again I have seen some young punk so called "wrestler" do just that. One such "wrestler" calls himself Chris Cade.

I first saw Chris Cade at a TFW show a couple of years ago at Skyline. I only announced a few times for TFW after Wayne sold the company, and I believe it was at TFW's last show in Skyline that some of that bunch of idiots beat the holy hell out of Chris Cade. Totally ridiculous. Totally uncalled for. I walked away from the building that night after the show shaking my head in disbelief.

Not long after that Chris Cade showed up in EPW. He quickly became a fan favorite there, and eventually wore the EPW Championship belt for a while. He seemed to be doing well. He seemed happy to be there. He had gotten a push, held the EPW title for a while, and all seemed good.

Somewhere along the way Chris Cade became dissatisfied, apparently, with the way things were going. He apparently decided to leave EPW for another promotion. That's his choice. Well and good. He could have left the right way. He could have left on good terms, especially considering the way he was done wrong by TFW and treated right by EPW. But instead, Chris Cade decided to burn a bridge with EPW when he actually sent a death threat to the booker at EPW, Kross. Now this was not a face to face threat. This was something that was apparently sent to Kross via a text message. Chris Cade was not man enough or professional enough to say what he wanted to say face to face, he took the chicken way out. By handling things the way he did, Chris showed his true colors.

I am sure some of you have watched the response posted on facebook by Kross. I will not go into that, except to say that I hope Chris Cade can grow a set and accept the challenge issued by Kross. Chris, come get in the ring with Kross and settle things. Of course, you won't do that. At the very least, apologize for your actions. I doubt that will happen either.

I wish you well, Chris Cade, at the promotion in Tennessee where you are currently wrestling. Perhaps, while you are there, you will learn something about professionalism. Perhaps you will learn not to bite the hand that feeds you. Perhaps you will learn not to burn bridges.

I leave you with the following, which I wrote several years ago. Think about it, Chris.

WILL YOU BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS

How will you react today

when something doesn't go your way?

Will you speak kind words to those you meet

while you're walking on the street?

Will you be kind to those close to you today,

or will you angrily push them away?

Will you be angry when mistakes are made,

speaking words that belittle or degrade?

What kind of example do you want to be

to those around you, namely me?

Will you practice what you say you believe,

or will you bite the hand that feeds?

Anger is an awful thing,

it causes sadness, it causes pain.

So, how will you react today

when some little thing doesn't go your way?

You, my friend, are the only one

who determines your reaction when adversity comes.

Will you react with anger, will you yell and shout,

putting me down and cussing me out?

Tonight, friend, when you go to bed

will you go regretting what you have said?

Did your reaction reflect what you say you believe,

or have you once again bitten the hand that feeds?

copyright 2005 by Randy Boyd

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks - June 3, 2014

The photo above is from my recent trip to St Louis. On an outing to Baskin Robbins with my grandkids. Truly, I am blessed.

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

As a public service to all the citizens of North Mississippi, I think it is my civic duty to make you aware of a situation involving Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock. I am sure most people are not aware of this, but Hollywood has recently been BANNED from a local retail establishment.

Here is the letter Hollywood received from the manager at the store. I suggest that, if you encounter Hollywood at any store, you turn and RUN the other way.

Dear Mr. Blaylock:

Over the past six months, you have caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban you from the store. Our complaints against you, Mr. Blaylock, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras. 

1. You took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking. 

2. You set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5- minute intervals. 

3. You made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom. 

4. You walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted in management getting involved causing management to lose time and costing the company money. 

 5. You went to the Service Desk and tried to put two cart loads of do-nuts on lay away. 

6. You moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area. 

7. You set up a tent in the Sporting Goods Department and told the children shoppers they could come in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department - to which twenty children obliged. 

8. When a clerk asked if she could help you, you began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' This resulted in a call to 911 from several shoppers. 

9. You looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while picking your nose. 

10. While looking at guns in the Sporting Goods Department, you asked the clerk where the antidepressants were. This resulted in yet another call to 911. 

11. You darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme. 

12. YOU hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!' 

13. When an announcement came over the PA system, you assumed the fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN! Yet another call to 911.

14. You took a box of condoms to the checkout clerk and asked where the fitting room was. 

And last, but not least: 16. You went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.'

So there you have it, ladies & gentlemen. Now you know. 

The Axeman has spoken. 

The Axeman Speaks 1-6-2014

The photo above is my newest grandchild, Parker. I an so proud of him! I have been blessed way more than I deserve!


The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

Greetings, Axemaniacs, and happy New Year! I hope all of you had a great holiday season. But now it is back to business as usual, and I have something on my mind I would like to address.

This column will cover one incident which occurred Saturday night, 1-4-2014, at EPW in Booneville, MS.

There are professional wrestlers. Then there are wannabe wrestlers. This is a column about a wannabe.

Bonecrusher summed it up on a post on his Facebook page: "When is anyone gona respect this buisness an understand that when the booker of a show tells you to do something an you don't want to do it then get the hell out of the dressing room an leave don't go sit in the audience."

Chico, when you showed up at EPW Saturday night and found out what the booker wanted you to do, you refused to do it. It was not anything difficult or dangerous. It was a simple request. Now, I don't know what you think gives you the authority to disrespect the booker or the organization or the business in general by acting the way you did, but you said no. You were then told to leave the building. Instead of leaving the building, you and your wife decided to sit in the crowd.

At the end of the show Kross called you out and absolutely humiliated you. Any real "wrestler" would never have put himself into the position you put yourself in, but you walked right into it, and you were absolutely humiliated. Frankly, I wish you had jumped the rail and gone into the ring. You would have gotten what you deserved. Oh, you ran your mouth a little, you issued a challenge for the next week, but in the end you tucked your tail between your legs and went home like a whipped puppy.

Later you were on Facebook posting your drivel, trying to be a tough guy, and acting a fool. Kross said he would gladly give you a match this Saturday, any match you want. Frankly, Chico, I hope you accept. I hope you show up at EPW. And I hope Kross has no mercy on you.

So, I guess it all boils down to this: Chico, will you grow a set and show up and be man enough to back up what you say? Or will you stay home and prove to the wrestling world what you really are? We will see Saturday night.

You see, Chico, there are two types of people when it comes to wrestling: Those who belong in the ring and those who do not belong in the ring. You, Chico, do not belong in wrestling. Stay home.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks December 23, 2013

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

Greetings, wrestling fans, and Merry Christmas one and all!

If you are wanting to read a politically correct column, stop here. I assure you that this column is far from politically correct. 

I promised you a Christmas column, so here it is. I must admit, however, that I am having somewhat of a difficult time getting into the Christmas spirit lately! All around us we see all kinds of holiday activities going on... parties, shopping, Santa, sports, and all the hoopla that goes with this time of year. But, where is the real reason we celebrate in the first place?

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "war on Christmas" used at various times by different Christian organizations. Businesses are trying to eliminate all references to Christmas by saying "happy holidays" or "enjoy the winter break." That's sad, my friends. Everyone wants to be politically correct. They do not want to offend anyone by using the word, "Christmas." Well, here's a news flash for ya: I am offended by the elimination of the word, "Christmas."

There is more attention being given to the controversy surrounding Duck Dynasty and the A & E Network that to the reason for the season. How very, very sad!

But there are still some who will celebrate CHRISTmas. Check out this video:

http://stacyontheright.com/2013/12/12/u-a-air-force-christmas-flash-mob-viralvideo/

Apparently, the US Air Force band has no problem with Christmas. I salute them! Or, check this one out. It's not really intended to be a Christmas song, but it was sent to me as a gift by someone very dear to me, and the message is beautiful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_1YliutzA

So many people are missing Christmas! Oh, they won't miss the day, just the reason behind the celebration, Jesus Christ. 

It is easy to get wrapped up in all the celebration and forget why we are celebrating. So, here is a reminder:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." - Isaiah 9:6-7

Please read the first two chapters of the book of Matthew, and the first two chapters of the book of Luke in the Bible if you need any additional reminders as to why we celebrate Christmas. In fact, please read it anyway.

This Christmas, please don't miss Christ. This Christmas, have fun, enjoy being around family and friends, enjoy the food, the festivities, the gifts, but please keep Jesus at the center of it all. We need him now more than ever before.

So, I wish all of you a very happy and peaceful and memorable Christmas. Please be safe, and please include Christ in your celebration.

The Axeman has spoken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTqIBTZix5w

The Axeman Speaks December 16, 2013

The photo above is my granddaughter, Harley, along with her two closest friends, lol... I am blessed waaaaaaaay more than I deserve!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

Greetings, wrestleholics! I know, I still don't update this column often enough. Folks, I have had a rough time lately, with a heart procedure and working 70+ hours a week. Forgive me. Frankly, the day is soon coming when I will walk away from wrestling, including this column, announcing, everything - that is, everything EXCEPT being a fan. I will still show up and be in the crowd. But for now, I am going to keep doing what I am able to do, including WNC, this column, and announcing at EPW as often as possible. Gene Jackson, I have not forgotten I promised you an interview when I walk away. Soon, Gene. Soon.

OK, with that said, I have a couple of things I want to talk about.

First of all, I want to talk about TFW. That's right, I said TFW. I have been told that the TFW owner, and you all know who that is, has returned and is once again running shows at Skyline, just outside Tupelo. I had someone text me several days ago asking if I would be announcing there again. The answer to that question is NO. If, indeed, Lacy is running shows anywhere in this area, I will have nothing to do with it. Period. I wish him no ill will, I hope he is successful. I hope he approaches things much differently this time around. I simply did not like the way he did business before, so I don't want to do business now.

I must say Thank You to the promoter and booker at EPW in Booneville for allowing me to continue being a part of the show, in spite of my erratic schedule and inability to be there about half the time. EPW is a great group. They put on a good show week after week. If you are looking for a place to see a good wrestling show this weekend, check out EPW. It is going to be a wild and crazy night, as it always is at EPW, because you never know just who might show up or what will happen.

I enjoyed having lunch with the writers and staff of Wrestling News Center at our annual Christmas gathering a few days ago. It was good to see everyone again. I was sorry there were several who were unable to make it due to weather conditions north of us. The 2013 WNC Lifetime Achievement Award winner was chosen during this meeting. I am not going to tell you who it is yet, but I will say that the winner is more than deserving of the award.

Christmas is fast approaching. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other day, and he asked if there was anyone in wrestling who I just could not stand. I rattled off three names very quickly. He asked why I have heat with these three individuals, and I told him why. He was quiet for a  minute, then he said something to the effect that life is too short to have grudges. He then said that we should strive to be Christ-like, especially during the Christmas season, but really, always. He said I should mend fences with these three individuals and move on. After a lot of thought, I have concluded he is right. I have contacted two of them and have buried the hatchet. I really do not want any heat with anyone.

However, I do not have any contact information for Dustin Starr. I have been angry with him for a long time over an incident that happened over five years ago. So, it is time to bury the hatchet with Dustin. You are forgiven, Dustin. Period.

I am working on a Christmas column, which I will have up by next weekend. Now, wrap your mind around that, two columns in two weeks.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have any feedback, positive or negative, you may leave a comment at the end of this column, or contact me at axemanchopchop@yahoo.com.

The Axeman Speaks 11-21-2013

The photo above is my wife and I with our newest grandchild, Parker. I am truly blessed.

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

My friend, Downtown Bruno, recently sent in some comments, which were posted here at Wrestling News Center. One of those comments had to do with the fact that I have not been updating this column regularly. He's right, of course, I have not updated like I should. I promise to do better.

Bruno also said the following:
"The web-site is sooo much better without the message board, isnt it? Nobody putting down Vixen and the rest anymore. Shes a nice, intelligent young lady, who did not deserve the constant negativity, period."

First of all, the bathroom wall is finally history, and I agree with Bruno, it is about time! It was nothing but a crapping spot for those who wanted to sling s**t and start trouble.

I also agree with Bruno 100% about Vixen. I have known her and followed her wrestling career for a long time. She IS a very nice person. She IS smart, and the fact is, she's gorgeous, too! She did not deserve all the crap that was posted about her. Our paths still cross once in a while, and it is always good to see her. She's come a long way, and I admire her for the way she handled all that foolishness - with dignity and professionalism. OK, on to other things....

I honestly thought TNA was finished a few weeks ago when rumors began about the company being for sale. Now it appears they might not be for sale, but just might make one more effort to turn tings around. They finally, at long last, have gotten rid of Hogan and Bischoff, and the improvement is already noticeable. Now they need to bring back Jim Cornette and Dutch Mantell, and they just might be able to save the organization. Oh, and they should re-build the Knockouts Division and once again make it a major part of every show. The Knockouts Division is one of the main reasons TNA saw so much success in the pre-Hogan/Bischoff era. Bring back Roxy Leveaux. Bring back Kong. Bring back Mickie James. Bring back Tara. Along with Gail Kim, those girls can get it done!

Jonathan Hopkins recently sent me a text, asking who I thought the best announcer in indy wrestling in the Mid-South is. That is a tough one. I have to say it is probably Al Hall, although he does not announce nearly often enough these days.

Now on a personal note... I am getting old, folks. I have been having some serious issues with my health, and finally had things checked out. I have been told that I have some heart issues that must be dealt with. Therefore I will be having a heart cath done this Friday morning, 11-20, at North Mississippi Medical Center here in Tupelo, to open up some blocked arteries, either with stents or by balloon angioplasty. So I will be out of commission for a few days, but I can assure you I am not finished yet. I will be back.

I wrote this poem over 10 years ago. I have published it before, but here it is again. It pretty much sums things up. I am not finished yet because I'm still having fun.

I CAN'T QUIT NOW!

 

I once thought I was invinceable,

that nothing could ever stop me.

I once thought I was king of the world,

and nobody could ever top me.

I once thought I was immortal,

that I would live forever.

I thought I had it all figured out,

I was bright, and smart, and clever.

And now I find those thoughts of mine

are growing rather cold.

No matter how hard I resist, my friends,

I'm really getting old.

No longer am I invinceable,

I'm smarter than that now.

I will never be king of the world,

I figured that out somehow.

Immortality has eluded me,

there's nothing I can do.

All the things I had figured out,

I mostly figured wrong, too.

When I look back upon my youth,

the mistakes of my past,

It's hard for me to understand

how I made it this far, this fast.

But I'm not finished yet, my friend,

I have more races to run.

No, I can't quit running now,

'cause I'm still havin' fun!

 

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks - July 21, 2013

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

This will be a very short and to the point column, because I don't have time to talk about a variety of topics.

In the State of Missouri there is a group of uninformed, bumbling bureaucrats known as The Missouri Athletic Commission. This group has all but destroyed professional wrestling in the State of Missouri, and they have struck again. This time it was at a TNA house show in Cape Girardeau, MO, when the commission refused to allow half the wrestlers on the card to compete over licensing issues. Fans were given the option of getting a refund or having fan interaction with the TNA stars.

Now, you might be thinking TNA really got screwed up there in Cape Girardeau, but ultimately it was the fans who got the shaft.

One thing must be said, however much you despise the Missouri Athletic Commission... TNA is partly to blame for this disaster. They should have dealt with the Athletic Commission in advance to make sure they were in compliance with Missouri licensing requirements, as ridiculous as those requirements might be.

The Axeman has spoken.

The Axeman Speaks - July 17, 2013

The photo above is my grandson, Wes, the day he graduated from kindergarten. 

I am so proud of him! 

I am unbelievably fortunate and blessed to have six beautiful grandkids!

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine and mine alone.

Greetings, wrestling addicts!

I just returned from vacation in St. Louis, spending time with kids and grandkids, and I have some things on my mind, so here we go!

I found the following posted on Hollywood's message board:
 
 "What has happened to perfect su yung She never wins, she got fired from wwe when she dropped lawler and now she is going no where in life or in the ring...sad that a talent is so wasted now days.....Maybe she needs to return home to Asia for family support and help"

Now this is allegedly posted by Izzy - you know - Izzy, the one who posts stuff and then denies it was him - yeah, that Izzy... Anyway, I don't ever remember Su Yung being perfect. I don't remember her claiming to be perfect. I do remember her working hard and trying to be the best she could be. After Su and WWE parted company, it is my understanding she stayed in Florida and is doing well for herself down there. She was on the card at the Shine anniversary show recently in Ybor City, Florida, and is on the upcoming Battling Bombshells card in Hollywood, Florida, which is a benefit show for Joyce Grable. It is my understanding she is still on the roster at Magnificent Ladies Wrestling. So, Izzy, if you would read the posts on Wrestling News Center, you would know that she is still involved in wrestling and doing fine.

 
I do wish we would see more of Su in this part of the country, but maybe one day. Perhaps it is you, "Izzy," who need to go to Asia - or maybe Mexico - or maybe under a rock somewhere - or a sewer - or the city dump - anywhere where you could not post your useless drivel.

OK, now let's talk about... AUSTIN LANE! Since Austin's retirement from wrestling we don't see or hear much about him on the various wrestling news sites, which I guess is understandable, but I have something to say to Austin, so here it comes:

Austin, as you know I make an occasional short visit to Magnificent Ladies Wrestling tapings from time to time. During one of my visits a couple of months ago I had a chance to see you working with a couple of the young ladies there, advising them, coaching, mentoring, and pushing them to be the best they can be. I was more than impressed. You are a very gifted and talented instructor. While I realize you are "retired" as an active wrestler, your love for wrestling and your desire to help others succeed was very obvious. Frankly, I think this is now your calling as far as wrestling is concerned. I would love to see you running a wrestling school one day. But for now, I hope you will continue to be a teacher, coach, and mentor to those who are coming up, as often as you can, whenever and wherever you happen to be. I don't think you even realize just how gifted and talented you are in that role.

OK - let's talk about TNA for a minute. I believe we are seeing the beginning of the end for TNA as we know it. Their rumored financial problems have been talked about on every wrestling news site in the country. However, that is not what will ultimately do TNA in. The sad fact is that the writing at TNA sucks. The recent releases from TNA are simply more signs that the end is coming. Oh, it may take some time, they will not go down easily, but they will ultimately go down, not kicking and screaming, but whimpering and defeated, like WCW did. That is a real shame. So much potential, most of it wasted because those who ultimately have the final say at TNA still appear to have no clue as to how to run a wrestling organization. Sad.

OK, now I will answer three emails from the same reader. She sends these questions in about every two weeks, so I will answer them now, hoping that she will be satisfied.

Cindy Grasnowski writes: "You have not given a top ten in ladies wrestling in quite some time. Not so much interested in WWE or TNA, but the indy scene."

Sigh... OK, Cindy, I will do this much, I will list the top ten indy lady stars, based on those I have seen. You will have to realize there are hundreds all over the world I have never seen work, but here are ten of my favorites, in no particular order: Portia Perez, Sarah Stock, Claudia del Solis, Amber O'Neal, Melanie Cruise, Barbi Hayden, Brandi Wine, Great Cheyenne, Pandora, April Hunter. OK, I think that's ten, again in no particular order.

Cindy also writes: "Who are some of the most "off the wall" or unusual female wrestlers you have seen?"

Well, those who come to mind... The late Luna Vachon tops the list. Also Daffney, Buggy Nova, Kong, and ODB.

Finally, Cindy writes: You always weasel out of this one, but who are the10 (from one to ten) most gorgeous ladies in wrestling - I will even let you include TNA & WWE, past & present."

Oh geez, here we go again - and again I say NOPE! I will give you ten who I think are gorgeous, but I am not going to rank then from one to ten. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But those who come to mind are: Trish Stratus, Molly Holly, AJ Lee, The Bella Twins, Mickie James, Gail Kim, Taryn Terrell, Kelly Kelly, Maryse, Torrie Wilson. Again, they are in no particular order. Do you feel like I left someone out? I probably did, but you said WWE & TNA past & present were included, so that made it hard to pick just 10.

Finally, Dudley Slyce writes: "Why does EWP still book Bill Dundee? He is as old as dirt." First of all, Dudley, you need to learn some RESPECT. I hope someone teaches it to you real soon. I assume you mean EPW, Dudley. There are three reasons, as I see it, why they book Bill Dundee:
1. He is a living legend in pro wrestling.
2. He knows what he is doing. He has forgotten twice as much as most of these so called indy professionals will ever know.
3. The fans want to see him kick butt. Period.
So, Dudley, that is why Bill "Superstar" Dundee is on the card at EPW as often as EPW can get him. Now, go look up the word respect.

That's all for now. If you have any feedback, positive or negative, you can email it to me at axemanchopchop@yahoo.com - or simply leave a comment on this blog. Thanks for stopping by!

The Axeman has spoken.