Over and over and over.....that's the story of the first few in-ring sessions. Yeah it was just the basics, but I am sure I had my first wresting concussion in those first few sessions, smacking the back of my head on the mat over and over again. Back bumps, front bumps, running the ropes and doing it right repeatedly to en grain in the membrane what you are doing now will protect you all the time.
One of the hardest things for me was to strengthen my neck muscles to be able to tuck my chin on a back bump. Until then it was Excedrin headache #9 every workout from hitting the back of my head on the mat. All my friends know I have a heavy head, so strengthening those neck muscles is a priority.
Oh yeah, the underarm rope burns felt really good too from running the ropes. Hooking the top rope is so important. Why? I'll tell some stories later, but hooking that top rope rope is another safety precaution. Trust me. It's a long way to the floor of the gym if you do it wrong and something happens.
So it's September and about 90 days from the big match in Connersville. I honestly wasn't thinking about that show as much as trying to absorb as much as I could in the training I was doing two days a week. Living 60 miles from the training center was tough and limited my time, so the two days a week were crucial. Another Son's of the Legion got interested in training and made numerous trips with me to Indianapolis. Kellis Allen, known in the ring as Ric Ellis really helped to push me a long.
As the sessions progressed each week, I got to experience a little more each session. We learned more basics like the hip toss, elbow drop, clothesline, leg drop but no punches or chops yet.
Over the three to four months leading up to the big December match I had a chance to train with some really good people. Some of the guys are still brothers to me today. I just wanted to mention some of the cast of characters.
My trainer was "Dangerous Bull" Don Basher. I owe everything I've done in wrestling to that man. Basher wrestled for the WWF in the 80s and was trained himself by "Mr Electricity" Steve Regal, who worked for Dick the Bruiser.
Some of the guys I trained with included the Louks Brothers, Guy and Shawn. Unbelievable talents. "Sexy" Shawn Cook as he is known in the ring has appeared at wrestling events all over the midwest and has worked several times for the WWE when they come to Indianapolis.
Guy, is a true man of character. I have to waiver a second and tell a short tale. We were training one day, and one of the veteran wrestlers, Donnie White came in. Something happened and Donnie yelled out "that looked gay guy lombardo". From that moment on Guy was stuck with the in-ring persona of "Gay" Guy Lombardo. Guy took that character to new heights and was fantastic at portraying him. We'll get into more stories later....
Other fellow trainees included Nate Webb, Spyder. All arms and legs but a great athletic talent. He can be seen with the Half Pint Brawlers now, but Spyder has been all over the country wrestling.
Fred Burton....6-8....350 pounds....took the persona of Kenny Nash, billing himself as Kevin Nash's little brother.
Then there was Ron Burton....The executioner.
and finally MightyMichael Reid. Yes his real first name was MightyMichael--it was on his drivers license that way.
All of us worked hard to learn as much as possible from many of the vets that stopped by. In November, a show was organized in the basement of the church with some of the vets and some of the trainees to showcase some of the new talent in front of a crowd. I didn't take part in the show---It wasn't time yet.
Two things I remember from that show. One was a 3 on 1 Handicap match with Big Red, the wrestling preacher (and minister of the church) taking on three trainees. In the end, Red bodyslammed the three on top of each other and he splashed them all for the win.
The other thing I remember most will stick with me forever and that was the battle royal at the end of the show. Basically it's what we call a chop-fest for the vets to beat on the trainees. I don't remember who all was in the battle royal but half way through, a vet by the name of Drill Sgt Nelson had MightMichael Reid stuck in the corner. Nelson rared back and WHACK! chopped Reid across the chest. It was hard all right....HARD ENOUGH THAT REID PEE'D HIS PANTS right there in the ring. We laughed so hard for days. Sad part, Reid left and never came back.
Now I can's wait....it's a month away, my match in Connersville and my next training session, we start to put things together with The Convict Michal Manson....
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