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FAREWELL TO LEGENDS: LIVE REPORT FROM DOTHAN'S TRIBUTE TO BOB ARMSTRONG & JERRY STUBBS

The Gulf Coast-Southeastern-Continental Wrestling Legends Live Tour ’09 presented “Farewell 2 Legends” billed as Dothan’s retirement celebration for Bob Armstrong and Jerry Stubbs.

It was the last of the last – a fitting tribute to a bygone era, a gift to the loyal fans of Dothan and the wrestlers that dominated this territory more than a generation ago.

I don’t usually think of wrestling as gentle, loving or sweet. This show was all of those things. It’s something about the fabric of this place. Dothan was named from Genesis 37:17. “For I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan.” Lots of churches in this town.

Approximately 1000 fans turned out at the Dothan Civic Center to honor pro wrestling’s storied past in the Wiregrass region. The show received generous support for local newspaper and television station in the days leading up to the event. And so it should have. This was the official passing of a piece of Dothan’s cultural past.

Promoter Tim Dickerson had run monthly nostalgia-based shows back in 2004 using featuring many of the same legends that appeared on this one. That venture petered out for a variety of reasons, and there’s been nothing of that nature since. I figured their never would be, but I should know better than to apply the word never to pro wrestling.

Dickerson served as masters or ceremonies. He opened the show with the playing of “Taps” in remembrance of the members of the US armed forces that have lost their lives. A live version of the National Anthem followed.

A red robe was placed in a chair as a symbol of all the wrestlers that have passed away. They did a 10 bell salute followed by the playing of “Amazing Grace.”

Ring announcer Tim Dickerson pointed out former WTVY-4 Sports Director Al Roberts and former Dothan TV wrestling announcer Johnny Gauss in the crowd.

(1) Adrian Street (with Miss Linda) beat Marcell Pringle (with Ricky Roberts) in 10:34..Ringside fans were on their feet for Street’s classic entrance. Street looked fabulous for 68 years old. He did all his trademark stuff starting with a round of ass pinching that had referee Larry Brock protecting his flanks. Brock’s facial expressions were tremendous all night long. He’s like an Alabama version of Silvio from Sopranos. Street stretched Pringle for a bit. Then came the smooching routine. Then the European forearms. Pringle ran Street’s eyes along to top rope to start the heat. Linda got so upset with Pringle’s tactics that she grabbed Brock. Finish saw Pringle stalking Linda outside the ring. Street cleaned up on Pringle, tossed him back in and a splashed him for the three count.

Charlie Platt, the legendary voice of Southeastern Championship Wrestling, conducted the first in a series of awesome interviews. There could be no other man for the job. Platt was able to draw on a body of knowledge accumulated during his 33 year association with pro wrestling in the Gulf Coast.

“Wrestling Pro” Leon Baxter was the first to step up to the podium. Baxter was nine time Gulf Coast Heavyweight Champions and six time tag team champion. Baxter said he came up from nothing and pro wrestling had provided him with land, a home and enough money to live the rest of his life. He recalled the time Rocket Monroe put a $1000 bounty on him for any spectator that could last 10 minutes in the ring with him. “I had some rough times. There’s some rough people out there. I found that out.”

A video chronicling Stubbs’ career played on the big screen. The still of Stubbs and Arn Anderson, the three time Southeastern Tag Team Champions got the crowd buzzing.

(2) Daffney beat Amber O’Neil & Krissy Vaine in a three way dance pinning O’Neil at 7:49. This was the art of pro wrestling. At first, fans weren’t sure what to make of the angelic dynamite looking Team Blondage working together against an atypical babyface, but they did a great job, both with the story and the action, so the crowd had no choice but to be emotionally drawn into the match. The timing of everything was spot on. Daffney made a sassy one–on-two comeback ending with a single leg crab on O”Neil. Blondage did the deal where they teased a break up and the made nice. Daffney interrupted the love fest with a double flying lariat. Blondage took advantage of Daffney’s contortionist like leg flexibility with some excruciating double teams. Daffney made a fiery comeback. She ran wild on O’Neil and hit a reverse splash elbow drop, but Vaine but O’Neil’s foot on the ropes. They started doing quick pins and Vaine ended up trying to pin O’Neil. Daffney capitalized on the confusing with noggin knocker and pinned O’Neil with a spinning fisherman suplex. Far and away the best match of the night. Whoever was responsible for booking these women for this event, it was an inspired choice.

Platt introduced “Rotten” Ron Starr as a two time NWA World Junior Champion. Platt said In Starr’s day, the Pensacola-Mobile territory stretched from Beaumont, Texas to Quincy, Florida. Starr said he wrestled in Puerto Rico, Japan and Australia during his career but now resided in Covington County, Alabama. Starr introduced his former valet, Miss Peaches, who was seated in the crowd. Starr said it did his heart a lot of good to see all the legends in attendance.

Next out was “Fabulous” Don Fargo. Platt said Fargo refused to give his age on television that morning and told Platt to do the match. Fargo was born in 1927. Platt said Fargo wrestled on the Dumont network before most of the fans in attendance were born (1950). Like Bob Kelly and Ken Lucas, Fargo was a wrestlers that was only scheduled to come to the Gulf Coast for a few weeks and set down roots. Fargo said he was away from the Gulf Coast from 1959 until returning in the 70s where he then stayed until finishing up in the early 90s. “If you go on vacation down around Pensacola Beach, and you see the leather cap, the blond hair and a tricycle Harley Davidson, you could very well be looking at “The Fabulous” Don Fargo.”

A video played honoring the career of Bob Armstrong.

(3) Nightmare Johnny “Crash” Rich & Davey Rich beat The Last Nightmare (Ted Allen) & Boris Zhukov in 16:56. I marked out seeing Zhukov for the first time in almost 20 years. The midsections on Zhukov (age 49) and Johnny (age 52) were scary huge. Zhukov looked like he swallowed a beach ball. It was up to Davey and Nightmare to carry the load. Fortunately, they can still go, so it was a respectable match when they were in together. Davey took the heat. He did his trademark inside out bump off clotheslines from both heels. Fans did the “USA” chant when Zhukov was in. “Don’t eat me Boris!” yelled one wiseass ringside fan. It broke down to four way action. The Richs avoided a collision by doing the dosey-do. They made a heel sandwich and followed up with a four-way row boat spot. Finish was Davey hitting a springboard crossbody on Nightmare.

There was a long intermission with people packed in around the gimmick tables especially for Adrian Street, Team Blondage and B. G. James,

Armstrong and Stubbs came out to the ring for a final tribute. Wrestlers including Bullet’s son Steve, joined them in the ring. Fans crowded around ringside taking photos. A marine in dresss uniform was on hand to honor Bob for his years of service to his country. It was an emotional sceneStreet had tears in his eyes. Harley Race came out. He called Armstrong one of the greatest of all-time. Armstrong brought up Race being an 8 time NWA World Champion. “I had so many matches with him, and I still feel my jaw from that left. Coming from you, I appreciate it and I love you to death, brother.” Bob Kelly said they there to honor Armstrong and Stubbs, but without the fans, none of them would be there. “I think we’re honoring y’all tonight, too.”

Platt introduced Randy Rose by mentioning the Midnight Express feud. It got a big pop. Rose said the feud ran two years and he became an AWA World Tag Team Champion and traveled the world. “But I don’t think I went to any town, any place, any country and had more fun than right here at the Houston County Farm Center on Saturday nights in Dothan, Alabama and put on a show for you people. I loved to tick you off, and I think I done a heck of a job.” Platt asked Rose who was the toughest man of all in pro wrestling. Rose said without a doubt it was Race.

Platt interview Race, who said he wrestled from 1959 to 1993. Platt talked about the days when Race might wrestle in Dothan on Friday night, do Memphis TV on Saturday morning, then fly to Atlanta for the GCW TV show, and then fly somewhere to wrestle than night – wrestling 8 or 9 times a week, Race said from 1973 to 1983, he couldn’t remember having two consecutive days off in a row. “I don’t say that in anger or disrespect. I was the World Heavyweight Champion for almost a decade.” Race said in fairness to the fans, he had to be on the different television shows around the world because the fans would not accept video, Race thanked the fans for coming out and said it showed that wrestling was not dead. Platt talked about Race wrestling one hour time limit matches in the Farm Center where there was no air conditioning, and said he felt privileged to work with the best.

“Cowboy” Bob Kelly was interviewed by Platt on stage. Kelly moved to the Gulf Coast from Louisville in 1955 and never went back. He held virtually every title there was to hold in the Gulf States territory. He was a 10 time Gulf States Heavyweight Champion. Kelly recalled making the drive from Quincy, Florida to Lafayette, Louisiana (no I-10 in those days, all the way on highway 90) with Ken Lucas. “I drove. He slept.” Kelly said he and wife Chris would celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary on June 28.

Platt introduced Lucas recalling how he saw him go 60 minutes and then 90 minutes with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco on the Farm Center (During the period from 1964-1978, Lucas held the Gulf States Heavyweight Title on 12 different occasions). Lucas said some of the toughest wrestlers in the world came through the Gulf States, and he had the greatest respect for Brisco and Race. He brought up selling out Kansas City with Race on the night of one of the worst snow storms in the cities history.

(4) “Bullet” Bob Armstrong & Steve Armstrong beat Larry Zbyszko& Jimmy Golden (with Robert Fuller) via DQ in 12:02. Fuller said he had been trying to get Bullet out of his business for 20 years. “You’re like a bad case of VD. You just won’t go away.” Bullet’s entrance received a rousing standing ovation. Stubbs told Bob there would be no tricks. He told Fuller he wasn’t going to help him. Stubbs and Fuller got into a battle of words. Fuller started ripping his clothes off and huffing and puffing and it was great. Zbyszko looked in great shape. He got pissed when fan called him a butthead and did his stalling routine. At age 55, he took a backwards tangled-in-the-ropes bump that was the smoothest athletic move of the night. Bullet won a test of strength with Golden, then scored with a knockdown chop. A clubbing blow from behind started heat on Steve. Zbyszko did his spinning savate kick and used the abdominal stretch. The heels switched without tagging. Fuller choked Steve with his hankie. “I still got it!” he said. Golden telegraphed a backdrop and ate a boot the face. Steve crawled between Golden’s legs to make the tag. The heels bumped for Bullet’s chops. The Armstrongs applied sleepers in stereo. Fuller interfered for the DQ.

B.G. James made the ring clearing save. He gave Golden a wind up bolo punch. True to his slimy character, Brock first held up the hands of the heels, then ran back into the ring and raised the Armstrongs' hands.

James then did did his kick the shiznit doggie style mic work. James said the thing that meant the most to him was being able to be there with his dad. Bullet gave one final thank you to the fans. “People ask me if I’m ever going to get in the Hall of Fame. This is my Hall of Fame.”

NOTES: Zbyszko and Baxter were unadvertised surprises. Brad Armstrong and Norvell Austin were the only advertised performers that did not appear…While it was billed as a tour, there was no mention of a follow up show…Georgia indie wrestler Kyle Matthews was Nightmare’s travel partner for the evening. Matthew is getting around these days. He’s at GCW (Phenix City) on Thursdays and was recently flown in by for a West Coast Wrestling Connection show in Oregon, as well as working for Mike Porter’s NWA Main Event promotion in Tennessee…You can read Jon Johnson’s stories on Race, Armstrong and Stubbs at The Dothan Eagle website.