OK, I know last month I said I was going to write about “Cracker Barrel” and “Ice Fields” but I’m going to put those two stories off for another month, mainly because I realized I was jumping the gun a little bit. I haven’t even mentioned who some of the main players were in the USWA at the time that I came in, so let me go over a little of that.  

One thing you’ll notice about wrestling, once it’s in your blood and your in the business, it never gets out of your blood. So many of the guys I mention who had a key part in the company are still involved (some more than others) in wrestling today. Especially, Jerry “The King” Lawler. I think the Kingfish (a term all the boys call Jerry) will be doing this until he simply can’t perform anymore. And I’m happy to say that because he IS a great talent.  

Randy Hales was one of the back office guys; he had a major involvement with the USWA and its day-to-day operations. Of course, the guy who was at the top was Jeff Jarrett’s dad, Jerry Jarrett. I never had the chance to meet him in person but I have talked to him over the phone a few times. I’m sure many other guys can tell you all about him. Jerry Jarrett has been involved in wrestling for many years and was one of the owners of the promotion. I think I already mentioned in a previous article about the checks that we received every month that was drawn off the account “Jarrett Promotions.” 

Oh, there is an interesting story with that. Well, not a major one, but to my knowledge only one guy would not accept a paycheck; he wanted cash after every show - that was Yokozuna (real name Rodney). May his soul rest in peace. He was a great entertainer in the wrestling business and he passed away a few years ago. I happened to be out on the west coast in Los Angeles the week of his funeral but I didn’t go. Mainly because I knew him but not that well.  I meet him twice backstage at WWF shows in Florida. I still think I shot one of the only pictures with him smiling because my girlfriend at the time was a Home Shopping Network show host and she hugged him while I took their picture. I’ve never seen him smile so big. He was sitting on a road case and he was a big man; he took up the entire top of a huge road case. Anyway, Rodney always wanted paid in cash – NO CHECKS!  When a 400+ lb. wrestler asks to be paid in cash, well, you pay him in cash J At least, that is the way it worked back then.  More...