Section B·Page 8
The University Daily Kansa
Friday, April 30, 1999
SPORT OF THE WEEK
Wrestling slams into Lawrence
'Violent soap opera' enjoys renewed success
Bv Ezra Svkes
By Ezra Sykes
esykes@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Psychotic Sandman paces outside the ring.
"Get in there, you sorry sack," one audience member yells. "There ain't no timeouts in wrestling."
The Sandman takes notice of the ridicule, runs to the edge of the audience and responds with a thunderous "shut up!"
In a flash, he turns around and jumps into the ring to face his enemy. He grabs big Daddy's head and flips the massive foe over his shoulder onto the bouncy blue mat below. Several punches, a body slam and a vicious clothesline later, the Sandman prevails and the referee raises his hand to signal that the camouflage and combat boot-adorned Sandman has won.
Gloating in his victory, he points to the crowd and asks, "Got something to say now?"
Ahh, the drama.
Ahh, the violence.
Ahh. professional wrestling.
Wednesday night at Coyote's night club, 1003 E. 23rd, Lawrence got its first taste of live pro wrestling courtesy of the American Wrestling Federation. Highlights included the midget wrestling world championship, a cat fight and a match featuring wrestling legend Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
As spectators emptied pitchers of beer and heckled their least favorite competitors, wrestlers stirred up the crowd and inflicted pain on their opponents via head butts and pile drivers.
But come on. That stuff is just act ing, right?
"Acting...what acting?" said R.J. Von-merveld, who watched the matches from the first row of folding chairs.
Vonmerveldt, Wichita junior, said he had been watching more and more pro wrestling on TV in the last year but said that you couldn't beat old-school WWF—the first golden age of pro wrestling in the 1980s that gave birth to names such as Hulk Hogan, "Hacksaw" Jim Dugan and Jake "The
"Junk Yard Dog was my hero," he said.
Vonmerveld explained the resurgence of pro wrestling these days — a comeback marked by the ubiquitous "Stone Cold" Steve Austin T-shirts and success of shows such as TNT's WCW Monday Night Nitro.
Snake" Roberts.
"It's a popular way for people to let out stress by seeing big guys beat up each other," he said. "I think that people who give this sport a lot of flak have never really experienced it. They've never been down by the ring."
But regardless of whether or not a chop to the throat or a knee to the forehead really hurts, for some, wrestling is real as can be.
"Little Kato" has been midget wrestling for the last 13 years of his life.
"I've enjoyed it," he said, walking around before the matches began last night. "I make good money and I get to see the world, places I would have never been able to see otherwise."
Kato, who calls Oakland, Calif., home, explained his reasons for getting into the business.
Randy Cook, president of the American Wrestling Federation, said that pro wrestling had been especially popular recently in college towns such as Lawrence.
"I was tired of working 40-hour weeks; I didn't have the greatest education," said the 4-foot-6 Kato. "I always played sports in high school but realized I could never turn pro because of my size, But wrestling gave me chance."
"They've done a really good job of marketing it," he said. "I mean what could be better than a soap opera with violence?"
And as for those who criticize the violence and absurdity of pro wrestling, Cook has a simple answer: "It's America. Who cares?"
Edited by Chris Fickett
Above: The Millennium Man puts a choke hold his opponent, Bear Claw, Millennium Man eventually won the match after a near disqualification. The two wrestlers were part of an American Wrestling Federation wrestling event Wednesday night at Coyote's night club, 1003 E. 23rd St. Left: Reuben Madrigal, Lawrence resident, gets a laugh from the antics of pro wrestlers. Madrigal and his son, Jesse, sitting to his left, had front row seats at Wednesday night's wrestling event. Photos by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
Rolling Stone magazine did. It rates JCCC as one of the "most respected" community colleges in the country. Rolling Stone praises JCCC for small classes, affordable costs and proactive career counseling.
If you're heading home to Johnson County this summer, consider picking up some classes at JCCC. Most JCCC credits easily transfer to four year schools.
Summer classes start June 7. For enrollment information, call 469-3803.
Johnson County Community College www.jccc.net
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