THAT'S who that was!?!?!! (Six Pro Wrestlers Who Did a Great Job of Disguising Who They Were)

The key to a successful existence as a professional wrestler is to find a gimmick/character that works for you, gets over with the fans and makes both you and the companies you work for a lot of money. For some workers in the profession, they are able to make a single gimmick work for a long period of time, or even their entire career. Bret Hart, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage the names go on and on. Wrestlers who had few or even one gimmick that they were able to draw money pretty much from day one until they retired.

Others, like Ed Leslie for example had a variety of gimmicks. They'd try one thing for a while and then switch over to another. And most of the time you knew it was them. Sure, Leslie had Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, The Zodiac, The Booty Man, The Disciple, and a handful of others, but no matter what he did, you knew it was him. Kevin Nash was Oz, Vinnie Vegas and Diesel but it was always loud and clear that despite what name he went by, it was Kevin Nash in different clothes.

Yet every now and again a wrestler would change his gimmick so much that it wasn't obvious that it was him. It wasn't obvious who it was under the mask or behind the face paint. Wrestlers would lose weight, gain weight, lose muscle mass, gain muscle mass, grow or shave facial hair and you wouldn't know it was them.

During the long and illustrious life of professional wrestling only a few wrestlers have been able to pull this off. Let's have a look at who they were.

6. Al Snow was Avatar 

I'm not the only professional wrestling fan who was surprised to learn that the guy under the mask of Avatar was Al Snow. His mannerisms, the way he carried himself and his techniques in the ring were way different than how he performed as Al Snow. He did moves as Avatar that he never did as Al Snow or as Leif Cassidy. He walked differently and even hit the ropes differently. For years I thought that Avatar was either a Mexican or Japanese wrestler that tested the waters of the WWE for a while before going back to Mexico or Japan. I was quite shocked when I found out that it was Al Snow.

5. Justin Credible was Aldo Montoya 

I guess what threw me off about Justin Credible and Aldo Montoya being the same person was that the two characters were so much different from one another. Credible, closer to the real life P.J. Palaco, was a cocky, full of himself, arrogant, know it all. The type that the older more conservative generation would refer to as a punk or a degenerate. Whereas Montoya was a modest, do the right thing, humble and heroic figure. A shaved head and a leaner body also helped Palaco to shed the jobber gimmick of the man known as "The Portuguese Man of War" for the more suiting hardcore personality of Credible.

4. Doink was Big Josh 

There was no internet back in 1993. Wrestling fans couldn't go into the computer room and quickly look up who it was dressed up as an evil clown gracing the rings of the WWE. We could do nothing but look and speculate as to who it might be. For many fans, including myself, finding out that it was actually Matt Osborne who we had previously known as Maniac Matt Borne and Big Josh, was quite shocking. He had lost a lot of bulk and wasn't nearly as chiseled as he had been earlier in his career. The fact that he was able to fool so many people and pull off the character as well as he did was a true testimony to how great of a performer Borne was.

3. Earthquake later became Golga 

The former HWT wrestler at Louisiana State University, John Tenta had a successful stint in the WWE as the Canadian Earthquake from 1989 to 1993, helping to make the company a success both as a challenger to Hulk Hogan and as one half of the powerful tag team of The Natural Disasters along with partner Typhoon. After he left and came back in 1998, he was hoping to rekindle the Earthquake gimmick. Vince McMahon had another vision. To him Earthquake was yesterday and wouldn't work in the new Attitude Era of WWE. As a result, the now smaller Earthquake, who had lost a significant amount of weight was repackaged as the carefree, lovable and fun Golga. Although along with fellow teammates as a member of the Oddities, the gimmick was short lived, it did get over with the fans and Tenta did seem to enjoy himself. Few knew at the time that Golga was Earthquake under a mask and many were surprised to find out years later.

2. Dustin Rhodes and Goldust are the same person 

Now it's common knowledge. Everyone knows this. They didn't 22 years ago. As far as WCW went, in the early 90's I was a Natural Dustin Rhodes fan. I was very into his feud with Ravishing Rick Rude and upon his departure, often wondered what had happened to him. I figured at the time that he had either given up the professional wrestling business for a different life or he had gone to perform in Japan. When Goldust appeared on WWE television, it never occurred to me for a moment that it was Dustin Rhodes in gold face paint, a gold wig and a gold jumpsuit. When THE WRESTLER magazine did an article on how Goldust was actually Dustin Rhodes, I couldn't believe it. This androgynous, metro-sexual, creepy, perverted, over sensual and sexual character with the deep, slow soothing voice was the redneck, southern cowboy with the fast Texas twang from only a few years prior? It still impresses me to this day not only that Rhodes was able to pull off the Goldust gimmick but how incredibly impeccable he was at doing it.

1. Smash became The Repo Man 

Growing up I was a huge Demolition mark. Even when they turned evil, I was still into them. When Ax left and Crush permanently took his place the magic was gone, but I was still a fan. When the team broke up, I often wondered what became of them. Soon after Crush turned back up with the same name but a completely different character. Gone was the face paint and the Demolition getup and he was now in a bright Orange, Yellow and Purple singlet that resembled the popular soda of the same name. Little did I know, as I continued to wonder what happened to Smash, that this new Repo Man character was the same guy. He had lost weight, shaved his head and grown a goatee. While he did keep a few of the same mannerisms, he did a great job of disguising his voice to make him sound completely different than his Demolition character of Smash. 

The Sentence

Why did I do it? Why did I take the risk? I've served seven years of a ten year sentence. I only had three to go. Why did I try and escape? Everyone keeps asking the questions. I even keep asking the questions.

Maybe it's because I don't belong here. Maybe it's because I didn't do anything wrong. Maybe that's why. Maybe it's because I sat in a cell, doing hard time day in and day out for the past seven years, being punished for something I didn't even do. Maybe that's why I did it. Maybe that's why I took the risk.

You see, Leigh, he's the one that should be in here. He's the one that should be doing the shit jobs, eating the shit food, sleeping on the shit cot every night. You see Leigh's the one that done wrong. You see Leigh's the dealer, the racketeer, the criminal. Not sure if you see that or not. What you do see, is you see Leigh in his new Lamborghini, partying it up with the guys, a hot broad on each arm.

I did my best to block it all out of my head. Tell myself as unfair as it is, that I was doing the wrap for what he did, and that's just the way it is. I even convinced myself that it wasn't all that bad. At least they still let me have my books, my paper and my pen. They still let me lift weights every day too. Now I don't even get that.

That con Glen. That son of a bitch. He let me taste freedom. If only from his description, I couldn't help myself. He reminded me of what freedom was. What freedom looked like. I knew we could get caught. I knew that it could happen. Woody and Penny knew too. And how could we have been so stupid? We smelled Glen for the Rat he was from the beginning, but I suppose we all wanted freedom so bad that we ignored the 99% chance that he was going to screw us and latched on to the 1% that his plan might work.

We got out, just like he said we would. Then we took one car and he took another.

"Turn left at McGillis."

It was always the plan. Turn left at McGillis, follow the old stump road to the clearing and we'd head south on the river.

We turned left at McGillis all right. We turned left and Glen turned right. Right into freedom as the three of us met a brigade of  cops.

Now I sit in pitch dark, solitary confinement. No books, no paper, no pen. Joey, the guard says that it'll be at least another three months before I'm allowed back into the yard to lift weights.

I had three years left. Three years. Now, I don't know much longer.

Reid lets us all know as often as he can, that there is a way out. All we gotta do is be a part of one of his experiments for one year and then we're free. Not only are we free, but we get outta here with a lump of dough and if we want job placement.  Sounds good don't it? Like you ain't got nothing to lose?

Yeah, Reid will say that. He'll talk all about the two guys who went through the experiment, came out and are now doing great.

"Erased two years off his sentence!" He'll brag. "The other four!"

Yeah, Reid likes to mention those two. It's the other eight out of ten this past year that he doesn't say much about. The four who died in his experiment. The two who got of out of the pen and are now living the rest of their lives in the loony bin up in Valley Pleasant. The one who's now free, as much as a paraplegic can be free. The one, well no one knows what happened to him.

If I knew that Reid's experiment would kill me, I'd go ahead and do it. I don't fear death. Death is no enemy of mine. Yet to know that life might get worse than this? No, I didn't do nothing for it to be as bad as it is. I don't deserve this. I sure as Hell ain't gonna except worse.

"It's your own damn fault you're still here." Reid can keep on preaching. "You'd be out in a year, if you'd only have the courage to endure one of my experiments."

Leigh's living the high life. Glen's on the run. The list of people who want to kill him is long, but not as long as the list of people who'd rather see him alive and to suffer. That piece of shit isn't good enough for death. He doesn't deserve that peace.

But I do. At this point all I want back is my books, my paper and my pen. To be allowed in the yard to lift weights again. I want more. I deserve better. Maybe I'm not owed a damn thing, but if that is the case, I wasn't owed the shitty hand I was dealt. I did nothing to deserve to be here.  Yet here I sit, in solitary confinement. Pitch dark blackness, I don't know anymore if you are my enemy or my friend.

Light, I've been asking for you to shine upon me for so long and yet you refuse. Not sure if I want you anymore or not. I plead, I pray, I beg....and yet things only get darker.

I'm going to sleep now. I'm sure I'll wake. Not sure I'll want to but I know I will wake. Not sure life if I want you to end or if what I really want you to finally do is begin. I doubt you'll do either. I won't die nor will I escape.

Spring and Summer Workout Plan

WEEK ONE 

MONDAY - CHEST 
Bench Press - 4 Sets (12-10-8-6)
Inclined Bench Press - 4 sets (12-10-8-6)
Declined Bench Press - 4 sets (12-10-8-6)
Chest Press - 4 sets (12-10-8-6)
Cable Flys - 4 Sets (12-10-8-6)

1 hour walk while reading.

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

TUESDAY - BICEPS/ABS 
Barbell Curls - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Decline Sit-ups (Till Failure x 4)
Olympic Preacher Curls (15-12-10-8)
Rope Resistance Crunches (Till Failure x 4)
Cable Curls (15-12-10-8)
Wheel Extensions (Till Failure x 4)

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

WEDNESDAY - Full Cardio Day
20 minute jog on treadmill
20 minute on Elliptical machine
20 Minute on Exercise bike
30 Minute walk while reading

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

THURSDAY - SHOULDERS/TRICEPS 
Gorilla Press -  4 Sets (12-10-8-6)
French Press - 4 Sets (12-10-8-6)
Skull Crushers - 4 Sets (12-10-8-6)
Overhead Triceps Cable Extensions (12-10-8-6)
Machine Gorilla Press - 4 Sets (12-10-8-6)

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

FRIDAY - BACK
Upright Rows - 4 sets (15-12-10-8)
Lat Pulls - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
The "things" - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Lat Rows - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night 

                              WEEK TWO

MONDAY - CHEST 
Dumbbell Press - 4 sets (15-12-10-8)
Dumbbell Incline Press - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Dumbbell Flys - 4 sets (15-12-10-8)
Machine Press - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Machine Flys - 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night 

TUESDAY - BICEPS and ABS 
Twist Curls - 4 Sets (20-15-12-10)
Decline Situps - 4 Sets till Failure
Preacher Curls - 4 Sets (20-15-12-10)
Rope Resistant Crunches - 4 Sets till Failure
Hammer Curls - 4 Sets (20-15-12-10)
Leg Lifts - 4 Sets till Failure

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

WEDNESDAY - Full Cardio Day
20 Minute Jog on Treadmill
20 Minute on Elliptical machine
20 Minute on Exercise Bike
30 Minute Walk on Treadmill while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

THURSDAY - SHOULDERS/TRICEPS
Military Press 4 sets (12-10-8-6)
Skull Crushers 4 sets (12-10-8-6)
Triceps Machine Pushouts  4 Sets (12-10-8-6)
Triceps Extensions 4 sets  (12-10-8-6)

Dips 4 sets till failure

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night

FRIDAY - BACK 
Lateral Raises 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Rocky's 4 Sets (15-12-10-8)
Bent Rows 4 sets (15-12-10-8)
Headstand Pushups 4 sets till Failure
Reverse Situps 4 sets till Failure

1 hour walk while reading

Run or Walk the Dog @ Night 

The Sigourney Savages 2001-2004

Call it curiosity or call it boredom, I don't know.  A guy on one of the amateur wrestling facebook pages I follow was bragging about how great his school was at sports during his time in high school. It made me wonder how good Sigourney was over all in sports during my time in high school.

You'd think I'd already know, but I was very much in my own world back in those days. (Not that anything has changed.) Football was God at my school so I do remember we were always good at that, and I remember that the girl's softball team was pretty good too. Sigourney at that time was definitely NOT a basketball school. You'd think I'd remember how we did as a wrestling team, but other than senior year, I don't know!

So I grabbed a yearbook.  Here is Sigourney Sports my Freshman through Senior year.


FRESHMAN YEAR: 2001 
Baseball = 4-11 record

Softball = 21-7 record Conference and District Champions. Sub-state Qualifier.

Football = 9-3 record. State Semi-Finals.

Volleyball = No information

Cross Country = No information

Girls Basketball = 8-13 record

Boy's Basketball = 2-18 record

Wrestling = Two State Qualifiers Adam Graham @ 125 lbs and Dan Hammes @ 152 lbs. Both went 1-2 at State.

Boy's Track = Lucas Meier was a District Champion and State Qualifier in the 1 mile run. Dan Hammes, Wil Hanchet, Pat Flynn and Nick Baker Qualified for and competed in the Drake Relays.

Girl's Track = No information

Boys and Girls Golf = No information

SOPHOMORE YEAR: 2002 
Baseball = 13-6 record  Nick Baker and Ryne Christner named to All Conference.  Lucas Meier named to All District.

Softball = 34-5 Record. Conference and District Champions. 4th Place State finish.

Cross Country = No information

Football = 13-0 Record. State Champions.

Volleyball = 3-8 record

Girl's Basketball = 6-15 record

Boy's Basketball = 1-17 record

Wrestling = Six District Qualifiers Steve Seeley @ 112 lbs, Jarrod Thompson @ 119 lbs, Adam Graham @ 125 lbs, Tyler Rash @ 140 lbs, Dan Hammes @ 152 lbs, and Darren Miller @ 160 lbs. Graham, Hammes and Miller all qualified for State with Graham finishing one match shy of placing and Hammes and Miller both finishing in 6th.

Girl's Track = No information

Boy's Track = The 4X4 team of Nick Baker, Wil Hanchet, Dan Hammes and Keith McLaughlin qualified for both the Drake Relays and the State tournament.

Boys and Girl's Golf = No information

JUNIOR YEAR: 2003 
Football = 8-2 record

Volleyball = 5-8 record

Boy's Basketball = 8-12 record

Girl's Basketball = 0-20 record

Wrestling = Four District Qualifiers Steve Seeley @ 119 lbs, Dan Hammes @ 160 lbs, Darren Miller @ 189 lbs, Jeremy Webb @ 215 lbs.  Hammes and Miller qualified for State with Hammes finishing in 4th place and Miller in 8th.

Boy's Track = No information

Girl's Track = No information

Boy's and Girl's Golf = No information

Baseball = 12-7 record.  Nick Baker and Ryne Christner named to All Conference.

Softball = No information

SENIOR YEAR: 2004 
Football = 8-3 record

Volleyball = 8-5 record

Boy's Basketball = 8-14 record

Girl's Basketball = No information

Wrestling = 18-4 dual meet record. Two district Qualifiers Jon McLaughlin @ 215 lbs and Jeremy Webb @ HWT. Both qualified for State.  Had 5 wrestlers finish third at sectionals, one match shy of qualifying for districts.

Boy's Track = No information

Girl's Track = Amy Dobbins was a District champion and State Qualifier in some event. Not sure what.  Year book doesn't say, but I swear Kristine Ballensky did something of significance too. Conference champion or something.

Softball = No information

Baseball = 13-11 record

Boy's and Girl's Golf = No information



So make of it what you will. I'd say overall Sigourney's sports during that time were football and softball. That's where we had the most success. Wrestling and baseball were solid, and competitive in the conference. Track, both boys and girls had some highlights.

Me at the Qualifying tournaments.

THIRD GRADE
Districts were held at Oskaloosa. I had no one in my bracket and was awarded first place!

AAU's were held at Cedar Rapids. I went 1-2. I was pinned my first match. Then I won by fall in my second match and then I lost 6-4 in my next match.

1. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney

FOURTH GRADE 
Districts were held at Oskaloosa. Michael Bucklin of Colfax-Mingo was the only one in my bracket. We wrestled the best of three. He beat me 3-1, I beat him 7-2 and then he beat me 2-1.  I took 2nd place.

1. Michael Bucklin Colfax Mingo
2. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney

AAU's were held at Cedar Rapids. I took third place. I won my first match by fall. I won my second match 13-0. In the quarterfinals, I was pinned by Jeff Tucker. In the R12 match I won by fall. In the consolation quarterfinals I won by fall. In the consolation semi-finals I won by forget the score. In the consolation finals I avenged my loss against Tucker with a 6-0 win.

1. Forget
2. Michael Bucklin Colfax Mingo
3. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
4. Jeff Tucker (Forget)
5th-8th (forget)



FIFTH GRADE
Districts were held at Oskaloosa.  I went 2-1 for the day. I pinned a kid from Knoxville, defeated Michael Bucklin of Colfax-Mingo 6-4 s.v. and then lost 5-2 to Darren Miller of Sigourney.

1. Darren Miller Sigourney
2. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
3. Kid from Knoxville
4. Michael Bucklin Colfax Mingo

AAU's were held at Oskaloosa. I went 2-2. I won my first two matches and then I was pinned by Charles Showalter of Cedar Rapids Prairie. Marcus "Buddy" Lewis eliminated me in the next round by pinning me in the third period with a throw.

6. Darren Miller Sigourney  (Don't know about 1st through 5th)

SIXTH GRADE 
Districts were held at Oskaloosa. I took 2nd place. I won my first two matches to make the finals and then lost in the finals to Colfax Mingo's Michael Bucklin.

1. Michael Bucklin Colfax Mingo
2. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
3. Don't remember
4. Don't remember

AAU's were held at Cedar Rapids. I took 4th place. First round I defeated the AAU champion from the year before, Tade Kracklio 2-1. Second round I won by fall. Quarter-finals, Gabe Venz pinned me in the second period. R12 match I won by fall. Consolation quarter-finals I pinned Marcus "Buddy" Lewis to avenge the year's previous loss. Consolation semi-finals I pinned Bob Swift. Consolation finals I lost to Lenox's Todd Parrish 7-2.

1. Gabe Venz (Don't remember)
2. Michael Bucklin Colfax Mingo
3. Todd Parrish Lenox
4. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
5. Kevin Trulinger Mount Ayr
6. Bob Swift (Don't remember)
7. Tade Kracklio Wilton
8. Marcus "Buddy" Lewis (Don't remember)

SEVENTH GRADE 
Districts were held at Oskaloosa. I took 4th place.  First round I won by fall. Second round I lost 12-0 to Kory Morrow of Oskaloosa. Third round I won the qualifying match. Next round I lost to take fourth.

1. Kory Morrow Oskaloosa
2. Jordan Swayne Twin Cedars
3. Forget
4. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney

AAU's were held at Cedar Rapids. I went 0-2. Got my ass handed to me by Justin Jordan of Iowa City, City High something like 15-2. I then lost 7-6 to some kid I never should have lost to.

I know Justin Jordan of Iowa City, City High  took 3rd or 4th. Can't remember the rest.

EIGHTH GRADE 
Districts were held at Oskaloosa. I took 4th place.  First round I won by fall. Second round Cody Kauzlarich of Centerville beat me 10-1. Third round I beat a kid from Fairfield 5-4.  Fourth round I had to forfeit to Clay Wells of WACO because of an injury.

1. Jake Neuzil Highland-Riverside
2. Cody Kauzlarich Centerville
3. Clay Wells WACO
4. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney

AAU's were held at Cedar Rapids. I did not participate due to injury.

1. Andrew Anderson (forget)
2. Andy Fry Louisa-Muscatine
5. Cody Kauzlarich Centerville

I want to say that Jake Neuzil placed too, but I don't know what.


FRESHMAN 
Sectionals were held at Belle Plaine high school.  First round I lost 16-0 technical fall to Jason Helterbran of Pekin. First round consolation I won 15-5 against a kid from Montezuma. 5th place match, I lost 8-5 to Nick Sauceda of Cardinal.   Did not qualify for Districts.

1. Kevin Kurvoski Belle Plaine
2. Bart Little Tri-County
3. Jason Helterbran Pekin
4. ????
5. Nick Sauceda Cardinal
6. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney

Kurvoski and Little both finished 1st-2nd at Districts and then went on to finish 1st-2nd at State as well.

SOPHOMORE 
Sectionals were held at Iowa Valley. First round I lost to Joel DeVore of North Mahaska 12-8.  First round consolation I received a bye.  5th place match I defeated Caleb Schaffner of English Valleys 8-1.  Did not qualify for Districts.

1. Jesse Drahos Belle Plaine
2. Darys Kreigle Iowa Valley
3. Nate Clubb Tri-County
4. Joel DeVore North Mahaska
5. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
6. Caleb Schaffner English Valleys

Drahos won both Districts and State. He upset Alex Grunder of Wilton in the finals.


JUNIOR 
Sectionals were held at Belle Plaine. I lost 5-4 to Ryan Lewis of Lynnville-Sully. In the third place match I lost 11-10 to Iowa Valley's Wade Kimm.  I did not qualify for Districts.

1. Steve Carl Belle Plaine
2. Ryan Lewis Lynnville-Sully
3. Wade Kimm Iowa Valley
4. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
5. Joe Linder Montezuma
6. Darren Heidt North Mahaska

Districts was....
1. Nic Chiri New London
2. Some kid from Columbus
3. Steve Carl Belle Plaine
4. Ryan Lewis Lynnville-Sully

Chiri ended up taking 4th at State.

SENIOR
Sectionals were held at WACO. I won by fall over Kyle Carpenter of Wapello.  I lost 10-3 to Daniel Garrett of Cardinal. I won by fall over Brandon Ball of Columbus. I took third place. I finished one match shy of qualifying for districts.

1. Jordan Terrill Louisa-Muscatine
2. Daniel Garrett Cardinal
3. Stephen Stonebraker Sigourney
4. Brandon Ball Columbus
5. Kyle Carpenter Wapello
6. Dan Taylor Pekin

Districts was....

1. Cory Ferguson Montezuma
2. Brandon Kurvoski Belle Plaine
3. Jordan Terrill Louisa-Muscatine
4. Daniel Garrett Cardinal

A kid from Tipton won the State tournament. Both Ferguson and Kurvoski finished one match shy of placing.


Also wrestled at Freestyle State my sophomore year. Had no one in my qualifying bracket at Oskaloosa, so I qualified automatically. I went 0-2 at the tournament. Forget the first kid that beat me and then I lost 11-1 technical fall to Brandon Mason of Lewis-Central Council Bluffs.

Picking My Team

My mind. It is a strange place to be. Thoughts that perhaps on one else has ever thought often travel through. I found myself daydreaming today. What if I could go back in time and coach myself in high school wrestling. What would I have my younger self do? What advice would I give him? How would I coach him? How would I motivate him? What could the 31 year old me teach the 15/16/17/18 year old me?

As I contemplated those thoughts, they grew into other ideas. What if I was able to go back in time and form an entire wrestling team? Who would I want on that team and why?

I tried to keep it within my contemporaries. Guys that wrestled around the same time I did. I did add one guy to the team that would have been a senior when I was in eighth grade, but other than that everyone else was in high school during the same time I was.

The guys I would want on a team I would coach, would be kids with good attitudes, who for one reason or another fell short of their goals. Kids who had the potential, but something that stood in their way, be it themselves or something else.


Here is my team.....

103 lbs - Jerrod Thompson (Sigourney) - Now by the time Jerrod was a senior he was bigger than 103 lbs, but I wanted him on this team, and it's my fantasy so I make the rules. In real life, I got to be on the Sigourney Savage wrestling team with Jerrod for two years. I really enjoyed being on the team with him. His problem was a case of too little too late. There was a big difference between Jerrod as a junior and Jerrod as a senior. His junior year he came to practice and did what was expected of him. Nothing much else. His senior year, he took it a lot more serious. He came to morning runs and lifts and he turned up his intensity in the room. It showed on the mat too, as he qualified for districts. I'd get him to make the realization sooner. I think had he have, he could have developed into a state qualifier.


112 lbs - John Graham (Sigourney) - Like me, John relives the past from time to time. Wishing he had it to do all over again. He probably knows better than I the advice he'd give his younger self and what he would have his younger self do. If it were at all possible, I'd like to give him that chance.

119 lbs - Brady Little (Tri-County) - Brady has always had a very positive, optimistic outlook on life or at least the Brady I knew always did. Wrestling teams need someone who smiles a lot and looks at the bright side of life. It can't be all straight-faced business all the time. I'd want someone on my team like Brady to lighten the mood and make it fun.

125 lbs - Adam Graham (Sigourney) - All successful teams need a leader. Someone they can look up to and come to for advice. Adam would fill that role on my team.

130 lbs - Sean Stutzman (Sigourney) - Seeing how Sean and I don't see eye to eye today, it may seem a bit odd that I would want him on this team. During that time of my life Sean was one of my best friends, and as individual of a sport as wrestling is, strong bonds help individuals to grow as wrestlers. Besides, when it came to butting heads and having fierce battles, Sean was never afraid to give or receive a black eye.

135 lbs - Tyler Stutzman (English Valleys) - I'd want Tyler on the team for two reasons. A, he'd be the comedy relief for the team.  I remember hanging out with Tyler at tournaments and he was always making people laugh.  B, his unorthodox style. Some stuff you just can't teach, yet you need to know how to wrestle against it. He had that.

140 lbs - Greg Ford (Twin Cedars) - Style, past, what we should have accomplished vs what we did....Jesus....Greg Ford and I could practically be twins. I'd want Greg on the team because I think wrestling the younger me every day in the room would make the younger me better and make the younger him better.

145 lbs - Me (Sigourney)

152 lbs - Tyler Rash (Sigourney) - Said it many times and now I'm saying it again. Tyler Rash is one of the hardest working individuals I've ever known. Need someone in the room to push the younger me to the limits.

160 lbs - Tyler Lappin (North Mahaska) - Not sure what happened to Tyler or why things didn't work out for him at N.H. Like to see him have that opportunity again.

171 lbs - Hobey Holder (BGM-HLV) - As much as we like to talk about hard work and what could have been/should have been, sometimes it really is simply nothing more than a case of luck. Hobey was as good as many of the kids that qualified for the State tournament his years of high school wrestling. He could beat many of them. It just wasn't in the cards for him. Hopefully in my world, maybe luck would be with him this time.

189 lbs - Tommy Fowler (Sigourney) - A wrestling team is hard to lead on your own. Tommy would be Adam's helper. More of a mental motivator.

215 lbs - Jake Uhlenhake (Moravia) - Wrestling is not a sport for nice guys. Some think that was one of my biggest flaws. Perhaps it was. I know it was one of Jake's. My pee-wee coach Paul Graham always said that the best wrestlers were downright mean. I'd want Jake to remain the great guy that he was/is off the mat, but on the mat, I'd want to develop him into one mean s.o.b. He'd have been outright scary. I'd like to have seen that.

HWT - Adam Gent (English Valleys) - The list of kids who should have qualified for state, placed and had their moment of glory but never did is a long one. Gent is one of them. Can't say for sure, but I think confidence may have been a factor. In wrestling, we as fans admire humbleness, humility and honesty but you need an edge. A little arrogance, even to the point of being cocky is what some need to believe in themselves. I know I could have used it. I think Adam could have too.


This would be my team. These would be the guys I'd want on it.

If was the booker: SURVIVOR SERIES

I've wanted to be a professional writer of some sorts my entire life. People often ask me, "What kind of writing?" And that is the operative question. A more appropriate question to ask me is, "What kind of writing would you NOT want to do?" because frankly, when it comes to writing, I've fantasized about them all.

The one I fantasize about the most is of course being a novelist. Then I catch myself dreaming about writing screenplays and teleplays for movies and television quite often as well. Can't forget about writing plays for the stage and of course the dream I've got to live on and off since I was in my early 20's writing articles for Olympic, collegiate and high school wrestling.

Another dream of mine has been to write for professional wrestling. Now I couldn't write for today's product. I don't pay enough attention to it. I couldn't have written for the Attitude Era either, as it simply wasn't my style of professional wrestling.

My love for professional wrestling is the 80's and the early 90's.  When reading this mesh everything from about 1986 through 1998 WWE and WCW together. If you do that and ignore the actualities of who was around when and who was alive, this will be a fun read.  

Remember this is ALL fantasy. All my imagination and in imagination ANYTHING is possible. 

THE SURVIVOR SERIES

1. Mr. Wonderful's Wonderful Team (Paul Orndorff-The Genius-Ernest Miller-The Executioner)

Vs

Muraco's Magnificent Team (Don Muraco-Savio Vega-2 Cold Scorpio - Marcus Bagwell)

BUILD UP: Just like it was in real life back in 1986, in my fantasy world Don Muraco and Mr. Wonderful have a feud, only in my world Wonderful is the heel and Muraco is the face. This Survivor Series match is the final match of the feud.

MATCH:
Vega pins Genius after a Spinning Heel Kick to the jaw
Scorpio pins The Executioner after a 450 Splash
Bagwell pins Ernest Miller with a Sunset Flip
Orndorff pins Scorpio after a piledriver
Orndorff pins Bagwell after a piledriver

Orndorff pins Muraco after dropping him throat first across the top rope

SURVIVOR(S): Paul Orndorff

After the match the commentators make the remark that Paul Orndorff was down 1 to 4 and still able to come back and pin four wrestlers in a row to be the sole survivor for his team. Orndorff is interviewed and brags about how Wonderful he is and nobody but him could have done what he did.

2. Degeneration X (Triple H-X Pac - Billy Gunn - Road Dogg) 

Vs

The Legion Of Doom (Hawk - Animal - Jake Roberts - The Patriot) 

BUILD UP: The last two matches the Road Warriors have had against the New Age Outlaws, either Triple H or X-Pac have interfered costing them what would have been a win. As a result Hawk and Animal challenge Degeneration X to a match at the Survivor Series.

MATCH: 
Patriot pins X-Pac after an Uncle Slam
Jake Roberts pins Triple H after a DDT
Billy Gunn pins the Patriot after Chyna knocks him off the top rope as he goes for the Patriot missle
Jake Roberts is counted out as he chases Chyna back to the locker room with a snake
Animal pins Road Dogg after a powerslam
Hawk pins Billy Gunn after a Doomsday Device

 SURVIVOR(S): Animal and Hawk

3. Team Rick (Rick Steiner - Marty Jannetty - Luke Williams - Butch Miller)

Vs

Team Scott (Scott Steiner - Shawn Michaels - Ted Dibiase - IRS)

BUILD UP: In a match for the WWE tag team championship, it is revealed the Ted Dibiase paid off Scott Steiner to drop the belts to him and IRS, when Scott attacks his brother. This leads to a feud between Rick and Scott that starts at the Survivor Series.

MATCH: 
IRS pins Butch Miller after a Write-Off
Ted Dibiase submits Luke Williams in a Million Dollar Dream
Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels are both Disqualified
Rick Steiner never gives up but passes out in the Steiner recliner (After everyone else is eliminated, Scott Steiner refuses to get into the ring as IRS and Dibiase take turns against Rick Steiner who fights until he has nothing left. At the end Scott Steiner finally gets into the ring to put an already defeated Rick Steiner into the Steiner Recliner.)

SURVIVORS(S): Scott Steiner - Ted Dibiase - IRS

4. RESPECT (Bob Backlund - Bret Hart - Jim Neidhart - Ricky Steamboat)

Vs

DISRESPECT (Sid - Vader - Dino Bravo - Earthquake)

BUILD UP:  Bob Backlund who had held the WWE title 10 years prior attended the celebration of Vader's title victory when Vader decided to call him out as the worst champion of all time. Calling him a chump who never faced any real competition like Vader. Sid who was also sitting in the audience, stood up for Backlund saying he was a hero and inspiration to him. Sid talks Backlund into getting back in shape and challenging Vader for the title. Backlund agrees to it, and trains with Sid forming a bond and a friendship. Backlund then defeats Vader for the WWE title. Sid then ask him if he'll accept a challenge from him for the title. In what seems like a friendly, yet competitive match, Sid kicks Backlund in the stomach and immediately powerbombs him when Backlund goes to shake his hand. After he pins him he repeatedly Powerbombs Backlund, until Bret Hart comes out to make the save.

MATCH:
Vader pins Steamboat after a Vaderbomb
Hart pins Vader with a schoolboy roll up
Earthquake pins Neidhart after a vertical splash
Hart pins Bravo with an inside cradle
Earthquake pins Backlund with a Big Splash
Hart submits Earthquake with the Sharpshooter

Sid and Hart wrestle to a time limit draw

SURVIVOR(S): None

This begins what will be a major feud between WWE champion Sid and Bret Hart

5. The Brothers ( Hulk Hogan - Ultimate Warrior - Brutus Beefcake - Roddy Piper)

Vs

Heenan Family (Andre The Giant - The Undertaker - Kevin Nash - Scott Hall)

BUILD UP: I think in everyone's world, real or fantasy, Hogan and Andre would be in a feud.

MATCH: Undertaker pins Beefcake after a tombstone
Piper pins Hall with a backslide
Nash pins Piper with a Jacknife
Warrior pins Nash with a Big Splash
Hogan and Andre wrestle to a double countout.
Undertaker and Warrior fight on the outside of the ring as Undertaker accidentally throws Warrior back into the ring right before the 10 count. He continues to assault the Warrior long after the bell. Thus setting up a match for the future.

SURVIVOR(S): The Ultimate Warrior

6. The Amigos (Tito Santana - Thunder - Lightning - Jim Powers)

Vs 
Arrogance (Rick Martel - The Warlord - Paul Roma - Hercules)

BUILDUP: In a match against Power and Glory, Rick Martel walked out on Tito Santana allowing Roma and Hercules to double team him for the victory.

MATCH: Warlord pins Powers after a running Powerslam
Roma pins Lightning after rolling through a high cross body block
Roma pins Thunder after a Powerplex-Glory Splash
Santana pins Warlord after a Flying Forearm
Santana does not submit but passes out in Martel's Boston Crab (During the match the other three wrestlers beat up on Santana as Martel cowers from him the entire time, never getting in the ring)

SURVIVOR(S): Rick Martel - Paul Roma - Hercules

After the match, Martel and Power and Glory celebrate in the ring as they are soon joined by Scott Steiner and Money Inc. They all celebrate and get along like family, until Ted Dibiase suggest that he and IRS were a bigger help to Scott Steiner than Paul Roma and Hercules were to Martel. It starts off as a joke, but then gets heated as the two teams grow from a verbal altercation into a physical one.  Steiner and Martel try and break up the two teams, but as Power and Glory and Money Inc fight, Tito Santana and Rick Steiner blast through the door fighting with them.

This thus leads to two matches at the Royal Rumble.  A tag team match between Power and Glory and Money Inc and Scott Steiner/Rick Martel Vs Rick Steiner/Tito Santana.

7. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair - Lex Luger - Tully Blanchard - Arn Anderson)

Vs
The Perfect Team (Mr. Perfect - Bam Bam Bigelow - Ko Ko B Ware - British Bulldog)

BUILD UP: After the departure of Ole Anderson, Flair, Anderson and Blanchard realize that they have to add a fifth member to the team. They decide that it will either be Lex Luger or Mr. Perfect, giving them both opportunities to showcase their talents. They hold a conference where it will be revealed who they picked. They pick Luger. Perfect tries to be cordial and humble, as he goes to congratulate Luger and thank the Horsemen for their time.  Flair then says, "You see, either your a horsemen or you're not a horsemen. And if you are a horsemen then you are with us. And if you're not a horsemen then you're against us."  Upon saying this, Luger hits Perfect from behind with a running forearm, as the other Horsemen rip off his tuxedo and beat down on him.

MATCH: Anderson pins Ko Ko after a Spinebuster
Blanchard pins Bam Bam after Bam Bam misses a top rope headbutt
Luger pins Bulldog after a running forearm
Perfect pins Tully Blanchard with the perfect plex
Perfect pins Anderson with the Perfect Plex
Perfect pins Luger with the Perfect Plex
Perfect pins Flair with an inside cradle counter to the Figure Four

SURVIVOR(S): Mr. Perfect

After the match Perfect is being interviewed and talked up by the commentators for being able to defeat all 4 Horsemen by himself. As he is being interview Mr. Wonderful comes out of nowhere to attack him, pissed off that Perfect is taking away his shine from what he had accomplished earlier.

8. DEMOLITION (Ax - Smash - Crush - Adam Bomb)

Vs

BAD MAGIC (Papa Shango - Kamala - Doink The Clown - Abdullah the Butcher)

The stable of Bad Magic has been ruling a reign of terror on the WWE for quite sometime as Captain Lou Albano vows to find a team that can put an end to their terror once and for all. He find the team of Demolition.

MATCH: Crush fall Abdullah the Butcher after multiple body slams
Kamala fall Adam Bomb after a Big Splash
Crush submits Doink with a Cranium Crunch
Smash fall Kamala with a cross body block
Ax fall Shango after a Decapitation

SURVIVOR(S): Ax - Smash - Crush


AFTERMATH: In my fantasy world their would only be four Pay-Per View events per year.  Royal Rumble - Wrestlemania - Summerslam and Survivor Series.  The Survivor Series aftermath would have the following matches at the Royal Rumble.

Paul Orndorff Vs Mr. Perfect

Rick Steiner/Tito Santana Vs Scott Steiner/Rick Martel

WWE TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: Money Inc Vs Power and Glory

WWE TITLE MATCH: Sid Vs Bret Hart