;

 



Dr. Tom Prichard's 2005 Year End Column

By Dr. Tom Prichard
Dec 22, 2005 - 11:46 AM


Bookmark and Share

What a year.  I hate moving but I like the location we’re in now.  We moved across town in Sevierville, Tennessee with a much better view of the Smoky Mountains.  In the process of moving the hard drive on our computer got fried and I am using my wife’s laptop to eek out one last column in 2005.

I thought about doing a year in review but I’m sure the “experts” will be doing that.  So I want to touch on some things and thoughts that carried me through 2005.

Finding myself around the Tennessee independent scene was interesting.  I hooked up with Ricky Morton and had some decent matches in some interesting places.  I am admittedly jaded, but still amazed at the so called promoters and “rasslers” that claim a world championship but wrestle in two towns with a combined attendance of 60 people.  I watch some of these guys and wonder what they must be thinking and if they’ve ever seen the inside of a gym.  I guess it’s like playing flag football on Saturday afternoon to them.  They get  a nice shiny belt to show their mommas or girlfriends and tell everybody they’re “rasslers.”

One thing that gets me too is when I hear somebody say “I’m 30 year old and I got big plans for around these parts.”  30 year old?  Isn’t there supposed to be an “s” in there?  30 years old!!  I’m beggin’ these guys to get a clue!

Ah, well.  Contrary to popular belief I really don’t hate  anybody.  I might not like very many people but hate is just a waste of time.  I look around and am trying really hard not to rush to judgment.  I know we can be here today and gone later today.

This past year I lost my Dad, Mom, Chris Candido and Eddie Guerrero.  We will all face the final bell one day but what we do in the meantime is ever so important.  I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life.  I’ve finally learned that’s what life is.  You’re born, you screw up, you make amends and then you move on.  Everything happens for a reason.  I keep telling myself that.  I am finding out it’s true more times than not.

I may not always understand what the intent or purpose of a WWE show is but I do know that the pride and respect shown on the RAW Tribute to the Troops is sincere.  I can’t help but still feel proud of all those guys and girls who go over and entertain the fighting men and women of our Armed Forces.  No matter what you may think of the product at times, WWE does a great job when it comes to supporting our troops.

When I did camps in 2005 I did my best to explain about the basics and fundamentals being the most important part of having a solid foundation.  That and attitude will get you a lot further than knowing how to do 7 hurricaranas, 12 planchas and 41 moonsaults.  

I had the pleasure of attending The Boogey Woogey Man Handsome Jimmy Valiant’s wrestling camp in Shawsville, Va for a book signing and training session.  I have watched and known Jimmy since the early seventies when he wrestled in Houston for Paul Boesch.  It was an honor to wrestle him later when we were both in the Memphis territory.  

Like most veterans from that era, Jimmy has the philosophy that the business should be fun and attitude is everything.  I really enjoyed his camp and Hall of Fame he has set up on the grounds.  It is a wrestling fans dream with pictures from the last four decades on the walls of every major Superstar to come down the pike.  And with Jimmy on the grounds at all time he will take time to talk and answer any question you have.  Check out www.Jimmyvaliant.com for details on the camp, his book and much more.

Of course I still think OVW is the best place for beginners, intermediate and advance wrestlers to hone and refine their skills in Louisville, Ky.  Rip Rogers and Danny Davis,  like Jimmy Valiant, have old school values and teach the “little things” that have become such a lost art today.  Once you understand why you are doing what you’re doing this business is a lot more fun and interesting.  Check out OVW at www.OVWrestling.com for details and information on their latest classes.

I can only hope 2006 brings good health and happiness to those I love and care about.  My wife is still with me after all my mindless and senseless buffoonery.  I have been knocked and cussed out more in 2005 than I can remember.  But that’s OK.  I go back to these so called “promoters” and “world champions” in two towns and I just consider the source.  After all, I’m 46 year old and I never thought I’d make it this far.  I’m really one of the lucky ones.  I’ve lived my dreams and seen a lot more than I could have ever imagined.  

I hope I find something to motivate me to get writing again.  To be honest I really haven’t felt like sitting at the computer  since  Eddie passed away.  A friend passed on a letter from Jamie Cooper in Richardson, TX that had a picture of Eddie, Jamie and I taken at 6:00 AM November 15, 2000 in the Indianapolis airport. I would scan it but I haven’t learned how to do that yet.  It really is a small world and you never know who you’re going to come across.  I believe in karma.  I believe you reap what you sew.

I used to hate Christmas and all it stood for.  I don’t mind it as much these days.   I’m around people I like and we’re going to have a great time.  I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Stay safe out there.  



Dr. Tom Prichard Columns
Latest Headlines
Dr. Tom Prichard: An Open Challenge From The REAL Southern Heavyweight Champion
The Doctor's Note: Promoters, Champions, and a Three Car Garage
The Doctor's Note: Remembering Chris Candido and Returning to the ECW Arena
The Doctor's Note: What's Wrong With The Business?
Ask Dr. Tom Prichard: Heavenly Bodies, ECW, McMahon-Michaels, Ken Kennedy
The Doctor's Note: Back in My Day
Dr. Tom Prichard's 2005 Year End Column
Dr. Tom Discusses Eddie Guerrero
Dr. Tom Prichard on What Makes a Good Coach
Dr. Tom Prichard's "Reminiscing"
Dr. Tom looks at Jim Ross, Johnny Ace, and One of WWE's Biggest Problems
The Debut of Tom Prichard's Doctor's Note

Alphabetical Listing of Guests You Can Hear on...

A

Sivi Afi
Aaron Aguliera
Skandar Akbar
Brent Albright
Ole Anderson
Road Warrior Animal
Tony "T.L. Hopper" Anthony

B

Buff Bagwell
Doug Basham
Paul Bearer
Giant Bernard
Big Daddy V
Eric Bischoff
Steve Blackman
Brian Blair
Tully Blanchard
Nick Bockwinkel
"The Boogeyman" Marty Wright
Bad News Brown
D-Lo Brown
"Jumping" Jim Brunzell
Mike "Simon Dean" Bucci
Bull Buchanan

C

Lance Cade
Christian
John Cena Sr.
Chaz "Headbanger Mosh"
Bryan "Adam Bomb" Clark
Rob Conway
Jim Cornette

Justin Credible

D

D-Ray 3000
Scott D'Amore
Christopher Daniels
Shawn Daivari
Dangerous Danny Davis
Dawn Marie
Damian Demento
Colin Delaney
Brother Devon
Demolition Ax
Demolition Smash
Bill DeMott
Ted DiBiase
J.J. Dillon
Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore
Disco Inferno
Spike Dudley

Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Kenny Dykstra

E

Bobby Eaton
Paul Ellering

Armando Estrada

F

Manny Fernandez
Francine
Mr. Fuji
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk

G

Greg Gagne
Ronnie Garvin
Jackie Gayda
Robert Gibson
Glacier
Sylvain Grenier
Tod Gordon
Zach Gowen
Juventud Guerrera

H

Chalie Haas
Chris Harris
Bruce Hart
Jimmy Hart
Diva Search's Jessica Hatch
Dave Hebner
Earl Hebner
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Jon Heidenreich
Christy Hemme
Hillbilly Jim
Molly Holly
The Honky Tonk Man
Tim Horner
Scotty 2 Hotty
Sam Houston

Mr. Hughes


I

The Iron Sheik
Ivory

J

B.G. James
Jazz
Ahmed Johnson
Judge Jeff Jones
Orlando Jordan

K


Kamala
Kid Kash
Kevin Kelly
Pat "Simon Diamond" Kenney
Ron Killings
Cpl. Kirschner
Kizarny
Kevin Kleinrock
Brian Knobbs
Ivan Koloff

Nikita Koloff


L

Bobby Lashley
Bruno "Harvey Wippleman" Lauer
Jerry "The King" Lawler
"The Total Package" Lex Luger
Buschwhacker Luke

M

Rodney Mack
Magnum T.A.
Balls Mahoney
Dutch Mantell
Rick Martel
Clarence Mason
"Masterpiece" Chris Masters
Robbie McAllister
Rory McAllister
Matt Morgan
Ernest Miller
Missing Link
Father James Mitchell
Mo From Men on a Mission
Sean Mooney
Ricky Morton

Trevor Murdoch

N

Kevin Nash
Nidia

Nunzio

O

One Man Gang
Sonny Onoo
Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff
Oscar From Men on a Mission
Fred "Typhoon/Tugboat/Shockmaster" Ottman
Pierre-Carl Ouellet

Outback Jack

P

Diamond Dallas Page
Ken Patera
Nick Patrick
Thunderbolt Patterson
Jim Powers
Tom Prichard
Ivan Putski

R

Harley Race
Baron Von Raschke
"The Yeti" Ron Reis
Rhino
Dustin Rhodes
Tommy Rich
Rikishi
Paul Roma
"Super Hero in Training" Rosie
Jacques Rougeau
Terri Runnels

Lance Russell


S

Samoa Joe
Bruno Sammartino
Samu
Tito Santana
Dan "The Beast" Severn
Ron Simmons
Elix Skipper
Slick
Tracey Smothers
Al Snow
Sim "Deuce" Snuka
Dennis Stamp
George "The Animal" Steele
Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner
Idol Stevens
The Stro
AJ Styles
Dave "Evad" Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan

T

Dave Taylor
Sylvester Terkay
ECW's Tiffany
Too Cold Scorpio

V

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Jimmy Valiant
Johnny Valiant
Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Sid Vicious
Vito
Nikolai Volkoff


W

 

Y
David Young
Mae Young


Z

Larry Zybszko

Need More Insanity? Join The Club


Top of Page

Universal Wrestling Archives Online Store!

 
All content contained here Copyright 2010 by James Guttman *** World Wrestling Insanity and ClubWWI are not affiliated with any wrestling promotion.