What A Card
Chapter One: Philly Fan Lumberjack Match
#PWHS #Article #WhatACard #PhillyFanLumberjack
July 9, 1992 - Danville Advocate-Messenger
Before there was an ECW, there was a Joel Goodhart and his star-laced , gore-laden matches. One dream match I had never seen got me to make a road trip over four hours to Philly. In a eight match extravaganza called Winter Challenge II, two icons were going to battle it out one more time, maybe their last time. On the fifth match of the card I got to see a 66 year old Shiek battle a fifty year old Abdullah the Butcher all over the building.
The Shiek was accompanied by a skinny, ancient fifty-seven year old Bulldog Brower who got his punches in also. As Abby attempted to enter the ring, the Shiek went into “attack mode” as he took his faithful number two unsharpened pencil and started to attempt to pierce the bald dome of Abby. For over 4 minutes The Shiek and Brower completely dominated as Abby did not get one offensive move in. At around the 4 minute mark, Abby picks up a foreign object up from outside the ring and tried to make it a part of the hated Shiek’s forehead. By 05:03 it was ruled a double disqualification but these geriatric stars were only getting warmed up as the blood flowed freely down their foreheads. All over the building they would battle as they only had one thought in mind: send their opponent away wearing a crimson mask.
To this fan who had only seen these two in magazines and a few matches on TV, the whole scene was surreal. It seemed as if it was happening in slow motion (no disrespect to their age). Yet there was a side of me wished for it never to end, as this was probably one of their few last matches; and definitely my last chance to ever see them again. For over 7 minutes they battled after the decision had been determined as even the Goodhart “newbies” came out to make the appearance of trying to keep them apart. It is my recollection that many of them seemed to have lined up to be initiated into “the business” by Abby’s blood-letting skills. To end it all, Abby attacks and pummels Goodhart himself as they pass in the wrestler’s runway.
After seeing the lovely “Woman” (Nancy Sullivan at this time) help DC Drake keep his belt through disqualification, then came the match that was the closest to causing a riot that I have ever attended. The main event was between superstars King Jerry Lawler and Hardcore Icon, ex-World Champion Terry Funk. To add to the excitement, promoter Goodhart had added the stipulation that the ring would be surrounded by twelve fans picked randomly. During the night it had been advertised for people to be considered, sign the legal release. I was thinking that was just a stipulation (or maybe even part of the show), but soon it would be obvious that it was more like a necessity for Goodhart to be free from the possible lawsuits that COULD become a stark reality.
In what would become a role reversal, Funk started the match as the heel character since he was accompanied by the manager-elect for the night, the same Bulldog Brower as earlier. It became obvious immediately why Funk was one of the greatest of all time, as the anticipation level raised several notches even as he made his entrance to the ring; he made an insult laden pre-teen back off in fear as Terry went toward him with his own patented crazed look. This was followed up by Terry ordering and insulting the fan lumberjacks even before the introductions.
The match was good but became secondary to what was happening that was not scripted. Soon the lumberjacks were thinking they were the main reason for the match happening. The fans were applauding loudly as the lumberjacks were increasingly enjoying their notoriety as they energetically helped the wrestlers back into the ring. As many as eight of the twelve lumberjacks would hurriedly run to the fallen, deposited wrestler and thrust them back into the squared circle with emphasis. The heat factor heightened as the Lumberjacks did not worry how they did their job. The crowd laughed as they watched some lumberjacks attempt to push the wrestler back in over the second rope, while at the same time other lumberjacks attempted to push the same wrestler back in UNDER the second rope.
Needless to say, hot tempered Funk did not take to this favorably, and it was obvious to all those in attendance that Lawler was agreeing with Funk’s evaluation. A few of the Lumberjacks were starting to feel invincible and safe. As the tension level was mounting, I could see Terry whisper to Jerry to throw him out of the ring in the direction of specific lumberjacks. Lawler would throw Funk and Terry went flying through the second and third rope with his elbow aiming for the most cocky Lumberjack. There were times Funk would throw Lawler out of the ring and followed him to the floor; not to attack Lawler, but to go after specific lumberjacks. Lawler would even grab Funk in a headlock outside the ring while doing the same with his other arm to a pesky lumberjack.
The end was pure pandemonium. Funk knocked the ref out…throws Lawler out of the ring…Terry takes the ref’s belt and begins to choke Lawler on the ring apron as Lawler has a lumberjack in a death-grip reverse headlock at the same time...Terry jumps over the top rope right in the middle of the melee and goes after the same Lumberjack that Jerry had been choking out…Lawler re-enters the ring while Terry takes the belt and start choking another Lumberjack “star” on the ring apron.
The lumberjack attacks were not random but toward those who had forgotten who were getting the paychecks at the end of the night….it was announced that Terry had been disqualified and Goodhart orders the Lumberjacks to leave. Terry continues his antics by throwing chairs into the ring toward Lawler. This seemed to win the Philly crowd over for some reason as Lawler became the villain by threatening to retaliate from the ring. Little by little, the riot temperature cooled and the Philly crowd was leaving, retelling and reliving the awesome card they had just experienced.
Special note: on the way out, I got to “interview” one of the lumberjacks as we made it out of the auditorium. I asked him what had been told them before the match. He surprised me by telling me they had only been told very simple directions like, “when the wrestler is thrown out of the ring, just help them back in”. They had not been told anything else….period ….just help them back in. These simple directions almost led to a riot as egos between the paid wrestlers and the unpaid lumberjacks collided….literally.
Here is the entire action-packed card that night (and to be honest, seven of the eight matches were very entertaining spectator-wise).
The Shiek was accompanied by a skinny, ancient fifty-seven year old Bulldog Brower who got his punches in also. As Abby attempted to enter the ring, the Shiek went into “attack mode” as he took his faithful number two unsharpened pencil and started to attempt to pierce the bald dome of Abby. For over 4 minutes The Shiek and Brower completely dominated as Abby did not get one offensive move in. At around the 4 minute mark, Abby picks up a foreign object up from outside the ring and tried to make it a part of the hated Shiek’s forehead. By 05:03 it was ruled a double disqualification but these geriatric stars were only getting warmed up as the blood flowed freely down their foreheads. All over the building they would battle as they only had one thought in mind: send their opponent away wearing a crimson mask.
To this fan who had only seen these two in magazines and a few matches on TV, the whole scene was surreal. It seemed as if it was happening in slow motion (no disrespect to their age). Yet there was a side of me wished for it never to end, as this was probably one of their few last matches; and definitely my last chance to ever see them again. For over 7 minutes they battled after the decision had been determined as even the Goodhart “newbies” came out to make the appearance of trying to keep them apart. It is my recollection that many of them seemed to have lined up to be initiated into “the business” by Abby’s blood-letting skills. To end it all, Abby attacks and pummels Goodhart himself as they pass in the wrestler’s runway.
After seeing the lovely “Woman” (Nancy Sullivan at this time) help DC Drake keep his belt through disqualification, then came the match that was the closest to causing a riot that I have ever attended. The main event was between superstars King Jerry Lawler and Hardcore Icon, ex-World Champion Terry Funk. To add to the excitement, promoter Goodhart had added the stipulation that the ring would be surrounded by twelve fans picked randomly. During the night it had been advertised for people to be considered, sign the legal release. I was thinking that was just a stipulation (or maybe even part of the show), but soon it would be obvious that it was more like a necessity for Goodhart to be free from the possible lawsuits that COULD become a stark reality.
In what would become a role reversal, Funk started the match as the heel character since he was accompanied by the manager-elect for the night, the same Bulldog Brower as earlier. It became obvious immediately why Funk was one of the greatest of all time, as the anticipation level raised several notches even as he made his entrance to the ring; he made an insult laden pre-teen back off in fear as Terry went toward him with his own patented crazed look. This was followed up by Terry ordering and insulting the fan lumberjacks even before the introductions.
The match was good but became secondary to what was happening that was not scripted. Soon the lumberjacks were thinking they were the main reason for the match happening. The fans were applauding loudly as the lumberjacks were increasingly enjoying their notoriety as they energetically helped the wrestlers back into the ring. As many as eight of the twelve lumberjacks would hurriedly run to the fallen, deposited wrestler and thrust them back into the squared circle with emphasis. The heat factor heightened as the Lumberjacks did not worry how they did their job. The crowd laughed as they watched some lumberjacks attempt to push the wrestler back in over the second rope, while at the same time other lumberjacks attempted to push the same wrestler back in UNDER the second rope.
Needless to say, hot tempered Funk did not take to this favorably, and it was obvious to all those in attendance that Lawler was agreeing with Funk’s evaluation. A few of the Lumberjacks were starting to feel invincible and safe. As the tension level was mounting, I could see Terry whisper to Jerry to throw him out of the ring in the direction of specific lumberjacks. Lawler would throw Funk and Terry went flying through the second and third rope with his elbow aiming for the most cocky Lumberjack. There were times Funk would throw Lawler out of the ring and followed him to the floor; not to attack Lawler, but to go after specific lumberjacks. Lawler would even grab Funk in a headlock outside the ring while doing the same with his other arm to a pesky lumberjack.
The end was pure pandemonium. Funk knocked the ref out…throws Lawler out of the ring…Terry takes the ref’s belt and begins to choke Lawler on the ring apron as Lawler has a lumberjack in a death-grip reverse headlock at the same time...Terry jumps over the top rope right in the middle of the melee and goes after the same Lumberjack that Jerry had been choking out…Lawler re-enters the ring while Terry takes the belt and start choking another Lumberjack “star” on the ring apron.
The lumberjack attacks were not random but toward those who had forgotten who were getting the paychecks at the end of the night….it was announced that Terry had been disqualified and Goodhart orders the Lumberjacks to leave. Terry continues his antics by throwing chairs into the ring toward Lawler. This seemed to win the Philly crowd over for some reason as Lawler became the villain by threatening to retaliate from the ring. Little by little, the riot temperature cooled and the Philly crowd was leaving, retelling and reliving the awesome card they had just experienced.
Special note: on the way out, I got to “interview” one of the lumberjacks as we made it out of the auditorium. I asked him what had been told them before the match. He surprised me by telling me they had only been told very simple directions like, “when the wrestler is thrown out of the ring, just help them back in”. They had not been told anything else….period ….just help them back in. These simple directions almost led to a riot as egos between the paid wrestlers and the unpaid lumberjacks collided….literally.
Here is the entire action-packed card that night (and to be honest, seven of the eight matches were very entertaining spectator-wise).
Winter Challenge II - March 2, 1991
Penn Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,735 ($32,629)
1 - Al Perez pinned Stan Lane (with Jim Cornette)
(00:13:08)
2 - Ringmaster Rumble
JT Smith won. Also in the match were: Don E. Allen, Bulldog Brower Jr., Michael Bruno, Cry Baby Waldo,
Ghetto Blaster, Hoss, Jimmy Jannetty, Johnny O, Glenn Osbourne, Rick Perez, CN Redd, Rockin' Rebel,
John Rock, Sabu, Sandman, Wild Child, and Larry Winters
3 - Russian Chain Match
Ivan Koloff beat Manny Fernandez
(00:09:19)
4 - Falls Count Anywhere
Cactus Jack pinned Eddie Gilbert
(00:12:23)
5 - The Shiek Double Disqualification with Abdullah the Butcher
(00:05:03)
6 - Barbed Wire Match
Tony Stetson pinned Johnny Hotbody
(00:12:57)
7 - TWA Championship
JT Smith beat by Disqualification DC Drake (c)
(00:18:26)
8 - USWA Unified Championship - Fan Participation Lumbjack Match
Jerry Lawler beat by Disqualification Terry Funk (c)
(00:11:39)
Penn Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,735 ($32,629)
1 - Al Perez pinned Stan Lane (with Jim Cornette)
(00:13:08)
2 - Ringmaster Rumble
JT Smith won. Also in the match were: Don E. Allen, Bulldog Brower Jr., Michael Bruno, Cry Baby Waldo,
Ghetto Blaster, Hoss, Jimmy Jannetty, Johnny O, Glenn Osbourne, Rick Perez, CN Redd, Rockin' Rebel,
John Rock, Sabu, Sandman, Wild Child, and Larry Winters
3 - Russian Chain Match
Ivan Koloff beat Manny Fernandez
(00:09:19)
4 - Falls Count Anywhere
Cactus Jack pinned Eddie Gilbert
(00:12:23)
5 - The Shiek Double Disqualification with Abdullah the Butcher
(00:05:03)
6 - Barbed Wire Match
Tony Stetson pinned Johnny Hotbody
(00:12:57)
7 - TWA Championship
JT Smith beat by Disqualification DC Drake (c)
(00:18:26)
8 - USWA Unified Championship - Fan Participation Lumbjack Match
Jerry Lawler beat by Disqualification Terry Funk (c)
(00:11:39)
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
What A Card: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #32.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
What A Card: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #32.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
What A Card: Chapter Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.