Getting Into The Business
Chapter One: Sid, Jimmy Valiant, Adrian Street, Bob Backlund and Roddy Piper
#PWHS #StorytimeOnSunday #SOS #Article #WGD #GettingIntoTheBusiness
Sid Vicious
"I was a farmer. I worked on a farm pretty much my whole life until I got into wrestling. I didn't know until I was older that there were other territories other than Memphis territory.
To go from working in the fields on a tractor to the main event at Madison Square Garden, I don't think people can realize the culture shock that is."
"The Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant
"When I started out, it was a very close knit fraternity of wrestlers. It was almost impossible to get in.
The only way you could get in was if one of the pros, the old-timers, would bring you in and introduce you...and then they would accept you and take you under their wing. They’d accept you...if you weren’t a wise-guy...
If you were a hard guy and, you know, real cocky, that didn’t go over. Hey, be cocky in the ring when you go out there…but not cocky when you’re in the dressing room and believing your own publicity.
But if they accepted you, brother…you were in.
But if they didn’t...believe me brother, you wouldn’t have a chance!
Because for one thing, the old-timers, brother, they had the cauliflower ears and the twenty inch necks, and man, they’d actually hurt you.
They’d break your arm; break your leg; break your neck. Man, you would leave our business running out the door with your tail between your legs…"
"I was a farmer. I worked on a farm pretty much my whole life until I got into wrestling. I didn't know until I was older that there were other territories other than Memphis territory.
To go from working in the fields on a tractor to the main event at Madison Square Garden, I don't think people can realize the culture shock that is."
"The Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant
"When I started out, it was a very close knit fraternity of wrestlers. It was almost impossible to get in.
The only way you could get in was if one of the pros, the old-timers, would bring you in and introduce you...and then they would accept you and take you under their wing. They’d accept you...if you weren’t a wise-guy...
If you were a hard guy and, you know, real cocky, that didn’t go over. Hey, be cocky in the ring when you go out there…but not cocky when you’re in the dressing room and believing your own publicity.
But if they accepted you, brother…you were in.
But if they didn’t...believe me brother, you wouldn’t have a chance!
Because for one thing, the old-timers, brother, they had the cauliflower ears and the twenty inch necks, and man, they’d actually hurt you.
They’d break your arm; break your leg; break your neck. Man, you would leave our business running out the door with your tail between your legs…"
"Exotic" Adrian Street
"I dyed my hair blonde, I bedecked myself out in powder-blue velvet, matching boots and matching trunks.
I had a 48 and a half inch chest. 27-inch waist. A great tan. When I walked out I imagined I looked like Buddy Rogers...
But people in Britain were a lot more conservative then.
I imagined [the people] going, 'Oh wow,' and 'What a great looking wrestler...'
Instead, I got everybody screaming [mockingly] 'Ooh, isn't she pretty', 'Ooh give us a kiss, Mary', and all that kind of stuff.
It pissed me off big time.
But I wasn't going to show the people how disgruntled and disappointed I was at their response. Instead I sort of acted the part...started blowing kisses and [skipping] about.
I remember going back in the dressing room night after night after night, thinking to myself, 'What's wrong with these people?'
I didn't expect that reaction...but then that word 'reaction' kind of stuck in my mind.
I thought to myself, 'Well...that wasn't the reaction I was looking for, but damn, none of the other guys are getting anything like that...'
I thought to myself, 'Well...if that's what you silly bastards want, that's what you'll get,' and it just evolved from there."
Bob Backlund
"I started training in Minneapolis. There's a place there called the 7th street gym. they had a ring in the back of this weight lifting gym where they trained people at night. I was there lifting weights and there was some people there from the old AWA and they asked me to train 'cos they knew I wrestled in college and I was doing pretty good with the weightlifting as far as strength...so they were pretty interested in me being with them.
I joined up with them and I trained for about 6-8 months. Finally I finished up the training, which was pretty rough, and I sent some pictures out to different promoters all over the country.
On February 20th of 1978 I wrestled Billy 'Superstar' Graham in Madison Square garden.
After that match I became the WWF Champion.
I was really worried prior to that match if the people were gonna accept me. I came from Princeton, Minnesota, which is a real small town. There's only 2500 people in the town.
There was 2,700 people in Madison Square Garden that night..."
"I dyed my hair blonde, I bedecked myself out in powder-blue velvet, matching boots and matching trunks.
I had a 48 and a half inch chest. 27-inch waist. A great tan. When I walked out I imagined I looked like Buddy Rogers...
But people in Britain were a lot more conservative then.
I imagined [the people] going, 'Oh wow,' and 'What a great looking wrestler...'
Instead, I got everybody screaming [mockingly] 'Ooh, isn't she pretty', 'Ooh give us a kiss, Mary', and all that kind of stuff.
It pissed me off big time.
But I wasn't going to show the people how disgruntled and disappointed I was at their response. Instead I sort of acted the part...started blowing kisses and [skipping] about.
I remember going back in the dressing room night after night after night, thinking to myself, 'What's wrong with these people?'
I didn't expect that reaction...but then that word 'reaction' kind of stuck in my mind.
I thought to myself, 'Well...that wasn't the reaction I was looking for, but damn, none of the other guys are getting anything like that...'
I thought to myself, 'Well...if that's what you silly bastards want, that's what you'll get,' and it just evolved from there."
Bob Backlund
"I started training in Minneapolis. There's a place there called the 7th street gym. they had a ring in the back of this weight lifting gym where they trained people at night. I was there lifting weights and there was some people there from the old AWA and they asked me to train 'cos they knew I wrestled in college and I was doing pretty good with the weightlifting as far as strength...so they were pretty interested in me being with them.
I joined up with them and I trained for about 6-8 months. Finally I finished up the training, which was pretty rough, and I sent some pictures out to different promoters all over the country.
On February 20th of 1978 I wrestled Billy 'Superstar' Graham in Madison Square garden.
After that match I became the WWF Champion.
I was really worried prior to that match if the people were gonna accept me. I came from Princeton, Minnesota, which is a real small town. There's only 2500 people in the town.
There was 2,700 people in Madison Square Garden that night..."
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
"I'd never seen a professional wrestling match.
First one I saw, I was in.
It was just an accident.
I left home when I was 13. When I was 15 I was living in a youth hostel and I was the 167-pound amateur wrestling champion. My coach came up to me one day and told me how there was going to be a wrestling match, but Larry Hennig's opponent missed his plane.
He told me I'd lose my amateur status but he could get me $20...
I'm sure it has to be the shortest match in the history of the Winnipeg Arena.
No joke, the bell went ding, and the match lasted about ten seconds...and that includes the referee counting to three. (laughs)
I walked in the back after the match and my nose was broken. The promoter comes up to me and says, 'Kid you did great, how would you like to go to Kansas City?'
I said, 'Is Larry Hennig going to be there?' (laughs)
They put me in a van and here I am.
What's funny is, when I was coming down the aisle, the announcer didn't know who I was because I was a substitute. My pipe band was playing me down, just as a kind gesture - and so the guy says, 'Ladies and gentleman, here he comes…Roddy The Piper!'
That's how it all started.
I'm 15-16 years old, coming into the locker room with a kilt on...it's a little bit of a tough gig.
In Texas I'd hear, 'Martha, what's that boy doing with that cat...and why is he wearing a dress?'" (laughs)
"I'd never seen a professional wrestling match.
First one I saw, I was in.
It was just an accident.
I left home when I was 13. When I was 15 I was living in a youth hostel and I was the 167-pound amateur wrestling champion. My coach came up to me one day and told me how there was going to be a wrestling match, but Larry Hennig's opponent missed his plane.
He told me I'd lose my amateur status but he could get me $20...
I'm sure it has to be the shortest match in the history of the Winnipeg Arena.
No joke, the bell went ding, and the match lasted about ten seconds...and that includes the referee counting to three. (laughs)
I walked in the back after the match and my nose was broken. The promoter comes up to me and says, 'Kid you did great, how would you like to go to Kansas City?'
I said, 'Is Larry Hennig going to be there?' (laughs)
They put me in a van and here I am.
What's funny is, when I was coming down the aisle, the announcer didn't know who I was because I was a substitute. My pipe band was playing me down, just as a kind gesture - and so the guy says, 'Ladies and gentleman, here he comes…Roddy The Piper!'
That's how it all started.
I'm 15-16 years old, coming into the locker room with a kilt on...it's a little bit of a tough gig.
In Texas I'd hear, 'Martha, what's that boy doing with that cat...and why is he wearing a dress?'" (laughs)
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
#StorytimeOnSunday - Getting Into The Business: Chapter One.
Author: Matt Pender (of Wrestling's Glory Days).
Published: May 27, 2018.
Article: #197.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
#StorytimeOnSunday - Getting Into The Business: Chapter One.
Author: Matt Pender (of Wrestling's Glory Days).
Published: May 27, 2018.
Article: #197.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Sources
In Your Head Radio
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
"Changing Perceptions"
YouTube (from an account since removed)
IGN - Interviewed by J.Robinson
In Your Head Radio
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
"Changing Perceptions"
YouTube (from an account since removed)
IGN - Interviewed by J.Robinson
Other articles by Matt Pender can be Read Here.