A Weekend at the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame

In a sport built on secrecy, it is the best kept secret in professional wrestling. It is the Professional Wrestling Hall Of Fame in Amserdam, NY.

If you're not familiar with Amserdam, NY, consider yourself normal. Nobody visits Amsterdam without a specific purpose and the only purpose is the PWHF.

Every year, usually the third weekend in May, new members are inducted into the hall. They are broken up into eras. The pioneer era centers around the earliest of pro-wrestlers in the 40s and 50s. Then there's the television era, modern era, international and so on.

Amsterdam is nearly an hour from any airport. You can start on one end of main street, run and be on the other end in under a minute. A lot of places only accept cash and diners have a sign out front that says portable bathrooms around back. It isn't glamorous, but the small simple setting makes this experience all the more enjoyable.

After the 400-plus mile drive, we arrived in Amsterdam. The entire town is taken over by the wrestling crowd. The interesting element of this weekend is nearly everybody there has some connection to the wrestling business. Whether you're a wrestler, related to a wrestler, promoter, journalist, most everybody knows each other's name.

An Actual Hall for the Hall of Fame

The first thing I did as soon as checking in at the hotel was walk a block over on to main street where the actual PWHF is located. Yes, there is a physical location unlike WWE's. I spent about 40 minutes in there until they kicked me out for closing time. I could have spent many more hours there. It's a couple floors and rooms with endless pictures of wrestlers of all eras.

Everything in this building (they bought the building next to it to expand because they are gaining so much material) is donated by those in the business or by the fans.

If you're a true wrestling fan that appreciates the art and history, you must visit this once in your life.

Touching the Blood, Sweat and Tears....Literally

The PWHF location features mannequins wearing wrestlers gear which was donated: Bam Bam Bigelow's pants, Mankind's' full attire, Fabulous Freebirds' vests and many more.

It is cool because you know what was worn in some very famous matches are within an arm's reach. Characters such as Mankind or Cactus Jack wore the same thing every match, so I don't know what specific matches this physical wardrobe was featured in, but still, it's hardcore history!

Posing as a Four Horsemen with an Actual Four Horsemen

As I said earlier, it's a very exclusive feel the entire weekend. Legendary manager JJ Dillon was there to induct Jim Cornette in the PWHF.

This picture was taken at our little hotel bar which was the headquarters for a weekend of social life.

JJ Dillon is a fascinating guy to talk to or read. I mentioned I wanted to read his book which I had heard great things about. He was nice enough to save one for me at the end of the weekend. It's called "Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls." I've read half of it in the past couple days, a must read!

2 Wrestling Legends Together

This is probably the picture I'm proudest to have from the weekend. Myself along with Dominic DeNucci and Bruno Sammartino.

Two of the most legendary names in professional wrestling in one picture. DeNucci was the main reason I initially made plans months ago to come to the PWHF.

I helped promote a PWHF fundraiser which was a lunch and roast of DeNucci in 2011. It was there I got to know him, followed by more conversation when he came in the studio for my radio show. He is a wonderful person.

Sammartino was there to finally pick up the PWHF ring which was awarded to him nearly 10 years ago when he was inducted. He is one of the few guys you can refer to by one name in wrestling and everybody knows!

Let's See Who Can Make Tony Atlas Laugh the Hardest!

Tony Atlas is in great shape. He's also an entertaining personality. You won't find another quite like him. I can't go in to great detail right now but he is a nice guy. He also put on his boots for an independent show on the first night of this weekend in NY and the guy can still go for being over 60.

If you've seen Tony in the last few years on WWE programming, you know they like to exploit his unique laugh. It makes for a good competition in the bar to see who can get him to laugh the hardest.

Which Doink Is This?

This is Doink played by Ray Apollo.

The history of who and why has played the Doink character is an entire article on its own. Matt Borne was the original Doink in WWF. After Borne left WWE in 1995, a few played it briefly but eventually Apollo was the guy brought in to play it regularly and continued to do so over the years.

Gotta love keeping the character alive as this picture was taken at the induction awards banquet dinner. Sadly, when we got to the bar, he wasn't in makeup anymore. I was hoping to take a picture doing a shot with Doink.

Before There Were Divas, There Was Wendi Richter

Here is Wendi Richter and I at the awards banquet. She was one of the original divas in the modern era of wrestling.

Another interesting person to talk to as she has completely left the wrestling business and got a degree in Occupational Therapy. She says she is making more money now than she ever did in wrestling. Good for her!

Congratulations!

As I said before, DeNucci was the main reason I initially decided to come up for the PWHF 2012 inductions.

This picture is with him just after receiving his PWHF ring. In addition to the schedule induction, Mick Foley, who DeNucci trained, showed up as a last minute surprise to be there for the ceremony.

Even though I've only known him for less than a year, I felt honored to be there for his induction and for him to personally thank me for making the trip.

I am already excited for next year. I'm hoping to work with the PWHF in terms of helping raise money for this wonderful non-profit organization.

I grew up around the wrestling business and backstage since I was a kid. It was always a goal to be able to support myself via wrestling. I'm fortunate enough to say it's not the only genre I'm involved with, but I could live off of it if I had too.

Sometimes its busy schedule can affect the rest of my life and how much I enjoy watching it. A weekend with this fraternity of class acts was a perfect reminder of why I wanted to be apart of this in the first place.

More information about them can be found at PWHF.org.

Follow @JustinLaBar