Does Kayfabe Still Live?

If you know anything about professional wrestling, i.e. sports entertainment, you know to never say never when it comes to this business.

There has been a lot of buzz on the Internet the past week or so about the possibility of Percy Pringle, aka Paul Bearer, appearing in Houston this weekend for Wrestlemania 25.

On both his Facebook page and his blog, Pringle has stated that while he did receive an invitation from the WWE to appear in Houston this weekend, he chose to decline the invitation because he had previously scheduled personal and business affairs for Wrestlemania weekend. 

Checking in on Percy's blog today, he talks about being on the soap box and how some fans were "playing Dog The Bounty Hunter" to find Percy because the WWE wanted to contact him and didn't have a current telephone number.

I agree with Percy that the dirt sheets have no idea what they are talking about, but as I am reading all of this, I ask the question, "Does Kayfabe Live?"

Old school wrestling fans are well aware of what this word means, and Percy Pringle himself once had it posted on his website that it was indeed the place where Kayfabe lives.

It was a mere five years ago that Percy Pringle lied, I mean denied, I mean hid behind "kayfabe," when he said for weeks that he would not appear at Wrestlemania XX.  He even went as far as to have a chat room conversation on his message board on both Saturday and Sunday (the day of Wrestlemania) to try to convince fans he was in Sweet Home Alabama and not in New York as so many people believed.

Yet when it was time for the Undertaker to face Kane, what do you know, Percy Pringle as Paul Bearer came to the ring with the 'Taker.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I told the wrestling world for a month that this would happen based on a telephone conversation I had with Percy, which, of course, pissed him off to the hilt, but that's a different story for a different day.

And there he was in all his glory on my television screen as I watched WM XX.

Will Kayfabe live again? Will Paul Bearer appear at WM 25 this weekend in Houston?

I doubt it.  Only Percy and the WWE know for sure if he was even invited or if it's just an attempt to keep his name out there in the world of professional wrestling and to cause his loyal band of fans to ponder, wonder, and wish just like they did five years ago.

Either way, I don't believe Percy Pringle has to do any work to keep his name out there amongst fans.  He is a wrestling icon, both as Percival Pringle III and as Paul Bearer, and his legacy in professional wrestling will not be forgotten, as he is certainly worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the business.

On behalf of everyone here at B/R, I want to continue to wish Percy nothing but the best and continue to offer he and his family my heartfelt sympathy and prayers as he grieves the loss of his wife.

Percy, thank you for the many wonderful memories. From Florida to World Class to the WWE, thank you!  Your legacy will live on forever!