A Father's Day Tale: Generations of Sons Touched by Pro Wrestling

Hello everyone. As always, thanks for spending some time with me, today.

As today is Father’s Day, I would like to first say happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Also, make sure you call them and do the same.

My father was a very special man to me. He has helped me to learn kindness, good values, and taught me patience.

He was a hard working man who never complained about working long hours and sometimes having to work two or three jobs at a time.

When I was young, I didn’t get to see him much and this would always hurt me. Knowing what I know now though, I thank God every day he was in my life.

My dad has given me a lot of things over the years things like good advise, love when needed, shelter, just to mention a few.

One of the things he gave me that I treasure the most is pro wrestling. To this day we share this passion together. We still go to shows together, we heckle the wrestlers and cheer when the action is hot.

I would like to share with you people the story of how my father gave me this gift.

I dedicate this article to my father. I love you with all my heart and always will. Happy Father's Day dad, you are a great one.

In 1981, I was six years old. Both my parents were in the military so we traveled a lot. Well, our ventures at that time had us in Greenville, South Carolina. It was there my uncle and dad took me to my first wrestling match. The only memories I have of it was that it was smoky and smelled bad in the arena.

I knew I was hooked after seeing a pair of future legends go at it. Come to find out those guys were Ric Flair and Dory Funk Jr.; I still have the programs to prove it. 

I will be honest, the only two guys I remember were Jack Veneno and Harley Race and that's only because they were two of my dad’s favorites. It would be the beginning, in my young life, to a long run as a wrestling fan.

We moved to Maryland in late 1982. At this point, my mom and I had an all-out war. She hated wrestling and thought it would be a bad influence on me. So, needless to say, I wasn't allowed to watch it at all.

The only time I got to watch wrestling was at my friend’s house so I wouldn't get caught.

She may have thought she won the war, but to my surprise I had a secret source—my dad. You see, my dad was home more often being stationed in Maryland. So many times he would sneak me home the latest issues of the wrestling magazines. It was then my eyes were really opened.

I discovered that not only was there the NWA but the AWA and the WWWF. My mind was blown away. Who was this Bockwinkel fellow? Hulk who? Needless to say, I spent many a night under the covers reading so my mom wouldn't catch me.

She would always seem to find the mags and toss them in the trash, though. Little did she know that it was too late. I was hooked.

In 1986, I moved to Connecticut. That was when I was in wrestling heaven. I was smack dab in WWF land. I drooled at the prospect of finally getting to see all the wrestlers I always read about.

What made it even better was wrestling was on three times a week. I got to see the likes of Rowdy Piper, Randy Savage, and Junk Yard Dog. It totally ruled.

Things would only get better when I learned my dad was still as big a wrestling fan as I was. He took me to my first WWF show in 1987. I saw the Hart Foundation, Jake Roberts, and Randy Savage live.

I thought I had died and went to heaven that night. He knew it wasn’t real but he would never spoil the fun for me. He would cheer and jeer with me the whole time.

Luck was on my side but not for my dad. In 1990, he lost his job and for a short time he had to drive the limos. As fate would have it, he drove limos for the WWF.

I got to meet guys like Randy Savage and The Undertaker because he would get tickets for free and he was cool with most of the wrestlers.

From 1992 to 1996 was when I was more into chicks, beer, and tunes. So sadly, I missed most of Bret Hart's greatest moments. I watch them now on WWE Demand, but it’s not the same.

In 1997, I just happened to be cruising the tube and I popped on WCW Nitro. For the first time, I saw Chris Jericho.

He cut a promo that almost made me piss my pants. As they would say, the rest is history. This would bring my passion back for wrestling, and just like when I was a boy, my dad and I went to shows together again.

I guess my love for wrestling never went away. It just hid for a while waiting for the right moment to jump out and yell surprise.

My dad planted a seed in me that grew into a passion that I still have today.

I planted the seed in my son’s eyes for the squared circle. My hope is that he will get the pleasure that my dad gave me watching wrestling all these years.

That will ultimately be up to him, though. For the record, his favorite wrestler is The Undertaker.

I have my kids, my old lady, and wrestling. Wrestling causes me no pain; I hear no complaints, and I can always count on some rasslin' to put a smile in this getting-older goofball's face.

The only difference between now and when I was a kid, is this time it's my dad, my son and myself who go to the shows. Also, like when I was a kid, we heckle, laugh and have a good time.

I would like to say again, happy Father's Day to everyone, especially my dad.

Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoyed it. Good night and God bless.