Lee B.

Ordered! Can't wait to watch this with my neighbor who went to the show with me, and my neighbors who didn't go.

I don't want to restrict anyone's freedom of expression, but I also recall a road report where Dean ended up being offended by crude (and homophobic?) promos from the wrestlers. (Maybe an Ian Rotten show?) Dean was a family man, and I am bringing a neighbor who is pro wrestling-curious, as well as the neighbor's 18-year-old son. So I'm all for enthusiasm and audience participation, even colorful audience participation, but I hope it doesn't get embarrassing for me. If anyone feels the need to cover my ears, I'll be in a front-row seat wearing a Ken the Box DVDVR shirt. Can't wait to see the show and some old friends, and honor the memory of Dean!

To continue with the Windy City Wrestling memories, an interview with one of Sam DeCero's students (and a distant relative of Tully Blanchard) has been (re)published on the Professional Wrestling Studies Association's website: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/09/07/before-shoot-interviews-trevor-blanchard/

Hi all! Part 2 of my 1992 interview with Windy City Wresting promoter Sam DeCero has been (re)published on the Professional Wrestling Studies Association's website: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/07/12/before-shoot-interviews-sam-decero-part-2/ Thanks, Lee

Part 1 of my 1992 interview with Windy City Wresting promoter Sam DeCero has been (re)published on the Professional Wrestling Studies Association's website: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/05/25/before-shoot-interviews-sam-decero-part-1/ Enjoy!

I just learned of Dean's passing today and am so sad. I hadn't seen Dean for many years but greatly enjoyed reading his AEW show recaps each week. I attended a few shows with Dean, Phil, Tom and other great fellows in the 2000s, including a Manassas, VA, ROH show in 2008 that is recapped on Segunda Caida. Dean was a hilarious and prolific writer who never failed to make me smile if not laugh when reading his enthusiastic prose. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Take care all. --Lee

My 1992 interview with Marc Mero (aka Johnny B. Badd) has been (re)published on the Professional Wrestling Studies Association's website: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/03/30/before-shoot-interviews-marc-mero/ Cheers, Lee

That would be great! If you didn't publish at the time, maybe you could dust it off and publish it with the Professional Wrestling Studies Association's journal. Best, Lee

Despite the lack of Possum content, I still think Wrestleposium IV is worth checking out! Cheers, Lee

The Professional Wrestling Studies Association (PWSA) is hosting WrestlePosium IV, which will be taking place on Zoom next Saturday, April 1st from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. Panel topics include: Actual Health, Injuries, and Illness as a Result of Pro Wrestling Representations of Health, Injury, and Illness in Professional Wrestling Wrestling in Cyberspace and Beyond Wrestling in Academia and Overseas Abraham Reisman, author of "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee" and the upcoming "Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America", will provide the academic keynote address. Mike Lackey, who wrote the WCW comic published by Marvel comics in 1992-1993, will provide the professional keynote address. [Personal note: I worked in the same office for a short time as Mike Lackey when I was an intern at Marvel Comics in 1990. I invited Mike to speak, and he told me: "my talk will be about wrestlers as superheroes. Working with Turner licensing, and experiences with Scott Hall & Marc Mero. All good, fun, positive stories with some good laughs." I am really looking forward to Mike's talk!] You can find more information and register for free at https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/wrestleposium-iv-april-1-2023/. Best regards, Lee Benaka PWSA Non-Academic Representative

Who needs some Ox Baker? Who doesn't need some Ox Baker? Please take a minute to check out my 1991 interview with Mr. Baker, where he shared the origin of his deadly Heart Punch and his professional aspirations for the 1990s: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/02/16/before-shoot-interviews-ox-baker/

Happy New Year! The first 2023 posting of my "enhanced" interviews from 1991-1992 is now up on the The Professional Wrestling Studies Association's website. This interview is with Joel Goodhart, who promoted "extreme wrestling" in Philadelphia before ECW: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2023/01/04/before-shoot-interviews-joel-goodhart/ As you will see in the interview, Mr. Goodhart used the original Sheik in his shows. These shows occurred at the tail end of the Sheik's career, as documented in Brian R. Solomon's great 2022 Sheik bio Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling's Original Sheik. In fact, I recently finished reading my copy of the Sheik book, so if anyone wants me to mail my copy to them (U.S. addresses only!), please send me a message through this website. Thanks, Lee

We have gone to a monthly interview-posting schedule at the Professional Wrestling Studies Association website, and this month's entry is my 1991 interview with "Pretty Boy" Larry Sharpe, WWWF wrestler and, more notably, founder of The Monster Factory wrestling school: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2022/11/24/before-shoot-interviews-pretty-boy-larry-sharpe/

Some of the wrestlers I interviewed from 1991-1992, such as Jeff Jarrett, went on to be fairly big stars, and some didn't. USWA prelim wrestler Cat Garrett is an example of someone who has faded into obscurity, but Mr. Garrett had a lot of hopes for his wrestling career when I talked to him at the Mid-South Coliseum in 1992: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2022/10/18/before-shoot-interviews-cat-garrett/

The Professional Wrestling Studies Association has posted my 1992 interview with Jeff Jarrett, conducted at the Mid-South Coliseum before the start of the night's matches: https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/2022/09/14/before-shoot-interviews-jeff-jarrett/ The main event was a wild and memorable brawl between the Moondogs and Jeff, Jerry Lawler, and Eric Embry, which ended with a Moondog throwing "battery acid" in the face of Embry! I seem to recall seeing burn marks on Eric's face as he was helped to the back, or maybe Eric's convincing selling made me believe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbomhzyIFoo