Behind the Scenes with Legends: From Chases to Scaffold Falls

Strap in for a thrill ride through wrestling's golden years! We kick off with hair-raising tales of high-speed chases featuring icons like the Great Muta and Gary Hart. Hear about rain-soaked highways and the nerve-wracking moments that tested the limits of these legends. We also celebrate the unforgettable Howard Finkel, whose professionalism and humor left a lasting impact on everyone backstage, including the APA, whose antics will have you in stitches. Plus, get a quirky detour into a listener's question from Fargo, Florida, that adds an extra layer of humor and intrigue.

Then, we sit down with wrestling legend Tommy Rich at the Superstars Fan Fest in Rome, Georgia, for a heartfelt conversation about the evolution of the industry. Rich takes us back to the 80s, sharing his rock star-like experiences and giving well-deserved shout-outs to influential figures like Bill Apter and Scott Teal. We revisit epic battles with icons like Bruiser Brody and Ricky Steamboat, and get a taste of the intense pressures of one-hour matches with Harley Race. To wrap things up, join us as we dive into the world of wrestling training and memorable matches, including a near-fall from a 24-foot scaffold, and reflect on the camaraderie and joy that define the wrestling community. This episode is a must-listen for any wrestling enthusiast craving a deep dive into the sport's storied past.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Bad boys, bad boys. What you gonna do? What you gonna do when they come for you? Bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna?

Speaker 2: 0:09

do what you gonna do when they come for you. This special edition is filmed on location with the men and women of law enforcement. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Speaker 3: 0:19

In a court of law. The court of law, brother, listen to me. I had the opportunity to ride with the great muda and gary hart. God rest his soul. Gary hart was managing him. Okay, gary hart is tired now he don't want to drive no more. And I guess you know gary didn't know about me. You know I was a driver because back in the day some of the guys like jyd, butch, reed, god rest so they wouldn't even ride in the car unless I was driving. Because I was. You know, they trusted me because I drove everywhere, but anyway, um, so gary didn't want to drive, so gary messed around and let muda drive. Now muda is with it's raining iing Moodle is driving 80, 90 miles an hour. The car is hydroplaning, jumping up and off the water. It's a wonder we didn't crash then. Man God just took care of us. But Moodle don't know. You know he just slides. You know what I mean. What are you?

Speaker 2: 1:18

doing in the car at that time though, teddy.

Speaker 3: 1:25

I mean you've got to be screaming at this point I can't.

Speaker 3: 1:27

I can't say nothing. I'm moving very hard. What the hell am I going to say? And back then you didn't say nothing because if the boys found out you were scared, then they'd really put it on then. So you never let them, you don't never let nobody know you're scared. Howard Finkel oh god, love the Finkel. Oh man, yeah, god, rest his soul too. Man, I miss Howard Finkel. I remember one time he said something in the ring and I looked over at him I was doing this pro. But I said that's not the way you say that. And he looks at me and he says well, I tend to be corrected. You know, he was always professional guys. I loved Howard. He was the guy.

Speaker 2: 2:18

He was always known as the sweetheart too. He was just a real easygoing guy. He didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Is that true?

Speaker 3: 2:25

That's true, man.

Speaker 2: 2:26

That is really true, it's hard to find people like that in the wrestling business.

Speaker 3: 2:31

Yeah, I remember one time we were somewhere I forget where, it might have been Ohio, and that's when the APA was born, and they had this thing they wanted to do with Howard and they wanted to take all of his clothes off. So they want to do with Howard and they want to take all of his clothes off. So he called his wife, he called everybody he was trying to get out of doing that because they had scared him.

Speaker 3: 2:50

They scared him, they told him that the APA was going to bang him. So it was so funny, that night man. But Howard Finkel, God man, he certainly missed.

Speaker 2: 3:00

Y'all messing with that poor guy. Our next question comes from Fargo in Florida. Fargo, that's North Dakota, isn't it? Yeah, I've been there.

Speaker 3: 3:10

Oh really, You've been to Fargo. Yeah, I've been to Fargo, yes.

Speaker 2: 3:14

Okay, I want you to tell me what these fellas look like.

Speaker 3: 3:17

Well, the little guy, he was kind of funny looking In what way, I don't know, just funny looking.

Speaker 2: 3:23

Can you be any more specific?

Speaker 3: 3:25

I couldn't really say he wasn't circumcised, was he funny looking apart from that? Yeah, so you were having sex with a little fella then?

Speaker 2: 3:38

Uh-huh. Is there anything else you can tell me about him?

Speaker 3: 3:42

No, like I say, he was funny looking More than most people, even you betcha, yeah, yeah, but I never forget that we stayed at a Holiday Inn there. Brother, you talk about cold. Somebody call my mama.

Speaker 2: 3:54

Somebody call my mama, somebody call my mama what you say. Mac Davis, live from Superstars Fan Fest in Rome, georgia, and right now one of wrestling's true legends, tommy Rich, how are you?

Speaker 1: 4:09

I'm good man. Thank you for having me, man. I'd like to give a big shout-out to my man Bill Adler man, hey, he wrote a lot of great articles about me, man, and that was back when wrestling was wrestling. Wrestling magazine is how everybody knew about anything. So big shout-out to him. My man Scott magazines how everybody knew about anything. So big shout out to him, my man scott till. Back here too. You know, it's just a pleasure to see the turnout here, man, it's great to be here.

Speaker 2: 4:30

I know that. Uh, you and I actually worked in the ring you're not gonna remember this years ago in dublin, georgia. You used to come down there and do some shows and we worked together back then. A lot of things have changed in wrestling from the old days to today. Is there something missing from today's wrestling that you'd like to see added back?

Speaker 1: 4:49

It's. I call it old school and now it's new school. It's a different time. You know it's changed so much. Old school wrestling fans tell me you know it's changed so much. Man, it's just. I mean, you know, used to we told a story. You know, I think we miss some of the stories. Now it's more flying around than it is.

Speaker 2: 5:09

You know, I've always said that it seems like it's more of an exhibition than it is an actual wrestling match, oh yeah yeah, because it's a lost art.

Speaker 1: 5:18

I mean it's something they don't really teach no more, I don't think you know. So just hey, to get wrestled in the 80s with guys like Bruiser Brody, stan Hanson, chief Wahoo McDaniel. You got Lex Luger, ricky Steamboat I mean these are some of the pioneers. Sergeant Slaughter, tony Atlas I mean they got a who's who's list here. The four horsemen are here. It's been a big turnout, hey, and ain't nothing greater than a wrestling fan. God bless each and every one of you out there. Without y'all, they ain't no us anyway. So God bless and thanks.

Speaker 2: 5:51

One more question for you, Tommy. I'm curious, back at the time when you were really hitting your stride and rolling, what was it like for you at that time? Was it really just a pressure cooker or what?

Speaker 1: 6:01

Oh, we was like rock and roll stars in the 80s, I mean, and we didn't realize it, we just loved wrestling and loved the fans, I mean, and it was just the 80s were cool, man, tommy.

Speaker 2: 6:12

I appreciate it, and anybody wants to get in touch with you. How'd they get in touch with you? Your merchandise, anything I've got a Facebook page.

Speaker 1: 6:18

I had to get it for my wife. She has all that stuff, look up Tommy Rich on Facebook. There you go, hey and, as Freddie Miller would say, don't miss it, be there, be there.

Speaker 3: 6:39

Hey, what's going on here?

Speaker 2: 6:45

I'm trying to find somebody to get us a little video. Alright, I can't take a leak Alright, no problem. What the hell? And pay the damn light bill.

Speaker 4: 6:58

I'm the boogeyman. I'm the boogeyman.

Speaker 5: 7:02

Shhh, oh God, no, Ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I'm Teddy Long Room trip.

Speaker 4: 7:20

After hours. I'm the Cookie man and I'm coming to get ya. He said well, you got the champ tonight. You're making it down to an hour. I looked at George. I said I've never done an hour. He said don't worry, just listen to. Harley. Went out there, did an hour. I looked at George. I said I've never done an hour. He said don't worry, just listen to. Harley Went out there, did the hour.

Speaker 4: 7:43

Come back in the locker room down the stairs sitting at the bottom. I'm by myself. It's a one-hour match, right. All the guys are on their way home. Tommy Young opens the door From the top of the stairs. He goes hey, ricky, I look up. I'm so blowed up I mean I am just. I look back and go yeah, tommy. He goes chance says thanks, you did good, kid. And a year later to the month Raleigh, north Carolina, I got Harley Race. George Scott says you're doing an hour of Broadway. Now, as I told you, my first one hour of Broadway was with Harley Race, right. So I started to think on some Harley Newsoms stuff that he did in the ring. And thank God I did did, because the second time my second one hour the bell goes, ding ding, ding.

Speaker 4: 8:43

I lock up with Harley Race. He looks at me square in the face. He says Kid, you called this one tonight. I'm tired. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Speaker 1: 8:58

Whoa.

Speaker 4: 9:06

What you know. Back in those days, the heels called the match right. I've been a bonafide babyface, never said a word, never called a match and I'm in with the world champ for an hour. You call this one tonight, my legs with to rubber After the match. Same scenario, sitting in the locker room down at the bottom of the stairs in the basement, Tommy Young opens the door. Ricky, yeah, Tommy Chance says thanks. You did good kid.

Speaker 2: 9:43

Mac Davis at the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and one of the teams I grew up with. That was one of my favorites of all time, being from the south the Rock and Roll Express and right with me right now is Robert Gibson. How are you?

Speaker 5: 9:57

I'm doing good, Mac. How are you You're talking about back then. Nowadays, we gotta wear with me right now is Robert Gibson. How are you?

Speaker 2: 10:01

I'm doing good, Mac. How are you You're?

Speaker 5: 10:02

talking about back then. Nowadays we've got to wear this, right? Oh, yeah, here I'll do this.

Speaker 2: 10:04

Yeah, we're down here having a good time. You had a match last night I've heard was really good at the wrestling show. Tell me about that. I guess you would say.

Speaker 5: 10:21

Not that kind of way, but yeah.

Speaker 2: 10:23

First time I met him. There's a story and you may remember this and you probably do, because you do it to everybody. I hear he walks by, I just met him, and he points down at my zipper area and goes hey, hey, hey, zips down, yeah, zips down. And the first thing I do is look down, zip it up and he just starts cracking up laughing.

Speaker 5: 10:38

I think you've got to have a referee in the business Yep and you do the same thing. Tell me what are you up to nowadays, enjoying life?

Speaker 2: 10:46

You've got grandbabies now. I know that. Yeah, I've got some grand. Is that what I remember?

Speaker 5: 10:58

I got four, and one more on the way.

Speaker 2: 11:01

Boy, so you got a handful, cuz I see you with them all the time, so I know you spend a lot of time with them.

Speaker 5: 11:04

Yeah, dang near four of them in the last four years. They're popping out.

Speaker 2: 11:08

How do you continue to stay in shape and get in that wrestling ring and perform?

Speaker 5: 11:12

I just never stopped moving. You just gotta keep moving, moving. I mean, are you in pain? Yeah, I'm in pain every day. You know it's just part of life, but age is a number. If you sit around, uh, I think you got to move, yeah got to be fluent just like you got to keep moving.

Speaker 2: 11:28

If you don't, you're gonna you're gonna just get ruined. Let me ask you've trained a lot of guys. We have talked about this recently. As a matter of fact, uh, one of your trainees I've worked with, are you still training folks, or what's going on?

Speaker 5: 11:39

I've been training on and off. I started back in 06 down in Ohio Valley for WWE back in the day. Out of all the guys I've trained, I've got to say that all of them have become champions.

Speaker 2: 11:53

That's not a bad deal.

Speaker 5: 11:55

All of them have become champions Me and Al Snow. We've seen a lot of them through OVW. The guys you see on TV today, the big stars you see, are my students mine and Al Snow's students.

Speaker 2: 12:06

Now in the days of your wrestling on TV. One thing I noticed you didn't talk a whole lot. Your partner did most of the talking. Was there a reason for that? Was he just that talkative or what?

Speaker 5: 12:14

Well, the reason I'm talking so much now is because he's not damn interrupting me. You know what I'm saying. I try to say something. He loves the camera more than I do.

Speaker 2: 12:24

I know that every interview I've seen he always cuts you off and starts the conversation off and you just kind of sit there going okay.

Speaker 5: 12:29

Yeah, go ahead and write it.

Speaker 2: 12:31

Your favorite time in wrestling?

Speaker 5: 12:34

My favorite time in wrestling, even today, is when I go out there and I can see the small kids smiling and laughing. That's my passion.

Speaker 2: 12:42

Do you have a moment of your career that sticks with you, that you just remember going? Wow? I mean like you're maybe in a building or wrestling a particular individual.

Speaker 5: 12:50

I've got a bunch of them.

Speaker 2: 12:52

I bet, I bet, I bet. I got a bunch of them.

Speaker 5: 12:56

I fell off 14-foot stages. When you come out and hit the spotlight, you walk and you can't see it. I disappeared. The scaffold match with Dennis Condry One of them matches. He goes around my head into the post in one of the corners and as I hit they didn't have it locked. It swung open. Oh no, and I'm 24 feet in the air. It swung open. I saw the floor. I was lucky enough to pull it back, cage back when I did and took my whole fingernail off. I had that pole here. When it came back, I grabbed Dennis by the hair of the head and he probably got the worst end of it.

Speaker 2: 13:30

The scaffold matches. Those were really scary back at that time.

Speaker 5: 13:33

Like I said, when you're that high up and looking over, I couldn't even see the ring up under me.

Speaker 2: 13:39

Jim Cornette got hurt in one of those too, didn't he? He blew both knees out.

Speaker 5: 13:41

He dropped straight down. But I'm talking about up top. Try to see the ring. You cannot see it.

Speaker 2: 13:46

That's not a fun feeling, especially if you don't like heights, and I hate heights.

Speaker 5: 13:50

Yeah, ricky and them. They didn't like it.

Speaker 2: 13:52

I got up there, see what I say. He gives everybody a hard time all the time.

Speaker 5: 14:04

Thank you so much. No-transcript.