Candy Jones - Portland Wrestling Fan! - Photos and Story

Candy Jones and I were Portland Sports Arena fans around the same time.  She's even got some photos that prove we were probably standing very close together on a certain night! 😊  She shared some of those great photos on the Fans of Portland Wrestling Group on Facebook recently, and I asked if I could share them here too.  Hopefully, we can get her to share more of her amazing collection in the future.  

If you have photos or stories and want to share, email me at Sunyday76@aol.com! 

Scott Peterson on his way into the arena.

Steve Doll headed to the ring!  Candy usually sat ringside! (This is me being jealous!)

Steve Doll standing by the ring.

Scott Peterson

Scott Peterson, Steve Doll and Top Gun in the ring at the auto show.

Brian Adams and Scott Peterson standing by the locker rooms.

This is my photo from that same night!  

Candy in the hospital at 13 with two surprise visitors.

The nurse saw her wrestling t-shirt and photos and made a call that got Steve and Top Gun to come visit.  Candy says that Steve recognized her and said, "Oh my goodness, Candy, I didn't realize it was you, sweetheart."  Steve was always so great with the fans!

Candy and Art Barr at the Sports Arena.

Nord the Barbarian Poster 1988 - "Don't Make Your Payment... THEN I CARE!" + Day In The Life Video!

 Thanks to Curtis, @RetroGamingHippie3720 on YouTube, for sharing this awesome poster! 

This is a promotional item from Nord Motors!  John Nord, "The Barbarian," and his family owned a car dealership in Minnesota.  

June 13, 1987 - Steve Doll Debuts in Portland Wrestling - Video, Photo, Clipping and Program

 

Steve Doll started his career in Mid-South wrestling in October of 1985. In September of '86, he started wrestling in World Class, and then came to Portland on June 13, 1987. He didn't have much time on the microphone before Portland, so the interview is a little awkward, but it didn't take him long to find his style and build a HUGE fanbase here in the Northwest! June 13, 1987. Steve Doll debuts in Portland Wrestling. I was already a big fan. I'd seen Steve on World Class some months before. We'd just gotten cable on a day when I was home sick from school. I was flipping around the amazing number of 36 channels, and came across World Class on ESPN. My previous favorite wrestler was Steve Simpson, and I heard his name, so I stayed to watch. I saw Steve wrestle for the first time, and suddenly I had a new favorite! I was conveniently sick every Wednesday so I could watch at 1pm, until we got a VCR and I could record it. We went to the Sports Arena on the kids' free night that was closest to my birthday. When we got there, I got my program and looked inside and saw the little graphic that said, "We welcome newcomer Steve Doll!" I was so excited! My favorite wrestler, here!! I'd missed the announcement the week before. I got the chance to talk to him and get his autograph. He told me that it was the first autograph he signed in Portland! I excitedly told him that he was my favorite wrestler and I had been watching him on World Class. He was all smiles and seemed really excited to be there. He won his match against the Mighty Sputnik as well as the Battle Royal that evening.

From the Oregonian 6/13/1987

Steve won the Battle Royal!

10-7-88 Going To the Mat, A Beginner's Guide to Pro Wrestling - Oregonian Feature Article

This crap article was published in the Oregonian on October 7, 1988.

The reporter was clearly not a wrestling fan.

Portland Wrestling Program - June 13, 1981 - Father & Son v The Army

Thanks to Curtis, @RetroGamingHippie3720 on YouTube, for sharing 

this awesome program! 

 

Portland Wrestling 6/4/88 - Scott Peterson v Avalanche - It's My Birthday! - Video, Photos, Program, Story

 

In 1988, my mom wrote a letter to Steve Doll asking him to come to my birthday. Yes, she did that! I don't know what she wrote in the letter, and she doesn't remember, but whatever it was must have touched his heart.

I remember sitting in the house with my friends, wondering why we weren't outside, but my mom insisted that we sit inside and watch a movie. She made sure I was sitting by the front door, and I noticed when a little yellow '77 Mustang pulled up in front of the house. I immediately recognized it as Steve's car. A blonde gal got out and was walking up to the door, and I said, "Someone is here, and she has a car like Steve Doll." My mom said that it was for me, and I should go talk to her. Huh? When I opened the door, she handed me a manila envelope and said, "I'm sorry that Steve couldn't make it. He had a charity event today." My mom came over and told her that I didn't know anything about what was going on. She introduced herself as Steve's wife and said that she had brought some birthday gifts for me from Steve, and that he wished he could be there. 😇 She also said that there would be two front row tickets for me at the ticket window that night at the Sports Arena. (My first time ever sitting ringside!) And, to make sure that I went by the autograph table so that he could tell me "Happy Birthday" in person. My mom thanked her, and she went on her way.

To say that I was in shock was an understatement. I just stood there by the front door staring at the envelope and watching Steve's car drive away! What just happened!!??!! I opened up the envelope to find these three photos and a signed boot bandana.

Steve wasn't just nice. He went out of his way to be kind. Not just to me. I witnessed his kindness on many occasions. It's part of why he'll always have a very special place in my heart.

My front row ticket!

This photo was taken ringside, which wasn't something that happened often at the Sports Arena. There was no time to stop for photos or autographs between matches. When I came across this photo, I was confused. I turned it over, and it was marked 6-4-88.  I had completely forgotten that Scott Peterson, among other wrestlers, came over to wish me a happy birthday, and I asked if my friend Michelle, who absolutely loved Scott, could get a picture. He was happy to. I'm so glad I have all of these photos and ephemera, or I would never remember anything!! 

Portland Wrestling - 6/3/89 - You Tube, Program, Photos

June 3, 1989, was the celebration of my 13th birthday!

My mom, sister, and friends made a giant banner that they held up

during the entrance to the first match. I also got that banner signed by 

a bunch of wrestlers!  What a fun night that was!  It was my second 

time sitting ringside, and there are a few photos below as well

as the program from that night.

 

Random Photos From the Scan Pile

Just some more randomness from the scan pile.  

They aren't all great, but the memories are!

Top Gun wins Wrestler of the Year at the Wrestle-Media Awards 1988.

The Rockers at a WWF event in Portland, 7-6-89

"Golden Boy" Mike Golden

Tito Santana at WWF event in Portland 7-6-89

The Southern Rockers leave the Crow's Nest. 3-17-89

Melee in the ring!  Betelgeuse, Equalizer, Moondog Moretti, Al Madril, Ricky Santana, Rip Oliver 1990

Bart Sawyer 1990

Curtis Thompson 1990

Scotty the Body 1989

Brian Adams, "The American Ninja" 1988

Steve Doll CLOSE UP!