Meeting Rowdy Roddy Piper For The First Time 1989 - Fire Extinguisher Poster

 In 1989, Roddy Piper did a workout with the Grappler/Nord the Barbarian after the matches. At that event, they sold this poster. Roddy stayed and signed for hours. He was chatting with everyone. When I got to the front of the line, he asked me if it was my first time at the Sports Arena. I told him I go every Saturday night and he said that the wrestlers really appreciated my support. That kind of changed the way I thought about being a fan.

He also asked me who my favorite wrestler was. I said "Steve Doll", which made him laugh out loud. He said that I was the first person all night to not say him. I shrugged and said, "I like Steve Doll." He said, "That's okay. I like Steve Doll, too."

I sold this years ago when I needed some cash. I regret it.

Jody & Carl Stiles September 3, 1989 - Sandy Barr's Flea Market 20th Anniversary

They had a big autograph session on Sunday, September 3, 1989.  

Steve Doll, Betelgeuse, Rex King, Carl Stiles, and supposedly Buddy Rose and the Grappler.

Super rare for Don Owen to allow the "bad guys"  to sign autographs.

We never went and looked for them, so I don't know if they were really there.

This is the only photo I ever got with Carl Stiles.

 

My Favorite Picture of Me and Steve Doll 1988

I love this picture so much.  It was taken at the Tillamook Armory in the summer of '88.

I'm 12 years old here.  Steve isn't signing that autograph for me.  He's come out of the locker

room after his match to sign autographs, and there is a big crowd around trying to get his attention.  But you can see from his body language that he is listening to me.  I don't know what important 12-year-old news I am trying to tell him, but I know that every time I saw him and talked to him, I felt heard.  He'd ask me some questions about my day, or school, or my trip to the beach(in this case), and I felt comfortable enough to just jabber on about it.  He'd ask me follow-up questions and smile or laugh, and even bring something up the next Saturday from my story. I was a pretty shy kid and didn't talk to many people, but he must have thought I was a real chatterbox, because I was with him. I don't know if he knew 

that he was my favorite person, but he sure was.

 

Maniac Matt Borne Photo - 10-29-1988

Matt Borne sticking his tongue out at me at an autograph

 session on October 29, 1988.

Art Barr and Steve Doll in the foreground.

 

More Scott Peterson ....

Scott and I in 1989.	Scott was quiet, kind, and funny. He and Steve were great partners  and such a dynamic tag team. There's a Saturday night in June of 1990  when Steve Doll wrestled Moondog Morreti. He was always up and boisterous, but this night he was extra  excited, just having the most fun, and he seemed almost giddy. After the  match, he does an interview, teasing that Scott may come back for one  night. He's just so excited that his best friend will return to wrestle with  him again. It's really sweet. They were so great in the ring and had such great  chemistry because they were such good friends outside the ring.
This is one of my favorite pictures of them from  Feb. 16, 1988.
Scott, my friend Michelle, me, my friend Nicee,  and Steve.  June 11, 1988

 

Meet Steve Doll In Person at Yard Birds - 1990

 

Twinsies! - Southern Rockers - Steve Doll & Scott Peterson - 1988

It was not uncommon to see Steve and Scott wearing matching outfits outside the ring!  

 

Buddy Wayne @ The Portland Sports Arena

Buddy Wayne signing autographs at the Merch table in the Sports Arena with Karl Pope.

Buddy Wayne leaving the locker room at the Portland Sports Arena 91-92.

 

20th Anniversary of Sandy Barr's Flea Market - Autograph Session - September 3, 1989

On a warm Sunday in September 1989, there was a party at Sandy Barr's Flea Market!  The 20th anniversary.  For a few weeks, it was promoted that they were having a party and an autograph session with free cake!  We never saw the cake, but we did see Steve Doll, Rex King, who was a newly minted Southern Rocker, Carl Stiles, and Betelgeuse.  We even heard that Grappler and Buddy Rose were there too, but we never went to find their autograph table. I can't think of another time when the "Bad Guys" were involved in an autograph session.  The "Good Guys" were set up at a table just to the left of the main entrance and around the corner. Several hundred people attended. I mean, free cake! 

 

Why do I look like I'm 40 at 13?

Hey Brian! Can I get a picture with you?

Brian Adams & Jody February 1988.  

He was always willing to drop everything and take a photo.

 

Lonnie Mayne v Rip Kirby, July 30, 1969, Signed Poster on Ebay

Someone has this gem of Portland Wrestling History listed on ebay right now. Click the image to be linked to the listing.  

LISTING HAS ENDED!

Bart, Bart and more Bart Sawyer!

That face!

Bart Sawyer and Bruiser Brian Cox

Bart Sawyer with Brian Adam's dog.

In the ring at the Portland Sports Arena.

My friend gave Bart that shirt the week before this event.

Checking out and writing all over my scrapbook.

Another fun autograph session!

Brian Adams promo photo OWF. 1988.

Brian Adams, OWF Promo photo from opening night autograph session. 1988.

Random Autographs

Here are a few of the random autographs I collected over the years.  I'm glad I wrote their names down when I got the autograph, because some just look like odd scribbles on paper.

Art Barr, pre-Betelgeuse

"Sexy Rexy" Rex King
A little odd to sign something "Sexy" to an 11 year old, but okay.
He always signed this way, but never actually used this as a ring name.
Maybe in a previous promotion?

Scott Peterson

Mark Young
Sorry Mark, I don't remember you.

"Mean" Mike Miller

Mighty Sputnik

Ricky Vaughn
He later wrestled as Lance Von Erich in the South,
but he was never really a Von Erich.

Happy Birthday Steve Doll- December 9, 1960

Steve Doll 1988.

1988.  They sold thousands of these shirts.  I still have 2 or 3 of them.

Steve Doll & Rex King 1991

Another T-Shirt you could buy.  I don't think I ever had one.  I was a Southern Rockers purist and really only liked Scott Peterson. 

Steve Doll signing autographs, 1990.

Yes, that is a photo of Steve Doll with a Ninja Turtle, and another where he is only wearing a towel.  I bought them both!

I hope the Southern Rockers are still Rock'n Rollin' in heaven!  

RIP Steve Doll & Scott Peterson.

1988, What a year for Portland Wrestling Fans!

Scott Peterson, Steve Doll and The Assassin
on stage with a local rock band.

This amazing autograph session took place at Eastport Plaza, a failing mall with lots of empty store spaces.  One afternoon in June of 1988 Portland Wrestling took this quiet little mall by storm.  One of the larger empty stores housed a stage and autograph tables, with, or course, lots of merchandise to purchase.  This is where I bought my first Southern Rockers t-shirt!  There were several chances this year to go to events like this and get up close and personal with your favorite Portland Wrestlers and even here them sing with a band.  Usually Proud Mary, or Old Time Rock and Roll.


The Southern Rockers and the Assassian at an Autograph session.





Autograph Sessions

Usually, on Kids Free Night there would be an autograph session.  I loved those and they were genius for selling all of those 8"x10" photos that all of the wrestlers had behind the autograph table.  Pre-1988 or so, they only had autograph sessions once in a while and they only had a few photos to purchase
at the table.  Once the Southern Rockers got hot, the number of photos seemed to increase from maybe 10 choices to 30-50.  My walls were plastered with them, and they were all autographed.  I can't even tell you how many Steve Doll and Scott Peterson autographs I have.  In books, on pictures, on t-shirts, etc. 

 

Bart Sawyer looking through my scrapbook.  He wrote comments on several of the pages!

Steve Doll and Betelgeuse (Art Barr)

Scott Peterson Autograph

Steve Doll with about a hundred Scotty The Body photos behind him!