Steve Doll, "Golden Boy" Mike Golden and Scott Peterson
I love that Steve Doll and Scott Peterson had matching gym outfits. These were not outfits they ever wore in the ring. This photo is signed by all three, but the Scott Peterson is in light weight blue ink over his legs. The photo was taken at the Milwaukie Health Club in 1988. It was available for sale at the autograph & merchandise table at all events.
This card came from the 1988 Milwaukie Daze parade where Steve Doll, Scott Peterson and others were riding in a Milwaukie Health Club truck. They were passing out these cards along the parade route.
Just days after Roddy Piper died, a memorial service was held at the Portland Sports Arena, which is not home to the Mt.Olivet Church. The church's Pastor, along with Billy Jack Haynes, and the Grappler,among others,spoke at the service. This video has a good portion of that service and some additional interviews. Some nice stories and rememberences of Roddy. I wish I had known this was happening.
I only met Roddy a few times over the years, but he was always happy and kind to everyone that came to see him. I went and saw him perform his one man show at Harvey's Comedy Club years ago. When they opened the doors, after the show, everyone stayed so they could see,talk to and shake hands with him. That was the first time I had ever seen him quiet and reserved. He seemed so humbled that people enjoyed his show. I think it may have been one of his first performances of the show.
I also met him during an autograph session at the Sports Arena during the angle with Nord the Barbarian in the late 80's. He was at the special event, I believe it was a Tuesday night event, signing autographs. After the show, the entire sold out arena stood in line to get his autograph. Even the old timers who professed to hate his guts, stood in that line for hours. I don't think we got out of the arena until about 2am and there were still lots of people in that line. He didn't just rush people through because it was late. He chit chatted with everyone. Shared old memories and made new friends. He couldn't just sign and autograph and let someone walk away. He asked me if I liked wrestling or if I loved it. He asked me who my favorite wrestler was. I told him Steve Doll and he laughed and said I was the first person tonight who didn't say it was him!
While looking for another video I came across this PBS sort of documentary of one night of Portland Wrestling in the 70's. It features Jesse Ventura, saying he is going to retire from wrestling in 2 years, Iron Shiek, Dutch Savage and Jimmy Snuka. Lots of views of crowd interaction with the wrestlers. Dutch Savage and Iron Shiek are having a Coal Miner's Glove match that gets pretty bloody.
Roddy Piper is probably one of the most famous wrestlers to get his start here in the Pacific Northwest. He never forgot us here, and returned to the Sports Arena periodically. He even tried to start a new wrestling promotion a few years ago, where his son Colton wrestled. According to TMZ.com, Roddy died of Cardiac Arrest at home. He was survived by his wife, 4 children and millions of adoring fans.
Art Barr, otherwise known as Betelgeuse, was a Portland Wrestling star. His dad was the referee Sandy Barr, and his brother was Jesse Barr (Jimmy Jack Funk). Art started wresting in 1987 and became Betelgeuse in an interview with Roddy Piper in 1988. They spelled it Betelgeuse, the correct spelling of the 9th brightest star in the sky. But were obviously going after the fame of the movie Beetlejuice. There was no mention of him being a ghost, or anything like that. It was pretty much just used as a character name. Art Barr changed his interview techniques and the way he wrestled and it really helped his popularity. He became especially popular with kids and sometimes had hundreds of Little Juicers following him around the ring before a match. I even dressed up a time or two with full face paint and hair full of baby powder.
Art was accused of rape and his Oregon wrestling license was taken away after being convicted of 3rd degree sexual assault. He wrestled in WCW and then really gained fame in Mexico as the Love Machine. He did wrestle a few times in Sandy Barr's Vancouver, WA promotion, for special events, in 1994. I recall an event where he and Eddie Gurerro came to the ring with Tonya Harding as their manager!
Art passed away in 1994. The official cause is still unknown. I was once listening to a wrestling radio show that had Sandy Barr as a guest. Maybe in 1996 or 1997. In my recollection, he stated that Art was hit in the neck with the top edge of a folding chair by an irate fan, in Mexico, the night before he came home. (He died a day later.) Sandy said that he felt that the trauma to his spinal cord and lack of oxygen to the brain caused Art's death. His cause of death will never truly be known, but it was another sad loss of our Portland Wrestlers too soon.
Art Barr as Betelgeuse
Art Barr as Betelgeuse with his partner Jeff Warner. They later became the Juicers.
Behind him you can see kids in Betelgeuse makeup.
Art Barr before Betelgeuse. I always remember seeing him around the Sports Arena with chewing tobacco in his cheek.
Steve Doll and Art Barr at the 21st Birthday Party of Sandy Barr's Flea Market. 1991.
Kevin, the Little Juicer who always came to the ring with Betelgeuse.
Betelgeuse after a match with Bodyguard Ray in the background.
Family of Doink The Clown sues WWE for brain injuries is the headline of an article from www.Wrestling-online.com today. It seems as though many wrestlers families, and even Billy Jack Haynes, are suing the WWE for these injuries. I wonder about the outcome of these cases. Even though we didn't know the extent of concussions in the 80's, it doesn't mean people didn't realize that hitting your head could hurt your brain. I just don't see how anyone could win at these cases.
One of the best parts of Portland Wrestling, was the access to the wrestlers themselves. These guys were my heroes, but I ran into them at the gym, grocery store, the mall, and walking their dogs. (That's how I found out where Steve Doll lived. He was out in front of his apartments on Harmony Road in Milwaukie, walking his dog Mandy. Brian Adams lived there too.)
Portland Wrestling always offered autograph sessions at the arena, and the guys were always doing charity events that included autograph sessions. But that didn't stop us from waiting outside the Sports Arena after a match or sneaking back inside after security chased all of the fans away, so we could get our photos taken.
Here is a small selection of photos I took with some of the greats....
Jody, Buddy Wayne and Carl Pope photo bomb
My sister Brea and Curtis Thompson
Jody and the Assassin 1988 (Check out that Mullet!)
Jody and Bart Sawyer (I think he was still Steve Sawyer at this point.)
Jody and Bart Sawyer
Jody and Brian Adams
Mike Winner and Jody (Holding my scrapbook, which held most of the photos you have seen on the blog.)
Jody and Steve Doll (He looks really thrilled.)
Steve Doll and Jody (He's a little happier here.) 1989
Jody and Steve Doll 1988 (I had gotten around 6-7 pictures with him during this autograph session.)
