Author: Dr. Mike Lano

Tim Corvin spent years researching through library results, microfiche, and more for his definitive book Pioneers of Professional Wrestling: 1860-1899. There’s never been a book like this, particularly on these years because most experts thought predetermined finishes wrestling matches. Ones that were thought to have first started in 1880’s France before they became a mainstay of AT and Carnival/Carny shows in the U.S, Canada, and the rest of the world. Tim said some of the earliest pro wrestlers and MMA stars compensated for their work. These included Civil War soldiers, Canadian Mounties, lumberjacks, miners, train and railroad camp workers, and…

Wrestling Book Marks/CovidCon has been a longtime collaborative of wrestling authors, publishers, and historians. It chaired by wrestling book author/publisher Kenny Casanova. Kenny’s helped put out great books on and with stars. They included the likes of the late Kamala, Vadar, Sabu, Brutus Beefcake, Bugsy McGraw, Danny Davis, and many others. When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, Kenny and his team, including author John Cosper went to work to help everyone in wrestling affected monetarily. There were no indie shows, no signings or convention/fanfests, and nothing to make money on the weekends. In early May, they had their first pro wrestling…

California has had a longstanding history of producing exceptional wrestling talent. They include NXT (Jake Atlas and Shotzi Blackheart) Reno Scum (IMPACT), Brian Cage, SCU & Will Hobbs (AEW). They are all now garnering attention. Hobbs for instance is receiving a great deal of attention in AEW the past two months. Hobbs is originally from Roland Alexander’s Boot Camp and APW promotion overall, dating back over a decade from Hayward, California. Will had gone through several name changes there as Roland loved naming his talent after his old-school faves. For instance, in Will’s case, his original ring name was “Solomon…

I was sad to learn about the passing of a good friend in wrestler Jerry Brown. Jerry was already famous as part of the original Hollywood Blondes, who made a name for themselves in Montreal, particularly in 1973 with Red, aka Sir Oliver Humperdink, in the Vachon’s Grand Prix promotion, which was one of my favorites. Especially with the territory war going on in that beautiful city against the Rougeau’s “Lutte International” territory. After his passing last weeks, these are my reflections of Jerry Brown as we’re remembering the heavenly Hollywood Blonde. For me, a “Blonde highlight” was their dropping…

Jeanne Basone is a longtime Cauliflower Alley Club member, regular attendee, and honoree. Jeanne has constantly reinvented herself. And as a wrestler on the original weekly GLOW show, she was involved in all sorts of wacky soap opera-esque storylines. Now she’s actually involved in soap directly. Literally. GLOW’s Jeanne “Hollywood” Basone goes from one soap opera to another. Since 1986, Jeanne’s been a friend since GLOW’s taping days of on The Strip. Basone became a breakout star of GLOW. Much like Tina/Lisa Moretti, who went on to WWE stardom as Ivory. Either paired with her tag partner “Vine”. Or in…

Turner Classic Movie (TCM) cable channel ran, with opening and closing narrative, the classic Let the Good Times Roll music documentary on rock’s architects like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and more. During the 1959 #1 hit song “Charlie Brown” as sung by The Coasters, used lot of Gorgeous George match footage. It included; pre-bout shenanigans with his male valet and him in a women’s hair salon for those famous publicity photos. There was also newsreel footage images of him having his hair professionally curled coifed. If you know the lyrics to the song, “Charlie Brown…he’s a clown…I smell heat…

2020 remains a devastating year, losing so many wrestling brothers and sisters. We lost Ric Drasin on Sunday, August 30th (far too young like Bob Armstrong), who was still a feisty 76. Like Chadwick Boseman, none of us had any idea he was ill. For weeks, he quietly but valiantly fought kidney failure in a Southern California hospital(his kids by his side), which eventually took him. Richard Alan Drasin was a bodybuilder, weightlifter, stuntman/actor, wrestling school instructor/AWF show promoter, and had a wresting gear line to rival those of Adrian Street’s and Bill Ash. His first film role was in “Ben”…

RAW “Underground” isn’t that different from IMPACT’s WrestleHouse in that it’s first space (or time) filler. At least it’s short timewise in comparison, although it can drag on two, maybe three tv segments depending on the show. On the 8/24 RAW, “Underground” felt least like any worked MMA type “competition” and just “more of the same.” Count me in amongst the many, already bored with the always sweaty for no reason Shane. Last Monday’s redeeming point was at least reminding viewers not heading for the bathroom or popcorn that “Dolph Zigler” had amateur cred in facing another amateur great in…

This week after his valiant heath and financial issues battle, the wrestling world lost ‘Kamala’ James Harris. Cauliflower Alley Club and, more recently, the kind people at GoFundMe type accounts set up for his family, who donated badly-needed financial aid, including fellow wrestlers, promoters, fans, and more who loved the “Ugandan Head Hunter.” Today I am missing my friend, James ‘Kamala’ Harris. In reality, the real James truly loved his primary role as a long-time farmer and head of his family. He was regarded as one of the nicest, sweetest people in the biz, cracking up others in the dressing room.…

Wrestling’s recent loss of comic, tv host & co-host, game show host and actor, Regis “Mr. TV” Philbin still lingers more than anyone. He is credited as having logged in the most television hours than anyone on the planet by Guinness Book of World Records. Regis Philbin claimed to others he briefly did some mid-1950’s wrestling tv announcing, like his game show host idol Dennis James. Regis did, indeed, have a long relationship with the wrestling industry. One that he utilized in the 1960s while co-hosting the Joey Bishop show. Regis also did some guesting on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.…