TERRY TAYLOR'S PERSPECTIVE 8-31-01

Have you ever idolized someone wondering what it would be like to meet them and maybe even becoming friends? There’s something about this person that draws us to them and on occasion, fascinates us to where we become fanatical. Thus the word FANatic. Our imaginations can make these heroes larger than life assuming super powers. We revel in these dreams and it makes us happy.

Then fate intervenes and shines upon us with good fortune. We see our idol and have the opportunity to meet them! As we approach our minds fill with clever things to say, the gracious answers given in anticipation of the budding lifelong friendship that’s about to begin!

 And then Wham! Reality strikes and it does so with stunning unbelievable force. Your idol has just blown you off with a rude condescending tirade that has you cut to shreds and left bleeding on the floor. What happened? How could my hero be so cold?

I’m not talking about A PERSON. I am talking about the WRESTLING BUSINESS. I have so much respect and love for the men that paved the road I was privileged enough to have traveled for the past 22 years of my life. Think about it. I wrestled Killer Karl Kox! One of the true characters in the world let alone sports. I have had the honor of wrestling every major name in the wrestling business over the last two decades; the Flairs, Funks, Races, Steiners, Austins, Angles, Killer Khans, the Dusty Rhodes and the list could go on and on. I am not prideful. I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve  been granted.

The reason I’m saying this is because I just got back home from doing a show in Windsor, Ontario Canada. It was the first attempt at a television taping for Border City Wrestling owned by a friend Scott D’Amore. When I say “doing” - I mean exactly that. From writing the script (yes, there is a script or tv format), to arranging the matches, to timing the segments, to…are you sitting down?….WRESTLING! The Disqo Inferno and I wrestled two young hungry respectful kids that were in the business for all the right reasons. Not for the money, not for the fame, not for the groupies, not for anything other than the love of the game. They reminded me of someone I used to know.

 I had forgotten what made me love wrestling to begin with.. I had forgotten the innocence and purity of what attracted me 22 years ago. When asked by fans what was the best part of being a wrestler? the wealth, the fame? the chicks,….what? What made it all worthwhile? I remember telling people I could tolerate the traveling, the injuries, the missed memories at home - as long as I got my 15 minutes in the ring every day. That was where I was most happy.

After retiring, I accepted a front office position, but quickly became disenchanted with the politics, egos, mismanagement, and perversion the wrestling BUSINESS had become. No longer were good people willing to work hard and put in the effort - no matter what   - to not let their fellow wrestlers and fans down. They were replaced by mercenaries with sports agents and financial planners who despised the very sport which made them millionaires.

Well, the last two days were very enjoyable for me.. I went back to my roots and I found my lost innocents.  My faith has been restored. I am not bitter towards the business and can walk away with peace in my heart. Oh, by the way…remember that idol I told you about meeting earlier? He’s everything I remember…..and MORE!

Terry Taylor