Corunna, Michigan 8/26/2006 Part Two

I had ventured to just outside Lansing, Michigan to meet with former Olympian Bob Roop. We were to be guests of Legends Wrestling that evening in Corunna, Michigan.

The short drive of less than 50 miles to Corunna was spent telling road stories of our pasts. Bob spoke about many people that I knew while in the profession. We had each other laughing at times so hard that the car had problems staying on the road.

Arriving at the community center at McCurdy Park around 5 p.m., we were led by Steve Rau to the dressing rooms where Bob began to meet all the athletes that had come to do battle. One by one, they all rose when Bob came into the room and started a line towards Bob to pay their respects to him. Rastakhan was one of the first to admire the legacy that Bob had left on the wrestling world.

Sabbath was next to come forward and asked for pictures of him and his son and Bob together. All four of the photographers’ cameras were flashing, almost like a lightning storm had hit the room.

Unr8ted, Whiplash, Anarchy, Kamacyde and "Prime Time Player" Chance Laredo were next to come and visit with Bob. Looking up, Bob's eyes focused on the huge young man in the black mask as he made his way from the rear of the room.

Marshall Law, the ringside enforcer hired by the LWA, made his way and humbly bowed as he shook the hand of the Olympian and began a story of how he had followed the career of Bob Roop on various DVD's that he had brought along to be autographed. He also produced many magazines that had articles of Bob's career in them. The two spent nearly a half hour looking through and signing the items.

Suddenly, the doors flew open, and there, standing in the double doors, were Bull Wheeler, Frank "So Fine" Stein, J. T. Zorin and the "Old Timer" Jeff King. Bull was first to yell out that Bob was entering his domain and would have to bow and pay his homage to the Bull … or else!!

Bob just stared at the group and showed no fear as they made fun of him. Bull then shouted out that if Percival A. Friend didn't call things right later that night in his match with "Long Hairs" that he would give him more of what he got just two months before.

Their fun was interrupted by Steve Rau and Mark Bujan, officials from Legends Wrestling. They were all told to return to their dressing rooms or face a heavy fine. Bull ended his loud expressions by telling Rob Bauer that he better write the proper stuff about him in that rag he writes for.

Bob, Rob and I were taken to our VIP table in the rear of the arena to watch the young lions battle. The near sellout crowd acknowledged each of us as we sat down. It sure is a good feeling to be honored by the fans.

The bells were beginning to ring, indicating that the matches were ready to start up in the arena. The matches started with a Battle Royal. Kamacyde, Chance Laredo, Noah Lott, Cory James, Degenerate, Todd Ordway, Steve Amani and "All Night" Adam Reynolds were the participants.

From this match came singles that followed. All Night was the winner and was paired against Gameboy, who had issued a challenge to the winner.

Phenomenal Phoenix and Just Justin beat Kris Korvis and Whiplash in just a little over nine minutes. Rastakhan was next to wrestle for the number one spot for a title shot against J.T. Zorin. In just 10 short minutes, J.T. showed the crowd why he was "The Supreme Commander" as he gave Rastakhan the second defeat in his career by pinning him right in the middle of the ring.

J.T. didn't make it up the ramp towards the dressing rooms before turning to our table and voicing his win over the former champion. Bob started to rise and was stopped by Rob Bauer, who reminded him of how great these young guys are.

Best of the Best, or B.O.B., was next and made quick work of Xavier Justice in just over 12 minutes. Intermission followed next, and then the current champ, Tommy Titus, came to the ring with announcer Steve Rau. They began to talk about Tommy defeating Rastakhan and becoming the new champ.

Tommy stopped Steve and began to talk about a REAL CHAMPION that was in the audience. He told the fans that an Olympian was in attendance and asked Bob to come to the ring apron to be honored by the fans.

A standing ovation by the fans was the only evidence that Bob needed to know that they loved him here as much as he was when he was active in the ring. Bob spoke about his career at Michigan State, where he was a NCAA champ and went on to the Olympics in Mexico. He then spoke about a long, illustrious career in the professional ranks that was ended by a serious auto accident that injured his neck very badly.

Bob said to the fans that he would like to return to Corunna if the fans would enjoy that. They gave him another standing ovation, and that was all it took to have Bob say, "I will return."

While returning to his seat, Bob was confronted by So Fine Frank Stein. Security jumped in and took Stein to the ring as he glared back at the legend. Unr8ted came to the ring and barely beat Stein in just under 10 minutes. That heated battle for the cruiserweight championship was fought both in the ring and in the ringside seats.

Frank Stein was not a happy camper and charged our table and began to throw things at the wall behind us. The ring bell, pictures that I had on the table, official folders of Legends Wrestling files and everything that wasn't anchored down went flying.

Security finally made it to him and carried him off kicking and swinging to the dressing room.

The first of two Main Events was next as Jerome "Do It" Pruitt faced the current champ, Too Tough Tommy Titus from Bay City, Michigan. Bay County has produced many great and tough athletes. The Steiner Brothers are a prime example of that statement.

After 20 minutes of a hard fought battle, Tommy was successful in retaining his LWA title. The battle ended in a handshake, which was a good sign. Next came the final bout, a strap match.

I was first to be introduced, and the crowd was very happy to see me back in Corunna again. It had been just two months before that I was injured at the hands of Bull Wheeler as I was accepting my induction into the LWA Hall of Fame.

Bull Wheeler came charging to the ring and looked me square in the eye and vowed that, if I didn't call things like they were, he would take the smile off my face. Just then, the crowd began to scream as Marshall Law came down the ramp to be a ringside enforcer against outside interference. I was sure glad to see him as, almost instantly, Bull changed his theory on me and devoted his attention to Marshall Law.

Next down the ramp was Sabbath, a young warrior from neighboring Owosso, Michigan, who came to defend my honor and to change what Bull had done to me two months before.

The next 15 minutes were probably the toughest time I have ever spent in a ring. Trying to get out of Bull's way was nearly impossible. Even though they were tied by a strap at the wrist, Bull got more than his fair share of skullduggery in on Sabbath. He tried to carry the match outside of the ring when he was met by Marshall Law, who put him back into the ring.

Sabbath grabbed Bull by the neck with the strap and started to go to all four corners to tap the top turnbuckle. He got to three, and Bull cut him off and started to punish him again. Bull suddenly felt the strap being taken away from him and turned to see Marshall Law holding the strap.

Bull and Sabbath began to beat each other unmercifully, and Sabbath got in the best lick and drove Bull to the mat. The strap came off Bull's wrist and Sabbath started towards the top turnbuckles again. I let him go, even though he was not attached to Bull, and allowed the count to all four corners to happen.

Everybody was jumping up and down in the crowd as I lifted Sabbath's hand in the air. I jumped to the arena floor and went to thank Marshall Law for his being there. Bull took advantage of the strap that was still attached to Sabbath and pulled him down to the mat and began to beat on him with the strap.

Marshall Law jumped into the ring and broke it up, but not before Bull did some damage to Sabbath and then exited out real fast to the dressing rooms. I had made it to a wall of security people and got behind them for my own safety.

Bob and I left the arena shortly after and made it back to his home safely. I was very happy to have had this super friend with me for most of the day and told him that we had to do this again. We shook hands and said "Until next time" and I made my way back to the interstate to travel the last two hours alone back to my home in Ohio.

Thank you again to LWA for welcoming me back into the fold. Thank you for replacing my Hall of Fame award. Thank you to Bob Roop, a true gentleman and great co-pilot.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee