Tri-City Championship Wrestling

Recently, I have been besieged by various promoters throughout the Midwest to come and be a part of their wrestling events. With a hectic schedule that would put some politicians to shame, I recently agreed to be a part of the matches held in Bay City, Michigan.

Bulldozer Entertainment had given me a full commitment by phone to come to their first event held in the Auditorium of a church complex on North Euclid.

As I traveled from my home in Ohio, the 160 miles just seemed to float on by at roughly 70 miles an hour. For the most part, I was passed many times by Michigan drivers, and a few paid for that privilege by getting high speed pursuit licenses by the fine folks in those blue cars with the shiny red and blue lights on them. I guess the world is just in a big hurry in the Great Lakes now.

Arriving at 1:30 in the afternoon, I was met by the CEO of TCCW, Doug. He gave me a grand tour of the complex that would be the home of TCCW for many more cards in the future. Doug said to me, "I plan on bringing the very best in professional wrestling to the Bay area and will eventually branch out to other cities that appreciate the old school style of wrestling."

From 2 p.m. until around 4:30, I was the honored guest of a private television taping of matches for a conglomerate that operates in the Great Lakes region under other names. A very successful group that has brought new life to a industry that has not been in the area for many years since the advent of cable television.

The group spent nearly $10,000 for the two and a half hour session and were very pleased at the turnout of talent that had been secured by Bulldozer Entertainment.

At 5 p.m., I found myself a guest of nearly 30 wrestlers at a local eating place called Crossroads. It wasn't very far from the complex that would be used that night for the matches.

While most dined on steak and hot beef entrees, I chose a combination of clam chowder and egg salad sandwich. I was joined at my table near the front of the room by one of the television technicians that would be running one of the three hand held cameras during the matches.

As we left the parking lot, it seemed like the old song "Convoy" was being portrayed. Ten cars and one limo left the drive at once and headed back to the complex. As I stretched out in the Lincoln limo, I began to take notes on what had gone on thus far during the day.

As we entered the parking lot, I noticed a lot of cars filling the area. The outside door to the complex had about 75 people lined up at quarter to six. That was a good indication of a great night to come.

I had already dressed for the evening earlier, before the tapings began. I chose my Circle S grey western suit with a burgundy Diamante shirt with the red and white design on the collar and cuff topped off with one of my favorite Three Stooges ties.

As I poked my head out of the dressing room area at around 6:30, the building was half filled with fans clambering through the doors like a giant sale at Macy's. I was very happy to be a part of this initial card in Bay City.

Fans who saw me looking around came running to me to get autographs and take pictures, as I guess I stood out like a celebrity of sorts. I was very happy to oblige and went to the autograph tables where some of the wrestlers had been doing their thing.

I saw t-shirts, pictures, key chains with pictures in them, charm bracelets and a lot more that the wrestlers had brought with them to share. I must have signed nearly 200 autographs before I was whisked away from the tables to the dressing room area, where I was given the line-ups for the night.

I suddenly came face to face with a young man by the name of Josh, who would be my understudy for the evening. He was attired in a beautiful matching three-piece suit with color-coordinated tie. I was very much taken by his impeccable attire, and we began to go over our end of the program.

At 7:30, the bell rang, and Josh and I were led by lady ushers from the youth group of the church to our official's table. Josh began the evening by introducing me to the capacity audience. He began by telling them that Tri-City Championship Wrestling is very honored to have one of the outstanding legends in attendance.

He then went on to name some of my many accomplishments that I have made during my career, including being honored into the CAC and Legend's Wrestling Hall of Fame's. He mentioned that, in my career, I had managed some of the biggest names, like World Junior Heavyweight Champ Roger "Nature Boy" Kirby, Black Angus, Tank Patton, and also eight-time NWA champ Harley Race.

I received a standing ovation from the crowd and began to thank them for coming out to the initial wrestling card. I also thanked them for their generous donation of food products to help feed the needy during the holiday times.

I then started to acknowledge the fact that Veterans Day was almost upon us when I was rudely interrupted by The Supreme Commander, J.T. Zorin, and his two masked thugs, who travel with him everywhere he goes. As he began to berate the veterans and everyone else in the crowd, the lights went out in the building. He continued to utter out slurs on the church for not paying their electric bills and Consumer Power for not being able to supply enough energy to run 25 watt light bulbs.

After about five minutes of having to listen to this self-proclaimed leader of justice in the professional wrestling business, the lights went off again, and Zorin tried to make a quiet exit from the ring. I let the crowd know that I didn't know about them , but I had already had enough of J.T. Zorin for one evening. I was given another standing room ovation, much to the dismay of Zorin, who turned to me and said "I will return," as if he was General Patton himself.

I began the night by introducing the Brooks Brothers, who recently moved from Salt Lake City to Livonia to do battle in the Great Lakes area. Their opponents for the night were Slasher and Overkill, The Suicycos from Scum City, USA. I really didn't know what to think of the pairing but soon changed that feeling when the teams began to heat up the whole building with their antics.

The Suicycos were the winners in the opening event, much to the chagrin of their opponents, the Brooks Brothers. It took security to remove the losers from the ring. I guess they couldn't handle defeat very well.

To be continued...

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