This Hardcore Hall of Fame recognizes the pioneers of World Championship Wrestling Alliance, as well as the men and women who laid the groundwork and set the precedents that allow WCWA wrestlers to do what they do today.
”Beautiful” Bobby EatonThe legendary tag team specialist, one half of the Midnight Express, WCWA is proud to welcome “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton into the Hardcore Hall of Fame. In his prime, Eaton pioneered a lot of the “southern brawling” style that has been amplified by WCWA. Eaton pioneered and made famous such specialty matches as the scaffold match, and helped put tag team wrestling on the map.
Behind the scenes, Bobby Eaton has helped young WCWA wrestlers since the very first day he signed on board, giving the combatants of WCWA his ear whenever they need it, and lending sage like advice whenever he’s needed. Eaton has brought an aura of legitimacy to WCWA, with his year’s of experience providing him all the knowledge needed to govern WCWA. WCWA is proud to induct “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton into the Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Harry BroadhurstOne could argue that WCWA wouldn’t exist today, and certainly wouldn’t have the notoriety it has. To most, this name is foreign, but for those inside the business, this is the right hand man of WCWA, the man who oils the joints and has made sure things have ran smoothly. He is the lubricator of WCWA.
A man of many hats, all of which look like they were stolen from a hobo, Broadhurst has been in charge of many aspects of WCWA over the years. From a hands on referee, to supervising matches from the gorilla position, to assisting the commentary team and keeping them on track for the live television and pay per views, to attending booking meetings for countless hours, the gratitude that we at WCWA show to Mr. Broadhurst is infinite. It is with our deepest sincerity that we welcome Harry Broadhurst into the first class of the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
The Iron SheikA legendary wrestler, a former world heavyweight champion and a breaker of backs and fuc
ker of asses, the next induction into the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame is a must. Legendary former WWF Heavyweight champion The Iron Sheik was breaking backs with his legendary camel clutch submission hold before some of the wrestlers on the WCWA roster were even born. Trained by the legendary Verne Gagne, the Iron Sheik’s in ring exploits span much further than words can even recognize.
But it is his post retirement hijinx that have kept him relevant and even brought him to MORE fame. Threatening to break the backs of his enemies and fuc
k their asses, The Sheik’s drunken and drug induced rants brought him fame on shows like The Howard Stern Show and all over Youtube. The Sheik is a welcomed guest whenever he is available in WCWA, even petitioning himself as a member of Team BLK Out at this year’s Torneo Cibernetico. It is with the best intentions that we welcome The Iron Sheik into the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Bruiser BrodyIn the land of hardcore, no one was more hardcore than the late Bruiser Brody. Born Frank Goodish, Bruiser Brody pioneered hardcore wrestling in his native Texas for World Class Championship Wrestling and across Japan, where he became revered as a cult like figure. In the eighties, Bruiser Brody gained his biggest success statewide by nearly defeating NWA champion Ric Flair for the championship on several occasions in St. Louis. Brody’s legendary career was unfortunately cut short on July 17th 1988, when he was stabbed to death in a shower in Puerto Rico.
Today, Bruiser Brody’s direct influence can be seen in World Championship Wrestling Alliance through the wild Necro Butcher, a near mirror image of the legend, both stylistically and physically. WCWA proudly and humbly inducts “The Original Wrestling Wild Man” Bruiser Brody into the Hardcore Hall of Fame.
The Bushwhackers/SheepherdersLuke and Butch, the brutal and bloody Sheepherders. In the 1980s, the Sheepherders spread their brutality all across Bill Watts’ UWF with barbaric barbed wire cage matches and other brutality previously unseen, spilling buckets of blood everywhere they went. However, their biggest claim to fame came in the 1990s, when they joined the World Wrestling Federation, and were rechristened the Bushwhackers.
Through the 1990s, The Bushwhackers were fan favorites, dancing, licking, and sardine munching their way as a favorite comedy duo, again, revolutionizing for generations to follow. Weither it be bloody hardcore wrestling or comedic fun, Luke and Butch have forever left their mark on professional wrestling, which makes we at WCWA proud to induct them into the Hardcore Hall of Fame 2006.
Terry FunkA man who was hardcore before there was a word for it, Terry Funk could be called the original death match wrestler. From his wild brawls all over concession stands, to brutal empty arena matches, to even fire matches in Japan, Terry Funk blazed a brutal and bloody path all over two continents. With his brother Dory, Terry was one half of the only brother duo to ever win the NWA championship. Terry Funk was one of the few names with credibility to attack themselves to a blooming young hardcore federation out of Philadelphia, a federation that would start the revolution known as Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Terry Funk has inspired an entire generation with his wild brawls, stiff punches, and generally crazy demeanor. Even today after more retirements than he can count, Funk remains completely insane. In 1997, Jim Ross called him middle aged and crazy. So in 2006, as he challenges Brain Damage to a fight on Synthetic, what does that make him? Regardless, we at the Hardcore Hall of Fame are overjoyed to induct Terry Funk into the first class.
Marty JannettyWith undoubtedly the worst win loss record in the history of WCWA, Marty Jannetty jobbed his way into our hearts by getting beat by everyone on the roster., and then some, even losing a few times to non-wrestlers. Marty Jannetty had an inability to win for several years, going on a losing streak that cannot be identified with by any modern sports team or athlete.
However, Jannetty wasn’t all losses. Towards the end of his WCWA run, Jannetty was able to squeak by Beef Wellington and to the shock of everyone, briefly call himself the WCWA World Television champion. Everyone in the world is familiar with Marty Jannetty’s 1980s and 1990s runs in the “big leagues”, but it was Jannetty’s shenanigans and tomfoolery in WCWA that has earned him a spot in the Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Trent Acid
In the early days of WCWA, WCWA was a very different company. It frankly didn’t make sense. It existed in the same universe as both WWE & TNA, but there were a ton of stars from both, and shows like WCWA Wrestlemania happened. It’s what most bookers do when they first started. One of the first indy acts I grabbed a hold of and really made my own were Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere, the Backseat Boys.
The Backseat Boys were instrumental in a crucial point in WCWA’s development as I was struggling for an identity as a company. When Trent and Johnny got over with the audience I was writing to at the time, it showed me that a “super indy” alternative to ROH would work, that an ECW type “#3 company” was a viable option and that writing could be done with “unknown” guys with the right character development. Without Trent Acid being such a natural charismatic wrestler and a solid act to write, I’m not sure if that would’ve been possible.
Trent Acid can also be directly attributed to me still being a wrestling fan. By 2003, I was very uninterested in WWE and TNA was hardly a blip on the radar. But I heard of this “ultra violent wrestling” that was running in the ECW arena.. Guys getting hit with weed whackers and breaking light tubes over each other. I was intrigued and immediately sought out as much CZW as I could get my hands on. Through that, I was highly exposed to Trent Acid.
There was a time when Trent Acid could’ve been argued as one of the top acts of WCWA and unquestionably a top five. In one of WCWA’s many “planned, but changed for something else” times, Trent Acid was going to beat Spanky for the WCWA Heavyweight title, but it was ultimately shifted to Samoa Joe.
Trent unfortunately passed away on June 18 2010. When he passed, I had an angle in mind for a return to the company for Trent and Johnny. I wrote them out because I simply had nothing left for them at the time. The angle that I had planned was that Trent and Johnny were cast aside and unwanted because Johnny was a homosexual and Trent had a drug problem. That they were demonized because of this. I may have still continued with the angle, had these things not been a reality and had his drug problem not been what ultimately ended Michael Verdi’s life.
Trent Acid is one of wrestling’s best unsung talents and it’s a shame he was taken from us so soon. Today we hope to memorialize him forever in what little way we can, in the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
The Original Sheik
Ed Farhat, The Original Sheik, was hardcore before there was a word for it. With such tactics as throwing fire into an opponent’s face, stabbing opponents with a metal spike or a pencil, The Sheik instantly carved a legacy of blood and violence for himself across several continents.
The Sheik’s reputation lives for itself, but he should forever be remembered as the innovator he is. That there are no rules or regulations to what pro wrestling is. It can be adapted to any ideology. The Detroit territory booked by Farhat was one of the bloodiest and most violent territories around in the 60s and 70s and would greatly influence what would become “hardcore”. The Sheik’s tours with FMW in Japan are legendary and should be remembered not just for what The Sheik himself did in the ring, but how he mentored the forefathers of Japanese hardcore and taught them what he knew.
The Sheik’s legacy lives on as his two students, Sabu and Rob Van Dam, are among the most famous wrestlers around today and are both sure fire hall of famers in their own right.
Gary Michael Cappetta
Gary Michael Cappetta has one of the most recognizable voices in professional wrestling. Having appeared for extended stints in WWWF, WWF, NWA, WCW, and Ring of Honor, Cappetta’s work bridges gaps and generations.
For WCWA, Gary Michael Cappetta brought an instant level of credibility. For me to picture the same man introducing my stars as had introduced Ric Flair, Sting, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warriors, and so many others in the past helped to give me goose bumps on many an entrance. Cappetta may have been seen as a round peg in a square hole in WCWA, but to me, Cappetta was the PERFECT fit and the exact ring announcer I was looking for.
We are proud to honor GMC with this induction to the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Tracy Smothers
T is for Terrible, H is for Hell, U is for Ugly, and G is for Jail, cause a thug can’t spell. And let me tell you, if I hear a “Tracy Sucks” EVERYONE DIES! Ultra mass super mega homicide!
Tracy Smothers is one of the best in ring workers of this generation. A veteran of WCW, ECW, WWF, SMW, W*ING, FMW, and pretty much every independent known to man. Tracy Smothers is one of the last guys who came up in the territorial system, having the opportunity to work for Memphis, Mid South, Continental, and others before they closed.
Tracy entered WCWA and brought his legendary reputation with him. And he fit into WCWA instantly with a style that showed he could brawl in the crowd with Necro Butcher, go hold for hold with Chris Hero, wrestle strong style with Eddie Kingston, or wrestle comedy with Beef Wellington. Every aspect of WCWA, Tracy succeeded in.
As his WCWA in ring career has ended, Tracy has taken on the important role of a road agent for WCWA, helping young wrestlers develop their skills. To honor him as he continues that role, we would like to welcome him to the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Jake Roberts
Trust me.. Jake Roberts was far ahead of his time. In a time and place when everyone else was screaming, ranting and raving, spitting and snorting.. Jake spoke softly and carried a mean stick. Jake didn’t need to scream because the words he was saying were much more effective and could be said in a soft tone and Jake’s actions showed that despite him not raising his voice, his words should be believed. Promo work as a whole came light years ahead thanks to Jake Roberts.
Jake was also an innovator in the ring. His finishing move, the DDT, has become a stable of almost every wrestler’s arsenal and prior to Jake, the DDT was simply not a move. And despite a million wrestlers since him performing the DDT, no one has ever performed it with such velocity and viciousness. DDT in the poison world is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a brutal dangerous and controversial outlawed poison. When Jake was asked what his DDT stood for, he somberly replied “the end”.
Jake Roberts is by far one of the very best there’s ever been and we at WCWA would like to honor him with an induction to the WCWA Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Andy Kaufman
“I’m smarter than all of you hillbillies from Memphis, Tennessee.. You see, I’m from HOLLYWOOD!”
Andy Kaufman is probably one of the greatest performers ever. Not in wrestling.. He was a pretty terrible wrestler. But his act, which can’t accurately be described as anything, was one of the most phenomenal things I’ve ever witnessed. And unlike the few similar people to him, Andy never let on that his hoaxes were in fact, works. And while dressing up in a wig and fake mustache and insulting your audience may be considered crude by some, when Andy did it, it was brilliant. Andy’s best work however, was probably his wrestling.
Andy wasn’t so much a “wrestler” as an entertainer who happened to enjoy wrestling. Andy was a fan of the work. The idea that these men could pretend to fight and could get thousands of people to buy into the act. But Andy was too small to compete with men. So he competed with women. This in itself was revolutionary because prior to Andy, it would’ve been deemed completely inappropriate for any women to do ANYTHING physical with Andy. So the often inter-gender matches in WCWA can be looked at as a nod to Andy, who crowned himself the undefeated Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of the World.
Andy’s wrestling matches were most like apartment wrestling videos that you’d see in Apter mags than pro wrestling. They often took place on gym mats rather than a wrestling ring, and were simply Andy holding the women down. Andy offered any woman who could beat him various prizes, ranging from $5000 (in the early 80s, which by inflating would be a LOT more), the championship belt, his head being shaved, and finally his hand in marriage. No woman ever defeated him. However, the story goes that these inter-gender matches were often a way for Andy to ask the women he was wrestling out on dates.
Andy’s biggest wrestling angle came with Jerry Lawler in Memphis. Following a match with a woman in Memphis, Lawler entered the ring and got physical with Andy. The end result was Andy getting piledrivered, twice, which resulted in Andy Kaufman getting a disqualification victory over Lawler and a trip out of the building in an ambulance. Despite having no actual injuries, Andy wore his neck brace any time he was in public at all, including when he was in bed with his girlfriend! Andy and Lawler’s angle went onto the David Letterman Show, which has to be seen to be believed.
Andy took the fact that his work with Lawler was, in fact, a work, to his grave.
Andy Kaufman: Gone but never forgotten. Dank you veddy much.
