Gene anderson Wrestling Try-outs

[wreckingcrew]

Seeing the interest so many people have as a fans perspective of the old school, I thought I might add a story about my Dad that a lot of the wrestlers have as a memory of him. -"Wrestling try-outs" come to mind when they think of Gene Anderson. I witnessed the brutality of these events strarting from a very young age. I think it was Dad's way of making me a man although I don't think it worked. Dad was was put in charge in by Jim Sr. to try out new guys. He basically ran the guys to near death so that there was not much left of them to put up a fight. That was when the torture began. He did this to these guys so that no matter what happened they would leave there with respect or fear of the business. Two in particular that stick out are the one time a guy was mouthing off that after the try-out he wasoing to have cocaine pary for everyone. Big mistake dad hated drugs. He had not planned on "shooting" on anyone and all he had on were a t-shirt,shorts and flip flops. He put the "sugar" on this guy and then took him by the back of his head and smashed his face in the mat to a bloody pulp th ewhole time repeating, "You want to be a wrestler and do drugs" until the other wrestlers pulled him off thinking he was going to kill the guy. I don' think all the blood ever came out of that mat and it was an icon for a long time. I did not see this on but remember my Dad telling me one time Ole had a try-out guy down on the mat who was mouthy about the business and Ole put the "sugar" on him. When the the guy woke back up he brought a brick back to the ring and Ole hooked him again this time putting his finger in the guys eye socket behind the eye ball and telling him if he ever saw him again he would pull his eye out next time. Ask Ole next time anyone see's him. I believe it was Dad and Ole's love of protecting the business that they did this to guys because it wasn' t the same Gene that was my Dad. - Brad Anderson

[slayerfan]

That is some crazy stuff. You have to love the older guys.

[cwh47]

That is a great story wreckingcrew.I am glad that you
joined this board.I would also like to thank you for
sharing your Dad's journals with Baltimore Jack.He let
me read the 1971 journal.It was an honor to read
Gene Anderson's own words about the matches he
wrestled every night.

I especially appreciated his descriptions of his two
World Title shots against Dory Funk Jr. in Feb. and
July of 1971.Back then all title matches were 2 out of
3 falls.Gene pinned Dory for one fall in each of these
matches.Gene was outstanding in singles matches
too.

[spacemountain]

Brad,

Thanks for this story!! A lot of us do not know that even though some wrestlers do not do a lot of work in front of the camera, they were still a very, very important part of the business behind the scenes. And I am just beginning to learn that in earnest.

[thegreatbologuy]

Thanks for the story, Brad.

Ole touched on the subject in his book (which remains the BEST book on wrestling / wrestlers I have read).

Ole claims that he and Gene picked up some extra money on the side doing "try-outs" at the old Charlotte Coliseum.

[Baltimore Jack]

The entires from Gene's 1971 Journal where he wrestled Dory Funk Jr. for the NWA World title will be posted on the Gateway/Anderson Brothers Classic sometime this weekend, along with some additional material Brad is letting us borrow this weekend.

If anyone is in the Mooresville NC area, come on out to the National Guard Armory tonight and visit with Brad, see the boots, the ring jacket, the belt....... heck, forget the wrestling matches, the Armory will be an Anderson Museum tonight!

The National Guard Armory is located at
720 N Broad St Mooresville, NC 28115-9551 (about two miles off of I-77.)
Click here for Mapquest

Take Exit #36 off of I-77 at Mooresville/Lake Norman. Head east on Highway 150, keep left on Highway 150.
Turn right on Highway 115. Armory is about 300 yards after turning right on 115.