Professional Wrestling Studies Association
Studying the Past, Present, and Future of Professional Wrestling
Lee Benaka 
I met Barry Hardy at John Arezzi’s 1991 “Weekend of Champions” convention. Hardy was wrestling as “Agony” of the Lords of Darkness at the time, a tag team that had been enjoying some success in independent promotions. He had an elaborately painted face, wore a long black robe, and carried a large axe. Although Hardy … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Barry Hardy
After I interviewed Windy City Wrestling co-founder Sam DeCero in 1991 in Chicago, Sam brought over a few of his trainees to talk to me. Trevor Blanchard was introduced to me as a “bad guy,” and he sat down for this interview with some wariness. I guess the bad guy attitude was inevitable if you … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Trevor Blanchard
Part 1 of this interview ended with Sam DeCero’s career-ending injury due to a mishap during his regular day job as a laborer. Read on to learn about the next steps that DeCero took to remain a force in the Chicago pro wrestling scene…. DeCero: So I figured, “How am I going to stay in … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Sam DeCero (part 2)
Sam DeCero is the founder and promoter of Windy City Wrestling, a Chicago-based wresting promotion. His office, where this 1991 interview took place, was decorated with posters from his wrestling tours of Japan, publicity stills of wrestlers who work for him, and a large television. A wrestling ring was right outside the office, where trainees … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Sam DeCero (part 1)
“A cross between Little Richard and Muhammad Ali” is how Marc Mero, better known as Johnny B. Badd, described himself in 1992 when I talked to him. The description was quite apt for the muscular, tanned wrestler who wore lipstick, rouge, and skimpy wrestling tights. Mero was a newcomer to wrestling in 1992 but off … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Marc Mero
Ox Baker sits at a table at a 1991 wrestling convention outside of New York City, selling t-shirts displaying his intimidating face. The t-shirts read, “Ox Baker: Big, Mean, and Ugly,” and Baker’s bulky frame, bald head, and immensely bush eyebrows and beard seem to confirm that claim. In fact, his fearsome appearance led to … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Ox Baker
At the time of this 1991 interview, Joel Goodhart–with his beard, glasses, and long hair– looked more like a roadie for the Grateful Dead than a successful, albeit controversial, wrestling promoter. Goodhart earned a loyal following by promoting an influential brand of wrestling called (at the time) “shock wrestling.” In 1992, Goodhart declared bankruptcy and … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Joel Goodhart
After badgering Larry Sharpe for an interview at a 1991 wrestling fan convention outside of New York City, the “Pretty Boy” allowed me to follow him to his hotel room. As we got to the hotel room door, Sharpe, who had recently wrestled his retirement match, muttered, “If you want this damn interview, it’ll have … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe
During my 1992 visit to the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association (USWA), I was able to visit with African-American prelim wrestler Anthony “Cat” Garrett. Garrett, who had just won his preliminary match that night, was standing next to a souvenir table and talking to his family, before he excused himself to talk to me. … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Cat Garrett
After an hour of pestering the promoter of Memphis’s United States Wrestling Association (USWA) at a 1992 show, the promoter brought out one of the promotion’s top good guys (or “faces”), Jeff Jarrett, to talk to me. Sporting a mane of shiny blond hair and a friendly demeanor, Jarrett patiently described his wrestling career before … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Jeff Jarrett