The Day We Met

If someone had told me 12 years ago that I would someday get to know Smash (of Demolition, the WWF's World Tag Team Champions at the time), I wouldn't have been able to guess how the tough-looking, red-tongued, leather-and-spikes clad, big bad-guy with tattoos would fit into the scheme of things. Or how I would fit into his scheme of things!

I met a lot of wrestlers in person - like the Killer Bees (Jumpin' Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair) in New York, and the late Kerry Von Erich and The Iron Shiek in Florida. And then I met even more of them in Minnesota, in a totally different setting and on a more personal level. Barry Darsow, who has had many names during his days in the squared circle (including the Blacktop Bully and Repo Man), was extremely talented in the ring with his versatility in dramatizing so many different personnas. He really knew how to grab the spectators' attentions and threw himself into his roles wholeheartedly. Throughout his career in wrestling, he had numerous memorable vendettas and moments that brought fans (like yours truly) to the edge of their seats. He turned out to be the one professional wrestler who I would have the most to do with.

And anyone who has ever known him, including me, will tell you that he is different from the rest!

When you meet them, some guys will act stuck up and have nothing to say; some guys will be courteous and offer an autograph; and some guys will immediately hit on you if you're female. Barry? Well, my story, in a nutshell, goes like this: I wasn't sure if it was really him when I saw him at THE GYM in Plymouth in September 1999. So I inadvertantly stared at him, trying to figure it out. He looked at me, said hello, and my first words to him were: "Ya know...you look REALLLLY familiar for some reason..." while shaking a finger accusingly at the 300-pounder. His reaction was to make a series of patented facial expressions - ones that only Smash of Demolition could make - and growl, "DO I?"

I just about died on the spot, between the benches. He just couldn't help but jump right into entertaining mode again.

He spotted me for a set on the bench, and we talked about Robbinsdale, and our families, and powerlifting, and of course, wrestling. He showed me some new exercises, like the decline bench press and squatting with an iron vest. I asked him if Demolition got their makeup idea from the band Kiss. He told me they got their ideas from HIM. He never failed to make me laugh. And the day didn't end without him wiggling his pecs. Now that was worth waiting all these years for!