On Saturday Jan 8th 2011, I helped out as a referee at the MIW show in Chanhassen, MN. Luckily, I got to work the main event of the night (actually, it was a request, not luck, but I felt privileged that they wanted me for their match).
The main event that night was Brody Hoofer vs. “Playboy” Pete Huge, with the stipulation that the loser had to leave MIW (and presumably wrestling).The event ended up selling out at the American Legion, with more than a dozen fans being turned away due to the inability to squeeze anyone else into the room (a.k.a. fire code).
Back in 1998, when I was still in the Eddie Sharkey/Terry Fox wrestling training camp near Minneapolis, MN (see Part 1, Part2, and Part 3), two of our new trainees were Pete and Hoofer (I think Pete started first, but I don’t know what the gap was between them). They ended up being ready for a card in the bright lights, small city of Spooner, WI around the same time, so they had their first match against each other there in Feb 1999. At the time, I think Pete was going by the ring name Damien Navarro, and Hoofer was Big Daddy Hoofer. I was on the card also, probably against the Mighty Angus, and I’m almost certain I witnessed their first match. After a twelve year feud, I may have also seen their last match.
At the end of a great contest that included some of the moves and counter-moves used in their very first match, with the crowd exhausted and getting more than their money’s worth, with a long string of false finishes behind them, Pete was victorious and Hoofer was forced to leave the world of professional wrestling.
Although he didn’t get the win, he got the girl (Pete’s valet Allison Wonderland), and he got even more respect than he already had. Besides the great reputation he has built over the years with his fellow trainees and his many opponents, tag team partners, and friends, and he has also earned the respect of many of this industry’s greatest veterans like Honky Tonk Man, “Wild” Bill Irwin, and Road Warrior Animal, just to name a few.
It’s the end of one road, and the start of another. Good luck to Hoofer in whatever dangerous hobby he decides to pursue next. I’m just happy I got to participate in both the beginning, and in the end, of Hoofer’s career in professional wrestling.
Well written You tied beginning to end nicely.
I wish I was there to see this match and the end of Hoofers wrestling career, well, at least for a little while.
My favorite Hoofer moment was the first (I think) time I met him. It was at the After Party when WCW Nitro was in town and he told Konnan he’d give him five bucks NOT to rap. Konnan didn’t think that was very funny.
Hah! I remember that. Konnan was definitely not happy.
Good stuff.
Speaking of Nitro, I remember scalping tickets for a Target Center show with Darin before both of us got involved in the business. We sat in the 2nd or 3rd row along with Craig Karger (spelling? Sorry Craig) This was when everybody threw shit at the ring and we got pelted with numerous things and soaked with beer.
I got spoiled by this. After that, anything farther than the 3rd row didn’t seem worth it. I tried getting seats like this again and only managed the lower level.
Not a drop of beer got on me from that height. 🙁
Nice memories. Glad you took us back.