Really well written. It is making me check out the Unquiet World.
What inspired you to breathe life back into these old‑world figures in a landscape after revival? Were there personal journeys or spectral echoes from carnivals and the road that shaped Hank’s raw intensity?
Thanks for the read and the response. I appreciate it. Unquiet World is an excellent prompt. Definitely give it a peek. The inspiration for Hank is an amalgamation of stories about the frontier and early territorial days of professional wrestling. Following both WW1 and WW2, some of the men returning from active duty were no longer able to or chose not to return to "Polite" society. Wrestling was one avenue where they could make a great deal of money. The wrestlers back then were all independent contractors, essentially. Additionally, they were outlaws who lived a very different life. My younger brother was involved in local independent wrestling for most of his life, and the juxtaposition from where the industry was(30s,40s,50s) to what it has become (2000+), I thought, would make an interesting dichotomy. It was the first thing that popped into my mind after reading the prompt for Unquiet World. So it draws on real-life experiences and the traditional tall tales of the early days of professional wrestling. Oh, and this is painting with very broad strokes, but you get the gist.
That’s a really interesting response, thanks for sharing it. I like how you connect the rough, frontier stories with the wild world of early wrestling. The thought of soldiers coming back from war and finding wrestling as a place to belong feels both sad and powerful. It makes the ring seem like more than just a sport, it’s a stage where survival, performance, and rebellion all meet.
Yeah, one of the guys I wrestled with was someone called Bulldog Bob Brown and he wrestled guys like Harley Race and Bruiser Body years before he got older and hung out in Winnipeg a bit. Apparently Harley would show a gun to settle an argument but could also stretch the hell out of younger wrestlers like even the Road Warriors if they pushed their luck with him in the ring.
Thank you. I did research, in a way. My younger brother worked for a local promotion for decades and I would occasionally help out. The whole subculture is fascinating. There is such a craft to their lives, lies, and stories. And with the prompt I couldn’t pass up the chance to imagine what it would be like for someone from the carny era to return.
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. It is quite the vernacular. I don't think old Sailor Hank would be happy with me sharing the secrets, but unfortunately for him, that ship has sailed.
Great story. 40 years ago I wrestled around 100 matches in Winnipeg, Canada until I quit with post concussion syndrome and a twisted neck so I know a bit about pro wrestling and you got all the details right. Your description of Strapp reminded me of Harley Race. He used to carry a gun in his bag as well and was notorious for being able to beat the crap out of anyone, including Hulk Hogan.
100% was thinking of Handsom Harley writing some of this. Let me think Winnipeg 40 years ago... Was that AWA? I don’t know too much about that region. Bockwinkel? or were you guys mainly WWF by then? 84/85?
WFWA, West Four Wrestling Alliance. As small a league as you can imagine. I was trained in the basement of beauty saloon with a thin pad on top of a concrete floor. We mostly wrestled in bars, community halls and reserves. Before my time Roddy Piper wrestled there for awhile before moving on to bigger things.
I looked up some things. I guess I always thought of Piper as a Portland guy, but I was incorrect. He is a Winnipeg guy. Sounds like a fun time. You must have some wild stories.
I never met Piper but my promoter Tony Condello loved telling us Roddy Piper stories. I guess he was a lot like his in ring persona, a total nutbar. Apparently, once he thought Tony hadn’t paid him enough after a match in a bar and he broke a beer bottle in half and demanded Tony give him another 20 bucks. Tony claimed he laughed and said “What the fuck Roddy?” Then Roddy dropped the broken beer bottle and laughed as well. Pro wrestling is sometimes a little nuts behind the scenes.
That sounds like a Roddy story, and a wrestling story. I think the Harley gun situation was also Roddy related. At least one version I heard was Roddy was pulling a rib with a fake gun in the locker room, and Harley pulled his real gun. The rib ended quickly. Something along those lines.
Really well written. It is making me check out the Unquiet World.
What inspired you to breathe life back into these old‑world figures in a landscape after revival? Were there personal journeys or spectral echoes from carnivals and the road that shaped Hank’s raw intensity?
Thanks for the read and the response. I appreciate it. Unquiet World is an excellent prompt. Definitely give it a peek. The inspiration for Hank is an amalgamation of stories about the frontier and early territorial days of professional wrestling. Following both WW1 and WW2, some of the men returning from active duty were no longer able to or chose not to return to "Polite" society. Wrestling was one avenue where they could make a great deal of money. The wrestlers back then were all independent contractors, essentially. Additionally, they were outlaws who lived a very different life. My younger brother was involved in local independent wrestling for most of his life, and the juxtaposition from where the industry was(30s,40s,50s) to what it has become (2000+), I thought, would make an interesting dichotomy. It was the first thing that popped into my mind after reading the prompt for Unquiet World. So it draws on real-life experiences and the traditional tall tales of the early days of professional wrestling. Oh, and this is painting with very broad strokes, but you get the gist.
I thought I responded to this!
That’s a really interesting response, thanks for sharing it. I like how you connect the rough, frontier stories with the wild world of early wrestling. The thought of soldiers coming back from war and finding wrestling as a place to belong feels both sad and powerful. It makes the ring seem like more than just a sport, it’s a stage where survival, performance, and rebellion all meet.
Yeah, one of the guys I wrestled with was someone called Bulldog Bob Brown and he wrestled guys like Harley Race and Bruiser Body years before he got older and hung out in Winnipeg a bit. Apparently Harley would show a gun to settle an argument but could also stretch the hell out of younger wrestlers like even the Road Warriors if they pushed their luck with him in the ring.
Yes!!
Thanks man. Really appreciate the read and Restack
Great story! I especially liked the descriptions of the characters—gin blossom nose—ha! You must’ve done some research on this one!
Thank you. I did research, in a way. My younger brother worked for a local promotion for decades and I would occasionally help out. The whole subculture is fascinating. There is such a craft to their lives, lies, and stories. And with the prompt I couldn’t pass up the chance to imagine what it would be like for someone from the carny era to return.
Well, I think you captured the characters, for sure!
What jargon! What an education! What a story!
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. It is quite the vernacular. I don't think old Sailor Hank would be happy with me sharing the secrets, but unfortunately for him, that ship has sailed.
Great story. 40 years ago I wrestled around 100 matches in Winnipeg, Canada until I quit with post concussion syndrome and a twisted neck so I know a bit about pro wrestling and you got all the details right. Your description of Strapp reminded me of Harley Race. He used to carry a gun in his bag as well and was notorious for being able to beat the crap out of anyone, including Hulk Hogan.
Oh, and thanks for the read and the kind words. I appreciate it.
100% was thinking of Handsom Harley writing some of this. Let me think Winnipeg 40 years ago... Was that AWA? I don’t know too much about that region. Bockwinkel? or were you guys mainly WWF by then? 84/85?
WFWA, West Four Wrestling Alliance. As small a league as you can imagine. I was trained in the basement of beauty saloon with a thin pad on top of a concrete floor. We mostly wrestled in bars, community halls and reserves. Before my time Roddy Piper wrestled there for awhile before moving on to bigger things.
I looked up some things. I guess I always thought of Piper as a Portland guy, but I was incorrect. He is a Winnipeg guy. Sounds like a fun time. You must have some wild stories.
I never met Piper but my promoter Tony Condello loved telling us Roddy Piper stories. I guess he was a lot like his in ring persona, a total nutbar. Apparently, once he thought Tony hadn’t paid him enough after a match in a bar and he broke a beer bottle in half and demanded Tony give him another 20 bucks. Tony claimed he laughed and said “What the fuck Roddy?” Then Roddy dropped the broken beer bottle and laughed as well. Pro wrestling is sometimes a little nuts behind the scenes.
That sounds like a Roddy story, and a wrestling story. I think the Harley gun situation was also Roddy related. At least one version I heard was Roddy was pulling a rib with a fake gun in the locker room, and Harley pulled his real gun. The rib ended quickly. Something along those lines.