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Scheduled Publication Date: February 8, 2007 |
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Some of the best known personalities in the history
of professional wrestling were not wrestlers; they were managers.
An exceptionally good wrestler who was able to do only a mediocre
job on the microphone would very rarely attain or sustain main-event
status. A great manager, on the other hand, could take on an
average wrestler, speak for him, and turn that wrestler into a major
international star. Great managers were like magicians; they could
perform magic with the careers of wrestlers. Of the great managers
the world of professional wrestling has known, only a very few
attained “legend” status. Those legendary managers include Bobby
“The Brain” Heenan, J.C. Dykes, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Captain Lou
Albano, J.J. Dillon, Jimmy Hart, The Grand Wizard, Classy Freddie
Blassie, Percy Pringle aka “Paul Bearer”, Playboy Gary Hart, and, of
course, the amazing Dr. Ken Ramey.
I
watched Dr. Ken Ramey and his famous Interns on television for many
months before I ever stepped into the squared circle. Even as a
fan, I realized that I was witnessing greatness when I watched these
men in action. Little did I know that only a few years later, I
would be wrestling on the same cards, sharing dressing rooms, and
even riding from town to town with three of my wrestling “heroes,”
Dr. Ken Ramey and his masked Interns. At the prestigious yearly CAC
Wrestlers Reunion and Awards Dinner at the Riviera Hotel and Casino
is Las Vegas, Nevada, I had the opportunity to conduct an on-camera
interview with my friend Dr. Ken Ramey. Being the masterful
stick-man that he is (that means he’s brilliantly talented on the
microphone), Dr. Ramey heard the word “rolling.” He began the
conversation even before I had a chance to introduce him.
“We’re
right back here again [in front of the cameras],” Ken began, “and it
certainly is great to see you!” “Well, it’s certainly good to see
you!” I responded. I looked into the camera and began my
introduction. “This is Dr. Ken Ramey. He is a living legend in the
world of professional wrestling.” Ken seemed pleased as I directed
my attention back to him. “Tell the people who you managed,” I
suggested, “and what you did in the business, please, Ken.” Ken
raised an eyebrow slightly and answered, “What I didn’t do would be
closer to it and take up less time, because I did everything. I
refereed. I managed. I booked. I promoted towns, put up posters.
I put up the ring. You name it. Whatever was done in the business,
at some time or other, I participated in it.”
I knew that Ken had done everything there was to do
in the wrestling business. I also knew that he was internationally
known, not for setting up rings but for managing, so I asked, “You
were most famous as a manager of whom?” “Of the Interns” was Ken’s
swift reply, “although, for short periods of time, I did manage some
other people – Paul Demarco, Playboy Buddy Rose, and, down in
Mobile, I managed the Monroes for a while.” I had wrestled for
about a year and a half out of Mobile, Alabama, and I knew the
Monroes. “Sputnik [Monroe] and …” I began. “No,” Ken corrected,
“not Sputnik. It was Flash and Rocket [Monroe], two great guys.”
“I
have been very fortunate,” Dr. Ramey continued, “in this business.
When I was managing, I managed some good guys!” “You did, indeed,”
I added. “I mean,” Ken explained, “there were guys who were very
good and very good in the ring. But Tom and Jim – Tom Andrews and
Jim Starr – they were the Interns. They really didn’t start out as
the Interns. We had Billy Garret as the first one. Billy got out
of the business and I thought that the team would be gone. And Jim
called me up and said, ‘No, I’ve got somebody to replace Billy.’ He
said, ‘Tom Andrews.’ I had heard of Tom Andrews, but I’d never met
him. But, what a man! I mean, between the two of them – and I’ve
seen tag teams and a lot of people – but, between the two of them I
thought (and maybe I’m a little biased and, of course, I am,) I
thought they were the best that I’d ever seen. They worked together
in the ring as good as anybody I have ever seen. And for a long
period of time! There have been a lot of tag teams, and they would
team up on one day as a tag team and then they’d go on about their
ways, working in single matches here, working in single matches
there. We worked strictly as a tag team the whole time, close to
ten years. That was the way that we did. And, they’re both here
with me.”
That
last statement threw me. “They are here today?” I asked with a look
of slight astonishment on my face. “They are here for the weekend,”
Ken confirmed. I interrupted him with the excitement of a fan and
said, “Oh, we’ve got to get them on camera!” “It’s the first time
the three of us have been together in over twenty years,” Ken
proudly said. “We stepped out of the business in the late
seventies. And we have not worked together or anything since then.
The three of us are here together – The two Interns and Dr. Ken
Ramey.” “Oh, this is fantastic,” I interjected. “I’ll tell you
what, Ken. Let’s continue this with everybody – you and your two
boys.” I wanted to continue the interview later with all four of us
on camera.
Dr.
Ramey wasn’t quite ready to conclude this portion of the interview.
He looked at me and said, “Oh, it’s good to see you again.” I
reciprocated with “It’s good to see you!” “You know something,” Dr.
Ramey continued, “If you had ever let me manage you; if I’d ever
gotten you under my wing, I would’ve made you World Champion!”
“That’s right,” I said, “and I should have been!” Dr. Ramey
laughed. “No,” I continued, “because I was brilliant. I was
wonderful! I had everything going for me that was necessary. The
ONLY thing that possibly could have been missing was the greatest
wrestling manager the planet has ever seen, and that, of course, is
Dr. Ken Ramey!” As I was saying that last line, Ken reached over
and kissed me on the cheek. “Okay,” I thought, “Great
improvisation on Ken’s part. I hope the audience understands the
humor here.” I looked into the camera and ended the segment
(what else could I do?) with “And there you have it, folks. A kiss
from Dr. Ken Ramey. What can I tell you? Thank you very much.” I
looked at Peter Redford, our director of photography. “And, Mr.
Redford,” I said in a subdued tone, “you can say ‘cut’ anytime.
“Cut.” “Thank you!”
Next week, I will share the unexpected additional
videotaped interview with Dr. Ramey and the planned interview with
him and his Interns. Until then, keep those e-mails coming.
