THE WAY I SEE IT 1/19
- 01/19/2007 (8:42:20 pm)
- Afa The Wild Samoan
Remembering BamBam….
I want to start this month's column by saying have a safe trip home to our Lord, my long time friend Scott Bigelow. Scott was one of my many kids and we went back a long way. He and Ray Licamelli a/k/a Doink The Clown trained at my Wild Samoan Training Center in the beginning of their careers.
We traveled up and down the highways together sharing so many great times and enjoyed many holidays together with our families. One of my best memories of Bammer is back when some friends of ours hosted a roast in my honor. When it was Bammer's turn to get up and roast me he said " I can't say anything bad about my Pops" Bammer was always there for me and my wrestling shows. One time when my late nephew, Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoa`i was unable to make a show because his flight was canceled, Bammer came off a deep sea fishing trip to rush to Pennsylvania to save the night. We had an experience on a tour to Russia that I will never forget. I could go on for hours about the kind of person Scott was and I will deeply miss him. It is a great loss for us to lose such a good person so young in his life, but as I have said over and over, I believe that our Lord was ready for a new champion for the great federation he is running in Heaven. To the family and friends of Bammer, especially his children, my thoughts, prayers and love go out to you.
With the WWE Hall Of Fame inductions coming up again this year, I began to think about the great history of professional wrestling. Spending so many years in this sport, it makes me happy to see that people still care about history, and those who paved the way for today's superstars. To see classic matches and events, you used to have to hunt down old videos. Now, there are DVD's full of historic matches, places to watch all kinds of things online... even a cable channel devoted entirely to the past and present of our great sport.
I feel so lucky to be remembered and looked at as an important part of wrestling history, especially in tag team wrestling. I know that many people look to the Wild Samoans as innovators, and compare many who came afterwards to us, including many members of my family. Honestly, I'm just happy to be able to help out everyone while enjoying life in pro wrestling.
If they were able to be more successful because of what my brother Sika and I did, that's even better.
It seems like just yesterday that we started my wrestling school and promotion, but WXW has really created a lot of history as well. We, too try to give the fans a taste of wrestling's past, present, and future, and I think we do a good job of it, year after year, and we highlight it with a bang at "Sportsfest", our biggest event. "Sportsfest" is part of a larger sports-themed fair held outdoors in Allentown, and every year, thousands flock to it, and to our event. We broadcast it live on Service Electric cable, and work hard to put on the biggest event possible. If you want a taste of WXW's history, I highly recommend picking up the DVD's of these events (available on www.WXWwrestling.com).
As part of Sportsfest, we have always tried to celebrate wrestling's past by bringing in legends to compete. Superstars like Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Doink The Clown, Tony Atlas, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Head Shrinker Samu, Don Muraco,King Kong Bundy, Kamala, Nikita Koloff, Tonga Kid, Rikishi, Umanga, Gangrel and Tito Santana have come in to remind everyone how talented they truly are. Stars of the present have always been a part of Sportsfest as well. I remember several years back, WWE stars like Mick Foley, my nephew The Rock, and the late Owen Hart were on the event. Another year, extremists like Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman showed up as well. Even my former student Batista has come back to his home at Sportsfest. Plus, every year, we showcase the future of wrestling, as some of the top young prospects in our sport get to show their stuff. Homegrown athletes like Gene Snitsky, my son Afa Jr. and Tommy Suede have gone on to work for the WWE, but first impressed the world in WXW, and at Sportsfest. Year after year, more and more of our WXW family are discovered, and I wish them all the success in the world. Hopefully, they go on to make more history, so that professional wrestling can live on, stronger than ever.
Until next month, stay healthy and always remember NO ONE is promised tomorrow. Life is a gift. Don't go to bed mad and always keep your loved ones close. Keep in touch with the ones you love and don't assume that then know how you feel. Say that you love them and always forgive and forget as life is too short.
Tofa my brother Bammer. I know you are in a better place.
God is good.
Afa "The Wild Samoan"
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