Well, after skipping a month of writing this column, as they say in the horror films “He’s back”. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and all of you are geared up for an equally wonderful Christmas, and past that everyone will be at “CAC 40” in April.

We lost some very fine people during this past twelve months and that has all ready been covered on this web site. I do want to say that filling that void will not be easy. Let’s hope that the New Year will bring Cauliflower Alley many new and young members to carry on the tradition of those who have carried the banner before them.

I was in Las Vegas for three days in November to work on a DVD project. It was great fun, and a big part of the reason it was is because three other CAC members, Nick Bockwinkel, George Steele, and Mike Lano, along with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, and the Honky Tonk Man, joined me. We were working for still another CAC guy, Mario Savoldi. Producing this project was another person I had not seen in years, Mike Shields. Mike was the television director for Jerry Jarrett TV in the 80’s and spear headed the AWA production when they were doing their television from Las Vegas. Our party was housed at the CAC host hotel for 2005, The Riviera.

It was my first time staying there and the rooms are very nice. The major attraction are far as eating goes (We all know how important eating is to wrestlers) is their huge “World’s Fare Buffet” which is on the second floor. The last time CAC had our convention there; we were given a special discount price for the Sunday morning Brunch, which by the way was G-R-E-A-T. Hope Karl, Red, or somebody has worked that out for us again.

Speaking of Red, you would think that the old gentleman would slow down as he launches into his seventies, but no sir. This guy is on his third hip replacement. I don’t know how he wears these things out so fast, and knowing Red, it may not be smart to ask.

Another old warrior going under the knife in a couple of days from the time I am writing this is my EPWT sidekick Harley Race.  Less then seven months after his back operation, “The King” is having his shoulder worked on. I know both of these guys will be geared up for CAC come April. While on the subject of Harley, don’t forget that his bio is now in bookstores. It is titled “The King of the Ring” and is a great read. It is published by Sports Publishing LLC who also have a bio o Terry Funk in the works, and the training manual Harley, Ricky Steamboat, and I are doing. That by the way is due out in the fall of 2005.

There has been a rumor that we are not having the wrestling seminar next April (rumors in pro wrestling?) Well, it is just that as Harley, myself, and Scott Casey are making plans for the 3^rd annual CAC training seminar and exhibition. All you have to do is become a member of CAC and you can join us for two days of in ring training, and possibly be selected as one of the wrestlers to be part of the Saturday afternoon event. The schedule will run something like this. Thursday will be sign-in starting at 9:AM, and training will begin as close to 10:AM as possible. Lunch break will be 1 to 2:PM and then train until about 5:PM. That 10:AM start will apply as well on Friday. At the end of training on Friday the trainers will pick the 30 top performers as far as the two days go, and they will be programmed into the Saturday afternoon exhibition, which will begin at 1:PM and run till between 3 and 3:30PM.

For this 3^rd seminar we will try to get some of the other legends involved over the two days of training. If you have checked prices for training seminars around the country, you’ll find that the pricing will range from as little as 50 bucks for one afternoon through as much as 300 for three days. The CAC seminar for two days is the biggest bang you can get for your buck, and the chance to perform in front of possibly the toughest crowd you will ever see. The combined experience of the three trainers heading up this event tallies up for over one hundred twenty years. This is all for the price of a CAC membership 25.00!

 For the upcoming seminar you will be asked to register as a CAC member before entering the training area, and then you will need to sign the waiver and release forms. We hope to see you there.

As if I didn’t have enough to keep me busy, I have taken on the co-host job of an Internet talk show. You can find me along with my two sidekicks Chris Cash and Doc Young every Sunday night 6 to 8:PM EST at www.voiceofwrestling.com for “The Voice of Wrestling”. We talk about current issues, take questions from the chat room, and also have guests from within the industry. It is a fun time for all of us and you are invited to join us every Sunday night.

There will also be a bunch of CAC members in attendance at the Tampa, Florida “Wrestle Reunion” the last weekend of January 2005. This event will have about 60 stars past and present from the world of professional wrestling. The weekend will include autograph sessions, photo opps, and a full wrestling card. I could fill a whole column with the details, but instead see for yourself by going to www.wrestlereunion.com.

For those of you wanting a shot at a trip to Japan, please stay tuned. AS you know we (Harley, myself, Tom Prichard) along with the Trainers from Pro Wrestling Noah ran a 5-day training camp at The Harley Race Wrestling Academy. From that group of trainees, two were picked to travel to Japan and spend three months training in the Noah Dojo. The two young men who were picked last August Matt Stryker and Rudi Vallee will be headed across the ocean in mid-February. Well, Noah was so happy with the out come of that venture they have ask for another camp to be run sometime in the summer of 05. It will be again at Harley’s and we will let you know the dates as soon as they are set.

To wrap up this column for the year of 2004, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a super great New Year. I am looking forward to 2005 and all the fun of the CAC 40^th Convention. Thanks to the CAC staff for allowing me to post my views and opinions here on the web site. If you have comments or suggestions (Drop dead has already been sent in) please e-mail me at les@epwt.com. Train hard and master your craft. 

Until Next Time,

Les