Part of the criteria for CACs Iron Mike award states that the recipient must be “immediately recognizable” to wrestling fans and the non-wrestling world alike.  Between the Marine Drill Instructor hat, the sunglasses, and the jutting jaw, it’s difficult to think of anyone in the wrestling world who could possibly be more recognizable to fans than Sgt. Slaughter.  If you add the other criteria, that the recipient must have achieved success in more than one field, it becomes clear that the Sarge is an ideal candidate for the award named after wrestler/actor Mike Mazuki.  In addition to over 35 years of success in wrestling, the good Sarge is also a major star of the GI Joe cartoon series, having become a live military action figure and pop culture phenomenon. His fame has led to countless appearances at events ranging from major and minor league baseball games, to pro hockey games, to NASCAR races.  He has met “everyone who’s anyone”, including Presidents, movie stars and pro athletes.  Despite all that, Sgt. Slaughter remains humble and has always been known for his big heart, more than anything else.  He works tirelessly for children and youth charities, and also never forgets the military troops serving in harm’s way.

Sarge is mobbed by his fans after a Battle Royal victory

Born Robert Remus and growing up in the Minneapolis, MN area, Sarge has always had a love of wrestling.  With his size, he was a natural sports star in high school, in both wrestling and football.  He grew up during the height of AWA wrestling popularity in Minnesota, watching such greats as the Crusher.  It wasn’t surprising then that he would eventually train to become a wrestler in the Minnesota area,  with teachers likeVerne Gagne and Billy Robinson.  Anyone familiar with Verne’s training camp knows that only the strongest and most talented candidates survived such training.  Those that did, often went on to achieve major stardom throughout the wrestling world.  Such was the case with Sgt. Slaughter.  From his start in the mid 70’s, he quickly moved through areas such as the Pacific Northwest to Hawaii and California, to the Central States area and the Mid-Atlantic.  As Bob Slaughter, he wrestled in and became a star in nearly every major territory of the late 70’s and early 80s.  His Drill Instructor persona really caught fire with the fans at that time, and also earned him many championships in the National Wrestling Association, both as a singles star and as a tag team, with partners like Don Kernodle.

Just a small sample of the many Sgt. Slaughter collectibles that have been available over the years.

As Sgt. Slaughter, he went on to the WWE in the early 80s.  With the advent of cable TV and nationwide coverage, fans from all over the country were exposed to the wrestling ability of the Sarge,   His matches with such WWE greats as Pat Patterson and Bruno Sammartino quickly became classics.  In the mid 80s, Sarge was offered his opportunity to become “a real American hero” and appear on the GI Joe cartoon series as himself.   Handing out American flags and having fans recite the pledge of allegiance prior to his wrestling matches of that time quickly gained Sgt. Slaughter a superhero status that few achieve.  His popularity soared during those years, and he became synonymous with the symbols of American patriotism.   Sgt Slaughter’s image was everywhere in those days, from action figures to t-shirts to videotapes.  He even filmed a commercial for Diet Coke.  It’s no surprise that with his size and natural wrestling ability, he eventually won the WWE World Championship in 1991, defeating the Ultimate Warrior.  Ironically however, his time as champion also occurred during the time of the first Gulf War, when he became associated with Iraqi sympathizers General Adnan and Colonel Mustafa.  During that time, Sarge quickly went from being one of the most popular wrestlers of the time to one of the most hated.  The feud eventually led to a major confrontation with Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VII.  As time went by and the first Gulf War ended, Sarge eventually once again aligned himself with American heroism and regained the respect and cheers of wrestling fans everywhere.  Sarge continued wrestling through the 1990s, and later became a WWE road agent and Commissioner.  Few of the WWE wrestlers were willing to challenge the toughness of Sgt. Slaughter’s decisions,  especially when he showed that he wasn’t afraid to still mix it up with any of the current superstars.  Having become one of wrestling’s most beloved superstars, Sarge now travels the country making appearance on behalf of charities such as the March of Dimes and St. Jude’s Children’s Research.  Fans young and old clamor to get his autograph and have their chance to be placed in his feared “Cobra Clutch”.  Sarge also makes many appearances as the WWE’s “Good Will” Ambassador, promoting their many events and other superstars as he travels.   Fittingly, Sarge was inducted into WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Sgt Slaughter will receive the Iron Mike award at the April 2011 Cauliflower Alley Club reunion banquet in Las Vegas.  He will join the ranks of previous winners such as Nick Bockwinkel, Harley Race, and Terry Funk.  The presentation of this award promises to be one of the most touching and proudest moments of the CAC Banquet history. Don’t miss it, and as Sarge would say, “That’s an order!!!!”

*Bio submitted by CAC member Joyce Paustian
*Photo Credit,The Joyce Paustian Collection

If you want to get a room in Las Vegas for $36.00(Standard Room) or $50.00(Deluxe Room) you better call the Gold Coast at 1-888-402-6278 and book your room NOW! They will only charge your credit card for one room when you make your reservation.

The CAC members code is 1CACC04. Identify yourself as a Cauliflower Alley Club Member. You can not book your room online at these rates and you must call the Gold Coast.

Reservations Number: 1-888-402-6278

CAC Member Code: 1CACCO4

Honorees. With that said, The CAC is proud to announce the 2011

Cauliflower Alley Club Honorees.

The following will be honored during our annual reunion on April 18-20, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Make your plans now to attend this exciting Reunion!

Check the website soon for Hotel Reservation information.

Along with more exciting surprises involving the 2011 Reunion.

Click on the Honorees name to read more about them

THE IRON MIKE AWARD

SGT. SLAUGHTER

THE ART ABRAMS LIFETIME

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

 MICK FOLEY

THE LOU THESZ AWARD

RICK MARTEL

MEN’S WRESTLING (RETIRED) AWARD

DAN KROFFAT

MEN’S WRESTLING (RETIRED) AWARD

ALEX KNIGHT

MEN’S WRESTLING (ACTIVE) AWARD 

THE HONKY TONK MAN

WOMEN’S WRESTLING (RETIRED) AWARD

DARLING DAGMAR

WOMEN’S WRESTLING (RETIRED) AWARD

ROCKIN’ ROBIN

WOMEN’S WRESTLING (ACTIVE) AWARD

AWESOME KONG

POSTHUMOUS AWARD 

MICHEL ‘MAD DOG’ MARTEL

MANAGER’S AWARD

BRUNO LAUER

FAMILY AWARD

 TOMMY, DOUG & EDDIE GILBERT

THE JAMES C. MELBY HISTORIAN AWARD

 TOM BURKE

THE FOLLOWING

TO BE ANNOUNCED

AT THE REUNION

THE GOLDEN EAR AWARD 

THE FUTURE LEGEND AWARD 

THE RED BASTIEN FRIENDSHIP AWARD

THE JASON SANDERSON HUMANITARIAN AWARD

 If you would like to drop Mr Wrestling II a card please send to:

Johnny Walker, c/o Carolinas Medical Center,
1000 Blythe Avenue,
Charlotte, NC 28203.

*photo credit – Peggy Lathan

I have tried the Hot Sauce, The Regular Sauce, The Chipotle Ketchup AND the Beef Jerky! And I can’t bad mouth any of it. That Ketchup walks the dogs and leads the puppies! It puts all the others in the back of the bus! It’s that good!

This economy we trying to survive in right now has caused alot of people to stay home and eat instead of going out all the time. What better way to enjoy that burger or those ribs then to add that famous JR’s sauce to the mix! You want a crowd at your house on the weekends? Break out some of that JR’s Sauce! Your house will be the only house in the neighborhood thats packed every weekend!

To busy to cook out? Busy mowing the yard? No problem! I got that covered for ya to! I have found the Beef Jerky JR sells, is a ideal way to enjoy mowing the yard! Deer season cranks up here in the Carolina’s in September! Nothing like sitting in a treestand watching the sun set and chewing on a peice of JR’s beef Jerky!

You a worker in the business? You travel from town to town working shows? How many empty JR’s Beef Jerky bags you have laying in the floor board or back seat? Every workers car or suit case should have a bag of JR’s beef Jerky in it!

Be sure and tell them you seen it here on the CAC website. He might just send another truck load to Vegas in 2011!

Kong stated,” The VERY FIRST winner of this award! I’m so excited and love the CAC! Thank you all! “

This award has been studied with lots of suggestions and interest. And actually was not confirmed until after the newsletter was sent to the printer. The other honorees will be announced in the September Edition of the Ear, mailed out the first week of September.

The CAC congratulates Awesome Kong on being the 2011 Women’s Active Wrestling Award Honoree!

So now the excitement about the 2011 Reunion just kicked up a notch! Start making your plans now as we gather in Las Vegas in 2011!

 Harley established the camp in 2000, giving many opportunities to young wrestlers to be critiqued and tutored by not only the 8-Time World Heavyweight Champion, but also by trainers at the Harley Race Wrestling academy. We expect to have representatives at the camp from not only World Wrestling Entertainment â, but also Pro-Wrestling NOAH.

Past participants have included, but not limited to, former WWE superstar Trevor Murdochâ, current WWE superstar Ted Dibiase Jr., current WWE referee John Cone, NXT Season 2 superstar Michael McGuillicutty â, FCW Referee Ryan Tran, Ritchie Steamboat, one half of the current WLW tag team champions Superstar Steve Fender (awarded the Cauliflower Alley Club Future Legend award), WLW star Jason Jones (just returning from a 3-month stay at the Pro Wrestling NOAH dojo), and one half of the current Pro-Wrestling NOAH Tag Team Champions Keith Walker.

 Past guest instructors have included Ricky Steamboat, Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Naomichi Marufuji, Pro-Wrestling NOAH Heavyweight Champion Takashi Suguira, Former Pro-Wrestling NOAH and WLW heavyweight champion Go Shiozaki, and Takeshi Morishima, Ted Dibiase Sr, and John Laurinaitis.

 With the camp concluding on Friday, there will be a show on Saturday, October 9^th. Participants wanting to be included on the show need to be LICENSED in the State of Missouri. To be licensed in Missouri, you need to fill out the appropriate form found on the Missouri Athletic Commission’s website at http://pr.mo.gov/boards/athletics/375-0236.pdf, along with having a current physical (to be filled out by M.D. or D.O.). Physical forms can be found at http://pr.mo.gov/boards/athletics/375-0299.pdf. Complete blood work showing HIV and ALL hepatitis tests from a licensed clinic is also required.

The cost of the camp is $500.00. There is a $250.00 non-refundable deposit that is REQUIRED to reserve a spot in this year’s camp along with the registration form. This year’s camp has a limited amount of spots available, so early registration is suggested. Registration forms are available at harleyrace.com.

This year’s camp has corporate rates at the Heritage Inn and Suites within a short distance of the camp. For rates and reservations, please call the manager 573-392-2100 and mention that you are part of the camp. Other hotels include the Eldon Inn (573-392-5664) and Randle’s Motor Court (573-392-5661). Lunches are available for purchase at T. Murdoch’s Bar & Grille (573-392-7122). Eldon Family Fitness is the premier exercise facility that all WLW stars train at, and will be allowing camp participants to work out at a discounted rate.

For more information about this camp, feel free to contact World League Wrestling at 573-392-4100, email wlwmom@earthlink.net or visit Harleyrace.com.

We arrived Wed. night. Called CAC member Emily Miller and she guided us to the lobby of the Hilton. After a few minutes outside we journeyed to the “work room”. VIP bags was being made for the VIP attendees that would show up Thursday. Annette and myself hung out there for awhile and chatted with Patsy Hughes(another CAC member). We decided to journey up to the bar and get some supper.

Due to the hotel being booked full. We stayed across the street at the Holiday Inn (we had to leave Friday evening in order for me to be back home Saturday to teach school at the local community college). So we headed over to the Holiday Inn checked in and was well pleased with the room. We did book Friday night (for a sat. checkout) at the H.I as we thought we would hang out till about 9pm and then go to the room freshen up for the ride home and checkout roughly around 10pm (that didn’t happen).

Myself, Peggy Lathan, Annette

Thursday morning/afternoon we decided to journey on over to the Hilton. We parked the car and I was standing outside the car waiting on Annette to get some things out of the car and I hear some one hollering, “Dollar man, All right!” Turn around and it’s Jimmy & Angel Valiant! We made our hugs and how ya beens and headed to the lobby. We journeyed downstairs and I looked at Annette and said,”We aint suppose to stand in this long line”. I called Emily again, She said walk on by everyone and keep following the crowd and you will see us. Sure enough 10-15 minutes later we found them. As we was fighting the crowd, We see two more CAC members. Peggy and Clay. Two super fine friends we just met back at the CAC reunion in April. Peggy and myself had heard about each other for years. And back in April it felt like we had known each other since childhood. Annette worked at the gimmicks table with Emily and Patsy along with Emily’s niece, Leigh. And myself,I journeyed around pushing the CAC.

I caught up with Harley Race. Chatted with him about some CAC business along with his wrestling school. It’s always good to see Harley.. Harley is to the Mid Atlantic wrestling scene, like Dean Smith is to the Tar Heels. Was shocked when I turned around and seen CAC member Bruce Tharpe. Bruce and his wife had come to the fanfest. We chatted awhile and went our different ways for the evening. With hopes of catching up later on.

Friday was another busy day(for Annette) as she helped handle the photo ops with Patsy and Emily. Myself, I was pushing the CAC. Emily introduced me to Jackie Crockett. Jackie was the camera man in the Crockett promotions. I would love to tell some of the stories Jackie and I discussed. But to protect the innocent, I will leave them for my “book” some day.

Walked through the vending area and was introduced to Mike Jackson. He was interested in the CAC as I mentioned names that had attended in the past. Talked with the “Patriot”, chatted with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Then Jimmy Valiant grabbed me and told me to come talk to Ivan.  How many Ivan’s you know in pro-wrestling? I knew right away it was Koloff. I love “old school” And to be standing between Ivan and Jimmy listening to them argue about who could do what was simply amazing. They was working the crowd like normal ! What a blast that was! Old School at it’s best!

Photo Courtesy Bill Apter & "Tadpole's" cell phones.

I was informed I had an appointment made from someone in Illinois named “Tadpole” with Bill Apter. Bill was on the stage doing his thing. He called Tommy Young up on the stage and I really perked up then! After he got his stint done, he walked across the floor and I pointed at him, we made eye contact and he said, Morgan! I said Bill! Problem was, these tables was separating us. Keeping the fans away from the legends. He ask me who was jumping over the table? I told him to not move and I would come around. We had never met before! Now you want to talk about a class act fella. Bill Apter is just that. We discussed some things pertaining to the CAC and of course we talked wrestling. Jimmy Valiant even came around and got in on the conversation. He gave Bill his nick name back years ago. Bill said, hold on a second. He whips out his cell phone, grabs a stranger and says take our picture! This stranger takes Bill and my self’s picture and he said watch this. I stood there and he text this picture to “Tadpole”. We laughed and finished our conversation and agreed to speak again later on. 5 minutes after I leave, I get a text from “Tadpole”! She sent the picture back to me. So now I have it! I seen Bill prob 30 minutes later and said, Bill, check this out, I whip out my phone and show it to him. He got a kick out of that!

Seen a  couple people from the days when I broke in this business. Kimmie and Classic Chris Collins. I always enjoyed working matches with CCC. Every match not only did he get better but so did I. Because of not seeing Chris in about 5 years, I knew exactly how the “legends” felt that hadn’t seen each other in more years than that.

Caught up with another true LEGEND! I’m not talking wrestler. But a true LEGEND. That the history books will say in years to come, a ICON in Professional Wrestling, A true gentleman in every word. Rico Mann. The artist of the CAC reunion belts. Rico and I discussed some things about the CAC. What was in in store for 2011. And a few other items of interest that is not ready for public knowledge just yet.

Patsy introduced me to Tommy Young! That’s right TOMMY YOUNG! The Referee TOMMY YOUNG! I had tried valiantly to gain access to Tommy for several years. Penny Banner was going to get in touch with him right before she got sick. And I didn’t want to push her about it. Wendi Weaver was gonna try and things just didn’t work out. So I figured someday if it was meant to be, it would happen. Well this day it happened. I told him about the CAC and I would like to talk more about it later as Tommy was being pulled here and there. So Friday evening, we went to the bar to grab a drink. I set down and turned around and within two inches of me set TOMMY YOUNG! The Referee TOMMY YOUNG! I ask Annette to give me a newsletter and I said Tommy, checkout this EAR! He said what? Looked at it and when he opened it up and seen the reunion review photos he started talking, pointing,asking, he seamed excited as I was to meet TOMMY YOUNG!  He rips out the membership application, fills it out and within a matter of a few minutes, TOMMY YOUNG was a CAC member! I was on cloud nine! I grew up watching Tommy with his famous “Tommy slide” his arguing with the fans. Jimmy Valiant trained me. But really my years of studying Tommy Young is what really trained me. Have you figured out yet…I’m a TOMMY YOUNG MARK and proud of it!

Annette and myself grabbed something to eat and was heading down to the smoking oasis. When at the bottom of the escalator Annette screams, Humpy! It was Sir Oliver Humperdink.We gave our hugs as he was on a mission to go meet Buddy Roberts. We agreed to meet later on as I had promised him a drink in Vegas and it never happened. So later on we got together and set out on the lounge over looking the lake. Partying at “The House Of Humperdink”! Emily , Patsy and a few other wrestlers and promoters joined us and we just had a good old time talking “old school”. Guess what? The time we was heading back home? Remember? I said roughly 9-10pm. I got to be teaching Class at 8:30 Saturday morning. And it’s roughly 1.5-2 hours drive home. Then another hour drive to school….Well, it’s 1:30ish AM now! We sadly say our good byes. Hugs, Loves and Tears and we walk away from something I just didn’t want to walk away from.

We went across the street and checked out of the H.I. The girl at the counter said, You don’t have to leave till in the morning. I explained to her I had to teach class at 8:30am and she said let me see what I can do. She only charged us 1/2 the cost for Friday night.

Emily Miller, Myself, Patsy Hughes, Peggy Lathan *Photo Credit Peggy Lathan

We get to the car and head down the road. Annette agreed to drive so I could try to get some sleep. That didn’t happen. What did was reflections. reflecting on the friends that was still at the Hilton. And thinking about how dedicated the “boys”&”girls” friendships are even the fans, when they come out to an event like this or the CAC reunion, they are true fans. We come together for one thing. One common interest. We can argue about this match or that match or who was better. But we are all dedicated to a dying art. A art that the younger generations, in years from now, will really not know the true meaning of professional wrestling. The days of nothing more than one light over the ring, or a grey hound bus full of wrestling fans, the smell of cigars and popcorn in the arena’s, or what about the Referee checking the wrestlers boots,knee pads, tights for “foreign objects”, those days are over. Long gone and never to return. but get togethers like the NWA fanfest and the CAC reunions will hopefully always remember “where we’ve been” And the fans that attend these events will hopefully keep this tradition going.

I finally get in the bed around 3:15-3:30 am. The alarm clock screams at me at 7:00am. I get to school barely in time. Sad to admit it. And I hope my boss don’t read this, But the students didn’t learn much this day.

I get home around 4:30pm. Walk in tell Annette I lover her but I’m going to bed! I sleep about two hours wake up with the thought of running back down to Charlotte. I didn’t mention it to Annette cause she would have thought I lost my mind. So later on Saturday night I get a text from one of the “Dollar Dolls” that was in Charlotte. It was a simple and short text message. It said,” Wendi says hi!” WHAT? Wendi Weaver!! I immediately called her and said hand your phone to Wendi! She said she’s on the other end of the bar! I don’t care! Get her on the phone! Wendi gets the phone. Mad as a wet hornet! Why didn’t you call me and let me know you was leaving early? I had ask about Wendi several times. I apologized for not getting in touch with her. But promised her next time I was in Charlotte I would call her. We talked for a few minutes and said our good byes.  A true sweetheart. Just as her mom. Every time I talk to Wendi I get teary eyed just thinking about her mom. I miss Penny and the CAC misses her as well.

Sunday I find out that Bruce Tharpe’s wife fell at the mall in Charlotte and broke her wrist and cracked her tail bone. I want to send out a speedy recovery for those injuries. And the famous Mr. Wrestling, Johnny Walker was rushed to the hospital via ambulance as well. Seams he had fluid build up around his heart. Patsy Hughes went over Sunday and said he was “acting like a typical wrestler” , talking junk and laughing. So the CAC wishes Johnny a speedy recovery as well.

I want to thank Greg Price for putting on a true NWA fanfest. As long as Greg Price is alive, I honestly feel that the NWA will always live in the Mid Atlantic Area. And to, Patsy and Emily or is that Emily and Patsy? Peggy, Clay, Leigh, Sir Oliver Humperdink and all the others I forgot. We appreciate the hospitality you showed us. We all are more that fans. We are more than workers. We are family and we love you all!

The names that will appear as the 2011 honorees is rather amazing. This is sure to be a exciting reunion. In the months to come you will find the bio’s of all the honorees in full detail here and in the newsletter.

Start making your plans now to attend the 2011 CAC Reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada.