The service was conducted by Monsignor Higgins at the St. Lawrence Church in Tampa, Florida.  His comments about Jack and the celebration of his life made me both laugh and cry, to both grieve and to rejoice.  Father Higgins told everyone about Jack’s modesty and quiet humility, and of Jack’s willingness to give of his time to speak to young people about living their life the right way.  Father Higgins even spoke with fondness of the legendary “Imperial Lounge,” which is as much a Tampa wrestling landmark as the Sportatorium or the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory.

Well-respected sportscaster, television personality and barbeque empressario Jim Ross (not necessarily in that order) spoke next and did a great job paying tribute to a fellow Oklahoman and Native American.  Bill Murdoch, who authored the Jack Brisco Autobiography, spoke last and also did a great job relating some personal experiences with Jack while writing his book.

Attending the service was a virtual “Who’s Who” of the wrestling world including such personalities as former NWA World Champions Dusty Rhodes, Dory Funk, and Terry Funk.  WWE representatives included Pat Patterson, Michael Hayes, John Laurinitis and former front office man Bruce Prichard.  Also seen attending was WWE Superstar Edge.

Others paying tribute to Brisco included Chavo Guerrero, Sr. and Hector Guerrero, Mike Graham, Steve Keirn, Tom Prichard, Norman Smiley, George Scott, Brian Blair, Prince / King Tonga - Haku, Ricky Santana, Dan Spivey, David Sierra, Lanny Poffo, Buddy Colt, Danny Miller, Bob Cook, referee Kenny Jay, referee Bruce Owens and more.  I apologize if I have inadvertently failed to mention any of the other attendees.

After the service I was pleased to have dinner and spend some time with old friends Bruce Prichard and Jim Ross, who I hadn’t seen in many years, and new friend John Paul Shellnutt who is apparently making quite a splash in Hollywood.  He certainly made a splash at Leroy Selmon’s in Tampa knocking back doubles of Patron Silver!  I was also pleased that Gerald Brisco joined us for dinner where we imbibed some more and treated each other with stories of the fabled Jack Brisco, who we will all miss deeply. 

For a young kid who grew up in the wrestling business who idolized Jack Brisco, it was a dream come true for me to actually meet him in person, and then later work with him and actually become his friend.  He was much more than just a great professional wrestler and world class athlete.  He was a great person and a great friend.  I know that he was also a great brother to Gerald.  And he was a great husband to Jan.

The last time I saw Jack was in Charlotte at the NWA Legends Fan-Fest in 2008.  I made a point to attend specifically because I knew Jack would be there.  I had the opportunity to visit with him and Jan, have a drink with them at the bar, eat breakfast with them one morning, and have plenty of photographs taken.  That was the last time I saw Jack.

Thank you to Greg Price – for organizing the NWA Legends Fan-Fest in Charlotte – it was the last time I saw my friend.  If anyone has the opportunity to attend either the NWA Legends Fan-Fest in Charlotte or the Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion in Las Vegas, it is well worth the time and expense.

On the way back to Texas, my six-year old son Bruce Allen and I ran into old friend Terry Funk and his lovely wife Vicky.  It was such a pleasure to sit in the airport and visit with such a legend and wrestling authority as is Terry Funk and to introduce he and Vicky to my son.

Jack Brisco - Goodbye my friend.  Thank you for being such a phenomenal influence on my life.  I will never forget your in ring work – your ribs – your personality – your smile – and that laugh of yours. 

Jackson – you were one of a kind!

God bless you and until we meet again in Heaven -

Pandemonium was the order of the night as over 1600 ravenous pro wrestling fans packed the Circuit City Building in Brownsville, Texas on September 12 to see “Lucha Americana”

TM the newest concept in pro wrestling / sports entertainment! The brainchild of promoters Carmine DeSpirito and R. Bruce Tharpe, “Lucha Americana”TM combines the very best elements of the exciting high-flying aerial maneuvers of Mexican lucha libre with the more rough and tumble ground-based American style of pro wrestling.In the Main Event - NWA World Heavyweight Champion Blue Demon Jr. defeated 20-year veteran and local Brownsville challenger Golden King with a submission maneuver after approximately 25 minutes of thrilling action. Golden King proved himself to be a “Lucha Americana” force to be reckoned with in the future as he nearly pinned the world champion on several occasions during the match.

In the SemiFinal Match, Lucha Libre Superstar - Legend and Icon - Mascara Sagrada defeated challenger from Matamoros, Mexico Coliseo 2000. NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Champion Skam-13 defeated the challenger from Monterrey, Mexico Chamaco Becerra.

Also in action were the 600-pound behemoth Mad Mountain Mike (with manager Magic Schwarz) who prevailed in a wild tag-team match with his partner Rudy Russo against Mr. Flawless and Avalanche Tyler. The masked Diablo Rojo convincingly defeated young Monterrey, Mexico luchadore Sick Boy. There were five other matches. Also in attendance to videotape the title defense was NWA Southwest Commissioner Ken Taylor.

“Lucha Americana”

Here are some of my picks for classic NWA World Title Matches -

There are many great wrestlers from Mexico who would be great challengers, including Hijo del Santo (what a classic matchup this would be!), Perro Aguayo Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Ultimo Dragon (Japanese wrestler who lives and trains in Mexico City), Pirata Morgan, Negro Casas, LA Park, Super Crazy and others.

I would love to see the NWA World Title defended against challengers from Canada such as Lance Storm, Sean Morley, and Petey Williams.

If TNA would allow some of their wrestlers to take advantage of “Lucha Americana’s” open door policy, I would love to see the NWA World Title defended against such challengers as Jeff Jarrett (a former NWA World Champion), Rhyno (another former NWA World Champion), Rhyno, Abyss, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle.

I would also love to see Blue Demon Jr. defend the NWA World Title against some other former champions - for tradition sake - such a match against Tommy Rich in Atlanta, a match against Terry Funk in Amarillo, and a match against Dusty Rhodes in Tampa and maybe Miami. And what about a match against Jerry Lawler in Memphis? I would even love to see a Blue Demon Jr. vs. Dory Funk Jr. match from Dory Funk’s Dojo in Ocala! What a classic that would be!

Not to mention the second-generation luchadores in Mexico - you also have second-generation challengers in the United States for Blue Demon Jr. to face, like Wahoo McDaniel Jr., Brad Anderson, and David Flair. All of these wrestlers have competed for the NWA and deserve a shot at the belt.

With the tremendous demographics of Hispanic / Latino consumers on the rise all over the United States, if you are a wrestling promoter, it makes great business sense to book NWA World Champion Jr. into YOUR area to defend the belt against a worthy NWA-ranked challenger. You may very well see a huge increase in turnout due to the Hispanic population in your area coming to see a true Wrestling Legend and Lucha Libre Icon - NWA World Heavyweight Champion Blue Demon Jr.!

In April of 2009, I met with NWA agent / promoter Carmine DeSpirito in Las Vegas, Nevada to discuss a partnership in a new wrestling venture. We came up with the “Lucha Americana” concept (which is a hybrid between Mexican and American wrestling styles) and in June 2009 Carmine moved to beautiful South Texas.

Our first event was in July in Edinburg, Texas. Main Event was South Texas wrestling legend Tito Santana facing TNA Superstar Sheik Abdul Bashir! The night was a huge success for the “Lucha Americana” brand and our inaugural event.

On August 9, 2009 we shot six phenomenal episodes of “Lucha Americana” for television and we hope to reach an agreement with a local network for broadcast of the program in South Texas and Northern Mexico.

We are extremely excited to announce that on September 12, 2009 in Brownsville, Texas “Lucha Americana” will host – for the First Time ever in Brownsville – an NWA World Heavyweight Title defense when the NWA allowed defending champion Blue Demon Jr. to face a “qualified local challenger.” Lucha Americana chose as the challenger 20-year luchadore veteran and Brownsville native Golden King to face the champion.

We have many more plans in store for wrestling fans in South Texas including live appearances of our wrestlers in more venues, a brand-new website in which visitors will be able to access our television program, and more superstars! We are a wrestling federation that listens to our fans! Please take the time to post a comment on our blog, check back frequently for breaking news, and let us know what wrestlers YOU want to see compete in “Lucha Americana,” the newest and most exciting federation to explode upon the wrestling world in years!