May 2005

What better time to make a new post than a completely snow covered day? So here we go. 

I started branching out in May 2005 - AWC (promoter: "Stray Cat" Brodie Ray Chase) in Easley, SC; Carolina Championship Wrestling in Gaffney,SC and UCW in Greenwood, SC.  Looking back on all the photos I took away from APW and HVW I can tell I was having to adjust how I shot matches to adapt to the variety of talent I saw while on the road. Seeing these different faces and venues sparked the desire to broaden my horizons with wrestling photography.  

This album includes photos from: 
May 7 - CCW, Gaffney SC Middle School 
May 8 - American Pro Wrestling, Spartanburg (Mother's Day show)
May 20 - UCW, Greenwood, SC. 

It also includes a photo of a young man that I had the pleasure of knowing for his whole life: Trevor Arrowood - he came down to the APW Mother's Day show and was interviewed by Jay Eagle. I encouraged Trevor's interest in 'rassling and he later joined me on the road to Charlotte,NC for a memorable show and Waffle House visit (he got to eat with Kevin Owens aka Kevin Steen). I have worked with his father for many years and Trevor followed his father into law enforcement, working at Rock Hill,SC Police Department. The Trevor's Gift Scholarship Program was established to honor Trevor's memory by providing students the means to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University. If you have a moment, check out their website. 

Click here for the May 2005 Album

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In Mitchell's Mess & More news -coming up in February, the bosses will be at the American Legion in Wilmington for the Carolina Sports Promotions card show on the 7th and then at the Segra Stadium for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers Spring Fling on the 28th. 

This time of year means Mad Monster Party time in Charlotte, NC! This is the anniversary of my reconnection with the Smiths and has become an annual meet up for us all. 

Post Gathering / MMM in August...

1. Summer shows continue for Mitchell's Mess & More! If you're near one of these shows, come by and check us out!

Card Haven, Swansboro,NC

Mad Monster Expo, Concord, NC (not vending, but we'll all be in attendance - especially at the Scares That Care charity auction Saturday night - WWE Ref Charles Robinson always brings some great items)

FWE Wrestling, Cary, NC 

2. The Gathering VI was a blast. A great time for all of us to catch up, eat good food, bust each other's chops and talk with wrestlers, fans and friends. I'm already looking forward to next year. If you've never been, check out: https://tmartpromotions.com/ 

Make sure you check out this promo video, where we had a special guest step in.

Looking forward to doing it again next year, July 22 -26. 

I've added a few photos to an album here. 

Queen City...here I come...

Tomorrow we head to Charlotte, NC for The Gathering VI.  Last year at this time was rough for me personally, a beloved co-worker had unexpectedly passed away as well as a member of close family friends.  I was exhausted and out of sorts. So as soon as I had a free day, I headed to a convention to see the con family. I thank them again for last year - working the Mitchell's Mess & More table with friends was what I needed to get my head on right. Like I said last year..I get it now...because of my experience in 2024, the Gathering will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Since then, I've eagerly been looking forward to this year's event (and the Boardwalk Billy's chilled peel & eat shrimp). We'll have figures, trading cards, 8x10s, etc. Check out the MMM event page here. 

It's about Hogan, brother...

This is definitely not a post I was expecting to write this early. Of course, you've heard the news by now about the passing of Hulk Hogan. Hogan looms large over Mitchell's Mess & More and those of us who are associated with them. I think something about Hogan has come up in conversation every single time we have gotten together, regardless if it's the full crew or just a couple of us. Hogan was large in life - he has to be the most recognizable face associated with professional wrestling over the last few decades. Love him or hate him, that cannot be denied. 

I was a Hulkamaniac back in the 1980s - I sat in the living room floor and watched his feuds with Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, Zeus, King Kong Bundy, etc etc. I even had the Hulk Hogan cardboard stand up: 

As time went on, my allegiance moved on to other wrestlers, but Hogan was never completely forgotten. I was happy to get to work Reid Flair's debut match in Charlotte on December 6, 2008. Reid teamed with his brother David (with Dad in their corner) vs. The Nasty Boys w/ Jimmy Hart. Hogan was the special guest referee. This was a huge match. There were four photographers at ringside, two guys running video cameras-ringside space was at a premium. There are plenty of videos of this event online, here's one - and that's my hand grabbing Hart's megaphone at 1:12.  

I've been working on a post with photos from 2004. Today's event though had me fast forward. So click here and take a look at Hulk Hogan in Charlotte, NC in 2008. 

Reid Flair

I was on the road in Spartanburg, SC on Friday, 29 March when I got two simultaneous texts after 1pm.  Reid Flair is dead they both said.  Tragic news and I thought what a shame, and what a loss, and what a lesson.  I'm not going to go into the wrongs or rights about Reid's life - it's not my place.  I was just a wrestling photographer.  So I'm going to show you some pictures.

These were taken on 6 December 2008, at Vance High School in Charlotte.  Wrestling in the Queen City on  Saturday night - a great feeling.  I was working for Highspots doing the VIP photo ops for Ric Flair.  This was the year of Ric's retirement and his big match at WrestleMania 24.  Everybody wanted a photo with the Nature Boy and I was lucky enough to get to be the cameraman.

His appearances for Highspots would culminate at a Premiere Wrestling Showcase show on 12/6 where he would be at ringside with his sons David & Reid versus The Nasty Boys with Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. The special guest referee: Hulk Hogan.  The match was touted at Reid's debut match...which was sort of true.

As you can see below, Ric was a proud father at ringside.  He spoke before the match about his history in the Charlotte area and thanked the fans for supporting his sons and his career.  The Flair family was at ringside also.  The Nasty Boys did their best to beat the crap out of Reid, but in the end it was a 3-way Figure Four leglock that ended the show (the crowd went apeshit for this-it was a wall of sound coming at me from behind).  I had forgotten about the last two photos, and they seem more important now that Reid is gone.