Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
This is the 233rd installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involve such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series, I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.
A Living Nell
Nell Stewart was a professional wrestler from the 1940’s and 50’s. At the time, she was considered the ‘Betty Grable of Pro Wrestling.’ Nell got her start training at the age of 15 years old when she met and became romantically involved with 45 year old promoter Billy Wolfe. Wolfe transformed Stewart into a pinup girl and wrestling bombshell that many male wrestling fans desired. Stewart and Wolfe eventually married, but the marriage was extremely rocky at best.
Billy Wolfe was a notorious womanizer who often slept with all the female wrestlers in his troupe. On the other hand, Nell allegedly carried on her own affair with a married promoter from New Orleans named Joe Gunther. Nell had fallen in love with Gunther, but he refused to leave his wife and children for her. A devastated Stewart remained married to Wolfe.
Once while Stewart was in surgery to get an appendectomy, Billy Wolfe had allegedly paid off the doctors to get Nell’s tubes tied. The procedure prevented Nell from ever having children. She never forgave Wolfe for that incident and the couple would divorce. Billy Wolfe would just move on to another female wrestler he was managing. Nell Stewart tried her hand at Hollywood, but nothing ever became of her acting career.
A Fist Today Keeps the Doctor Away
During their days with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, ‘Dr.’ Tom Prichard and Tracy Smothers were adversaries in the ring. One night, they became adversaries outside of it. It all started when Prichard was criticizing the way Smothers worked inside the ring. Prichard felt Smothers was too reckless and hurt people. Word got back to Smothers who did not take the comments too kindly. Smothers allegedly tried to shoot on Dr. Tom in a battle royal match, but wasn’t successful.
While the boys were traveling to the next town, Prichard was in one car, while Smothers was in another. Prichard requested the driver to pull over so he could talk to Smothers. When the cars pulled to the side of the road, Smothers jumped out and went right after Prichard. The two began fist fighting on the side of the road late at night. Cars passed by and saw the two men fighting and pulled over to watch. The police were in the area and witnessed the two wrestlers going at it.
Before they were both placed under arrest, Prichard assured the cops that they were wrestlers and were just going over moves for a match. The cops bought the excuse and told them both to get on their way or they would be going to jail. The next day, Prichard approached Smothers and apologized for his initial criticism of Smothers and the two shook hands.
Son Juan, Puerto Rico
Victor Quinones was an extremely powerful, yet controversial figure in professional wrestling. He was a manager, booker and promoter in places like Puerto Rico and Japan. Quinones was rumored to offer pushes to several wrestlers in exchange for sexual favors. Quinones was also a heavy partier who was no stranger to alcohol and drugs.
In 2006, Victor Quinones was found dead in his home in Puerto Rico. He died after consuming a deadly mixture of somas and alcohol. Quinones was just 46 years old. In his obituary, it was stated that Victor was the son of Gorilla Monsoon.
For years before his death, it was always rumored that Victor was the illegitimate child of Monsoon, when he was working on the Island of Puerto Rico. Quinones and Monsoon had a close relationship…one that had Monsoon help Victor get work with the WWF. It was never officially proven one way or the other if Quinones was indeed the son of Gorilla.
Oh Lord, Nord
John Nord aka Nord the Barbarian aka Yukon John aka The Berzerker was a wrestler who competed in several companies including WCW, WCCW and the WWF. His biggest success perhaps came when he competed for the AWA. Nord was accused of being a big time partyer and at times difficult to deal with during his AWA days. One particular incident got him fired from the company.
While the AWA was in Denver, Colorado…Nord had allegedly found himself on the wrong side of the law. He made so much noise with people coming in and out of his hotel room that the staff called police. Nord had allegedly trashed his hotel room so bad, that he was arrested. When Verne Gagne found out about the arrest and all the damage Nord had caused…he fired Nord on the spot.
Nord would find himself in trouble again, this time near his home in Minnesota. He was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Nord was released on a $6,000 bond.