Brian Damage
This is the 539th 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.
Kevin Kelly Gets ‘Khan-ed’
Former AEW commentator Kevin Kelly accused former fellow AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni of libel. Kelly said that Riccaboni who was a friend to Kelly and understudy to Kelly went behind his back to AEW owner Tony Khan and claimed that Kelly was spreading wild conspiracy theories on social media about child trafficking. Kevin theorizes that Riccaboni did that to get Kelly’s announcing spot on AEW Collision. This, despite Ian Riccaboni initially recommending Kelly for the Collision broadcast role.
Kelly has since filed a lawsuit against Tony Khan and AEW for breach of contract alleging that Khan interfered with Kelly trying to find wrestling work elsewhere. Kelly is also involved in a lawsuit that includes former AEW wrestlers Brandon and Brendan Tate that wrongly classifying its wrestlers as independent contractors rather than employees. Kevin said he wanted to deal with these legal issues quietly, but AEW has forced his hand to come out publicly about his mistreatment by the company.
AEW’s public relations released a very short and sweet response to Kelly’s lawsuits by stating…AEW does not comment on pending litigation. Kevin said that AEW’s treatment of him…“I wouldn’t treat my worst enemy like that.” No comments have been issued by Ian Riccaboni.
Basketbrawl
Ric Flair recalled hanging out at a bar/nightclub with the Road Warriors during a tour of Japan. According to Flair, there was a basketball team that was also at the club that very night. Flair claims that one of the basketball players walked up to Hawk and told him that professional wrestling was “phony.” Hawk smiled at the unidentified player and said politely that he didn’t want any trouble, but wrestling wasn’t phony in the least.
After the player walked away, Hawk asked one of the young trainees of New Japan to go to the hotel lobby and buy him a BIC razor. When the trainee returned with the razor, Hawk broke off the handle and took out the razor. He then walked up to the player who said wrestling was phony and allegedly said, “You think this is phony?” Hawk allegedly took the razor and repeatedly cut the player in the head with it. A brawl ensued and according to Flair, saw a player thrown out a second story window breaking his leg. Several wrestlers and players were arrested that evening and ultimately released and sent home.
To be the Man…You Have to Beat the Man
Jim Ross recalls traveling with ‘Captain Redneck’ Dick Murdoch while working in the Mid South territory. Ross said that Murdoch wanted to head to a bar to drink a few beers before the long ride to the next town. While at the bar, Ross said Murdoch caught the attention of a pretty, young woman. The two began talking and hit it off. Murdoch wanted to take the woman to his van and fool around a bit before leaving for the next town. Jim Ross said the two were cuddling and kissing in the back of the van.
Murdoch got out of the van, to go to the men’s room and relieve himself. That’s when Ross saw the woman follow Murdoch in the bathroom. Ross figured the two were going to fool around in the men’s room…but suddenly heard Murdoch screaming and then heard loud banging. Ross went into the bathroom and saw the woman knocked out cold and Murdoch screaming at Ross to get in the van and get us out of here. As it turned out, the woman was really a man/transgender (Ross was not certain). Dick Murdoch found out and knocked the individual out cold. Murdoch told Ross if he told anybody about this, he would personally find him and kill him. Jim Ross kept it secret until after Dick Murdoch passed away.
The Hollywood Lifestyle
‘Hollywood’ John Tatum was never a big star outside of places like Texas and Oklahoma…but Tatum said he was a big enough star in those territories to have his pick of women. Tatum recalls have threesomes constantly….sometimes with mothers and daughters. He also talked about how he and his then girlfriend/valet Miss Hyatt were swingers.
Tatum recalled how Missy was friends with the Dingo Warrior’s girlfriend/wife Shari. Tatum convinced Dingo’s woman to sneak behind his back and have a threesome with he and Missy. Tatum said that Dingo never found out about the tryst.
