Wrestling with Sin: 589

Brian Damage

This is the 589th 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.

Ain’t that a Kick in the Head

In he early 1980’s, while wrestling in Corpus Christi, Texas for Southwestern Championship Wrestling, Tully Blanchard was involved in a match where the fans began to riot. As Blanchard was walking back to the dressing room, a fan began to badmouth Blanchard. The Grappler Len Denton was watching from behind the curtain and realized that the situation was increasingly becoming dangerous for Tully. Denton decided to go out and act as another layer of protection for Blanchard to get back to the back safely.

It was when Denton was out in the stands that Tully decided to take a swing at the fan who was badmouthing him. The fan then retaliated by throwing punches at Tully. The fight saw the fan slip and fall to his knees and that is when Denton decided to kick the fan in the face knocking him unconscious. Denton stated that the kick not only knocked him out, but knocked out several of his teeth and caused a gash from his lips to the bottom of his eye.

As security was able to control the situation and restore order, the show ended and a couple of hours later, Denton noticed the same fan he kicked in the face still on the ground being attended by medics. Denton said he feared he had killed the man. A few days later, the fan sued the promotion for damages. Tully was incensed and fired Denton from the territory. The fan was able to track down Denton’s father and sent him the lawsuit. Denton was never personally arrested and avoided the lawsuit by wrestling in the Pacific Northwest for a bit.  Denton said he didn’t return to Corpus Christi for another six years after the incident.

Changing Laine’s

Cowboy Frankie Laine was a star for several territories in the 1960’s, 70’s and early 80’s. Laine also wrestled all over the world in places like Europe, Australia, Puerto Rico and Japan. It was in Japan where Laine found himself in some serious trouble. While on a tour of New Japan Pro Wrestling during that promotion’s early years, Laine was accused of sexual assault.

Laine had allegedly inappropriately groped a woman while overseas. Not only that, but the woman was rumored to be the wife of a New Japan sponsor. Laine was immediately deported back to the United States and barred from ever wrestling in Japan again. 

Ugh! What A Feeling…Toyota.

Manami Toyota was and is arguably one of not only the greatest female wrestlers in history, but one of the greatest all around pro wrestlers ever. While Toyota amassed a hall of fame career wrestling solely in Japan, one of her biggest regrets was not wrestling on U.S. soil. According to Toyota, she had always dreamed of competing in the United States, but was never afforded the opportunity.

As it all turned out, she was in very high demand by none other than the World Wrestling Federation. Toyota said that the WWF came calling for her to make appearances for the company several times. Unfortunately, WWF management went through her home promotion of All Japan Women and were turned down each time without her even knowing. All Japan Women didn’t even have the courtesy to inform her of the WWF’s interest, instead speaking on her behalf. Toyota said that All Japan Women didn’t want to lose her and couldn’t afford to lose their biggest star, so they went behind her back and refused opportunities for her.

Jack Sh!t

In July of 2020, local and federal authorities in Fremont, Ohio conducted a child sex sting which nabbed 10 offenders. One of which was an individual named Terrance McCain. Terrance McCain is an independent pro wrestler who worked for various organizations in Ohio and Tennessee under the gimmick name of ‘Crazy Jack.’

According to reports, a female police officer posed as a girl under the age of 13 years old. McCain had allegedly made contact with the undercover officer about meeting up. McCaine was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. MCain is now a registered sex offender in the state of Ohio. It has been said that McCain moved out of state and continues to wrestle to this day.

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