LAS VEGAS – This has been an amazing experience for me. It is my first trip to the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion and it is so much fun catching up with friends that I haven’t seen in 30 years.
But that doesn’t mean I recognize everyone!
Sitting in the bar, I was accosted by someone. I said, “Who the hell’s this guy?” Turns out it was Kevin Jefferies, an old Vancouver referee, and we sat and talked and laughed.
A lot of people recognized me, which surprised me. I am extremely pleased, naturally, that they can’t believe I am 65 years old.
When I was going through the names expected for this reunion, at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, Joe Cagle’s name never came up, so it was super to catch up with him. Thirty years ago, I remember Joe coming out with the pink boots and pink feather boa in Vancouver. Turns out he still has them!
“Moondog” Ed Moretti and I had been in touch before the reunion, and I couldn’t wait to see him. When he and his wife Dale got here — dog along for the ride in a stroller — it was magic to see my old friend.
I still want to find Joyce Grable, chat with Terry Funk, and meet Stone Cold Steve Austin, though.
There was a wrestling show Monday night here at the hotel, and while it had moments, the boys were complaining about it a lot. It’s not that we don’t respect these kids in there putting on the show — which was way too long — but that we miss the shows we used to do and the rush we’d feel while performing.
When the CAC vice-president Karl Lauer went around the room introducing legends, it was a surreal feeling being introduced along with the likes of Harley Race and Nick Bockwinkel.
It’s just been one day, and already I have laughed so much my belly aches. One highlight late Monday night was watching Ron Hutchison chasing the girls, doing his Vince McMahon walk while moving in. Another was Ross Hart doing an impression of his dad — just a day after I was doing an impression of Stu for his grandson Harry Smith in Toronto.
This is my first trip to Vegas, and I still can’t get over the lineup for the taxis late Sunday night when I arrived with the great writer Greg Oliver. I’m heading off to the Strip today with a few of the old friends, then will be back tonight to visit with everyone else.
RELATED LINKS
- Aug. 27, 2017: Facing the champs: Bobby Bass reminisces
- Feb. 23, 1999: Newspaper ad led to career of ‘No Class’ Bobby Bass
- Oct. 2, 2017: Pull up a chair; Bobby Bass wants to teach you a lesson
- Previous SLAM! Wrestling Cauliflower Alley Club coverage
Bobby Bass (Dennis Baldock) has a Canadian Hall of Fame jacket to wear to tonight’s Baloney Blowout at the CAC … just in case someone doesn’t recognize him.
