Almanac explores rich Western heritage
The Central Canadian Professional Wrestling Almanac
By Vern May
By JOHN F. MOLINARO -- SLAM! Wrestling
A part of Canada's rich, wrestling heritage is the subject of a new book
entitled The Central Canadian Professional Wrestling Almanac. Vern May,
who has been a regular on the Canadian independent wrestling scene
competing under the name Vance Nevada, provides a window view into the past
with this book, chronicling the history of pro wrestling in Manitoba and
the central provinces.
May has gone to painstaking lengths to provide a historical record of every
single promotion that ever existed in Central Canada. He leaves no stone
unturned as he provides information on every "mom and pop" promotion, every
boxing and wrestling club and every fly by night office imaginable. If
somebody set up shop in Central Canada, no matter how briefly, they're
included in this book.
Wrestling in Central Canada goes back as far as the 1920s and May
chronicles its progression from the 1950s when wrestling exploded on TV,
the 1960s and 70s when Manitoba was the battleground of fierce promotional
battles, through to the 1980s and the explosion on cable TV.
Stu Hart's Stampede promotion is given ample coverage, and May doesn't
focus his attention merely on the Hart family. Instead, he accords equal
coverage to the likes of Archie "The Stomper" Goldie, the Junkyard Dog and
several other stars who contributed to Stampede's success.
Verne Gagne's Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association is dealt in an
in depth manner, providing a fascinating, insightful look into their two
decade stranglehold on the Manitoba market before Vince McMahon invaded and
took the territory over.
A comprehensive biographical section of every wrestler ever to come out of
Central Canada rounds out the book. Bios of indy stars such as Robbie
Royce and Vance Nevada compliment the bios of more recognizable stars like
Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.
The book does have its flaws. In one section, May ranks the top 100 stars
and the top 50 tag-teams ever to compete in Central Canada on the basis of
their won-loss record. It's hard to take such a ranking serious in light
of wrestling's pre-determined nature. Equally hard to digest is how May
places himself higher on the list than several major stars, including
former AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel, Greg Gagne and other notables.
Still, May's passion for the subject is evident. An undertaking of this
sort would have to be. From the very first page, May sets the tone by
writing how he first got interested in the sport and why it's so important
to him. In this current wrestling climate where fans have become so jaded
and too smart for their own good, it's nice to see someone who has a
genuine love of the sport.
To get a copy of The Central Canadian Professional Wrestling Almanac, send $25 to
Canadian Wrestle-Media
#112-1726 St. Mary's Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2N 1G8
or email May at vmmay@mb.sympatico.ca for more info.
