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By JIM VARSALLONE
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2001
It was a historic night as Paul Heyman grabbed the microphone and proclaimed an invasion of ECW talent infiltrating the World Wrestling Federation.
While Heyman later joined WCW owner Shane McMahon and new ECW owner Stephanie McMahon in forming an alliance (WCW/ECW) against Shane and Stephanie's father, Vince McMahon, and the WWF, former WWF/WCW star Dustin Rhodes made his own bond within his family -- combining with his father, the legendary Dusty Rhodes, to promote a new wrestling brand: TurnBuckle Championship Wrestling.
"We're getting back to our roots, the way wrestling used to be," Dustin Rhodes said."It's a little bit of the old school with a little bit of the new. Me and dad together will be an awesome team."
Based in Marietta, Ga., TurnBuckle conducts shows in small towns throughout the Southeast. Dusty Rhodes formulated TCW while working with Heyman's ECW.
TCW is covering ground with Dustin Rhodes debuting Aug. 4 at the Farm Center in Dothan, Ala.
"Nothing against the WWF or WCW," Dustin Rhodes said, "but they just tired me out. Gold dust and the whole thing was very tiring. It was fun to do -- to say I've done it and made that accomplishment on my resume -- but 300 days a year, the two years I worked there, was murder.
"I was hurting. With my back and my divorce (from WWF Diva Terri), I was tired and wanted a break. I don't want to really go back to that right now. If that opportunity knocks one day in the future, maybe so."
Rhodes will not only focus on TCW, but he will also work some indie shows and compete in Japan, where pro wrestling is big news and bigger business.
A devoted father, he is spending more time with his daughter.
"The goal is for me to open our second TCW school (to train aspiring wrestlers, managers, referees) in North Florida where I live," Dustin Rhodes said. "We will run shows in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and do what we can to put on a good show. As everybody knows, it takes a lot of money to make something happen."
TurnBuckle doesn't have the money to compete with the WWF, but it provides wrestlers an alternative in the Southeast.
"We've got a lot of young stars, good stars like Big Ron Studd and (former UWA talent) Jorge Estrada," Dustin Rhodes said. "Estrada is a younger version of the Rock. He is going to be awesome, and one of these days I'm sure Vince McMahon is going to pick him up."
Former WCW talent Lodi and Daffney are on the TCW roster, and the TCW heavyweight champ is former 4-Horseman Barry Windham. The list continues with father and son Rhodes along with former ECW stand-out C.W. Anderson.
Rhodes keeps a close eye on the wrestling biz. It's his life.
"The WWF buying WCW is a bad idea for us as wrestlers," he said. "For me, in particular, it's not all about money. It's not about me having a $1-million house or whatever. Wrestling is in my blood. I love it. I'll always do it. I'll do it for free sometimes. I will do it until I die. It doesn't matter if I can't walk. I will be in the wrestling business doing something.
"With only one place to go, it makes it very difficult for those who have families and really want to make some money. Vince McMahon holds the key to everything and everybody. He owns the world. He doesn't have to give you anything he doesn't want to. That makes it hard. So, I don't think it's a good idea.
"But I also think with Vince McMahon at the reins, he will definitely make WCW a lot better than Ted Turner did. The way that Vince McMahon runs the World Wrestling Federation compared to how WCW was run -- there is no comparison. He will do a good job with WCW, and it will be successful."
TCW is accepting reservations for a two-day wrestling seminar available to Indy wrestlers, referees and announcers to be held this fall.The course includes television production, character creation, psychology of wrestling and much more. All trainers have WWF, WCW or ECW experience. Space is limited, so contact Susan Meeks at (770) 794-1145 to reserve your TCW superstar spot.
The best way to experience TurnBuckle Championship Wrestling is live. So check out www.dustyrhodes.net to find out when TCW will take on your hometown.
NWA-Florida presents Armory Armageddon at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa on Aug. 21 with all three NWA world titles on the line. NWA World Heavyweight Champ Steve Corino faces NWA Florida Heavyweight Champ "Iceman" Buck Q; NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champ Mike Thunder meets Super Junior Open winner and NWA Florida Junior Heavyweight Champ Lex Lovett; and the Heavenly Bodies will defend the NWA World Tag Team Titles against a team to be announced. Check out www.nwa-florida.com and www.nwa-wrestling.com.
SECW will have a show Aug. 18 at the Ocoee Beech Center, 1820 A.D. Mims Road in Ocoee. The SECW Heavyweight Championship Match features "Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews (champion) vs. Cynic. For information on the other matches, check out www.secw.com or call (407) 523-2674.
Pro wrestling columnist Jim Varsallone can be reached at wrestling@tampabay.com. His Web site is at http://www.ringfury.com.