One of the benefits of being a wrestler is that you get to help out your community. You get to help someone in need. I always looked foward to doing a benefit show. It made me feel good to be able to perform in front of a crowd that has raised money for a charity. I have been involved in some amazing shows like that.

The one show I was a part of that hit me the most was a benefit show that Gulf Coast Wrestling did for the families of the victims of 9/11. It was held in Birmingham, Alabama in Nov 2001. I wasn't originally booked to be on the show. I was taking the place of a friend who was injured. It was a long drive up to Birmingham from Tampa, so I passed the time like anyone else. I listened to some cds's. My selection probably consisted of Harry Chapin, Meatloaf, Don McLean, and the golden tonsils of Barry Manilow. That's right...musically...I am hardcore to the bone.

I get to the address of the wrestlers house I was staying at. It turns out to be the ref for the show. I find out my opponent is named Super Mario(I think that was the name. He was maybe 5'2 and at least 400 lbs.) The ref tells me that some of the wrestlers are doing a meet and greet with families who lived in the area that lost loved ones at 9/11 and would I like to go.

We get to the resturant where the meet and greet takes place. There are 3 families there. One lost a son. One lost her Father. The third lost two cousins, one of which was a firefighter. These 3 families are getting 100% of the procedes. They all unselfishly want to donate the money to charity for victims closer to New York. These were just some wonderful people I was fortunate to spend time with.

The next night I wanted to do something special for the families. The promoter was nice enough to let me sing the national anthem, as a dedication to them. What made this show special to me was that we all donated our services. Some came from Tennesee, Florida, Georgia, Loiusianna, and other states. We put on a 12 match show where the main event saw the weirdest match I was ever in. We had a reverse battle royal where the last man into the ring was tar and feathered. My opponent, Super Mario was the last in the ring. As his opponent, I got to squirt honey all over him, them push him into the featherbed. It was hysterical watching him get up and move around.

Through donations and vendors, They raised over $4200(so I was told). It was my only trip to that promotion, but I was proud to have been able to aid the victims any way I could.