I’ve discussed in the past the city of Louisville’s close relationship to professional wrestling. For whatever reason the form of sports entertainments has always found refuge in the Derby City, and as such it comes as little surprise when a couple wrestling all-stars come through town.
Just that happened over the weekend when the Flea Market welcomed three icons in the history of wrestling to their Labor Day spectacular.
Sitting along the back side of the market were “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and the Honky Tonk Man. A triple threat of men who all hit their prime in the 80’s with World Wrestling Entertainment and various incarnations of what would become World Championship Wrestling.
The most jovial of the lot, Duggan, sat welcoming people with a hardy, “Where you from, brother?” While the Honky Tonk Man signed autographs with a message relating to his time as the WWE Intercontinental champion, a nod to his catchphrase, “The greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.” Wrestling fans can argue about that, but he did hold the title longer than anyone else- and still holds that record. Valentine sat in the middle of these two, relatively sternly, indicating that his “toughest guy in the room” persona in the ring might not have been too far off from the real “Hammer.”
Passersbys reminisced about earlier days of wrestling and the three were more than happy to go with them on that journey. But more than that, ever on the pulse of new wrestling Duggan discussed the differences between the two biggest wrestling companies currently- the WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling- with a fan, a discussion that concluded with Hacksaw smiling and saying, “Well, keep watching the shows!”
I also have to mention to any wrestling fans that weren’t there, yes the Honky Tonk Man is still rocking the sideburns and they look good as ever, just saying that’s impressive.
Photo by Bob Rose
