Environmental expert named senior planner
January 16, 2012
Richard N. Bollinger
January 19, 2012
It’s not often that a Hall of Fame performer ignites a crowd within the Tri-parishes.
That’ll happen this month in Morgan City.
Local wrestling federation Gulf Coast Wrestling (GCW) will return to action Jan. 27-29 for its SuperSlam Weekend.
The three-day event, which also features shows in New Iberia and Addis, will be at Morgan City Junior High School Jan. 28 for an action-packed card.
Joining the federation for the weekend will be world famous brawler and WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, who is reportedly ready to strut his stuff in the area.
GCW co-owner “Mustang” Mike Beadle said it’ll be an honor to welcome the legend into the community for the weekend.
“He’s known worldwide,” Beadle said. “He’s wrestled all over. He’s wrestled in Japan and everywhere across the globe in addition to his work in the states.
“For a legend in wrestling to come down and wrestle, that’s awesome. There’s a lot of buzz and a lot of excitement about it.”
Duggan’s appearance in the GCW is several years in the making, according to the GCW co-owner.
Beadle said he met Duggan about a decade ago at a wrestling show in Lafayette and got to become a casual acquaintance.
“He’s one of the down to earth kind of guys,” Beadle said. “He’ll sit down and he’ll talk to you and he’ll help you out if you have any questions with anything having to do with wrestling and this business. He’s just one of the good, ole boys. It’s one of those things to where if you had beer, he’d have sat down and drank a beer with you. He’s very down to earth.”
From there, Beadle and Duggan crossed paths again about a year and a half ago at a show in New Orleans.
From there, Beadle and his tag team partner “Psycho” Mike Giroir teamed with the legend in a 6-man tag team match.
That opened the line of communication and started the ball rolling on this weekend extravaganza.
“We talked a little bit and I got his number and I told him that we’d be interested in one day bringing him in,” Beadle said. “He said he’d be more than happy to come in and help because he loves Louisiana because these are his old stomping grounds from the old Mid-South Wrestling days. We gave him a call and he told me he would help out and do whatever he could to get everybody to the show. He’s excited to be coming. We’re excited to have him.”
Beadle said he’s not sure whom Duggan will be competing against during the weekend shows.
Because he’s a grizzled veteran, Beadle did confirm that it’s “highly likely” Duggan, 57, will be competing in a tag team match of some sort, likely again partnered with Beadle and Giroir.
“In that Morgan City show, you’ll likely see us all teaming up in a 6-man tag,” Beadle said. “Against whoever else. Against the bad guys, I guess you can say.”
The main event match will surely have the Morgan City crowd buzzing, but the rest of the card is sure to please, as well.
Beadle said local talents like GCW Heavyweight Champion, Rocket, will be joined by Scott Phoenix, Sweet Stan Sweetan, Marty Graw, the Griz, Purple Haze, Minotaur and Wild Thing, among others.
“We have a lot of talent lined up for the show up and down the card,” Beadle said. “This is probably going to be one of the bigger shows that we’ve had in terms of wrestlers and southern United States talent coming in for the show.”
Tickets for the show are still on sale, but Beadle said they are going fast.
Prices start at $10 for general admission and reserved seating on the floor is $15.
If one cannot attend the Morgan City show, they can still see Duggan at New Iberia on Jan. 27 and Addis on Jan. 29.
Those interested can call 985-518-0433 to get information or to make a purchase.
Beadle said he encourages everyone to do so.
After all, how often does a legend come into the area?
“It’s shaping up to be real big,” Beadle said. “There’s a lot of buzz going on all over town. Everyone’s talking about it.”
And before anyone asks, yes, Jim Duggan will bring his 2-by-4 to the party.
“Oh yeah,” Beadle said with a laugh. “I’m sure he’ll have his 2-by-4 and his American flag and he’ll be chanting USA.
“This is going to be an exciting weekend of wrestling action.”
