Post by CW .org .info .net on Mar 24, 2019 8:14:19 GMT -6
Jim Lancaster on talk of him being paired with Jerry Blackwell as a "brother" tag team:
Hi All.....Big Jim Lancaster here. Just wanted to bring a little clarity to the Blackwell-Lancaster possible pairing.
First, it never got past the talking stages. Verne Gagne was never involved talking directly with me in putting a plan together. I met Blackwell in St. Louis and we just became friendly.
I wasn't sure what he was thinking at the time. Maybe he felt adding a brother would extend his stay in the AWA. He mentioned teaming up and said we should talk about it later.
Around that same time, I was training guys. I was supplying guys to St. Louis TV and Pat O'Connor put in a good word about Minneapolis TV. I talked with Wally Karbo and was invited up & to bring 3 guys with me. It was clear from the beginning what my role on the TV taping was going to be to do jobs. I believe this was an attitude test more than anything else. Basically, would I be willing to job when asked.
Verne sought me out in the dressing room and we spoke for less than 5 minutes with no mention of Blackwell. He told me to give Hulk Hogan a good go. Unfortunately, Hogan was complaining about working, due to back pain and just arriving back from Japan.
It was determined I was to take "big bumps" in what was basically an audition tape. I took body slams, back drop, etc., for Hulk, he dropped the leg and grinned at the camera. I worked under the name of Smasher Stone.
The second tape I teamed with Bobby Golden against Greg Gagne & Brunzell. Two straight obviously, with me getting pinned in the 2nd fall in another audition tape.
Some time later, Blackwell and I spoke and he said Verne told him he was going to edit the tape eliminating the fall where I did the job. I have no idea if he actually did that. I felt things might possibly be taking shape.
O'Connor used me as a "hit man" for Blackwell on St. Louis TV in a slam challenge match against Ken Patera. I lost the match with a body slam being part of the finish as it was going to be Patera vs Blackwell at Kiel.
On another tape, O'Connor tagged me and Blackwell against Al Snow and Greg Lake. That's where I learned about Blackwell's attitude about selling for TV jobbers. Basically, he didn't. I didn't realize he was a stiff worker until I talked with Snow and Lake afterwards.
Not long after this, the idea vanished when Ken Patera was fired in NY for drug use. Apparently still a contracted worker for Gagne, Patera soon joined Blackwell to become The Sheiks.
And we all lived happily ever after....
Hi All.....Big Jim Lancaster here. Just wanted to bring a little clarity to the Blackwell-Lancaster possible pairing.
First, it never got past the talking stages. Verne Gagne was never involved talking directly with me in putting a plan together. I met Blackwell in St. Louis and we just became friendly.
I wasn't sure what he was thinking at the time. Maybe he felt adding a brother would extend his stay in the AWA. He mentioned teaming up and said we should talk about it later.
Around that same time, I was training guys. I was supplying guys to St. Louis TV and Pat O'Connor put in a good word about Minneapolis TV. I talked with Wally Karbo and was invited up & to bring 3 guys with me. It was clear from the beginning what my role on the TV taping was going to be to do jobs. I believe this was an attitude test more than anything else. Basically, would I be willing to job when asked.
Verne sought me out in the dressing room and we spoke for less than 5 minutes with no mention of Blackwell. He told me to give Hulk Hogan a good go. Unfortunately, Hogan was complaining about working, due to back pain and just arriving back from Japan.
It was determined I was to take "big bumps" in what was basically an audition tape. I took body slams, back drop, etc., for Hulk, he dropped the leg and grinned at the camera. I worked under the name of Smasher Stone.
The second tape I teamed with Bobby Golden against Greg Gagne & Brunzell. Two straight obviously, with me getting pinned in the 2nd fall in another audition tape.
Some time later, Blackwell and I spoke and he said Verne told him he was going to edit the tape eliminating the fall where I did the job. I have no idea if he actually did that. I felt things might possibly be taking shape.
O'Connor used me as a "hit man" for Blackwell on St. Louis TV in a slam challenge match against Ken Patera. I lost the match with a body slam being part of the finish as it was going to be Patera vs Blackwell at Kiel.
On another tape, O'Connor tagged me and Blackwell against Al Snow and Greg Lake. That's where I learned about Blackwell's attitude about selling for TV jobbers. Basically, he didn't. I didn't realize he was a stiff worker until I talked with Snow and Lake afterwards.
Not long after this, the idea vanished when Ken Patera was fired in NY for drug use. Apparently still a contracted worker for Gagne, Patera soon joined Blackwell to become The Sheiks.
And we all lived happily ever after....