Barnett ‘An Unforgettable Figure’
By Mike Mooneyham Sept. 26, 2004 James E. Barnett may be the most unlikely entry in professional wrestling’s hall of fame. A man of diminutive stature who wore stylish three-piece suits and horn-rimmed glasses, his sentences usually began with the phrase, “Oh, my boooooy,” a line imitated by a generation of wrestlers who loved impersonating [...]
‘Big Boss Man’ Traylor Dies
By Mike Mooneyham Sept. 24, 2004 Ray Traylor, who parlayed his “Big Bossman” gimmick to success in the professional wrestling business, died Wednesday night at his home in Dallas, Ga., at the age of 42. The preliminary cause of death was listed as a massive heart attack. Ironically, Traylor’s portrayal of Big Bossman, a rugged, [...]
WWE Faces Creative Problems
By Mike Mooneyham Sept. 19, 2004 Success breeds success. Look no further than World Wrestling Entertainment. Financially, the mat juggernaut remains a big moneymaker, as evidenced by its recently released quarterly figures and attractive bonuses for major stockholders. Despite sales sliding in some primary revenue streams, the company brought in $0.11 per share in earnings, [...]
No PPV Draws On Smackdown
By Mike Mooneyham Sept. 12, 2004 Anyone know of a good main event to headline a Smackdown pay-per-view? I didn’t think so. To say the brand is suffering would be a gross understatement. There isn’t a matchup on the current roster that would produce a strong pay-per-view buy rate, the Thursday night program’s ratings are [...]
‘Dr. Death’ Fighting For His Life
By Mike Mooneyham Sept. 5, 2004 A few years ago “Dr. Death” Steve Williams told me that he wasn’t going to be one of those wrestlers who hung around long past his glory days had ended. He had done well in the business, made plenty of money and saved well. He wanted to enjoy life [...]