Of Heels And Babyfaces

Pro wrestling is making a comeback in Hawaii with classic good and bad guys

Friday - June 16, 2006
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he brought to the ring. Ricky Thunder countered by sending Nightmare to the floor and later hits him with a spinebuster and an impressive spinning heel kick to the head. The match went back and forth as Nightmare and Thunder traded flying body blocks, drop kicks from the top ropes and suplexes on the hard cement floor. Ricky Thunder won by being the first to his feet, but both got busted up and had to be carried from the ring by the referees and HCW officials.

Though professional wrestling is scripted, there is nothing fake about the injuries. Nightmare and Ricky Thunder beat the hell out of each other and the damage was obvious.

“When I was thrown out of the ring and on to the chair I heard ringing in my ears. I just tried to get up and I couldn’t hear nothing,” said Ricky Thunder, the HCW star who once refused a young lady’s request to purchase his tights. “I got back into the ring and when the match was finished I couldn’t see nothing. (He later described it as having tunnel vision.) They took me upstairs and after a few minutes I could see again.”

Ricky said it’s all good now. “It was just a minor concussion or something.”

Pain is the inescapable part of the game. For many, broken bones, torn ligaments, cuts, bruises, scrapes and the inability to get out of bed can seem like too steep of a price for a few minutes of glory. But for those in the ring, it’s just part of the job.

Don Muraco

“I had to go to the doctor after that fall on concrete tore all the muscles in the lower left side of my back,” said Wolfen. “But tomorrow is another night of wrestling and you just have to be there.”

And while Wolfen says, “Just give me some duct tape and I’ll be OK,” how family members deal with the brutality is another matter. Ricky Thunder’s mother cried the first time she saw him bleed while Kaimana’s father was ready to climb into the ring and seek a pound of flesh for the damage done to his son. Gwen Flores, Kaimana’s mother, said that no matter how many times he wrestles, and he’s been doing it for 10 years, it never gets any easier.

“I never get used to it,” she said. “Every time he wrestles I get nervous. I was pretty, pretty worried. I knew that when he started I would have to go and that anytime he hit the mat, or anybody hit him I would feel it. And I still do to this day.”

Heavyweight Title Bout During intermission, NWA Hawaiian heavyweight champ Kapu challenged anyone in the locker room or audience for that matter to fight him for the title. To his displeasure, Wolfen responded. The match between Kapu, the 300 percent Hawaiian and the self-proclaimed strongest man in HCW, and Wolfen, the HCW King Kamehameha Heritage heavyweight champion and AWA tag team champion, didn’t disapoint the packed crowd as power met power with a surprising amount of agility. Kapu tried to end it early by going to the top of the ring post to finish off a dazed Wolfen, but the crowd favorite recovered in time to hit Kapu with a Wolfenizer and go for the pin.

Kapu’s sidekick distracted the ref to prevent him from beginning his count. The trick works but Wolfen continues the pressure and hits Kapu with a suplex and then tries a moonsault from the turnbuckle.

But once again Kapu’s assistant intervenes by pulling him to safety causing Wolfen to land face first on the mat. A clothesline by Kapu sends both men out of the ring and on to the cold floor. Kapu wins when he beats Wolfen back into the ring before the 10 count as one final time Kapu’s assistant gets between Wolfen and a third title belt.

J.T. Wolfen

If HCW has a Hulk Hogan, it’s Wolfen. Fans are immediately drawn to him and his electicity in the ring is obvious. He also makes a mighty fine pizza and other tasty Italian food at Antonio’s in Kahala. Check it out.

The former rock ‘n’roll singer from Waimanalo by way of New York, who was trained by Afa of the Wild Samoans, didn’t start out as one of the most sought-after wrestlers in the state. In fact, it was just the opposite.

“At one point I was voted most hated wrestler in Hawaii. I used to come out in this lava lava and a black leather jacket, mocking everything, then all of a sudden people just started cheering for me. The fans just turned me around and next thing you know it’s good to be a good guy,” he said.

“Mr. HCW” Kaimana vs. Samoa Joe.

The main event matched the local favorite against the Samoan Submission Machine and TNA X-Division champion. The battle went back and forth with Kaimana taking an early edge and nearly getting two pin falls on the visitor, but Samoa Joe didn’t make the long flight for nothing and hits Kaimana with a power bomb, then a kick to the head that excites the crowd. Back and forth the action goes with each man taking the advantage. Kaimana hits Joe with a power bomb but the TNA superstar quickly returns to his feet and slams Kaimana hard to the mat. After another power bomb Samoa Joe applies a rear chin lock on Kaimana who can only get to the ropes to break the hold. A moment later, Joe puts Kaimana up on the top turn buckle and in a move that belies his size and shocks the crowd, Joe sends a kick to the side of Kaimana’s head, about 7 feet above the mat. The reaction of the crowd is the loudest of the night.

After Kaimana crashes to the mat, Joe applies a musclebuster. Mr. HCW kicks out of the hold becoming the first man to accomplish the feat in Samoa Joe’s six-year career. But it was not enough as Joe reapplies the hold until Kaimana becomes unconscious and the referee called the bout in Joe’s favor.

Following the bouts, Roland was pleased with their choice for a night out. “There were a couple of words that slipped in there that I probably wished they didn’t use, but it was OK. We will be back,” said the older Joe no doubt to the delight of the younger who crowded around with his friends to recap what happened.

“Wolfen got cheated!” yelled Erik “Chipmunk” Veliz. “He should have won,” screamed another. From there they sped off to get autographs and pictures taken with their favorites.

Hawaii Championship Wrestling’s next scheduled event is July 8 at Schofield Barracks. It’s open to the public. Just make sure you have your drivers license, registration and insurance card and the gate guards will let you in. They even provide directions. Check out www.808hcw.com for more information.

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