Pro Wrestler 'Pistol' Pez Whatley Passes Away

Pro Wrestling Insider ^ | January 19, 2005 | Mike Johnson

[HitmanLV]

Me too! Wrestling used to be more fun, I think, when they didn't try to be funny but just were funny. Contrast that with the modern vision of wrestling where they are clearly trying too hard - the result is flat.

The distinction is a minor one, but it's important, I think. In the old World Class promotion in Texas, for example, 'Your Texas Champion' Gino Hernandez would call himself 'The Handsome Halfbreed from Highland Park.' Now, that's just damn funny, without trying too hard to be funny! Haha!

[CounterCounterCulture]

That's MR. McMahon ;-)

Jobbers, jabronis, ham-n-eggers (a Bobby "the brain" Heenan fave)

[thestob]

I remember when he found his African roots and changed his name to "Shaska Whatley" for a couple of weeks

[NewRomeTacitus]

LOL! Didja' notice the name of HitmanNY's blog page?

[Hatteras]

"...In case anyone didn't know, Angelo Poffo is the father of "the Macho Man" Randy Savage..."

...And let's not forget, also the father of Leaping Lanny Poffo, the poet laureate of the WWF...

[cibco]

RIP- though I didn't find wrestling entertainment until 7 yrs ago. I did enjoy Farmer Marlin and Vern Gaunya(sp) with my Grandfather when I was small.

[GreenHornet]

I remember Pistol Pez from his NWA/WCW days. I had forgotten about the "Jive Tones" until I read the article. I thought he had also wrestled for a time in Fritz Von Eric's World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Can anybody confirm that?

[L`enn]

You must mean Vern Gagne, a legend.

[L`enn]

I think half the problem is that a lot of these deaths have to do with weight. A lot are big guys, who eat a lot. When they performed they worked out. When they quit, they slowed down the workouts but kept up the eating. Also pain meds are in there some where (years of them, and not just bening ones like tylenol 3's). Steroids I am sure are a major factor but it for sure isn't the only one.

[cibco]

Yep, just wasn't sure how his last name was spelled.

[curtking]

L`enn, you're exactly right. A wrestler's weight and the years of physical abuse in the ring -- and pain-med abuse -- will take its toll. It's very much like football in that respect. Look at the retired linemen from the 60s and 70s -- many of them are in constant pain.

Unless "E. Pluribus Unum" had evidence that Pez's death was steroid-related, he had no business making the statement he did. In Post #8, I gave him the chance to present such evidence, and he did not reply.

To insinuate that a man's death is of his own making when you know no such thing is despicable.

By the way, here's a great obit for Pez:

Pez Whatley Obituary at Slam! Sports

[curtking]

Sorry...should have been "In Post #9, I gave him the chance to present such evidence, and he did not reply."

[Skip Ripley]

Back in 1984 I waited on tables in a Red Lobster with one of Pez' cousins. We used to get a number of the boys (Jake Roberts, Pez, Road Warriors, Bundy) in for dinner when the Georgia crew would do a northern tour in Northern Ohio.

You don't want to see what Bundy could do when given a shot at "all you can eat" popcorn shrimp.

[freedomson]

"Me and my bundy heard you had an "All you can eat deal here."