For those of you who care, professional wrestling, so long a part of Tampa history, is just doing fine, thank you, as the weekend past showed us again its captivation of a large part of the American and worldwide audiences.

For those who don’t care, well, Wrestlemania drew 74,000 to Orlando’s Citrus Bowl, from $700 ringside seats on down to total a $7 million total gate, and $3 million in merchandise sales, two sellout nights of 17,000 at the Magic arena there, one involving the induction of Wrestling Hall of Famers, including so many Tampa connections.

You know, for the longest time, most of everything in wrestling came through Tampa and the grand old landmark, Fort Homer Hesterly, still on Howard, with its future in the balance. It was the late, gritty, grousy, far-sighted Cowboy Luttrall who saved wrestling. He had his last $50 in the ticket office that night for change. But, wrestling hit, and Cowboy and his loyal wrestlers, like Eddie Graham, held with him and the sport/entertainment held on and made it big.

“Now look at it,” said Jerry Brisco. “It’s booming worldwide. Our guys are mega stars now. Vince McMahon made it work worldwide. It used to thrive on Luttrall’s wrestling in Florida, others in Georgia, state groups. Now, McMahon has them all together for the big, big shows and the big, big bucks,” went on Brisco.

Jerry and Jack Brisco were tag team champs in the Seventies and early Eighties. They also have, since 1974, had an automobile body shop in Drew Park. They are tops in the tag team arena and still are in the good guy category. 

The Brisco brothers were inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame the past weekend with the irrepressible Dusty Rhodes, a member, presenting them. They wear their Native American circumstance proudly. Jack was the first Native American to win the national NCAA wrestling title. 

Entering the Hall of Fame with the Briscos was Eddie Graham. He was seven times a national tag team champ, president of the National Wrestling Alliance and a protégé of Cowboy Luttrall. When Luttrall died, Graham was his successor in the ring hierarchy. The wonderful Graham was popular, a pilot and charitable.

Also entering the wrestling Hall was another Tampa pioneer, Gordon Solie (in action, above), who lived his last years near Brisco in Odessa. Solie was unmatched in his deadpanning as he announced wrestling. He was wilder when he worked auto racing, and needed to be. They called him the dean of wrestling announcers, and he was that. The wonder among some was why he did not win a place in the Hall sooner.

New Hall members now also are Nature Boy Ric Flair, Mae Young, Polynesian high chief Peter Maivia and Rocky Johnson.

It was a good night and “we got to some people we should have gotten to before,” Brisco said.

“It was quite a show. So many people, so much interest. The tickets went on sale on television, to the Citrus Bowl part. They sold 55,000 in two hours, I was told.”

Fireworks rigs came apart at the big outdoor show, injuring a few people, far fewer than reported, said Brisco.

Brisco is an executive with McMahon Productlons, and he works the world over. At some major events he works with television, usually in the control truck. He is trusted. He may monitor with a hot mike to the referee. He checks for presentation, timing, interest, flow, and may make suggestions as the match goes on. He wants it to be “always exciting and fair.”

Yes, he will make matches and in Tampa keeps a hand on the progress of the new four-ring wrestling college under construction here. It’s a big deal, a polished deal almost finished. Yes, there are hopefuls there now. Dr. Steve Keirns is in charge of overseeing wrestling in the ring curriculum, Dr. Dusty Rhodes heads the out-of-the-ring and public relations teachings. He’s multi-degreed at that.

Dr. Brisco, he is a visiting professor as needed and television consultant. And boy, is television important. School founder Cowboy Luttrall found that out a long time ago. Back to your books and grunts, fellows.

Oh, by the way, yes, Tampa inquired about the ring events held in Orlando last weekend. Houston has it next year already, Brisco said.

“Sure like to see it here, at Raymond James,” said Brisco.  “At the Citrus Bowl, well, sure had a lot of tents. And, well, Tampa is so rich in wrestling history and so many of us live here.”