WHERE HAVE ALL THE WRESTLERS GONE? BY DAVE DIAMOND Professional wrestling is a volatile and ever changing career. Grapplers migrate from federation to federation changing their names more often than the rest of us change our socks! So it can be a bit difficult keeping up with old favourites, or even finding out what happened to that creep you used to hate the sight of!! I thought it might be interesting to find out which wrestlers are no longer on the scene and, if possible, why? * Two that spring immediately to mind are Big John Studd and Eddie Gilbert, who both passed away in 1995. John had not been very active on the circuit in recent years, although there was some talk of him coming back into the WWF shortly before his demise. I am not sure if this would have been a good idea ... he had become terribly slow in his last few bouts and it is probably best to remember him at his prime, battling against Andre The Giant during the mid eighties. Eddie Gilbert was, of course, still very active in USWA and other independents in the southern United States, both as a singles wrestler and in a tag team with his brother Doug. * Several big name grapplers from the past decided to hang up their wrestling boots during 1995. Anyone remember B. Brian Blair and "Jumping" Jim Brunzell? As the tag team The Killer Bees they were very popular in the WWF during the 1980's ... their gimmick was to come out unmasked but, when things got tough for them, they would pull on the masks. Then when one of them was knocked unconscious on the canvas the other one would distract the referee's attention, roll his partner out of the ring, then take his place lying flat out. The over confident opposition would make only a token cover and find themselves rolled up in a small package for another win for The Bees! It is a ploy still used by twins Ron & Don Harris (Jacob & Eli Blu to you!) and the Cole Brothers. Brian and Jim have been wrestling as singles for several years now but, coincidentally, both decided to call it a day during the past year. * The 8-feet tall Giant Gonzales has also decided to wrestle no more. Strangely, he was only 7-feet 7-inches when he was El Gigante at WCW, but grew five-inches in the few months between his last appearance for Ted Turner and his first for Vince McMahon! Or could it be that the WWF tells lies about the height and weight of their superstars? Personally, I am pleased that Gonzo has given it up. Admittedly he looked great when he entered the arena ... who could forget his stunning debut at the Royal Rumble? The problem was once he got to the ring he hadn't got a clue what to do! Vince McMahon never worked out the best way to use the Argentian and he only lasted a few months at the top flight. He did try fighting in a few independents and in Japan, but was still hampered by his lack of mobility and a more obvious lack of even rudimentary wrestling skills. Still, he did look great until the bell sounded!! In October 1995 WCW did try to lure him out of retirement but, as of press time, Gonzo had flown back to Argentina without signing on the dotted line. However, nothing is certain in professional wrestling - by the time you're reading this he could be back yet again. * Jacques and Raymond Rougeau have decided to call it a day as well. Raymond had been semi-retired for several years - since tha days of The Rougeau Brothers in the WWF in fact. Those of you who watch Sky may have seen Raymond working as a reporter and interviewer from time to time. He originally came off the road at the beginning of 1990 because his wife was not too well and he wanted to spend more time with her - professional wrestlers spend most of their time in hotel rooms as they tour the world, as you are probably aware. He did do the occassional event in his native Canada, usually in a tag team with his brother. Jacques disappeared from the WWF for a short time after Raymond hung up his boots originally. He was then magically reborn as The Mountie, complete with cattle prod! Incidentally, the Canadians hated this slur on their beloved police force and when Jacques appeared in Canada he did not use The Mountie costume. Jacques' knees have been giving him trouble for many years and he did retire to his professional golf shop for a short time a couple of years ago. However, he was persuaded to give it another go in a tag team called the Quebecers, teaming up with fellow French-Canadian Pierre. Although no reference was made to Jacques' former identity he still wore The Mountie costume. In 1995 Jacques decided his knees could take no more and, after one last tag team bout at his home town of Montreal, in partnership with Raymond, both Rougeau brothers finally departed. Still, who knows how long it will last this time? I have a feeling that wrestling is in Jacques Rougeau's blood and he may well end up making more comebacks than Rowdy Roddy Piper! Rumours are around that jacques and piere (jean piere la fiet) will surface in wcw in a tag team. * Back in the 1980's my favourite wrestler was Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Others might scream and shout at the camera, but not Jake. Quietly but menacingly, he told you what he would do to his opponent in the ring, and he was all the more effective because of it. Plus, he could act. He actually sounded as if he meant what he said in those numerous "to camera" pieces thst WWF wrestlers do, not as if he was reading a script off an autocue. Jake's problem was apparent to anyone who watched wrestling. That flabby belly and the broken veins in his nose were a dead giveaway ... the rest of the federation may have been popping those drugs but Jake stuck to the booze. Inevitably it took its toll on his health and, I believe, he had started to become a little unreliable (arriving late at venues, failing to turn up at all, etcetera) so the WWF did not renew his contract. He did a brief stint in WCW after attending the Betty Ford clinic but fell out with the Turner organisation. The rumour is that he was getting more mail than Sting and drawing bigger crowds, so he asked for a big pay rise, which WCW were not prepared to give him. Exit Jake, stage left. He had been appearing sporadically in Japan and some independents to ever diminishing response so decided to retreat into retirement. Thanks Jake, for all the good years. Even though Jake is now back in the WWF, i can`t help but feel that he will retire very soon because of stiff competition. * The Dragon's flame has been extinguished! Ricky Steamboat has decided to give up professional wrestling after a long and extremely distinguished career. It would be impossible to sum up a superstar like Ricky in the short space available here ... suffice to say he was a legend. He was a brilliant wrestler with exceptional ability, both on the mat and in the air. He distinguished himself in several federations, including both WWF and WCW. For many people Rick's fight against Randy Savage at Wrestlemania III was the best ever televised. The Dragon gimmick, which took him back to WWF in the nineties, earned him a lot of money. However, although he was happy to go along with the flame throwing shenanigans initially, he quickly tired of it and found it a bit of an embarassment. Rumour has it that he was not entirely sorry when Vince did not renew his contract. He finished up in WCW, still at the top of his profession and wrestling for major titles. * Other big (ish) names who called it a day in 1995 include both of Black Jack Mulligan's sons, Barry and Kendall Windham. Little brother Kendall never made it out of the independents, but Barry was a major star in WCW where he won several titles, including the World Championship. He also had a brief stint in the WWF where they dubbed him The Widowmaker. Barry was not happy with his lot at Vince McMahon's wrestling circus and quickly scuttled back to WCW! * So called "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko says he retired in 1995 as well. Personally, I thought he gave it up years ago but apparently he had a few bouts each year up until 1995. I never knew why he was called The Living Legend ... for me, he was a very average wrestler with not much in the way of personality. I also dislike his commentating on ITV's version of "Worldwide Wrestling". Apart from that I think he's a really great bloke! * Some of you may remember Terry Taylor ... he had a short stay in the WWF around 1989 where he adopted the ridiculous persona of The Red Rooster. He was a good wrestler who fared better in WCW where, for a while back in 1991, he was regularly in that federation's top ten. It was around that time, I seem to remember, that he called himself Mr Terrence Taylor and came down to ringside wearing a three-piece suit. For some reason, Terry lacked the little spark of originality needed to propel him to the top of an extremely competitive profession. He spent quite a lot of time commentating and interviewing in several federations and may well take that up full-time now that he has hung up his boots. * Other wrestlers who, while they have not SAID they have given it up, have not been seen in any guise for quite a while include Big Bully Busick, who first got noticed at the Global Wrestling Alliance in the eighties, then went to the WWF where he introduced Harvey Wippleman as his manager. Harvey lasted considerably longer than The Triple-B! * Keith and Kent Cole have also been inactive for the whole of 1995 while former WWF star Crush made just one appearance (as a competitor in the Royal Rumble). The reasons for Crush's absence have been well documented. * Anyone remember Damian Demento? If you do, you will know why he hasn't wrestled for the longest time! * Bringing up the rear in this section is "Playboy" Buddy Rose. The hugely overweight former WWF grappler has not been seen in the ring for a couple of years now. Considering Vince McMahon's current fixation with "big boys" (a la Bastion Booger, Mabel, Yokozuna, King Kong Bundy) I'm surprised he has not been re-hired. * Finally, still out of action by way of a long term - and probably career threatening - injury ... Rick Rude. The "Ravishing One" was due to make a return to the WWF in the autumn of 1994 after he got over an injury sustained during his last stint at WCW, but his recovery has taken much longer than anyone expected. * Pshycho sid said he was going to retire due to injuries,but i guess there`s still life left in this old dog! Speaking of old dogs, waylon mercy has also decided to pack it in. End.