Curt Hennig And Steve "Dr. Death" Williams Inducted Into The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, Mark Henry Interview
Submitted by Errol Leigh Farrell on Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 1:36 AM EST







• 5 Inducted In Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame
  
  (Credit: wcfcourier.com)
  
  WATERLOO -- Tears flowed and composure escaped Saturday as five new members were inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
  
  It was an emotional ceremony in front of an overflow crowd as part of weekend full of events.
  
  The Great Gama, Dale Lewis, Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig, Red Bastien and Steve "Dr. Death" Williams joined legendary figures such as Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Verne Gagne, Dan Hodge and Bret "The Hitman" Hart in the museum's Hall.
  
  Additionally, Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man, received the Frank Gotch Award that is given annually to a person who has brought prestige and positive recognition to professional wrestling through work outside of the ring.
  
  "I see a lot of people, a lot of names of people who I looked up to and aspired to be," said DiBiase, who now is a full-time evangelist and motivational speaker. "Wrestling is such a family. When you become a wrestler, you join a family. And, it is a real honor to be spoken with in the same breath as some of these great athletes."
  
  DiBiase also is a spokesperson for and board member of the Sunshine Foundation, a group that grants wishes and tries to meet the needs of terminally ill and handicapped children.
  
  Some of the most emotional moments came during the induction of Bastien, who was so overcome with his honor he was unable to make his induction speech.
  
  "I just can't talk ... I've got to sit down for a while," said Bastien as he wiped tears from his eyes.
  
  Click Here to read full article.
  
  
• Wrestler Tired Of Drugs And Their Effect On His Peers, His Sport.
  
  (Credit: Statesman.com)
  
  Professional wrestler Mark Henry, all 390 pounds of him, is used to drawing stares. Even people who haven't seen him perform at an arena or on television can't help but notice his vending-machine build or the Hummer he drives, the one he received for winning a 2002 strongman competition promoted by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
  
  Lately, though, Henry said, "I've been getting dirty looks from people. I was talking to this guy at the airport and he said, 'You guys are all getting exposed.' When people make generalizations about me they're usually wrong. I don't do drugs. I'm not some animal. I'm not some Neanderthal."
  
  Henry is dealing with the shock and grief stemming from the recent death of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, whom police said killed his wife and 7-year-old son before committing suicide in the family's Georgia home. In the wake of the tragedy, wrestling's excesses, including steroid use, are again coming under fire from critics, some of whom have called for a Congressional investigation of the business.
  
  The 36-year-old Henry, an Austin resident who's been a wrestler for more than a decade, also has to grapple with trying to lead a normal life in a surreal world.
  
  "The travel alone would kill most people. We might do 250 shows a year," he said.
  
  Henry doesn't ride with other wrestlers to any World Wrestling Entertainment matches. A husband and father of a 21-month-old son, Henry said one reason he drives solo is for safety, that he has less chance of getting in an accident that might cause an injury that could affect his career. The other reason, he said, is that he doesn't want to be in a car if recreational or performance-enhancing drugs belonging to another wrestler are discovered by law enforcement officials.
  
  "If they get caught, then I'd be (considered) guilty, too. If we get pulled over we're both going down," Henry said.
  
  Click Here to read full article.
  
  
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