Local event helps superstar relive wrestling’s ‘Golden Age’

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This article was published 04/06/2012 (5014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the microphone in his hand, the “First Nation Sensation” Wavell Starr delivered a pointed message to the crowd at the Canadian Wrestling’s Elite show on Saturday night.

“I come from the province of winners — Riderville,” snarled Starr to the crowd. “You in Brandon are nothing but a bunch of hillbilly losers.”

The crowd’s response was quick as they fired back verbal shots at the wrestler as he posed in the centre of the ring at Houstons Country Roadhouse.

The theatrics were all part of a wrestling event that featured former World Wrestling Entertainment star Tatanka taking on “Supreme Adonna” Tommy Lee Curtis as the main event.

Tatanka, who is a WWE legend, just returned from wrestling in Europe and was happy to bring his talents to the Wheat City.

“I’m a warrior,” said Tatanka, whose real name is Chris Chavis. “It’s great to be here and there are so many great stars up in Canada. There is a lot of history and tradition in Canada, like Stampede Wrestling.”

The 50-year-old has been wrestling for parts of three decades, and wrestling, like many of the fans in attendance, runs through his veins.

“You have to respect every part of the business, from the fans to what you do in the ring,” Chavis said.

“It’s very physical and demanding and I’m on the road 250 to 300 days of the year so you have to love what you do. If you don’t love what you do then it’s no fun.”

Piledrivers, suplexes, figure-four leg locks and cross-face chicken wings haven’t caught up to Chavis’ body. The wrestler, who still works out five times a week, is still an imposing figure when he steps into the ring.

“I’ve always got bumps and bruises and cuts. I’ve been busted open, but nothing that has required surgery,” Chavis said.

The 6-foot, 250-pound wrestler was part of the WWE during it’s “Golden Age” and got an opportunity to wrestle with some of the sport’s elite, including Lex Luger, Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels.

And it’s a big part of why fans still want to see the superstar.

“There is such a demand for us and the fans don’t even care if we wrestle,” Chavis said. “Even if we’re just there for an autograph session, it brings back the memories of the ’80s and ’90s when everyone fell in love with wrestling.”

His wrestling name, Tatanka, is a tribute to his Native American heritage. As one of the first Native American wrestlers, Chavis is proud that he helped pave the road for future First Nations stars.

“I’ve always been proud of my heritage and it’s very special to come to places with a large native population,” Chavis said about wrestling in Brandon and Winnipeg. “It’s pretty cool to see several native wrestlers on this card, not just me for a change.”

Chavis expects to be back in the WWE for some plot lines in the near future, saying he has a very good relationship with WWE boss Vince McMahon.

“His mind is constantly going,” Chavis said. “He’s a mogul and he’s taken something that was nothing and turned it into an empire.”

The show, which was promoted by Danny Warren and the CWE, was the first in Brandon, but Warren hopes it won’t be the last.

“You have to start small and build, but usually the people who come to our events for the first time are blown away by the quality of the wrestling and it gets bigger and bigger every time out,” Warren said.

Wrestling, which combines the athleticism of sport and entertainment of theatre, has been criticized for being staged in the past. The criticism might have merit, but they are quickly forgotten once the audience member takes a seat in the crowd, Warren said.

“You hear all the people who say wrestling is fake and any wrestler will show you, just by doing an examination of their body, it is anything but fake,” Warren said. “If you come here and let yourself go and get wrapped up in it, you’re going to have a great time.”

» ctweed@brandonsun.com