Young wrestling fans all over the country dream of one day being able to step into the squared circle and fight alongside their heroes.
For the members of Marshall Middle School’s Gentleman’s Quest, that became a reality Nov. 22.
The group teamed up with the local Florida State Pro Wrestling Association to host a fundraising event at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, with all proceeds benefitting the school organization. The event featured five matches — three title bouts, a singles match and a “Street Fight” — and a raffle for signed pictures, T-shirts and other bits of pro wrestling memorabilia. And, according to all parties involved, it went off without a hitch.
“It was fantastic,” said Stanley Glover, GQ’s founder. “I’ve never been a part of something like it. And, to see so many colleagues that came out to support us — that was great.”
In addition to filling up more than half of the seats in the ballroom, the event drew the attention of 13 Marshall teachers and the principal, Daphne Blanton. Even a science teacher, Peter Wiyda, got in on the action.
But, apart from Glover, Wiyda and the FSPWA crew, no one in the building had any idea of what was about to happen. Least of all, the Gentleman’s Quest students.
THE BUILDUP
Glover brought the kids into the building a little while before the show began, only telling them that they were to go up to the ring to be introduced in the beginning and to perform a step routine before the intermission.
They outfitted wrestler “Stretcher” Chris Michaels with his own GQ T-shirt, which he wore all night. Michaels was the headliner for the main event, originally billed to be a Russian Chain Match, and the kids knew that he was going to be the “face” — the good guy — of the event. That’s because Michaels is actually FSPWA owner Tom Anderson, who has two sons in the Gentleman’s Quest program.
“I was a wrestler for 15 years,” Anderson said. “Chris Michaels was my main gimmick in the state.”
Although he hadn’t laced up his boots since 2006, Anderson decided to be the hero that Gentleman’s Quest needed that night. And he got to defend them from a pair of heels, the Nelson brothers.
“Classy” Chris and “Big” Hank Nelson opened the event by interrupting Glover’s introduction to taunt Gentleman’s Quest. They claimed to have stolen all of the money the group had raised, on top of being the only two performers to demand full pay.
“They’re not gonna give the money to you guys, because we already took it,” Chris Nelson said. “Go have some bake sales or something!”
The heels then attacked Glover, but Anderson — now dressed as Michaels — came to his aid. Glover and Michaels drove the brothers out of the ring, and Michaels challenged “Classy” Chris to a Street Fight in lieu of the Russian Chain Match. Both parties dispersed, and the undercard action began.
These wrestlers, who all agreed to do this show just for the gas money, gave it their all for the audience. Every big chop, clothesline and suplex was met with a roar from the crowd, especially from the young boys — GQ-affiliated or otherwise. They got up close and personal with the heels, even yelling at them for fighting dirty or spending too much time out of the ring.
“Come at me, bro,” one boy yelled at Russian heavyweight Victor Romanoff. “I’m right here!”
After the final bell sounded in the fourth match, which Romanoff won with a dirty, rope-assisted pin, it was time for the main event. And that’s when the Gentleman’s Quest boys got to taste the spotlight.
THE CLIMAX
The Nelsons stepped out from the curtain to a shower of boos, and “Classy” Chris entered the ring with a smirk. This was to be a singles match: just he and Michaels.
When Michaels came out, the whole place went into a frenzy. The Gentleman’s Quest kids immediately got out of their seats and rushed to his side, accompanying him into the ring. For he was one of them, now, and they wanted him to know that. According to Glover, this was unplanned.
After some taunting on Nelson’s part, the two wrestlers locked into a grapple. Michaels forced his foe into the corner, climbing up the turnbuckle and punching furiously at the heel’s face. “Big” Hank then got involved, but so did Wiyda. Hank attacked the teacher with a cowbell, and Michaels was thrown out of the ring.
But then, Glover rose from his seat and pointed straight at Hank.
“I’ve had enough,” he yelled. “Enough of this!”
Glover marched towards Hank, chanting “Get out!” The kids, without hesitation, got up and followed him. They bum-rushed Hank, forcing him out of the ballroom, while Wiyda got up and spear-tackled “Classy” Chris. Michaels was now able to turn the tide of the match, and hit his foe with a neck-breaker to get the three-count pin.
The boys flooded into the ring, piling on Michaels and jumping for joy, and others laughed at the downed “Classy” Chris in his defeat.
“The kids were so hungry for this,” Glover says.
THE OUTCOME
After expenses, Glover said the program raised about $2,000 — a success upon which he would like to build in the future.
Anderson says Gentleman’s Quest has his full support and that he would like for this to become an annual event. However, his time as “Stretcher” Chris Michaels is over.
“I never really had a retirement match,” Anderson says. “I just quit one day and never looked back. I guess this was my swan song.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
MATCH CARD
Opening Match: Puerto Rican Hound Dog def. Brodie Hollister (pin).
Light Heavyweight Title: “Outcast” Jorel Ganzy def. Sean Swag (pin).
Tag Team Title: America’s Team def. Mercenaries (DQ).
Heavyweight Title: Victor Romanoff def. B.J. Murdoch (pin).
Main Event: Street Fight: “Stretcher” Chris Michaels def. “Classy” Chris Nelson (pin).