Skip to main content

Remembering A Blueprint

Professional wrestling has come a long way since it’s inception in the early 1930’s, and its pivotal evolution as hybrid-sports and entertainment in the mid 1980’s. With a collection of various talent, wrestling took off, and has yet to look back. We can name many who have paved the way and given their bodies, souls, and livelihoods for the current business we all enjoy. From Hulk Hogan to the Iron Sheik, the 80’s brought us many who were and are a blueprint in the wrestling business. 

Yesterday, the wrestling world lost one of those blueprints in Captain Lou Albano. The Captain, a wrestler in his earlier days (1950’s) became famous for his legendary crazed tactics and personality, and as a manager of various Tag Team Champions.

Besides his ability to manage various champions, and talent as a promo guy and “mouthpiece” as is said in the wrestling business, Captain was one of the first guys that crossed over onto the big screen, appearing in “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” with Cindy Lauper. The Captain truly had a connection with fans of the past and the mainstream media, as wrestling fans of the past that no longer follow the current industry, such as my father, were saddened of Captain’s death. 

The death of Captain Lou Albano is one that was shocking, and at the same time very eyebrow raising.
Captain, is of a kind that is dying – wrestling managers. Male wrestling managers. The art of helping wrestlers who are unable to “cut a promo” or convey themselves in front of the camera had various managers to help them along. Guys such as Albano, Bobby Heenan, Jim Cornette, Jimmy Hart, Colonel Parker, Master Fuji, and others were great in that role. Today, the industry has demanded more from wrestlers in schools, academies, and camps across the globe. And yet with more demands, there are still tremendous talents that still and will struggle in verbal communication when the red light comes on. Today, they are usually paired with attractive women with no art or flair for the role. It’s all about the ratings now, and blueprints like the Captain are being wasted – but that makes for another piece on another day.

Nonetheless, the Captain will be missed. However, the memories, contributions, and guidelines will not be forgotten.

Captain Lou Albano (1933-2009)
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Dome Pondering Movie Review: In a Relationship (2018)

What is it about?  Following the progression of two couples over the course of a summer.  Who is in it? Emma Roberts - Hallie Michael Ambrano - Owen Dree Hemingway - Willa Patrick Gibson - Matt Favorite Scene:  [Spoiler Alert] Matt and Villa sit on the stairs, and he admits to not wanting to introduce Willa to his parents.  Favorite Quote:  I don't... I don't think you ever find someone... you don't resent. And that's part of it. It's just... find the person you *want* to resent, you know. Review:  This was a weird film. The opener had much promise, but as the film continued, it felt like it was just getting longer.  My biggest gripe with the film is that I liked each of the characters less as I got to know them. I understand that the film attempted to highlight the modern relationship for a specific generation, and in certain ways, it succeeded in doing so. However, the characters never grew or became better people from their relationships...they just...
Read more

Thoughts on TNA on AMC Debut: "Yup, TNA is back. It is so back."

TNA is back.  And I know that because it is heavily under scrutiny by the internet. But that criticism comes with being back on a major platform like the AMC Network, and of course, taking the next step after a super successful 2025.  So, what did I think?  The show was...ummmm okay, at best. Some of the challenges the company faced heading into this weekend were well documented among the rumor mill, which didn't bode well for the company. In balancing reported visa issues with talent, pivoting after losing core talent to free agency, and attempting to build and manage talent workload with a premium live event on Saturday, TNA found themselves in the usual TNA stuff. The most peculiar - and strangest - of situations to be in going into a big network premiere. This company, man! All in all, again, the show was okay. It had its flaws. It had some cool moments. It didn't live up to the hype (or the expectations we each had for such a premiere). But it's one show. TNA has put...
Read more