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I can't believe he's really gone.

It's a phrase I've had to say just a few times over the last twelve years.  The last time it really hit me was after the "Retirement Match" between Hornet and GUNS at FISH FUND XI: End of an Era.  At that point, I didn't know if we'd ever see Hornet in the CSWA again.

And now I have to wonder the same thing about Eli Flair.

The man we all once called the Eliminator has been a tried-and-true CSWA veteran for five years.  From winning the Intracontinental all the way to the World Title, Flair and Ivy have run the gamut...and we've run it with them.

I'm happy for Eli, though.  He left after suffering almost-crippling injuries and two knee replacements, of which he has almost completely recovered.  He's met someone he wants to share his life with...and he did it all while becoming the CSWA World Champion.

That's a long way from the young man who entered the CSWA.  The word I'd use to describe Eli when I first met him in 1995 is 'lost.'  The only thing keeping him going was sheer will, and the only person keeping him on track was Ivy McGinnis.

In some odd way, we watched Eli grow up.  We watched the Eliminator go from feuding with the Rosenthal Family and trying to prove his 'extreme' nature to feuding with Randalls and Hornet.  Eli slowly came into his own, taking more chances and getting out of his comfort zone.  Finally, the "King of Extreme" only had one thing left to prove, that he could stake his claim at the pinnacle of the sport.

If Stephen Spielberg is ever looking for a rags-to-riches story to film...how about this one?  Kid in a rough neighborhood grows up in the inner-city, joins a gang, eventually takes it over, sees friends die, and then saves his life by stepping into a wrestling ring.  After a brief moment of happiness with his wife, she is tragically killed, leaving his sister-in-law as his only family.  Former gang thug makes good, eventually becoming the Champ.

Not a bad story, huh?  I'm just glad we were able to be a part of it.

UPDATED 5/3/00

Updated 7/12/00

I'm Rudy Seitzer, and welcome to CSWA Grapevine, where we track down the rumors running rampant here in the world of wrestling.  As always, I have to start with a standard disclaimer:  we cannot verify any of the rumors reported here.  Some may be true, some may be outright false...but they've all been passed to me by various sources.  So don't come crying to Rudy...got it?

Remind me never to talk about how nice it is to see the CSWA geared up again...cause you see what happens when I do.

And is this lawsuit by Thomas really necessary?  What kind of judge does he have in his pocket in order to be able to slap a gag order and work stoppage on the CSWA entirely?  Can you imagine how much it cost the company to have to get out of arena dates and other contracts?  Not to mention paying all of us employees for two months of 'free time.'

The biggest news by far is the disappearance...and apparent kidnapping... of Ivy's adopted daughter Susan.  My prayers are with both Ivy and the little girl.  As far as I've heard, the FBI has made almost no headway.  While it's believed that Deacon's former girlfriend, "Faith Hannum," was involved, police have been able to find no trace of her present...just as I was able to find no trace of her past.  I have received word from a source in the FBI that Deacon and Chris Shepherd are not considered suspects and are not believed to have been involved at all.  How awful must it be for Shepherd to have been involved in another criminal investigation?  It's only been about a year since he was accused of murder.

And speaking of criminal investigations....Commissioner Merritt is on a rampage.  He's legitimately furious at Thomas....and I'm straight shooting here people.  Merritt appears to be allowing his furor to carry over to his contract negotiations with Hornet.  Hornet continues to refuse to speak about signing a contract, and Merritt's threats of banning Hornet from CSWA events after INDY continue to heat up.  I personally believe that Merritt will have to cave... he's getting Hornet cheaper then any other CSWA superstar...the CSWA is only having to pay Hornet scale for appearing on television, rather than living up to the huge contract that Hornet optioned his way out of last year.  Merritt knows that he needs Hornet in the game...but the question is...does Hornet want to play?

Hornet's on-again off-again relationship with Poison Ivy appears to be on-again.  He was there for her in Yakima in her time of need...but will he continue to be there is the question?  I'm the first one on the Hornet bandwagon, obviously, but I'm also looking for some other sign of the 'hero' from hornet before being committed again.

Blade has been added as part of the Triple Threat Main Event at INDY... and the question everyone is asking is... "Why?"  Steve Radder is there because he's carried the past two World Champions to draws.  Blade was recently fired for insubordination...then rehired.  Merritt forced him into a non-title match in order to get a US Title shot...he lost...and now he gets a World title shot?  Methinks something smells rotten in Denmark...and I have a feeling it centers around JW Locke.  Locke was never fond of Deacon from the old BTR/EWI days...and I think I smell a rat.

And then there's Mike Randalls.  Who knows what's gonna happen there...

That's it for now, Fans... I'll keep you posted.

 

 

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