On Saturday evening, I asked promoter Herb Simmons if I’d be able to score an interview with Ox Baker, a longtime fixture on the professional wrestling scene who was making an appearance at the East Carondelet Community Center that evening. Instead of passing me off to a later date, Simmons simply parted the curtains and lead me into a very rarefied place: the backroom of a wrestling promotion, usually off-limits to anyone but those participating in the card itself. But Simmons runs these shows, glad-handing the fans, conducting interviews and generally keeping the card on track every month. So it’s Simmons who can hand out the golden ticket of a locker-room visit.

He, along with Larry Matysik, a fixture at these East Carondelet shows, dates back to the golden age of St. Louis’ professional wrestling scene. And the thread between that time and today is reflected in their Southern Illinois Wrestling Explosions shows, with retired wrestlers appearing on a near-monthly basis. This month, it was Ox Baker’s turn to take his turn at the SICW promotion, and it was a fine pick: one of the classic villains of his day was brought face-to-face with fans in an intimate, clean, little club. Baker’s certainly a known commodity in St. Louis, thanks to his wrestling appearances here, dating back to the 1980s. He was then known for his featured, signature move, “the dreaded heart punch.” And, of course, his notoriety in St. Louis is given extra shine, thanks to his memorable cameo in a film that’s forever going to be tied to our town, Escape from New York.

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