Retro Rick, Logan. Peter, Kenneth and Daniel

Less than a week ago we heard the news that we lost our friend Larry Matysik. Larry set the standard for being a man that treated others right. Not only was he a Hall of Fame announcer but his greatest accomplishment was his ability to bring people together just by being himself.

So it was with great sadness when I heard the news that the wrestling world lost Retro Rick (Rick Grossman) in the middle of the week. Most likely, you are asking yourself just who is Retro Rick?

On a personal level, Rick was my friend. Before MWR, I took my new girlfriend (Dubray) on a date to Lawrence ,Kansas for a wrestling promotion called Central States Wrestling (CSW). The date was a huge success as the wrestling delivered a night of action that would be good enough to entice us to return for the 6 hour round trip month after month. Yet, as big of a fan as I would become of Michael Strider and Jeremy Wyatt, it would be the atmosphere that the fans at CSW generated during the show that was the clincher. Imagine ECW in Kansas.

As a Denver Bronco fan I love to give the fans of the Chiefs a hard time for fun but the truth of the matter is that the people in Kansas are as instrumental in having us return each month as did the wrestling. The fans were like a family and embraced a crazy couple from out of town as their own. They told us stories of past feuds, where to go to eat in town and what time to be there. People like Jeff, Logan, Peter, Kenneth , Jeff, Ray and a guy that wore his Kansas City Chiefs Jersey named Retro Rick who all became close friends for many years.

Because I always loved my hometown of Salisbury and never really wanted to move to the city. it always kept us from just being able to get into a car and drive to see our friends just for the hell of it. Thankfully we had the message boards of CSW and the Facebook of its day, Myspace. So when CSW went under and Metro Pro began we were able to all be on board to support upstart promotion.

A mutual friend’s post this week that mirrored our experience 13 years ago at CSW. I have asked them if I could share it here.

John Murray – “My sister and I started going to Metro Pro and we got front row. It was then we sat by him. Rick was very cool, welcomed us and gave us tips on who was heels and faces. Rick’s signs were always hilarious and were on point. Along with Tom and others, we were welcomed to the rasslin’ family. I found out Rick lived up north and I would visit him at Hayes and Dickey’s. Always talked sports and wrestling. Rest in peace Retro Rick, we won’t forget you.”

Once Metro continued, you could find Rick at all the shows hanging with the fans before and during   just as John described. He added too the experience of being at the show with just being himself.  Rick took the time at the end of the night to do a question and answers with the wrestlers that  would be later put up on the website for all to enjoy. They were called Post Show Quickies and featured some great moments with a who’s who of stars in the Midwest. His love and respect for wrestling were contagious to anyone that was around him.

Though Rick would never become a Hall of Famer in the world of wrestling, his presence in the Midwest as a positive supporter of wrestling should not be understated. He really did set the standard of excellence for a fan.

With the news of my friend Rick passing, I found myself sad that he is no longer with us but a reminder that each person we meet in this world can become a friend forever.