Photo by Jim Marks
“Come on hack into the ring. It’s okay, I won't hurt you,' ’ coaxes the Assassin (above), his crossed
fingers hidden behind his hack. Spectators of all ages (left) love the shenanigans and live action of
Eugene pro wrestling.
ty and elsewhere, has diminish
ed in the last three years from
record-breaking crowds to
dwindling revenue at the gate.
This is not to say the sport has
lost its appeal. Wrestling, Owen
said, is more popular right now
than ever. However, increased
cable television coverage has
grabbed the front-row fan and
put him or her in the living
room.
“We’re having the same pro
blem as football, baseball and
basketball,” said Owen. “It is
killing all sporting events at the
gate.”
The local sellout crowds of
500 two years ago lately have
dwindled to 250.
“Cable TV was hurting for
entertainment, so they went for
the highest form of entertain
ment,” said Owen, throwing his
hands into the air. “People can
sit at home the whole weekend
and watch it on TV for free.”
Big Time wrestling’s Nor
thwest circuit includes Eugene
on Friday night, and on Satur
days it’s matches in Portland and
a weekly date with television
station KPTV. During the week,
they hit every little town in
Oregon and Washington.
Despite the cable problem,
which Owen believes will end a;
soon as “their ratings start drop
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ping," the Eugene fans that do
come out have the enthusiasm of
10 times their number.
"Eugene has the greatest fans
around," said Owen. "They
pay a lot for a seat, so they can
sit there and raise all the hell
they want."
• • •
The Assassin stands outside,
cooling off and drinking a Coke.
Dressed in a sport shirt and
jeans, he does not look like the
frenzied, hyperventilating brute
who literally threw two men out
of the ring just 15 minutes
earlier.
He has changed his mask, the
token of his nickname. No one
has ever seen his face. Nor do
they know his real name or
where he came from And I am
not about to ask him.
“All wrestling fans are the
same,” Assassin said. “The
most loyal ones stand behind
their favorite wrestler
especially if he’s the toughest.
The fans hated me at one time,
but they are getting behind me
now.”
Assassin passed up profes
(Continued on Page 12)
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