FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The first time I ever met Allen, I almost scared myself half to death. After hearing of all the stories about how legitmately tough he was, I was very intimidated to meet him.
I had the pleasure of meeting his wife Helen first though. She was introduced by a mutual friend. As the conversation went on, other people filtered out of the room until just the two of us were conversing. I had just made some sort of joke and we were having a laugh when all of a sudden, News walked through the door. I thought to myself, "He thinks I'm trying to pick up his wife and is going to kill me!" Of course he did not think that and calmly said hello, to which I noticed his multiple piercings and the first words I could nervously spit out to him were, "How many ear rings do you have?"
Over the next few years, Allen always helped me and gave me advice when he could and to this day I have nothing but respect for him. Bad News, thanks for not beating the hell outta me that day!
I'll tell you something else about Bret: he wrestled Bad News Allen in a place called Regina. Anyway, Bret did something to Bad News and he didn't like it. Bad News took him down and said something to him - 'I'll f~#*%!g kill you,' or whatever. So, the next day Bret's dad called me up and said, 'Dynamite, how would you like to wrestle in the main event for the next couple of weeks?' And I said, 'Yeah, that would be good, Stu.' But then, because I was wrestlnig Charles and the Cuban Assassin at the time, I asked him who I was going to be wrestling, and he said, 'Bad News.'
Bear in mind that I wasn't really using the steroids then, so he was a lot bigger than me. But I agreed to do it. And I wrestled him for four weeks. One match was under normal rules, then we had a no-disqualification match, a cage match, followed by a streetfight. Anyway, it was because of that match, the streetfight, that we got barred from the building: Bad News slammed me through a table and then smashed a wine bottle against the ring post and hit me with it right in the bloody head. There was blood everywhere, and the man from the athletic commission said, 'No. We're not having that,' and we got barred from the building for about a month.
Anyway, the point of the story is, the reason I wrestled Bad News all those weeks, night in, night out, was because everybody else in the territory was scared of him. Seriously.
BRITISH BULLDOG
THE DYNAMITE KID
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Ever notice that most serial killers have three names, John Wayne Gacy,
Clifford Robert Olson, George Howard Putt, Bad News Allen.
MIKE HAMMER (STAMPEDE WRESTLING)
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Well, News and myself met back in 1997 when I broke in to the business back in the Maritimes. It was My first tour ever and there I was in the same dressing room as Bad News Allen. I really didn't know what to think of it. I didn't know if he was as intimidating as he looked or if he was really a nice guy. But I kept my mouth shut and my ears open just like News would advise me to do later in the tour.
I remember being really star struck for the first couple of days, but after a few days into the tour I realized that Bad News was really a genuine, honest, Straight up kind of guy. Slowly I start talking to him and asking him for advice all the time.
Bad News always had the best stories on those long road trips, He could go on for hours and I'd still want to hear more. The best were his stories about "the Harts" They were just great. He also had great stories about Stu Hart and of course, stories about his stay with the WWF. I could just never get enough of his stories. He's got the best ones in the business.
When I moved to Calgary in early 98 that's when News and me start getting a little closer. He always helped me out for no reason at all, just cause he wanted to. He got me booked for a few shows with Tony Condello and later covered my ass with WCEW. He really goes out of his way to help out the boys. And that is why I have great respect for the man. He follows the rule of "Respect me, and I'll respect you."
News will always have my respect and he knows that. Most people that know News either Hate him or Love him, but I really can't see what there is to hate about him. He fights for what he believes in, and treats people like they treat him.
What is there not to love about news...
I remember watching Bad News Brown when I was a kid around 9 years ago. He was hands down my favorite wrestler. That ghetto blaster knocked a many out. In Hawaii were I live, he is shown on a local wrestling show, WLW. They show him whipping everyone, from Lars Anderson to Rocky Johnson. Bad News didn't need no friends. He kicked everyone's ass. If it were a real fight at Maple Leaf Gardens, Bad News would've killed him. He was the original toughest S.O.B. of the WWF. It's a shame that idiot McMahon didn't give him a chance.
To look at the man, one might think he was prejudiced, racial, angry and ready to do away with the whole world. In reality, which I was glad to find out, he is an honest, straightforward, no bulls--t, good man.
I was impressed when I met his family, because there was no show, no games and no performance. A beautiful wife and to be honest I can't remember how many children, but they were obedient and courteous. And for a brief moment I thought this must be an act or performance, and unfortunately, for my pride - it wasn't, they were for real.
News and I were asked to work a program together, which he did a fine job working with me, and was there for everything. No attitude, no jealousy, and no bulls--t. Thank God, because the man has the ability to wear this old snake out. After completing this program we were asked to extend it for another trip around, with probably the absolute worst excuse or attempt of an angle I've ever seen - the attrocious killer sewer rat from hell (Possum with spray paint!!). What a joke!! I remember looking at it with Bad News and him taking it in complete stride and laughing with him. Knowing it might work up North, but when we got down south to Washington, DC, that the bulls---t would start with the Fans. But this man and I had worked hard the first trip around and were serious and proud enough to do interviews and work serious enough to make them believe again. Against all odds we made money, we weren't supposed to. McMahon was so confused and stupified that he had us go around one more time in cage matches, and again we drew money. All I can say is Hogan, if you couldn't work with this man - you couldn't work. Or maybe Hogan, was it fear of this man. Isn't it funny how some people are afraid of the truth and real men?
When I get as old as Bad News Brown is, I hope that I'm half the man he will always be. One of the greatest laughs in the world.
When he walked into the locker room I thought he was an actor or something (he wore a white double breasted jacket and black dress pants). I had heard a lot about how tough he was and not to mess with him if I wanted to stay alive, but never met him. At that time, he was known as "The Ultimate Warrior" Bad News Allen (this was years before Vince McMahon stole the name and gave it to the Dingo Warrior) He greeted some of the guys and then looked at me (I was in the corner trying to blend into the wall). He walked over to me with this intimidating look, I thought "oh shit this guy doesn't like me or something". Then he said "hey brother" and introduced himself and I was relieved.
Later during my match I saw him watching, I got nervous and totally screwed up the match which pissed off my opponent and embarrassed the hell out of me. Later back in the locker room my opponent was tearing a strip off me, when Bad News walked in. He stood quietly and listened for a minute or so and then made his presence known to my opponent "That's enough, you made your point give the kid a break". My opponent walked away without another word. "I fu___ed up" I said. He just smiled and told me that everybody does when they first start out and to learn from it and do better next time.
Over the next few weeks he helped me with advise and ring work, I learned and improved a lot. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the THE Ultimate Warrior, Bad News Allen would help me out or be one of the nicest guys in the business.
Thanks Bad News!
Charles B. (Stampede Wrestling)
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I run a Indy promotion out of Vancouver Island and we booked Bad News to work for us. There were 3 things I remember most:
1 - the way the crowd reacted just by his presence in the arena
2 - his great work ethic in and out of the ring
3 - the great stories of his travels, I consider it a privilage to have meet Bad News and I have come to respect him, just from our very brief meeting.
Thanks Bad News
DIRTY MONEY
BCW PRO WRESTLING
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