ARTICLES | December 13, 2013 | www.blackvenom.net


The History of...
Dragons Den Pro Wrestling


In this roller-coaster article about Tucson, Arizona's premiere wrestling organization, the ups and downs are finally presented from the perspective of an insider involved nearly from the start. We should never forget the impact and sacrifices made by these superstars of Tucson's entertainment past. 17 years later, we tell the story...


By: Gerren Ard
gerren.ard@gmail.com

In 1997, the popularity of Professional Wrestling was taking off to new heights. The big 3, WWF, WCW and ECW, were fast becoming some of the most watched programs according to Nielsen Ratings. In more than one case, wrestling programs held 7 of 10 positions on Nielsen's "Top Ten" most watched programs of the week!

This was the year that wrestling fans witnessed: ECW's First Pay Per View; The domination of the New World Order in WCW; the infamous "Montreal-Screwjob" in the WWF; The tragic end of Brian Pillman's 3-brand Takeover; Sabu's brutal "Barbed Wire Match" with Terry Funk; The birth of Goldberg; the return of Sting; and the Legendary rise of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. This was also the year that Tucson wrestling fans were re-introduced to live-action wrestling events.

A local promotion, created by Ron "Section-8" Sutherland, started holding regular wrestling events at the Tucson Greyhound Park. "Rage In The Cage Wrestling" was born and entertained HUNDREDS of wrestling fans each month.

"Rage In The Cage Wrestling"

On crisp Tucson, Arizona evenings, independent wrestling stars from Tucson, Phoenix, and California would compete in a make-shift cage that would serve as the ring. The flooring was made of sturdy wooden boxes covered only with an unforgiving gymnastic mat, and the "ropes" were replaced with steel fencing that was just eye level to a man standing 5'5" inside the cage. With each whip into the side, the "clang" of a body bouncing off of cold steel could be heard by every fan in attendance. Solid "thuds" from bodyslams and suplexes created grimacing sounds, as wrestlers would simply "smack" onto the mat as raw hamburger would a tile floor. High-Risk maneuvers were rare, but the action was always intense. Most matches became hard-hitting brawls which only fueled the beer-drinking members of the crowds even more.

Section-8 was the top personality for Tucson's "Rage in the Cage Wrestling." He would accept main event challenges against independent stars such as: The Black Mamba; The Navajo Kid; The Time-Traveler, The Ripper; The Blue Machine; Cincinnati Red; and one of the most memorable contests Tucson ever witnessed... a brutal Scaffold Match which plunged the #1-contender for the Heavyweight Title, Widow-Maker, from a height of 12 feet through 2 stacked tables below!! The unconscious opponent was then escorted from the cage via stretcher, far away from the hundreds of cheering fans chanting Section-8's name!

On occasion, the crowd felt privileged to watch personalities like UFC champion Dan "The Beast" Severn and UFC champion and New Japan Pro Wrestling superstar Don "The Predator" Frye participate in the show.

In one event, the action got so heated between Section-8 and Don Frye, a brawl ensued outside of the cage and spilled onto the dog track minutes before the dogs were set to race! Spectators were in shock as both men valiantly tumbled in the dirt "holding their own," and soon fought their way back into the cage! 3 stiff powerslams later, Frye would stand victorious against, a newly-humbled, Section-8.

Eventually, Don Frye's relationship with the Tucson group led to an eventual upgrade, as "Rage In The Cage Wrestling" soon became "Combat Championship Wrestling," with the incorporation (and eventual acquisition) of Don Frye's ring.

The cage, which had seen its last days, was finally retired and dumped for good.

"Combat Championship Wrestling"

After taking a hiatus for several months in 1997, "Combat Championship Wrestling" returned to the Tucson Greyhound Park in January of 1998.

The lack of main-stream advertising provided dismal numbers of fan attendance, in contrast to the "Rage in the Cage" commercials being run on WWF airtime, just a year earlier, which drew record crowds.

The new ring was a welcome sight to old fans, and a legitimate draw for Dog-Track regulars sticking around to watch the show. It was originally a boxing ring and stood a foot higher from the ground... which made it a new learning experience for wrestlers entering and exiting the ring. The lack of a spring-support mechanism for the mat would literally stun wrestlers for 2-full seconds as they sat and absorbed the pain, one bone-jarring landing after another.

The talent pool also increased as new local wrestlers joined the organization.
Throughout 1998, personalities like: Monster Wells, Mini Azteca, "T" Dante Washington and Payaso De Muerte added new creative direction for Tucson's league.

During these years, the wrestling world was heavily split into factions like: The Four Horsemen; Degeneration-X; The Nation of Domination; The Wolfpac; Los Boriquas and "The Corporation." With new performers in CCW's roster, several factions were also created within the Tucson wrestling scene.

The "Triple-X Dogg Pound," "The Phoenix Crew" and "The Nuthouse" fought each other twice a month for superiority, with their respective leaders becoming new main-eventers.

Tiger Smith, Jr., leader of the Triple-X Dogg Pound, would earn his first Heavyweight Championship during this year, and shocked the audience by throwing a FIREBALL into the face of Ed "The American" Knight to pick up the title-victory.

Monster Wells, another member of the same faction, also gained his first Heavyweight Championship by winning a 20-man battle royal. His title run became one of the shortest in Tucson Wrestling history, as he would lose it within hours by accepting Section-8's impromptu challenge. During the Main-Event bout, Section-8, the ever witty, hit a low-blow to the Monster while the referee was distracted, gaining the advantage, the tainted victory AND the new Heavyweight Title!

In 1998, Ron Sutherland decided to join forces with George Crawford of then-recently defunct "Tucson Ringmasters" business, which supplied boxing and wrestling rings for rental. The new partnership introduced a new wrestling family into Southern Arizona.

Lucha Libre had officially come to Tucson!

"ENLL - Empresa Nogales de Lucha Libre"

The Tucson wrestling scene had been predominantly an American-style sport since 1997. Only in a few cases were high-flying, lucha-brand wrestling ever incorporated into a match... usually from an out-of-towner. The wrestler, "Shooting Star," was the last to perform true lucha libre in a Tucson ring at that time.

In a cross-promotional talent exchange, newcomers:

Sol De Oriente;
Güero Cota;
Yako; &
Pequeño Guerrero

wrestled in Tucson as Section-8, Ed "The American" Knight, Navajo Kid and NiteTrain would tour Nogales, Mexico and California.

The tours were successful in opening new doors for each wrestler and their popularity was growing week-by-week!

The new Lucha Libre brand was such an instant success, they became an immediate draw for Tucson Wrestling fans. The Sonoran Mexican superstars from ENLL offered a style so polished, fluid and smooth that their discipline forced many Tucson performers to re-examine and refine their own techniques. They brought an unparalleled style and finesse to a sport deemed rough and violent, and redefined the product into an art form.

The University of Arizona also showcased this "art form" with new museum exhibits dedicated to the culture of Lucha Libre, and invited the Mexican wrestling stars to perform a show on campus in 2006.

Just a year earlier, Independent Film had already taken notice, and cast the 4 Lucha Libre stars as villains in a feature-length movie by Alphonso Casaus titled:

"Alambrista Emplumado: The Fence Jumper."

They still perform to this day in Tucson to much fanfare, and have opened doors for other Lucha Libre stars to come show off their skill as well. Their tremendous impact on the Tucson Wrestling landscape can still be felt years later!

Ron Sutherland's partnership with George Crawford proved successful for Tucson wrestling from 1998 well into the following year.

By then, Combat Championship Wrestling had parted ways with Tucson Greyhound Park and was soon embarking on a new contract with a Tucson bar known as: Wee Went Wongs.

A new name for the organization was formed and the Tucson wrestling scene took off once again.

Dragons Den Pro Wrestling was born.

"Dragons Den Pro Wrestling"

In late 1998, a dance floor in a bar was converted into a cage. Don Frye's ring now functioned as the new permanent training ring in Ron Sutherland's backyard.

The new cage only stood 8 inches off the ground, and had a wooden frame that held 12 rubber tires, covered by plywood boards that were screwed into place. Carpets and simple padding were rolled over the boards and stapled into place under a white painter's tarp. Fencing, once again, surrounded the base and was much stiffer than the cage of old, yet softer to land on... a huge improvement over the previous designs.

With the cage no longer square but rectangular, maneuverability proved difficult at times. Throughout the night, the wear-and-tear on the mat would often cause the staples to loosen and the tarp to wrinkle up. It was common for the tarp to trip wrestlers as their steps dragged, so movement was quite limited.

Also, with the audience seated only a foot away from the ring and heavy-metal music blaring during each match, a high-charged atmosphere was created... a perfect recipe for violence.

The structure housed the wrestlers like caged animals who would look into the crowd and see a gradient pitch-darkness, yet, see their opponent's face washed out by blinding-hot spotlights only 3 feet above them.

As the adrenaline ran, wrestlers would turn into full-fledged combatants pummeling each other with an obligation to please a blood-thirsty crowd chanting:

"VIO-LENCE!! VIO-LENCE!! VIO-LENCE!!"

More times than not, they were "extremely" rewarded.

Payaso De Muerte became the superstar that most exemplified Dragons Den Pro Wrestling's hardcore nature. Wrestling in a clown-suit, this member of the 5-man "Nuthouse" faction would strike any opponent in excess with his trademark Singapore Cane... smiling sadistically all the while! Blood was a common occurrence in his matches and had spectators, even fellow wrestlers, oftentimes questioning if he was impervious to pain!

In one of the bloodiest matches of the year, Payaso De Muerte would soon fall victim to Cincinnati Red in a no-disqualification Dog-Collar match. In the final minutes, Red would press Payaso's face into the chain-linked cage as "Punisher" Chris Lozanski, from the outside, would violently smash a steel chair across Payaso's head, leaving a 2-inch gash deep into his scalp. As Payaso lay motionless, Cincinnati picked up the tainted victory and left the hardcore-clown in a pool of his own blood!

Hardcore matches were not only limited to the cage, but often spilled into the crowd.

On one occasion, "Canadian" Chris Blair (once forced to wear a dress, by losing a stipulation match) and the 280lbs. Mastodon fought their way through the crowd, busted down the Men's Bathroom door and crashed into an occupied bathroom stall!

The surprised patron, who was heavily involved with his "duty," quickly curled up on the toilet bowl with his pants around his ankles not knowing what to expect next!

As the action continued, and both wrestlers left, the referee kindly closed the stall door behind him, leaving the bewildered gentleman with a simple, "Sorry about that."

Not only was the action intense, but the cast of characters became highly controversial.

Rivalries between such wrestlers as Sheik Ali Khan, Black Mamba, Section-8 and Navajo Kid (now: Navajo Warrior) became "racially motivated" fights instead of "friendly contests" amongst competitors.

La Migra, a Mexican Border Patrol Agent, was the recipient of so much hatred for his character, Latino spectators refused autographs from him at the end of the show.

Of all the controversial characters ever to step into the Dragons Den, none by far have exceeded the impact of a wrestler known only as "The Klansman."
The hatred of The Klansman by the Tucson crowd was unparalleled.

NEVER had the crowd become so uncomfortable... they didn't know whether to boo him or sit silently in protest! His Southern-based rhetoric on the microphone intimidated the crowd in manners never before witnessed!

Black referees were equally as hesitant and disgusted to count his pins or raise his hand in victory... which was mutually discouraged by The Klansman who would snatch his hand away refusing to be touched.

His path of destruction was cut short by Wee Went Wongs management, who banned the Klansman from further competition over fears of a riot forming... He had actually developed a fan-base.

Dragons Den Pro Wrestling was soon the talk of the town and even featured as the main article within "The Tucson Weekly" publication.

Section-8's popularity skyrocketed as well, as he would soon find himself challenging the former WWF and WCW Champion, Kevin Nash, at a wrestling event in Phoenix. He was promptly powerbombed by the 7-foot star and pinned in less than 10 secs.

Although suffering a quick defeat at the hands of Kevin Nash, Ron "Section-8" Sutherland caught the attention of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and became the ONLY professional wrestler for that year, NOT employed by WWF, WCW or ECW to win:

PWI's "Wrestler of the Week."

The WWF also took notice and employed Ed "The American" Knight as a "planted spectator" in the Tucson crowd. Within the evening, Knight proceeded to spit beer in the face of The Acolyte's "Bradshaw (JBL)" and serve him a "D-X chop," before taking the "consequential punch" to the face LIVE on Monday Night RAW!

Former WWF stars came out in support of the Dragons Den organization as well. Doink the Clown competed in the Dragons Den cage more than once, and Section-8 felt the signature "El-Kabong" guitar-shot from The Honky Tonk Man the opening night.

The Tucson wrestling scene boomed once again, and soon attracted a group of regulars that would become the last generation and lasting legacy of Dragons Den Pro Wrestling.

"The Junior Division"

Inspired by the light-heavyweights of WCW and ECW, four new High-School students requested tryouts with Dragons Den Pro Wrestling.

As the new recruits sat stretching in the ring of the Dragons Den school, Ron Sutherland informed the group that their trainer had arrived.

Expecting a former wrestling legend, or even Section-8 himself, the Juniors were absolutely stunned to see their new trainer walk towards them.

"The referee?? HE's the trainer??"

The Juniors first lesson learned was to never judge a book by its cover.

Under the tutelage of "Black Venom" Gerren Ard, the new Junior Division endured a strict training schedule which met 3-4 times a week. They were stretched, beaten, broken and mentally toughened by the same "referee" they watched getting abused each show. For months, they honed their craft and learned the ropes. They were finally given their shot to perform in front of the Dragon's Den crowd. Few anticipated what would happen next.

Wearing personalized masks in the tradition of Lucha Libre, the Juniors: Son of Death; D-Sayo; Kid Colibre (Cuervo); and The Prophet made their wrestling debut in a 4-way Dance.

Ask most wrestlers about their first match ever, and they'll most likely tell you it was either super-fast or a disaster...

The Juniors first match was EPIC!

Their creativity allowed them to become instant sensations within the sport overnight! Their competitive spirit pushed themselves well beyond expectation in EACH of their performances. They were arguably the next "Best Thing" to hit Tucson's Pro Wrestling scene and brought "heart" back to the Dragons Den... But not everybody was enjoying it.

"Struggles of Tucson Wrestling"

Some complacent wrestlers on the roster felt threatened by "The Juniors" and were forced to compete at a higher level than they were comfortable with.

Over the years, some of the veteran wrestlers within the organization developed "chips on their shoulder." Some wouldn't attend every practice... some even believed "breaking down the ring" was beneath them and made "The Juniors" do it under the guise of "paying their dues." As stagnant as some of these wrestlers became, they still held prominent spots on the card, yet, their performances were overshadowed by the matches being produced by the younger competitors.
The Veterans, in attempts to build their own "characters," looked to later capitalize on the success of The Juniors by requesting them in one-on-one contests in obvious "squash matches." When the Juniors refused to do the favors, the Veterans took high offense to it, deeming them disrespectful and arrogant.

In reality, the Juniors noticed the "recklessly stiff" performances posed by these same veterans who wouldn't practice, and didn't trust them with their safety.

It wasn't long before the entire locker-room was under attack by veterans who looked to steal the spotlight for themselves and "drop everybody down a peg or two." As they purposely "killed the heat" generated by the harder-working competitors, an "every man for themselves" mentality was created and the "playing field" changed for the worse.

Egos quickly got out of hand.
And half of it played out in the public eye.

With the locker-room in disarray, management was pulling their own strings within the Dragons Den organization. They had specific plans for everyone... especially the Juniors.

"The Management"

The Mexican Wrestlers had also taken notice of the talented young performers, and requested they come to Mexico to compete. Management soon recognized the Juniors as a "meal-ticket," and used them to negotiate "package-deal" agreements that included "main-eventers" (that weren't requested for one reason or another) and alleged control of their money distribution. This continued for months unbeknownst to much of the locker-room.

These promotions eventually got tired of the "package-deals" and contacted the Juniors directly. When word got around that The Juniors were booked by outside promotions WITHOUT the "main-eventers," friction occurred. The Veterans became infuriated with The Juniors, who in turn, became upset over being used and "underpaid." A permanent wedge of distrust had developed between the locker-room and management that would never be salvaged again.
Eventually, a short-term compromise was reached between The Juniors, The Veterans and the Management, and the situation temporarily worked itself out. A "USA vs. MEXICO" angle developed shortly afterwards and lasted through to 2001.

The Juniors were finally living out their dreams, sharing locker-rooms and exchanging stories with many of the Mexican Luchadores and Legends they idolized on television, while The Veterans were headlining several shows a month and making more money.

Meanwhile, back at the Dragons Den, management was changing hands. The training facility was moved to the outskirts of Tucson, making it increasingly difficult for the wrestlers, many without cars, to attend practice as often as liked. The new management had little-to-no wrestling experience, and was even considered "marks" by some of the talent... which did nothing for morale.

Adding to the bad news, the "glue of the locker-room," Tiger Smith, had already left Tucson to further his wrestling career in the AWA of Colorado, and the training facility was also set to lose its head instructor, Black Venom, who had announced to the Dragons Den crowd that he would be leaving to attend college that very fall.

Uncertain of the future of Dragons Den, the spirit amongst many of the wrestlers had sunk to an all-time low... some feeling as though it was only "a matter of time" before everything fell apart. Everyone's wrestling career was now on shaky ground, and there wasn't enough stability to guarantee ANY flicker of hope.

"The Last Legs"

By the end of 1999, Dragons Den Pro Wrestling's dismal outlook became a sad reality; the contract with Wee Went Wongs wasn't renewed. It wasn't long before Wee Went Wongs closed its own doors to the public for good.

George Crawford stepped in again, shifted from partner to full owner, acquired the remaining wrestlers, and looked to fill the void left by the Dragons Den by introducing a league of his own.

The "World Wrestling Alliance" created a platform for the remaining wrestlers to perform for select Tucson crowds. He also supplied the first "spring-supported" rings that many of the wrestlers were thrilled to fully take advantage of.

Shows took place at the ElCon Mall, The Wildcat House, The "Quarter-Circle Three" Arena, and the famed "El Casino Ballroom" known for hosting many of the world's greatest entertainers for several decades in Tucson, Arizona.

In one of the greatest turnouts ever, the Tucson wrestlers performed at a Crawford-promoted event at the Web Theater in Phoenix, AZ. opening for the "Midgets Running Wild" show featuring "Lil Nasty Boy" and "Pitbull Patterson." Due to a riot, the event ended prematurely leaving Crawford and the remaining wrestlers to defend themselves, and their property, against drunken and belligerent fans who tried storming the ring, only to get met with boots to their faces!

The event was streamed on WEBPayPerView.com.

In 2000, another joint effort between Crawford and Sutherland used Scrappy's Bar in Downtown Tucson as one of the last venues for the Dragons Den crew to perform together again under the same roof, entertaining a crowd of roughly 100 spectators.

This night would pit Tucson's famed Juniors, Prophet and Cuervo Moreno, in a tag-team match against Navajo Warrior and Ghost Walker, the world renowned tag team of: "Native Blood." In the semi-main event, their toughest contest to date, The Juniors held their own and fought the famed Tag-Team for over 15 minutes, before hitting simultaneous 450-Splashes on both members of the Native team, which would've clinched them the stunning-upset victory.

Instead, the team of Dumptruck Dawson and Chainsaw ransacked the ring, attacked everyone in sight, and caused the match to be ruled "A DRAW."

The match is still considered one of the best Tag-Matches in Tucson Wrestling history.
The main event for that night was one for the record books as well, as the massive "Monster" Wells faced Ed "The American" Knight to crown a new Heavyweight Champion. The action went back and forth between both competitors before Ed Knight, in an amazing show of strength, hooked the 350lb behemoth in a Belly-to-Belly suplex, slamming Well's body through the mat and collapsing one-half of the entire ring!!

In unison, the Tucson spectators gasped in shock and disbelief, as the 6'6" monster lay motionless in the sunken hole. The impact was enough to allow "The American" to secure the epic victory AND the new Heavyweight Championship belt!

Scrappy's would hold another night or two of wrestling later that year, and close its own doors subsequently. The Tucson wrestling scene was put out of business, again, seemingly for its final time.
By the year 2002, Crawford and Sutherland's business dealings became infrequent or non-existent. Wrestling involvement -as a whole- slowed down considerably, once again leaving the wrestlers up in the air and frustrated.

With no places to train and no places to wrestle, many had become disgruntled and decided to call it quits. Even the Juniors broke up through situations beyond their control.

Eventually, everybody went their separate ways.
It would be a long time before the Dragons Den crew performed together again.

"The Finale"

As luck would have it, a year of "wrestling comebacks" later donned over the entire wrestling world.

The year was 2005.

Hulk Hogan had come back to the WWE after a long absence and was cemented into their prestigious Hall Of Fame. ECW had also come back to the delight of its extreme fan-base with its first Pay Per View in years labeled: "One Night Stand."

Tucson wrestling fans were soon set to watch a major comeback of its own...

Former Dragons Den Heavyweight, Mastodon, partnered with a local family known for creating Boxing / Wrestling rings and created the "Rowdy Wrestling Federation."

While looking for talent to work in his new promotion, Mastodon came in contact with The Prophet and Cuervo Moreno at a local wrestling event and brought them into his new promotion. Word eventually spread, and even Black Venom was brought out of retirement to work the show as well.

Referee "D" was then signed on to officiate all the matches.

Sol de Oriente, Güero Cota and Pequeño Guerrero were also asked to come from Mexico to perform on the card, and the date was set. The "El Casino Ballroom" would become the final venue for this meeting of epic proportion. Tickets sold for $10 apiece.

On May 22, 2005, in one unforgettable night, with Payaso De Muerte and "T" Dante Washington also in attendance, the "Dragons Den" crew was reunited for the first and last time in years.

In the one-on-one "Match of the Evening," Cuervo Moreno faced Black Venom in a phenomenal "Student VS. Teacher" contest, which many had considered THE match to watch!

Cuervo endured a devastating set of offensive attacks at the hands of the frustrated Venom, debuting his new "Carnival Bomb" finisher to no avail, along with 2 additional powerbombs to the dismay of a jeering crowd.

In one crucial mistake by Venom, Cuervo was able to capitalize and mount a steady offense, delivering a spinning DDT, a top-rope dropkick and an enzuigiri to Black Venom, "knocking him out cold" on impact. Looking to finish the "staggered" Venom once and for all, Cuervo Moreno leaps from the top rope for a high-risk maneuver... only to get caught in the eyes by a "black mist" spat from Black Venom's mouth!

With a speechless crowd visibly in shock, Venom was able to hit his trademark "Tilt-a-Whirl" Powerslam, stealing a 1-2-3 victory from the tenacious, yet blinded, Cuervo Moreno!

The event was shown on television in Reno, NV.
For many years, this match was the most watched Tucson Wrestling Match on You Tube.

Dragons Den Pro Wrestling's historic life officially came to an end this night, and was laid to rest forever in the hearts and minds of those who loved it most.

And as time goes on, the seeds planted by the Dragons Den bear the children who will continue to carry on its legacy.

"Extending The Family"

There have been a number of performers that have worked with the Dragons Den alumni who deserve mention for being a part of Tucson's prime wrestling family in its later years:

"DRAGONS DEN'S" EXTENDED FAMILY



Rey Maligno



Stuntman



Challenger



Hypnosis



Mocho Cota



Apache



Hawaiian Lion



The Ballards



Jay Garland



Doink The Clown



Lucha Reigns



Chainsaw



Vega



Serpiente Negra



Shadow Fox


Not Pictured But Not Forgotten:

Steve Gatorwolf, Jesse Hernandez, Don Frye, Dan Severn, "The Scary Guy," Honky Tonk Man, Gangsta Man, "The Bladerunner" Chuck Whitmarsh, Shooting Star, Widow-Maker, "The Time-Traveler" Marcial Bovee, Rainbow, The Ripper, Allah, Don Alfredo, La Yaquisita, Vengeance, Justin Soto, "Ghost Walker" G. Q. Gallo, B.V.D., C.C. Starr, Justin Roberts, Zimbabwe Kid, Cody Baker, Lil Nasty Boy, Pitbull Patterson, Reggie Parks, Buddy Lewis, "Winky," Morgan, "XXX" Lawrence Tyler, Frenchy Rivera, Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli, Scott Norton, Frankie Kazarian, Chucky, "Rocky," Mike Knox, Horshu, Melina and many more.

"Extending The Legacy"

The Prophet, one of the last true graduates of "The Dragons Den," has continued the tradition of Tucson wrestling and produces shows under his own promotion called "Rockstar Wrestling Alliance." He has also been a contestant on TNA's "Gut Check" competition. He has become a prominent Arizona wrestling figure, and his success continues today.

Cuervo Moreno is currently retired from active competition and claims to "have never been happier and more at peace."

"T" Dante Washington is currently practicing "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" full time... "all day, everyday."

Azteca "Thriller" Johnson has pursued a career in acting, has been cast in several commercials, and is currently starring in a web series titled: "Zhon: The Alien Interviews" and an independent Tucson film known as "The Z." He also serves as the lead stunt-coordinator on many of these projects.

King Milo Watson has a film credit under the Alphonso Casaus independent film: "Alambrista Emplumado: The Fence Jumper."

Mastodon now wrestles under the name "Bombshell" and still competes as the champion of his partnered-promotion.

Sol De Oriente, Güero Cota, Yako, & Pequeño Guerrero is starring with Jake "The Snake" Roberts in the sequel to "Alambrista Emplumado." They still wrestle in Mexico and Arizona.

"Section-8" Ron Sutherland has been placed on PWI's "Top 500" twice (#479 in 1997 & #487 in 2000), and has moved to the North-western part of the United States continuing to wrestle under the name "Ron Ray Sullivan" with a new promotion. He also wrestles occasionally under the name "El Gringo Loco." (right)

"Synjiin" Tiger Smith wrestled in Colorado and Utah for various AWA and NWA wrestling promotions, winning several titles.

Navajo Warrior (aka Navajo Kid) has been placed on PWI's "Top 500" multiple times (#482 in 1997, #351 in 2002, #344 in 2003 and #383 in 2008), has wrestled all around the world for several promotions and worked as an agent and "motion-capture" actor for THQ on several WWE wrestling games. He wrestles Dark Matches for the WWE, and his tag-team, "Native Blood," wrestled "KroniK" (Brian "Crush" Adams & Bryan "Wrath" Clarke) in a televised Pay Per View tribute to the "Legends Of Wrestling." He currently wrestles with the Hawaiian Lion in a tag-team known as "The Tribe," managed by Olivia O'Lovely.

Justin Roberts, after his tenure at the University of Arizona, worked in Phoenix with Navajo Warrior's promotion, Western States, and eventually became a ring announcer for the WWE.

Don Frye's likeness has been featured in several foreign wrestling video-games from "Fire Pro Wrestling" to "All-Star Pro Wrestling" and even the "King of Coliseum" franchise. The former Ultimate Fighting Champion and All Japan Pro/NOAH Champion enjoys life at his home outside of Tucson, AZ.

"Pitbull" Patterson, once considered the "world's strongest midget," has had exposure on numerous television programs such as "The Jerry Springer Show" and even WWE Television as himself. Allegedly, Patterson was originally cast to play the role of "Hornswaggle" before being replaced in a last-minute decision.

Stuntman still wrestles for Arizona and Mexican wrestling promotions and was interviewed by a Tucson publication for his contributions in Lucha Libre.

Referee "D" (or "Diaz") still officiates for Tucson and Phoenix wrestling promotions.

Chitara, the "First Lady of Dragons Den," is happily married to "Commissioner Paulie," after first meeting him backstage after her match at Wee Went Wongs in 1999. They have 2 children together.

Black Venom is producing a wrestling video game based from his experiences in the Dragons Den. He has several behind-the-scene film credits, and has authored this article on the "History of Dragons Den Pro Wrestling."

(above) 2007 Reunion of "Dragons Den Pro Wrestling" alumni.





Read More about "Dragons Den Pro Wrestling" at:
"Dragons Den Pro Wrestling: The Video Game"
"Black Venom Bio"






"The History of... Dragons Den Pro Wrestling" By: Gerren Ard

**All statements are solely opinions of the speaker, and should be read for entertainment or educational value. All names, images, quotes or links are the properties of their respective owners.**



         

(a) Dragons Den Pro Wrestling


"A longtime fan of televised wrestling bouts, Section 8,
a.k.a. Ron Sutherland III, has
been running local wrestling
contests for the last 13 years, including a memorable string
of shows at Greyhound Park
and one 'barbed-wire match'
on Congress Street."

"The matches are perhaps the
best ultra-violent, race-baiting,
obscene, homo-erotic
children's show on earth."

- Tucson Weekly, July 1999 -

"READ ARTICLE"



DRAGONS DEN ROSTER
1998-1999


Azteca "Thriller" Johnson


Black Mamba


Black Venom


The Blue Machine


Chitara


"CBS" Chris Blair (Robitaille)


"Punisher" Chris Lozanski


Cincinnati Red


Cuervo Moreno


D-Sayo


"T" Dante Washington


Dumptruck Dawson


Ed "The American" Knight


Güero Cota


Kid Delinquent


"King" Milo Watson


La Migra


Lobo Locon


"Big Daddy" Loco


Mastodon / Bombshell


The Mexicutioner


Monster Wells / Big Dawg


Morbius


Navajo Warrior


Nite-Train


"Commissioner" Pauly Stevens


Payaso De Muerte


Pequeño Guerrero


The Prophet


Ranger


Referee "D"


Referee Vick


Section-8


"Skull-Crusher" Bill


Sol De Oriente


Son Of Death


"Synjiin" Tiger Smith


Yako


"The popularity of
Lucha Libre continues
to grow day by day.

No longer solely a
Mexican pastime, it is making
its way into mainstream
southwest American culture
and becoming more and more
familiar around the world."

University of Arizona
Lucha Libre Interview

- March/April 2006 -

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