Health & Fitness
The Buddy Roberts Memorial Tournament (Honoring a Freebird)
Pro Wrestling Blitz of Joliet will honor wrestling legend Buddy Roberts with a tournament in April. Buddy Jr. will be part of the event and 100% of the gate goes to the Forest South Animal Hospital.
When I was growing up, most of the wrestling I watched was pre-taped shows from a Texas-based organization called World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). The good guy Von Erich brothers dominated the scene, until one day a group of three heels showed up and things got real interesting.
Michael Hayes, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy and Buddy Roberts comprised the Fabulous Freebirds, who hailed from Badstreet USA. They were unlike anything I had previously scene. Hayes was the charismatic leader. Gordy was the muscle. Roberts was the speedy ring technician.
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For the next fifteen years or so, the Freebirds won numerous titles, created havoc and gained a legion of fans. They even had several runs as good guys, because they were too popular to remain bad guys.
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Sadly, late in 2012, Roberts passed away, but Pro Wrestling Blitz and Buddy Roberts Jr. are doing their best to keep Buddy Senior’s memory alive in the form of the Buddy Roberts Memorial Tournament (lovingly shortened to “the Buddy”). The Buddy will be held on April 27-28 in St. Joe’s Park in Joliet. Like the Freebirds, the tournament will consist of three men teams, 16 teams in all, competing for the tourney title. Aside from honoring Buddy Sr., the best part is that 100% of the gate will go to the Forest South Animal Hospital in University Park.
After the recent Blitz show, Scott Beatty (my partner in fun on the wrestling scene) and I talked to Blitz owner Tony Scarpone and Buddy Jr. about Blitz and the upcoming Buddy. You can check out the accompanying video interviews to hear their thoughts.
Buddy Jr. will be in the Buddy, but his two partners have not been announced. Could there be a Freebirds connection? If I knew, I would say, but Buddy Jr. would not give us a hint beyond that it would be a big surprise.
I always enjoy a Blitz event. The wrestling is excellent, the crowds are lively and the production is solid, but I am really looking forward to the Buddy. A wrestling legend honored by a tournament featuring his son with two mystery partners, where all of the gate proceeds go to the Forest South Animal Hospital, sounds like a winner.
