The news came to me at about 1 o' clock Friday...Doug Gentry. Whenever somebody in wrestling dies we always say, "Wow, I never thought it would be him." But usually it's only wrestlers we say that about. But man Doug!? Man, Doug?!
Nick Berk, Ashe, Steve Mack, JD, Fat Frank, RF himself, Eric G., Missy, Ronnie Mills, etc etc etc. And I am sure there will be 100 wrestlers after me who will write something about Doug. Man, I am almost jealous and intimidated by how loved Doug was. I could sit here and talk about how good Doug was from now until Easter Sunday. But hell, I'll really lay it out right here, right now.
Once in awhile, The Mic, Rob, Doug, and myself would be on the phone...and The Mic and I would be verbally bashing the shit out of Gabe Sapolsky and ROH especially when it came to how they screwed over RF and Doug, Doug moreso than Rob....and I swear on all that is holy, Doug would simply pass it off and basically change the subject. ROH was his baby too, yes he was upset about what happened...but never showed the bitterness a jack-ass like me did. Of all people, he should've been the one more upset and here I am acting the way I am. I should learn from Doug to let things go, and I will in time.
I first met Doug in 2001 when I had long hair and flopped around the ring while Doug was videotaping. Eventually Doug and I would joke with hand motions back and forth, and he'd even let me film during battle royals (sorry Frank Goodman).
It's amazing to me how every fan didn't realize what we were doing. I do owe Doug for a lot of things. And Ashe Samuels was right. The Special K group helped a lot of young guys make it to ROH.. Deranged, Dixie, Insane Dragon, Jay Lethal....these guys were brought in on Doug's idea and their indy careers took a step up with it. Doug even used me in as much as he could in PW EIite and PWX, he gave me a chance to do things I never got to do anywhere else and I am forever greatful for it. And Steve Mack said it true. Doug was one of the best to talk to about old school wrestling, he knew so damn much! When I get up there Doug, we'll continue our World Class discussions!
In closing, when I am in the ring I will miss the guy with the baggy camo pants, AJ Styles shirt, backwards North Carolina Tar Heels hat on with the camera joking with me throughout the show. And in "real life" I will miss the guy.....with the baggy camo's, AJ shirt I could talk Eagles-Giants with, Nets-Sixers with, old school wrestling with....life with. It is selfish and human to think how much we all will miss Doug Gentry, but please give your love, thoughts, and prayers to Doug's family, Rob Feinstein and Joe F. They need it more than we do.
'Til we meet again good friend...with a heavy heart I say good-bye, but ah Hell! One more time for you Doug E. Fresh.......
DOUG RULES! DOUG RULES! DOUG RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULES!
Your ref, and more importantly your friend,
Sean "Ref Hanson" Wiggins
