RIP Crash Holly

A few weeks ago I began one of my columns with the words "this sucks". Again, I'm going to use this phrase.

I found out a short time ago that Mike Lockwood, the artist formerly known as Crash Holly, has died. He was just two years older than me.

I don't want to sound like stuck record, but again, this sucks. Coming so soon after the deaths of Stu Hart and Road Warrior Hawk, I find myself writing about the death of a wrestler, about the death of a person who has entertained me a great deal while watching this great industry.

Of course, many fans in Britain will know Mike for his work in the WWE, first as the tag-team partner of Bob "Hardcore" Holly, and then as the man who first defended the Hardcore title under the 24/7 stipulation rule.

In both scenarios, Mike excelled. As a small man in the tag-team division, Crash always tried to make us think he was a giant among giants, telling us he weighed in excess of 400 pounds when in truth he weighed just over 200, and while his reign as tag-team champion may not have been as exciting as many of the others around that time, (remember, this was around the time that the Dudleys, Hardys, and Edge & Christian were lighting up the scene), it was certainly one of the most entertaining.

And then there was his entry into the hardcore division. Many have credited Mick Foley with giving the Hardcore title respect, but the division didn't really take off until Crash Holly was crowned champion. After declaring on television that he would defend the title anyplace, anywhere, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, it seemed his work was cut out for him. He was chased everywhere, not just by the wrestlers, but by the Godfather's ho's, and even Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco. These segments made the Hardcore title, and was probably one of the most entertaining aspects of the WWE at the time.

Finally, let's not forget Crash's all too brief reign as the Light-Heavyweight Champion, which sadly only last a little over a month, beating the great Dean Malenko for the title before dropping it to Jerry Lynn on Lynn's first night with the company.

Because of his multiple reigns as Hardcore Champion, Crash Holly will go down as one of the most decorated WWE wrestlers in history. It's a said day for wrestling that a man who was respected by his peers and gave his all to entertain the fans is taken from us in such a way. To say it's a shock would be an understatement.

Again, as the song goes, one by done, only the good die young.