Scoot Andrews retirement statement

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Communicated by Alan Wojck (sp?), this is the retirement statement from "The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews.

 

As this Saturday approaches, I am almost in a state of denial. Something that has been a part of my life for over 32 years is about to be gone. I think back to the days of going to the Jacksonville, FL Coliseum on Thursday nights to watch Dusty Rhodes, Jack Brisco, Sweet Brown Sugar, and Steve Keirn absolutely tear the house down, and dreaming of being able to put the tights and boots on and get the opportunity to perform like my heroes did. Then I fast forward to 1994 when I had my first match, and thinking to myself, "I can't believe I am actually getting the chance to actually fulfill a childhood dream. This business is like a fast spreading disease, once it gets into your blood, you really can't ever get rid of it. The crowd response to your actions, the camaraderie in the dressing room, and the opportunity to travel all over the country doing what I love will be what I miss more than anything. Joey Matthews told me once, "Wrestling, you will never love another..". And he was so right. I played football for 14 years and did not feel the anxiety that I am now feeling, when the time came to walk away. Joey was wrong on one account, I actually do love my wife and daughter (and in 6 weeks my second daughter) more than wrestling, which is why I am deciding to "hang them up".

 

It is now time for me to be a father, and not run all over the country fulfilling my dream. It is now time for me to facilitate my kids fulfilling theirs. For the last 11 years, I have come in contact will a lot of characters! Some good, some not so good. But the first "character" I want to thank would be the man who took me under his wing and showed me the ropes, and that man is Hack Meyers. While Hack has done many a thing to perpetuate his reputation in this business, one

thing that a lot of people don't know about him, is that he is an awesome individual once you get past the "gimmick" Hack. He did not have to take the time to help me out, but he did. And for that I am eternally grateful! Christopher Daniels is another person I would like to single out. Not only has the "Fallen Angel" been one of my greatest adversaries, he has definitely become one of my closest friends. The list of wrestlers that I respect and enjoy working with is very long, but here are the names of the guys that I feel are not just wrestlers, but my friends: Lex Lovett, Antonio Banks, Danny Doring, A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Bryan Danielson, Simon

Diamond, CM Punk, the Shane Twins, Michael Shane, Mideon, Buck Quartermaine, Chris Chetti, Homicide, Danny Maff, Spanky and Chris Nelson. I will miss all of these guys a lot. Some of the names in the WWE that I will miss being around are: Bubba Ray, Spike, Devon,

Coach, Paul London, Nunzio, Charlie Haas, Kevin Kelly and Tomko.

 

As we all know, not every promoter is worth mentioning but there are 3 that I would like to thank for giving me the platform to actually "be somebody" in this business. They are Jim Kettner (ECWA, Super 8), Gabe Sapolsky (Ring of Honor), and Ron Niemi & Joe Price

(NWA Florida/IPW). Jim, you are the greatest. Gabe, thank you for giving me the chance to be a part of ROH from the very start. To see where you have taken that promotion is phenomenal. Ron, you were the first promoter to give me a shot outside of Jacksonville when I

started. I have been with you every since then, and without you, I would not have achieved anything.

 

Next, I would like to thank each and every wrestling fan out there. Not for getting behind me and my career, but for allowing this business to continue to be around. Without your passion, this

business would be nothing. Especially the fans at Ring of Honor, ECWA, and NWA Florida. The fans of these 3 groups are the best fans anywhere in the world! I loved each and every time I work(ed) for these feds, because you knew you would get fans that actually love wrestling. I love these fans!

 

Finally, I would like to recognize the guys who will also retire with me at the end of our 3 way on Saturday, Mike Sullivan and Billy Fives. No matter where we have gone in our careers, the 3 of us always seem to parallel each other. Whether it was the Super 8, numerous dark and Velocity matches for the WWE(F), Headlining ECWA, NWA Florida, or being the top guys in the entire state of Florida, we 3 always seem to be "lumped" together. Billy you and I have wrestled, traveled, and even tried out for the WCW Power Plant (that was an experience) together. Mike, you and I have wrestled, tagged, trained, traveled, and partied together for almost all of our

careers. The 3 of us have dominated Florida for almost 10 years, now we will all 3 walk away together. I am so honored to be a part of this match, that I could never have enough paper to write all of my feelings. You guys are the best, and I hope and pray that we will finish our career with a bang on Saturday night. I know deep down, that we will. We have no choice!

 

This retirement is final. I know the "smart" fans and writers will blast this statement and say that "I will believe it when I see it" because wrestlers, generally never stay away long. But my wife and girls are the most important things to me in my life. And I will not be a father that neglects his family. I may help with a dressing room here and there, write some storylines for NWA Florida, and continue to be a fan of the sport….but you will never see me wrestle again. On Saturday, February 26, 2005, I am closing that chapter of my life.

 

Sincerely,

"The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews