» the Weekly Arts & Entertainment Guide of the Charleston Gazette in Charleston, West Virginia
		EVENT: Danny Boyd, local filmmaker, is also Prof. Danger, big-time wrestler?

Wrestling comes to WV State By Rudy Panucci and Melanie Larch For the Gazette

The Davis Fine Arts Auditorium at West Virginia State University has played host to many distinguished performers. Lionel Hampton, Maya Angelou and the Alvin Ailey dance troupe are just a few of the legends who have graced its stage. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, that list of legends expands to include Professor Danger, the Midnight Express and the superstar wrestlers of the American Wrestling Association Apex as "September To Dismember," the first professional wrestling event held in the fine arts auditorium, takes place at West Virginia State University. The first question you might have is "How are they physically going to do this?" This is a stage that normally presents plays or musical performances. According to Dale R. Gange, President and CEO of the AWA, "I couldn't go on record saying that a professional wrestling event has never taken place in a fine arts auditorium, but I am confident in saying that the event is truly unique in this setting. AWA-APEX, our West Virginia territory, will certainly have their challenges aesthetically with setting a ring up on a stage, but they've carefully toured the site and have made the appropriate adjustments." According to Dick Wolfe, WVSU's theater facilities supervisor, "It's pretty simple, compared to theater. The wrestling people tell us how big the ring is and they bring it in and set it up. Jason Vannoy, a senior communications major, is the designer. He is going to surround the ring with lights and then surround all that with people. If you sit in the auditorium, it will be like watching a play about a bunch of people watching a wrestling match." That explains how they're going to do it, but we're still left with the question, "Why?" For that answer, we have to look to Daniel Boyd, WVSU professor, award-winning filmmaker, author, photographer ... and, since he turned 48 two years ago, professional wrestler. See a related story on Boyd's motivations, but it's safe to say that he has succumbed to what wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper calls "the sickness." Boyd has been bitten by the wrestling bug and it has compelled him to bring this event to his home base of WVSU. For the past several months, Boyd and his partner have been wrestling for AWA, which has a rich pro wrestling legacy. It counts among its former champions such legendary names as Verne Gagne, Jerry Lawler and Hulk Hogan. Billed as "the biggest event in AWA-APEX's history," the evening will feature both world heavyweight and world light heavyweight title bouts. Ric Converse will put his heavyweight belt on the line against AWA-APEX star Flex, with Jason Kincaid facing light heavyweight champ Krazy K. The Midnight Express (Beautiful Bobby & Lover Boy Dennis), regarded as one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history, will also be on hand to take on the Canadians. On the significance of the event, Gange adds, "It's obviously important enough for me to personally be there! I run an international promotion with over 20 affiliated territories here in the U.S., Japan, U.K., Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. "Obviously, I can't travel to all of the shows we produce and represent, so I have to chose to attend those that are either challenged or being promoted in the national spotlight. The 'September to Dismember' event meets both criteria." The main event features Boyd as Professor Danger. He and tag-team partner Death Falcon Zero formed the Grapes of Wrath in April 2005 and have since worked more than 60 matches in three states for five federations. They will face Mr. Black and the Scufflin' Hillbilly for the AWA-APEX tag-team championship. It promises to be a wild evening of wrestling that brings a whole new art form to Davis Hall. It might even start a trend. Dick Wolfe tells us that he's heard rumblings about a tag team dueling grand piano rodeo smackdown. To contact Rudy Panucci and Melanie Larch, e-mail rudypan@charter.net.