Georgia Wrestling History: View from Inside the Ring

VIEW FROM INSIDE THE RING

MORE OF CHARLIE SMITH’S URGE TO LAUGH
– Dick Steinborn

December 8, 2008

It’s amazing to know someone who has this uncontrollable urge to burst into laughter in front of thousands of people if something catches their eye. Then, when it happens, what physical move could someone do to fight off the uncontrollable laughter that was about to take over?

In Charlie Smith’s case, he favored the "praying to Allah" position. He didn’t care about facing east while in that prayer mode, which was the custom. Charlie just dropped and shook on his way down. Once again, it happened a few years later in Athens, Georgia.

Ironically enough I was wrestling the same man as in Panama City, Florida: Rocket Monroe.

Rocket loved to hit you with a tackle and have you catch him in a wristlock as he came off the ropes the second time. He’d sort of leap into the air and trusted his opponent to secure, lock, and protect that hammerlock as you guided him down like a glider, with his right arm and right leg extended, as he came in for a belly landing on the canvas.

The noise of the crowd was deafening as Rocket screamed out, “Oh, hell, I think I just crapped my pants.” I heard him and Charlie heard him, but the fans didn’t. So I spoke to Rocket and said, “Let me check.” I then leaned way back placing my nose a few inches above his trunks while my outstretched arms secured that hammerlock. I sat up quickly and said, “No, Rocket, you just let wind.”

Charlie was down on one knee already, and the next thing we heard was the elbows and wrists slap against the canvas as once again, Charlie descended into his favorite position, trying to hide his uncontrollable shaking laughter.

Then another part I took advantage of was when Rocket looked up at Charlie in that awkward position and said in a serious manner, “What the hell is he doing?"

I blurted out, “He’s looking for his contact lenses".

Up came Charlie with those teeth grinding again, swinging his arms like he was a puppet on a string. The laughter had gotten him.

I don’t believe I told many people of Charlie’s uncontrollable fetish in the ring. It only happened one more time a couple of months later on the floor outside the ring at the City Auditorium in Atlanta.