AUDIO: Somebody Call My Momma

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Mother's Day has come and gone. But I didn't want the day to go by without showing some love for all the moms out there, especially those involved in the wacky world of pro wrestling. So this week, I give a shoutout to those ladies. Thanks for all you do! 

Listen here.

Cyndi Lauper's Mother's Day Party

Cyndi Lauper's Mother's Day Party
Courtesy: WWE Network

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've been a bit nostalgic this week with my wrestling blogs. Since Monday I've written about Bobby Heenan & Brother Love, Bruiser Brody, Terry Funk, Kevin Von Erich and the very first Saturday Night's Main Event. I'm keeping the trend alive for today's Mother's Day post. It was that first SNME that aired in May 1985 that featured a segment honoring the moms of some of the WWF Superstars.

Junkyard Dog & his mom
Courtesy: WWE Network

Cyndi Lauper was at the top of the music charts at the time and had become involved in the Rock 'n Wrestling Connection, seconding Wendi Richter in her feud against the Fabulous Moolah. Before the party started, Richter successfully defended the WWF Women's Championship against Moolah and Junkyard Dog beat Pete Doughtery. JYD's mom, Bertha, was ringside for the match. She got in the ring and celebrated after Dog's victory. Hulk Hogan had also dedicated his championship defense to his mother.

Freddie Blassie & his "mom"
Courtesy: WWE Network

Then it was party time. For some reason, Iron Sheik, Nikolai  Volkoff and Freddie Blassie were invited. Blassie's "mom" Laura was a woman young enough to be Blassie's daughter. Hulkster's mom, Ruth was there too. Cyndi's mom, who was in several of the music videos was on hand. Moolah came in and crashed the celebration. Keep in mind there's a large cake in the shot and you know where that's headed. Moolah insulted Cyndi and her mom Catrine. The mother and daughter along with Richter lunged at the former champ knocking her and "Mean" Gene into the cake. 

Moolah and Mean Gene
Courtesy: WWE Network

Segments like these became commonplace on Saturday Night's Main Event. It definitely was a mix of sports and entertainment and as cheesy as it was, I miss those days, a lot. 

Mother's Day: Grin & Bear It

The perfect gift 

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I couldn't have been more than seven or eight, when my dad took us Mother's Day shopping.  I had saved my allowance and wanted to get my mom something really special that year.  After rejecting the usual slippers, perfume, and flowers, I found what I thought was the perfect gift... a pair of earrings.

But these were no ordinary earrings.  They were teddy bears.  And not just teddy bears, but fuzzy teddy bears.  I knew my mom would just love them.  I eagerly waited as she unwrapped the floral paper and opened the small white box containing my gift.

I don't know how she did it, but my mom acted as if it was the greatest gift she'd ever received.  She made a big fuss over them and how much she loved them.  She even took out the earrings she was wearing and put them in as we prepared to go to my grandma's house to celebrate the day.  I felt proud with my decision.

Fast forward more than 10 years to my college days.  Because it was finals week and I was two hours away at school, driving home for the weekend wasn't an option.  So my parents met me at a park halfway for a picnic lunch.  When I pulled up, my mom was sitting at the picnic table with those little brown bears dangling from her ears.  We laughed and recalled the day she got them.  It made me feel good that she kept those gaudy earrings all those years.

Now, more than 20 years after that, only one earring has survived. I took a pic of it for this blog, as mom knew exactly where the remaining one was.  She doesn't know where the other got misplaced, but I'm impressed that she still has one, 30 plus years later.  

While I don't have a cheesy gift for her this year, I hope sharing this story puts a smile on her face and yours.  Happy Mother's Day mom, and to all the other mothers out there.