By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter The latest announcement for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014 is the late, great Paul Bearer. I don't think many people were surprised by this induction, as there was speculation last year that he'd go in, just weeks after his unexpected death. Obviously, he is worthy of this honor, and I'm sad that he will not be there to accept this recognition. My first memories of Paul Bearer are actually of his alter ego, Percy Pringle III. He was a flamboyant manager in World Class Championship Wrestling when I first saw him. He had blond hair, wore horrible suits, and usually carried a cane. More often than not, that cane would be used to run interference in a match and help his guy win. (I know his history is deeper than WCCW, but this is when I first came to know of him.)
Rick Rude & Percy Pringle
Photo courtesy: WWE
Rick Rude was Percy's main man in World Class. He managed the Ravishing One to the WCCW title. I can still remember the anger I felt when he whacked Lance Von Erich with the cane and interfered when Kerry Von Erich was on the verge of winning the belt from Rude. This was the perfect heel-manager combo going. They were the duo I loved to hate.
Undertaker & Paul Bearer
Photo courtesy: WWE
Eventually Percy would trade those brightly colored suit coats and blond hair for jet black locks and a dark suit. He carried an urn and talked with a quiver in his voice. Percy was now Paul Bearer, manager of the Undertaker. These two worked together so well. Bearer's mannerisms and emotions helped convince fans that he and the Undertaker were in fact very real and not some flash in the pan gimmick. Even after he split from 'Taker in 1996, the Bearer character continued on. Just like the Undertaker, Paul Bearer had to evolve as a character. He lost the pale face and dyed black hair and seemed more natural. He was borderline evil when he brought Kane into the WWE. He also managed Mankind and Vader for a time.
Paul Bearer
Photo courtesy: WWE
I don't know for sure, but I think it's safe to say that Paul Bearer may have been the longest serving manager in the WWE. His first stint in the company lasted more than 11 years before the was "killed off." He returned a couple more times, before meeting his demise again and again.
I'm looking forward to learning more about William Moody, the man who played Paul Bearer. I'll be at the Hall of Fame Ceremony in New Orleans. May he rest in peace.
I was saddened this morning to learn that William "Paul Bearer" Moody had passed away. Just the other day I watched a bit of a shoot video with him and Jim Cornette. Just 48 hours ago, fans on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page brought up the idea of Bearer return to Raw with the Undertaker.
I know he'd had some health issues over the years, including morbid obesity and surgery to help correct that problem. He also had gall bladder trouble. Sadly, his body has given out and a legend is gone much too soon.
Rick Rude & Percy Pringle
My first memories of Bearer date back to his days in World Class Championship Wrestling. He was the rich and pompous Percy Pringle or Percival Pringle III. Pringle managed guys like Matt Bourne and Buzz Sawyer, but I think his most notable charge was an up and coming "Ravishing" Rick Rude. Pringle played his role well, interfering in his men's matches and leading them to gold. Rude was the World Class heavyweight champion for quite some time and many of his wins came after Pringle got involved. I still remember when my favorite Kerry Von Erich was wrestling Rude for the title and Pringle whacked Kerry with a cane and allowing Rude to score in my mind the biggest upset of the year.
I was happy to see Pringle make his way to the WWF in 1991. He had a new look and sound, but continued to put his expertise on display. As Paul Bearer he managed the Undertaker for years, taking the Dead Man to new heights as well. When he turned his back on 'Taker at SummerSlam 96 and aligned with Mankind fans were shocked. A year later when he brought "his son" Kane to the WWF, Bearer helped breath new fire in his story against the Undertaker.
Through the years in WWE, Bearer had many men in his stable. I think his pairing with Undertaker is my obvious favorite, but I enjoyed the work he did with Kane too, especially early on. His talk show "The Funeral Parlor" was also memorable with his unique voice and macabre look. While the show wasn't my favorite of all time, it certainly was memorable and found its niche on Superstars. The Ultimate Warrior being locked in the coffin was probably the most infamous angle done on that set.
Kane and Paul Bearer
Photo courtesy: WWE
The last time we saw him on WWE TV I believe was when Randy Orton put him in a freezer last year leading up to Kane's match with Orton at Wrestlemania. I think storyline wise this was the third time the character had been killed off. It almost seemed to be a rib that the mortician kept dying on TV.
I asked our friends on the Facebook page today to share their favorite memories of Paul Bearer. Here's what folks are saying. Thanks for reading, and Rest in Peace Paul Bearer.
Martin EndersbyWhen he introduced Kane to the world. Some classic over the top in-ring interviews with McMahon then. Also when Jake DDT'd him on The Funeral Parlour.
Mike LogsdonMine is more personal. I took my son to SmackDown a couple of years ago in Bloomington, IL on the night he returned to help Undertaker fight then champion Kane. My son was only 8 years old but I am so glad he got to see the return of one of the very best. RIP
Paul Bearer is one of those characters in wrestling you just have to associate with Halloween. I mean, heck his name is synonymous with death. He's an interesting character and he just won't go away. Well, maybe he's gone for good now, but I have a feeling we'll see him again.
Before he was Paul Bearer, I remember William Moody's other alter ego, Perry Pringle, very well. He was the bleach blond, flamboyant manager of "Ravishing" Rick Rude in World Class Championship Wrestling. I know Percy had been around before that, but it was in WCCW that I really remember him. And I despised him. I despised Rude too. Back then, I was all faces all the time, and of course Texas wrestling was known for the Von Erichs, whom I marked out for.
Undertaker & Paul Bearer (from WWE)
Eventually though, Percy would leave Texas and by this point, the USWA and head north to the WWF. It was early 1991, a few months after the Undertaker had made his debut at the Survivor Series the previous November. At that point, he was managed by Brother Love, which really didn't seem like a logical fit. Low and behold, Taker's new manager would be introduced. A rotund figure, with jet black hair and moustache. His face was pale, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He spoke like a ghoul and wore a dark black suit. He was Paul Bearer. And the gimmick was close to his heart, because in real life Moody has a degree in mortuary science.
Warrior & Bearer (WWE)
Obviously the name worked perfectly with the Undertaker. Paul Bearer carried a big golden urn, which seemed to hold all the Undertaker's supernatural powers. The two worked so well together. Paul would help 'Taker after a win and stuff an unconscious opponent into a body bag. Paul even had his own talk show, "The Funeral Parlor." It was the scene of the infamous Ultimate Warrior coffin attack. Taker put the Warrior in a casket during the show, which lead to their feud during the summer of '91.
Eventually Bearer and Undertaker would turn face and feud with the likes of Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Giant Gonzalez, and the Underfaker with Ted DiBiase. Remember that one? Ted DiBiase claimed to have the Undertaker in his Million Dollar Corporation, but it turned out to be an impostor (Brian Lee).
Paul Bearer & Mankind (WWE)
In 1996, Bearer turned on Taker and whacked him with his own urn and helped Mankind win the Boiler Room Brawl at Summer Slam. This started a new era for Bearer as he tried to destroy his former charge. Mankind, the Executioner, and eventually Vader and Kane all tried. And they all failed. Paul's appearance changed in this time period too. His jet black hair became a more natural color, and he shave the moustache. With the Kane angle, we learned that he was the brother of the Undertaker and Paul Bearer was the Big Red Machine's father.
Death becomes him...
I don't recall the exact circumstances, but eventually Paul Bearer and the Undertaker would reunite. But in 2004, Bearer would suffer the first of a couple of on screen deaths. The Dudley Boys put him in a cement crypt at the Great American Bash. But in WWE, anything can happen, and low and behold, Paul Bearer returned to the ring. This time in 2010 to reunite once again with the Undertaker. But it was all a swerve and Bearer turned on 'Taker again, helping Kane win their match at Hell in a Cell.
On Edge (WWE)
Kane and Bearer worked together for a couple of months before his character was killed off again. This time at the hands of Edge. His character may no longer be on camera with the WWE, but Paul is still a part of the company. He has a legends agreement with them, so I think it's just a matter of time before we see him again. Maybe if and when the Undertaker hangs it up for good, we'll see some sort of return. At the very least, I see Paul Bearer returning for an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame at some point. It's an honor I feel he deserves. His success as a manager includes leading Taker to the WWF world title. He also took Kane to the world title, even though it was just a one day reign. Bearer managed Kane and Mankind as tag team champions. And I guess technically he managed Kane during his second world title reign, even though he didn't take him to the title. Not a bad list of accomplishments for this macabre character.
Update: William Moody, the man behind the character of Paul Bearer, died on March 5, 2013. He will be missed.
