The mention of Lawler and being a amateur magician reminded me that back in the old Mid-South, he used to throw fire-balls at opponents. Some of you old timers might remember that.
Wow, you’re taking me back, man.
I was a professional magician for about 8 years - even worked for a magic supplies dealer back in college.
I used to sell all that stuff:
http://www.theatrefx.com/store/commerce.cgi?product=handheld_devicesSome wrestlers used the guns, while others used flint devices
(even just basic, disposable Bic lighters) to ignite the flash cotton or paper.
Gotta love Jim & Hogan’s Havoc match: when the camera zoomed in on Hogan fumbling, trying desperately to get the flash cotton & lighter out of the Ziploc baggie, dripping sweat & oil all over it…then, the lighter wouldn’t spark…
Finally, he must’ve thought the paper was caught - it wasn’t - and threw at Hellwig…NOTHING!
Then, he somehow
did manage to ignite it, but he didn’t throw it soon enough and the bulk of it went off in his hand, while a little piece made it about half-way to Jim‘s face.
FF to about 3:35
The timing for most of that match was off, but I wondered if that literal “misfire” ruined the finish enough that they had to ad-lib a new one.
At the time, WWF was good at those things with the old man himself often shouting orders to people in the back and through headsets - even to referees who sometimes wear an earpiece - on how to cover.
WCW was clueless.
It showed...
