Tommy Rich shared one of the most memorable stories in Memphis wrestling history during a recent appearance on the Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw show, recalling the night he hid under the ring for five hours waiting for the right moment to interfere in an Austin Idol vs. Jerry Lawler hair vs. hair cage match.
The angle, which took place in 1987, is widely considered one of the most legendary moments in Memphis wrestling history. Rich emerged from under the ring to interfere on Idol’s behalf, helping him pin Lawler and shave his head.
Returning From Japan With No Idea What Was Coming
Rich said he flew back from a tour of Japan straight into the angle without a full briefing on what was planned.
“I just got back from Japan, and before I left, they got to give me the lead up to what was going to happen. But I didn’t know nothing about camping out under no ring.”
The Setup Was Less Glamorous Than It Sounds
Rich said he arrived at the building around 5:00 PM, before security even arrived.
“I got there about five o’clock. The security hadn’t even got there. They put me on the TV cart, and then throw the canvas over it. I went out, he pushed it right up to the ring, and I scooted up under the ring. They give me a six pack of beer and an air mattress.”
The “air mattress” was less luxurious than it sounded.
“When I say an air mattress, I’m talking about a float that you float the pool with. They didn’t splurge. I had to blow it up myself.”
Five Hours Of Sleep, Beer, And Peeing In A Can
Rich settled in for what would be a long wait, jet-lagged from his Japan trip.
“I drank a beer, go back to sleep. Wake up, pee in the can, go back to sleep. I was under there probably five hours.”
The First Match Bump Nearly Knocked Him Out
Rich said he was passed out hard underneath the ring when the first match began.
“I passed out hard, and all of a sudden, the first match came in the ring. The Memphis ring was real loud. The first match got in, I didn’t even hear the announcement. They took a big bump. I come straight up off that mattress and hit my head on the cross beams underneath, about knocked myself out.”
He briefly forgot where he was.
“I’m like, where in the hell am I at? Finally I realized I was there.”
The Cage Was Twenty Feet High
Rich noted that this was the first time the cage had been set up on the floor instead of around the ring posts.
“That this was the first time ever in Memphis. Usually, you know how the cage used to be around the ring posts. Well, they had put it on the floor, on the floor, 20 foot high.”
The Heat When He Came Out Was Unlike Anything He’d Experienced
“The match goes. I was under there probably five hours. The time got right, and I come out from under the ring, top drove Lawler. Boy, I heard them heels talk about some heat before, and I thought I had heat. But let me tell you, the people, two tried to climb over. They caught the first one. The other one got about to the top. There was about five police around.”
Rich said the heat was so intense that he and Idol couldn’t get out of the ring.
“It took us, we shaved his head, the people was getting madder and madder. They wouldn’t even let us come out of the ring. They had to call for extra police, and they built a line for me and Austin Idol to run under.”
Austin Idol Left Him Behind
“You know, Austin, pretty good doctor. I helped him out one for one. All of a sudden, he hollered, run, and he took off and left me. We standing there in the ring. Then I run, thinking, damn. Anyway, I take off, run, thanks for waiting on Austin. He said, every man for himself.”
