Around the summer of 1984, we took on a young kid from San Francisco. He had been trained by Red Bastien, and was sent to Lia, to begin "paying his dues". He called himself Jimmy Gilbert.

Jimmy arrived with a couple suitcases, a brand new wrestling jacket and boots. Lia put him up with Ritchie Magnett, our Rookie of the Year. Richie and Lars would work with him, in the training gym, every day, preparing for his first pro match in Honolulu.

I remember that night very vividly. We were short a worker, so Jimmy was picked to do two matches, both with Samoans. Well, you know how the Samoan wrestlers felt about new "haoles." To say he was bounced all over that ring would be an understatement.

First person to get him was Robert Toronto. Toronto put him through the paces, giving him a lot of bodyslams and suplexes. Jimmy gave back as good as he got. Finally, Gilbert got the pin, and returned to the locker room.

Next to get him was Super Fly Tui. Jimmy was limping and sore, from the first match, but tried to put up a good front. Tui did a job on him, especially with suplexes. Again, Gilbert tried to give back what he could, but I could tell Tui was a little upset and not letting much happen. The match ended with Jimmy pinning Tui.

The next day, when I got to the office, Jimmy was one bruised kid. It hurt him to move any part of his body. We kidded him and he took it pretty well. Lia talked to him, and told him he did not have to go for so many suplexes. She said to just counter them. I think that helped him some. With continued training, he was able to handle what the other guys put out.

Two things Jimmy did not count on. One was that we did not have enough matches to give him an income. Hawaii was not like the other territories. Our matches were monthly, and at that time, with small crowds. Lia suggested he try to get a job in a supermarket, and get an apartment with me. I discussed this with Jimmy, and he was game. The only problem was he was homesick for his girlfriend, in San Francisco.

After a few months Jimmy told me he was returning to San Francisco. Wrestling was not exactly what he thought it would be. He was afraid Lia and Lars would not let him go, so his mother called, saying his grandmother was sick and Jimmy was needed at home. Jimmy went so far as to leave some of his clothes, at the office, including his wrestling jacket and boots. This was done to make Lia and Lars think he was coming back.

That was the last time I saw him, or heard from him. Over the years, I checked other territories, to see if he was around, with no luck. I had lost his mothers phone number; so calling was out of the question. Jimmy, if you are out there, I wish you the best of luck. I hope you stayed in the business. You had promise.