From Larry Goodman: Paul Adams was one of a kind. He touched the lives of many people in pro wrestling, more than what he probably...
Paul Adams was one of a kind. He touched the lives of many people in pro wrestling, more than what he probably ever knew, Paul was the connection between wrestling people that otherwise would not have been connected.
The outpouring of remembrances about Paul posted online has come from all corners. He was a very funny guy with an acerbic wit, as former PW Insider writer Jess McGrath put it. Adams was also a deeply caring person, which was not necessarily evident on the surface. No doubt a great wrestling mind was lost with his untimely death.
The outpouring of remembrances about Paul posted online has come from all corners. He was a very funny guy with an acerbic wit, as former PW Insider writer Jess McGrath put it. Adams was also a deeply caring person, which was not necessarily evident on the surface. No doubt a great wrestling mind was lost with his untimely death.
Adams was raised in Irvington, NY. He started doing a wrestling newsletter called "The Examiner" before breaking into wrestling with Larry Sharpe and Dennis Corraluzzo in the early 90s. He did a little of everything for the promotion along with appearing on their shows in Clementon, NJ. Adams managed a team called the Super Jocks that feuded with the Spiders, later known as The Headbangers in WWE. Chris Candido, Balls Mahoney and Sandman also worked those shows.
Adams then worked with Mike O'Brien and Mike Henry to start up Northeast Wrestling. Adams thought they could do well running shows in Maine because there was very little pro wrestling there, so they ran a few shows as Maine Event wrestling using Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young before heading to Nashville.
Nashville was supposed to a short-term deal but he ended up staying. He was a manager for Bert Prentice's Music City Wrestling as "Towel Boy" Paul Adams, and lived with Prentice for a time, an experience that proved to be the source of many great stories. The towel on his shoulder became a signature prop that he carried with him for the rest of his career. He was such a gifted talker that he was also featured on commentary.
Although they had vastly different styles as managers, Adams was like Georgia's Jeff G. Bailey in that they had big league ability, but reached their prime at a time when the role of the wrestling managers in pro wrestling was beginning to fade.
Adams was best known for his run with Southern Allstar Wrestling. SAW was a collaboration between promoter Reno Riggins, with Adams handling the booking and Tim Thomason in charge of the television production. Adams was also a key on-air personality as the leader of the top heel group. SAW had television in Nashville for years and ran shows at the Nashville Fairgrounds that drew close to 1000, featuring stars like Chase Stevens, Kid Kash, David Young, Andy Douglas, Derrick King, Vordell Walker, Jeff "The Crippler" Daniels, Rick Santel, Wolfie D and Shane Williams.
Adams and Young were best friends. They had a unique chemistry that led to a numerous comical vignettes that were memorable for their hilarity. They were both willing to look as ridiculous as necessary to make something work.
Adams always had multiple entertaining stories to tell. He particularly loved telling stories about Prentice, who Adams remained in contact with long after his Music City Wrestling days were over.
Adams had an eye for talent and a lot of wrestlers got meaningful opportunities through Adams with SAW. Among the wrestler with Georgia connections that worked for Adams are Nick Iggy (who got his start there), former Georgia Wrestler of the Year Phil Shatter (NXT's Jaxson Ryker), Steven Walters (WWE star Dash Wilder), Eight-time Georgia Technical Wrestler of the Year Kyle Matthews, former Georgia Announcer of the Year Dan Masters and current ACTION ring announcer and SCI promoter Scott Hensley.
Adams was sporadically involved in pro wrestling after SAW. He took a job with the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. One of his responsibilities was running the wrestling events associated with the annual state fair.
In 2013, David Marquez brought Adams on board as the booker and local promoter for Southeastern Championship Wrestling, which was part of Marquez's United Wrestling Network. The concept was a TV studio wrestling program out in Knoxville. It was not a satisfying experience for either Marquez or Adams, and the project came to an end after a couple of tapings.
Adams was sporadically involved in pro wrestling after SAW. He took a job with the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. One of his responsibilities was running the wrestling events associated with the annual state fair.
In 2013, David Marquez brought Adams on board as the booker and local promoter for Southeastern Championship Wrestling, which was part of Marquez's United Wrestling Network. The concept was a TV studio wrestling program out in Knoxville. It was not a satisfying experience for either Marquez or Adams, and the project came to an end after a couple of tapings.
The last time I spoke Adams was September. He seemed content with life. He said he had been contacted by WWE a number of months earlier and just had a meeting in Stamford. It was no secret that Adams had been plagued by substance abuse issue over the years. He was scheduled to have back and neck surgery this month. His mother his having body flown to New York for an autopsy.
