Flowers 5

From John Johnson: While I am always blown away by the response Flowers is getting on GWH, I can honestly say the thing that touches me the ...

From John Johnson:

While I am always blown away by the response Flowers is getting on GWH, I can honestly say the thing that touches me the most is the dialouge my little column has opened up about the subject matter. People are letting their feelings be known about people, and those people are able to enjoy those kind words while they are still here. That was my mission. Sure, I get to express my appreciation about my friends, but to see how much they mean to so many others, well that my friends is what it is all about. Thank you. 

In October 1998, I was booked on a show in Thomaston, Georgia. On this same event there was a special attraction. There was a body slam challenge for anyone in the crowd to slam a 450 pound man named Iceberg Slim. He was an opposing man and one that none of these people were going to be able to slam, let alone even get him off his feet. When the time came, they tried and they tried, but nobody could slam the mighty Iceberg and put him down. It was just the beginning of what would become an amazing career, and keeping the big man down would prove to be a task nobody could accomplish. 

After that night in Thomaston, Iceberg would start to get around some of the various promotions in middle and north Georgia. It was also during this time he would hook up with Murder-1 who would train Iceberg and prepare him for the road ahead. It was crazy because during that time there were quite a few guys training under Murder-1 like Jimmy Rave and Rainman just to name a couple. Watching Iceberg train and seeing some of the things he could do for a man his size was incredible. 

As 1998 came to a close, Iceberg was working for a promotion called IWU. We were working their together and there were big plans for Iceberg. Until one night in Marietta Iceberg suffered a leg injury. The promoter, who I will not put over here, in all of his compassion and kindness had me call Iceberg the Monday after the injury and let him know that we would not be booking him anymore. Honestly, I didn’t want to make the call because I liked Berg. We had just started a friendship and this was not a good way to keep it going. Iceberg being the man he is, understood that I was only being the messenger assured me there was no heat. 

A few months later, I would be gone from the IWU and I would rejoin Iceberg as we were booked on many of the same shows. It was also around this time that Iceberg would hook up with the man who became his mentor, Abdullah the Butcher. This was a match made in heaven or hell one could say. Iceberg and Abby had some brutal blood baths both here and abroad. The meeting happened innocently enough as we were all regulars at Abdullahs House of Ribs and Chinese Food. If you never got to experience this place, you missed out. It was our regular spot every Tuesday and Wednesday when were doing shows in Atlanta. 

Speaking of matches made in hell, I will never forget the time I introduced Iceberg to my first wife. Like an idiot I ran off one day and got married. The weekend after my wedding I was at a show and I was bringing her around to meet my friends. I got to Iceberg who was lacing his boots. I came in and said hey Berg, I want you to meet my wife. He looked up and without missing a beat turns to me and asks “why?” It was a moment that I will never forget. My wife at the time had no clue why he said it, but I did and just kind of laughed it off. He was right though.

Iceberg continued to brutalize opponents through out the southeast. It is no surprise that he ended up in Japan and Puerto Rico. But no matter where he ended up, or how big his legend was growing, he remained humble. He is a very creative guy who loves this business.It wasn’t unusual for him to pitch ideas to guys or help them when they were stuck on ideas. One of my favorite Iceberg moments came on a show that was ran by Hardbody Harrison. 

To add some context to this, Hardbody ran a show on Tuesday nights at a place called Club 20Grand. It was a bar. So, Iceberg and our crew of guys, Sweet Daddy, DL Norris, Loon-A-Tick, Dark Gable, Marty Miller, Joey Buffett, and Mysterious Benefactor always went out there and did a hardcore show. You gotta remember this is around 2000, so that was what everyone wanted. Hardbody told them they had to tone it down, this was a family show. The only reason why Hardbody wanted them to tone it down, was because the matches they were in, were getting over way more than Hardbody’s matches. So the group, known as the DDS (Diabolic Death Squad) decided they were going to tone it down and present a family friendly product. They set up the spot with me in the ring conducting an in-ring interview with the DDS. Everyone came down in suits and ties; even Iceberg. They brought milk and cookies for the audience, who were grateful for the cookies but mlk doesn’t really go with beer or liquor. They got in the ring and I held the microphone as they read Green Eggs and Ham to the crowd. It was one of the few times I saw Iceberg actually break character. 

For the next couple of years Iceberg would run through Georgia leaving a path of blood and destruction in his wake. It was his hardwork that caught the eye of NWA Wildside. There he was paired with one of wrestling’s greatest managers, Jeff G. Bailey. The legacy Iceberg built in Wildside and The Landmark Arena is legendary. Berg and Bailey were a dup that was meant to be. Berg with his imposing glare and cold disposition, while Bailey provided the soundtrack of the homicidal thoughts of the madman monster. It is something that has not been duplicated since. 

Perhaps more intimidating than having to deal with Iceberg one-on-one was having to deal with the tag team of Iceberg and Tank. While both men are imposing on their own, when they formed a tag team, it changed the climate in Georgia. Iceberg and Tank were the policemen of the Wildside lockerroom. Several times it was Tank and Iceberg that were called upon to help adjust the attitudes of people who felt they were too big for their britches. One of those teams was a team from the Ohio area. Necessary Roughness which was Jimmy Turner and a very young Jon Moxley. While I wasn’t there for the offense, I do know that something happened and Tank and Iceberg were asked to handle it. This was 20 years ago and my memory is kind of blurry, but I believe Necessary Roughness never made a Wildside appearance again. 

As Wildside came to an end and Anarchy began its rise, Iceberg would once again become the centerpiece of a trailblazing stable. The Devil’s Rejects were the most hated stable in the history of The Landmark Arena. There have been teams and there have been other stables that came close, but at the end of the day nobody had heat like those guys. One night in particular was when The Devil’s Rejects took on Team Anarchy in War Games at Hostile Environment 2006. Everything was on the line, if the Rejects won, they took over Anarchy. If Team Anarchy won, Jerry Palmer would get 5 minutes with The Reverand Dan Wilson. When Team Anarchy won the match, the crowd exploded. Just as Palmer was going to get his hands on Wilson, Iceberg attacked and the mauling was on. Berg splashed Jerry Palmer several times, an ambulance was called and Palmer was off to the hospital. Even in defeat Iceberg stood strong. Oh, and that ambulance? It was followed by a few dozen Anarchy fans to the hospital to check on their hero. People care that much about their heroes, because the villains make you believe they are unstoppable. 

Iceberg’s career in Anarchy can be summed up into many words, perhaps the most important is unselfish. While Iceberg was always very protective of the mystique of Iceberg, he also had an understanding that there comes a time when that mystique that makes you legendary gives you the midas touch to make those around you legendary too and help them create their mystique. While the legend of Shadow Jackson would begin a couple of years prior as part of The Urban Assault Squad, the mystique of Shadow Jackson would be solidified when he won the Anarchy Heavyweight Championship from Iceberg. Now pulling the curtain back just a little bit, this was a match at Season’s Beatings that involved Iceberg, Mikael Judas, and Shadow. Judas was at this time a one-time Anarchy champion, but had been not so far removed from his tenure in Puerto Rico and was also in TNA during this time. Iceberg had been champion for 274 days. Shadow was immensely popular but in the grand scheme the lower guy on the totem pole. I remember being in the production meeting and Iceberg saying he wanted to be the one to tell Shadow. Backstory, a few months prior, Shadow Jackson’s son Jay was born premature. There was a lot of touch and go moments, but Jay pulled through. The joy on Iceberg’s face when telling Shadow he was going to get the title showed how unselfish and giving Iceberg truly is. 

I am sure I left a lot of moments out, because there are just so many to talk about. His run in TNA. His trips to Japan and Puerto Rico. The blood baths with Abdullah the Butcher all of those pale in comparison to the man himself. Iceberg is devoted to his family. He has fought several health issues over the years that eventually led to him losing his leg. It didn’t break his spirit. He is still the same guy he was 26 years ago, when people were lining up to body slam him. I had the privilege of working with him in several places where we would book together. He has a keen mind for every aspect of this business. He knows when to do the right things. I used to love just sitting in the lockerroom with him and talking about the wrestling we grew up with. Then he would get an idea, not for himself, but for other guys on the show. He had the ability to see things in people before others saw it. Perfect example, WWE commentator Michael Cole. He was telling us back in 1999 that Michael Cole was going to be the main guy one day and he was going to be one hell of a lead commentator. I thought he was nuts. He was right. I saw it with all kinds of guys coming up. Despite his in-ring career being over he is still active in this business as a mentor and trainer. He trained Dominick Stuckey and shares a very special bond with him. Again, I can talk about Iceberg and his wrestling acumen all day long. I could right volumes of books about it, but I want to close this talking about my friend Edwar

d Chastain. Eddie. He is a fun loving hell of a guy. He can make you laugh just by the way he cuts his eyes or a facial reaction. He is opinionated and he will make sure you know his stance. One of the special bonds Berg and I have always had is my oldest son, Caleb. They share a birthday and that was always something special. For many years, I always made sure to have Caleb at a show on or near his birthday so he could share it with Uncle Berg. Seeing Iceberg for the first time in years at the GWH Awards Show was a special moment too. I remember seeing him and just embracing for what felt like hours. Getting a chance to tell old stories while some of our friends and some of the younger guys hung around to hear him speak. The Legend of Iceberg has yet to be fully told, and there is no one better to tell it than the man himself. Through his war stories, the younger generation can learn and ride into their own battles a little wiser. I for one, am glad I had the opportunity to live through it. Whether it be the pre-show dinners at Abby’s or in the corner, or on commentary, I have had the honor of calling some amazing Iceberg moments. Iceberg always leaves me with a smile. Thank you my friend for the years you have unselfishly given to this industry. For the path you’ve carved (and foreheads too). Thank you for helping the next generation and the generation after that. I am glad that while you are here, your influence will also burn bright through the years. I love you bro. I hope you enjoy your Flowers.