Two weeks after his death, there has still been no mention of Terry Gordy on WWF television, save one apparent brief mention (which I didn't happen to hear myself, but has been reported elsewhere) by Michael Hayes himself on the syndicated Metal/Jakked last week.

Independent promotion Combat Zone Wrestling (with a pre-show ten bell and a few wrestlers wearing black arm bands) didn't forget Gordy during their Sewell, NJ TV taping this past weekend.

Hell, even Rob Black's XPW remembered Gordy this past week. It's more than a little strange how a porn king turned wrestling promoter had more respect for one of the legends of wrestling than the preeminent professional wrestling company in North America, run by third and fourth generation members of a wrestling dynasty who ought to know better.

In other news, it seems that as the saying goes, bad things happen in bunches...

This past Sunday, former NWA promoter Dennis Coraluzzo passed away at age 48 from a brain hemorrhage. He had attended wrestling related events this past weekend, and had complained at Sunday's event of not feeling well.

After the hemorrhage, Coraluzzo slipped into a coma. The family made the decision to disconnect life support after it was determined that brain death had occurred. The death was said by family members not to be related to his recent cardiac bypass surgery.

There's no question that I've been critical in this column and on PWBTS of many things that Dennis Coraluzzo has done in the past. I stand by all that I said about those situations. I don't believe in posthumous canonization.

That having been said, I do want to send my condolences to the Coraluzzo family on his passing.

It also needs to be mentioned that Coraluzzo was one of only two promoters (along with Ian Rotten) who remembered Eddie Gilbert after his death in any meaningful way.

Coraluzzo promoted the Eddie Gilbert Memorial Weekends held in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area from 1996-1999. These events were truly enjoyable for old-school wrestling fans like me, and served to remember a legend like Eddie Gilbert whose own former promotion couldn't be bothered to do it to any significant degree.

The 1998 Gilbert Memorial Banquet featured a surprise honoring of Brian Hildebrand by co-conspirators Coraluzzo and Jim Cornette.

As I've recounted in previous AS I SEE IT columns, Brian had called me days before the Banquet, wondering why Cornette and Coraluzzo were calling him numerous times to make sure he was coming.

Brian said to me "Bob, what in hell is up here?" I replied, not wanting to ruin the surprise, but knowing he'd smell me fudging a mile away... "Well, if you actually got Dennis to return a phone call...if you got Corny calling that many times in a week...I'd bring a suit... and be prepared to say something".

The tribute that Jim Cornette did for him at that Gilbert Banquet was pure Cornette, totally irreverent as usual, but also with great feeling.

Whatever else is said about Dennis Coraluzzo, the fact that he did the Gilbert events for four years; and that he provided Brian Hildebrand (who was always a bigtime mark for Eddie) an opportunity to be honored at an event dedicated to his hero, should be considered...especially in view of Vince McMahon's glaring inability to do so for others who deserved it.

For those who wish to do so, you may pay respects to Coraluzzo this Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the McGuiness Funeral Home, located at 34 Hunter Street in Woodbury, NJ. For directions and info, you may call them at (800) 993-0888. Flowers may be sent to the McGuiness Funeral Home address for the service.

Those who wish to send cards to the family may do so through this address: Coralluzzo Family c/o 14 Margaux Court, Woodbury, NJ 08096-5734.

Church services will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Wenonah, NJ on Saturday morning, starting at 9:00 am. The church is located at 11 Monroe Avenue in Wenonah.

On a more pleasant note, I want to add another reminder about the Brian Pillman Memorial Weekend, organized by Les Thatcher's Heartland Wrestling Association... which will be held next Thursday, August 9th at Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati. The Mark Curtis Wrestling Camp will return for its second year, taking place at the HWA headquarters on Wednesday, August 8th.

The events of August 9th begin with the Independent Showcase, starting at 5:30 PM.

The matches:

Ohio Valley Wrestling's Machine vs. Heartland Wrestling Association's Nigel McGuinness

OVW's Disciples Of Synn (Payne & Damien) vs. OVW's "Ironman" Rob Conway & Ron "H2O" Waterman

East Coast Wrestling Alliance (Delaware)'s J.R. Ryder vs. Stampede Wrestling's "Principal" Richard Pound

All-Pro Wrestling and NOAH/Japan's Donovan Morgan vs. HWA/ Michinoku Pro's Chad Collyer

HWA's Island Boys (O.G. EKMO & Kimo) vs. HWA's Lance Cade & a wrestler to be announced

OVW's Flash vs. OVW's Randy Orton

HWA's A Squad (Chet & Dean Jablonski, with Brock Guffman) vs. OVW's Minnesota Stretching Crew (Brock Lesnar & Shelton Benjamin)

HWA's Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ) vs. HWA's Steve Bradley and OVW's Rico Constantino (with Kenny Bolin)

Then at 7:30....the main card begins...

Hardy Boyz vs. X-Factor

HWA Cruiserweight Title Four Corners Match
Shark Boy vs. Reckless Youth vs. Matt Stryker vs. HWA Champion Pepper Parks (with Brock Guffman)

HWA Heavyweight Championship
OVW's Nick Dinsmore vs. HWA Champion Cody Hawk

National Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Championship
David Flair vs. NWA Heavyweight Champion "King Of Old School" Steve Corino

Pillman '01 Legends Match
Terry Taylor vs. "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton

WWF vs. WCW
Mark Henry vs. Hugh Morrus

Cruiserweight Championship Challenge
WWF Lightweight/WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac vs. Jerry Lynn

Invasion Match
Raven and Justin Credible (ECW) vs. Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko (WWF)

WCW Rivals- 3 Way Dance
Diamond Dallas Page vs. WCW U.S. Champion Kanyon vs. Booker T. (with Special Guest Referee: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat)

Chris Jericho is scheduled to additionally appearing at the Mark Curtis Fantasy Camp.

Tickets are selling well, with the 2600 seat building already having its 800 seat reserved seating section sold out.

Fans who want to order tickets for Pillman and Curtis 2001; can do so at this direct ticket link.

Pillman 2001 weekend information can be found at http://pillmanshow.com.

Until next time...

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(If you have comments or questions, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com)