I first met Eugene in 1997. Not the wrestling character but his namesake and to me, as much a part of my Mellon Arena experience as the smell, prank phone and Mick Foley.
His father brought Eugene to the matches for years. I don’t know how or when but Eugene and his dad would always stop by and visit backstage during the afternoon before the show that night. It’s rumored that Davey Boy Smith once gave Eugene a Soma. It’s rumored that Eugene had a sexual attraction to the Fabulous Moolah. These are allegations and I refuse to either confirm or deny.
But as strange as that sounds, I think both Eugene and his dad liked it. Dad did whatever he could to take care of his son and the smile that Eugene wore was contagious and constant.
*****
Mick Foley is a hardcore legend who is synonymous with Mario Lemieux in creating lasting memories on the floor of the Mellon Arena. June 28, 1998, we huddled around the monitor in the TV locker room. Steve Austin paced nervously. Not because he was on next, with Kane in the main event but because Austin knew what Mick was going to do.
No prank calls this night. No playing around with Eugene. Terry Funk’s words swirled around my mind, the West Texas lilt in his voice floated in the upper portion of my ears.
As Mick flew from the top of the cell and nearly killed himself, we all gasped. Steve Austin ran to the Gorilla position, concerned for Mick, hoping to hear that he was ok. Terry Funk and the medical staff went down to ringside but somehow Mick got up. And finished the match…
As we know from history, the worst fall was yet to come, when Mick broke through the top of the cell, landing flat in the ring with a steel chair following down, breaking teeth and knocking Mick out. Terry was right… Mick became the biggest hardcore legend that night in Pittsburgh at the Mellon Arena.
*****
When the Mellon Arena is no more, the memories of WWE events will last in the minds of us who were there to live them. While the new building will smell better, have better locker rooms and more luxury boxes, it will be hard to replace the feel of the old building. New memories will be made and new fans will enjoy the shows, but I hope they all hear some of the stories that we have about the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
