How 'Quake wanted us to remember him.

[BrianTKessler]

I'd like to be remembered as a pretty good heel, that played my role well, and put all I had into the role even if it sucked. Those of you that have gotten to know me a bit more than the average fan through my postings, here, hopefully will feel although I'm faced with a big crisis, that I've been brave, and inspirational to some, and hopefully appreciate my warped sense of humor from time to time. Although my illness is serious, I still love a good laugh, which bless you all, keep me laughing. I want to be remembered by you 'Crappers as a friend.
'Quake

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tenta&thread=1114883754&page=13

[theedge]

The few conversations I had with Quake proved that he was someone I could consider a friend. I just truly hope he knew how many people looked up to him. Having never physically met him means nothing once you got to know him and I'm grateful he let us do just that. And for that reason, a lot of us have truly lost a good friend.

Thanks for digging this up Brian. I began to look through a couple of Quake's final posts yesterday, but as my heart still feels heavy, I'll save it for another time.

[mkohn]

I don't know if I want to remember him as a monster heel. I prefer to remember him as a face when he and Typhoon won the World Tag Team titles. John was the ONLY pro wrestler to ever call me and email me and im me about the Xangosteen juice. I found him to be personable and he didn't mind chatting off the topic of the juice and on other topics. It's a sad day in wrestling history, in Wrestlecrap history and in history in general. I am going to miss John, probably not as much as his family and immediate friends but I will still miss him. Wrestlecrap won't be the same without him. At least he's reuinited with Dino Bravo and Owen Hart among others.

Please keep his forum up so we can continue sharing our memories of his great man.

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

I went into work obviously depressed yesterday, and one of my friends there asked me what was wrong. I wasn't sure what to say, so, I told her "A really good man died yesterday" "Was he a friend of yours?" she asked. I thought for a second and replied "Yeah. I'd like to think so." She is the biggest non-wrestling fan in the world, doesn't know a bit about it, so I didn't get into details with her, but....I really do feel like I've lost a friend. Corny or not.

[fuzzywarble, squat cobbler]

I was just reading over some e-mails that John had sent me during several of our online exchanges. Truly heartbreaking.

[Matt Rogers]

briantkessler said:

Those of you that have gotten to know me a bit more than the average fan through my postings, here, hopefully will feel although I'm faced with a big crisis, that I've been brave, and inspirational to some, and hopefully appreciate my warped sense of humor from time to time. Although my illness is serious, I still love a good laugh, which bless you all, keep me laughing. I want to be remembered by you 'Crappers as a friend.
'Quake

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tenta&thread=1114883754&page=13

I know that's how I'll remember the guy. Even though I never got to speak to him much, I feel like he was a friend to everyone on here.

[Deus Ex Machina]

mattrogers said:

briantkessler said:

Those of you that have gotten to know me a bit more than the average fan through my postings, here, hopefully will feel although I'm faced with a big crisis, that I've been brave, and inspirational to some, and hopefully appreciate my warped sense of humor from time to time. Although my illness is serious, I still love a good laugh, which bless you all, keep me laughing. I want to be remembered by you 'Crappers as a friend.
'Quake

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tenta&thread=1114883754&page=13

I know that's how I'll remember the guy. Even though I never got to speak to him much, I feel like he was a friend to everyone on here.

He was, Matt. He was. The greatest friend we ever had.

[arriba]

godz said:

I went into work obviously depressed yesterday, and one of my friends there asked me what was wrong. I wasn't sure what to say, so, I told her "A really good man died yesterday" "Was he a friend of yours?" she asked. I thought for a second and replied "Yeah. I'd like to think so." She is the biggest non-wrestling fan in the world, doesn't know a bit about it, so I didn't get into details with her, but....I really do feel like I've lost a friend. Corny or not.

John was a friend to every one of us on here, its not corny at all man

[Tyfo]

I'll remember him as a friend no doubt. I never met him in person, but Ive learned that you dont have to physically meet someone to consider them a friend. On top of that he was a hero and someone who provided so much entertainment over the years. He will always be remembered.

[kunswwfmark]

I sent a few PMs to John here and there, but I always felt I'd be "bothering" him if I sent more. Had I actually sent a few more and gotten to know him a little better, I would have realized that John never did get "bothered" and took the PMs and conversations as a sign of respect. John truely was inspiring, and is an inspiration in the way he lived with such a terrible illness.

[BrianTKessler]

I always felt a small twinge of guilt messaging, or posting to him. He had far fewer minutes left than me, and I felt like a minute spent on me was a minute stolen from his family. Still, I wish I had been able to get to know him well enough to consider him a friend. He was truly gracious in his PM's to me. He was very polite and humble... the fact that he'd write that he was "a pretty good heel" is such an understatement. At one point, he was the most over heel on the entire face of the planet.

The post that started this thread was Mr. Tenta's response to a question I asked him, which was, in essense, "how do you want us to remember you after you die?". I'm grateful that he granted me both the access to ask that question, as well as the priviledge of having it answered.

Judging from his post, it's safe to say that we gave him a little light during some troubled times. I take comfort in the fact that he appreciated people like you and me, and I hope you all do as well.

[Erik Majorwitz]

kunswwfmark said:

I sent a few PMs to John here and there, but I always felt I'd be "bothering" him if I sent more. Had I actually sent a few more and gotten to know him a little better, I would have realized that John never did get "bothered" and took the PMs and conversations as a sign of respect. John truely was inspiring, and is an inspiration in the way he lived with such a terrible illness.

Awesome sig.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

[mrobert21]

briantkessler said:

I always felt a small twinge of guilt messaging, or posting to him. He had far fewer minutes left than me, and I felt like a minute spent on me was a minute stolen from his family. Still, I wish I had been able to get to know him well enough to consider him a friend. He was truly gracious in his PM's to me. He was very polite and humble... the fact that he'd write that he was "a pretty good heel" is such an understatement. At one point, he was the most over heel on the entire face of the planet.

The post that started this thread was Mr. Tenta's response to a question I asked him, which was, in essense, "how do you want us to remember you after you die?". I'm grateful that he granted me both the access to ask that question, as well as the priviledge of having it answered.

Judging from his post, it's safe to say that we gave him a little light during some troubled times. I take comfort in the fact that he appreciated people like you and me, and I hope you all do as well.

I do not think there is anything for you to feel guilty about. From what I read on the board it sounded like John Tenta had a chance to spend a lot of time with his family at the end of his life. From this post that Mister Tenta wrote it sounds like he had a wonderful chance to be introspective and think about his legacy. These are things many people never have a chance to do, so while his disease was agonizing and terrible, he at least had the opportunity to do these things and tell us about them.

I already said in my farewell message to the Earthquake how I will remember him and I stand by it. I will always remember John Tenta as the 1 person in professional wrestling who had the ability to laugh about the profession he chose and his position in that profession. As much as we all love wrestling and respect what wrestlers do, it boils down to being a bunch of large men in ridiculous costumes who pretend to fight each other and in many cases it gets more wrestle crappy than that. Unlike some wrestlers who bitch a decade later about a single job they had to do, who lie about their accomplishments despite bring wrestling icons, and who become moody and abusive whenever the fans do not react how they are supposed to, John Tenta was able to put his career and the business in its proper perspective with his selfless sense of humor.

When I get too mad and serious about the crap going on in wrestling, I will remember Tenta's legacy he left me and find the humor in it. Thanks to John Tenta, there will be less stress in watching wrestling for me and many other fans when things go wrong as they usually do.

[flairfan75]

I'm gonna steal part of this for my signature. I think it is definitely appropriate.

[Allison Reynolds]

It was great knowing that we had a true bonafied celebrity here on the forums. An actual WWF Superstar Legend.

I found great respect for Quake when he took his time to post/intereact with fans. I found even more respect for his politeness and great positive attitude here on the board.

To 'Quake: I'd like to say thank you for venturing to the off topic section and posting in a thread I created in appreciation of the Moderators. It was an honor to have you post there, and for me to share a forum with a legend such as yourself.

What a great guy.. even though we hardly knew each other on these forums, I will certainly remember you as a friend.

Once again. Have fun in the afterlife. You made the Earthquake, now make the Heavens Quake with your greatness.

[Fireravenv]

I just wanted to take a few moments to say goodbye to Mr. Tenta. I didnt think I needed to make my own thread for it. I do have a few observations and a few words of tribute to him though. If no one minds indulging me for a moment.

We live in a time were so many children live in broken homes. Not because of illness but because of fear. Mr. Tenta fought with all he had for his family. From what I have seen and heard he loved his family more than anything and that makes him a true hero in my book. I hope the WC community gave him some well earned smiles and laughs. He had the sense of humor and the patience to put up with us here. God bless you and your family wherever you are Sir, and thank you for the years of entertainment, and more recently, thank you for the humanity of spending time on the board with us.

GD
Frederick, MD.

[irs]

i will truly miss john and his messages... i grew up watching him. i feel like i knew him... i was truly amazed at how positive and brave he was since I started coming here.

rest in peace, big guy. i think im gonna watch the 1991 Royal Rumble when i go to sleep tonight.

[tardis99]

I've got to say guys, I don't actually feel sad anymore. I feel happy. Happy that I had the chance to speak to the guy. Happy that he kept on laughing until the end. Just happy that he enriched our lives and that hopefully we enriched his in some way.

I certainly dont remember him as someone morbid and sad, because he wasnt. I'll remember him as a happy, jovial person so I kinda feel it appropriate to feel that way now when remembering his life.

[Big Daddy Bad Booking]

I haven't really of John Tenta much. I read the foreward to the "Wrestlecrap" book, listened to the show with the interview by RD himself, and watched a few of his matches. I think he would want to be remembered as what we want him to be remembered for. For some of you, it would be a good friend, for some it would be he was one of the best monster heels ever as Earthquake. Some of you may just remember for who he truly is: a damn good man with a heart bigger than his body. In his interview with RD, I saw that he was a very blessed and humble human being who graced everything God gave him. He had a wonderful family with really smart kids, had a wrestling career in which he will always be remembered for, and also loved the support we as a community at the Forums gave him while he was battling with the cancers and infections he was dealing with. I wished he lived longer so I could have known him better, but I know in my heart that here is a man who left this world with grace and dignity, and will always be right here, right at the 'Crap.