Funeral For The Fabulous Moolah

[Fortunato]

I just returned from The Fabulous Moolah's funeral in Columbia, SC and it was a pretty interesting affair. Of course, Mae Young was there and Moolah's "damn midget" Katie, aka Diamond Lil, but also in attendance were Ric Flair with some interesting blonde arm candy in tow, and Shane and Stephanie represented the WWE and the McMahon Family.

The camera really does add 10 pounds, because both Shane and Stephanie looked great. Shane looked more grey than when he last appeared on TV, but he looked remarkably fit and seems taller in life than on TV. He gave an interview to the newspaper reporter about 3 ft from me, and was gracious to her, but snapped at the other newspaper reporter when he came up to grab a few pictures for the local paper's online content.

Stephanie delivered the eulogy, and she was quite eloquent and emotional. She began by reading a poem given to her by Moolah's daughter, entitled, "I'm Free." Stephanie lauded Moolah's toughness, strength and determination. By far, it was the best promo I've ever heard from her. Shane and Steph truly do have a regal bearing about them. It's not necessarily haughty, but it is very confident and strong.

Ric Flair didn't say anything during the service, but it was obvious that all eyes were on him when he came in the funeral home. Even when he's not in character, the man still struts.

Also of note, was the fact that Chris Kanyon was there. I wasn't able to attend the burial, but based on where he was seated, and his interaction with the other guests, I believe he may have been one of the pallbearers.

[Bishblast]

I would have gone out there today, but I had no way of making it

Met Moolah a few years back at the Nickelodeon for the debut of "Lipstick and Dinomite." Nice, nice lady.

Also, my mom and her boy friend ran into Ric Flair at church a few months back, and he was strutting away, acting like he owned the place...

[DeuceDominoMark]

Dammit, a beautiful post about the funeral and the strongest feeling running through me is even more contempt for Flair's stupid ass...

[Matt Rogers]

Shame Vince wasn't there, I think. Good to hear his kids represented the family well though.

[Loki]

So, Steph didn't catch fire while stepping into a church?

Seriously, the McMahons looked like very dedicated and nice people once again. And Flair like an asshole. Nothing new there...

[mothership]

This is just ridiculous. So Flair carries himself with confidence? It's not like he made an entrance with the flowing robe, spun around, let out a woooh and strutted down the aisle before taking his seat. And the arm candy was probably his latest wife (if that relationship held up, I don't really follow these things that closely). The man was there to pay his respects, it's not his fault if he attracts attention...he's only been a legend in those parts now for the better part of 3 decades. You're taking one man's perception of an event and taking it somewhere it really doesn't need to go.

Also...I don't think Steph was cutting a promo there. More like giving a heartfelt, prepared tribute to memorialize someone she actually knew and cared about. The promo line had me torn between uninspired laughter and shaking my head.

[Mozenrath]

Flair strutting sounds more senile than cocky. Maybe it's his hips.

[thesam07]

mothership said:

This is just ridiculous. So Flair carries himself with confidence? It's not like he made an entrance with the flowing robe, spun around, let out a woooh and strutted down the aisle before taking his seat.

Of course he wore the robe. Just look at this actual footage of Flair driving to the funeral, courtesy of Edge.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GezoiplUMf0

[dranny]

Edge = Rule

[Fortunato]

Actually, I didn't use the best description for Flair. He was indeed respectful and didn't do anything to call attention to himself, but even Ric Flair dialed down to zero is a lot more charismatic than the average person. By the very fact that he is "Ric Flair," necks craned to look at the guy as he walked by. Also, I have to reiterate, "The Strut" seems to be an exaggerated version of his natural gait. His walk is like a muted, gliding version of "The Strut." He's of average height, but he's a solid, blocky guy, and I was impressed with how graceful he is despite his size, age and the obvious wrestling mileage.

The "promo" comment was a bit snarky on my part, too. Stephanie's eulogy was passionate and from the heart. She didn't read from any notes, except for the poem at the beginning. It was obvious that she had the greatest respect for Moolah's accomplishments and character. Stephanie related the story about how Moolah got married at the age of 14, just so she could get out of house from her 12 older brothers. She then said as much as she loved Shane she couldn't imagine living in a home with 12 of him, so Moolah obviously had to be tough to survive in that home environment. Stephanie also looks MUCH better in person than on TV. Her hair was long and straight and she wore minimal make-up, with a form fitting, low cut, but nonetheless tasteful black dress.

[macdaddysquid]

I liked how you called her speech a "promo". I can just imagione the whitty content that would have been written by the E writers.