D. C. Drake

Last updated
D. C. Drake
Birth nameDon Clyde Drake [1] [2]
Born (1957-09-16) September 16, 1957 (age 66)
Phillipsburg, New Jersey, United States [3]
Spouse(s)Lydia [2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) D. C. Drake [1] [2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight256 lb (116 kg) [4]
Trained byTito Torres [5]
Debut1980 [4]
Retired1995 [5]

Don Clyde Drake (born September 16, 1957) is an American addictions counselor, retired professional wrestler and former promoter. He is best known for his appearances on the northeastern independent circuit under the ring name D. C. Drake. [1] [2] [5]

Contents

Early life

The eldest of four children, Drake was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. [5] He attended Phillipsburg High School. [3] While growing up, he competed in amateur wrestling and American Legion Baseball. After his father suffered a severe back injury, Drake began working in a filling station to supplement his family's income. [5]

After graduating from Phillipsburg High School in 1974, Drake attended college. He initially majored in criminal justice before moving to psychology and mental health. [5]

In 1977, Drake began working for the New Jersey Department of Corrections as a corrections officer at the Mountainview Correctional Facility in Annandale, New Jersey. [2] He left the Department of Corrections in 1987 to focus on his wrestling career. [5]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1980–1982)

Drake was a fan of professional wrestling while growing up, running a backyard wrestling promotion during his teenage years. [5] While working as a corrections officer, he trained as a professional wrestler under Tito Torres. [3] He made his debut in 1980, facing The Hangman in Jersey City, New Jersey. [4] He went on to wrestle on the independent circuit in New Jersey and New York.

Continental Wrestling Alliance/National Wrestling Federation (1982–1988)

In 1982, Drake founded the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Continental Wrestling Alliance (CWA). [4] [5] The CWA had a roster of approximately 50 wrestlers and aired shows on cable television. [4] In addition to running the promotion, Drake was the promotion's main babyface. [4] He was managed by Uncle Bob, a local radio personality.

In 1986, Drake sold the CWA to Robert Raskin, who renamed the promotion the National Wrestling Federation. Drake became the promotion's booker and television producer and continued to wrestle, adopting a hardcore wrestling style. [5] He developed the character of D. C. "Mad Dog" Drake, a frenzied wrestler. As part of the character, Drake foamed from the mouth (using Alka-Seltzer to create the effect), darkened his eyes with mascara, and was led to the ring on a chain by his manager Johnny Angel. [3]

On June 7, 1986, Drake won a tournament for the newly created NWF Heavyweight Championship, defeating Rocky Jones in the final. His first reign ended on March 27, 1987 when he lost to Sgt. Slaughter. Drake held the title on two further occasions, feuding with wrestlers such as Jules Strongbow, Larry Winters and Bruiser Brody.

In 1988, Drake left the NWF after sustaining a series of injuries and becoming frustrated with the promotion's management. [5]

ProStar Championship Wrestling (1988–1989)

In 1988, Drake founded another professional wrestling promotion, ProStar Championship Wrestling. The promotion, which staged shows at county fairs, featured multiple NWF wrestlers including Drake, Jules Strongbow, Sgt. Slaughter and Larry Winters. [6] The promotion closed in 1989. [5]

Tri-State Wrestling Alliance/Eastern Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)

In 1990, Drake was contacted by Joel Goodhart to wrestle for his newly formed promotion, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA). The feud between Drake and Larry Winters was reignited in TWA, with the two facing one another in a series of stipulation matches including dog collar matches and stretcher matches. In one bout in the McGonigle Hall, Drake was thrown from the second floor balcony to the floor below.

On September 15, 1990, Drake won the vacant TWA Heavyweight Championship in a bout with Rockin' Rebel at the "Autumn Armageddon" supercard, breaking his ankle during the match. [5] He lost the title to J.T. Smith on August 3, 1991.

In 1992, Goodhart sold his stake in TWA to Tod Gordon, who renamed the promotion Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW). Drake wrestled on the first two ECW cards before retiring due to injuries.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995)

Drake made a one-off return to Eastern Championship Wrestling - since renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling - on February 25, 1995 at the Return of the Funker supercard. Drake was introduced as a mystery opponent for Cactus Jack by Woman as a continuation of Cactus Jack's feud with Woman and The Sandman. After Cactus Jack defeated Drake, The Sandman, Drake and Terry Funk attacked Cactus Jack until being driven off by Tommy Dreamer and Shane Douglas. [7] After the match, ECW promoter Paul Heyman invited Drake to return for a series of matches with Dreamer but he declined and returned to retirement. [5]

Retirement (1995–present)

In 1996, Drake began training for a return to professional wrestling. After an intensive session at the gym, Drake suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with diffuse coronary artery disease, causing him to abort his comeback plans. [5]

Drake made a one-night return to the ring with Top Rope Promotions on May 26, 2005, teaming with Spike Dudley in a loss to Chris Venom and Mike Bennett. He made a second return to the ring on August 27, 2005 at WrestleReunion, teaming with Amy Love and Gary Royal in a loss to George South, Jr, The Patriot and Wendi Richter.

Addictions counseling career

Drake studied for a master's degree in psychological counseling and was certified as an addictions counselor. He went on to run the Living and Recovering Community (LARC) program, a not-for-profit substance abuse treatment program for individuals with HIV at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. [1] [2]

Personal life

Drake's first wife, with whom he had several children, contracted HIV from a blood transfusion. The couple divorced after Drake's wife developed AIDS and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, causing behavioral changes. She later died from AIDS. Drake and his children did not contract HIV. [2] Drake later remarried to Lydia. [2] [3]

Drake suffers from cardiovascular disease as a result of genetic disorders and anabolic steroid use, taking both metandienone and testosterone during his career. He has suffered a number of heart attacks since the age of 38 and has undergone coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions. [2] [3]

In the 1980s, Drake launched an anti-drug program aimed at schoolchildren called "Beyond No".

In December 2012, Drake was incorrectly reported as having died. [1] [3]

Championships and accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raven (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

Scott Levy is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Raven. He is known for his appearances with professional wrestling promotions including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Widely recognized as "one of the best talkers in wrestling", Raven is known for his "psychological heel tactics" and grunge-inspired gimmick. His feud with The Sandman in the mid-1990s has been described as "one of the most emotional rivalries in professional wrestling's history".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Muraco</span> American professional wrestler

Don Muraco is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1981 to 1988, where he held the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship on two occasions and was crowned the inaugural winner of the King of the Ring tournament in 1985. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.

John Weiss is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Johnny Hotbody. He is best known for his appearances in Eastern Championship Wrestling, he won the ECW Championship, ECW Tag Team Championship, and ECW Television Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler and booker

Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American retired professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in World Championship Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Durante</span> American professional wrestler

Anthony Durante was an American professional wrestler best known under the ring name "Pitbull #2" as one half of the tag team The Pitbulls, with "Pitbull #1" Gary Wolfe. The team is best known for their time in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where the team was the promotion's World Tag Team Championship once. Apart from tag team competition, Durante also achieved success briefly as a singles competitor, challenging for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on a few occasions while holding the ECW World Television Championship once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sandman (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

James Fullington, better known by his ring name The Sandman, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he developed into a smoking and drinking "Hardcore Icon" and held the ECW World Heavyweight Championship a record five times. He also had stints in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikey Whipwreck</span> American professional wrestler and trainer

John Michael Watson, better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler working for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a trainer, and global ambassador. He is best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he was an ECW Triple Crown Champion. Whipwreck is a former world champion, winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once. He also became a two-time World Television Champion and a three-time World Tag Team Champion in ECW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balls Mahoney</span> American professional wrestler (1972–2016)

Jonathan Rechner, better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney, was an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during the late 1990s and early 2000s, where he was a three-time ECW Tag Team Champion, as well as working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Corino</span> Canadian professional wrestler

Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler currently signed with WWE as a trainer and producer for their developmental territory NXT. He is best known for his tenure with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1998 to 2001 and Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2002 to 2006 and 2009–2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Valiant</span> American professional wrestler

James Harold Fanning is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jimmy Valiant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocco Rock</span> American professional wrestler (1953–2002)

Theodore James Petty was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name "Flyboy" Rocco Rock. Rock is best known for his appearances in Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) alongside Johnny Grunge as the Public Enemy during the 1990s. He was a four-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, a one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Knight (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler and manager

Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.

Curtis Thompson is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling from 1991 to 1992 under the ring name Firebreaker Chip.

Anthony Matteo is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Hitman" Tony Stetson. He is best known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Wrestling Federation</span>

The original National Wrestling Federation (NWF) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martinez. It ran from 1970 to 1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin. The revived promotion closed in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockin' Rebel</span> American professional wrestler (1966 – 2018)

Charles Williams was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He was best known for his appearances on the U.S. independent circuit with promotions such as Eastern Championship Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling, Atomic Championship Wrestling, Classic Championship Wrestling, 1CW (Delaware) and Valour Pro Wrestling.

Glen Osbourne is an American retired professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Eastern Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, where he was the second ever, and the overall second youngest holder of the ECW Television Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Return of the Funker</span> 1995 Extreme Championship Wrestling supercard event

Return of the Funker was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on February 25, 1995 from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The commentator for the event was Joey Styles. Several of the bouts were broadcast on the February 28, March 7 and March 14 episodes of ECW Hardcore TV. The tag team match pitting Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko against Sabu and The Tazmaniac was featured on the 2001 Pioneer Entertainment compilation DVD Hardcore History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Winters</span> American professional wrestler and trainer

Larry Winters was an American professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the 1980s and 90s. He has wrestled in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, National Wrestling Federation, Pro Wrestling USA and the World Wrestling Council. It was reported on several wrestling websites that Winters died due to a heart attack January 27, 2015.

Michael Alegado, better known by his ring name King Kaluha, is an American professional wrestler and trainer. He is best known for his time in D. C. Drake's Continental Wrestling Alliance, the International Championship Wrestling and National Wrestling Federation during the 1980s. He also made brief appearances in the American Wrestling Association and Jim Crockett Promotions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Oliver, Greg (December 5, 2012). "D.C. Drake: 'I'm alive and well!'". Canoe.ca . Quebecor Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Decker, Shawn (December 20, 2012). "Don Drake wrestles death rumors, HIV and HCV". POZ.com . Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 O'Donnell, Chuck (July 14, 2014). "Phillipsburg native Don Drake leaves ring to help those wrestling with addiction". The Express-Times . Advance Publications . Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kita, Joe (April 26, 1984). "In the wild world of pro wrestling, it's white horses and black hats". The Morning Call . Tribune Media . Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Staniforth, Peter. "KM Interviews...D.C. Drake". KayfabeMemories.com. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  6. ↑ Kraus, Walter (August 29, 1989). "West End Fair Opens For 68th Year". The Morning Call . Tribune Publishing . Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ Mick Foley; Mankind; WWF (3 October 2000). Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. ISBN   978-0-06-103101-4.
  8. 1 2 3 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN   0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – 1991". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.