Kevin Sullivan at Squared Circle Expo 2021

Squared Circle Expo III happens in a couple days (April 7-8) in Indianapolis, IN. When the Squared Circle Expo debuted in 2021, Kevin Sullivan was among the wrestlers I most wanted to see.

Debuting in 1970, Sullivan carved out an excellent and underrated career in professional Wrestling. While he had some nice runs in the big companies like WWE and WCW, he did not win a major singles title at those places, although he did win a few tag team titles. Elsewhere, he capture plenty of gold.

As great as some of the characters he portrayed, I think Sullivan's greatest strength is his mind. He had a ton of great ideas over the years. His run in Florida was red-hot, creating quite a stir.

I met Sullivan many years ago and a few times since, but I never pass on a chance to see "the Taskmaster." Despite his sometimes Satanic character, Sullivan is actually an extremely well-spoken and friendly guy.

Sullivan will be at SCX III along with plenty of other wrestling legends will be. At last count, there were more than 50 announced wrestling superstars.

For more info, go to SquaredCircleX.com. Also follow here for my recurring coverage. 

Kevin Sullivan and me in Indianapolis, IN-Summer 2021.

Friend Encounters: Kevin Sullivan and Tony Feddeler

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Admittedly, I am biased, but I think Kevin Sullivan is one of the most underrated talents in pro wrestling. As he proved many times, he has a fantastic mind for the business.

Unfortunately, a lot of Sullivan's best work was in Florida, before the internet and cable television, which limited the audience. The most exposure he got was probably during his stints in World Championship Wrestling. I always wanted to see Sullivan or one of his stablemates take down Hulk Hogan, but it wasn't going to happen.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Sullivan a few times, the latest being at the Squared Circle Expo's debut event last May. Also there was my buddy Tony Feddeler, who made a big impression on Sullivan, who loved his tshirt. Sullivan actually asked for a picture with Tony because of that shirt. That interaction was just one of many moments that made the SCE special. 

As happy as I was to see Sullivan again, I was also glad to reconnect with Tony. I hadn't seen him since the pandemic shut down everything. We both missed seeing friends at conventions and it was great to finally be back doing just that. I am excited about the upcoming SCE II, which promises to be bigger and better, if that is even possible.

SCE 2021 runs April 15-16, 2022. For more info, check SquaredCircleX.com.

Tony Feddeler and Kevin Sullivan in Indianapolis, IN-May 2021.

Kevin Sullivan and the Tree of Woe

Maybe because I cheered for the underdog or maybe because he didn't have the flash and appearance of the WWF wrestlers of the day, Kevin Sullivan was one of my favorite wrestlers.  Although he never won a major singles title in the big organizations, Sullivan remained my favorite.
Sullivan is known for having a great wrestling mind, both in and out of the ring.  He knew how to tell a story in the ring and knew how to write one outside of the ring.  He has been credited with great ideas and sometimes blamed for bad decisions.
Sullivan isn't the typical convention guest.  He doesn't seem to like the limelight.  He is quiet and reserved.
I first met him in 2005 at the first Wrestlers Reunion.  He was polite, but not really friendly or talkative.  I was a bit disappointed, because I was hoping to get more from one of my favorites.
I met him again in 2010 at Wizard World and it was a better experience.  We talked a bit about some of his big career moments and I told him that I thought he never got the respect he deserved (which I really believe).
He thanked us for our interest.  Maybe the presence of JayHawk Evans softened him. Maybe he was just happy to talk to fans that weren't just "flavor of the month" guys.  The convention isn't exactly full of old school wrestling fans.
Sullivan is pretty much retired from the wrestling business.  He owns Froggy's Fitness in Tavernier (FL).  I know wrestling continues to change (and not necessarily for the better), but I still think there is a place for Sullivan.

JayHawk Evans, Kevin Sullivan and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2010.