When I was a kid (11 yr old) my parents divorced and I moved with my mom to central Florida. CWF was every Saturday evening. I remember the slow week to week heel turn of Kevin Sullivan. I couldn’t wait till the next Sat to see the carnage Sullivan would deal out. Kevin and Lewin together was great. What a career! Kevin succeeded in a sport full of giants. He was undersized but you never noticed. I miss the days when wrestling territories ruled. I’m glad Kevin didn’t go to WWF/WWE. Hail the Taskmaster !
Mark Lewin and King Curtis had a classic match against each other in Sydney Stadium which ended up in the street outside the stadium. Curtis body slammed Mark on to a parked car on the street. Jim Barnett had to pay for the damage. These guys were incredible.
Great Words from Kevin of a great man Curtis Iaukea, he was right about the Iaukea family and the Hawaiian Kingdom Government before the United States illegal overthrow in 1893.. Yes Curtis was given Hawaiian Homestead land because was nearly 100 percent Hawaiian blood. which is rare now.
Next time you talk to Kevin, ask him how Mark Lewin's doing. He should be 86 at this point. Last word has it that Mark's still in incredible shape. I trained alongside Kevin and Mark back in the 1980s at Athletes Fitness Center in Tampa, owned by Mr. Florida and Mr. America class winner Rick Poston. I was just getting started in competitive powerlifting. Mark was a BEAST back then. Both he and Kevin were very nice guys, despite their heel personas. Kevin used to bum snuff off of me after workouts. The two of them were, in my opinion, the best heels EVER in the history of Championship Wrestling of Florida.
Cheers James! So glad my question about Undertaker/purple haze got asked to Kevin Sullivan. I first read about it in a copy of Power Slam magazine. Editor Fin Martin remarked how convincing Mark Lewin was in that gimmick and how it was something Undertaker was influenced by.
King Curtis was a helluva worker, he could bump and sell with the best of the em. One of the greatest talkers ever. Brody learned how to blade and when and when not to get color. King was a true legend!!
I love Kevin Sullivan. He learned how to take a bump from The Original Sheik (of Araby) and went on to mix it up with the biggest names of the past 50 yrs. From legends at the end of their career to ones just beginning he's seen it all and I feel cheated because of all that time he worked Fla, those shows never aired in Ct but I would read about him in Fla in the '80s in PWI + The Wrestler and he'd do a short run with the Crocketts, so we'd get that on TBS at 6:05 but it was short. Watching him now he looks amazing and his attitude is that of a guy who you'd love to have a beer with. The polar opposite of someone like Manny Fernandez. Man that cat is BIT-TER! He blames everyone else, like Flair - who he hates, for the fact that he was BORING and even doing his spiel he looked Pissed Off all of the time. Never seemed to enjoy himself - miserable. It's not RACISM Manny unless Tito Santana and Eddie Guerrero are really 2 White Boys who were "Culturally Appropriating".
In case anyone is interested, here is a link to a scene of King Curtis' appearance in the Three Stooges movie mentioned in this interview- czcams.com/video/qI0TLILWa_o/video.html
Kevin Sullivan is the Man!!!! I remember his time in WWWF In 1976-77 and then going Heel in Atlanta but as The Devil worshiper in Florida was insane. Kevin;s Hometown is Really not Far from where he Lives. And most of all He's A Red Sox Fan
The Undertaker has drawn a lot of money, but, for those 30 years he wasn't the main draw and sometimes didn't draw at all because hd didn't wrestle. I a willing to bet Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Hulk Hogan drew more as the TOP person on the card (or even Semi-main event) than Undertaker of the 30 years that Kevin mentions here.
Kevin Sullivan and the Purple Haze freaked me out as a kid. Thank you for the memories.
I could listen to Kevin Sullivan all day long. I personally love his stories.
Great interview. Thanks Nick. I really do hope that you catch up with Marc Lewin someday soon for an interview.
I took the cookie too! Saw Diamond head 3 times in the same day!
Amen and thank you for the memories and you have always been admired by me
When I was a kid (11 yr old) my parents divorced and I moved with my mom to central Florida. CWF was every Saturday evening. I remember the slow week to week heel turn of Kevin Sullivan. I couldn’t wait till the next Sat to see the carnage Sullivan would deal out. Kevin and Lewin together was great. What a career! Kevin succeeded in a sport full of giants. He was undersized but you never noticed. I miss the days when wrestling territories ruled. I’m glad Kevin didn’t go to WWF/WWE. Hail the Taskmaster !
As a young CWF fan growing up in the 80's, Purple Haze Mark Lewin and Abdullah the Butcher were the two wrestlers that legitimately scared me.
Mark Lewin and King Curtis had a classic match against each other in Sydney Stadium which ended up in the street outside the stadium. Curtis body slammed Mark on to a parked car on the street. Jim Barnett had to pay for the damage. These guys were incredible.
Similar thing happened outside Festival Hall Melbourne involved cars.l think it might of been Lewin and Killer Karl Kox...l just can't remember now.
Great Words from Kevin of a great man Curtis Iaukea, he was right about the Iaukea family and the Hawaiian Kingdom Government before the United States illegal overthrow in 1893.. Yes Curtis was given Hawaiian Homestead land because was nearly 100 percent Hawaiian blood. which is rare now.
King Curtis was simply awesome!!
Next time you talk to Kevin, ask him how Mark Lewin's doing. He should be 86 at this point. Last word has it that Mark's still in incredible shape. I trained alongside Kevin and Mark back in the 1980s at Athletes Fitness Center in Tampa, owned by Mr. Florida and Mr. America class winner Rick Poston. I was just getting started in competitive powerlifting. Mark was a BEAST back then. Both he and Kevin were very nice guys, despite their heel personas. Kevin used to bum snuff off of me after workouts. The two of them were, in my opinion, the best heels EVER in the history of Championship Wrestling of Florida.
Ask Kevin how he’s doing himself.Poor fella had a bad scare recently.
I loved watching the purple haze and Kevin Sullivan in Florida,thank you for the memories.
Cheers James! So glad my question about Undertaker/purple haze got asked to Kevin Sullivan. I first read about it in a copy of Power Slam magazine. Editor Fin Martin remarked how convincing Mark Lewin was in that gimmick and how it was something Undertaker was influenced by.
King Curtis was a helluva worker, he could bump and sell with the best of the em. One of the greatest talkers ever. Brody learned how to blade and when and when not to get color. King was a true legend!!
I very much enjoy your podcast. I miss the magnificent one.
I love Kevin Sullivan. He learned how to take a bump from The Original Sheik (of Araby) and went on to mix it up with the biggest names of the past 50 yrs. From legends at the end of their career to ones just beginning he's seen it all and I feel cheated because of all that time he worked Fla, those shows never aired in Ct but I would read about him in Fla in the '80s in PWI + The Wrestler and he'd do a short run with the Crocketts, so we'd get that on TBS at 6:05 but it was short. Watching him now he looks amazing and his attitude is that of a guy who you'd love to have a beer with. The polar opposite of someone like Manny Fernandez. Man that cat is BIT-TER! He blames everyone else, like Flair - who he hates, for the fact that he was BORING and even doing his spiel he looked Pissed Off all of the time. Never seemed to enjoy himself - miserable. It's not RACISM Manny unless Tito Santana and Eddie Guerrero are really 2 White Boys who were "Culturally Appropriating".
RIP 🙏 KEVIN SULLIVAN...😢
Tell Iaukea i hate his furniture.
King Curtis was an insane promo. very loud. I remember him in the WWF with Kamala and Afa in 1986.
correction: it was Sika, not Afa
The Wizard!
I would like to hear a shoot interview with Mark Lewin but I can't find anything out there...
King Curtis Cosmic Cookie !!
I heard Mark Lewin was still weightlifting into his 80s.
I saw a interview with him a couple of years ago he looked older but good.
@@tomr3422 Do you know where I can find this interview? The most recent one I saw was the Highspots shoot from 2009.
In case anyone is interested, here is a link to a scene of King Curtis' appearance in the Three Stooges movie mentioned in this interview- czcams.com/video/qI0TLILWa_o/video.html
This is a mates Laptop, i am 59 years old today , Curtis has been with my sister from when i was 9 years old, i could tell you a lot off the old days
Tell us, brother!!
Any new interviews with Mark in the near future?
What did Kevin say about doing To King Curtis head?
I spent years with king Curtis! Book Metal Maniac
Kevin Sullivan is the Man!!!! I remember his time in WWWF In 1976-77 and then going Heel in Atlanta but as The Devil worshiper in Florida was insane. Kevin;s Hometown is Really not Far from where he Lives. And most of all He's A Red Sox Fan
King Curtis should have managed the ultimate warrior
Bruno Sammartino Drew Money From 1959 To 1987 ish Or So He Never Stopped Drawing Money BUT Yes The Undertaker Is A Huge Draw For A Very Long Time
Dick the Bruiser was a huge draw from around 1952 to 1985. Formed the Annihilation Inc team with Bruno in the early 70s.
The Undertaker has drawn a lot of money, but, for those 30 years he wasn't the main draw and sometimes didn't draw at all because hd didn't wrestle. I a willing to bet Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Hulk Hogan drew more as the TOP person on the card (or even Semi-main event) than Undertaker of the 30 years that Kevin mentions here.
Ask about the one eyed lady!
Maniac Mark Lewin, then he became the Purple Haze.
Can we get some new stories??? Same ol blah , blah, blah, blah, blah, over heard since 2015 . Same ole shoot interviews
I did not find either of them entertaining or even credible
Curtis Iaukea & Mark Lewin are legendary.
If not then who?
Curtis is married to my sister , and has been for 51 years , as you know he passed away .
And my sister sill lives in that house today