In sixth grade (1996-1997), the big thing was Dragon Ball Z and martial arts at Washington Elementary-Middle School.  The sixth grade classes were located on the first floor of the middle school.  Once moving to seventh grade, that all changed...

The year was 1997, one year--actually a few months after I became a wrestling fan.  Wrestling was huge by this point with WCW vs. WWF being the focal point.  In a caged in sandbox at a Birmingham, AL middle/elementary school, kids regularly held mock wrestling ambushes and hit finishing moves (usually a Diamond Cutter or Stunner). 

By December 1997, the wars had moved to the boy's restrooms with people getting ambushed and Stunnered or Diamond Cuttered.  Seeking sanctuary, factions were formed: Raven's Flock and nWo.  I didn't participate in these games until like February 1998.  Anyway, Raven's Flock was the larger faction with students in three of the home rooms whereas  nWo was centralized to one home room.  When teachers left the classes (oddly enough at the same time) to head downstairs to "talk with other teachers" (meaning an unofficial break) the factions invaded each other's base rooms.

I joined the new DX faction in February 1998.  There roughly five in the faction and we were subject to regular attacks since most of the members were smaller.  Being one of the biggest and tallest students in the 7th grade I was expected to use the Chokeslam at all times...although I did break out with the occassional clothesline.  DX pretty much broke up by April 1998 and some went to the Flock and others to the nWo.  A friend (Tavon) and I formed The Ministry of Darkness...just the two of us...so it was more of a tag team type thing.  On a path of destruction (most me and my Chokeslam) the Ministry cut a swath through the Flock and nWo and by May 1998 the wars ended...mainly because of summer break.  I heard that during summer break most of the members--who lived in Loveman Village or the border Village area nicknamed "The Mongo"--continued wrestling. 

When school resumed in August 1998, several of the students continued wrestling on school grounds.  At this time, I began one of a few backyard wrestling related things I would become known for:  creating championship belts.  I had always been artistic and some would comment that I was creative.  In anycase, I created the first belt, a WWF World Title with the classic blue strap from poster board.  The champion (who won the belt in a tic-tac-toe tournament and only defended the belt in tic-tac-toe) was Raven (Cortez...who I later attended community college with four or five years after graduating from junior high).  He liked the belt and added an extra thing that I would use on occassion: black electrical tape on the back of the belt.  The tape would weigh down the belt so that it would sit across you should loosely.  I should also note that Raven never lost the belt and was the only one to have ever been able to wear the belt around his waist completely.

In October 1998 (or November 1998), Washington Middle School formed WMW or Washington Middle School Wrestling...the "school" part was kinda put together with Middle...so it was Washington Middleschool Wrestling.  In any case, the group's regular 1998-1999 roster was:

-Raven (Cortez, who rarely wrestled) 1998-1999
-Big Sexy (Eugene, who wasn't big or sexy) 1998-1999
-Earthbomb (Mario) 1998-1999
-Vader (Gary C.) 1998-1999
-Gravedigger/Cracker Jack (myself) 1998-1999
-Mad Dog (Jeremy E.) 1998-1999
-Meat (Demetris) 1999
-Derrick (Derrick) 1998-1999
-Madclaw (Tavon, who actually created his own Mankind's hand claw) 1998-1999
-Goldust (Marcus M.) 1998-1999
-DDP (Gary D.) 1999

I should note that Washington Middle School tried a promotion before, but one guy Marcus W. busted his face on a sidewalk and that ended that.  This was around early 1997.  I should also note that all matches took place on Washington's school grounds in the kickball field during early-mid October before moving to my backyard around early November.  In November or early December 1998, a tournament was held in the backyard (called Swift's House) to crown the first WMW World Champion.  The belt had a green strap (the school's colors were green and white) and had a Native American brave drawn on it (our mascot).  I forget who won the belt, but I think it's down to either Mad Dog or Goldust.  I competed in the tournament as Gravedigger, but tired out and quit in the semi-finals against Goldust.  In those days we wrestled matches until someone won--since everyone kicked out of everything it was usually either by tiring (reserved for the bigger, out of shape kids), submission (which most of my WMW victories were by), getting hurt, or other (having to leave to get home).

While I don't know whether it was November or December when the WMW Title Tournament was held, I know for certain that the WMW Tag Title brawl was held in December 1998 and was held at Washington Kickball Field.  I didn't compete in the match, but Big Sexy and Goldust won the belts.

WMW would warm up in 1999, but end upon graduation in May.  In Part II: 1999-2000, I'll cover the hot nWo Wolfpack vs. nWo vs. Raven's Flock wars, playing WCW/nwo Revenge, WCW vs. The World, and WWF Attitude over my house until 10 at night, my younger brother Tardell and younger sister Jamesse's backyard wrestling debuts, and the rise of NGWW/EWC.

Until next time!