Manager:
Barry Casino
Barry Casino was a long time north east wrestling manager and a mainstay in the ECWA for as long as I can remember. He managed Persian Prince, Japanese Pool Boy, and Simon Diamond (then known as Lance Diamond). However, Barry is most remembered as the manager of Mr. Ooh La La, with whom he had amazing chemistry. At the ECWA 35th Anniversary show, Barry was presented with the first "Icon" Award. Barry was also the 100th "10 Questions With..." interview that WrestlingClothesline.com ever conducted.
Barry Casino got his start in pro wrestling while working with a Youth Group in Baltimore. One of the young men, that he was working with said, "You like wrestling, don't you, Barry?" Having been a self proclaimed wrestling "Mark", for over 40 years, he told him yes. He the told Barry he should go to Deleware to watch him wrestle as "The Russian Giant". That led to him attending a few of Jim Kettner's shows, and led to him asking Jim when he was going to let Barry manage one of the guys, for a "one time shot", just for fun. The rest as they say was history.
The first man Barry managed, was a wrestler by the name of "The Cuban Stomper". Jim thought that their personallities would click, and he was right. His first match, was a cage match, between The Cuban Stomper, and Lightning Lance Diamond (Simon). Barry had never even tried to get into a wrestling ring, much less a cage, but Jim told him to sneak into the cage, once the ref was knocked out, and attack Lance. When the time came, he snuck into the cage, as well as a 350 lb guy, who had never been through the ring ropes, could sneak. He started to attack Lance, who had decided to "color", for the first time in his career, during the match. When Barry attacked him, he knocked Casino down, and started beating on him. He said "Barry I lost my blade." Barry then told him if he didn't stop beating on him, he wouldn't need one. It didn't take many months, after that match, for Casino to persuade Diamond to join the dark side, and he became a member of the Casino camp.
The first match that Barry managed a big name, was when he got the chance to manage Ivan Koloff, against a wrestler called "Irish Micky". According to Barry: "We beat that boy so badly, that he changed his name, and also joined the dark side. He changed his name to Mr. Oh La La."
Casino seemed to manage almost every wrestler who ever appeared in the northeast. He even got to manage one of his childhood idols, Abdula the Butcher, against another of his idols, Terry Funk. Other wrestlers who at one point were managed by Casino include "Playboy" Bobby Starr, Patch, Agent Orange,
In 1995 Barry was inducted into the ECWA Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Barry Casino passed away on July 19, 2009 at the age of 56.
The following blog was posted by Mr. Ooh La La after hearing about hte passing of long time colleague, Barry Casino
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Barry Casino
Current mood: peaceful
Barry Casino
Here is a man who had a remarkable impact on me Mr. Ooh La La. The statement
from Brett Schwan (http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/RIPBarryCasino.htm)
has allowed me to think back thru my wrestling career at the amount of
fun as well as the impact he had on my career.
The most noted was the introduction of a fine French perfume call jean un poo mama and jean un poo papa (or some variation of those words with a thick French accent). Well by show time Barry reveled this “perfume” and the poor fans who accepted the sample quickly learned that this was without a doubt the WORST smelling freguerence they ever smelled and the path to the bathroom could not be short enough.
Having Barry in my corner did not impact my win loss record in a good way however listening to his introduction of me could unnerve even the casual fan and upset the crowd and create a remarkable hostile environment to be proud of. Who cannot forget the success The Russian Invaders (who are still undefeated in the Carolinas) had under the leadership of Barry. The way men like The Equalizer and Ironman struggled to gain victories against any man or team that faced the challenge Barry Casino stable presented. Boogie Woogie Brown (God rest his soul) Cheetah Master too faced Barry at his best and were able to grow as performers because Barry was at his best.
His flamboyant ring attire, sharp tongue and obnoxious whistle were just the beginning. His timing in speech and outside interference was remarkable he knew where to be so that even the referee had to question where he was and what he was doing. His presence outside the ring would agitate the fans add to the match and guarantee results; some still struggle to attain what Barry did effortlessly.
Our time here on earth is sometimes cut short and Barry made the most of his time here He will be missed and I feel privileged to not only see Barry at his best but try to benefit and learn from Barry being z-best.
Mr. Ooh La La
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