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Wrestling for charities

6/21/2017

3 Comments

 
PicturePHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY E. JONES JR. Hammer (left, Hank Parker) and Thar (Larry E. Jones Jr.) make up the tag team Bad Blood.
By B. Scott Mohr
Editor

Although novices when it comes to professional wrestling, the tag team of Thar and Hammer – known as Bad Blood – has established itself as a fan favorite and a force to reckon with since entering the ring in March.

Bad Blood won the Christian Professional Wrestling Association’s title earlier this year before losing it to a contender. In singles competition, Thar (Larry E. Jones Jr.) is the hard-core champion; Hammer (Hank Parker) is the heavyweight champ. 

Jones, 52, has always dreamed of being a wrestler and trained for a month under the legendary Dick the Bruiser before the Bruiser died of a heart attack in 1991. “He had taught me just the basics ... how to take a fall and a punch,” Jones said. “But I didn’t know enough to get into the ring. I got away from wrestling after he died.

“I remember going out to the armory and seeing Mitsu Arakawa, Wilbur Synder and Bobby Heenan before he was popular.” 

Bad Blood also competes in Indianapolis Championship Wrestling, which Jones says is a little more rough in nature. “But both leagues are good entertainment for the entire family.

“We are doing well and holding our own, considering we are wrestling 20- and 30-year-olds. Except for a few dings, nicks and bruises, we haven’t suffered any injuries. We enjoy the crowds and being showboats. We are in it for the love of entertainment. We sure aren’t going to get rich doing this, but we are having a ball. Our wives, children, grandchildren and friends come out to watch us.”

Whether competing as Bad Blood or individually, the wrestlers’ entrance into the ring is choreographed to “Bad to the Bone,” by George Thorogood. And they usually know who’s going to win before the bell rings. “But that’s the way it is in wrestling; it’s all a show,” said Jones, whose opportunity to get back into the sport surfaced when Mighty Mike Reed, who founded the wrestling association, approached him. 

“He needed a tag team so I called my buddy Hank, who said he had to talk to his wife. He called me back in a couple of minutes and said yes.”

Jones, 5 feet 9 inches and 205 pounds, and Parker, 5-9 and 240, practice weekly and routinely lift weights. “I go to gym five to seven days a week, and we compete about three times a month,” said Jones.

Their next match will be during the 5 p.m. card Saturday, July 1, at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Advance tickets are $5 for children ages 6-10, $10 for those over 10; tickets at the door are $10 and $15, respectively. Proceeds from past events have benefited Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health and other charities.

For Jones, a 1983 graduate of Roncalli who majored in general studies at the University of Indianapolis, wrestling is a family affair as his son, Shaun Jones, and nephew Jay Jones make up the tag team Outsyderz. “We have defeated them several times, Larry Jones said, “and they defeated us once because of outside interference.”

When not donning his gym or wrestling attire, Jones is a law enforcement officer for a railroad company. He is also a professional actor who has appeared in many movies. 
​
Parker works as a integration analyst at a hospital and has won many powerlifting and strongman events.  
Naturally, their dream is to get a shot in World Wrestling Entertainment or the Championship Wrestling Association. “That’s a long shot, but it’s always in the back of our minds.”

Picture
Hammer is ready to inflict some punishment on an opponent.
3 Comments
Kevin Gaza
6/21/2017 09:54:46 pm

I have known Hank for over 15 years. I work with him in IT. He is an accomplished programmer, but also an excellent professional photographer---and an incredible weightlifter (he also has appeared in several Indy B-movies, my favorite is his zombie roles). He pulled a semi once in a competition. He is from North Carolina and has that Mayberry "gosh humble" persona comes through--even as he slams an opponent to the mat you can hear him say, "Oh sorry.". Hilarious. You soon learn not to underestimate Hank. He is low key--but also extremely smart. And he is verbally quick, as anybody who tries to exchange verbal smack quickly finds out. He has presence, and kids love him---even with his complex "nice but a bad guy" approach. Got a heart has big as the wrestling ring--which explains how he got started in this--answering a call for a charity gig. Great guy (his wife works in IT and is fantastic too).

Reply
Dennis Goulet
6/22/2017 07:26:34 am

Hank and Bad Blood remind me of when I was a kid in Canada going to see the Boucher Brothers wrestle. I loved it then and still do. Hank is awesome, he is great to work with and an all around good guy.

Reply
Jimi Mikawa link
6/25/2017 03:57:17 am

Mikawa Real Estate is proud to support Bad Blood. They would be good rent collectors if they ever change careers.

Reply



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