Communicated by Alan Wojck (sp?), this is the retirement statement from "The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews.

As this Saturday approaches, I am almost in a state of denial. Something that has been a part of my life for over 32 years is about to be gone. I think back to the days of going to the Jacksonville, FL Coliseum on Thursday nights to watch Dusty Rhodes, Jack Brisco, Sweet Brown Sugar, and Steve Keirn absolutely tear the house down, and dreaming of being able to put the tights and boots on and get the opportunity to perform like my heroes did. Then I fast forward to 1994 when I had my first match, and thinking to myself, "I can't believe I am actually getting the chance to actually fulfill a childhood dream. This business is like a fast spreading disease, once it gets into your blood, you really can't ever get rid of it. The crowd response to your actions, the camaraderie in the dressing room, and the opportunity to travel all over the country doing what I love will be what I miss more than anything. Joey Matthews told me once, "Wrestling, you will never love another..". And he was so right. I played football for 14 years and did not feel the anxiety that I am now feeling, when the time came to walk away. Joey was wrong on one account, I actually do love my wife and daughter (and in 6 weeks my second daughter) more than wrestling, which is why I am deciding to "hang them up".

It is now time for me to be a father, and not run all over the country fulfilling my dream. It is now time for me to facilitate my kids fulfilling theirs. For the last 11 years, I have come in contact will a lot of characters! Some good, some not so good. But the first "character" I want to thank would be the man who took me under his wing and showed me the ropes, and that man is Hack Meyers. While Hack has done many a thing to perpetuate his reputation in this business, one
thing that a lot of people don't know about him, is that he is an awesome individual once you get past the "gimmick" Hack. He did not have to take the time to help me out, but he did. And for that I am eternally grateful! Christopher Daniels is another person I would like to single out. Not only has the "Fallen Angel" been one of my greatest adversaries, he has definitely become one of my closest friends. The list of wrestlers that I respect and enjoy working with is very long, but here are the names of the guys that I feel are not just wrestlers, but my friends: Lex Lovett, Antonio Banks, Danny Doring, A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Bryan Danielson, Simon
Diamond, CM Punk, the Shane Twins, Michael Shane, Mideon, Buck Quartermaine, Chris Chetti, Homicide, Danny Maff, Spanky and Chris Nelson. I will miss all of these guys a lot. Some of the names in the WWE that I will miss being around are: Bubba Ray, Spike, Devon,
Coach, Paul London, Nunzio, Charlie Haas, Kevin Kelly and Tomko.

As we all know, not every promoter is worth mentioning but there are 3 that I would like to thank for giving me the platform to actually "be somebody" in this business. They are Jim Kettner (ECWA, Super 8), Gabe Sapolsky (Ring of Honor), and Ron Niemi & Joe Price
(NWA Florida/IPW). Jim, you are the greatest. Gabe, thank you for giving me the chance to be a part of ROH from the very start. To see where you have taken that promotion is phenomenal. Ron, you were the first promoter to give me a shot outside of Jacksonville when I
started. I have been with you every since then, and without you, I would not have achieved anything.

Next, I would like to thank each and every wrestling fan out there. Not for getting behind me and my career, but for allowing this business to continue to be around. Without your passion, this
business would be nothing. Especially the fans at Ring of Honor, ECWA, and NWA Florida. The fans of these 3 groups are the best fans anywhere in the world! I loved each and every time I work(ed) for these feds, because you knew you would get fans that actually love wrestling. I love these fans!

Finally, I would like to recognize the guys who will also retire with me at the end of our 3 way on Saturday, Mike Sullivan and Billy Fives. No matter where we have gone in our careers, the 3 of us always seem to parallel each other. Whether it was the Super 8, numerous dark and Velocity matches for the WWE(F), Headlining ECWA, NWA Florida, or being the top guys in the entire state of Florida, we 3 always seem to be "lumped" together. Billy you and I have wrestled, traveled, and even tried out for the WCW Power Plant (that was an experience) together. Mike, you and I have wrestled, tagged, trained, traveled, and partied together for almost all of our
careers. The 3 of us have dominated Florida for almost 10 years, now we will all 3 walk away together. I am so honored to be a part of this match, that I could never have enough paper to write all of my feelings. You guys are the best, and I hope and pray that we will finish our career with a bang on Saturday night. I know deep down, that we will. We have no choice!

This retirement is final. I know the "smart" fans and writers will blast this statement and say that "I will believe it when I see it" because wrestlers, generally never stay away long. But my wife and girls are the most important things to me in my life. And I will not be a father that neglects his family. I may help with a dressing room here and there, write some storylines for NWA Florida, and continue to be a fan of the sport….but you will never see me wrestle again. On Saturday, February 26, 2005, I am closing that chapter of my life.

Sincerely,
"The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews


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I've enjoyed the very little work of his I've seen on the indies. It's a shame he never made it big.

I havent' seen that many Scoot Andrews matches, but his match with Xavier at the first ROH show was damn good.

And to think... I'm starting to push him more in my EWR diary.

Hahahahah. That's what I thought when I saw that too, although I haven't posted any of my entries here, nor have posted any of my game in the longest time. Same goes for Mike Sullivan and Billy Fives.

Maybe if I hire back Triple H and start pushing him, he'll retire in real life too...

Hehe. We can only wish.

It is a shame because he had tons of potential. His reasoning for quitting though, I totally respect. Scoot seems like a real good guy, and I'm sure he'll do well.

At the same show, Bill Fives retired too. I thought he was pretty good too. Sad to see good young talent deciding to do something else with their lives.

I'm still mind boggled by the fact that the WWE never showed any interest in him.

It's part of the problem with Vince's monopoly. There's nowhere for guys to go to prove they can be of value. If WWE doesn't want them, it's darn tough to make a living.

That's true, but I still find it hard that they wouldn't even bring Scoot in to OVW either.

It's part of the reason I hate the current WWF.

Here you have a guy with almost unlimited potential who in just a few years in the business looked like a veteran. He had a unique look and a decent amount of charisma. But because he doesn't fit this mold the WWF has, and I think him being black is another reason he didn't get hired. He has no chance whatsoever of getting anywhere.

It sucks. He had really grown on me over the last six months.

As cliched as it sounds to drop the race card, there is no doubt that Vince only allows a few spots on his roster for blacks. You got Booker T and Shelton Benjamin, so I guess there's no more room.

People that know me know I despise the race card more than anything in this world. But I truely believe that in the case of the WWF.

Yeah, it's not like he wanted to play for the NFL or anything :P

Well, if this makes Scoot happy, then good for him. Maybe he can come back some day and make some special appearances here and there.