R.I.P. SCOTT EPSTEIN
When wrestling agent, indy manager and Pastor Bobby Riedel
Instant Messaged me this morning, “Did you hear the news?” I braced myself.
For anyone involved as long and heavily as myself in the
often grim world of pro wrestling knew exactly what was coming next.
Picking up the phone, I guessed at which one of our heroes
had left us too soon. For weren’t there 200 or so wrestlers who had died before
the age of 50 from the “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll” wrestling lifestyle?
Clutching the phone I immediately said, “Who died?” without
even bothering with the obligatory “hello.”
“Scott Epstein,” he said.
“No!” I shrieked, leaning against the living room wall as my
wife looked on in concern.
“Is it an Internet rumor?” I hoped against hope.
“Confirmed” Bobby said with the finality I dreaded.
“He just called me the other week,” I responded robotically.
“He wanted to catch up and grab some dinner one night.” I felt an odd sense of
guilt- almost like I was in confession with the wrestling Pastor. Sadly, we
never did have that final meal together as my elderly mom has been in and out
of the hospital.
Scott Epstein. Former teacher and Assistant Principal. Publicist.
Promoter. Writer. Publisher. Photographer. Camp counselor. Vendor. Agent.
Occasional indy wrestling manager. And whatever other gigs this ever-hustling,
oh-so colorful “character” could squeeze in. And like the wrestlers themselves
he was larger than life with that shaved head, huge moustache, and energy that
kids half his age couldn’t touch.
I tried to wrap my head around the news. He’d survived heart
surgery and Super Storm Sandy, and somehow a late night ride did THIS? The vehicle
with the Macho Man plates? It had been an accident. Earlier today. His car hit
a tree. Just like that. How many conventions and wrestling functions had I been
in that vehicle travelling down those very same roads with him? How many diners
and roadside dumps had we eaten in on the way home from generally meaningless Indy
cards we loved to be around? We’d drive up and down those highways talking all
the way, reliving both the magic and absurdity of whatever we’d just experienced
in this often surreal world of pro wrestling.
And whether we made a few bucks or lost a few, he was
already onto the next adventure. “I’m booked next weekend,” he’d say like a kid
in a candy store.
On some of the gigs we’d share a room, and I’d wake from a
deep sleep and Scott would be frantically typing on his laptop. Hey, he had
something to promote. To plug. E-mails to answer. Bookings to lock in. The man
was tireless.
He was an older guy in a young man’s game and few could
touch him, running to cards around the country, booking his beloved talent, and
never losing enthusiasm for his end of “the business.”
And how many legends and industry giants had I met through
him over the years? How many times did I get butterflies in my stomach finally
meeting a childhood hero like his close friend, SuperStar Graham. Then there
was Tony Atlas. Putski. Jay Lethal who he had a special connection with.
Various divas. And a good chunk of the TNA roster.
And they all had a deep love and respect for that seemingly
rarest of creatures- the honest wrestling agent.
Scott Epstein. Dead. Horribly, suddenly, unbelievably, DEAD.
You know, in the agent business you get used to bounced
checks, last minute cancellations, and standing your ground to get your talent
paid. Hey, the promoter “had a slow night.” But Scott Epstein, I can proudly
say is the ONLY man I ever gave a bunch of merchandise to on consignment. And
like the “mensch” he was, he ultimately paid me for those “gimmicks.”
The outpouring of love on his birthday the other day, and
now upon this most tragic of news, attests to a life well lived- and oh so colorfully
at that.
Scott, we had some great nights, we had a few bad ones, and
this sure feels like you’re just on another of your countless road trips. But know
that I always loved and respected you. And we sure had a hell of a lot of fun
along the way.
Rest in peace, my friend.
n
Evan Ginzburg
Associate Producer- Darren Aronfsky’s The Wrestler
