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The National Wrestling Alliance and Billy Corgan paid tribute to former NWA Champion Jax Dane, real name Jeremy Laymon yesterday when the news of his passing was revealed, and with good reason.
While Dax was an important regular under Corgan's regime owning and running the National Wrestling Alliance, the reality is that in that time period before Corgan bought the company, Dax was an important talent who kept the NWA banner flying and as viable as he could internationally while working around the world.
Pro wrestling today beyond the major promotions is an massive alphabet soup mixed in white while noise with lots of talents and promotion always trying to figure out the solution to the ultimate riddle - how do I get noticed - and before Corgan bought the NWA, those legendary letters were among the many trying to get as much attention as possible. For the NWA under Bruce Tharpe, part of that strategy was Jax Dane as the NWA Champion.
Physically, no one was going to question his attributes. In terms of intensity in the ring, Dane looked every bit the killer as he needed to be - and due to that imposing, fearsome look, no one was ever going to dare challenge him. The title was in safe hands for as long as it needed to be if Dane held the title. In the locker room, no one was going to cross him or question Dane if he thought someone was getting out of line.
Certainly the NWA was a far cry from the Sam Muchnick days, but if the belt needed to be handled with prestige or needed protection, Dane beating Hiroyoshi Tenzan and maintaining the belt until losing it to Tim Storm (who later would team with Dane under Corgan's current NWA presentation) was not just because he was seen as a good wrestler or a solid hand or a good personality - it was because he was legitimately respected and loved behind the scenes and in front of the camera - and everyone knew he was the man for the job.
To a person, everyone that paid tribute to Dane today seemed what I can only describe as heartsick. Everyone in pro wrestling will tout and attest how much they love their locker rooms and "love the boys" but with Dane, there was a pervading kindness and respect that he showed everyone, whether they were "known" names or rookies, that came out in story after story. How they were all shown respect. How much fun the matches were. How Dane checked on those he knew and was someone who brought the morale up where he worked. There was far more to the man than the monster he often projected inside the ring and it's sad that only in his passing do so many get to know that much about him.
Perhaps Dane liked it that way.
I don't know, but I can attest that the few times we spoke and/or did interviews for PWInsider.com, he was gregarious, friendly and excited to not just talk about himself, but to do his part to help the NWA. He was proud that he kept his real life job and worked in the corporate world and then could tear things up as "The Vanilla Godzilla" in Japan and beyond. Dane loved professional wrestling, moving from basketball into training for Ohio Valley Wrestling under Rip Rogers, Nick Dinsmore and Tom Prichard.
Dane had a small run in TNA Impact Wrestling, teaming as Veterans of War with Crimson under the name Wilcox. It was a role that didn't stick, in part because he didn't get much of a chance to do anything that scratched the surface, but also because he really disliked being portrayed as someone who had served in the military. While pro wrestling is as much acting as it is athletics, having come from a military family where other members served, but he did not - that should tell a lot about who Dane was, especially in a world where many would shrug at the idea of stolen valor as long as it got them over and/or paydays.
When Billy Corgan bought the NWA, that could have been it for Dax. He was not a regular part of the NWA title picture after losing the belt to Tim Storm, but was certainly a big part of the promotion as The National Champion. Later as a team with Tim "Baron Von" Storm, the duo were in the NWA Tag and United Tag Team Championship scenes as well as The Crockett Cup. Dane was one of those veterans who could always get over what his boss wanted, something that sometimes gets taken for granted in professional wrestling by fans and talents alike. Serious, goofy, hard-hitting, whatever was asked of him, he did to the best of his ability. The best performers are sometimes chameleons - and they are so good as being them that what they do can be taken for granted, because the magic they produce pulls the wool over the eyes of those who should know better. As massive and fearsome as Dax was, I think he falls into that category.
Dane's passing is especially shocking since news of him having a heart attack last month was kept extremely close to the vest. It was a reminder that nothing is promised to us and that while we all go about our business assuming everything is perfect, we're all ten seconds away from something that can change our lives forever. Jax Dane should be celebrated for being one of the many to pursue his dreams however he could in pro wrestling - but he should also be a reminder to think of and respect the veterans out there who every year get a little wiser but also find themselves a little less in demand as fans and bookers look for the next cool spot that lands on GIFs on Twitter. Dax, and many others like him, are the reliable backbone of many promotions out there and in the case of too many, they don't get the nod of respect they should from the audience.
Not every wrestling vet will headline a Wrestlemania, but without them, there's no foundation for those who do get to work at that level to learn, persevere and grow on their journey to the big time. Behind the scenes among talents would be a different matter, but there's a real sadness in Dax getting celebrated as much as he has been when he's not here to enjoy it. Of course, that sadness is nothing compared to what his wife and family are feeling - and I send my deepest condolences to them - and thank them for letting us share Dax with them.
There are a lot of talents like Jax Dane out there in the alphabet soup of pro wrestling - and we are all lucky they are there for us they perform for and those they share the locker rooms with.
My deepest condolences to Jax's family, his friends and his fans, all of which are legion in their sadness today, with good reason.
Every wrestling locker room needs someone like Jax Dane.
“There are those men and women who carry the legacy of a champion because they have risen to such heights. And then there are those that earn the respect of a champion simply because of who they are. To this I can say, simply and personally, that Jax was such a man, and will forever be in our hearts.” - Billy Corgan
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