Gregory Helms

In the year of 2005, the submissions editor for American Adrenaline Magazine found his desk covered with factual material. In a compilation of magazine markets for children’s writers he wrote, “We would love to have a fiction story submitted.” That editor did not then know that a future magazine issue with a Gregory Helms theme would sound almost as strange as fiction.

Unfortunately the young readers of American Adrenaline may never have learned much about Gregory Helms. That magazine ceased the release of its published material after 2005. That fact removed from magazine racks any mention of youthful attempts to copy the moves of at least one winning wrestler. The amazing feats of Gregory Helms fell under the wrestling world’s brightest spotlight in 2006.

Of course, even before 2006, TV viewers had heard of Gregory Helms. WWE had entertained TV viewers by showing video of backstage feuding between Helms and The Rock. That feud had taken place in 2003.

Helms’ contract had been among the items in the package sold by World Championship Wrestling to the World Wrestling Federation. When the Federation made that purchase, it gave TV viewers an opportunity to enjoy the moves of the longest reigning Cruiserweight Champion in history. If American Adrenaline Magazine had remained in publication, it might have carried stories about young wrestlers who admired such moves.

Of course the young wrestlers who participated in school or community-sponsored wrestling competitions could not expect to use a flying neck breaker or a chokeslam against a tournament opponent. Those were two of Gregory Helms’ signature moves. He interspersed his use of those two moves with use of the inverted double underhook matslam, the stranglehold legsweep and the knee drop.

While tournament wrestling, such as that once covered by American Adrenaline, does not permit contestants to use any of the above-mentioned moves, it does encourage the use of all accepted moves. That includes moves such as the reverse cradle. A youngster who might have watched Helms achieve victory through deft use of a neck breaker would undoubtedly feel motivated to attempt use of the reverse cradle.

The above supposition points out why it is unfortunate that American Adrenaline ceased publication just when Gregory Helms demonstrated a history-making achievement. He remained the Cruiserweight Champion for one full year. He offered many young wresters a compelling reason to watch for a chance to pin an opponent by using the reverse cradle.

Sadly, American Adrenaline Magazine had not appeared on the list of children’s magazines back when one young high school wrestler starred at performance of the reverse cradle. Thirty years ago, one Pennsylvania wrestler knew he had won a match, if he had managed to put himself in a position from which he could use the reverse cradle. While a present-day wrestling coach does not normally want to see one of his wrestlers using a Helms’ move such as a flying neck breaker or a stranglehold legsweep, still that coach would not object, if that wrestler chose to use a reverse cradle.