Would-be wrestler has a blast

JACKSON, Mo. -- He didn't win the Tough Enough competition last weekend at the World Wrestling Entertainment event at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, but Jackson resident Bill Moore was glad for the chance to see how it feels to step inside the ring.

"I had a blast," he said.

Moore, who would like to get into professional wrestling, and the other finalists in the KSHE radio promotion each got a minute in the ring to impress the crowd with their "gimmick." The winner -- based on crowd response -- won the right to play a manager in a wrestling match later in the wrestling card.

Moore entered the ring as The Hellion, a heavy metal character he created. Before a crowd of about 8,000 to 10,000, he talked about what a great sports town St. Louis is and got a loud reaction, he said.

His parents from Arnold, Mo., attended along with his wife, Julie, and children Tara and Rachael.

Going in, he didn't know that some of the competitors would be female. The wrestlers told him he never stood a chance.

"The one that won had a high-cut skirt and low-cut blouse," Moore said. "... She kind of used nonverbal communication."

Moore said he will continue his quest to give professional wrestling a try.

"Entering the ring was one of the most natural feelings of my entire life," he said.