If ever you should wind up knocking at the gates of hell, don't be surprised if you find Gary Goodridge in charge of the keys. After all, Pride did keep him chained to the front gate of the Tokyo Dome, and not to check in people's coats. Ask Mike Bernardo, when Gary checked his head in his own K-1 game, a rather awkward moment for the South African, and a polemic fight. Although Gary is not the winningest of MMA fighters, you always knew that the fight wouldn't go to a decision. One way or another, someone would be gotten. He first crashed into the scene in the early UFC's while his claim to fame at the time was as world arm wrestling champion.

I'm not saying that Gary will go to hell, especially having watched his purgatory, every single one of his fights in one format or another, and detecting the entertainment aspect of the Big Daddy act. Gary Goodridge is a natural born athlete and persona, and beneath that veneer of "I'm gonna remove your head with my fist," is a soft-spoken gentleman. And yes, he loves Japan so much, that he married his new wife in a traditional Japanese ceremony including full costumes, wig for the wife, kimonos, "Sansan-kudo" sake, ceremony, etc… So, Gary isn't going to tango with the devil after all, as a matter of fact he's going to "turn on" the theatrical side of his act, instead of hard rock, its green tea and Broadway for Gary; Professional wrestling.

If you haven't seen footage of Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman doing tag team in flashy, glammy, lightning bolt tights in Japan, then you are missing in on a hilarious spectacle. Randleman acrobatically jumping onto Mark's shoulders like a tetherball. And hey, why not, fighters should have a safe haven; a retirement home shall we say. I mean just think if all of New York's transit workers didn't have jobs, they would all be on the streets, worthless and arrogant; the trains never run on time and they spit at you if you ask them a question, or call the cops. But Gary Goodridge knows a good train ride when he sees it, especially if he feels it. There's nothing like the Tokyo subway system, trains every three minutes, and lots of respect from the transit employees, who are extremely polite and helpful. Yes folks, Gary likes the easy connections from station to station, with flashing information in English and Japanese. Will it be Ginza or Roppongi tonight? He likes the smoov and easy ride of the bullet train to Osaka, where he might get paid 1 million yen to put on a spectacle, but none of the risks of Vale Tudo. No Gilbert Yvel type of encounters, where he had months of thoughts removed from his gray matter with a perfect roundhouse to the head, a perfectly frightening moment for everyone. No folks, there "Comes A Time.." as Gary's fellow Canadian Neil Young said, to put the stud to graze.

On New Years Eve 2003, Gary Goodridge said goodbye to the world of MMA by announcing his retirement, and stunning the Principle of the School of Real Men in a real shocker, with a nasty high kick, which caught him coming forward and lights out! Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Gary's sister, his brand new wife, everyone was smiling after this awesome technically delivered retirement victory, which avenged their encounters in the cage years before. Gary shed some Japanese tears getting emotional and choked up on the mike, as Don Frye was trying to order a drink from the referee, trying to get rid of the blurry vision.

But don't worry folks, it ain't over yet for Gary, or the Predator. Pride just started this new event called Hustle. It's only Pro-wrestling and it seems they have customized this event for guys like Gary. It seems Professor Frye might have to join him sometime soon to save the health, but I'm sure a stiff Jack + Jim would cure the headache. A class act, Frye got up to congratulate Gary on his beautifully delivered airmail.

You don't have to be from Sandusky, Ohio to know what a comfortable income feels like, especially if you made it in Japan. Ask Kevin Randleman, and that high five to Gary is actually a tap to take over against the Tiger Masked Japanese dude cartwheeling at him. And hey, who knows after the show they might even all go out for ramen together in Shibuya.