Pro Wrestler/Fundraiser Jugan Off To Vegas To Be Honored For Humanitarian Efforts

By Thomas Leturgey  

Over the past few weeks a “Living Legend” has received many well wishes and recognition for his work in the world of professional wrestling. In addition to Bruno Sammartino’s induction into a Hall of Fame, another Pittsburgh wrestler will soon collect a much earned reward.

Glassport resident Ken Jugan, who some observers say is the most important independent wrestler to ever hail from this region, will be recognized with the Jason Sanderson Humanitarian Award at the Cauliflower Alley Club’s (CAC) annual convention at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, April 15-17.

Jugan began as a photographer and writer who attended wrestling events as Pittsburgh’s famed “Studio Wrestling” was coming to the end of its famous run. He started wrestling in November 1975 and never looked back. YouTube videos from the early 1980’s are still found of Jugan being tossed about by the Iron Sheik during World Wrestling Federation television tapings. Somewhere along the line he invented the “Zoltan” character that ultimately was dubbed with royalty, fine-tuned and morphed into “Lord Zoltan.”

While “Lord Zoltan” has been entertaining wrestling fans for decades, it is Jugan’s work with the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and support of other causes that elicited the Humanitarian Award. According the CAC’s website, “[The organization] will recognize a member a CAC member in good standing who, through his or her efforts or resources, has endeavored to improve their community and the lives of others, thus elevating the perception of the professional wrestling industry and its participants.”

The Award was named for “Bishop” Jason Sanderson, a retired wrestler turned missionary who has also contributed time and resources to the “Jobs for America’s Graduates” school-to-career program for at-risk youth, New Hampshire chapter. He also serves on the board of directors for the CAC.

The Cauliflower Alley Club, now in its 48th year, was created as a benevolent, non-profit fraternal organization made up of current as well as former professional wrestlers. The group offers scholarships and administers funds to former wrestlers who have fallen on hard times. The organization also honors wrestlers and personalities for their contributions.

Jugan is the fourth person to receive the award, after philanthropist Yvonne Melcher (2010) who donated thousands of dollars to the CAC as part of the Texas-based Melcher Charitable Fund; former wrestler Lisa “The Adjuster” Haynes (2011), who now works to help rescue animals in Vermont; and actor, stunt man and wrestler Al “Mr. Outrageous” Burke (2012) who does work with needy children through Special Olympics and other charities across the country.

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive the award, after only attending [Cauliflower Alley Club events] the last two years,” said Jugan from his home recently. “It’s nice they recognize something positive, as most of the time the attention is negative. The good and charity is often overlooked.”

Jugan began promoting “Deaf Wrestlefest” in 1994 at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf gymnasium in Edgewood. Jugan and his wife, Rosa, have two sons—Adam and Blaise—who are hearing impaired and attended the school.

In 1995, the first “supercard” featured friends Jugan made over the years, including Brownsville, PA native Bill Eadie, who continues to wrestle as one-half of “Demolition” from the-then World Wrestling Federation. Also on the event sheet were Weirton’s “Big Bully” Nick Busick, who started his career in Pittsburgh, and “Cactus Jack,” the most infamous of Mick Foley’s incarnations. Foley, like Sammartino, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Famer earlier this month.

The event soon became a profitable moneymaker for the school and a destination for professional wrestlers and personalities from all over the East Coast. Early on, Lord Zoltan wrestled in Deaf Wrestlefest; however, as the event became more popular and Jugan took a more-hands-on role with the growing spectacle, Zoltan’s participation stopped.

After the 2002 Deaf Wrestlefest, Jugan took a break from promoting the event. The school tried other fundraisers, but Jugan always hoped that he’d bring it back.

When the event returned in 2009 the independent wrestling scene supported the school and Jugan like never before. There were 16 matches, including appearances from Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Domenic DeNucci, Shane Douglas, “Bubba the Bulldog” from B-94 FM and longtime wrestler and manager James J. Dillon, who came out of retirement for the Main Event. “It was a big deal to get J.J. to wrestle again,” said Jugan. Deaf Wrestlefest was again an unequivocal success.

Independent wrestlers from throughout the Tri-State area and from throughout Pennsylvania clamored to appear on the Deaf Wrestlefest stage. Athletes from as far away as North Carolina and GOUGE Wrestling and as close as Pittsburgh’s Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) participated in the fundraiser. Promotions from Johnstown, Uniontown and McKeesport were also represented.

Sammartino headlined Deaf Wrestlefest 2012, which Jugan says was the most profitable event they’ve hosted. Sammartino donated a replica title belt to raffle, and the bestowment pushed funds to its highest level.

Since that time Jugan’s sons have graduated, as have students of other active parents. He’d like to resume the event sometime in the future but is unsure if that will ever happen.

Over the years, Jugan as Zoltan has wrestled on shows that helped raise money for cancer research, Gilda’s Club, PA Connecting Communities (PACC), the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department, and many others. Because of his commitment to charities, as well as the independent professional wrestling community, Jugan was honored with “Ken Jugan Day” in the City of Pittsburgh and County of Allegheny on March 20, 2012.

For this latest honor, Jugan will accept the Humanitarian Award during a “Bologna Blowout” dinner on Tuesday, April 16. The “Blowout” refers to an “old school” practice of packing wrestlers into a car, along with a pile of cheap lunch-meat, cheese and bread. As stories are told, the car would race between wrestling events and everyone would feast on the lunchmeat sandwiches.

“This will have gourmet lunch meat,” joked Jugan. “Maybe roast beef.”

As for wrestling in the future, Jugan says he still enjoys painting his face with entertaining the fans. His schedule has slowed down as he looks after his parents, both of whom have faced health issues lately. 

"I will continue to wrestle as long as the phone rings," he concluded.