I still remember hearing the news. My mentor, friend and a Bay Area legend had passed away. On Christmas Eve 2021 we lost an independent wrestling giant. Kirk White was the promoter of Big Time Wrestling based out of Newark, California. It was a complete shock and put a damper on the holidays to say the least.

The news of his passing shocked the wrestling community throughout the nation as well as Japan, Canada and Mexico. I had received a text message on Christmas morning from someone in the business and I was just expecting it to be a typical “Merry Christmas” text; it was far from it. I remember doing a double take at the message in disbelief and immediately called one of the wrestlers from the promotion and he confirmed the heartbreaking news.

I met Kirk in the summer of 2015. I had heard on the radio that Big Time Wrestling was coming to Modesto. I reached out to Kirk via email to see if I could help promote the event for our 209 Magazine. He called me later that afternoon and he we hit it off right away. He could tell that I not only had a passion for the wrestling business, but I respected the business. He told me that not only could I help promote the event, but he invited me and my wife to both events he was having that weekend. The night before the scheduled Modesto show, Big Time Wrestling was having an event in Newark and my wife and I attended it to see how Big Time Wrestling was run. He met us at the entrance about an hour before bell time. He was a little on edge; which over the years I learned that was normal for Kirk any time before a show started. Nevertheless, he was polite and gracious towards us. He gave us two tickets and locker room access. I had brought my camera with me and took photos of the matches, wrestlers backstage and fan interaction. I showed Kirk the photos after the show and he was very impressed. He asked me to bring my camera with me to the next show and that he would have me be his camera guy for the event. I went to John Thurman Field in Modesto with my camera and he had me shoot the event. Following the event, I went home and turned in my photos to him. He called me later that afternoon and offered me to work his next event and to attend a production meeting. He was working on his anniversary show. He was going to have big names come to the event including hall of famer Bret Hart, as well as other legends. He had me attend that event as a photographer and backstage personality. I ended up doing several events with Kirk for four years before the pandemic hit.

We spoke on the phone during the pandemic and he had a vision of what he wanted for his first live show when he could return. He wanted to host an outside event and bring in some big names. His vision came to life August of 2021. Kirk gave passes for my son and I. We met up with him before the show and he was in a great mood. He took a photo with my son and allowed us to go to the locker room. It was the last time I saw him because he was not planning another show until December that year.

I miss him a lot. He was a generous, honest, loyal person. His widow and daughter keep his legacy alive. Just a few months following his passing, his family hosted an event in his memory. It was such an emotional event. They had photo boards all over the building, a video package in memory of Kirk and then it was time for the matches to start. All of the wrestlers came to the ring with their arm bands that said “KIRK” on it. They honored him with the 10-bell salute and the crowd, with tears in everyone’s eyes (including me) chanted “Thank You Kirk” for – no joke – 12 minutes straight. Chills just thinking about it. Throughout the evening wrestlers, fans and family members shared their memories of Kirk, including current World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and former Big Time Wrestling regular Bayley, who was trained in Big Time Wrestling and wrestled there regularly for over four years.

This February, Big Time Wrestling will be hosting the third annual Kirk White Memorial Battle Royal. I am going to be in attendance and I am very much looking forward to it.

Dennis D. Cruz is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. He may be reached at drcruz@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 847-3021.