The last promotion William Moody had a regular run with was also where he made his final in-ring appearance, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. As Percival Pringle III, he had a huge impact on the talent on every front. Everybody looked to him as a mentor and wrestling guru, as they should have. Pringle gave everything he had to get the promotion more attention, but also to better his surroundings and the talent within.
Executive producer of CWFH Dave Marquez said that Moody was “… One of the key elements that made this broadcast special. He was never selfish with his knowledge or celebrity, always available to lend a hand or offer advice.” He went on to say that as famous as he was, he didn’t have to be there, but he wanted to, and his contributions to the organization can’t be overstated.
His primary charges were Shaun Ricker and Brian Cage, who went on to great things in the business. Ricker is now known as Eli Drake, one of the signature stars of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Cage is a featured performer in All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Ricker grew up watching Percy Pringle on television, never dreaming that he would gain the support, loyalty and guidance of such a talented individual. Pringle genuinely cared for him and knew Ricker had what it took to go to the top. “Percy’s not here anymore, but he’s going to live forever through the legacy he left,” said Ricker, not long after his passing. “I know everybody here loved him.”
Moody brought one of his old urns from his Paul Bearer days for photo ops on a consistent basis. The fans absolutely loved this! When he made his last appearance with the group, he was in ill health and he mistakenly left the urn behind, in care of Dave Marquez. Moody intended to reclaim the urn on his next trip to Southern California. That time never came, as William Moody died unexpectedly on March 5, 2013.
Instead of just mailing back the urn to Moody’s family, where it would simply collect dust, the Moody family allowed this part of their relative’s legacy to continue on in a new form: as the centerpiece of the Percy Pringle III Memorial Cup.
Now an annual tradition, the PP3 Cup (as it is also called) is one of the most anticipated events with Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, where wrestlers vie in tournament competition for the trophy and “Percy’s Privilege,” where you can challenge any title holder an any time.
The heartbeat of William Moody continues on to this day.
For more information on the PP3 Cup, visit Championship Wrestling from Hollywood.
