Spider passes away at the age of 88

[Ringside Junkie]

PILEDRIVER
By Byron Robinson
The Montgomery Advertiser

Before I go into the regular shenanigans of professional wrestling, taking one of Lance Storm's phrases, I have to get serious for a minute.

I received sad news that Prattville resident and Montgomery native Gladys Hines Lang, known by many local fans as "Spider," passed away Monday at the age of 88.

I'm sure fans remember her for stealing the show during World Wrestling Entertainment house show events at Garrett Coliseum over the past few years.

"She never had to pay for a show," said Lang's granddaughter, Sharon Chance. "She would always get a front row seat and she was part of the show."

Lang would sit ringside, and in her own unique way, get the attention of babyfaces and heels alike.

The first time the Advertiser noticed "Spider" was in 2002, during a WWE house show at Garrett Coliseum, when Triple H defended the WWE title against Chris Jericho.

Jericho played the heel, and to say that "Y2J" and "Spider" got into some verbal sparring is an understatement.

After Triple H won the match, he was able to get "Spider" in the ring and they did some poses, delighting the crowd.

"She loved her wrestling," Chance said. "You couldn't convince her that it (wrestling) was fake."

Chance said back in the day when wrestlers performed at shows regularly in the city, Lang would invite some of them to her home and serve them dinner.

"A lot of the wrestlers went to her house for her pecan pie," Chance said.

"Spider" was a true fan and definitely provided entertainment at local shows. Condolences go out to the family. She will be sorely missed.

www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

[Ringside Junkie]

I wasn't that sad last week when I heard the news just more heartbroken. She lived a great life and I was lucky enough to meet her on several occasions. My friends and family have seen her at wrestling shows since the days of Continental. Independent and big time shows she was always there. I was honored when she attended a show that I promoted and worked at to have a little confrontation with Spider, ended up with a couple battle scars that night! I have alot of great memories of Spider before 2002. It's kind of sad that The Montgomery Advertiser didn't tell more of Spider's stories. She had lots of them as she has traveled the roads more than any diehard wrestling fan I have ever seen. I admit I've seen over 200 shows since the age of 3 but I'm sure she still has me beat. Spider we will miss you and will never forget you. Sometimes she was the show and if the show was starting to get boring she knew how to get the crowd back in it. I miss the days when heels were heels and faces were faces but the good ole days are long gone. Spider is in a better place now and we give our best wishes and prayers to the family of Spider.