The flooding came first, followed by a storm of controversy generated by Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

Mike Chapman never could have envisioned such a tempest in what should have been his final days as executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

As its founder, Chapman helped collect much of the pro and amateur wrestling memorabilia that was on display. Chapman, though, found himself trying to salvage such history last month when flooding in Waterloo, Iowa, caused sewer lines to back into the facility.

Chapman saved some artifacts, including a large mural depicting Abraham Lincoln wrestling before becoming U.S. president. But the museum suffered $450,000 worth of damage, with Chapman losing six file cabinets of irreplaceable notes and references he planned to use for a comprehensive book on pro wrestling's history from 1880 to 1960.

"Every single wall had to be taken out at the 31/2-foot mark and every exhibit taken off the wall and stored because the cleaners had to spray everything with disinfectant," Chapman said last week in a telephone interview. "This was a building people had raved about. Now, it's barren and empty."

Led by pro wrestling legends Hart, Roddy Piper and Harley Race, fundraising efforts toward rebuilding began in earnest last month at the Institute's annual George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction weekend. That's also when another crisis began.

During a posthumous induction speech for his father Stu, Hart went on a rant against two other honorees. A stickler for wrestling history, Hart railed against grappler rankings printed in books by Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson - including his own slotting as the No. 14 all-time Canadian grappler. After only one of the authors departed when he made a "they-go-or-I-go" threat, Hart himself left the room to a standing ovation.

"I had become aware a couple weeks prior to the event that there was some ill feelings on Bret's part, but I had no idea it went as deep as it did or I wouldn't have put either (party) in this position," Chapman said. "Bret and Danny Hodge care more about the history of this sport than any other wrestlers I know."

Chapman said he isn't angry with Hart for speaking his mind.

"There was some tension there, but isn't pro wrestling based on feuds and controversy?" Chapman said. "Who really got hurt here? The museum got all kinds of (media) play. . . . I would rather it wouldn't have gone this way, but I told Bret I hope he comes back next year."

If there is a next year.

Despite a nice financial contribution by Billy Baldwin (a former amateur wrestler), fundraising hasn't come close to raising the money needed to repair the damage. The not-for-profit institute also didn't have flood insurance but is hoping for some FEMA relief.

"We were hit probably harder than any other business in the downtown area," Chapman said. "From talking to the previous owner, the people we lease the building from said a drop of water hadn't touched the basement in 30 years. We had all the inventory for our gift shop there."

As World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon has tried to rewrite wrestling history through his purchase of rival promotions and video libraries, Chapman and the institute have played an important role in presenting a more objective view of the industry's origins. Formed in 1998, the institute also housed a plethora of amateur wrestling knowledge starting from the days of the ancient Greeks.

An author of 13 wrestling books, the 64-year-old Chapman was set to resign as executive director before the flooding. Now, he plans to remain until at least next year as the institute tries climbing off the mat.

"We've taken it on ourselves to preserve a very integral and important part of world culture," Chapman said. "We're very proud of it."

For donation information, visit wrestlingmuseum.org.