Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tonight at EWE!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Relay for Life in Humboldt is Postponed.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
"A New Dawn"
It almost took an act of congress and God for Brian Tramel to convince me to do a regular column a mere two years ago. But 2 RRO "Columnists of the Year" awards later, I've rediscovered my passion for writing. Not only will this be a place for fans, friends and everyone in between to read my views on different aspects of this business we love so much, but will also serve as a place I can update whats going in my career.
A new dawn is upon us. I love feedback, so please leave comments. I try to keep a positive tone in most of my articles, I think there is enough mudslinging going on in the world, let alone pro wrestling. I may even ask some of familiar friends to contribute here and there. So buckle up and get ready for a brand new ride thats gonna be as always, as good as gold.
"The Last Writes of RRO"
It seems no matter what I write in this article that in my heart in won't be nearly enough. How do sum up something that has been apart of your daily life for five years in a mere five paragraphs? RRO, Rasslin Riot Online, is by far the most viewed, most popular, most controversial and most influential entity in this area. In the RRO Top 50 of 5 years, if Dustin Starr is #3, yours truly is #2 and Derrick King is #1 then in my humble opinion then RRO is #1-A.
When it comes to RRO then you are on either one of two teams, you love it or you hate it. There isn't an in between. Although some people swap teams depending on what review BT gave them. I myself have always loved the site. I didn't agree with everything that was said or done but I agreed with purpose of the site. No matter how you feel about RRO, Brian Tramel or the rest of the RRO staff.. the website benefited us all. For five years we had someone in our corner, fighting for us to succeed and putting over everything we tried to do. Our own, in house publicist. Weaving ways to make our names synonymous with pro wrestling's premiere athletes.
I encouraged BT from the very beginning to be the sole voice of RRO. I knew that people would be far more interested in his insight rather than just a bland result of weekly shows. There isn't a single person that BT reported on for this site that he didn't say something positive about but by the same token he shined light on what he felt was negative to. BT at times had questioned my matches and my booking, I'm glad he did so. We all should be glad that he did so, because that meant we were getting genuine feedback. If I whole hearted disagreed with his opinion then I called him directly to talk about it, sometimes he changed his mind but most of the time we agreed to disagree. I personally valued BT's opinion not because he ran a website but because he was my friend.
There are only a handful of guys in this business that I can call and talk to about things other than wrestling and BT is close to top on their very short list. We've known each other for a decade now from when he saw something special in me from the very beginning as he did with other guys that worked in his CCW (Chaotic Champion Wrestling) company. His passion is unmatched. If any of us found out today that we couldn't step through those ropes anymore would we still have the "want to" to spend as much time and energy as BT did on this site. Even for a week, let alone five years?
I don't begrudge Brian for wanting to start something new. Selfishly I still don't want the site to end. I think about some of the guys who broke into the business after the site who started that maybe wanted to achieve some level of notoriety thought the RRO Awards Race. Some great young talent that won't benefit from the opportunities that RRO has provided over the last half-decade. Almost 4 million hits in 5 years, the only word that comes to mind is ...wow! What an accomplishment, for all of us. The fact that this circus of life known as pro wrestling would draw this so much much attention and fan fare. Let's not forget all of the performers that attributed to this, especially those who aren't with us anymore and our ring leader... Brian Tramel, who put us center stage for the world to see. Thank you BT and thank you all. This experience has been as good as gold.
"Did You Know?"
I'm sure most of my readers have seen the "Did you know?" segment during WWE programming. Providing fun facts to boast about some of the companies achievements in entertainment. I thought it would be fun to do my own version providing maybe some information that might be of interest to some you. I hope I don't get a copyright letter from WWE legal and here we go.
Did you know that "Skinning the Cat" comes from the phrase "There's more than one way to skin a cat."? Meaning that there is more than one way to get into the ring.
Did you know that Stan Hansen is credited with inventing the clothesline/lariat? I heard Jim Ross say this years ago and then found it true with several other sources. I've watched wrestling from before Hansen's debut and have yet to see a clothesline, so if you dispute this fact find me some footage proving so and I'll post a retraction.
What move are you going for when you shoot a guy in the corner, you charge, he moves and you end crotching yourself on the 2nd turnbuckle? No its not the dreaded Hugging Crotch Splash. Did you know it is The Monkey Flip? Whenever I asked people this early my career, I got answers like "Because its wrestling." It wasn't until Goldust was wrestling on Sunday Night Heat and went for a Monkey Flip got pushed off and went for it again that the psychology became clear. Thank you Goldust.
And speaking of Goldust, Montreal wasn't the first screwjob. In the early 30s, a powerful promoting group called The Goldust Trio performed the first memorable wrestling screwjob. A promotion had put the title on a famous football star in hopes of drawing more money but it was The Goldust Trio who gave the order to have a hooker embarress him in front of a sold out crowd pinning him over and over until the ref had no choice but to give the title to the challenger.
Did you know that the late "Playboy" Buddy Rose competed in the first match in Wrestlemania history under a hood as The Executioner losing to Tito Santana?
Did you know years later, 1996, Terry Gordy would be The Executioner for a short stint in WWF aligning himself with Mankind and Paul Bearer vs The Undertaker?
Did you know at one time Ric Flair was going to put over Buddy Landel as "The Nature Boy" but Landel got fired before this came to fruition? This is according the Ladel himself.
Would love some feedback on this article, so drop me an email, facebook message, text me or call me. You can myspace me but only if you want me to read it in say May or June. I promise.
Did you know that "Skinning the Cat" comes from the phrase "There's more than one way to skin a cat."? Meaning that there is more than one way to get into the ring.
Did you know that Stan Hansen is credited with inventing the clothesline/lariat? I heard Jim Ross say this years ago and then found it true with several other sources. I've watched wrestling from before Hansen's debut and have yet to see a clothesline, so if you dispute this fact find me some footage proving so and I'll post a retraction.
What move are you going for when you shoot a guy in the corner, you charge, he moves and you end crotching yourself on the 2nd turnbuckle? No its not the dreaded Hugging Crotch Splash. Did you know it is The Monkey Flip? Whenever I asked people this early my career, I got answers like "Because its wrestling." It wasn't until Goldust was wrestling on Sunday Night Heat and went for a Monkey Flip got pushed off and went for it again that the psychology became clear. Thank you Goldust.
And speaking of Goldust, Montreal wasn't the first screwjob. In the early 30s, a powerful promoting group called The Goldust Trio performed the first memorable wrestling screwjob. A promotion had put the title on a famous football star in hopes of drawing more money but it was The Goldust Trio who gave the order to have a hooker embarress him in front of a sold out crowd pinning him over and over until the ref had no choice but to give the title to the challenger.
Did you know that the late "Playboy" Buddy Rose competed in the first match in Wrestlemania history under a hood as The Executioner losing to Tito Santana?
Did you know years later, 1996, Terry Gordy would be The Executioner for a short stint in WWF aligning himself with Mankind and Paul Bearer vs The Undertaker?
Did you know at one time Ric Flair was going to put over Buddy Landel as "The Nature Boy" but Landel got fired before this came to fruition? This is according the Ladel himself.
Would love some feedback on this article, so drop me an email, facebook message, text me or call me. You can myspace me but only if you want me to read it in say May or June. I promise.
"Thank You, All"
Well, 2010 is almost in the books as we prepare for a new year. I wanted to take time to say "Thank You" to all who have been so supportive of myself and wrestling in general. I've stated in the past I was reluctant, to say the least, about committing to writing an article of a regular basis but it has been one of the best decisions I have made. I've always had a passion for writing and being able to steer that creativity towards my passion for wrestling has truly been a blessing.
I want to thank Brian Tramel of Rasslin Riot for being so supportive and persistent of getting The Golden Circle off and running. I also want to thank Norine at Carnage Chronicles and Brian at Missouri Wrestling Revival for asking me to contribute to their sites. All involved have a passion for the business, for us as athletes and all they want to see is people succeed and we need more people like that. People that can bring out the positives in our industry.
I also want to thank all the boys who call, text, email or facebook me when a particular articles hits them just right. I love hearing their feedback whether its good, bad or just gets that ball rolling on a productive wrestling conversation. Without you guys, my peers, then none of this would be possible. I really appreciate all the guys from the midwest, who don't know me personally, but have been keeping up and hope that they gain a little something from each article. Last but not least I'd like to thank Mick Foley who, I sent a link to one of my articles and, gave me some very encouraging feedback. Coming from a wrestler and writer that has accomplished so much it meant to world to me. Until 2011, I say good bye and thank you all very much.
I want to thank Brian Tramel of Rasslin Riot for being so supportive and persistent of getting The Golden Circle off and running. I also want to thank Norine at Carnage Chronicles and Brian at Missouri Wrestling Revival for asking me to contribute to their sites. All involved have a passion for the business, for us as athletes and all they want to see is people succeed and we need more people like that. People that can bring out the positives in our industry.
I also want to thank all the boys who call, text, email or facebook me when a particular articles hits them just right. I love hearing their feedback whether its good, bad or just gets that ball rolling on a productive wrestling conversation. Without you guys, my peers, then none of this would be possible. I really appreciate all the guys from the midwest, who don't know me personally, but have been keeping up and hope that they gain a little something from each article. Last but not least I'd like to thank Mick Foley who, I sent a link to one of my articles and, gave me some very encouraging feedback. Coming from a wrestler and writer that has accomplished so much it meant to world to me. Until 2011, I say good bye and thank you all very much.
"My Take on Eric Wayne"
Has any one person had more controversy surround him in such short amount of time? Being our areas only legit third generation wrestler made sure that the spotlight was on him from the very beginning. Thanks to RRO News we've been front row for his triumphs and his tribulations. Does Eric live up to his name? What about his reputation? This is just my take.
Reggie B. Fine was running Mondays nights in Memphis under the shadow of the coliseum with Derrick King at the helm. That was the first night I worked Eric Wayne. DK came to us and said that he wanted me over and to come up with a good finish. About 3 seconds after that Eric starts talking about "we can do this, or we could do that" and I told him, politely, to shut up and listen. We went out to work the match and I had to tell him to shut up and listen a few more times when he tried to call stuff over me. The match went well, I knew he was going to be good... if he could just shut up and listen.
Now this wasn't my first encounter with Eric. I was actually around when Eric started reffing. Hard to believe sometimes that I've known him since he was 15 years old. Ken was making him pay his dues by reffing, training, putting up and tearing down the ring. It was said then that if Eric was going to wrestle then he would have to go to college first. I don't think that ever panned out. You could tell then that he was bitten by the bug and once that happens its pretty much all she wrote.
The Kick! Yes, that kick. I was booking for NEW then and was there, although I didn't actually witness the kick until the following week. I remember hearing a thud and an immediate reaction from everyone in the building. It was careless, never should have happened but in a way it needed to happen. For Eric, for us, for Greg King. I'm not a religious man but if you are then you have to believe this was a small part of something greater.
In that single moment several people learned a lot about themselves. Greg King, like a novella, learned about a series of unfortunate events. I was the one that calmed the situation that night, trying to keep everyone level headed. I talked to Greg several times in the 24 hour period after the kick but then like a ghost he was gone. He cut himself off from everybody and everything about the business. His mother didn't support his wrestling and was in attendance that night. As a father I understood her concern but as a man, who never had the support of his family, I knew that nobody could ever tell me not to wrestle. I'm not saying that Greg should have wrestled with a fractured face but if he had the heart that I thought he had, then it wouldn't have been as easy as it was to walk away and I ,for one, miss Greg King.
For Eric, the kick was a wake up call. The backlash and outcry from the boys was an onslaught. Eric for the most part at that time had acted like he was entitled. Because he was Ken Wayne's son, Buddy Wayne's grandson. He hadn't been wrestling that long but came off to the students at the school like they owed him something. I could see it in every interaction with them and feel a subtle, uneasy tension between the group. The kick humbled him, made him realize that mistakes were going to be made, things that were his fault and how he handled them and how he was perceived was going to be the bottom line.
Eric learned that you never stop learning in this business. That the sharing of knowledge is the only way the business can flourish. I see Eric being a lot more gracious with people. I see his overall interaction with Ken's students and the locker room improving everyday. He is commanding respect instead of demanding respect. He is also made a conscious effort to be safer with everyone.
Eric Wayne made mistakes but guess what? It was some of the same mistakes I made, that we all made. Most of us were allowed to learn and grow under the radar. Eric has since been one of our best in ring performers and willing to learn from everyone. Its been a tough road but he is one of my favorite people in the business. Reputations and perceptions are hard to change, I hope that if you have any negative feelings that this article maybe will shine some light on some dark subjects. Some people may not forgive and no one will probably forget but just remember there isn't a man that hasn't made a mistake, I promise
Reggie B. Fine was running Mondays nights in Memphis under the shadow of the coliseum with Derrick King at the helm. That was the first night I worked Eric Wayne. DK came to us and said that he wanted me over and to come up with a good finish. About 3 seconds after that Eric starts talking about "we can do this, or we could do that" and I told him, politely, to shut up and listen. We went out to work the match and I had to tell him to shut up and listen a few more times when he tried to call stuff over me. The match went well, I knew he was going to be good... if he could just shut up and listen.
Now this wasn't my first encounter with Eric. I was actually around when Eric started reffing. Hard to believe sometimes that I've known him since he was 15 years old. Ken was making him pay his dues by reffing, training, putting up and tearing down the ring. It was said then that if Eric was going to wrestle then he would have to go to college first. I don't think that ever panned out. You could tell then that he was bitten by the bug and once that happens its pretty much all she wrote.
The Kick! Yes, that kick. I was booking for NEW then and was there, although I didn't actually witness the kick until the following week. I remember hearing a thud and an immediate reaction from everyone in the building. It was careless, never should have happened but in a way it needed to happen. For Eric, for us, for Greg King. I'm not a religious man but if you are then you have to believe this was a small part of something greater.
In that single moment several people learned a lot about themselves. Greg King, like a novella, learned about a series of unfortunate events. I was the one that calmed the situation that night, trying to keep everyone level headed. I talked to Greg several times in the 24 hour period after the kick but then like a ghost he was gone. He cut himself off from everybody and everything about the business. His mother didn't support his wrestling and was in attendance that night. As a father I understood her concern but as a man, who never had the support of his family, I knew that nobody could ever tell me not to wrestle. I'm not saying that Greg should have wrestled with a fractured face but if he had the heart that I thought he had, then it wouldn't have been as easy as it was to walk away and I ,for one, miss Greg King.
For Eric, the kick was a wake up call. The backlash and outcry from the boys was an onslaught. Eric for the most part at that time had acted like he was entitled. Because he was Ken Wayne's son, Buddy Wayne's grandson. He hadn't been wrestling that long but came off to the students at the school like they owed him something. I could see it in every interaction with them and feel a subtle, uneasy tension between the group. The kick humbled him, made him realize that mistakes were going to be made, things that were his fault and how he handled them and how he was perceived was going to be the bottom line.
Eric learned that you never stop learning in this business. That the sharing of knowledge is the only way the business can flourish. I see Eric being a lot more gracious with people. I see his overall interaction with Ken's students and the locker room improving everyday. He is commanding respect instead of demanding respect. He is also made a conscious effort to be safer with everyone.
Eric Wayne made mistakes but guess what? It was some of the same mistakes I made, that we all made. Most of us were allowed to learn and grow under the radar. Eric has since been one of our best in ring performers and willing to learn from everyone. Its been a tough road but he is one of my favorite people in the business. Reputations and perceptions are hard to change, I hope that if you have any negative feelings that this article maybe will shine some light on some dark subjects. Some people may not forgive and no one will probably forget but just remember there isn't a man that hasn't made a mistake, I promise
"Bitter"
I usually don't even pay attention to the "kayfabe board" on RRO but someone directed my attention to the conversation thats been going on. What's wrong with the business? Now that's a loaded question if I ever heard one. Ask any wrestler what's wrong with the business and if you get less than 10 answers I'd be surprised. Maybe I can help narrow down this topic a little.
Everyone and I mean everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The problem with not just wrestling but life is that people think that's all they have to have is an opinion. Forming an opinion is easy, for instance.. just watch. My opinion, if you hate the business so much then get off your ass and do something about it. All the problems that have been shined on can't be fixed from behind a computer screen or on the other side of a smart phone. I challenge you to get down in the trenches with guys like myself, Jon Michael, Christian Jacobs, Eric Wayne, Alan Steele, Austin Lane, Pokerface and handful of others that are working together to change it from the inside out.
You can either sit in the stands and talk about what should have, could have happen but until you lace'em up and contribute to the better of the business than your opinion isn't worth the shit on the fan. All you are doing is contributing to the symptom and not the solution. Lets say 5 years from now, we correct half the things that have been talked about (and that's being very optimistic). Then who is going to take credit for it. The crew or the coach potato? The bitching, moaning and complaining, those things alone doesn't help put an ass in the seat, your company on television or a contract in someone's hand. So ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish?
Everyone and I mean everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The problem with not just wrestling but life is that people think that's all they have to have is an opinion. Forming an opinion is easy, for instance.. just watch. My opinion, if you hate the business so much then get off your ass and do something about it. All the problems that have been shined on can't be fixed from behind a computer screen or on the other side of a smart phone. I challenge you to get down in the trenches with guys like myself, Jon Michael, Christian Jacobs, Eric Wayne, Alan Steele, Austin Lane, Pokerface and handful of others that are working together to change it from the inside out.
You can either sit in the stands and talk about what should have, could have happen but until you lace'em up and contribute to the better of the business than your opinion isn't worth the shit on the fan. All you are doing is contributing to the symptom and not the solution. Lets say 5 years from now, we correct half the things that have been talked about (and that's being very optimistic). Then who is going to take credit for it. The crew or the coach potato? The bitching, moaning and complaining, those things alone doesn't help put an ass in the seat, your company on television or a contract in someone's hand. So ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish?
"Reinventing the Goof"
For those who aren't familiar, a goof is a term we use to describe the "un" in this business. The untalented, the unknowledgeable, the uninteresting. The guys who don't treat wrestling as a craft to be learned or even at times a business at all. The ones that buy a ring, buy a pair of boots (sometimes) and think that makes them professional wrestlers. Now in today's wrestling, the goofs, unfortunately, outnumber the boys. However, don't think that goofs are new to this business. In fact, as long as there was a business there was a goof to be the counter culture.
I have a few guys that cut their teeth back in the territory days that I call upon when doing research for articles such as these. With the Jeremy Wood tragedy, the light has finally been shined on the unprepared. I had a hunch, so my question to some guys who mentored me and now I call friends was "Were there goofs back when you started?". It was almost rhetorical, the answer was "yes". What I didn't know was some the very recognizable names that at one time were considered goofs.
One veteran told me that it wasn't that every outlaw show had nothing but goofs. Looking back, they actually had some good workers, it was just they weren't as good as the 13-14 man crew that the main territory supported. There were always guys that just didn't get "it". Now here we are 2010 and the business is as accessible as its ever been. With internet, shoot interviews, wrestling roundtables, books and many resources to learn wrestling theory to be a goof in this day and age you have to be as resistant as you are dumb.
I have tried very, very hard to be a positive voice in this business. The guys that have no reason being in the business, let alone running their own show when they call me I try to help. Try to give them worthwhile advice to help their little corner of world succeed. More times than not it has come back to bite me ass. Not too long ago a young man contacted me about getting into the business and wanted my honest opinion. I told him like I tell everybody go to reputable trainer, like a Harley Race. Someone that has a track record of getting guys a look in WWE. Not long after that he contacted me and said some local was going to train him for only $500.
I could be cynical, selfish and well typical but I choose to keep helping. Goofs are always going to exist. Trying to exterminate them from the business all together would probably be a losing battle. The only way to win is to take all of us that are trying our best to make something out of nothing and band together. Sink or swim, either you can be viable, helpful, positive influence on our business or you pale in comparison to your competition. That, in my opinion, is the only way the business can not just survive but strive
"Basketball Practice Macho Man Style"
Wrestling is my first love, I think we all know that. However for a period in time, basketball was just as much as a passion for me. Thinking back on it now I always liked basketball, I remember being 5-6 years old and going outside at my Grandma's on my father's side and playing for hours on end, not making a single shot. It really wasn't until I was in 6th grade that I really started to fall in love with the game. Just like everything else in my life, wrestling always seem to creep in somehow.
"The Trendsetter" Jon Michael and I have known each other for years. We are talking since elementary school. I am a few years older than he but we were on the basketball team together in junior high and high school. Sometimes its hard to bullshit someone that knew you when you were a pimple faced little kid. You can't over exaggerate stories from school because we have each other there to keep us honest. The story I'm fixing to tell is 100% true and not at all exaggerated.
I approach things I love the same. So the same went for basketball, I was usually the first one there and the last one to leave. One late afternoon after school, Jon Michael and I were playing a game of one on one. I can't remember who was winning, probably me. The bleachers were pushed back and the ball bounced and landed on top of them. So Jon went upstairs to climb over the rail to the top of the bleachers to retrieve it. As the future trendsetter was perched 15 feet at least above me, we made eye contact. We were both thinking the exact same thing and said "DO IT!". Jon Michael soared through the air and delivered the best Macho Man double axe handle in the history of Dyer County High School. I took a full fledge bump on the hardwood as Jon crashed behind me. It was awesome until our assistant basketball coach, Coach Starks came up to us and said "What the fuck are you guys doing?" To which without hesitation Jon Michael replied "Macho Man Double Axe Handle". I couldn't keep a straight face and Coach just walked away in disgust.
In my opinion, if you don't have a story like that, you should reconsider being a wrestler. Because you have to love it, live it and be fanatical about it. Kevin Nash in a promo on TNA just said after "X" amount of surgeries I'm in the this business because I love it. That's a valid point, the guys who don't love it, get what they can out of it and leave. Like The Ultimate Warrior. So remember great art comes from a true love and passion for what you are doing. There are plenty of people who can draw but only one Michelangelo. There are plenty of wrestlers but only one Ric Flair, I promise.
"The Trendsetter" Jon Michael and I have known each other for years. We are talking since elementary school. I am a few years older than he but we were on the basketball team together in junior high and high school. Sometimes its hard to bullshit someone that knew you when you were a pimple faced little kid. You can't over exaggerate stories from school because we have each other there to keep us honest. The story I'm fixing to tell is 100% true and not at all exaggerated.
I approach things I love the same. So the same went for basketball, I was usually the first one there and the last one to leave. One late afternoon after school, Jon Michael and I were playing a game of one on one. I can't remember who was winning, probably me. The bleachers were pushed back and the ball bounced and landed on top of them. So Jon went upstairs to climb over the rail to the top of the bleachers to retrieve it. As the future trendsetter was perched 15 feet at least above me, we made eye contact. We were both thinking the exact same thing and said "DO IT!". Jon Michael soared through the air and delivered the best Macho Man double axe handle in the history of Dyer County High School. I took a full fledge bump on the hardwood as Jon crashed behind me. It was awesome until our assistant basketball coach, Coach Starks came up to us and said "What the fuck are you guys doing?" To which without hesitation Jon Michael replied "Macho Man Double Axe Handle". I couldn't keep a straight face and Coach just walked away in disgust.
In my opinion, if you don't have a story like that, you should reconsider being a wrestler. Because you have to love it, live it and be fanatical about it. Kevin Nash in a promo on TNA just said after "X" amount of surgeries I'm in the this business because I love it. That's a valid point, the guys who don't love it, get what they can out of it and leave. Like The Ultimate Warrior. So remember great art comes from a true love and passion for what you are doing. There are plenty of people who can draw but only one Michelangelo. There are plenty of wrestlers but only one Ric Flair, I promise.
"Jeremy Wood Tragedy"
I've sat back with a tight jaw as I watched this story unfold before my very eyes over the past weeks. I can honestly say, even though I didn't know Jeremy very well, that it has been an emotional rollercoaster. We've seen everyone give his two cents worth on this situation. From veterans like Ken Wayne and Sir Mo to even my own trainee. Leading up to this weeks Golden Circle I had a lot of story ideas I wanted to get out there but if I didn't talk about this I felt it would be like the elephant in the room. So here we go.
When I see the pictures of Jeremy and here the stories. I don't see a trainee, a friend, a son or an announcer. Although he was all of those things and so much more. What I see is myself ten years ago. I see a kid that all he wanted to do was realize a childhood dream and just be a small part of this business we love. I see a tragedy that could have happen to me, you or anyone else.
We have all been in the ring with someone that didn't know what they were doing, careless, clumsy or even just accidental. There are so many stories and theories about what happen that there is no fact and there isn't any fiction. All there is, is lip service. The only one that could clarify this situation, sadly cannot.
As I know many of you are angry and rightfully so. Lets not let that anger become self destructive to ourselves and the business we are trying to build. Forget the finger pointing and name calling, band together and let us do something that means something. Not only to us but something I hope Jeremy could be proud of. A annual memorial show promoted to show young fans the dangers of what we do. A show that can provide people with the tools to pick a reputable training facility. Something that has been long overdue in this business.
I want to send my deepest condolences to Jeremy's family. Being a father now, I can't imagine what they must be going through. I hope they share my sediments and could join together with those who shared the same passion as their son
When I see the pictures of Jeremy and here the stories. I don't see a trainee, a friend, a son or an announcer. Although he was all of those things and so much more. What I see is myself ten years ago. I see a kid that all he wanted to do was realize a childhood dream and just be a small part of this business we love. I see a tragedy that could have happen to me, you or anyone else.
We have all been in the ring with someone that didn't know what they were doing, careless, clumsy or even just accidental. There are so many stories and theories about what happen that there is no fact and there isn't any fiction. All there is, is lip service. The only one that could clarify this situation, sadly cannot.
As I know many of you are angry and rightfully so. Lets not let that anger become self destructive to ourselves and the business we are trying to build. Forget the finger pointing and name calling, band together and let us do something that means something. Not only to us but something I hope Jeremy could be proud of. A annual memorial show promoted to show young fans the dangers of what we do. A show that can provide people with the tools to pick a reputable training facility. Something that has been long overdue in this business.
I want to send my deepest condolences to Jeremy's family. Being a father now, I can't imagine what they must be going through. I hope they share my sediments and could join together with those who shared the same passion as their son
"Just Because"
The Golden Circle "Just Because" by TGB Greg Anthony
----Greg sent in following on his thoughts about Lance Cade.
We were all hit with a bombshell this week. Lance Cade has passed away. I'd first like send my sympathies to his friends and family that dealing with tough time first hand. I just met Trevor Murdoch a few months back and can only imagine how he feels about this tragedy. Over the last decade, us as a wrestling community have had more than our fair share of death. This one seems to hit really close to home for me. Lance was 29 years old, as am I. Lance and I made our debuts not far from each other. I pretty much saw his entire career. Just because they say "only the good die young", doesn't make it right.
We had just started working a regular basis and we went to a Memphis Championship Wrestling show at a fair somewhere and that was the first time I had seen Lance live. He was tagging with Tracy Smothers as the team TNT(Tennessee-N-Texas). Long blonde hair, slender frame but still a big guy. Reminding me, and everyone else, of Barry Windham. MCW's television once featured a blood bath between Lance and William Regal, a match I went out of my way to see.
The whole Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy bunch that came out in '99 had very high hopes. Lance, Spanky and Brian Danielson have all had much success. Of the three, I always found myself wanting to see more of Lance. I wanted him to be in something he could really sink his teeth in to and give us that memorable moment that would live forever and catapult Lance into a bigger role. I got my wish when he pinned Shawn Michaels live on Monday Night Raw in a tag match. Soon after though he was released for a mistake he made outside of the ring.
Another name added to list of "too soon" in pro wrestling. Lance will be missed, in the ring by his fans and at home by his friends and family. Everyone take time to remember the important things in life. Which changes from person to person. Whatever makes us better, happy people can only be a good thing. I think the world was a better, happier place with Lance in it and it saddens me that we never got the opportunity to meet or maybe even lock horns in the squared circle. I promise.
We had just started working a regular basis and we went to a Memphis Championship Wrestling show at a fair somewhere and that was the first time I had seen Lance live. He was tagging with Tracy Smothers as the team TNT(Tennessee-N-Texas). Long blonde hair, slender frame but still a big guy. Reminding me, and everyone else, of Barry Windham. MCW's television once featured a blood bath between Lance and William Regal, a match I went out of my way to see.
The whole Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy bunch that came out in '99 had very high hopes. Lance, Spanky and Brian Danielson have all had much success. Of the three, I always found myself wanting to see more of Lance. I wanted him to be in something he could really sink his teeth in to and give us that memorable moment that would live forever and catapult Lance into a bigger role. I got my wish when he pinned Shawn Michaels live on Monday Night Raw in a tag match. Soon after though he was released for a mistake he made outside of the ring.
Another name added to list of "too soon" in pro wrestling. Lance will be missed, in the ring by his fans and at home by his friends and family. Everyone take time to remember the important things in life. Which changes from person to person. Whatever makes us better, happy people can only be a good thing. I think the world was a better, happier place with Lance in it and it saddens me that we never got the opportunity to meet or maybe even lock horns in the squared circle. I promise.
"Masterbation Match"
I can only imagine the pissed off people around the world that will type "masturbation" into google and come up with a link to this article. Because it isn't as dirty as it sounds. A masturbation match is something we've all done. Its that match we do just for us. We don't care what the crowd wants, needs or
even knows. And just like the literally meaning, it may fulfill some short term desire but whether in life or wrestling masturbating doesn't make the world work.
I've been apart of many matches where I was more trying to keep up with the Jones' than really being in tuned to my audience. I wanted to prove to myself, not really anyone in particular that I was as good or even better as some guy up east that's featured somewhere. When I started to really listen to the people that's when I become able to predict their reactions more. That's when my work started to grow.
Psychologists study for years. They learn peoples actions and reactions to every possible situation so they help and treat. But they learn all of this from a book. We as wrestlers are a poor man's psychologist. We go out and instead of reading about a reaction, we provoke it. As a wrestling fan I've laughed, cried, been angry, betrayed, seen and felt the pain of infidelity, nepotism and probably everything thats in that magical text book.
I've seen so many guys go out there and do a bunch of nonsensical gibberish that didn't help anything. Didn't help them or their opponent get over, didn't entertain the crowd and at the end of day isn't going to sell one more ticket. It was a expression in self love. So good job on the masturbation match, now wipe yourself off and try to do something productive next time.
Once again, just like masturbation we all do it. Maybe not so much a whole match anymore, but maybe a masturbation spot. Just to squeeze one out and get on to the job at hand. So don't feel too guilty, just think what would happen to the world if all we did was masturbate? The human race would die off and so would wrestling. I promise.
even knows. And just like the literally meaning, it may fulfill some short term desire but whether in life or wrestling masturbating doesn't make the world work.
I've been apart of many matches where I was more trying to keep up with the Jones' than really being in tuned to my audience. I wanted to prove to myself, not really anyone in particular that I was as good or even better as some guy up east that's featured somewhere. When I started to really listen to the people that's when I become able to predict their reactions more. That's when my work started to grow.
Psychologists study for years. They learn peoples actions and reactions to every possible situation so they help and treat. But they learn all of this from a book. We as wrestlers are a poor man's psychologist. We go out and instead of reading about a reaction, we provoke it. As a wrestling fan I've laughed, cried, been angry, betrayed, seen and felt the pain of infidelity, nepotism and probably everything thats in that magical text book.
I've seen so many guys go out there and do a bunch of nonsensical gibberish that didn't help anything. Didn't help them or their opponent get over, didn't entertain the crowd and at the end of day isn't going to sell one more ticket. It was a expression in self love. So good job on the masturbation match, now wipe yourself off and try to do something productive next time.
Once again, just like masturbation we all do it. Maybe not so much a whole match anymore, but maybe a masturbation spot. Just to squeeze one out and get on to the job at hand. So don't feel too guilty, just think what would happen to the world if all we did was masturbate? The human race would die off and so would wrestling. I promise.
"30"
Today's wrestlers aren't afraid of being paralyzed,the long term effects of steroids or a half a dozen other reasonable things to be afraid of. The most terrifying thing for a pro wrestler in this era is the number 30. Or more specifically the age 30. The general consensus is that once you've hit the magic number, you've missed the boat. You may get good opportunities to work good shows but a dream of being a WWE contracted wrestler is over. Is this fact or merely a bitter fiction that has made its bed in our world.
I did some heavy research for this article. I asked the question of several veterans who use to work the territories. Were they afraid of 30 or some other magical number? It wasn't that they were afraid of 30 but aware of it. If someone hadn't become a star or had gotten a good as they were going to by the time they hit 30 they usually started making alternative plans for the future. The big difference between then and now is that it was their decision. Plus with several profitable companies and bookers, if one promoter didn't see anything in you, whose to say the next one wouldn't.
When Vince started offering contracts to guys like to build a national WWF. He didn't hire guys 18-20 years old. He hired guys that were seasoned, guys that he knew he could be in relatively any situation and they could perform because this wouldn't be their first rodeo. And it made for a great product, were from top to bottom you had genuine workers. Guys that were working together to make money. Now everyone wasn't a Randy Savage or Ricky Steamboat but everyone played their role perfectly.
Now it isn't to say that WWE has never and will never hire someone over the age of 30. Because they have, most notably guys like The Boogyman and Rico, who were in their late 30s even 40s when hired. The ratio to twenty-somethings vs thirty-plus is a one sided margin for sure. So what is "being in your prime" in pro wrestling now? You look at Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, two guys in their 40s who went and had probably the greatest match in Wrestlemania History. Neither man could have had that match when they were 25. Because they hadn't had the 1000s of matches prior to learn from.
I personally know for a fact that if WWE would have hired me when I was 20 years old, I would have screwed it up in some way. Because I was stupid like all 20 year olds. It's like any sport, you draft someone directly out of high school and you have to deal with a maturing process. You draft a college senior and 4 year starter then,for the most part, you take that maturing process out of the equation. I personally would rather hire someone who is a great worker at 33, that could work for 10 more years than someone who is gonna be just "ok" for 20. But I promise I don't know everything
"Chemistry"
Chemistry, to most people, is the science of matter. How molecules, atoms, etc react and interact with each other. In wrestling its pretty much the same thing except there is no science to it. In chemistry if you take part "A" and mix it with part "B" then it creates part "C". In Wrestling if you take part "A" and mix it with part "B" sometimes you get part "C" but sometimes you get shit!
You never know, for sure, who is going to mesh well with who. Just because you have two great workers doesn't mean you have a for sure 5 Star match(Rating system is a trademark of RRO News and Brian Tramel and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of RRO). Same goes for two not so great workers. I've seen two guys that really didn't have much going for them but for some reason they gelled really well together. Its a crap shoot, its the world letting us know that there are no guarentees in life.
Prime example, I saw Shawn Michaels vs Mr.Perfect! How could that possibly be bad? They just didn't get in a good groove and Shawn even mentions it in his book. Motley Cruz is a guy that I have alot of respect for inside the ring. When I was TLCW champion we got a chance to work one another for the first time in a long time. We had high expectations but when we got to the match we both were waiting for the other to call the match or take the lead and it ended up being a very bland match.
Maybe wrestling isn't as complex as advance chemistry but it isn't kindergarden stuff either. There really isn't a substitute for good chemistry in wrestling. Rock/Austin, Flair/Sting.. the list goes on and on. Because its not the moves that we remember but the feeling we get from those who have immeasurable chemistry. So don't watch for that forgettable high spot but rather that unforgettable feeling this business can produce on any given night
You never know, for sure, who is going to mesh well with who. Just because you have two great workers doesn't mean you have a for sure 5 Star match(Rating system is a trademark of RRO News and Brian Tramel and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of RRO). Same goes for two not so great workers. I've seen two guys that really didn't have much going for them but for some reason they gelled really well together. Its a crap shoot, its the world letting us know that there are no guarentees in life.
Prime example, I saw Shawn Michaels vs Mr.Perfect! How could that possibly be bad? They just didn't get in a good groove and Shawn even mentions it in his book. Motley Cruz is a guy that I have alot of respect for inside the ring. When I was TLCW champion we got a chance to work one another for the first time in a long time. We had high expectations but when we got to the match we both were waiting for the other to call the match or take the lead and it ended up being a very bland match.
Maybe wrestling isn't as complex as advance chemistry but it isn't kindergarden stuff either. There really isn't a substitute for good chemistry in wrestling. Rock/Austin, Flair/Sting.. the list goes on and on. Because its not the moves that we remember but the feeling we get from those who have immeasurable chemistry. So don't watch for that forgettable high spot but rather that unforgettable feeling this business can produce on any given night
"Advice"
No, no, no. This article isn't a story about how I give everybody that will listen, and even those that don't, advice in this sport of sports. But rather a few stories about some small but really helpful tidbits I have been imparted with by my peers. Remember my golden rule in wrestling.. consider the source!
"The Trendsetter" Jon Michael....um, um... excuse me... Jon Michael Worthington and I have known each other since elementary school. I'm a few years older than he but we always shared a common bond with pro wrestling. So much in fact that we actually had our first match against one another. We were just two, young, green guys trying to get our foot in the door. Memphis Championship Wrestling, whom was a developmental territory at the time, gave us our first break and our first match.
We were of course very nervous but we did very well execution wise. Neither of us fully understood the real concept of who's a baby and who's a heel. After the show, William Regal came over to myself and another friend, who he thought was Jon Michael, and explained to me that I needed to kick out strong. I was doing a Ric Flair near fall for every pin and it looked weak. Great advice and some I pass on to this day. Two people in the MCW locker room talked to us that night, Regal and Reckless Youth, I've always respected both men for taking the time to encourage us, never got a chance to thank them. Maybe one day we'll cross paths again, so I can do so properly.
Alan Steele is guy that started a few years before me. If I had to pick a guy that I think should have a contract right now, Alan would be on a very short list of those I respect enough to have that spot. Alan and I, I think, have always had a good, mutual respect relationship. We never really critiqued each other but one time I came to the back and Alan said "When you throw a clothesline and someone ducks, you are throwing the same clothesline every time." It looked choreographed and he was right. That was just one of those bad habits you can pick up without paying attention. A problem that I fixed, another great piece of advice.
Now not all the advice is good advice or warranted either. I had someone pick apart my match from start to finish. I'm not thinned skinned, I welcome advice/opinion from just about anyone. I love to hear people's thought process when it comes to wrestling. I knew the story I told in this particular match was the right one to tell and was vindicated by the reaction of the crowd, I might had listened to the critique of this person if it wasn't for the fact I had seen them do/tell the exact same story I did a few weeks prior.
On the surface, advice and $1 can buy you a cup of coffee. Its what you do with advice once you receive it. Is it in one ear, out the other? Or do you let it fester on you and diminish your own self worth? Do you take it constructively and apply the knowledge you have been granted? Any of these are acceptable as long as you consider the source, I promise.
"The Trendsetter" Jon Michael....um, um... excuse me... Jon Michael Worthington and I have known each other since elementary school. I'm a few years older than he but we always shared a common bond with pro wrestling. So much in fact that we actually had our first match against one another. We were just two, young, green guys trying to get our foot in the door. Memphis Championship Wrestling, whom was a developmental territory at the time, gave us our first break and our first match.
We were of course very nervous but we did very well execution wise. Neither of us fully understood the real concept of who's a baby and who's a heel. After the show, William Regal came over to myself and another friend, who he thought was Jon Michael, and explained to me that I needed to kick out strong. I was doing a Ric Flair near fall for every pin and it looked weak. Great advice and some I pass on to this day. Two people in the MCW locker room talked to us that night, Regal and Reckless Youth, I've always respected both men for taking the time to encourage us, never got a chance to thank them. Maybe one day we'll cross paths again, so I can do so properly.
Alan Steele is guy that started a few years before me. If I had to pick a guy that I think should have a contract right now, Alan would be on a very short list of those I respect enough to have that spot. Alan and I, I think, have always had a good, mutual respect relationship. We never really critiqued each other but one time I came to the back and Alan said "When you throw a clothesline and someone ducks, you are throwing the same clothesline every time." It looked choreographed and he was right. That was just one of those bad habits you can pick up without paying attention. A problem that I fixed, another great piece of advice.
Now not all the advice is good advice or warranted either. I had someone pick apart my match from start to finish. I'm not thinned skinned, I welcome advice/opinion from just about anyone. I love to hear people's thought process when it comes to wrestling. I knew the story I told in this particular match was the right one to tell and was vindicated by the reaction of the crowd, I might had listened to the critique of this person if it wasn't for the fact I had seen them do/tell the exact same story I did a few weeks prior.
On the surface, advice and $1 can buy you a cup of coffee. Its what you do with advice once you receive it. Is it in one ear, out the other? Or do you let it fester on you and diminish your own self worth? Do you take it constructively and apply the knowledge you have been granted? Any of these are acceptable as long as you consider the source, I promise.
"Metrosexual Mania"
Wrestling is a tough business. We've got grown men throwing and slamming each other and Contrary to popular belief, it hurts. In addition, we've all got that "jock" mentality. Machismo reaching a boiling point a lot of times. With all that being said, Metro sexual Mania is still running wild in pro wrestling.
Here I am in a locker room with some of the toughest men I've ever known and I hear things like... "Do I look bloated?", "Your abs look great", "Does my ass look flat in these tights?". Everyone has said or done something to that extent. Have you ever asked another man to rub baby oil on your back? Not acceptable at the gym but its ok in pro wrestling. Some of things I've seen and heard would make a great Saturday Night Live skit.
We all have friends outside the business. Being in Tennessee some of mine are good ole boys from the country. Things that are musts/requirements in wrestling seem very gay to the average male. Like highlighting your hair or the extensive man-scaping that goes on with a pro wrestler. Even tanning in a tanning bed is a little much for some men.
Once, back in the LAW in Dyersburg days, Christian Jacobs had a run in during the show. So CJ was dressed in a pair of jeans with no shirt and had oiled up. Waiting for his spot Chris O'Neal comes asks if he has time to run to Taco Bell with him? CJ agrees and hops in the car with Chris. They get back and tell me they went to the drive thru. I can only imagine what the people working the window must have been thinking with two males, one shirtless and oiled up coming thru. The best part is that Chris was wearing a Picture Perfect t-shirt with his and CJ's picture on the front. You can't write stuff like that.
Is metro sexuality good or bad for wrestling? I can't answer that myself. I think we are more a product of the environment that anything else. We are constantly under the microscope like super models. To be thin, tan or whatever magazine dream people think we should be thus creating this sometime insecurity about our appearance. I say be healthy but be you, I promise you can't go wrong with that.. and when "The Golden Boy' Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
"Give me Embry Anyday"
Alot of the boys are working harder than ever to be in the kind of shape that might land them a contract. A word most of them use alot is "genetics". Some say they can't get those John Morrison abs or work, work, work but can't seem to add the muscle they want or need. Like BT ,and most of the boys in the business, we are first and foremost fans. And as a fan if you give me a choice between a 275 pound meathead that can't tell me who Lou Thesz is or someone less physically gifted but can work circles around 99.9%. Then give me the worker.
I'm not saying that we should all be fat slobs and not try to be in the best athletic shape we can be in. I'm saying overlooking people's ability in any sport or entertainment because they don't meet a specific visual criteria is not good business. Every wrestler seems to be under the same microscope as women in the entertainment industry. If you have a women with every musically talent in the world but if she's 300 pounds then all of sudden she's not suitable for the industry. As it goes for wrestling in this day and age.
Eric Embry was 5'10, around 225. He didn't have the physique of an Ultimate Warrior or Lex Luger. Even though I haven't had the pleasure of working with any of these men, if you told me I to pick one of these men to work for 6 months straight.. give me Embry any day. Of course that's purely from a working perspective. I'ld probably earn more money with Warrior but also some concussions.
My theory has changed alot in the last year or so. I see some guys getting on the gas, so they can be as big as humanly possible. They want to be COSMETICALLY in the greatest shape of their lives. They aren't working out to achieve a size,shape or health that will make them better workers. The steroid issue has fizzled out some but is still a touchy subject. I've never took steroids, obviously, but I have been tempted. I'd love to wrestle a match when I'm 70, like Thesz. By that time the next oldest person in the business would be like 28. On the bright side it might be my grandson.
I'm not saying that we should all be fat slobs and not try to be in the best athletic shape we can be in. I'm saying overlooking people's ability in any sport or entertainment because they don't meet a specific visual criteria is not good business. Every wrestler seems to be under the same microscope as women in the entertainment industry. If you have a women with every musically talent in the world but if she's 300 pounds then all of sudden she's not suitable for the industry. As it goes for wrestling in this day and age.
Eric Embry was 5'10, around 225. He didn't have the physique of an Ultimate Warrior or Lex Luger. Even though I haven't had the pleasure of working with any of these men, if you told me I to pick one of these men to work for 6 months straight.. give me Embry any day. Of course that's purely from a working perspective. I'ld probably earn more money with Warrior but also some concussions.
My theory has changed alot in the last year or so. I see some guys getting on the gas, so they can be as big as humanly possible. They want to be COSMETICALLY in the greatest shape of their lives. They aren't working out to achieve a size,shape or health that will make them better workers. The steroid issue has fizzled out some but is still a touchy subject. I've never took steroids, obviously, but I have been tempted. I'd love to wrestle a match when I'm 70, like Thesz. By that time the next oldest person in the business would be like 28. On the bright side it might be my grandson.
"The Power of the Internet"
I am amazed at how much the internet has influenced the world. I'm part of a generation that will be able to tell our kids about a time before the internet. It has changed the way we interact, converse and live. Its changed the way every business functions, even wrestling, hell.. especially wrestling. The changes have been both positive and negative. No matter which side of the fence you are on, you cannot deny the power of the internet.
Before anyone can point out the irony of me writing an article about the power on the internet while on the internet, let me say I am aware. Thank you, smartasses. But since you've got the ball rolling lets use rasslinriot itself as an example. The owner/operator of this site, Brian Tramel, is a friend of mine. He gave me one of my first bookings away from the federation that gave us our break. Since then we become close friends.
Now I respect BT's opinion because he's a friend not because he owns a website. You might be surprised how many people out there are determining their value based on his opinion. Now just because we're friends doesn't mean I agree with him 100%. We've disagreed about workers, matches, finishes and just wrestling in general. The power of the internet has defiantly took his opinion's worth to another level.
The one thing that is that BT can rave about a particular worker but he doesn't know what it feels like to lock up with that individual. Someone that he likes may be, as we say, "Like Pulling Teeth". BT loves wrestling creatively and sometimes will give his thoughts on maybe how the booking should have been handled. What BT isn't , is in that locker room and aware the deciding factor of that booking decision.
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't pin your hopes and dreams on a website's opinion. Not this one or any other. Rather find several close friends in the business that you know, they know what they are talking about and they'll be honest with you and themselves. BT has praised me and openly disagreed with me in this forum. I've argued with his disagreements, and even some of his praises(although not publicity), LOL. I don't take it personally, because its not personal. Its business and I've been a person that encouraged him to voice his opinion. What kind of hypocrite would I be if I told him to voice his opinion as long as it wasn't negative against me? What I'll tell anyone about critique or praise is consider the source
Before anyone can point out the irony of me writing an article about the power on the internet while on the internet, let me say I am aware. Thank you, smartasses. But since you've got the ball rolling lets use rasslinriot itself as an example. The owner/operator of this site, Brian Tramel, is a friend of mine. He gave me one of my first bookings away from the federation that gave us our break. Since then we become close friends.
Now I respect BT's opinion because he's a friend not because he owns a website. You might be surprised how many people out there are determining their value based on his opinion. Now just because we're friends doesn't mean I agree with him 100%. We've disagreed about workers, matches, finishes and just wrestling in general. The power of the internet has defiantly took his opinion's worth to another level.
The one thing that is that BT can rave about a particular worker but he doesn't know what it feels like to lock up with that individual. Someone that he likes may be, as we say, "Like Pulling Teeth". BT loves wrestling creatively and sometimes will give his thoughts on maybe how the booking should have been handled. What BT isn't , is in that locker room and aware the deciding factor of that booking decision.
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't pin your hopes and dreams on a website's opinion. Not this one or any other. Rather find several close friends in the business that you know, they know what they are talking about and they'll be honest with you and themselves. BT has praised me and openly disagreed with me in this forum. I've argued with his disagreements, and even some of his praises(although not publicity), LOL. I don't take it personally, because its not personal. Its business and I've been a person that encouraged him to voice his opinion. What kind of hypocrite would I be if I told him to voice his opinion as long as it wasn't negative against me? What I'll tell anyone about critique or praise is consider the source
"In America Part 1"
If you were to start naming the greatest japanese wrestlers of all time names like Inoki, Baba and Rikodazan might be among the firsts. Then you might start naming more modern names like Ohtani, Masawa, Kobashi. You might even start dissecting the impact of gimmicks like Tiger Mask I-IV, Jushin Liger or Hayabusa. However as great as these athletes are, how many of these names are even recognizable in America
Who are the most successful that arrived from the land of the rising sun? Whose name could be acknowledged inTokyo as well as Tucson or Tampa Bay
To me, no one is as iconic as The Great Muta. Maybe it was the face paint or the samari garb, or maybe, just maybe it was the unique style of Muta that made him stand apart from pack. His matches with Sting,usually for the television title, in the late 80s were one of those rare occasions were you had two guys that were so different, yet so similar. Billed as the son of Florida/Texas star The Great Kabuki, Muta adopted the same gimmick, mist and all. Muta went on to become an NWA World Champion eventually losing the strap to Barry Windham. As great as The Great Muta was, the last time he was seen by american fans was in mid 2000 in WCW. So who has carried that torch the last decade?
The Japanese Buzzsaw, Yoshohiro Tajiri without question has been the most recognizable Asian athlete in pro wrestling for the past 10 years. He first showed up in WWF in '97 to compete in the light heavyweight tournament. A tournament designed to showcase another talent. His talent caught the eye of wrestling mad scientist, Paul Heyman and began working for ECW. A triple threat match pitting Tajiri vs Supercrazy vs Little Guido became a match that could happen anywhere, at anytime and was used as a great addition to any ECW card. When ECW closed in 2001, Tajiri began his WWE career. In his four years with the company, he had title reigns as US Champion, Cruiserweight Champion and Tag Champion with the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
It’s hard enough to make it as a pro in anything. Now imagine trying to make it half way around the world. These men have been cornerstones of the sport inJapan and have for sure made their mark on wrestling in America America
Who are the most successful that arrived from the land of the rising sun? Whose name could be acknowledged in
To me, no one is as iconic as The Great Muta. Maybe it was the face paint or the samari garb, or maybe, just maybe it was the unique style of Muta that made him stand apart from pack. His matches with Sting,usually for the television title, in the late 80s were one of those rare occasions were you had two guys that were so different, yet so similar. Billed as the son of Florida/Texas star The Great Kabuki, Muta adopted the same gimmick, mist and all. Muta went on to become an NWA World Champion eventually losing the strap to Barry Windham. As great as The Great Muta was, the last time he was seen by american fans was in mid 2000 in WCW. So who has carried that torch the last decade?
The Japanese Buzzsaw, Yoshohiro Tajiri without question has been the most recognizable Asian athlete in pro wrestling for the past 10 years. He first showed up in WWF in '97 to compete in the light heavyweight tournament. A tournament designed to showcase another talent. His talent caught the eye of wrestling mad scientist, Paul Heyman and began working for ECW. A triple threat match pitting Tajiri vs Supercrazy vs Little Guido became a match that could happen anywhere, at anytime and was used as a great addition to any ECW card. When ECW closed in 2001, Tajiri began his WWE career. In his four years with the company, he had title reigns as US Champion, Cruiserweight Champion and Tag Champion with the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
It’s hard enough to make it as a pro in anything. Now imagine trying to make it half way around the world. These men have been cornerstones of the sport in
"Missing Moondog"
The other night here in town I ran into James Booker, one of Moondog Spot's sons, we chit chatted, talked a little wrestling, shook hands and said goodbye. As he was walking away I began thinking how much his Dad helped me. I thought about how much his Dad helped a lot of us in this area. Everyone here has a "Moondog Story" and that's why I and I'm sure alot of you out there are missing Moondog.
Larry was truly a class act, he was business but not a prick about it. When I had the opportunity to work with him he was at a time trying to teach young guys the importance of the old school way. He was trying the best he knew how to teach guys respect for the business he had given his life to. Some took his words to heart, others were just hard headed or at least they thought they were until Moondog Spot swung something at them.
Nobody cared more, knew more or made more out of their gimmick than Moondog Spot. He knew without any doubt how a "moondog" should be presented to the crowd. And he wasn't afraid to tell people when they had it wrong. I first hand saw the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong. I saw Larry let a promoter book him one way, then I saw the difference when Larry booked it the way he felt it should be. The difference was undeniable.
Larry and I worked a program with each other for 4 months. Larry had little ways of testing you, to see if you had what it took. We did a pull apart during this time and he had two handfuls of my hair as wrestlers were trying to pull him away, it was yanking on my every so tender head. For ,I swear, a straight 5 minutes he had me by the hair as tears welled up in my eyes. When the actually "pull apart" actually happened I headed to the back. My scalp was throbbing, it hurt like crazy. Larry came to the back and said "They were really trying to pull me away, so I had to grab your hair.. that was a shoot, are you ok?". I shook his hand and said "I'm fine, felt fine.. thank you."
That's the way he tested a lot of us. Some guys would get hit with chairs, boards, exc... and just cower away and that's when he'd really hit them. When Larry hit me, I hit him just as hard. Larry didn't want anyone to cower away, he wanted you to stand up and work with him. That's how you earned his respect. Some thought just by taking his hits, that was his respect, that wasn't the case. He joked about those that would just go out there and let him eat their lunch.
I remember the night he passed away. Chris Rocker got the call from Will Gibson that Larry had a heart attack working a match in Memphis. We didn't know the extent of it all yet, we just kind of were in shock. When news came that he had actually passed away it was a tough thing for all of us. I went to the funeral, as we all did, to pay our respects. Larry was well respected and it showed on that day. There were legends there and they openly wept for their friend as did I and knowing Larry like I did, I know that he wouldn't have wanted to leave his family that early but I know in my heart that he found solace that he died doing what he loved. We all could only be that lucky, I promise.
Larry was truly a class act, he was business but not a prick about it. When I had the opportunity to work with him he was at a time trying to teach young guys the importance of the old school way. He was trying the best he knew how to teach guys respect for the business he had given his life to. Some took his words to heart, others were just hard headed or at least they thought they were until Moondog Spot swung something at them.
Nobody cared more, knew more or made more out of their gimmick than Moondog Spot. He knew without any doubt how a "moondog" should be presented to the crowd. And he wasn't afraid to tell people when they had it wrong. I first hand saw the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong. I saw Larry let a promoter book him one way, then I saw the difference when Larry booked it the way he felt it should be. The difference was undeniable.
Larry and I worked a program with each other for 4 months. Larry had little ways of testing you, to see if you had what it took. We did a pull apart during this time and he had two handfuls of my hair as wrestlers were trying to pull him away, it was yanking on my every so tender head. For ,I swear, a straight 5 minutes he had me by the hair as tears welled up in my eyes. When the actually "pull apart" actually happened I headed to the back. My scalp was throbbing, it hurt like crazy. Larry came to the back and said "They were really trying to pull me away, so I had to grab your hair.. that was a shoot, are you ok?". I shook his hand and said "I'm fine, felt fine.. thank you."
That's the way he tested a lot of us. Some guys would get hit with chairs, boards, exc... and just cower away and that's when he'd really hit them. When Larry hit me, I hit him just as hard. Larry didn't want anyone to cower away, he wanted you to stand up and work with him. That's how you earned his respect. Some thought just by taking his hits, that was his respect, that wasn't the case. He joked about those that would just go out there and let him eat their lunch.
I remember the night he passed away. Chris Rocker got the call from Will Gibson that Larry had a heart attack working a match in Memphis. We didn't know the extent of it all yet, we just kind of were in shock. When news came that he had actually passed away it was a tough thing for all of us. I went to the funeral, as we all did, to pay our respects. Larry was well respected and it showed on that day. There were legends there and they openly wept for their friend as did I and knowing Larry like I did, I know that he wouldn't have wanted to leave his family that early but I know in my heart that he found solace that he died doing what he loved. We all could only be that lucky, I promise.
"Frankensteiner"
It was a cold October night when I saw Scott Steiner debut The Frankensteiner during Halloween Havoc. I had just witnessed the greatest move in wrestling. It was both athletic and powerful, smooth but devastating. The Steiners were very innovative and this was Scott's Sistine Chapel. Now fast forward to 2010, is there any move that could make me feel that way again?
Let me clarify, as most already know, I'm more interested in the storytelling process of a match than the moves there within. However the moves themselves are important. What would Stone Cold be without The Stunner, or is there a move the embodies Shawn Michaels more than The Superkick? Having the right move can also tell a story of your personality.
Over the last 20 years we have become so desensitized to moves. Well actually we've become desensitized to life. The Frankensteiner was new, I'ld never seen a headscissors that ended with a DDT like bump before, it blew my mind. I thought "What else is possible?". The Frankensteiner was innovation and revolutionary but most of all it was safe.
The industry now has this misconception that for something to be cool, then someone has to die. In the late 90s, I started seeing alot of brainbusters being used in various places. Its not hard to pick somone up in a suplex then drop them on their head. For awhile I had forgot how safe the brainbuster could be the way Koko B. Ware or Dick Murdoch used it. Somethings need to change... back.
I'm not saying we should "devolve" as a business but we can for sure be safer. The business can only strive with talent individuals at the helm. What will happen to the business if the ones with all the talent are dropped on their heads by some goof who created a new move on Smackdown vs Raw 2010? If the story is there then you don't need a Three Flip Springboard Cradle Piledriver with a Bridge... I promise.
Let me clarify, as most already know, I'm more interested in the storytelling process of a match than the moves there within. However the moves themselves are important. What would Stone Cold be without The Stunner, or is there a move the embodies Shawn Michaels more than The Superkick? Having the right move can also tell a story of your personality.
Over the last 20 years we have become so desensitized to moves. Well actually we've become desensitized to life. The Frankensteiner was new, I'ld never seen a headscissors that ended with a DDT like bump before, it blew my mind. I thought "What else is possible?". The Frankensteiner was innovation and revolutionary but most of all it was safe.
The industry now has this misconception that for something to be cool, then someone has to die. In the late 90s, I started seeing alot of brainbusters being used in various places. Its not hard to pick somone up in a suplex then drop them on their head. For awhile I had forgot how safe the brainbuster could be the way Koko B. Ware or Dick Murdoch used it. Somethings need to change... back.
I'm not saying we should "devolve" as a business but we can for sure be safer. The business can only strive with talent individuals at the helm. What will happen to the business if the ones with all the talent are dropped on their heads by some goof who created a new move on Smackdown vs Raw 2010? If the story is there then you don't need a Three Flip Springboard Cradle Piledriver with a Bridge... I promise.
"Ghosts of Golden Boy's Past"
I'm a big believer that to know where you're going then you have to know where you've been. That's why I've spent so much time studying the history of our business. One of my biggest pet peeves is guys not knowing their own history. If you're going to be a cowboy then you should know a guy like Stan Hansen. If you insist to use the mist as part of your gimmick then you should know each color does different things. So when I decided that I was going to be "The Golden Boy" then I imediatley researched Golden Boy's of the past.
Arnold Skaaland [photo above] is a WWE Hall of Famer. He was a cornerstone of the then WWWF(World Wide Wrestling Federation) during their most formative years. Holding the the tag titles with Spiros Arion. He later retired from competition and began managing. Arnie maganged two world champions in Bruno Sammertino and Bob Backlund. He was also the one whom threw in the towel in the infamous Iron Sheik-Backlund confrontation that cost Backlund his title. It also became Backlund's catalyst for his heel run as champion in the mid 90s that resulted in Backlund attacking him. Mr. Skaaland was a loyal member of the WWE family his whole career until he passed away in 2007. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but his impact on me is evident.
Some familiar names have also been a Golden Boy. Before he was a Skyscrapper, Dan Spivey [photo above] was a Golden Boy. Spivey was brought in to WWF to team with Mike Rotundo but when that team was dismantled he was repackaged as "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey even competing in Wrestlemania 2. Jeff Jarrett was one early in his career. Before he was King of the Mountain, a member of The 4 Horseman or even J-e-double f, J-a-double r-e-double t.. "Double J" Jeff Jarrett.
Because of my proximity alot of people bring up the name of "Golden Boy" Chick Donovan [photo above]. A journeyman that laid his bed mostly in the southeast. He was apart of Jimmy Hart's First Family and even had a run as the Southern Heavyweight Champion. I just saw a match on youtube featuring Chick and he is still in tremendous shape. I would love to get together a maybe have a battle of The Golden Boys or even a tag match.
I hope that these past golden boys approve of my current use of the name. I've always shrived to be respectful to those who paved the way in our business. Over the years I've used different aspects of each of these guys interpretation of the gimmick while creating my own. When I was very young in the business these men gave me a templete to create what the golden boy is today. So I say thank you to them all because they are truly is as good as gold.
Arnold Skaaland [photo above] is a WWE Hall of Famer. He was a cornerstone of the then WWWF(World Wide Wrestling Federation) during their most formative years. Holding the the tag titles with Spiros Arion. He later retired from competition and began managing. Arnie maganged two world champions in Bruno Sammertino and Bob Backlund. He was also the one whom threw in the towel in the infamous Iron Sheik-Backlund confrontation that cost Backlund his title. It also became Backlund's catalyst for his heel run as champion in the mid 90s that resulted in Backlund attacking him. Mr. Skaaland was a loyal member of the WWE family his whole career until he passed away in 2007. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but his impact on me is evident.
Some familiar names have also been a Golden Boy. Before he was a Skyscrapper, Dan Spivey [photo above] was a Golden Boy. Spivey was brought in to WWF to team with Mike Rotundo but when that team was dismantled he was repackaged as "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey even competing in Wrestlemania 2. Jeff Jarrett was one early in his career. Before he was King of the Mountain, a member of The 4 Horseman or even J-e-double f, J-a-double r-e-double t.. "Double J" Jeff Jarrett.
Because of my proximity alot of people bring up the name of "Golden Boy" Chick Donovan [photo above]. A journeyman that laid his bed mostly in the southeast. He was apart of Jimmy Hart's First Family and even had a run as the Southern Heavyweight Champion. I just saw a match on youtube featuring Chick and he is still in tremendous shape. I would love to get together a maybe have a battle of The Golden Boys or even a tag match.
I hope that these past golden boys approve of my current use of the name. I've always shrived to be respectful to those who paved the way in our business. Over the years I've used different aspects of each of these guys interpretation of the gimmick while creating my own. When I was very young in the business these men gave me a templete to create what the golden boy is today. So I say thank you to them all because they are truly is as good as gold.
"Christmas Edition 2009"
As they say "Tis the season". Christmas is like Wrestlemania for normal people. I always feel a little retrospective during the Christmas days. I'm reminded on how much things change yet how much they still remain the same. When I was 9 I asked for the WCW Galoob action figures and now I'm 28 and I asked for the WCW Galoob action figures in mint packaging. Christmas also has given wrestling some creative outlets to use in their programs. Here are some of my favorite moments.
It is common knowledge The Fabulous Freebirds revolutionized wrestling. Their look, their sound, their mere presence was historic for our business. As the antagonists to the ever popular Von Erich family they created good business everywhere they went. There are few wrestling moments that my uncles(whom aren't wrestling fans) still mention to this day. One of those moments is when The Freebirds attacked "Santa Claus". A brutal beating of St.Nick left kids crying, parents outraged and The 'Birds still atop the heel mountain in Texas. I don't know if this was the first Santa Smackdown in wrestling but its one I remember and it has been duplicated several times since.
One moment some may or may not be aware of is the existence of The Christmas Creature! Now the Memphis area has always been kind of a Bermuda triangle of wrestling, no wrestlers don't magically disappear(ok, occasionally on Beale Street) but rather just some unexplainable occurrences. Such as a gimmick like The Christmas Creature. Long before WWE Grand Slam Champion Kane was in fact 1/2 of The Brothers of Destruction, he was USWA's Christmas Creature. As good as a writer as I have been accused of being, even I don't have the words to describe this....
It is common knowledge The Fabulous Freebirds revolutionized wrestling. Their look, their sound, their mere presence was historic for our business. As the antagonists to the ever popular Von Erich family they created good business everywhere they went. There are few wrestling moments that my uncles(whom aren't wrestling fans) still mention to this day. One of those moments is when The Freebirds attacked "Santa Claus". A brutal beating of St.Nick left kids crying, parents outraged and The 'Birds still atop the heel mountain in Texas. I don't know if this was the first Santa Smackdown in wrestling but its one I remember and it has been duplicated several times since.
One moment some may or may not be aware of is the existence of The Christmas Creature! Now the Memphis area has always been kind of a Bermuda triangle of wrestling, no wrestlers don't magically disappear(ok, occasionally on Beale Street) but rather just some unexplainable occurrences. Such as a gimmick like The Christmas Creature. Long before WWE Grand Slam Champion Kane was in fact 1/2 of The Brothers of Destruction, he was USWA's Christmas Creature. As good as a writer as I have been accused of being, even I don't have the words to describe this....
In closing, sometimes Christmas isn't about the best time or the worst present. My favorite Christmases aren't the ones were I got the most presents or had the most money spent on me. The Christmas that counts are the ones you remember, where you were or who you were with. For me personally its been a great year. My wife and I gave birth to our 2nd son, Xander. I've gotten to do what only a handful will ever do and that's be a tag team partner of a legend in Bobby Eaton. I've gotten to work with some of my dearest friends in the business and had the opportunity to make new ones. Last but not least I've gotten fill another passion of mine with this article. A creative outlet that I am thankful for, so to all that enjoy my work both inside and outside of the ring I say "Thank you" from the bottom of my heart because your praise is as good as gold
"Home Keys"
Have you ever been sitting at the keyboard typing away and when you look up you've typed a bunch nonsensical gibberish? Not because your Maxx Corbin, but because your fingers weren't on the home keys. So instead of "hi, how are you" you've typed "jo jpe str upiz". It was just a slight mistake but the end result is so much different. Pro wrestling has its own home keys. Places you need to start before you start typing/telling your stories.
I try to pay attention close attention to booking philosophies. Lets face it pretty much every story that can be told in wrestling, has been. Teacher vs Student, Family vs Family, the underdog champion, the veterans last shot at a winner, the women coming between two friends. You hurt my wife, my girlfriend, my mother, my brother, my son, my dad, my dog! I'm the new kid on the block, the future, the upstart. You're a genetic jackhammer? Its not my baby, its Tommy's? It was me who ran you over with the car and/or hummer.
Anyone worth their salt in pro wrestling knows that in our sport/entertainment it is all about the story. Athletic as this is, was and forever will be its always about the story. It would be easy to go out every night and do all the cool stuff you know how to. People would leave the show satisfied maybe even respectful. But when you go out their and give them a story that they emotional invest in, then you can make them leave with any emotion you want. So if your story is lacking then what do you really have?
I've seen companies in this area and others they don't seem to have their hands on the home keys. They want to have an invasion angle with a company that just started. Do the people love the company enough to care that someone is trying to destroy it? Taking a young talent and pushing him too much, too soon means that you've cut his worth to you in a long run.
Whatever you are trying to accomplish, there is a blueprint out there. You don't have to rip off an angle week for week but at least see how the story was laid out. See what avenues were used to accomplish their goals. Tweak and twist were needed to make a story that fits your unique situation. Because the stories may be alike but they are never identical, I promise and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise, its as good as gold
I try to pay attention close attention to booking philosophies. Lets face it pretty much every story that can be told in wrestling, has been. Teacher vs Student, Family vs Family, the underdog champion, the veterans last shot at a winner, the women coming between two friends. You hurt my wife, my girlfriend, my mother, my brother, my son, my dad, my dog! I'm the new kid on the block, the future, the upstart. You're a genetic jackhammer? Its not my baby, its Tommy's? It was me who ran you over with the car and/or hummer.
Anyone worth their salt in pro wrestling knows that in our sport/entertainment it is all about the story. Athletic as this is, was and forever will be its always about the story. It would be easy to go out every night and do all the cool stuff you know how to. People would leave the show satisfied maybe even respectful. But when you go out their and give them a story that they emotional invest in, then you can make them leave with any emotion you want. So if your story is lacking then what do you really have?
I've seen companies in this area and others they don't seem to have their hands on the home keys. They want to have an invasion angle with a company that just started. Do the people love the company enough to care that someone is trying to destroy it? Taking a young talent and pushing him too much, too soon means that you've cut his worth to you in a long run.
Whatever you are trying to accomplish, there is a blueprint out there. You don't have to rip off an angle week for week but at least see how the story was laid out. See what avenues were used to accomplish their goals. Tweak and twist were needed to make a story that fits your unique situation. Because the stories may be alike but they are never identical, I promise and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise, its as good as gold
"Home Keys"
Have you ever been sitting at the keyboard typing away and when you look up you've typed a bunch nonsensical gibberish? Not because your Maxx Corbin, but because your fingers weren't on the home keys. So instead of "hi, how are you" you've typed "jo jpe str upiz". It was just a slight mistake but the end result is so much different. Pro wrestling has its own home keys. Places you need to start before you start typing/telling your stories.
I try to pay attention close attention to booking philosophies. Lets face it pretty much every story that can be told in wrestling, has been. Teacher vs Student, Family vs Family, the underdog champion, the veterans last shot at a winner, the women coming between two friends. You hurt my wife, my girlfriend, my mother, my brother, my son, my dad, my dog! I'm the new kid on the block, the future, the upstart. You're a genetic jackhammer? Its not my baby, its Tommy's? It was me who ran you over with the car and/or hummer.
Anyone worth their salt in pro wrestling knows that in our sport/entertainment it is all about the story. Athletic as this is, was and forever will be its always about the story. It would be easy to go out every night and do all the cool stuff you know how to. People would leave the show satisfied maybe even respectful. But when you go out their and give them a story that they emotional invest in, then you can make them leave with any emotion you want. So if your story is lacking then what do you really have?
I've seen companies in this area and others they don't seem to have their hands on the home keys. They want to have an invasion angle with a company that just started. Do the people love the company enough to care that someone is trying to destroy it? Taking a young talent and pushing him too much, too soon means that you've cut his worth to you in a long run.
Whatever you are trying to accomplish, there is a blueprint out there. You don't have to rip off an angle week for week but at least see how the story was laid out. See what avenues were used to accomplish their goals. Tweak and twist were needed to make a story that fits your unique situation. Because the stories may be alike but they are never identical, I promise and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise, its as good as gold
I try to pay attention close attention to booking philosophies. Lets face it pretty much every story that can be told in wrestling, has been. Teacher vs Student, Family vs Family, the underdog champion, the veterans last shot at a winner, the women coming between two friends. You hurt my wife, my girlfriend, my mother, my brother, my son, my dad, my dog! I'm the new kid on the block, the future, the upstart. You're a genetic jackhammer? Its not my baby, its Tommy's? It was me who ran you over with the car and/or hummer.
Anyone worth their salt in pro wrestling knows that in our sport/entertainment it is all about the story. Athletic as this is, was and forever will be its always about the story. It would be easy to go out every night and do all the cool stuff you know how to. People would leave the show satisfied maybe even respectful. But when you go out their and give them a story that they emotional invest in, then you can make them leave with any emotion you want. So if your story is lacking then what do you really have?
I've seen companies in this area and others they don't seem to have their hands on the home keys. They want to have an invasion angle with a company that just started. Do the people love the company enough to care that someone is trying to destroy it? Taking a young talent and pushing him too much, too soon means that you've cut his worth to you in a long run.
Whatever you are trying to accomplish, there is a blueprint out there. You don't have to rip off an angle week for week but at least see how the story was laid out. See what avenues were used to accomplish their goals. Tweak and twist were needed to make a story that fits your unique situation. Because the stories may be alike but they are never identical, I promise and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise, its as good as gold
"Let's Get High"
To those who know me best, the title of this article is probably really confusing. Most know me as the straight laced individual in the locker room always talking about wrestling. Not the rat in the 3rd row, or looking to take the edge off with a bottle of your favorite liquid courage. Not trying to sneak off somewhere to live out the words to famous songs by Eric Clapton, The Steve Miller Band or Afroman. My high is, was and will forever be about the match.
The performance. We've all been there. When everything clicks. When you make the crowd inch closer and closer to edge of their seat with a story crafted in theater made of steel, posts and ropes. When you can make them laugh, cry, cuss, rant, rave and rejoice by the perfect combination of athleticism and entertainment. When it doesn't matter if they are in the front row or the very back because they are all in the palm of your hand.
Its my addiction, my passion, my first love. Wrestling to some is a drug. We remember our firsts and lasts. Like a true drug addict we know the pain its caused but we don't care, we'd do it all again. Like a heroin addict remembering that high with a smile on his face. Once you're addicted then you're an addict for life. There is no "quitting", and if do manage to distance yourself from it, your thoughts are always geared about your next fix.
Although it isn't meant to really last. Just like any high eventually you have to come down. When you crash off a wrestling high you are smack dab in the middle of reality. With day jobs and bills, herniated discs and swollen joints. But pain is only temporary,glory last forever. Whether your at a day job, or with family sometimes its hard to scale back to normal. Isn't it? To quit being yourself with the volume turned to 10, to turn it down to 4 or 5.
You can't put it in a syringe, roll it up or snort it up. You have work to achieve it. You have learn a craft to get a high in my addiction. How many pot head you know that get high and actually feel like they had accomplished something. Like smoking pot paid off. I promise that's why my addiction is better than any other one out there and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
The performance. We've all been there. When everything clicks. When you make the crowd inch closer and closer to edge of their seat with a story crafted in theater made of steel, posts and ropes. When you can make them laugh, cry, cuss, rant, rave and rejoice by the perfect combination of athleticism and entertainment. When it doesn't matter if they are in the front row or the very back because they are all in the palm of your hand.
Its my addiction, my passion, my first love. Wrestling to some is a drug. We remember our firsts and lasts. Like a true drug addict we know the pain its caused but we don't care, we'd do it all again. Like a heroin addict remembering that high with a smile on his face. Once you're addicted then you're an addict for life. There is no "quitting", and if do manage to distance yourself from it, your thoughts are always geared about your next fix.
Although it isn't meant to really last. Just like any high eventually you have to come down. When you crash off a wrestling high you are smack dab in the middle of reality. With day jobs and bills, herniated discs and swollen joints. But pain is only temporary,glory last forever. Whether your at a day job, or with family sometimes its hard to scale back to normal. Isn't it? To quit being yourself with the volume turned to 10, to turn it down to 4 or 5.
You can't put it in a syringe, roll it up or snort it up. You have work to achieve it. You have learn a craft to get a high in my addiction. How many pot head you know that get high and actually feel like they had accomplished something. Like smoking pot paid off. I promise that's why my addiction is better than any other one out there and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
"Feel Good Moment 2009"
Some of you may have noticed my intentional stab at having a positive article. Not the normal gripe fest or heat magnet that some people try to have. I try to be a positive influence on the business. I try to help younger guys, or those who need help. I'm always willing, especially when asked, to watch someones match and give an honest opinion. However a few weeks ago, I found a moment were I didn't have a positive influence on the business but the business had a positive influence on me.
I've known "Trendsetter" Jon Michael longer than anyone else in the business. We've known each other since elementary school. I'm a few years older than him but we were on the basketball team together in junior high and high school. We actually got in trouble during a practice one time for him jumping off the bleachers and giving me the "Macho Man" double ax handle. Try explaining that to a coach that doesn't watch nor does he like wrestling. I've always been a "Trendsetter" fan, but I think I'm a bigger fan of just Jon Michael.
A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon Jon Michael put together a benefit show called The St.Jude Cup. A benefit for a little girl that had died of cancer. It wasn't a sellout crowd or matches filled with heated angles but what is was, was a group of talented individuals that gave their time and effort for something greater than themselves. The show was attended by many friends and family of the little girl.
Being a father has changed my outlook on alot things. Before if I had heard about a child dying I knew that it was sad but now I feel how sad it really is. The mother of the little girl was very appreciative and seemed at peace. She had probably cried more than anyone should ever have to. No one should ever have to bury their child but unfortunately its a fact of life.
I don't have the ability to find the cure for cancer or make a family's pain go away. With a handful of guys we can help celebrate a life that ended too soon. To maybe give back a little joy to a family that lost so much. I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone who helped that day, Derrick, Stan, Cody, CJ, Brian and especially Jon Michael for making it happen. No need to ask, I'm already signing up for St Jude Cup 2010.. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
I've known "Trendsetter" Jon Michael longer than anyone else in the business. We've known each other since elementary school. I'm a few years older than him but we were on the basketball team together in junior high and high school. We actually got in trouble during a practice one time for him jumping off the bleachers and giving me the "Macho Man" double ax handle. Try explaining that to a coach that doesn't watch nor does he like wrestling. I've always been a "Trendsetter" fan, but I think I'm a bigger fan of just Jon Michael.
A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon Jon Michael put together a benefit show called The St.Jude Cup. A benefit for a little girl that had died of cancer. It wasn't a sellout crowd or matches filled with heated angles but what is was, was a group of talented individuals that gave their time and effort for something greater than themselves. The show was attended by many friends and family of the little girl.
Being a father has changed my outlook on alot things. Before if I had heard about a child dying I knew that it was sad but now I feel how sad it really is. The mother of the little girl was very appreciative and seemed at peace. She had probably cried more than anyone should ever have to. No one should ever have to bury their child but unfortunately its a fact of life.
I don't have the ability to find the cure for cancer or make a family's pain go away. With a handful of guys we can help celebrate a life that ended too soon. To maybe give back a little joy to a family that lost so much. I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone who helped that day, Derrick, Stan, Cody, CJ, Brian and especially Jon Michael for making it happen. No need to ask, I'm already signing up for St Jude Cup 2010.. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Two Matches"
As many of you are probably like me and are lifelong wrestling fans, I have seen a lot of matches. Now finding matches to watch now is relatively easy now with youtube and some of the other outlets out there. However before the internet I traded tapes to see the early days of ECW because I had heard so much about it but hadn't seen it. I've been asked so many times what's my favorite match? Well, that would be next to impossible. There are so many great matches that I watch over and over like HBK vs Bret in the original Iron Man match, Bobby Eaton vs Arn Anderson for the WCW TV Title, Terry Gordy vs Steve Williams for the UWF Title, Four outstanding matches from The Great American Bash '88, HBK vs HHH for World Title on RAW from San Antonio. But there are only two matches I credit with really cementing the fact I wanted to be a pro wrestler, so if you want to blame someone blame them.
RIC FLAIR VS RICKY STEAMBOAT 2/3 FALLS FOR THE NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 2, 1989
Its no secret who my favorite wrestler of all time is, Ric Flair but Steamboat isn't running far behind. I was 7 years old when I waited on pins and needles for the much anticipated 2 out of 3 falls match at Clash of the Champions VI. When the day finally come, I was not disappointed. I sat there in awe for this almost hour classic. I had said for years that I wanted to be a wrestler but after watching this match I KNEW I had to become a wrestler. That's how I looked at the match with a 7 year olds eyes now I look at it as just a masterpiece of work. This was work not choreography, the ability to go out there and create a great match on the fly, in the ring. Even though the following match between these two in Nashville is considered the best of their series with a fast paced 20 minute up and down match it was that 2/3 falls that really hooked me.
Now the other match is pretty much a 180 from the Flair/Steamboat classic just mentioned. Its important for a whole different reason.
THE UNDERTAKER VS MANKIND: HELL IN A CELL
KING OF THE RING 1998
Everyone knows the match, everyone knows the bumps, everyone knows how important this one match is to the career of Mick Foley. Well, its important to mine as well. I had just turned 17 about 3 weeks before and I was seriously considering when I turned 18 to take the leap and try to make my way in pro wrestling. I sat at a friends house as we watched the King of the Ring pay per view. I don't think anyone knew what we would all witness that night.
When Undertaker threw Mankind off the cell crashing down through the announcers table, everyone I was watching with stood up in complete amazement. The match was over but what an ending or so we thought until Foley came off the stretcher and climbed once again to the top of the cage. Only this time he wasn't thrown off but choke slammed through to the "unforgiving" mat. Once again, we all stood up in amazement. Just when I thought I had run the gambit of emotion for a match, out come the tacks! We all stood up, yet again. When Taker tombstoned Foley for the 1,2,3.. we had witnessed the single greatest effort in wrestling history and we stood one last time for a living room, pay per view party standing ovation.
Now, yes this match made me want to be a pro wrestler. But no that doesn't mean I wanted to be hurled off a 20 foot structure breaking several bones on the way down or slammed through said structure giving me a concussion and few less teeth. What it did was make me realize that if I wanted to be a wrestler than I would care no less about it than Mick Foley. It made me realize that the fictional Mankind may have loved pain but very real Mick Foley loved pro wrestling, pro wrestling fans and that's why he did what he did. I would give no less, because I promise that's what wrestling deserves and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold
RIC FLAIR VS RICKY STEAMBOAT 2/3 FALLS FOR THE NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 2, 1989
Its no secret who my favorite wrestler of all time is, Ric Flair but Steamboat isn't running far behind. I was 7 years old when I waited on pins and needles for the much anticipated 2 out of 3 falls match at Clash of the Champions VI. When the day finally come, I was not disappointed. I sat there in awe for this almost hour classic. I had said for years that I wanted to be a wrestler but after watching this match I KNEW I had to become a wrestler. That's how I looked at the match with a 7 year olds eyes now I look at it as just a masterpiece of work. This was work not choreography, the ability to go out there and create a great match on the fly, in the ring. Even though the following match between these two in Nashville is considered the best of their series with a fast paced 20 minute up and down match it was that 2/3 falls that really hooked me.
Now the other match is pretty much a 180 from the Flair/Steamboat classic just mentioned. Its important for a whole different reason.
THE UNDERTAKER VS MANKIND: HELL IN A CELL
KING OF THE RING 1998
Everyone knows the match, everyone knows the bumps, everyone knows how important this one match is to the career of Mick Foley. Well, its important to mine as well. I had just turned 17 about 3 weeks before and I was seriously considering when I turned 18 to take the leap and try to make my way in pro wrestling. I sat at a friends house as we watched the King of the Ring pay per view. I don't think anyone knew what we would all witness that night.
When Undertaker threw Mankind off the cell crashing down through the announcers table, everyone I was watching with stood up in complete amazement. The match was over but what an ending or so we thought until Foley came off the stretcher and climbed once again to the top of the cage. Only this time he wasn't thrown off but choke slammed through to the "unforgiving" mat. Once again, we all stood up in amazement. Just when I thought I had run the gambit of emotion for a match, out come the tacks! We all stood up, yet again. When Taker tombstoned Foley for the 1,2,3.. we had witnessed the single greatest effort in wrestling history and we stood one last time for a living room, pay per view party standing ovation.
Now, yes this match made me want to be a pro wrestler. But no that doesn't mean I wanted to be hurled off a 20 foot structure breaking several bones on the way down or slammed through said structure giving me a concussion and few less teeth. What it did was make me realize that if I wanted to be a wrestler than I would care no less about it than Mick Foley. It made me realize that the fictional Mankind may have loved pain but very real Mick Foley loved pro wrestling, pro wrestling fans and that's why he did what he did. I would give no less, because I promise that's what wrestling deserves and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold
"Triumph & Tragedy or Vica Versa"
Triumph & Tragedy or vica versa are always apart of life. In the movie "Any Given Sunday" Al Pacino gives a speech about life being "a game of inches". Now I'm not a "football person" but this speech, this dialogue is one of my favorites because it may be a football metaphor but its universal feeling. The margin between triumph & tragedy is measured in inches. Even beyond that is how these two words have a complete opposite meaning when they are reversed to Tragedy & Triumph.
Wrestling not unlike a sport, or an entertainment or life for that matter has had its share of both triumph and tragedy. One that first jumps to my mind is The Von Erich Family. An entire family of successful wrestlers. With father, Fritz, leading the way World Class soared to heights we all dream of and at the forefront of World Class were Fritz's sons. That's the triumph but tragedy saw all The Von Erich boys with the exception of David pass away. Some with drugs, some with suicide but all with tragedy.
As I've mentioned several times, I grew up watching mostly the NWA. I remember a wrestler that every women wanted and every man wanted to be. He was cool and was setting the wrestling world on fire. He was Magnum TA! He was a guy that was being groomed to be a World Champion. But atlas it wasn't to be, a tragic car wreck cut Magnum down in his prime, ending his career and leaving him with paralyzed left arm. We saw Magnum in an announcers role and I've seen pictures of him at independent shows in his area but I always think to myself what would have happened with Magnum TA the World Heavyweight Champion?
Unfortunately Triumph then Tragedy is more memorable sometimes. I could write an entire book about guys like Jake Roberts, Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, Dynamite Kid and several others that have ended tragically. What about tragedy then triumph? What about Zach Gowen? Childhood cancer that left him with only one leg and he goes on to work for WWE and even in the top program with Vince McMahon himself. What about Charlie Haas? Charlie lost his brother, Russ while both were working in WWE's developmental territory as a tag team. Charlie could have easily given up or quit but he stuck with it and became a tag champion with Shelton Benjamin as a tribute to his brother.
Every life has triumph. Every life has tragedy. No matter in which order they occur those are guarantees in life. I guess it really boils down to what defines you. Its it your tragedies or is it you triumphs?
Wrestling not unlike a sport, or an entertainment or life for that matter has had its share of both triumph and tragedy. One that first jumps to my mind is The Von Erich Family. An entire family of successful wrestlers. With father, Fritz, leading the way World Class soared to heights we all dream of and at the forefront of World Class were Fritz's sons. That's the triumph but tragedy saw all The Von Erich boys with the exception of David pass away. Some with drugs, some with suicide but all with tragedy.
As I've mentioned several times, I grew up watching mostly the NWA. I remember a wrestler that every women wanted and every man wanted to be. He was cool and was setting the wrestling world on fire. He was Magnum TA! He was a guy that was being groomed to be a World Champion. But atlas it wasn't to be, a tragic car wreck cut Magnum down in his prime, ending his career and leaving him with paralyzed left arm. We saw Magnum in an announcers role and I've seen pictures of him at independent shows in his area but I always think to myself what would have happened with Magnum TA the World Heavyweight Champion?
Unfortunately Triumph then Tragedy is more memorable sometimes. I could write an entire book about guys like Jake Roberts, Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, Dynamite Kid and several others that have ended tragically. What about tragedy then triumph? What about Zach Gowen? Childhood cancer that left him with only one leg and he goes on to work for WWE and even in the top program with Vince McMahon himself. What about Charlie Haas? Charlie lost his brother, Russ while both were working in WWE's developmental territory as a tag team. Charlie could have easily given up or quit but he stuck with it and became a tag champion with Shelton Benjamin as a tribute to his brother.
Every life has triumph. Every life has tragedy. No matter in which order they occur those are guarantees in life. I guess it really boils down to what defines you. Its it your tragedies or is it you triumphs?
"Broaden Your Horizons"
Can anyone guess who my favorite Batman villain is? Anybody, anybody? My all time favorite Batman villain is Mr. Freeze. The greatest Batman villain of all time is.... well... The Joker. Do you know what other Batman villain is pretty high on my list? The Clock King! That's right The Clock King. I also like The Mad Hatter and Clayface. So what does any of this have to do with professional wrestling? Its really me just trying to make a point. The point is that wrestling should have something for everyone.
Now its no secret that my favorite wrestler of all time is "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. A choice that would be in line with The Joker being favorite Batman villain. One of friend's little brother isn't a wrestling fan anymore but when he was, his favorite wrestler was Bam Bam Bigelow. Now who accomplished more in their career? I think it would be safe to say Flair but that didn't stop an 8 year old boy from jumping off couches to do a flying head butt every 3 minutes.
My parents are divorced and when my mother remarried, her husband liked watching wrestling with me. Now when I was a kid I hated all the bad guys and loved all the good guys and my step dad usually cheered the opponent of whomever I was rooting for. He liked Flair and The Four Horsemen but I only saw him hold up the four fingers a handful of times but there was a time when he patted himself on the back ala Barry Horowitz on a daily basis.
Wrestling should be as diverse in the world we live in. Too many cookie cutter wrestlers out there right now. I miss Bam Bam, Horowitz, Al Snow w/Head, Yokozuna, Haystacks Calhoun and a host of others that didn't resemble Ric Flair but contributed so much to our business. Mr.Freeze may have not broken any box office records like The Joker but I'd go out of my way to see him. Diversity can only broaden the horizon of its art and I promise the same rings true in wresting and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
Now its no secret that my favorite wrestler of all time is "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. A choice that would be in line with The Joker being favorite Batman villain. One of friend's little brother isn't a wrestling fan anymore but when he was, his favorite wrestler was Bam Bam Bigelow. Now who accomplished more in their career? I think it would be safe to say Flair but that didn't stop an 8 year old boy from jumping off couches to do a flying head butt every 3 minutes.
My parents are divorced and when my mother remarried, her husband liked watching wrestling with me. Now when I was a kid I hated all the bad guys and loved all the good guys and my step dad usually cheered the opponent of whomever I was rooting for. He liked Flair and The Four Horsemen but I only saw him hold up the four fingers a handful of times but there was a time when he patted himself on the back ala Barry Horowitz on a daily basis.
Wrestling should be as diverse in the world we live in. Too many cookie cutter wrestlers out there right now. I miss Bam Bam, Horowitz, Al Snow w/Head, Yokozuna, Haystacks Calhoun and a host of others that didn't resemble Ric Flair but contributed so much to our business. Mr.Freeze may have not broken any box office records like The Joker but I'd go out of my way to see him. Diversity can only broaden the horizon of its art and I promise the same rings true in wresting and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
"The Good, The Bad or The Ugly"
When anything becomes mainstream it is almost an automatic that it eventually becomes watered down. When Nirvana hit the scene and changed rock music forever we were exposed to some really great, raw, awe inspiring music. By the same token we were also exposed to vomit educing garage bands that thought flannel was their only way to rock n roll history. The phenomenon of pro wrestling in the late 90s gave us a edgy, anti-hero wrestling that with all the stars in perfect alignment began a new era of pro wrestling. The downside to this revolutionary era combined with the internet was the complete lack or preparation and talent for incoming wrestlers. So that is were we are today a business where wrestlers fall into one of three categories: The Good, The Bad or The Ugly.
In today's wrestling when you're good, you're very good. The creativity that these guys put into their matches and their characters is sometimes astonishing. They truly love the history of our business. I say that because I am and will always be foremost a wrestling fan. Before CM Punk was WWE bound I heard him cut a promo right before a match with Samoa Joe in his hometown, Chicago, IL, that gave me goosebumps. The emotion, the passion, the story it was all there. Wrestling is about standing alone, you can do the same moves, have the same name but if you have "it".. then you are going to stand apart from anyone else. Its just not guys like CM Punk, there are guys all over the country that make me feel that when I watch them work. Makes me proud to be apart of the business. These are The Good!
Now for the bad. The bad are the unprepared. The guys that love the business but have no reliable guidance. They don't have a firm grasp on psychology. Its not that they can't learn the things that would make them successful or at least a viable part of the business, its they don't have a mentor that can lead the way. They may be able to perform any moves with crisp precision but its not how many moves you know, it knowing when to use them and if they fit you and your gimmick.
Then there are the ugly! The ones that absolutely have no business in the business. They don't get it, they don't want to get it and they never will. Ironically these are also usually the ones who pronounce as loud as they can to anyone and everyone that will lesson that they are a "pro wrestler"! Making it even harder for "The Good" to gain respect from a casual fan.
Maybe its time for all of us to look in the mirror. Look with an honest eye and determine which category we fall in to. Are we the good? Are we the bad? Or are we the ugly that stains the very business we claim to love? I promise if we do that then maybe the next article will be The Golden Circle:The Great and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise it's as good as gold.
In today's wrestling when you're good, you're very good. The creativity that these guys put into their matches and their characters is sometimes astonishing. They truly love the history of our business. I say that because I am and will always be foremost a wrestling fan. Before CM Punk was WWE bound I heard him cut a promo right before a match with Samoa Joe in his hometown, Chicago, IL, that gave me goosebumps. The emotion, the passion, the story it was all there. Wrestling is about standing alone, you can do the same moves, have the same name but if you have "it".. then you are going to stand apart from anyone else. Its just not guys like CM Punk, there are guys all over the country that make me feel that when I watch them work. Makes me proud to be apart of the business. These are The Good!
Now for the bad. The bad are the unprepared. The guys that love the business but have no reliable guidance. They don't have a firm grasp on psychology. Its not that they can't learn the things that would make them successful or at least a viable part of the business, its they don't have a mentor that can lead the way. They may be able to perform any moves with crisp precision but its not how many moves you know, it knowing when to use them and if they fit you and your gimmick.
Then there are the ugly! The ones that absolutely have no business in the business. They don't get it, they don't want to get it and they never will. Ironically these are also usually the ones who pronounce as loud as they can to anyone and everyone that will lesson that they are a "pro wrestler"! Making it even harder for "The Good" to gain respect from a casual fan.
Maybe its time for all of us to look in the mirror. Look with an honest eye and determine which category we fall in to. Are we the good? Are we the bad? Or are we the ugly that stains the very business we claim to love? I promise if we do that then maybe the next article will be The Golden Circle:The Great and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise it's as good as gold.
"At Home in a Locker Room"
When most people start a new job there is that first awkwardness. That uncomfortable silence of when you don't know what kind of people you're working with. Way be for you find your mutual likes and dislikes. I mean heaven forbid you be a cardinals fan and your boss is die hard cubs, right? I've honestly never had this feeling in a pro wrestling locker room.
Any locker room I walk into those 15-16 guys or 47 if your at a DK show, I know we all have at least one thing in common. A common thread that can get the ball rolling on any conversation. Now nobody agrees 100% of the time but at least we can agree we love wrestling. Some don't love wrestling at present but they loved it more than anything at one time in their lives. Why else would they be here?
Since I've had the opportunity to tag with Bobby Eaton on a regular basis, I've found myself in new locker rooms. With some guys I've worked with before but others I've only heard about. In any other business situation this might cause some anxiety but in pro wrestling I really see it as another opportunity. To share like stories of how we broke it, people we enjoy working with or those we don't.
In Mississippi I got to work with Tony Dabbs. Nice guy who really impressed me in ring. One of those guys that you can just grab and go. In Fort Smith, Arkansas we worked with Jeff Jett and Matt Riviera. Jeff was fun to work with and isn't afraid to push the limits. Matt showed off some charisma and defiantly had his ducks in a row when came to running a promotion.
Midnight Gold has be shown a lot of hospitality and want to take this time to say thank you to everyone involved. Wrestling can be a jealous business but its nice to see lockerooms looking out for each other and not themselves. I believe I can speak for Bobby and Brian when I say we have felt at home in some of these locker rooms.
So Thank you!
Any locker room I walk into those 15-16 guys or 47 if your at a DK show, I know we all have at least one thing in common. A common thread that can get the ball rolling on any conversation. Now nobody agrees 100% of the time but at least we can agree we love wrestling. Some don't love wrestling at present but they loved it more than anything at one time in their lives. Why else would they be here?
Since I've had the opportunity to tag with Bobby Eaton on a regular basis, I've found myself in new locker rooms. With some guys I've worked with before but others I've only heard about. In any other business situation this might cause some anxiety but in pro wrestling I really see it as another opportunity. To share like stories of how we broke it, people we enjoy working with or those we don't.
In Mississippi I got to work with Tony Dabbs. Nice guy who really impressed me in ring. One of those guys that you can just grab and go. In Fort Smith, Arkansas we worked with Jeff Jett and Matt Riviera. Jeff was fun to work with and isn't afraid to push the limits. Matt showed off some charisma and defiantly had his ducks in a row when came to running a promotion.
Midnight Gold has be shown a lot of hospitality and want to take this time to say thank you to everyone involved. Wrestling can be a jealous business but its nice to see lockerooms looking out for each other and not themselves. I believe I can speak for Bobby and Brian when I say we have felt at home in some of these locker rooms.
So Thank you!
Mama Says It Beees That Way Sometimes "Let's Talk about TGB" by “Downtown” Bruno Lauer
“The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony is one of my favorite guys for several reasons. First of all, this guy has the heart, soul and drive to be in this profession. He deserves any good thing that comes his way. The fact is, I’ve never met anybody with such passion for the business and thirst for knowledge. He has a desire to learn and improve on in every possible manner. Not since myself back in the late 70s and early 90s, so I can absolutely relate. I am burnt out and behind the Eight ball in many ways now, but back in my youth, I was fired up about every aspect of the business. Now, TGB, is there. He watches DVDs religiously, not for entertainment purposes, but to learn and absorb finishes, technique, and psychology and basically figure out how and why the top guys over the years in our profession became top guys.
If more up and comers in the biz would follow this path instead of just wanting to do high spots for the sake of doing high spots and whack each other with chairs, etc..well..hell…the future of the business would be a lot better. And when I say that, believe it, because my word is “as good as gold”..whoops..I mean because mama says it bees that way sometimes!
----“Downtown” Bruno Lauer is a legend in Memphis Wrestling. He surprised everyone last year winning RRO Referee of the Year 2008 from his work at NEW. He appears bi-weekly with his non controversial column. Lauer had his biography published last year “Wrestling with The Truth” and can be purchased at www.crowbarpress.com. Lauer is also currently employed by the WWE.
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