INSIDER: A young indie fed struggles through problems to make it big in the Boston Area
Here's this weeks INSIDER column for all to see! Hope you enjoy it, and take it's message to heart!
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SLAMJAMZ CENTRAL: A young indie fed struggles through problems to make it big in the Boston Area
By TC Kirkham
It's never easy for a new indie wrestling federation to make it. These days, it's even harder. With wrestling on a downturn, despite the upcoming WWE/TNA/UFC battles that will start in less than two weeks' time, it's simply hard to land butts in the seats.
But when the venue is small, and the crowd is loyal, and the talents are extraordinary, magic can STILL happen...
It used to be that my other half and I would be off to another indie show (or two, or even three or four) almost every weekend. From our home on Boston's North Shore, we traveled all over creation - or at least within 90 minutes of our home - to see the shows run by Killer Kowalski, Tony Rumble, Freddie Sparta, and others, and became known faces in the audience. Because we usually dressed in black, some people used to call us the funeral couple. And because of our regular attendance, we made friends with some of the guys...
There was John "G.Q. " Rodeo, the world's greatest manager; Antoine Roi, John's #1 client and one of the best "prissy" heels EVER; Tim McNeeny, who depending on the show would appear as his face persona, the "Fighting Irishman" (John once said "the drunken Irishman" was more appropriate, heh heh), or his heel persona, The Graduate (a take off on Lanny Poffo's old Genius gimmick). Once or twice, he even braved the makeup and became Doink The Clown. There was Steve King, who went through a variety of personas - depending on the gig, he could be heel Stefan Roi, masked faces the Arctic Angel (oh, boy, what a getup he wore as that character) and Millennium, and at the moment, he's "Strangler" Steve King for Shelton Benjamin's top notch New England Championship Wresting. There were others who came and went as well, some of whom are no longer with us (We miss you, Chris Duffy & Tony Rumble).
But as years go by, some people get out of the business (Rodeo), some of them move to the big time (Scott Taylor, aka Scotty Too Hotty, and Joanie Laurer, whose very first match we were witness to), and some move to the other end of the business- training and promoting.
It's been a while since we did all the traveling - we no longer own a car, the last old beast having died on us 18 months ago- and when we learned that the local YMCA was hosting a relatively new Indie fed, New Image Wrestling, this past Sunday, we decided to put in an appearance and check it out. We knew that one of our older acquaintances, the aforementioned Tim McNeeny, was the trainer for this fed, and as he came out of Killer Kowalski's school, we knew he'd be training hard, and train his boys well.
Now, the Revere Massachusetts YMCA is a small place; it's more like a scaled down version of a typical Y, and is right across the street from Beachmont Station on Boston's Blue Line T service. It seemed like a good venue, and we could easily get there on the bus. And when I say this place is small, I mean it. After the ring is set up, there's room for maybe 100 seats, if that many. It actually might have been closer to 70 or so. We'd never been any place that small.
We were thinking "Oh, my god, what have we gotten ourselves into?" when the show, scheduled for 3 PM, was about 15 minutes late in starting. We were to find out why when the show started. Owner Karen Collins, not used to doing ring announcing (her ring announcer had no-showed the show), came out and explained to the 50 or so people in attendance, that NIW Champion Jurrell Alexander, as well as the number one contender for the NIW Global title, Scott Osborne, had both failed to show up for the show, so she was stripping Alexander of the title. A third regular performer, Phoenix, had also no-showed (Osbourne, I found out from the NIW Website, called and quit the fed two days after the show). They staged a confrontation between one of the top heels, "Stunning" Shawn Stevens, and Collins. Stevens begged for a title match, and wanted it to be between himself and his main rival, a tall lanky (and ladies would say hunky) guy who called himself Reaper (who looks with his hair down like a dark-haired Jeff Hardy, and with his hair in braids, as it was this day, a lot like another indie wrestler/trainer, Zaquery Springate III). This was to be a "final battle" (they have been feuding for about a year now, I gathered from what was said). Once Reaper agreed to do it, Collins declared that the match would be for the NIW Global title.
And even though the show was late, and got off to a somewhat awkward start due to the no-shows and hastily thrown-together title match angle, the matches were underway.
First up was the NIW Cruiserweight Title match between challenger "Sexy" Shawn Stylz (what is it with NIW and guys named Shawn?) and the champion, a skinny twig of a kid calling himself Dollar D (who looks about 14 or 15 and whom Kim remarked was a 'crackhead version of UPW's Li'l Nate" because he was so hyper). And these guys, they didn't care (or didn't show it if they did) that there were only roughly 50 people in the house. They put on their best game, and both men were trying to do moves that you're more accustomed to seeing people like Chris Sabin or AJ Styles do, not a performer in some new (and still tiny but growing) indie fed. For his size and weight, Dollar D was a performer who excelled at the moves he'd worked on perfecting. Aside from one blown huracanrana spot, his performance was almost flawless. Stylz was also a fantastic performer. And when Stylz won the title from Dollar D, they suddenly switched roles - Stylz became the unexpected face when Dollar D threw an "It's MY Belt!" temper tantrum that Shane Douglas would be proud of and attacked him after the match.
Next up was the first of several tag team matches, pitting Southern Extreme (think heel Smoking Gunns) vs Paulie Gilmore and Italia Ice (think face FBI). Another solid match, again with the performers giving their all to please the crowd. The Italian guys won (no shock there - Revere is a big Italian town) to a round of applause from the crowd. Not bad for a match that was listed in the program as a Four Way Dance. But all the no-shows had necessitated a change, and these guys looked like they weren't phased at all by the changes.
Next came one of NIW's top faces, Angel, pitted against the much larger New England indie veteran The Outpatient.. Each of them had someone in their corners - managers or such - but I didn't catch their names, unfortunately. Angel just got CREAMED by the much larger Outpatient, but still won by DQ when Outpatient's manager interfered and the ref caught it. Outpatient continued to beat on Angel for another few moments, then finally left the ring. Angel managed to leave under his own power, to show he was going to be ok, and the crowd roared with applause and cheers.
Of course Angel HAD to be all right...because next up was intermission.
Intermission in the indies is usually where the guys come out and mingle with the crowd, sign autographs (usually for free - I can't remember the last time someone charged for just an autograph), and try to sell whatever merchandise they might have - usually publicity photos (with a free autograph to boot) or occasionally taking Polaroids with fans for a slightly higher price. And Angel, looking none the worse for wear despite his beating a few minutes prior, was right out there selling his photos and talking to all the kids. It was fun to watch the kids at the show running around, getting all the guys to sign their programs. Reminded me of an earlier time when you could do that outside the big shows too, hang around outside, talk to the guys. Try to do that these days and security threatens to have you thrown out of the building/arena/theme park...
Ten minutes later, after everyone had purchased their hot dogs and sodas and gotten everyone's autographs, and the obligatory indie ticket raffle was over and free tee shirts given out to the lucky winners, the second half of the program began...
It kicked off with another Tag match, with Pride (who I think were supposed to be heels, though the crowd reaction was more face-like) squaring off against the very popular Big Islanders. Another solid ten minute match, with Pride cheating to get the win (yep, they were the heels after all).
Next up was another singles match pitting a member of the Dark Abyss faction, a big young man named Cemetery Stalker, against a performer I'd actually HEARD of outside of NIW, East Coast indie staple CJ "The American Rockstar" Summers. Rock star boy ran around the ring trying to stay ahead of young Undertaker clone, but still ended up getting his ass handed to him while managing to pull off an upset win. Good match, and for a big guy, Stalker really had some spectacular moves in the ring. The Undertaker would be proud...
Next up came a match with some history. I know this because for once they took the time to explain the backstory. It seems that one Eric Egoh, formerly also known as Mizery, was formerly a member of the Dark Abyss faction who had turned tweener/face at the previous show and had been booted out of the faction (wrestling parlance for having your soon-to-be-former fellow faction members beat the s**t out of you). So Egoh had decided it was time to get some payback and teamed up with one of the top faces in the group, and one of the Dark Abyss' worst enemies, Chico Suave, and had formed a new Tag Team called the Trouble Squad with him (CHICO SUAVE.? AGGGGGGHHHHH! I just keep thanking the almighty that his theme music wasn't performed by Gerardo...). So the two remaining members of the Dark Abyss, an older guy named Plague and a young, skinny guy calling himself Black Lotus, were out to get him. Except one got the feeling that Lotus wanted nothing to do with this match. He kept telling Mizery "You don't want to do this!" He looked upset that Mizery had left the faction and had teamed with their worst enemy. Once the match got underway...well, they rocked the joint with a top notch match, which ended after Lotus bailed on Plague, swiping a seat in the front row after being tossed over the top rope from a couple of kids. He sat there and yelled to Plague, "You want this? Fine! I'm not doing it!" or something to that effect. Needless to say the new Trouble Squad was victorious, pinning Plague, who was NOT happy with his young tag team partner, not one bit. Top notch tag action from beginning to end, and at last a storyline to go with it.
Finally, it was time for the main event, pitting the aforementioned heel Stunning Shawn Stevens and his long time rival, crowd favorite Reaper, against each other to win the vacated NIW Global championship. And let me tell you, it was as good of a main event as you get at one of the big feds, with these two guys putting in top notch performance that lasted almost 25 minutes, and had the crowd, equally divided between the two men, on the edges of their seats. And when it was all over, and Stunning Shawn Stevens scored an upset victory to become the NEW NIW GLOBAL CHAMPION (sorry, the announcer in me took over for a second), the crowd correctly gave these two men a standing ovation. Obviously overwhelmed by the reaction of the crowd, Stevens looked as if he didn't know what to do. When Reaper offered his hand even in defeat after the match, and also gave him a "Manly Wrestler's Hug" , he almost looked as if he was going to cry. And for a heel, Stevens for once got to feel the warmth of both the crowd and his fellow locker room performers as they emptied out of the back , came to the ring, and hoisted him up on their shoulders. It was VERY clear that the guys who DID show up appreciated each other, and knew this was an unexpected turning point in this young federation.
2 hours and 10 minutes of great indie fun, and all for just $7. Not bad. Hell, I've been known to pay three times that amount for a 30 minute Danny Kass snowboarding video. You just could not beat the performances of these devoted performers, and you knew from the way they carried themselves that no matter how small the crowd was, they were doing what they loved - wrestling. Not Crash TV, not lame-ass backstage segments - but actual, genuine WRESTLING.
New Image Wrestling has only been around for about two years now. If you take in indie shows and live in the New England Circuit area (MA-CT-VT-NH), and have the chance to go to one of their shows - by all means, go! Unless you're a totally jaded wrestling cynic (interpret that however you wish...) I have a feeling you will not be disappointed.
My point in all this? Indies are the training grounds for tomorrows superstars. And by going to indie shows, you are supporting the FUTURE of professional wrestling. Remember, as little as three years ago, people like AJ Styles, Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, Amazing Red - hell, even Gene Snitsky - were learning their craft by being indie superstars (even Snitsky, who I'm told was one of the most over faces in the history of his indie fed, which goes to show you just what WWE Creative can do when they put their mind to it...wreck a very promising career...). They honed their abilities, and took their time, paid their dues, and became nationally known names. And you never know when some of the current stars of your local indie fed might do the same. Take the previously mentioned UPW in California...they're an indie fed, they're a top notch training ground headed up by Rick Bassman and Tom Howard, and by watching their self-produced tapes and DVD's you can see a whole host of future superstars on their roster. It's only a matter of time before some of their current local superstars - Shawn Riddik, Li'l Nate, Funky Billy Kim, and others - could be on your TV every week. John Cena, Chris Masters, and Mike "The Miz" Mizanin are all UPW graduates who have made it to the big time. And you never know when someone else from YOUR local fed might do the same.
How can YOU do your part? Volunteer to help out with your local indie fed. Help them distribute flyers and posters, spread the word on the internet, tell your friends about it. Then come showtime, show up, pay your ticket fee, sit down , watch the crowd, and HAVE A GREAT TIME! Buy their merchandise, talk to the young guys at intermission, and envelope yourself in the atmosphere. Perhaps...just perhaps....you'll remember that warm feeling you USED to have back in the 90s...when it was FUN to be a professional wrestling fan.... And I can tell you from experience that the young guns trying to make an impression will appreciate your attention...and remember you when you become a repeat audience member...
On The Web: http://www.niwrestling.com
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I haven't forgotten about my plans to analyze this year's PWI 500, and how far off the mark it is...but circumstances over the past week (do you HEAR me, Sean Waltman?) have kept me busy digging in other areas. But I will get to it this week on the SlamJamz Central blog (http://slamjamz.blogspot. com) and I hope people will find my take on this obviously tainted list somewhat informative.
Also - SlamJamz Central the WEBSITE launches the first week of October. I am looking for volunteers to do Video/DVD reviews, Video Game Reviews, and such. We need two different reviewers for each category - one for wrestling and one for X Sports (skateboarding, snowboarding, etc). If you're interested, drop me a line at slamjamzpwi@yahoo.com, and I'll get back to you!
And also coming up on the Blog this week....speaking of The Miz (well, I was a moment ago...)
I have some Notes for The Miz....Mike Mizanin has one of the most promising careers in his future, and I plan on offering a few tips to The Real World's wrestling connection to make sure he doesn't BLOW IT...
If I don't get back to you right away this week when writing, it's for a very important reason. I'm having major dental surgery on Monday (postponed from this past Thursday at the last minute - the dentist had an emergency), and will probably take several days to get back to my old self. But know that I read each and every letter coming my way...and I'll get back to you when I can.
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Until next time, as always, it's Me Against The World. REPRISE THE THEME SONG AND ROLL THE CREDITS!
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Just a quick addition to this post: NIW owner Karen Collins has let me know that a show scheduled for October that had been cancelled is now back on again..check out the NIW site as listed above for more info!
posted by SlamJamz Central @ Friday, September 23, 2005
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