VOLUME 4
“Of the People, By the People, & For the People”
INTRO
Greetings and salutations once again my loyal subjects…and welcome to the return of “Working Stiff”. As expected; this fall’s work load has taken it’s toll on yours truly, and I’m glad that I was finally able to get my f’n priorities straight, come to my senses, and get another edition of your favorite guest column up and running. I must admit to suffering from certain creative lapses since the last column (and no, I haven’t been hired by the WWE booking team for this ineptitude), and it was for that very reason that I called on you to help get this volume going. I thank you greatly for your input, and hopefully your own personal involvement will make this yet another source of enjoyment. With that in mind, let us once again WORK STIFF…
Question/Issue #1 is from “ShortiMark”…” It would also be interesting if you would elaborate on how you became such good friends with all of the wrestlers and how you got into CZW.”
This is an interesting topic to me because last summer I actually kicked around the idea of writing a book about CZW, which has unfortunately since been placed on the Rikishi’s ass-sized pile of “A H T’s GREAT idea’s that have yet to materialize”, and at least part of the topic was covered in the first chapter (which I actually did write). It was the summer
of 2001 and I was in Los Angeles visiting my very close friend and wrestling kindred spirit Tobin “Tobiashi” Shea, and like any pair of “wrestling geeks” hanging out, we always find the time to watch about a billion tapes per day. Tobin commented that he had heard a lot of hype about CZW and was interesting in checking it out. He purchased “Stetched In Smyrna” and we watched studiously, and both came away very impressed.
It had always been a dream of ours to run our own indy promotion, and after seeing some of the guys on the “Stretched” tape, I decided that I might have to give it a whirl when I got back to Pennsylvania, seeing that CZW had close proximity to my home state. Needless to say, “Grand Prix Wrestling” is alas on the infamous aforementioned pile right under the book idea, but I digress. Having done some work for another small western Pennsylvania independent promotion, I already had contact with some workers, but I knew if I wanted to have a good show, I’d need guys like they had in CZW. In addition to research that I was doing relating to building, advertising costs, and the like, I began to lay the groundwork for my talent roster by e-mailing and talking to a lot of guys on line. Really the first few guys I talked to from CZ Dub were Eric Gargiulo (who seemed like the right guy to get in touch with), Z Barr (who is the only person in America on line more than me in the summer), and Nick Berk (who I had seen work in western PA a couple years prior). They were all very receptive to my ideas and were good guys (yes, even The Barr *L*), and I’m still happy to be able to call them friends to this day.
I then stumbled upon Adam Flash’s e-mail/IM, and Tobin & I had always shared a mutual admiration for his work in Maryland Championship Wrestling and Norm Connors’ old Steel City Wrestling. Flash and I began to talk online and through e-mail, and I discovered that has was a huge football fan, which immediately gave us something in common. I hung out with Flash once while I was on the road scouting last fall and was supposed to actually go to a show the weekend after September 11, which of course was cancelled. I was then supposed to go to Cage of Death 3, but alas, work assignment called me away the day following, so I had to put off my live CZW debut again. “Answering The Challenge” was the first show I actually attended, and I’ve been back damn near every month since.
I really owe most of my friendships in CZW to Flash. He is a well-liked and respected guy in the locker room, and he has pretty much put me over to damn near everyone there. His word goes a long way and for that I cannot express enough thanks. I’ve gotten to know almost everyone in the locker room since I started coming both due to him putting me over so much and my own irresistible AHT-like charm. I’m proud to be able to call a lot of guys in CZW friends now, thus peaking my interest in the company and it success even more.
Question/Issue #2 is from Jeff Strauch…”Since you're apparently friends with Rose and Flash, I think it'd be interesting to see your take on some things concerning them, like...
1. the Danny Rose "firing"
I was planning on discussing this anyways, so your timing is perfect Jeff. I hope I’m not crushing k-5 here (as I always really try my best not to do that, as I feel my being in the back is a privilege), but Danny Rose is NOT fired from CZW! The PA State Athletic Commission went berserk when the fan got hit with the chair per Doomer, and was basically up Zandig’s ass so much that he HAD to do something that night to get those anal beads off his back. Although from what I hear Doomer was in the wrong by disobeying booking orders and going amongst the crowd and I don’t ever like to see anyone get injured, as usual, the basically worthless when it comes to professional wrestling (other than to be a complete nuisance) PA State Athletic Commission went overboard as usual. I view wrestling, especially “ultraviolent” wrestling like CZW as like going to a baseball or hockey game. You might get nailed with a foul ball, stray bat, or puck right in the noggin…it’s an assumption of risk you take by going to the show. Fans should be aware what goes on at CZW (or any wrestling) show and be prepared. The Commission, on the other hand, should go find someone else to bother…like a group of blind and crippled children or something…that’s about their speed. Here’s to seeing CZW’s Most Entertaining Wrestler back in the ring soon!
2. The Rachies going ultraviolent at the last Dover show
Although I haven’t actually SEEN this, it doesn’t surprise me in the least. Adam & Danny are both big time team players, and short of fucking boR kcalB (use a mirror) in the ass in the ring in Viking Hall, they would both pretty much do whatever is asked of them to benefit the company as a whole.
3. Adam Flash's Ironman title reign and heavyweight title push
Again; this doesn’t surprise me in the least. I know I’m biased because he’s such a good friend, but I think the world of Adam in the ring. He’s been around as long as anyone in the CZW locker room and has paid a lot of dues both over his career and during his rise in CZW. He represents the iron Man Title very well, and I was really glad to see him become a player for the World Title, which I also think he could bring good credibility to. Mark my words…The Leader of The Rachi Revolution will be the CZW World Heavyweight Champion sometime in the future.
4. Your favorite Danny Rose moment(s)
This is easy…#1 (without a doubt) would be @ “This Time It’s Personal” when he & Flash took on Greg Matthews & Ruckus. The whole sequence at the beginning of the match (and subsequent standing O) where Doomer does the “Whatever Ruckus can do, I can do BETTER” bastardized gymnastics was PRICELESS. I still laugh my fucking ass off every time I watch it, but there was nothing like being there. #2 is when he sang Lionel Ritchie to RainMain at “Déjà Vu”. Where the big man comes up with this stuff I’ll never know, but CZW fans had it right…this is one entertaining muther fucker!
5. Billy Beater coming into CZW and wrestling The Rachies
UGH….very bad angle. My friend Matt Vandal would have been a much better choice, as he bears much more physical resemblance to Wifebeater. Nobody really buys that long lost brother stuff any more anyways, and then add to that the fact that “Billy Beater” wasn’t really the right fit for the CZW crowd AND working with his shoulder about 50% tops…and you have one of my least favorite CZW moments. But hey…fans also need to understand that everybody screws up once in a while.
6. Your opinion on if The Rachies are being used right in CZW, and if not, what's wrong
I would have liked to have seen them pushed for the tag straps more, and it seems strange to me that every time Flash got the Iron Man Title he went back to working tag matches rather than establishing a strong run as a singles champ. Doomer also tends to get lost in the shuffle a little bit when Flash has his singles titles. I do really like the current “split”, and did agree that it was time to shake things up in that regard. I hope it continues to go somewhere.
7. Um, anything else you think is interesting about them
That couldn’t be summarized in a week long seminar L They are both really cool (and fucking HYSTERICAL) guys, and I’m convinced that if “Jackass” can get their own TV show and movie, that The Rachies aren’t very far behind…at all!
We’ll stick with Jeff for Question/Issue #3...”Oh yeah, and any comments on the entire Messiah ordeal, and how you got him to the one CZW show (really cool thing to do btw, you're the man)”
The whole situation was sickening to me, and almost surreal when I first read about it (on SoCalUncensored) the day after it happened. Flash and I had just been out to L.A. 2 months prior visiting my friend Tobin and Billy (Messiah) hung out with us the whole time we were there. I’m sure when Billy first got involved in wrestling, he never though to himself…“Hey; one day I hope some gutless fuck sends two thugs to my house to beat my ass and cut off my thumb”, and it unfortunately gives the whole industry a black eye. But if I knew anyone could get through it, it would be The Rachissiah (as Flash and I began calling him when we were in L.A.). He is as physically and mentally tough as any person I‘ve ever known, and the fact that he has rebounded so strongly from the whole thing doesn’t surprise me in the least. If anything good has come out of the whole thing, I think Billy has been able to realize who his real friends are, and it has made his relationship with CZW and their great fans even better.
As for getting him to the show where he cut the now infamous promo (which I have yet to see but am DYING to)…like I said before…it was merely one friend helping another in a time of need. I am fortunate enough to have been in a position to do that because of what I do for a living, and when it was presented to me, my immediate wordS were, “Done Deal”. Messiah deserved to be at that show and the fans deserved to see him there. I’m proud that I had something to do with helping make that a good show and a great return for Billy, and wouldn’t think twice about making the same decision again.
Question/Issue #4 was presented basically by 2 parties…Obezeballs469 & AJTheButcher…“In your opinion who do you think in CZW has the best chance to make it really big in the wrestling business?”
Well by “BIG”, let’s just assume that we’re talking about either the WWE or, for our more wrestling purist marks, Japan. When I look at the roster, basically 3 names come to mind, and let’s bear in mind that I’m evaluating this through the eyes of someone who might be scouting for WWE or Japan and what they might be looking for…
1) Justice Pain: Has the GREAT look, has the in ring skills in multiple styles, and has shown that he can carry the promotion’s torch as their champion. Really reminds me a lot of my own personal messiah Chris Benoit in many ways, and although it took The Wolverine a while to get the notoriety he deserves, people finally know the deal. I have a lot of respect for Pain and think he has what it takes.
2) Messiah: Good look and could get even bigger. Great charisma and despite the heinous nature of what he went through, he’s got some notoriety because of it. Solid worker who can work several styles, and in my opinion, can get even better in the ring. Granted, I may a little biased here, but in trying to be objective as possible, I definitely think he has what it takes.
3) My “sleeper”…M-Dogg 20: I know people are probably looking at me like “HUH?” right now, but look at it this way…His acrobatic and highspot ability is UNIQUE. Although he is small in stature, he has a good look physically, and hey, Rey Rey is lighting it up in the WWE now. Back to his highspots…any time you can provide a UNIQUE ability, you have a chance to go far. He’ll get better with the basics (and has already), and people have to realize that he hasn’t been in the business that long. In all actuality, if you asked me one guy that has the best chance, I’d stick to my guns and pick this guy…he has a lot of what we call “upside” in the football scouting business.
Which brings me to Question/Issue #5...from some turd named BDG (just kidding…kind of)…“How about your thoughts on the Lions being the whipping boys of the NFL?
Go Bears!”
If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure that there are some teams with as bad (or even worse) records than us right now, so we cannot be singled out as “THE Whipping Boys”. hell; although I know that ultimately all that counts in the W’s and L’s, but we could very easily be 3-2 instead of 1-4 right now, as we really should have beaten both Green Bay and Minnesota. Shoulda coulda woulda…I know…but we’re a lot better now that we have the right guy playing QB. Hopefully we’ll pummel The Luckiest Team in the NFL this weekend and you’ll have to eat your words BDG…Prediction: Lions 30 Bears 21
Question/Issue #6 is from ShortiMark...“What do you think about Ric Blade returning?”
I only ever saw Blade work on the “Stretched In Smyrna” tape in the unbelievable 6 man with he and The Briscoes vs. The SATs/Red. That match, I can honestly say, was one of the main reasons I really became interested in CZW. I know that Blade was a big fan favorite before in CZW, and the fans seemed pretty excited/pleased with his return, which is really what it’s all about. I also know that there are quite a few guys that aren’t really happy he’s back, and just from a complete outsider’s point of view (as I wasn‘t around when he was part of CZW before), I’d say he has a lot of bridges to mend in the back. But again; if the fans are pumped about his return then that’s priority #1 and I’m sure they can do some good things with him.
Finally, Question/Issue #7 came from both ShortiMark and BarrMark (aka TurdMark *L*) basically…”Your take on CZW's deathmatch scene after the retirement of it's most prominent player.”
Any time you lose a valuable member of your team and/or family, it hurts, there’s no denying that. Wifebeater was not only really highly regarded for his uncanny sick death match ability and how over he is/was with the crowd, but from what I have always observed, a very well-liked guy backstage. You can’t lose one of your best (if not THE best) competitors and hope that you’ll be the same…at least right away. Granted; there are many other CZW stars who bust their asses and put their bodies on the line, and I’m sure they’ll step it up to try and fill the void, but anyone in the back would tell you that they’ll miss Wifebeater both as a competitor and a friend. I’m interested to see exactly who steps up their game to another level…will it be Zandig, Lobo, Nick Mondo, H8 Club, one of the younger competitors, or a new member of the CZW crew?
I respect WB for having the humility and wisdom to realize, “Hey, I can’t do this as good as I used to because of what my body is telling me…maybe it’s time I move on.” Far too many athletes can’t make that call and go on disgracing their legacy long after they should have called it quits. I personally wish Wifebeater the best of luck in his life after wrestling, and here’s yet another voice who certainly says he’ll be missed.
Thanks for all your suggestions…I really had fun doing the column this way, as it was both something different and helpful to me in a time where my workload is ri-goddam-diculous…and A H T is always game to provide his opinion and answer questions about all things wrestling.
Before I go, let me plug 2 shows in the western part of PA this weekend if you’re from around this way. They are both on Saturday 10/19 and although two totally different products/show themes, they would both be worth the admission.
Norm Connors’ International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) is running in Canonsburg, PA at The Iceoplex Arena. Norm has done a great job of mixing his nice little crew of local talent with traveling solid indy talent. This show features a Heavyweight title bout between Colt Cabana (champ) and CM Punk, who always work well together and a tag title match between Josh Prohibition/M Dogg20 against the champions Sexual Harassment, who have reportedly really worked well together lately, in a TLC match as the dual main events. Sexy Ace Steele vs. Platinum Michael Preston and Denny Gregory vs. Jimmy Vegas are the other announced matches thus far with other quality indy talent on the bill. IWC’s shows have always been entertaining from what I’ve seen, and the announced matches alone make this one worth the effort. Bell time is 8:00pm.
The other show on the 19th is the APWF’s yearly tribute show to the memory of Robert “The Diceman” Hornack, a gifted and rising APWF worker who tragically passed away far before his time in a drowning accident. “My Sacrifice” is the 5th tribute show the APWF has put on since Robert’s untimely death, and it will be in the Punxsutawney Community Center in Punxsutawney, PA at 7:30pm (double check that time on the website). There will be a tag team tournament featuring former champs Zero Tolerance, the always exciting Dirk Ciglar & Brandon K, and the up and coming Player’s Club. All the APWF mainstays will be on the card, and there is generally a very touching tribute video to Robert. In addition; they have an auction with all sorts of neat wrestling merchandise (and some other items) with proceeds going to a scholarship fund in Robert‘s name.
Robert was a class act and a true rising talent in wrestling who had as much passion for the business as anyone that I’ve ever met. His work ethic, desire, and sharp wrestling mind were only second to his friendly and warm personality, and wrestling lost not only a future star but a quality person when The Diceman was taken away. On a personal note, I can honestly say that it was Robert who convinced me to actually get into wrestling in a role beyond being a dedicated fan/student of the game, and although I’m back to being more of a “friend of the family” when it comes to the wrestling business, his inspiration always stuck with me. Now I know I’ve had my differences with a few people there, but this truly is a worthwhile and touching event, and if you want to feel good about the wrestling show you’re going to, this is the place to be.
That’s all for this edition of “Working Stiff”…thanks to all those who contributed ideas and questions to help get me going again. Hopefully next month we’ll bring back an interview and some more interesting features that I can generate myself without pathetically soliciting the help of my readers *L*…but you can always feel free to e-mail me any ideas, suggestions, or things you’d like to see in the column or hear me run my mouth about. Until next time…1) Always wipe, 2) Stay ON the pipe, and 3) FUCK boR kcalB!
Faithfully Yours,
A H T
THE Dean of Communications
Any comments or LEGITIMATE questions you want
answered can be sent to
WorkingStiff13@aol.com
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