W'fudgeTV LIVE: WOHWrestling Presents BRET HART; Once in a Lifetime

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We will go LIVE around the 5pm hour from the WHITEHALL ATHLETIC CLUB in Whitehall, NY!

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FANTASY BOOKING: World of Hurt Wrestling 11/22/13

Let me preface this new site feature by saying... I'm just a mark like you.

A life long wrestling fan who has long crafted his own storylines and such in his head. I've done "predictions" for shows countless times before both on paper, in my head, and even here on this very website... but for some reason I find that can be a bit different than actually fantasy booking the show. There is a difference between what I think "they" will do and what I would do. What follows is how *I* would choose to book World of Hurt Wrestling's return to Whitehall, NY and the Whitehall Athletic Club on November 22, 2013. An event that features Bret "Hitman" Hart on the flier! I should say that while Bret is appearing for WOHW in a meet and greet capacity with fans BEFORE the show, I approached this fantasy booking as though he would NOT be making an appearance during the official show. I should ALSO say that I don't know for sure if that is actually the case.

With those caveats in mind? It's FANTASY TIME!

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A packed house in Whitehall. I'd love to have Commissioner Michael Anthony greet the fans and get them amped for a fun evening... But... Hold on a second... "Oh Canada!" starts playing and out comes Mr.Canada Ricky Williams.

My concern is that the fans who love, adore and just met Bret Hart will want to cheer the despicable and often unintelligible heel Mr.Canada. So he needs to make it clear that he is an asshole from the get. Maybe even carrying a "BRET SUCKS!" sign along with the Canadian flag. If they are feeling adventurous, give Mr.Canada a mic and allow him to briefly state his case: "Bret abandoned us! Doesn't represent Canada!" Or whatever. The former Mikey Mudd could capably guide this segment where it needed to go. Mr.Canada says Canada HATES Bret Hart -- He gets cut off by the explosive arrival of Bam Bam Badger.

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MATCH #1: BAM BAM BADGER vs Mr.CANADA

Match gets off to a roaring start and ends in dramatic fashion with a clean pin and victory for Bam Bam. Typical "get em warmed up" fare. Nothing overly flashy. Just give us a solid start. Maybe a post-match spot where Bam Bam gets a "thank you Bret!" chant going. Who knows. Again, I'm operating under the assumption that Bret won't be appearing during the actual event.
WINNER: BAM BAM
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Up next, Shane Alden is introduced to raucous applause. Gets in the ring and talks about how excited he is to be there and to finally have a one on one opportunity not only to face Vince Beach but to win the title in front of all of his fans, you know, typical babyface stuff. Which brings out Mr.Mann and Marty the Party (who of course represent Beach). They inform Shane that their client won't be there tonight. Something about getting his Maserati stuck in cow manure on the way and he insisted on overseeing its towing and delivery to a repair shop in Manhatten. Or something. Shane is caught off guard by a marauding Beach who enters via the crowd. Beach lays Alden out. His reps hold Shane prone and defenseless as Beach targets Alden's ribs. Starr and Danger run out along with Sidusky and Kyle Brad to make the save and chase the evil trio from the ring. Shane needs help to get to his feet and is escorted backstage by his nearest and dearest. Suddenly, there is doubt about whether Shane Alden can overcome this attack and muster the energy and intensity needed to defeat Beach... And isn't that what this is all about?

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MATCH #2: "REDNECK RANDY WALKER vs HOSS
Ok. This match wasn't announced. But I am throwing them together simply because they should be on the card and because their pictures shared a spot on one of the ads. Why not? Walker recently debuted a heel persona - with sort of a borderline domestic violence gimmick with his sister Brandy - which I actually find to be pretty unique and fresh for the pairing. Hoss, on the other hand, can't walk out there without the crowd cheering for him - so he plays the babyface here. With that settled, this ones a stiff brutal affair. Hoss dominates, Randy tries to cheat, but Brandy keeps pointing it out to the ref because she can't help it! She remembers the kindler gentler man her brother once was! Hoss could give two shits how Randy treats this broad, he just wants to beat him up as efficiently as possible so he can get his win and get to the bar at the WAC where his whistle can be appropriately wetted. And win, he does. Brutally.
WINNER: HOSS

Post match, Hoss celebrates and goes straight to the bar through the crowd, fans patting him on the back along the way... Leaving Randy to get angry in the ring as he realizes what just happened. And who will he take this anger out on? His sister, Brandy, of course. Eventually... He has her by her hair about to lay her out... Will he? COULD he? ...But out comes ASHLEY ALDEN! She throws a Lou Thesz press on the Redneck and takes him down! Crowd goes nuts! Randy takes a powder and sulks and slinks backstage with a modicum of remaining dignity while Ashley asks Brandy to hop in the wheel barrow. Ashley, the image of girl power, takes Brandy backstage to cheers. (This would lead to an Ashley vs Randy comedy style match at the next show, by the way...)
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I dunno... I think that could work!

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MATCH #3: FRONZ RODDY vs KYLE BRAD
I want to call this match of the night... And I admit that's how I'd approach it... I am a huge fan of both of these guys. Can't wait for this pairing! Make it an even showing. See-saw battle. Brad has the win in his hands... But ...In the end... Kyle B-Rad is cheated of victory when Roddy grabs hold of the tights in a surprise roll up and immediately sneaks out of the ring without even retrieving his trademark feather boa! Big yet tainted victory for The Mighty One!
WINNER: FRONZ RODDY

Post-Match, Kyle Brad pulls himself back up and is shown the respect and adulation of the crowd as WOH officials announce the beginning of INTERMISSION!
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During intermission, I buy one raffle ticket and win whatever is up for grabs.
And it's awesome.
A small, young child cries when they lose.
And it's awesome.
BACK TO THE ACTION!

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MATCH #4 ERIC ALDEN vs PUNK - Tables Match
This will be entirely what you expect. A lot of table-spot teases and reversals... Eric will probably drop some thumb tacks... I'd like to see Punk have a trick of his OWN up his sleeve; whether it's something old school like brass knuckles or something more overt and brutal like a baseball bat... I would just make this as hardcore as was allowable. Big finish comes with some kind of turnbuckle fall-spot through a table set up at ringside. Yeah. I'm evil. But these guys are nuts and this is a big show and - goddamn it - if they want to work again under my regime they'd do it! Damn it!
WINNER: ERIC ALDEN
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Violent and effective, we lead into our tag team feature of the evening for the World of Hurt Tag Team Championship!

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MATCH #5: DANGER/STARR (c) vs PURE DYNAMITE
I'll be up-front. (Why waste anyone's time?) I would attempt somewhat of a double-turn here. I'd turn Danger into THE promotions monster heel and give fans of WOHW the much deserved and ultra rewarding opportunity to CHEER for the Capitol Regions most entertaining homegrown tag team in ... FOREVER. Danger turns on Starr right at the moment of the likely hot tag, allowing a stunned and surprised Pure Dynamite to (almost) reluctantly make the cover and regain the belts.
WINNERS: PURE DYNAMITE - New Champs, son!

Post-Match, PD watch outside the ring completely shocked as Danger choke slams his former friend, Jeff Starr, in the center of the ring 3 consecutive times to the boos of the crowd. Danger seems to turn and gesture to choke slamming Starr's fiancée, his "Hollywood Vixen" and the new tag champs have seen enough. Danger lets her go and finally leaves the ring as PD help Starr to his feet as his rightfully-concerned girlfriend looks on...

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Oh snap. After this event, I would have Danger cut a dark, scary youtube promo where he explains how TIRED he is of Jeff Starr making it "all about Jeff" (Starr's life-threatening surgery, recovery, etc... His insistence on having the Vixen at his side, etc). Danger thinks its time for things to be "all about Danger"... And he has his sights set on the Heavyweight Championship (which he would ultimately win) I have long term thoughts on where this would lead, including it eventually coming down to Eric Alden finally defeating the monster, Danger, to become WOH Champion... But let's get back to THIS show!

Before the next match, the ring announcer "puts the fans at ease" and tells them that the main event between Alden and Beach is still set to go down... But that Shane Alden has refused medical attention and is competing against the advice of medical professionals on site in Whitehall.

Hell yeah.

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MATCH#6: SWINGER SIDUSKY vs ADAM BADGER
Did I say that Roddy/Brad would be match of the night? Well, fuck me because this match is happening too! This will be another high octane, fast paced contest where the crowd is left breathless. In the end, both men would ALSO be breathless and unable to answer the mutual ten count. Don't call it a cop out. We are building, people.
WINNER: The Fans

(My vision here would see Sidusky and Badger eye each other across the ring post match, both struggling to stand... Sidusky offers a hand out of respect... The crowd doesn't know WHAT should happen... Badger teases he will shake Swingers hand, and instead SPITS in Sidusky's face before dipping out of the ring laughing maniacally! Let's see some long term stuff built here! Certainly if the chemistry is there!)
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Finally it's time for our Main Event... They come out separately but are introduced by the ring announcer whilst standing nose to nose in the center of the ring. Give this a HUGE big match feel. Dramatic pauses. Slow build from the bell. All of that...

MATCH #7: VINCE BEACH(c) vs SHANE ALDEN
Man... This has such fun potential it's crazy. Both guys need to take their time. A lot of stalling from Beach early. An over abundance of nursing the now taped-up ribs of Alden. Beach naturally targets the ribs... But Shane won't stay down. That's the story. Beach is pulling out all the stops. Marty and Mr.Mann are getting involved (before being ejected from ringside) yet Shane Alden is drawing off the crowd. He can feel it. Tonight is the night. Alden gets control but -- REF BUMP! Out comes a replacement but he is too late! Beach recovers... Alden counters -- ANOTHER REF BUMP! The original ref is finally back into it but Beach is still in it! He DROPS Shane Alden chest first across his knees and goes for a cover... But SHANE KICKS OUT! Now Vince is PISSED! He flips out! He "accidentally" shoves the referee over the top rope and goes on the attack on Alden! STOMPING on his ribs! Removing the supportive/protective/completely-cosmetic tape from Alden's midsection and is going to town! But... What's this?!? Out comes Commissioner Michael Anthony! Beach watches in horror while Anthony removes a zebra shirt from a downed ref and puts it on himself, not caring that it's three sizes too small! Anthony gets in the ring and gets in Beachs face, barking about "stripping" Beach of the title for putting hands on an official, etc... that's when Your Lifeguard turns around to find a resurgent Shane Alden on the attack. Plants him. Center of the ring. That's right. Pin. New champion. House EXPLODES! Hoss, Kyle Brad and Swinger come out to hoist Alden on their shoulders. Nice moment...

And that's when Danger RUINS it. Takes out the champ. His friends. Even the injured Jeff Starr who tries to make the save. He goes to leave with the belt... Then throws it back in the ring, as if to say "not now".
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So yeah... That's the general gist. That's what I'd do. Hope this was an interesting read and that you check out the actual show to see hat really goes down! Other than Hoss/Randy, that's the lineup! Anything could happen! Don't miss the show!

W'fudgeTV LIVE: Mikey Chase, JT Dunn, Pierre Vachon and MORE!

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We go LIVE from from STUDIO 68  at 7PM! 

TONIGHT:

- JT Dunn (maybe?)

- Pierre Vachon!

- Mikey Chase!

- we run the gauntlet of upcoming shows!

- pay our respects to the late TOM UGLY!

- and MUCH more!  

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W'fudgeTV LIVE - SEASON 3 PREMIERE

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We go LIVE from from STUDIO 68  at 7PM! 

GUESTS TONIGHT:
- JT Dunn
- "The Mighty" FRONZ RODDY
- RWE Executive Producer, CALEB SELTZER!
- we promote a crap ton of upcoming shows!
- and catch each other up on the happenings of the world of independent professional wrestling!

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State of the 'Fudge - October 2013

Here we are! Everything's Fine!™

It's been a while so please allow us to debunk some rumors/confusion that were floating around. No, we didn't die. No, we didn't shut down along with the government. Our favorite rumor was brought to light after a few concerned and faithful readers/viewers caught wind of some nonsense found in a thread on theburninghammer.com concerning CTWE's recent closing and CTWE Owner Joey Bricco's influence and absence from the NE wrestling scene:

"ive seen that wrestlefudge has been real slow on any new content and its kinda funny but i had a few people tell me Bricco was involved with them as well."

Bricco wasn't "involved" with us. Let's put that to bed right now.

In fact it's been public knowledge that WE sponsored CTWE -- not the other way around. To be totally honest, ever since Nocturne's now famous appearance on our show and he "blew up the world", Joey quietly distanced himself from us and outright refused to come on our program. That rumor is completely false and baseless.

I wish the explanation for our "slow content" was that interesting.

Ultimately it comes down to life.

Will and I had been churning out shows and content on a (mostly) weekly basis -- and a LOT of time goes into putting those shows together. A LOT. Truthfully, it was beginning to feel like WORK vs FUN -- which is NOT what brought us to the dance.

We decided that the timing was right (since a handful of the local promotions, yet certainly not all, had also gone a bit dormant during that period) to take an extended break. To focus on other important stuff; family being foremost among those things. Other side projects and dalliances being another example.

We have also spent our so-called downtime focusing on improving studio standards, tweaking equipment selections, and expanding our toolbox in regards to Live Event Streaming - something we CERTAINLY would like to do more of. Every outing, we fine tune what we do and smooth things out just a bit more. We are soon approaching the day when we can legitimately approach a promotion about a deal to professionally live-broadcast their live events under our banner. It's exciting stuff and we can't wait to take that step.

Remember, like the wrestlers we cover and report on, we don't make a TON of dough doing what we do right now. It's all about passion and heart. Will and I have taken the time to recharge those particular batteries and are ready to come back for some more nonsense!

We will see you live on November 1st when WrestlefudgeTV LIVE is set to return on this very page. ...but more on that later.

Thank you for your continued support and interest!

Paul
Paul@Wrestlefudge.com

WrestlefudgeTV LIVE from DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

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We go LIVE from from the Maranatha Family Center in Richmondville, NY by 5pm!

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WrestlefudgeTV LIVE: Ocean/Newton/Envy and the GAUNTLET!

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We go LIVE from Studio 68 at 7pm!

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News and Views: 7/24/13

-- firstly, a quick update on the status of Wrestlefudge TV LIVE; after suffering an equipment-related set-back that truly caught us off guard, we are happy to say that the equipment in question is in the process of being repaired (thankfully covered under warranty!) and we hope to be back on the air soon. Early August for sure. Thankfully, with the exception of a few major developments from the CT scene, the NY area (and the promotions and performers under our musty umbrella) has been quiet. Eerily quiet. More on that in a moment...

-- how about Real Warrior Entertainment, eh? They explode on the CT scene with ambitious shows and aggressive "name" booking, backed up by some of THE best in our area. Literally a who's-who! By all accounts, their shows so far have been fun and different. The recent Bobby Ocean story is disappointing and they recently "postponed" an even scheduled for August 2nd. More interesting to me is the fact that they've been running shows for less than a month and already have 4,600+ Facebook likes. How much did THOSE cost? (I'm kidding. Right?) I have to admit, despite any of the NEGATIVE press RWE has had, overall it appears to ABSOLUTELY be a promotion to follow.

-- In early July, Craig Andrews - the man behind RWE - started a website whose intent was to cover all of the news/promotion of independent wrestling in CT, "drama-free". So far all there is are links to RWE, CTWE, PWA, and NEFW (no love for WrestleJam? Sheesh!) No news and/or promotion yet but it might be a site worth bookmarking, perhaps? I look forward to seeing (if/when it gets off the ground) how long it remains "drama-free". That rarely happens in Connecticut, we have learned. Overall, a VERY cool idea. Say what you want, but I dig the guys enthusiasm for the business.

-- at the last WOH Wrestling event at the Whitehall Athletic Club in May, they announced a return to the WAC on July 26th. Since that day, there has been zero promotion and basically radio silence from the promotion. We have reached out to World of Hurt officials several times in several different ways and have still yet to hear back from them but after contacting the Whitehall Athletic Club directly we can confirm that there will NOT be a show there this Friday night. We are hearing whispers and rumors of a show in August - with the added inference that we can expect this show to be held in an entirely different venue. I am waiting for an official word from Athletic Club officials on this, but it appears as though the relationship between World of Hurt and the WAC has reached an end. If this is the case, this is EXTREMELY disappointing because WOH had truly made this venue their own. What a fantastic place to see a live wrestling event. The Athletic Club staff has been friendly, courteous, etc... We are hoping this isn't true. If we hear ANYTHING on this (and we have been asked countless times by countless people), we will report it here. Alternately, if any readers have any insight or info on this, please email me at Paul@Wrestlefudge.com.

Bobby Ocean and RWE Publicly Part Ways/RWE Responds

Longtime friend of the 'fudge and undoubtedly one of the hardest working men in local independent professional wrestling, BOBBY OCEAN, took to Facebook earlier this week and quite publicly cut ties with Real Warrior Entertainment and their "School of Hardknocks" institution, where he had served as Head Trainer. What follows is Ocean's original post wherein he gives his side of things:

"As stated in a pervious post I am no longer affiliated with RWE or their school. The one thing I hate someone who can not be upfront and honest with me. I am not upset at the fact that I am no longer with affiliated with them or their school. I am going to spit the truth here because the one thing I don't do is bullshit. Craig Margelony (Craig Andrews)the owner/promoter/booker has no wrestling sense what so ever, money mark, and is disrespectful. Supposedly he has been promoting for 3 years out in Florida true or not I can't really say. But you would think someone would listen to a guy who has been in this for 13-14 years wrong. Note that there was a promotion before the school was even established talk about things done the wrong way. They wanted to build the promotion around me in which I unbooked myself from the dates seeing as how the focus should not be on me but the younger guys the ones who haven't been able to be seen. I gave a list of talent in which was not looked at. RWE felt that people should be contacting them for bookings. Here's how disrespectful this particular person during some conversations Craig Margelony tells me that I should be grateful for him allowing me to have a school or students. Mind you I have may not have had a school but I was working with wrestlers in other places. He says I can be replaced and that the people will come whether its Bobby Ocean's name on the school or someone else. I also heard he spoke disrespectfully about me and my work in the ring. Then there are security cameras placed in the school which obviously says he does not trust anyone. I got a text message on Monday night saying I need the key for the school when I asked the reason he says I need to close down the school we are not getting enough students in here, the cost is to much, and he is looking for other locations. I'm not happy about this seeing as how the students are getting screwed out of this. Key was returned and no sooner than that people tell me that Justin Credible is the new head trainer. No heat there what so ever. I consider Justin Credible good peoples regardless of what others may say of his past I am happy that he is doing well and consider him a friend. My thing in the whole matter is for someone to lie to my face and have nothing but crap come out of their mouth."

We reached out to RWE management for comment. RWE Owner, Craig Andrews, was quick to respond. That response follows:

"Very simply we are going another direction. Bobby Ocean is a great worker and we believed in his ability to run our school. RWE Wrestling Dojo is in the process of looking for another venue this is true. We did not get as many sign ups initially as we had hoped. So Bobbys statement on us closing this location and looking for another more cost effective option is true.

Bobby and RWE did not always see eye to eye but we still feel Bobby Ocean is a great wrestler and trainer. The school is equipped with video surveillance for security. On the evening of July 9th RWE staff went to the school to put up the ring ropes that were off the ring for maintenance, upon arrival the ropes were already up. Curious of who put the ropes up we ran back the video. The footage shows Bobby entering the school walking to the back area (where the cameras operate from) and then video security was interrupted for about 3 hours. When security came back on it showed Bobby leaving the back area, ropes were up and he proceeded to lock up. We felt it was not only unprofessional but uncalled for the head trainer to interrupt our security to the building. When we asked Bobby his reply was " What you don't trust me" As a business owner all my companies have security and under no circumstances does staff ever interfere with this. Not only is it a safety measure but a security measure as I am just trying to protect my investment. It also helps to know who is training in our facilities on what days and who is required to make payments for service.

To date the numbers are not accurate for student payments and company reimbursements from the trainer. Its hard enough we are In a difficult economy. We want to provide a facility for everyone in the business to have cost effective access to. We certainly want all who are interested in the classes to partake, or trained wrestlers to practice before show days but we need payment to keep the facilities available to everyone. For trained wrestlers its just $10 to use the Dojo, for students our rates can be found on RWEWrestling.com

We try to have very competitive rates while providing the absolute best facilities independent wrestling has to offer."

Interesting.

It's important, I feel, to point out that RWE did not directly respond to the rumor that Justin Credible would serve as their Dojo's new Head Trainer. Interestingly enough, Credible has recently been added to the list of names appearing on upcoming RWE events, as well as receiving a prominent spot on some of their latest promo posters. The other thing that jumps out to me is how Andrews began his statement with "very simply we are going another direction" and yet, clearly by his own continued explanation there was more behind this than just a simple "change of direction".

Oh, CT wrestling drama... Do you ever STOP?

We are hopeful that we can hear from BOTH sides of this issue and maybe even squash some beef on a future episode of WrestlefudgeTV LIVE. Stay tuned for more on this story and other developing news in our area and the world of local indy wrestling!

WrestleArt.Com Presents SUPERSTAR PROFILE: "The Spectacle" Adam Badger

Q: What made you want to be a professional wrestler?

A: When I was a kid, I think it was the characters. The realness of it all really captivated me. It's not like Power Rangers or Batman cartoons or movies. There are no special effects, edits or computer animations, just a bad guy and a good guy fighting for what they believe in, in front of a huge crowd. I would get so caught up in it and swept away. There's nothing else I have seen that's given me that same feeling. In some ways it has numbed me to a lot of things I guess. As I got older, I never grew out of it. I said when I was 7 that I wanted to be a wrestler, and that's never changed. It's the belief that I can achieve these amazing things and fight for what I believe in that made me want to be wrestler. Forgive me if a ramble, I do that occasionally.

Q: Was getting in the ring for the first time what you expected?
A: As far as the pain, it was definitely more than I expected, but not much more because I knew it would be very painful. I was 18 when I first did in-ring training at Chaotic Wrestling in Lowell, MA, and most other guys there were marking out. I wasn't because I had known I would end up in a ring since I was 7. I just had to wait a long 11 years. (Laughs)

Q: How important is it to look the part?

A: It is important, but not as important as personality. When you say "look the part," it doesn't always mean physique-wise. You have to carry yourself as a professional, have professional looking gear, behave like you are SOMEBODY, and look like you know what you are doing. That's how you can captivate a little kid into believing in your match. So yes, look is very important. Wrestling is an art, its subjective, so there are a lot of grey areas. If you are not in shape, you have crap gear, and no mic skills, then you're not a pro. This all applies to backstage as well as in the ring, in my opinion.

Q: Is there any person you wouldn't want to see on the other side of Adam Badger vs. __ ?

A: Yes, there are definitely people who make you face palm yourself when you see you are booked against them. If you think you are one of these guys, then you probably are. Someone that doesn't take it seriously or is lazy are my biggest pet peeves. I won't call out people though.

Q: Is there a match of yours (good or bad) that stands out in your mind? Why?

A: My match with Scotty Too Hotty in Maine stands out because it gave me confidence that I could keep up with a guy that has his amount of experience. It taught me about timing and pacing. I feel like the strap match I have on May 24 against Eric Alden will standout in a very good way.

Q: How important is it for you to make money in wrestling?

A: Right now, learning and getting experience are my main concerns. I never got into wrestling thinking about money. Obviously, making a living in this is the goal because that comes along with "making it," but my motivations are not monetarily driven. I want to make a mark, prove that I made the right decision when I chose to follow my dreams and prove society and the conventions of normal life wrong. The only reason I want to make money wrestling is because then I could put my full day to day life into becoming a better wrestler.

Q: Have you achieved all of your goals you set when you first embarked on this journey?

A: No I haven't, and that's what keeps me up at night. I'll never settle or admit that I can't do it because I believe that I can "make it." I take it so seriously and want it so badly that it hurts sometimes. I have taken a lot loved ones for granted, skipped a lot of get-togethers, quality time and hurt relationships in my pursuit. As of right now I barely have even a small fraction of a fraction of the goals I've set for myself.

Q: Are there any indy wrestlers or tag teams you feel are ready for the big time?

A: I have met guys who I could see in the big time. "Big Time" Bill Collier (no pun intended), a friend of mine from PA. He's a tall, built, strong, athletic dude with charisma, great in-ring as well. I think Joe Sidusky from World Of Hurt has great in-ring skills and a good look. If he got out there, he could go far. I know he is in ROH which is big, but I am a fan of Tomasso Ciampa and he could be on an even bigger stage. I think Mike Mondo should be back in WWE as well. He actually went to the same high school as me in Medford, NY, and they had his picture in the hallway when he was in Spirit Squad. I was 16 and that always made it seem real, like wow, a guy from here made it. I have a soft spot for him. I've never met him, and I doubt he'll read this, but that always stuck out and inspired me.

Q: What is the importance of taping your match for your own personal use?

A: It's a very productive tool if used right. Don't watch just to mark out for yourself. See what you did right, what you could do better, and what you suck at. Wrestling is an art and if you were a musician you would listen to your recordings. If you don't like your own song, chances are most other people won't either.

Q: What's your most embarassing moment in the ring or on the road?

A: I had a match in Maine where we got booed out of the place. I was less experienced then and it was just the wrong match for the wrong crowd. It was an old school crowd, and a young stupid spot-filled match. It was so embarrassing, but I learned from it, and it made me better. At the time though, I should've been on suicide watch... just kidding, but close.

Q: If you could switch careers with any wrestler (professional or independent) who would it be and why?

A: I don't wanna switch just yet. I wanna see where I end up first. There are tons of wrestlers in better positions than I am, but they all have their own unique journey, and I want mine as well.

Q: Wrestling boots or shoes?

A: Boots, definitely.

Q: Wrist tape or no wrist tape?

A: I like wrist tape better, but I also can dig the old school no wrist tape look. It depends on the wrestler. I switch it up.

Q: Tag or singles?

A: I think at heart everyone likes singles, but I like both. It's art. They are just two different types of stories and both are beautiful when done right. If a booker asks, it's "whatever you need me to be."

Q: Do independent championship titles mean anything to you?

A: Yes. They should. Again, there are a lot of grey areas. If the promoter and/or booker takes pride in their fed and their titles, then their rosters should follow suit. If it's some crap fed where anyone and their mother gets a belt cuz they live next door to the booker, then no, it probably doesn't mean much. It's the difference between winning a trophy and the "everyone gets a trophy for participating" league.

Q: I hate, hate, FUCKING HATE when wrestlers don't use the tag ropes, or promoters don't provide tag ropes. I see this as something that's wrong with wrestling on the independent level. What is something that rubs you the wrong way about the indies?

A: Aesthetically, I don't like when the ring is filthy looking or the fed has a shitty looking set up. I don't like how a lot of indy feds don't take the safety of the wrestlers seriously. If your ring is dangerous make the boys aware of exactly what they should avoid doing. I despise when untrained people are given spots as if its a walk-on beer league. Again...safety. But all of this in the end, whether its tag ropes, dirty rings, crappy wrestling/wrestlers, etc., are things that compromise the integrity of your show and of the whole sport. When we were all kids, we got captivated by wrestling. Now imagine you as a kid, going to a local wrestling show, and the setup was crap, the ring was dirty, bad wrestlers were doing bad wrestling in that dirty ring. It would be like when you found out there was no Santa. The magic is gone, the innocence is gone. Think of how many kids may have gotten turned off of wrestling cause of a shit show they went to run by some gypsy promoter booking his fat friends. It could've been the next Cena or Austin, you never know. That kid's dad is trusting you with his hard earned money, but that kid is trusting all of us with his innocence, his untainted view of this captivating world of pro wrestling. To him you might be the closest he ever gets to the WWE, so always act as such. It's not about your friends, your ego, your moves, or money, it's about keeping the magic alive. Every time a crap half-assed show gets put on, you're spitting in the face of whoever captivated you and got you to follow your dreams. There are a lot of shitty people you'll meet through wrestling, and there are politics and all that stuff you hear about, but the kids don't know about any of that. Wrestling gave me dreams, goals, it got me into weight lifting and kept me away from drugs and alcohol. I have never smoked a cigarette, never been drunk, never touched any drugs, all because I wanted to stay on track. Wrestling was there for me when I was a kid going through a rough childhood. My pursuit of my dreams has molded me into who I am and wrestling is responsible for giving me the courage to follow my dreams. That's who we are to every kid who goes to a show. We can give him a reason to pursue his dreams and keep him on track. So remember that, whoever is reading this.....

If you have questions you would like to submit for future interviews or have interest in a certain guest, e-mail:

wrestleart.com@gmail.com

(Michael Anthony is the artistic genius behind WrestleArt.com and has been a friend and Contributing Corespondent to Wrestlefudge.com for some time! Be sure to check out the WrestleArt Facebook page and give it a "LIKE"!)

ULTIMATE 25 Rankings on WrestlefudgeTV LIVE - 7PM

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New ULTIMATE 25 Rankings Unveiled THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!

You might recall the Ultimate 25? We assembled a list of the twenty five very best professional wrestlers who compete for the independent promotions under our musty umbrella and put it out there. There was controversy! There was drama! There was out right outrage! It was AWESOME. But that was back in January! It's time to tackle this bad boy again!

We have expanded our Executive Panel of voters to 7 and the ballots are in. This Friday Night on Wrestlefudge.com we will be presenting the updated Official ULTIMATE 25 on a Special Presentation of WrestlefudgeTV LIVE! A lot of new names in the lineup this year and a lot of interesting placement! You won't want to miss this! Join the live discussion in our chatroom, on our Facebook page, or on twitter!

Who will be #1?
----------------------------
Previous ULTIMATE 25 Rankings from early 2012:

1 - Vladimir Joseph
2 - Fronz Roddy
3 - Slyck Wagner Brown
4 - Pierre Vachon
5 - Lukas Sharp
6 - Swinger Sidusky
7 - Dan de Man
8 - Ricky Reyes
9 - Bobby Ocean
10 - Kristian Frost
11 - Vik Dalishus
12 - Big Vigo
13 - Bobby Fish
14 - JP Black
15 - Shane Alden
16 - "Royalty" William King
17 - Pinkie Sanchez
18 - Dalton Castle
19 - Rob Coleman
20 - CJ Scott
21 - Roman Dominguez
22 - Adam Badger
23 - Chris Battle
24 - Bandido Jr
25 - Rickety Rocket

7PM W'fudgeTV LIVE: Chris Envy, Hoss, Erik Newton, and MORE!

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We go LIVE from Studio 68 at 7pm!

(If you're here BEFORE 7PM, we likely aren't live and you're instead viewing our PREVIOUS show!)

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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: WOHW SteelCage SHOWDOWN

Tonight is the night! Whitehall, NY - Whitehall Athletic Club presents World of Hurt Wrestling and their SteelCage SHOWDOWN! We had originally planned on broadcasting LIVE from this event, but business obligations elsewhere have prevented us from "doing our THANG". This is, however, a CAN'T MISS show -- so you know *I* will be there!

On top of all the usual fantastic wrestling action, I'm also excited to see WrestleArt.com's merch spread! Get there early if you're interested in one of their custom Wrestling Buddies OR anything else that they offer! For now... Onto the matches we know about!

Chuck Deep vs. Kyle Brad
I've seen dozens of matches featuring Chuck Deep live. But only one singles match, so I'm really pumped to see Pure Dynamite in singles action tonight. I wrote last week that I am expecting a lot from this match and I stand by that. Kyle Brad is another one of those local talents that I have ALWAYS felt had the potential to thrive on a larger stage. He and Chuck will absolutely tear the Old Armory down.
Paul's PICK: The FANS are the winners! I don't car who wins, it's going to be fun.

Brad Wesley vs. Chris Envy
The other half of Pure Dynamite goes solo against Envy in another contest that I foresee as being a fantastic pairing. Big Mr.Biceps vs the "Reality Show Superstar"! Envy has a large, vocal following in this area and I predict that support may be enough to push him over the top in this contest.
Paul's PICK: Chris Envy

Shane Alden vs. Punk
Fresh off his victory over Mike Bennett, Shane Alden will go head to head with the always angry, always bitter, always volatile Punk. Punk has had a chip on his shoulder since surrendering the WOH Championship a year ago and has not seemed to be able to find his groove ever since. Is tonight the night that changes? Hard to say. Shane Alden is as determined as ever to both put on a great show AND continue his rise to the top of World of Hurt.
Paul's PICK: Shane Alden

STRAP MATCH
Adam Badger vs. Eric Alden
This has been one of WOHW's most entertaining feuds and it appears as though it will culminate in a BRUTAL strap match tonight. Eric Alden has been labeled a freak by the very hungry, very dangerous Adam Badger... Badger may have bitten off more than he can chew on this one. Once that strap is attached, there will be nowhere for Badger to run, the mind games will be over and the violence begins. I've been a longtime supporter and booster of "The Spectacle" Adam Badgers skills... But he may be backed into a very dark corner tonight.
Paul's PICK: Eric Alden

Danger/Jeff Starr defend the WOHW Tag Titles
These two are fresh off of beating the ever loving piss out of Pure Dynamite for their tag belts and I have to say that I feel VERY sorry for whoever stands across the ring for them tonight because they will be looking to prove a point. My pick would be that Danger and Starr will retain... As far as who they face? ...hmmm. I'd like to see Hoss and Danger square off. As for Hoss' partner? ...how about Big Vigo? If not those two GIANT bastards, what about the Joint Task Force; Sgt.Fury and Cpl.Saint? Whoever it is... It's going to HURT.

WWE HALL OF FAMER Tony Atlas will be in action!
No shit? I've met Tony before. Seems like a good dude. Will we see a Foot Fetish Match tonight? OH MY.

WOHW Heavyweight Championship - STEEL CAGE MATCH
Swinger Sidusky (c) vs Vince Beach
Snap, this is going to be fun. Sidusky has wowed WOHW fans before inside of a cage and I look forward to seeing him wow us all again. Beach has had an interesting journey in World of Hurt; taking on a string of "legends" until finally focusing his attention towards the "big prize". I've gotta say... Beach has a gimmick that almost NO ONE else could pull off and make entertaining. But I don't see him as a top title holder. Sidusky just HAS it. So much fun to watch.
Paul's PICK: Swinger

Hope to see you at the show tonight! Come say hello! I'll be somewhere in the front row, being typically obnoxious and having far too much fun. And tell the WrestleArt people you want to see W'fudge Wrestling Buddies! (Kidding. Mostly.)

News and Views: 5/19/13

World of Hurt Wrestling:

-- don't expect to see ROH star Mike Bennett this Friday night in Whitehall for WOHW's Steelcage Showdown despite Shane Alden challenging him to a one on one match while appearing on our show back in late March. Bennett was expected to appear but recent rumored developments are likely to keep him away from Whitehall -- and leaving Shane Alden now lined up against Punk on this particular show and WITHOUT getting the revenge he sought against Bennett. Disappointing for local fans but (if these rumors hold true) congratulations to Bennett! A very down to earth guy who seems focused and as ready as he ever could be.

-- one match to look for next Friday is Chuck Deep taking on Kyle Brad! I'm already looking at this match as possible match if the night, if the two are REALLY allowed to just go at it and throw it all out there. I honestly would not be surprised if we see a truly star making performance out of Kyle Brad. Really looking forward to it!

-- holy shit, WrestleArt.com is bringing their gimmicks to the show! There will be a limited selection of their work on display and up FOR SALE at the Whitehall Athletic Club this Friday night! I stress: if you think you'll want one (or three) get to the show early!


CTWE:

-- tickets for CTWE's Bethany Battle: Heroes Emerge on June 22nd went on sale Saturday morning and -- as usual -- are moving quickly out the door. Some fun matches announced! Newly crowned CTWE Heavyweight Champion, Lukas Sharp, will defend against former champ, Slyck Wagner Brown! In tag action, Dan Barry will team with Bill Carr to take on The After Party! Dalton Castle will lock up with Ricky Reyes in what should be an entertaining clash of styles and personalities! ...but where's Bobby Ocean?

-- just announced for Bethany Battle in June is recently released WWE talent, Derrick Bateman. I'm not all too familiar with his work, but people I respect are high on him and that's enough for me. Could be an added attraction, from a performance aspect.

-- have you watched the backstage outtakes from BriccoMania V? Some really funny shit.


NEFW:

-- one of NEFW's owners, Erik Newton, recently appeared on Full Circle Radio to directly address GreenGate. If you've never listened to this program, know that these guys are as vulgar as they are entertaining as they are drunk. These traits are directly related! A fun listen. Newton fires a few shots across the bow (coming in at around the 2 hr mark) and more of his side of the story (and their motivations for asking Bricco/Stamos to leave) is shared. Worth a listen if you're still at all interested in this story.

-- NEFW has announced their next show as Cruel Summer III on August 3rd and have already thrown out a tantalizing signing: Johnny Gargano/Frankie Arion/JT Dunn for Dunn's US Title! Holy hot damn, that will be a match.


Ultimate Wrestling EAST:

-- on June 9th, Ultimate Wrestling EAST returns to Troy, NY with their "Summer Spectacular" and with maybe one of the most exciting tag matches I've seen advertised locally in some time. Pure Dynamite - Brad Wesley and Chuck Deep - will make their EASTern debut against top New England tag team, Monarchy! If you love fun tag wrestling, this is a match you DO NOT want to miss under any circumstances.

-- other matches announced include the anti-climactic return of their InterState Champion, Coconut Jones, defending against "The Wolf" CJ Scott. CJ's work in Ultimate Wrestling has been consistently strong since the EAST debuted and I'm personally hoping for a title change although its questionable if they'd have heels holding EVERY title.

-- also, back at REDLINE earlier this month, Oman Tortuga had his potty mouth on full display at the Troy Boys and Girls Club -- this just a few weeks after Cloudy was "reprimanded" for flipping me off in the middle of the ring and Heavyweight Champion, Vik Dalishus, caught some heat for booting "Redneck" Randy Walkers sister in the grill. After dropping that verbal bomb, Tortuga did what any dirtbag heel would do: Apologize for his language.

-- sigh.

More News and Views as they get to us! Do YOU have news/opinion/rumor YOU would like to share? News that you think other indy wrestling fans should no? Reach out to us! Message us through our Facebook page, find us on twitter, or email me at Paul@WRESTLEFUDGE.COM.

The GAUNTLET: Upcoming Local'ish Events

May 24 - World of Hurt Wrestling:


Don't see a show that's on YOUR radar? Tell us about it! Email me at Paul@Wrestlefudge.com

GreenGate Update

Chances are good that you have an opinion on the whole GreenGate debacle that went down last Saturday night in Chicopee. A lot of finger pointing and shrugging shoulders going on the last few days as "just about everyone" weighed in on it in some form or another.

-- The most interesting piece of news getting back to us is the reported growing rift between Joey Bricco and Mikey Chase. Chase is more than just a "guy on the roster", he is responsible for, among MANY things, a lot of the production elements of the product behind the scenes as well as being known as one of Bricco's closer friends. According to our sources, Chase and Bricco have both privately and public exchanged words, with Chase described as "disgusted" by Bricco's actions both on that evening and on his personal Facebook page since.

-- reaction to the Vinyer story from yesterday has been amusing. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for that discussion. It's prompted a lot of text/instant messages sent our way regarding good ole Foxx's behavior both on THAT night and many others. It was specifically pointed out to me several times that another of the big reasons Vinyer rubbed many the wrong way that night was by the way he was "harassing (special guest) Jesse Neal". I'm sure we will hear from Vinyer on this at some point. No one loves bad press more than this guy. Which makes him a favorite of ours!

Have an opinion? Tired hearing about this story? Comment below, go to our Facebook page, or yell at us on twitter!

Foxx Vinyer was GreenGate'ing Before It Was Cool

So, you've probably heard about GreenGate. Who, at this point, hasn't?

But did you know that, weeks before NEFW's BATTLEGROUND event and all of that related nonsense... that the Intimate Warrior Himself, Foxx Vinyer, was show trolling several weeks before Bricco and Stamos gave it a go?

According to sources, Foxx Vinyer and Kyle Badger were in attendance at IYFW's May the 4th Be With You, Star Wars Themed event. For a little backstory, Vinyer hasn't been on good terms with IYFW for MONTHS after basically being himself ... And Kyle Badger, an IYF Academy Graduate, has inexplicably not been booked (along with a slew of other IYF Academy graduates) for months. Badger and Vinyer bought tickets. And, like Bricco and Stamos would later, they came in disguise.

Mostly.

One major difference between these two similar stories? Foxx Vinyer, being himself, reportedly attempted to go backstage uninvited -- an incident that SEVERAL people have indicated could have become VERY ugly VERY quickly had it not been defused.

Hey. We know Vinyer. The guy is a character and a half... but he probably should have known better than to try to pull back the curtain and make himself comfortable. Like Bricco and Stamos... he HAD to know that wouldn't go smoothly.

CTWE/NEFW Drama Heats Up

The rivalry that, several months ago, both sides agreed wasn't a rivalry at all certainly became the talk of the CT wrestling scene this past weekend when a series of events unfolded at Saturday nights NEFW BATTLEGROUND event in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Before we get into the drama and nonsense surrounding the controversial goings-on at BATTLEGROUND, I feel it's important to talk a bit about the event itself. That's really why you're here, right? Results are straight off of theburninghammer.com (by NE Indy Hype):

Quick results -

Pre-Show
Ian Griffin def. Randy Guerrero

Main Show -

Lineage (Mark Shurman & Chris Envy)w/Fenris Fortune def. The Boys Next Door (Mike Graca & Cam Neely) w/Ms. Mecca

In a student showcase match, the team of Valkyrie, Mike The Anvil Kreegan, Baby Rex and Phantom def. Executioner #16, Steven Bouquet, and Sven Hoeck.

Bobby Ocean w/ JJ Alexander def. Frankie Arion after a ref distraction and a low blow.

Amazing Red & Brian XL def. Homicide & Eddie Kingston to retain the tag team championship.

In the Barbershop Segment featuring Brutus Beefcake, jimmy Snuka and The Big O, Ian Griffin interrupted and ultimately got his head shaved.

As the 25 man battle royal for a future NEFW title show was set to begin, Defiant Inc's music hit and Jimmy Meaz called out Shady about his Tough Guy Championship. He then introduced Defiant Inc's newest member, Big Jim Sullivan. Sullivan decimated Shady with a series of lariats and an emerald fusion through 2 steel chairs. jimmy Meaz then pinned Shady and became the new Tough Guy Champion. As they were leaving and the battle royal was set to finally begin, a surprise final entrant came out which was none other than Brian Anthony!
Brian Anthony went on to win the 25-man battle royal after eliminating The Big O last.

JT Dunn w/Fenris Fortune def. Chuck Taylor to retain the US Championship.

Smiley def. Scotty Slade

In the 8-man tag for the vacated NEFW Championship, Team NEFW was victorious after all chaos broke loose outside the ring and Dirt Dawg Jeremy Leary was able to gain the upper hand on a stunned Dave Cole and secured the pin, thus becoming the new NEFW Heavyweight Champion. After the match the NEFW locker room cleared out to run off Defiant inc. and celebrate with the new champion.

NEFW returns August 3rd with "Cruel Summer 3." Talents already announce to appear are Johnny Gargano and Chris Masters.

Not surprisingly, people at the show seem to be calling JT Dunn/Chuck Taylor the clear match of the night. The Juice is on such a tear and is without question one of the most fun performers to see live in New England. Should be interesting to see where he will fit in the upcoming Wrestlefudge ULTIMATE 25! Sullivan's arrival is interesting yet not all too shocking. The Defiant Inc. stable is easy to hate and fun to watch. Brian Anthony's appearance was said to get a FANTASTIC reaction. Dirt Dawg gets the strap and the heels are on the run. I like the idea of Defiant Inc. continuing to chase that belt. For now.

Another little subplot going into and around this show was Kristian Frost. Frost, the former NEFW Heavyweight Champion, was recently stripped of that championship and booted from the promotion shortly after appearing at a CTWE event with the NEFW belt in tow. Frost filmed a series of vignettes Saturday night with him basically "stalking" the show. Decent stuff here, I suppose. A lot of vitriolic stuff all over Frosts and NEFW managements personal social media pages back and forth. No love lost. Meanwhile, Frost is seemingly continuing to appear at CTWE events; most recently at Bricco-Mania V.

However... The talk of the weekend, undoubtedly, is what I can only refer to as GreenGate. Here is what is out there and what has been personally communicated to us:

CTWE Owner Joey Bricco, along with friend Steve Fiano, decided they would attend the NEFW BATTLEGROUND event. They bought tickets. However, they were "in disguise". On Facebook, Bricco asserts quite adamantly that he simply wanted to enjoy the show. Take a look at this photo floating around Facebook:

Once NEFW staff realized who the two Green Guys were, Bricco and Fiano were asked to leave the building immediately. Both sides took to social media to make their positions known. Personally? I like that Bricco wants to attend other promotions shows and am aware that it isn't rare for him to do so. I can appreciate that he was aware of the simmering hostilities between the two promotions and thought a disguise would be a good idea. (Maybe? Struggling with that one.) But clearly he wasn't trying to fly under the radar. I can only imagine how much of a distraction they might have been. I don't blame NEFW for asking them to leave - should they have refunded them on the spot instead of publicly posturing with a "you come and GET the refund, anytime, anywhere" type of attitude? Absolutely! That was a gaffe on their end.

All of this being said; we weren't there. That's important to note. All of the above is just what I know from the snippets out there on the interwebs and from several emails/text messages received.

I'm having a hard time thinking Bricco and Fiano DIDN'T know this wouldn't go smooth.

What is encouraging, I suppose, is that Bricco is talking about it. I'm hopeful that the possibility exists that we can have Joey on WrestlefudgeTV LIVE once we return from break to address this further. Hell, we'd be down to hear from all sides on this. Where's the beef?!? Why the drama?!? Who does it REALLY serve?

Have an opinion? Join the conversation: add a comment below, find us on Facebook, or take it to Twitter! We're just looking forward to getting back to talking about WRESTLING!

WrestleArt.com Presents: "Superstar Profile with "ROYALTY" WILLIAM KING

Q: "Royalty" William King, what made you want to be a professional wrestler?

A: I’ve always wanted to be a wrestler. I remember being a little kid, watching and rewatching the same four or five WWF VHS tapes, then attacking my dad with the awesome things I saw. Of course, he was always a step ahead of me and would catch me with a Nasty Boys arm pit. But, the short of it is that it's always been my main goal in life, and I feel incredibly lucky that I get the chance to perform multiple times a month.

Q: When did your professional wrestling career start?

A. I started training at Kevin Landry's school in Chicopee, Mass. under Aaron Morrison, alongside guys like Kristian Frost, Kidmikazi, Frankie Arion, Alex Cypher and of course, my buddy, ZPB in 2005. I trained for about 6 months before my first match at a benefit show, then for another few months before having a match aganst Aaron in my hometown, Holyoke, for EWA.

Q: Was getting in the ring for the first time what you expected?

A: It was so much more. I remember being so overwhelmed the first time I ever got to step into the ring. Kevin's school used to be up five flights of stairs in an old factory. When you went inside, it was this awesome room with the word “perseverance” spray painted on the wall. I was giggling like a school girl inside when I stepped through the ropes, theme songs already playing in my head, shortly thereafter replaced with ringing in my ears after taking my first bump. (Laughs)

Q: How important is it to look the part?

A: Even though I'm guilty of not having taken this part to heart as much as I should have, I am working on it because it is important to look like an athletic person out there. People don’t want to spend money to see someone compete, who looks like they just stood up from the seat next to them and slid inside the ring. Everything from body, which is my worst aspect, to the gear, which shouldn’t be clearance items from Hot Topic, to the boots (or shoes with kickpads). Everything about you needs to separate yourself from the people in the seats. I mean, it's show biz, and people are paying for that. They're not paying good money to watch you practice some cool move you really want to try. Work on shit wherever it is you practice, showtime is the time to put out the things you already do great.

Q: Is there any person you wouldn't want to see on the other side of William King vs. __ ?

A: I'm not afraid of anyone, so that’s not an issue. If I am working with someone who isn't exactly up to speed, then it's my job to get the best out of them, which is something I take pride in doing. I suppose the only people I wouldn’t want across the ring from me would be someone so up their own ass that they refuse to work together to get something good. The “I gotta get my shit in” guy, and even then I let them go ahead and do their shit. He's going to pin me after and I’m going to kick out, effectively making that guy's stuff weak as hell.

Q: Is there a match of yours (good or bad) that stands out in your mind? Why?

A: I always enjoy working with Bobby Ocean. I feel like we work well together, and I loved our match at CTWE after I had comeback from a hiatus. One of the most entertaining matches I've had was teaming with Doctor Hersey against Bobby and Chris Hamrick in Maine. I also love working with Antonio Thomas, teaming with ZPB, Dougie Summers and Andy Sweet. I love everything.

Q: Have you achieved all of your goals you set when you first embarked on this journey?

A: No way. I imagine everyone's original goal when they get into this is to work for the WWE. While I still hope to get a chance to do something there someday, I still have so many goals that I'd love to achieve. ROH is one I'm actively working towards right now.

Q: Are there any indy wrestlers or tag teams you feel are ready for the big time?

A: Antonio Thomas should be back there right now, in my opinion. Bobby Ocean should be in front of a bigger stage than he is, and Marshall McNeil should be managing in one of the big three. There are so many more. It would take all day to name them all, but I feel like I'd take up the rest of the space provided for the interview if I showcased everyone I thought was ready for bigger and better things.

Q: What is the importance of taping your match for your own personal use?

A: Like any athlete or performer, it's important to be able to go back and watch a tape to A) find something that really worked and keep it, or B) find something that didn’t come out the way I thought it had in my head, and get rid of it. Again, the audience isn't paying to watch practice. They deserve the best stuff.

Q: With the ups, come the downs. Explain one time where you felt at your all time low in wrestling.

A: About five or six months ago, I was just down in general. I was up to 250 lbs and not in a good way on this 5’9'' frame. I was miserable drunk and thought about quitting the biz. It wasn’t anything wrestling did to me, I was just in a dark place for some reason, which isn't the norm for me. Luckily, I've been able to turn things around, and I'm back down to 220. I'm hoping to keep heading in a positive direction.

Q: If you could switch careers with any wrestler (professional or independent) who would it be and why?

A: Mitzy (Matt) Taven. I love that guy, and honestly, I think he has the entire world right in front of him. He's got the look, the ability and the charisma. I can't say enough good things about him.

Q: Wrestling boots or shoes?

A: Boots for me. I understand some people like the shoes, but I'm not that tall, and to me the boots look better.

Q: Wrist tape or no wrist tape?

A: Wrist tape. The NWA Rulebook be damned!

Q: Tag or singles?

A: Both. I can't separate the two because I love them both for different reasons. I can honestly say I haven't done anything yet that has been as fun as The Monarchy, but Last Call is a very close second.

Q: Do independent championship titles mean anything to you?

A: Of course they do. The title means the promoter is putting his trust into you and appriciates your work and abilities. Anyone who treats it with disrespect is disrespecting the place he's working for, and is therefore a shit employee. In which case, get the hell out! Who needs you? I operate with the understanding that there are 100 other guys with my same build who can wrestle, so I need to be more entertaining than them, and also need to be a good hand on the ship.

Q: I hate, hate, FUCKING HATE when wrestlers don't use the tag ropes, or promoters don't provide tag ropes. I see this as something that's wrong with wrestling on the independent level. What is something that rubs you the wrong way about the indies?

A: When tag team partners don’t care about their partner in the ring, and just stand on the apron not showing any emotion at all. The guy in the ring is supposed to be your buddy, your brother, and you're leaning on your elbow watching him getting punched in the face like you're watching paint dry. Drives me bananas.

If you have questions you would like to submit for future interviews or have interest in a certain guest, e-mail:

wrestleart.com@gmail.com

(Michael Anthony is the artistic genius behind WrestleArt.com and has been a friend and Contributing Corespondent to Wrestlefudge.com for some time! Be sure to check out the WrestleArt Facebook page and give it a "LIKE"!)

Support Independent Wrestling by Not Spending a Dime: 2CW iFFV TONIGHT

Western NY's wildly successful Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW) is putting on a FREE Internet "PPV" tonight at 8PM! The card looks like a lot of fun and you should check it out!

Pictures circulating on all the usual social media outlets indicate the crowd will be large AND in charge. I will definitely be checking this out and you should, too! Chances are good that if you are a fan of independent wrestling in Upstate NY, MA, and CT you will recognize more than just the "names" on the card!

ADVERTISED CARD:
2CW LIVING ON THE EDGE VIII

MAIN EVENT: FOR THE 2CW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
Kevin Steen, 2CW Champion VS. John Hennigan (Morrison), Challenger

SPECIAL ATTRACTION:
Matt Hardy VS. Sami Callihan

STAIRWAY TO HELL: GUEST REFEREE: JAY FREDDIE
Isys Ephex VS. "Juggernaut" Jason Axe

NO HOLDS BARRED:
Spike Dudley VS. MASADA

SPECIAL ATTRACTION:
Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana VS. "Slyck" Wagner Brown

MIXED TAG TEAM ACTION:
Colin Delaney & Rachel Summerlyn VS. Pepper Parks & Cherry Bomb

PUN & GRAHAM'S TAG TEAM TITLE CHALLENGE:
Features: Punisher VanSlyke & Kevin "The Man" Graham, 2CW Tag Team Champions; CK (Sean Carr & Kage); Planet Fitness (Cheech & "Muscle" Marcos); Electric Dream Machine ("Studly" Steve McKenzie & Loca Vida); "Supercop" Dick Justice, Peter D. Order, & Eric M. Timmins

TERRY FUNKS RESPONDS TO KEVIN STEENS CHALLENGE!

--------
Check out the event HERE:
http://www.livesportsvideo.com/2CW

WrestleArt.com Presents: "Superstar Profile" with KYLE BADGER

Q: What made you want to be a professional wrestler?

A: It has always been my true passion. I don't really have a defining moment or specific occurrence. I started watching it as a young kid, and since then it just clicked. I knew what I wanted to do.

Q: Was getting in the ring for the first time what you expected?

A: No, not at all. I definitely was not expecting to be as sore as I was the following day.

Q: How important is it to look the part?

A: Very.

Q: Is there any person you wouldn't want to see on the other side of Kyle Badger vs. __ ?

A: No, not at all.

Q: Is there a match of yours (good or bad) that stands out in your mind? Why?

A: I was fortunate enough to have a match with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. He was the first "name" I ever worked, so that will always stand out in my mind.

Q: How important is it for you to make money in wrestling?

A: VERY! Not necessarily just for the money, but what the money represents. If you're making money in wrestling you are either signed to WWE, TNA or have a big name on the indy scene, and isn't that what we are all working for?

Q: Have you achieved all of your goals you set when you first embarked on this journey?

A: Not even close .

Q: Are there any indy wrestlers or tag teams you feel are ready for the big time?

A: Scott Scarsdale...duh.

Q: What is the importance of taping your match for your own personal use?

A: Being able to break down your match from a fan's perspective is important.

Q: What's your most embarassing moment in the ring or on the road?

A: The reoccurring embarrassing moment of watching Viper the Ninja never being satisfied with his fast food order, and making sure all the employees know about it. NEVER FAILS!

Q: If you could switch careers with any wrestler (professional or independent) who would it be and why?

A: That's a really good question. I don't know that I have an answer for that.

Q: Wrestling boots or shoes?

A: Boots.

Q: Wrist tape or no wrist tape?

A: Wrist tape.

Q: Tag or singles?

A: Singles.

Q: Do independent championship titles mean anything to you?

A: They all mean something to me... at least to some degree, obviously. Some mean more than others, but if you're a champion of a fed you work for, hopefully it's because you're doing something right, so that's a good thing.

Q: I hate, hate, FUCKING HATE when wrestlers don't use the tag ropes, or promoters don't provide tag ropes. I see this as something that's wrong with wrestling on the independent level. What is something that rubs you the wrong way about the indies?

A: "Hip toss, arm drag, bodyslam." Dear Christ, be at least slightly more creative with your offense.

If you have questions you would like to submit for future interviews or have interest in a certain guest, e-mail:

wrestleart.com@gmail.com

(Michael Anthony is the artistic genius behind WrestleArt.com and has been a friend and Contributing Corespondent to Wrestlefudge.com for some time! Be sure to check out the WrestleArt Facebook page and give it a "LIKE"!)

Card Subject to Similarity

It's an interesting, if not unexpected, phenomenon. A phenomenon that I can't imagine is unique just to Upstate NY's Capitol Region: a lot of the same wrestlers on multiple promotions shows. I'm talking... Literally the SAME roster appearing for multiple promotions, with a different face or four sprinkled in here and there for flavor.

There are two schools of thought here.
1.) if its the same old roster appearing for all these different promotions, then what sets your promotion apart? What makes your shows different?
2.) hey. Peoplez gotsta WORK, yo! And the more these guys get out there and hone their craft the better! And if the crowds are into it and are responding to it, then who gives a shit?

I think MY opinion falls somewhere between the two. One of the things I liked about Ultimate Wrestling EAST (FKA 787 Pro Wrestling) when they first came out of the gate was the rumors leaking that the plan was to differentiate themselves from World of Hurt Wrestling and from In Your Face Wrestling by presenting a different, unique-to-the-area roster with only a few exceptions. They have mostly delivered on that, although it seems as though with every show they veer away from that initial, reported mission statement.

Now, with Fusion Wrestling appearing on the scene... We are presented with, on the surface, a roster very similar to that which is presented by other local promotions.

I suppose time will tell on what impact this will have on local business. Ultimately, my hopes are that the different promotions use these guys differently and present the fans with matches and pairings they haven't seen before. However, it seems as though its only a matter of time before all of these promotions hit a creative wall and the local wrestling fans whose attention they are ALL fighting over is lost.

I would really love to see a promotion stick to the "this is OUR roster(in this area)" philosophy. It *would* make them special and add some zest to the area. That being said... A lot of the "same old" faces are LOCAL faces... and who doesn't like to see local up and comers on the card, right? See? I'm stuck between both opinions! Aaaaargh. Someone. Help me out.

Feel free to continue the discussion in the comments below, hit a homie on twitter, on The Facebooks or even via Paul@Wrestlefudge.com -- the feedback for the blog has been really great as of late! You keep responding, I'll keep writing!

Friday Night's LINEUP

What you can expect for the show - 7PM EST:

- we met Jimmy "SuperFly" Snuka a few weeks ago! And he is the MAN! We bring you our impressions from World of Hurt Wrestling's latest show and ponder their NEXT on April 26th!

- we also catch ourselves up on NEFW, CTWE, IYFW, and the newly re-christened Ultimate Wrestling EAST!

- we ALSO have the scoop on the Fusion Wrestling show going down in Hudson Falls, NY on April 28th!

- Will and Paul talk about iPPV and the incredible growth of the business in the last 18 months!

- we finally speak with New England Wrestling's hottest commodity, "The Juice" JT DUNN about where he has been and where he plans on going! You don't want to miss this interview!

- WrestleArt.com's MICHAEL ANTHONY calls in to tell us all about his website, his new feature on this here blog, his role as WOHW Commissioner, and rants about the value of tag-ropes in independent wrestling! This guy never fails to entertain.

- all this and MUCH more! Start time: 7PM on Wrestlefudge.com

WrestleArt.com Presents: "Superstar Profile" with CHUCK DEEP

Q: Chuck, what made you want to be a professional wrestler?

A: Becoming a professional wrestler was my only goal in life. From before I can even remember, that's all I wanted to be. I was born in '83, so I was able to enjoy the "boom" period in wrestling. My uncles and parents got me the LJN figures and taped events for me, so from about 2 years old on, that's all I cared about.

Q: When did your professional wrestling career start?

A: November 2000

Q: Was getting in the ring for the first time what you expected?

A: I remember walking up to the ring for the first time and the adrenaline was just pumping. I was shaking. I had waited my whole life to feel what it was like. The first thing I ever did was take a bodyslam. (laughing) I had tried bumping on the ground and mattresses, but this was definitely a wake up call.

Q: How important is it to look the part?

A: When fans come to watch a wrestling show, they don't want to see a normal everyday person getting in there and wrestling. They want to see larger than life characters. That doesn't mean you have to be huge, but you have to look the part. Create the illusion that you are different than every fan, not just some dude off the street.

Q: Is there any person you wouldn't want to see on the other side of Chuck Deep vs. __ ?

A: Someone who doesn't want to be there. If you're not there to do your best then get out of my way. I treat every match like it could be my last, so don't drag me down with bullshit.

Q: Is there a match of yours (good or bad) that stands out in your mind? Why?

A:There are a lot that stand out. I could go on all day about matches, but a few that pop out right away are:
WrestleFest '04 vs. Nick Neighborhood
It was a heel vs. heel match at WOH's biggest show for the cruiserweight title... my favorite match for years.
WLW vs. Andrew Davis in '07. This was for Harley Race's fed in Missouri. Wrestling down south and the midwest is so much different than the northeast. Up here, it just seems like you have to constantly watch for attitudes and snakes. This match sticks out because there were 60 guys from around the world (Japan, England, Australia, Canada, Mexico, etc.) They only chose nine guys to be on the show and I was one of them. I was really honored that they put me on and put me over.

Q: Have you acheived all of your goals you set when you first embarked on this journey?

A: No, I wanted to make it. It was a hard pill to swallow when I eventually realized that I didn't have the look and my body was breaking down early.

Q: Are there any indy wrestlers or tag teams you feel are ready for the big time?

A: Truthfully, I can't think of one that has everything right now.

Q: What is the importance of taping your match for your own personal use?

A: You have to watch your matches to learn from your mistakes. I love collecting footage just to go back and watch and re-live some of the moments.

Q: With the ups, come the downs. Explain one time where you felt at your all time low in wrestling.

A: In 2009, I was wrestling for ECCW, and I was spinning my wheels. Mostly everyone had bad attitudes, and the promoter kept booking the same matches over and over with the same outcome. It gets old quick. Not only that, but indy wrestlers have to have a real job, and mine always has given me a hard time about traveling on the weekends.

Q: If you could switch careers with any wrestler (professional or independent) who would it be and why?

A: I would have loved for Pure Dynamite to be a tag team in the WWF in the mid to late 80's. All gassed up and rocking and rolling!

Q: Wrestling boots or shoes?

A: Boots.

Q: Wrist tape or no wrist tape?

A: Wrist tape.

Q: Tag or singles?

A: It's a toss-up. I'm definitely loving being in a tag team right now.

Q: Do independent championship titles mean anything to you?

A: Yes...we all know I love the gold.

Q: I hate, hate, FUCKING HATE when wrestlers don't use the tag ropes, or promoters don't provide tag ropes. I see this as something that's wrong with wrestling on the independent level. What is something that rubs you the wrong way about the indies?

A: When there is no fucking advertising for the show... Are you fucking kidding me? You can't even put a cardboard sign out that says "Wrestling Tonight." Give me a break! It pisses me off. It's like they don't want anyone to come to the show.

If you have questions you would like to submit for future interviews or have interest in a certain guest, e-mail:

wrestleart.com@gmail.com

(Michael Anthony is the artistic genius behind WrestleArt.com and has been a friend and Contributing Corespondent to Wrestlefudge.com for some time! Be sure to check out the WrestleArt Facebook page and give it a "LIKE"!)