This question goes hand-in-hand with "Is it real?" The answer is simple enough, but may yet cause confusion: sometimes. It seems like a cop out, but it's not and I'll tell you why.
I first have to tell you how a ring is put together. It is not a trampoline. It is not a mattress. There is a steel frame with a lattice of steel bars criss-crossing the middle. There may or may not be a spring in the middle. It doesn't matter. The difference a spring makes is minimal. On top of that spring is a layer of 2x6 boards. On top of the boards is a thin layer(about an inch/ 3 or 4 centimeters) of padding. On top of the padding is the canvas. The ropes can be rubber hose or steel cable wrapped in tape(padding optional.) There may be other rope materials, but hose and cable are the only two I've ever seen. The ring is "softer" in the middle, if only because there is more give there. That's it.
Bumping hurts a lot the first few times you do it. I remember being so sore after my first practice that I couldn't lift my hands to my head to shampoo my hair. You get used to it, but it's not uncommon to feel a little banged up after a match or practice.
Most of the discomfort associated with wrestling can be overcome by just "getting used to it." Bumping, hitting the ropes, getting thrown into the turnbuckles, etc are all things that hurt at first. You get used to it. That doesn't mean you can't get hurt. I still get bruised up now and then.
Gravity is you biggest enemy. Regardless of your opinion of wrestling's authenticity, you can't deny gravity. Wrestlers are falling down all the time. On purpose. We know how to fall in such a way that we can minimize the chance of injury, but it doesn't mean you don't get hurt. Bad shoulders, knees, necks, backs, and ankles are very common. These injuries are common because those are the body parts that are absorbing the constant impact.
I have been injured a few times. I have had countless friction burns and a few bloody noses. I had hemorrhagic bursitis in my left elbow from bumping during practice. That means I busted the bursa sack in my elbow and it filled up with blood. For a few weeks, it looked like I had a tennis ball in my elbow. There was an unpadded part in the ring, and my elbow found it. I recently reinjured my left elbow. It didn't swell up like before, but it is very uncomfortable to put any pressure on it.
At about 1:15 in the clip above, my opponent goes for a move called a jawbreaker(which I fuck up, but that's another story). The move involves one man grabbing the other man by the head, positioning the other guy's jaw on top of his head, and dropping to his butt or knees. The guy taking the move drops to his knees and "sells" that he just hurt his jaw. During this jawbreaker I had my teeth clenched, so they clacked together. One of lower teeth came halfway out of my jaw. You can actually see me checking my mouth after the move. I had to push the tooth back into my gums. I couldn't eat solid food comfortably for almost a month. All because I had my teeth clenched during a simple move.
I don't have the video of my biggest injury uploaded, and Blogger is being difficult about uploading it directly( I may add it in later.) I was in a battle royal. A battle royal is a match where nothing happens. You don't bump, as you can get stepped on. It's nothing but punches, chops, and kicks until you get thrown out. When I was getting eliminated, my knee swung down and hit the corner of the ring. The pain was immediate and severe. I was unable to drive home(luckily I came with my wife) and could only walk with a pronounced limp. I was unable to bend my knee at all.
Being the stubborn jackass I am, I waited 5 whole weeks before I went to the doctor. I even wrestled once or twice on it. When all was said and done, I had torn my LCL( since healed) and PCL( never to be fully healed). My kneecap had also calcified, thanks to my waiting so long to seek medical attantion, and was deemed beyond fixing. To make a long story short, it is 18 months later and I still have a hard time getting around. It took almost a year before I could walk down stairs without unbearable pain. Kneeling is still incredibly uncomfortable. Bad weather can make the pain so bad that I end up limping again. I am unable to jog and/or run for more than a few minutes at a time. My right knee will never be 100% ever again.
So... yes. It hurts. You can get injured. You can be as careful as careful can be. It doesn't matter. You are doing things the human body wasn't meant to do. Very few wrestlers get through unscathed. Why do it then?
It's just worth it to live your dream.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
My Attempt At Tackling The Big Question: Is Wrestling Fake?
(Aplogies in advance for all of the capitalized words. I'm not yelling at you. Certain words really just need the extra stress here.)
Professional wrestling's public image can be summed up in one four-letter word: FAKE. Pro wrestling is fake. That's the first thing that comes to most people's minds. Non-fans use it's supposed lack of authenticity as a reason to deride it. Fans also know that wrestling is fake, but choose to enjoy it anyway. Even some of the workers refer to it as fake. This is the kind of thing that EVERYBODY has an opinion on.
My answer is that "Is wrestling fake?" is the wrong question to ask. By asking if wrestling is fake, you are assigning it a job it isn't meant to fulfill: athletic COMPETITION. Baseball is an athletic competition. Soccer is an athletic competition. A marathon is an athletic competition. Professional wrestling is a THEATRICAL athletic EXHIBITION. Asking wrestling to be a competitive sport is like asking baseball to be a cooking show. So, pro wrestling is condemned as phony and NOT ONE PERSON ever, ever takes Major League Baseball to task for their failure to produce a decent creme brulee.
The distinction between being a competition and an exhibition, never mind one that is intentionally theatrical, never seems to cross any body's mind. It's the leap that no one can seem to make. It's the PR hurdle that no one can clear. Lack of understanding and misplaced expectations are pro wrestling's biggest obstacles to becoming accepted. They are also both the result of the way wrestling has chosen to package itself.
Let's talk about The Lord Of The Rings movie franchise. Award-winning. Critically acclaimed. Loved by many moviegoers. One of the biggest stars of the movie is Orlando Bloom, who plays the elf Legolas. He's featured prominently in all three films. If gossip is to be believed, he will appear as Legolas in the movie The Hobbit. His face is on thousands of toys, posters, books, video games, etc. If you mention Legolas in conversation, chances are that the face seen in the mind of the person you are speaking to will be Orlando Bloom's.
Yet, he does not show up to The Tonight Show or the Oscars dressed as Legolas. He doesn't carry a bow in public and doesn't have pointy ears. We don't expect him too. As much as we get immersed in the story of hobbits and magic rings, we know that it is just a story. The people on the screen are just actors and actresses, playing their parts. Movie clips aside, there is no attempt to portray them otherwise.
Pro wrestling doesn't take this route. You see, we aren't really trying to kill each other. When I'm trapped in an ankle lock, I'm only pretending to be in pain. I'm not a West Virginia hillbilly and my opponent isn't really an Egyptian prince. Kamala isn't really from the jungles of Uganda. The Undertaker isn't really a zombie. But we want you to think that we are. We want you to question whether what you see is legitimate. We are so willing to convince you that we are willing to take the act outside of the ring. Terry Bollea doesn't make public appearances. Hulk Hogan does. Then there's that wrestler who got hit in the head with that steel chair, the shot you thought looked so fake. He's walking out of the building with his head bandaged up. That Egyptian prince is still speaking in his heavy accent, even after the show is over.
That is the problem. Wrestling wants it both ways. And can't have it anymore. The public is wise to it. There are countless sources of video footage available explaining various aspects of the business. The charade needs to stop. Pro Wrestling is the mom and dad who tell their child that Santa is make-believe, but still write "From Santa" on the Christmas presents. When the child says that Santa isn't real, the mom and dad say" Of course he's real. He DID leave you presents. He even ate the cookies we left out."
This subject is heading into Tangentville, so I'll wrap this up. To the critics: Pro wrestling isn't a competitive sport. It has more in common with a Broadway play than with the NFL. Get over it. Stop holding it up to standards that it isn't designed to meet. To wrestling itself: Maybe it's time for a fresh approach. Maybe it's time to show people how deep and varied wrestling is. Maybe it's time for someone to break the mold.
Professional wrestling's public image can be summed up in one four-letter word: FAKE. Pro wrestling is fake. That's the first thing that comes to most people's minds. Non-fans use it's supposed lack of authenticity as a reason to deride it. Fans also know that wrestling is fake, but choose to enjoy it anyway. Even some of the workers refer to it as fake. This is the kind of thing that EVERYBODY has an opinion on.
My answer is that "Is wrestling fake?" is the wrong question to ask. By asking if wrestling is fake, you are assigning it a job it isn't meant to fulfill: athletic COMPETITION. Baseball is an athletic competition. Soccer is an athletic competition. A marathon is an athletic competition. Professional wrestling is a THEATRICAL athletic EXHIBITION. Asking wrestling to be a competitive sport is like asking baseball to be a cooking show. So, pro wrestling is condemned as phony and NOT ONE PERSON ever, ever takes Major League Baseball to task for their failure to produce a decent creme brulee.
The distinction between being a competition and an exhibition, never mind one that is intentionally theatrical, never seems to cross any body's mind. It's the leap that no one can seem to make. It's the PR hurdle that no one can clear. Lack of understanding and misplaced expectations are pro wrestling's biggest obstacles to becoming accepted. They are also both the result of the way wrestling has chosen to package itself.
Let's talk about The Lord Of The Rings movie franchise. Award-winning. Critically acclaimed. Loved by many moviegoers. One of the biggest stars of the movie is Orlando Bloom, who plays the elf Legolas. He's featured prominently in all three films. If gossip is to be believed, he will appear as Legolas in the movie The Hobbit. His face is on thousands of toys, posters, books, video games, etc. If you mention Legolas in conversation, chances are that the face seen in the mind of the person you are speaking to will be Orlando Bloom's.
Yet, he does not show up to The Tonight Show or the Oscars dressed as Legolas. He doesn't carry a bow in public and doesn't have pointy ears. We don't expect him too. As much as we get immersed in the story of hobbits and magic rings, we know that it is just a story. The people on the screen are just actors and actresses, playing their parts. Movie clips aside, there is no attempt to portray them otherwise.
Pro wrestling doesn't take this route. You see, we aren't really trying to kill each other. When I'm trapped in an ankle lock, I'm only pretending to be in pain. I'm not a West Virginia hillbilly and my opponent isn't really an Egyptian prince. Kamala isn't really from the jungles of Uganda. The Undertaker isn't really a zombie. But we want you to think that we are. We want you to question whether what you see is legitimate. We are so willing to convince you that we are willing to take the act outside of the ring. Terry Bollea doesn't make public appearances. Hulk Hogan does. Then there's that wrestler who got hit in the head with that steel chair, the shot you thought looked so fake. He's walking out of the building with his head bandaged up. That Egyptian prince is still speaking in his heavy accent, even after the show is over.
That is the problem. Wrestling wants it both ways. And can't have it anymore. The public is wise to it. There are countless sources of video footage available explaining various aspects of the business. The charade needs to stop. Pro Wrestling is the mom and dad who tell their child that Santa is make-believe, but still write "From Santa" on the Christmas presents. When the child says that Santa isn't real, the mom and dad say" Of course he's real. He DID leave you presents. He even ate the cookies we left out."
This subject is heading into Tangentville, so I'll wrap this up. To the critics: Pro wrestling isn't a competitive sport. It has more in common with a Broadway play than with the NFL. Get over it. Stop holding it up to standards that it isn't designed to meet. To wrestling itself: Maybe it's time for a fresh approach. Maybe it's time to show people how deep and varied wrestling is. Maybe it's time for someone to break the mold.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Pick A Winner
One thing I get asked a lot when people find out what I do is how a winner is determined and how much of the match is planned. As you are familiar, professional wrestling is considered "fake." Watching someone who has never had a match try to figure one out is like watching someone try to figure out a magic trick. You're subjected to all manner of outlandish theories and misdirected nitpicking. I think this scrutiny is needless and condescending to the guys who work.
I'm going to give you a brief walk through of what happens from the locker room to the final bell. Hopefully, this answers some questions. For the sake of this example, we will assume that the card is posted when the first wrestler enters the dressing room. You don't always know who you're working(wrestling) beforehand.
The promoter is the one who determines the winner and loser. The decision could be based on any number of criteria, from furthering a storyline to just giving the fans a reason to cheer a victorious babyface( good guy). He usually either tells everyone the results, or finishes, himself or gives them to the referee(s) to deliver.
Often the instruction will be as simple as "Babyface over. Clean." That would mean that the good guy is to win with no shenanigans involved in the finish. Sometimes, a condition is given. "Heel over. Use your manager to help you cheat." That would mean that the bad guy will win, but that his manager(advisor or valet who watches the match from the outside of the ring. Think Jimmy Hart, Jim Cornette, Bobby Heenan. Miss Elizabeth) will have to directly or indirectly cheat to cost the good guy the match.
In my experience, a fully scripted match or ending is rare. Places I've never worked might be different in this regard. Even when specific conditions are requested, wrestlers are generally given the creative freedom to come up with their own way to fulfill the scenario. The promoter might want approval of your idea. They usually at least want to know what you're going to do, if only to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The rest is up to us, the workers. This is where it comes down to individual style. Some guys like to "call" every last punch and kick. Others may take the other extreme and "call it in the ring", which is to say he wants to improvise everything. No matter the style, it is most common to at least call the finish, any unusual moves, and "change of heat" spots( Where a wrestler ends his opponent's offense and takes the offense himself).
I'm reasonably comfortable improvising, but I like to have the heat changes and finish planned out. I find planning every single move in a match is very difficult. I'm always concerned that if something is missed, that the match's flow will be interrupted. It could also lead to two guys staring at each other like idiots when a move goes wrong. Working on the fly also helps to rectify moments just like that.
The actual in-ring part of the night is a separate topic unto itself, but I will say one more thing about the actual match: getting the finish right is the most important part of the actual match. Even if the whole match was full of mistakes. Even if the crowd didn't react at all. No matter what...get the ending right. Messing up a finish will almost always get you a stern-talking to at the very barest minimum. Plan on getting chewed out and just hope it's not too bad.
I'll tackle an actual match in a future post. I don't think this can be put any simpler. I love putting together matches. Every one is unique, no matter how many times you've worked with your opponent.
I hope this is a help. I've given this exact speech almost word-for-word dozens of times and it's nice to get it in writing.
I'm going to give you a brief walk through of what happens from the locker room to the final bell. Hopefully, this answers some questions. For the sake of this example, we will assume that the card is posted when the first wrestler enters the dressing room. You don't always know who you're working(wrestling) beforehand.
The promoter is the one who determines the winner and loser. The decision could be based on any number of criteria, from furthering a storyline to just giving the fans a reason to cheer a victorious babyface( good guy). He usually either tells everyone the results, or finishes, himself or gives them to the referee(s) to deliver.
Often the instruction will be as simple as "Babyface over. Clean." That would mean that the good guy is to win with no shenanigans involved in the finish. Sometimes, a condition is given. "Heel over. Use your manager to help you cheat." That would mean that the bad guy will win, but that his manager(advisor or valet who watches the match from the outside of the ring. Think Jimmy Hart, Jim Cornette, Bobby Heenan. Miss Elizabeth) will have to directly or indirectly cheat to cost the good guy the match.
In my experience, a fully scripted match or ending is rare. Places I've never worked might be different in this regard. Even when specific conditions are requested, wrestlers are generally given the creative freedom to come up with their own way to fulfill the scenario. The promoter might want approval of your idea. They usually at least want to know what you're going to do, if only to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The rest is up to us, the workers. This is where it comes down to individual style. Some guys like to "call" every last punch and kick. Others may take the other extreme and "call it in the ring", which is to say he wants to improvise everything. No matter the style, it is most common to at least call the finish, any unusual moves, and "change of heat" spots( Where a wrestler ends his opponent's offense and takes the offense himself).
I'm reasonably comfortable improvising, but I like to have the heat changes and finish planned out. I find planning every single move in a match is very difficult. I'm always concerned that if something is missed, that the match's flow will be interrupted. It could also lead to two guys staring at each other like idiots when a move goes wrong. Working on the fly also helps to rectify moments just like that.
The actual in-ring part of the night is a separate topic unto itself, but I will say one more thing about the actual match: getting the finish right is the most important part of the actual match. Even if the whole match was full of mistakes. Even if the crowd didn't react at all. No matter what...get the ending right. Messing up a finish will almost always get you a stern-talking to at the very barest minimum. Plan on getting chewed out and just hope it's not too bad.
I'll tackle an actual match in a future post. I don't think this can be put any simpler. I love putting together matches. Every one is unique, no matter how many times you've worked with your opponent.
I hope this is a help. I've given this exact speech almost word-for-word dozens of times and it's nice to get it in writing.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Constructive Criticism
I am a firm believer in constructive criticism. The key word in that sentence is "constructive." Constructive means it is meant to be helpful, not harmful. "Your cookies suck" is not constructive. "These cookies are very sweet. If you make them with a little less sugar, they'd be perfect." is constructive. A problem(sweetness) is presented in a non-insulting manner. A solution(less sugar) is then suggested and a compliment(to near-perfect cookies) is even issued.
Wrestlers are actually really good at constructive criticism. We watch each others' matches and try to give advice when we think something can be done better. We also give due acknowledgement when a match is good.
I have learned through constructive criticism that I tend to move too slowly. My moves often don't have enough "snap." When I watch my matches back, I see that they're right. I've been working at it; trying to make things look more authentic. I've found a number of moves that I can pull off convincingly and have tried to weed out the ones that don't work.
This could come off sounding like I'm being hard on myself. I'm not. Improving doesn't just help me. It helps every worker I get in the ring with. We have to work together. No one wants to have the shitty match on the show. A good wrestler can "carry" a less skilled one to a respectable match, but it's in everybody's benefit if the guys involved are skilled enough to not need such a handicap. The only way you get better is with practice, experience, and taking advice.
Part of this is learning to look at your matches objectively. You know what the moves are supposed to look like. You also know when the crowd is silent. It's OK to not be happy with a poorly executed move or a match that gets no reaction. The idea is not to allow yourself to be depressed about it. Figure out what you could have done differently. Save that knowledge for next time and try again.
Don't get in the habit of just picking apart your matches either. Make note of what works. The Patriot had me lay my confederate flag over him during a match and I got some of the most genuine heat I have ever gotten. I plan on using that more often now. Draping your opponent in their enemies' flag is really insulting, and the crowd knows it. Here is that match. The flag part comes at about 15:03.
The idea is to improve, not to beat yourself up when things go wrong. Sometimes you WILL be the shitty match on the card. Sometimes you will be told, directly or indirectly, that you were the shitty match of the night. I've been there more than I would have liked to have been. But when I have the shitty match, I figure out why it was so bad and I strive to make my next match the best match of the night. And I listen to every bit of advice I get.
Respect experience.
Respect knowledge.
Respect others.
Respect yourself.
Wrestlers are actually really good at constructive criticism. We watch each others' matches and try to give advice when we think something can be done better. We also give due acknowledgement when a match is good.
I have learned through constructive criticism that I tend to move too slowly. My moves often don't have enough "snap." When I watch my matches back, I see that they're right. I've been working at it; trying to make things look more authentic. I've found a number of moves that I can pull off convincingly and have tried to weed out the ones that don't work.
This could come off sounding like I'm being hard on myself. I'm not. Improving doesn't just help me. It helps every worker I get in the ring with. We have to work together. No one wants to have the shitty match on the show. A good wrestler can "carry" a less skilled one to a respectable match, but it's in everybody's benefit if the guys involved are skilled enough to not need such a handicap. The only way you get better is with practice, experience, and taking advice.
Part of this is learning to look at your matches objectively. You know what the moves are supposed to look like. You also know when the crowd is silent. It's OK to not be happy with a poorly executed move or a match that gets no reaction. The idea is not to allow yourself to be depressed about it. Figure out what you could have done differently. Save that knowledge for next time and try again.
Don't get in the habit of just picking apart your matches either. Make note of what works. The Patriot had me lay my confederate flag over him during a match and I got some of the most genuine heat I have ever gotten. I plan on using that more often now. Draping your opponent in their enemies' flag is really insulting, and the crowd knows it. Here is that match. The flag part comes at about 15:03.
The idea is to improve, not to beat yourself up when things go wrong. Sometimes you WILL be the shitty match on the card. Sometimes you will be told, directly or indirectly, that you were the shitty match of the night. I've been there more than I would have liked to have been. But when I have the shitty match, I figure out why it was so bad and I strive to make my next match the best match of the night. And I listen to every bit of advice I get.
Respect experience.
Respect knowledge.
Respect others.
Respect yourself.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Getting Started
Like many children of the eighties, I got into wrestling thanks to Hulk Hogan and the WWF. It didn't take long before my viewing habits included every single minute of wrestling on TV at the time:NWA, NWA Florida, AWA, World Class, UWF, ICW, etc. I even used to stay up on weekends until 1 or 2 AM to watch some recap show, hosted by Joe Pedecino and Bonnie Blackstone, that showed footage from local groups across the country.
I tried to play every wrestling video game that came out. I learned how to program in BASIC and wrote myself crude wrestling games. I played backyard wrestling with my friends, though it was far, far less extreme than the idiots you see nowadays throwing themselves off of their roofs and hitting themselves with fluorescent light tubes. I even got to go see the WWF in New Haven in 1986, one month after Wrestlemania 3.
The point is, I was a huge fan who fantasized about becoming a pro wrestler. The problem was that I was probably the least athletic child who ever lived. I was also hopelessly skinny. You know the type: I could eat and eat and eat and never gain a pound. I was literally a 98 pound weakling.
In July of 2003 I went to an ECPW show with my then-girlfriend( currently my wife). I was going so I could meet Hacksaw Jim Duggan. This show changed my life.
During intermission, an announcement was made that ECPW was looking for managers, wrestlers, and referees. I looked at my girlfriend and told her I was going to check it out. I went to the gimmick tables, which is where the wrestlers peddle their wares, and took a business card from the promoter. My intention was to be a manager, since I figured I wasn't physically big enough to wrestle.
A week later I was at the school in Lake Hiawatha, NJ watching a practice and signing release forms. I agreed to a payment plan and also not to sue the school if I got hurt, which is always a possibility. I was really going to do this. Three or four days later, I was in the ring.
One of the first things you learn how to do is fall properly, also known as bumping. Bumping is really awkward if you're new to it. Who intentionally falls backwards? If you do fall backwards, your first instinct is to reach back and attempt to break your fall. In wrestling training, you learn that this is a bad habit to be broken since you can hurt yourself doing it.
On my first attempt at a bump, I forgot to exhale when I hit the canvas. I knocked the wind out of myself. I never forgot again. I forgot to tuck my chin into my chest and knocked my head against the canvas. I kept landing on my butt or lower back. I had to do this 20 or 30 times and it was really starting to hurt.
I remember coming home and trying to take a shower. my girlfriend had to join me and shampoo my hair for me since I couldn't reach high enough to apply it myself. In spite of the pain, I was determined to see it through.
As time went on, I got used to the pain. Bumping is something you get used to. It just takes time. I also realized that I was far more agile than I expected. I could jump well and had halfway decent body control. I started wishing early on that I had chosen wrestling instead of managing, but still felt I was too small to be credible.
One thing that struck me was how the guys who were wrestling were not as big as I imagined them. Sure, there were some monsters, but also some guys my size. This certainly didn't help my misgivings about the path I chose. I was even more athletic than some of them. I was also more determined. I remember one guy, noticing I was hurt from bumping in an early practice, telling me not to let the pain discourage me into quitting. Two practices later he hurt his ankle and quit. I stayed on.
As a manager, I had to learn how to take and give many of the same moves that the guys training to be wrestlers did. I also got left out a lot. It made me feel like a second-class citizen. Maybe I wanted to learn the german suplex. I wanted to have the odd practice match, and not just be relegated to the outside to shout encouragement. I persevered and eventually made my debut in February of 2004. That is a story for another day.
For the benefit of those reading this who are considering trying their hand at wrestling, training is a must. Backyard wrestlers are looked down upon with much derision. Make sure the school you choose has an actual ring to train in. A guy making you fall on a couple of pads in his backyard is a hack. Also, it doesn't hurt if the school has had guys make it to the "big leagues", like the WWE or even Impact Wrestling. My school, the ECPW school in Lake Hiawatha, is responsible for the training of "Crowbar" Devon Storm(WWE, WCW, ECW) and Nunzio, also known as Little Guido(WWE, ECW). It has also trained a number of workers who have competed in WWE developmental territories and who have had dark matches(matches held before the actual shows). There are more of those than I could list here.
Training is hard work and requires patience. You will train for a minimum of six months before you step foot in the ring for your first match. Practice should not only include in-ring training, but also calisthenics and cardio training. In my school, weight training is left to use, though there are free weights on the premises. The school you choose may be different. You should also get coaching on creating a gimmick(character) and promo (interview) skills. When you are done training, if such a thing is even possible( You are always learning), you should be able to have a match with anyone. Even if that anyone doesn't speak a word of your native language.
Above all, be safe. You aren't there to cause violence, but merely the ilusion of violence. No one wants to get hurt and no one wants to be the one who hurts someone else. Expect the odd busted lip and/or nosebleed. It happens. You are also expected to be able to take stiff(harder than usual, sometimes to the point of no restraint) blows to the chest and upper back. Do not complain about these or you will be seen as a crybaby and will will lose a vast amount of respect from your fellow workers.
It's not easy, but it's worth the effort. Should you choose this path, you have my best wishes. Be confident. be safe. Never give up.
I tried to play every wrestling video game that came out. I learned how to program in BASIC and wrote myself crude wrestling games. I played backyard wrestling with my friends, though it was far, far less extreme than the idiots you see nowadays throwing themselves off of their roofs and hitting themselves with fluorescent light tubes. I even got to go see the WWF in New Haven in 1986, one month after Wrestlemania 3.
The point is, I was a huge fan who fantasized about becoming a pro wrestler. The problem was that I was probably the least athletic child who ever lived. I was also hopelessly skinny. You know the type: I could eat and eat and eat and never gain a pound. I was literally a 98 pound weakling.
In July of 2003 I went to an ECPW show with my then-girlfriend( currently my wife). I was going so I could meet Hacksaw Jim Duggan. This show changed my life.
During intermission, an announcement was made that ECPW was looking for managers, wrestlers, and referees. I looked at my girlfriend and told her I was going to check it out. I went to the gimmick tables, which is where the wrestlers peddle their wares, and took a business card from the promoter. My intention was to be a manager, since I figured I wasn't physically big enough to wrestle.
A week later I was at the school in Lake Hiawatha, NJ watching a practice and signing release forms. I agreed to a payment plan and also not to sue the school if I got hurt, which is always a possibility. I was really going to do this. Three or four days later, I was in the ring.
One of the first things you learn how to do is fall properly, also known as bumping. Bumping is really awkward if you're new to it. Who intentionally falls backwards? If you do fall backwards, your first instinct is to reach back and attempt to break your fall. In wrestling training, you learn that this is a bad habit to be broken since you can hurt yourself doing it.
On my first attempt at a bump, I forgot to exhale when I hit the canvas. I knocked the wind out of myself. I never forgot again. I forgot to tuck my chin into my chest and knocked my head against the canvas. I kept landing on my butt or lower back. I had to do this 20 or 30 times and it was really starting to hurt.
I remember coming home and trying to take a shower. my girlfriend had to join me and shampoo my hair for me since I couldn't reach high enough to apply it myself. In spite of the pain, I was determined to see it through.
As time went on, I got used to the pain. Bumping is something you get used to. It just takes time. I also realized that I was far more agile than I expected. I could jump well and had halfway decent body control. I started wishing early on that I had chosen wrestling instead of managing, but still felt I was too small to be credible.
One thing that struck me was how the guys who were wrestling were not as big as I imagined them. Sure, there were some monsters, but also some guys my size. This certainly didn't help my misgivings about the path I chose. I was even more athletic than some of them. I was also more determined. I remember one guy, noticing I was hurt from bumping in an early practice, telling me not to let the pain discourage me into quitting. Two practices later he hurt his ankle and quit. I stayed on.
As a manager, I had to learn how to take and give many of the same moves that the guys training to be wrestlers did. I also got left out a lot. It made me feel like a second-class citizen. Maybe I wanted to learn the german suplex. I wanted to have the odd practice match, and not just be relegated to the outside to shout encouragement. I persevered and eventually made my debut in February of 2004. That is a story for another day.
For the benefit of those reading this who are considering trying their hand at wrestling, training is a must. Backyard wrestlers are looked down upon with much derision. Make sure the school you choose has an actual ring to train in. A guy making you fall on a couple of pads in his backyard is a hack. Also, it doesn't hurt if the school has had guys make it to the "big leagues", like the WWE or even Impact Wrestling. My school, the ECPW school in Lake Hiawatha, is responsible for the training of "Crowbar" Devon Storm(WWE, WCW, ECW) and Nunzio, also known as Little Guido(WWE, ECW). It has also trained a number of workers who have competed in WWE developmental territories and who have had dark matches(matches held before the actual shows). There are more of those than I could list here.
Training is hard work and requires patience. You will train for a minimum of six months before you step foot in the ring for your first match. Practice should not only include in-ring training, but also calisthenics and cardio training. In my school, weight training is left to use, though there are free weights on the premises. The school you choose may be different. You should also get coaching on creating a gimmick(character) and promo (interview) skills. When you are done training, if such a thing is even possible( You are always learning), you should be able to have a match with anyone. Even if that anyone doesn't speak a word of your native language.
Above all, be safe. You aren't there to cause violence, but merely the ilusion of violence. No one wants to get hurt and no one wants to be the one who hurts someone else. Expect the odd busted lip and/or nosebleed. It happens. You are also expected to be able to take stiff(harder than usual, sometimes to the point of no restraint) blows to the chest and upper back. Do not complain about these or you will be seen as a crybaby and will will lose a vast amount of respect from your fellow workers.
It's not easy, but it's worth the effort. Should you choose this path, you have my best wishes. Be confident. be safe. Never give up.
Introductions All Around
Hi there. I don't know how you stumbled across this, but here you are. You might as well grab a chair and get comfortable. Have a drink. Scratch your behind. Go ahead. This place is casual as it comes.
I see I'm being rude and haven't introduced myself. My name is Wade. Some people call me General. Some people call me Smart. Not Smart like intelligent, though I certainly wouldn't be insulted by that. I am called General and Smart because these are legitimate aliases I use from time to time. I am an independent pro wrestler and these are the names I use currently(General) and in the past(Smart) .
Allow me to save you precious search time on Google. You haven't heard of me. Other than a YouTube page, I am practically invisible on the internet. I'm Ok with that.
I don't have huge arms or a tan, muscular body. I am in no danger of being contacted by the WWE. I'm even obscure for the world of independent wrestling. I'm a weekend warrior who has 3 to 5 matches a month. I am on the fringe, the outer edge(See what I did there?) of the wrestling world.
And I love each and every minute of it.
I've always wanted to write about my experiences. Even a guy like me, obscure as they come, has insight that the average fan or non-fan doesn't have. I think the world of pro wrestling is the most interesting thing I could ever be a part of. It's my hope that this blog, provided I keep up with it and don't lose interest, can give people who are curious an idea of what goes on behind the scenes. Wrestling is much more than you might think it is. I've always felt that if people understood it in the same way that they understand television or music, that it might not have such a bad reputation. Some might even give wrestling a chance and become a fan.
People who learn that I do this in my free time always have questions: Are your matches scripted? How do you figure out who wins? Does it hurt? Is the ring really like a big trampoline? Do you make money doing it? I plan on answering these questions and more.
My YouTube page is here. It's been a while since I've used Blogger. I'll add a normal link on the side of the page when I remember how to do it. In the meantime, head on over to YouTube and watch some wrestling action of widely varying quality. Some matches are quite good. Others are not. I promise only wrestling. Your opinion of the quality may vary.
If you are reading this and have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. I will try to address every one in future posts. This is all provided someone actually reads this.
Let's get on with it then...
I see I'm being rude and haven't introduced myself. My name is Wade. Some people call me General. Some people call me Smart. Not Smart like intelligent, though I certainly wouldn't be insulted by that. I am called General and Smart because these are legitimate aliases I use from time to time. I am an independent pro wrestler and these are the names I use currently(General) and in the past(Smart) .
Allow me to save you precious search time on Google. You haven't heard of me. Other than a YouTube page, I am practically invisible on the internet. I'm Ok with that.
I don't have huge arms or a tan, muscular body. I am in no danger of being contacted by the WWE. I'm even obscure for the world of independent wrestling. I'm a weekend warrior who has 3 to 5 matches a month. I am on the fringe, the outer edge(See what I did there?) of the wrestling world.
And I love each and every minute of it.
I've always wanted to write about my experiences. Even a guy like me, obscure as they come, has insight that the average fan or non-fan doesn't have. I think the world of pro wrestling is the most interesting thing I could ever be a part of. It's my hope that this blog, provided I keep up with it and don't lose interest, can give people who are curious an idea of what goes on behind the scenes. Wrestling is much more than you might think it is. I've always felt that if people understood it in the same way that they understand television or music, that it might not have such a bad reputation. Some might even give wrestling a chance and become a fan.
People who learn that I do this in my free time always have questions: Are your matches scripted? How do you figure out who wins? Does it hurt? Is the ring really like a big trampoline? Do you make money doing it? I plan on answering these questions and more.
My YouTube page is here. It's been a while since I've used Blogger. I'll add a normal link on the side of the page when I remember how to do it. In the meantime, head on over to YouTube and watch some wrestling action of widely varying quality. Some matches are quite good. Others are not. I promise only wrestling. Your opinion of the quality may vary.
If you are reading this and have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. I will try to address every one in future posts. This is all provided someone actually reads this.
Let's get on with it then...
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