The Unknown Poster Posted April 19, 2014 Author Report Posted April 19, 2014 A few answers: The former partner I've referred to is Mike. I refer to him as my partner because I met him when he was booker for a promotion called TRCW which began running shows at The Palladium where I worked at the time. We became very good friends and started PCW together. We submitted a proposal to a local businessman named John who Mike had previously pitched. A couple of the local wrestlers worked for Johns business as their day jobs and he was a casual wrestling fan (but more into MMA). John liked our proposal and bank rolled us initially (as well as bringing us both into his business as employees). This was December 2001 (it was actually Grey Cup weekend 2001 that we pitched John and he agreed to bank roll us). We made our unofficial debut at the end of January 2002 with shows in Minnedosa and Portage. Our official debut was March 3 at the U of M where we drew over 1700 fans. John rapidly began losing interest shortly thereafter. He let us continue to work out of his Pembina hwy offices until late summer 2002 but for all real purposes he was "out" by spring. John did later pass away. The circumstances were questionable. Mike left in 2003 and started up his own promotions called AWE and WFX. It was WFX that ran shows at Church of the Rock. I didn't meet Steiner but I was always a fan. His wwe debut was tremendous. Unfortunately for him he was programmed with HHH at a time when Hunter was very protective of his spot.
Nasty Nate Posted April 19, 2014 Report Posted April 19, 2014 Spot protection is one of the grand old concepts of wrestling - especially at the highest level (WWE) but also in regional promotions. Just ask mini-men like CM Punk or Daniel Bryan about 'basking' in John Cena's shadow!
Brandon Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 I went to all of the shows at the religious place on Chevrier , didn't think it was Church of the Rock but maybe it was. Did not see Scott Steiner at that place... I did see him at the U of M with Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger (pre accident) and Buff was a real good guy while Lex was a total mess. Scott was pretty good also, up close in person his arms were obscene and scary. At the Chevrier place the worst was Nikolai Volkoff wrestling and pretty much throwing out his hip... it was sad his gear was the same gear from the 80's... tattered knee pads and the same trunks that were really faded.
iso_55 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 How did Lex get off from that murder charge when Miss Elizabeth died? Talk about being made of teflon. Not enough evidence to convict?
The Unknown Poster Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Posted April 20, 2014 She OD'ed. If anything he could have been in trouble for providing her drugs. But she was an adult and she chose to mix blooze and drugs. Not Murder. The church shows and u of m shows were the same organizers. Buff was a good guy when I booked him too. But he got napped at the border when his bags triggered a coke warning. He wasn't carrying and was let through but he was shook up. To hilarious degree. Lol
Brandon Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 I have yet been to a pcw show but my coworker has been nagging me to go, are you guys running any shows in summer?
The Unknown Poster Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Posted April 20, 2014 We generally run our main show about monthly. I just bought a new ring so I'm awaiting some upgrades before I confirm the next date. But probably may. I'm locked in for July 12 because that's when Omega is back in town so I might try to make that a "big" show and bring in Steve Corino too. If there's anyone on here that hasn't been and would like to check out a show I'd be happy to have you as my guests. Let me know and I'll out you on my comp list. It's always nice to see new faces! road griller 1
iso_55 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 Wow, a wrestling promoter in our midst. That is cool. Have you ever spoken to Bruce Hart about bringing in some of his wrestlers for a show?
Brandon Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 I saw Teddy Hart at the church show he seemed very wound up.
The Unknown Poster Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Posted April 20, 2014 Teddy Hart wants to come in for us. He wants to work with Omega. One of my guys is living out in Alberta right now. I haven not spoken with Bruce. I always try to accommodate other Indy guys who come through Winnipeg. Professional courtesy. But I generally don't foot the bill to bring in Indy guys. Winnipeg actually has a significant amount of local talent. The local industry often craps on itself but especially when you consider that Winnipeg is basically an island unto itself without several major centres in close proximity, we have produced and developed a lot of talent. Just in PCW alone, Omega, Mike Angels, Mentallo, Jon Cutler, Adam Knight have all worked for Japan, Mexico and/or WWE. We have another one who is about to leave for Japan. And we have four guys who were trained by Lance Storm.
iso_55 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 UP, I know Bruce Hart fairly well as we would sometimes work together as he is a substitute teacher for the Calgary Board of Education. We'd have lunch & talk wrestling whenever he came to our school. Seems like a decent enough guy that if you wanted, you could perhaps work with him. Winnipeg, back in the day, when it was part of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association used to sell out or nearly sell out the Arena back in the 80's. The fans loved the wrestlers that came to town once a month or so to put on big Arena shows. Also, the AWA started to tape their shows in Winnipeg in the early 80's at the CKND studios rather than Minneapolis like they always did. They'd tape enough over a day for a month's worth of television shows as I recall. Vince McMahon sure spoiled it for everyone buying up promotions like the AWA to eliminate competition. Just as an aside, but that new "Bulgarian" wrestler the WWE just unveiled, I can't remember his name... (Rusev???) is horrible. No moves in the ring. No sense of anticipation. No in ring sense at all as he just plods along. There's an example of a guy who needs to spend time in development instead of being thrown into a ring on television all over the world looking like a piece of garbage before he's ready. He can't even put over convincingly that he is a power wrestler because he doesn't know how to do it yet. Thirty years ago, he'd have wrestled on a smaller circuit for a number of years, honed his skills, developed a personality & some signature moves in the ring as well before working for a big promotion like the WWE.
Nasty Nate Posted April 20, 2014 Report Posted April 20, 2014 UP, I know Bruce Hart fairly well as we would sometimes work together as he is a substitute teacher for the Calgary Board of Education. We'd have lunch & talk wrestling whenever he came to our school. Seems like a decent enough guy that if you wanted, you could perhaps work with him. Winnipeg, back in the day, when it was part of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association used to sell out or nearly sell out the Arena back in the 80's. The fans loved the wrestlers that came to town once a month or so to put on big Arena shows. Also, the AWA started to tape their shows in Winnipeg in the early 80's at the CKND studios rather than Minneapolis like they always did. They'd tape enough over a day for a month's worth of television shows as I recall. Vince McMahon sure spoiled it for everyone buying up promotions like the AWA to eliminate competition. Just as an aside, but that new "Bulgarian" wrestler the WWE just unveiled, I can't remember his name... (Rusev???) is horrible. No moves in the ring. No sense of anticipation. No in ring sense at all as he just plods along. There's an example of a guy who needs to spend time in development instead of being thrown into a ring on television all over the world looking like a piece of garbage before he's ready. He can't even put over convincingly that he is a power wrestler because he doesn't know how to do it yet. Thirty years ago, he'd have wrestled on a smaller circuit for a number of years, honed his skills, developed a personality & some signature moves in the ring as well before working for a big promotion like the WWE. I've seen the guy. Looks like the old Polish Prince Putski from the 60s and 70s. A smallish Mark Henry to be sure. Probably Vince's people couldn't sign the guy unless they gave him a spot in the primary WWE vs. the minor leagues. Now they're stuck with him and have to work around his weaknesses to present him. Can only have the guy doing run-ins and big entrances so long.
iso_55 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 UP, I know Bruce Hart fairly well as we would sometimes work together as he is a substitute teacher for the Calgary Board of Education. We'd have lunch & talk wrestling whenever he came to our school. Seems like a decent enough guy that if you wanted, you could perhaps work with him. Winnipeg, back in the day, when it was part of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association used to sell out or nearly sell out the Arena back in the 80's. The fans loved the wrestlers that came to town once a month or so to put on big Arena shows. Also, the AWA started to tape their shows in Winnipeg in the early 80's at the CKND studios rather than Minneapolis like they always did. They'd tape enough over a day for a month's worth of television shows as I recall. Vince McMahon sure spoiled it for everyone buying up promotions like the AWA to eliminate competition. Just as an aside, but that new "Bulgarian" wrestler the WWE just unveiled, I can't remember his name... (Rusev???) is horrible. No moves in the ring. No sense of anticipation. No in ring sense at all as he just plods along. There's an example of a guy who needs to spend time in development instead of being thrown into a ring on television all over the world looking like a piece of garbage before he's ready. He can't even put over convincingly that he is a power wrestler because he doesn't know how to do it yet. Thirty years ago, he'd have wrestled on a smaller circuit for a number of years, honed his skills, developed a personality & some signature moves in the ring as well before working for a big promotion like the WWE. I've seen the guy. Looks like the old Polish Prince Putski from the 60s and 70s. A smallish Mark Henry to be sure. Probably Vince's people couldn't sign the guy unless they gave him a spot in the primary WWE vs. the minor leagues. Now they're stuck with him and have to work around his weaknesses to present him. Can only have the guy doing run-ins and big entrances so long. That eastern European thing is a lame old schtick. They're bringing it back because of Putin & the Ukraine. It's 30 years past its prime but man, Rusev is bad, bad, bad...
Brandon Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 Teddy Hart wants to come in for us. He wants to work with Omega. One of my guys is living out in Alberta right now. I haven not spoken with Bruce. I always try to accommodate other Indy guys who come through Winnipeg. Professional courtesy. But I generally don't foot the bill to bring in Indy guys. Winnipeg actually has a significant amount of local talent. The local industry often craps on itself but especially when you consider that Winnipeg is basically an island unto itself without several major centres in close proximity, we have produced and developed a lot of talent. Just in PCW alone, Omega, Mike Angels, Mentallo, Jon Cutler, Adam Knight have all worked for Japan, Mexico and/or WWE. We have another one who is about to leave for Japan. And we have four guys who were trained by Lance Storm. In fairness the garbage local wrestling was also very entertaining.... I don't think I laughed so hard as the time that I was out in the country to see the Honkey Tonk Man piss drunk in the ring singing his theme song for nearly 20 minutes straight and while some "local" wrestlers missed every spot and one ended up getting double legged takedown by a drunk lady in the crowd and he wasn't able to out muscle a 40 year old lady on top of him lol.
The Unknown Poster Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Posted April 21, 2014 You won't get an argument from me about "garbage" wrestling. I'm almost to the point of not caring. I've tried for too long to "unite" the local scene. When egos get in the way and you have two or three promotions competing you end up with each of those promotions with X amount of talent and a bunch of jobbers filling out the card. I remember that HTM show. It wasn't mine. Lol. But I had HTM in town in 2012 and 2011 and be was great both times. He actually worked really hard. You just have to know what appeals to those guys. In this case HTM enjoyed the idea of working a young kid and worked hard with him.
Nasty Nate Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 O for the halcyon days of The Superstar, Walter Shefchyk. j/k Whatever became of that guy?
iso_55 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 UP, your story about the cocaine remnants & Bagwell freaking out at customs was funny. Somehow, that didn't surprise me with that guy.I always figured he had some issues with substance abuse as he should have been a superstar but lasted a week in the WWE. Missed the big ticket income.
Brandon Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 UP, your story about the cocaine remnants & Bagwell freaking out at customs was funny. Somehow, that didn't surprise me with that guy.I always figured he had some issues with substance abuse as he should have been a superstar but lasted a week in the WWE. Missed the big ticket income. Well the big income was back when WCW was going crazy signing anyone and everyone and Buff did enjoy some of that money....
iso_55 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 Yeah, but Buff had the look, the body & charisma to be a star. He wasn't the best wrestler out there but he wasn't the worst. He was better than 50% of the wrestlers on that roster back then. So, his short stay in WWE was surprising.
Nasty Nate Posted April 21, 2014 Report Posted April 21, 2014 Yeah, but Buff had the look, the body & charisma to be a star. He wasn't the best wrestler out there but he wasn't the worst. He was better than 50% of the wrestlers on that roster back then. So, his short stay in WWE was surprising. I think WWE quickly lost confidence in Buff as a product. He was 6'1", well muscled, not a giant by any means but not a mini-me like Eddy, Jericho or Benoit (who are all 5'6" to 5'8") I think they expected him to be a Ravishing Rick Rude clone. But Ravishing Rick could tell a great story in the ring. Buff couldn't. Look at that 5'7", 260 lb. schlepper named Paul Heyman. Can't rassle, can't take hard bumps but tells the best stories in the game. Also look at a guy who you'd think would rival Bullinski for roundness - Husky Harris aka Bray Wyatt. Biggest thing going right now besides teachers pets John Cena, HHH, Rock the Temp, Taker the Temp.
Nasty Nate Posted April 22, 2014 Report Posted April 22, 2014 If I could write a book that summed up today's modern pro wrestling its title would be: HARVEY WHIPPLEMAN JUST PINNED THE ROCK!! OMG
Brandon Posted April 22, 2014 Report Posted April 22, 2014 I believe Buff as cut from the WWE because of his attitude
bigg jay Posted April 22, 2014 Report Posted April 22, 2014 Buff is apparently doing well as a male escort these days. A little easier on the body I guess (depending on the size of the client!).
Brandon Posted April 22, 2014 Report Posted April 22, 2014 Buff is apparently doing well as a male escort these days. A little easier on the body I guess (depending on the size of the client!). Well rumour was it that Warrior was a gay male escort in his early days... I thought Buff had a bad car crash and was in bad shape these days?
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