- 2 months ago
documentary on independent wrestling
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SportsTranscript
00:00.
00:30.
01:00.
01:02.
01:04.
01:06.
01:08.
01:10.
01:12.
01:14.
01:16.
01:18.
01:20Independent Wrestling.
01:22Independent Wrestling has developed a strong cult following over the years
01:28in North America as well as some other countries.
01:30Canada,
01:32Puerto Rico, Mexico,
01:34many other places.
01:36What is the
01:38lore of Independent Wrestling
01:40for fans,
01:42for wrestlers,
01:44for promoters?
01:46Just the whole lore
01:48of Independent Wrestling.
01:50Everyone knows WWE,
01:52the World Wrestling Entertainment,
01:54Vince McMahon and his characters such as Hulk Hogan,
01:56John Cena,
01:58King Booker,
02:00Carlito,
02:02The Big Show,
02:03ECW,
02:04SmackDown,
02:05everything that is run under the
02:06Titan Towers,
02:07World Wrestling Entertainment umbrella.
02:10You're looking at the setup of an independent wrestling show.
02:14The ring crews,
02:16the promoters,
02:17the ring announcers,
02:18the bookers.
02:20You're looking at what goes into setting up an independent event.
02:25You have your building rentals.
02:27You have your advertising,
02:29your booking and contacting your talent.
02:31You have your matchmaking,
02:33your scripts,
02:34your storylines.
02:35The wrestlers right here working as ring crew to set up for the event.
02:41So there's much more that goes into being a professional wrestler on the independent circuit than just wrestling.
02:48The wrestlers here,
02:50they meet and greet family,
02:51friends as they arrive at the event and start to get set up for the event.
02:55The fans coming in through the ticket takers,
02:57the children,
02:58the backbone of independent professional wrestling as well as the backbone of the World Wrestling Entertainment and NWA TNA as well.
03:05Because without these fans there would be no independent shows.
03:10Because these fans provide the financial support for these independent shows.
03:17Independent shows by and large do not make a lot of money.
03:22And we're going to find out tonight what drives the promoters,
03:25what drives the wrestlers,
03:27and what drives the fans to continue coming out to these independent wrestling events.
03:32From the small spaces of the locker room that you're looking at right now,
03:36to the small venues they play,
03:39the many miles they travel,
03:41the wear and tear on their bodies,
03:43and the notorious low payoffs
03:46for providing or performing their craft in front of generally small audiences.
03:53What is the lure of independent wrestling for the fans and for the wrestlers?
03:59On this DVD we're going to find out as indie wrestling is now exposed.
04:09I'm Don Brower, I'm owner of the UPWA.
04:12What first got you interested in the wrestling business?
04:15I was always a fan growing up as a kid.
04:17I really enjoyed it.
04:19And like I said when I was in high school I wanted to get involved.
04:22And basically when I moved to North Carolina I met a great man by the name of Mark Edge.
04:27He got me involved with ICW and it's been fun ever since.
04:31So this is something you see yourself doing long term?
04:33Yeah I really enjoyed it.
04:34It's fun.
04:35It's a break.
04:36I get away for a couple days and I get to live like a kid.
04:38It's like you know most kids wanted to be firemen or wanted to be police officers or something like that.
04:43I wanted to be a wrestler and I get involved in the business and I love it.
04:46So is there any real money made in independent wrestling?
04:49Not casual.
04:50Somebody's looking for it just to get into it.
04:51It's a really up and down business because sometimes you know you can only please half
04:56the people half the time.
04:57And you know it's one of those you get a few people who you know love the show and there's
05:02other people who don't.
05:03And you know you never really make a lot of money.
05:04I never strike like a millionaire.
05:05Strike it rich.
05:06How can we keep in touch with what's going on with the UPWA?
05:18Keep up to date brother.
05:19We try to get our information out there as many as possible but the main site is we have
05:24our own site called www.theupwa.com.
05:29We always post the new names coming in the UPWA, all the upcoming shows, everything going on.
05:36And that's probably the best way to get in touch.
05:39And I have to say Carolina Independent Wrestling has been very good to us too.
05:43Other than that you know.
05:48We are presenting Once of the Ring.
05:50In the business of Colorado.
05:52We have 109 pounds from Marvel, South Carolina.
05:58And now, this is Chrisiadom.
06:04Do you think so?
06:09Ladies what do you think of this lovely piece of record?
06:25Once the show gets going and the action is in the ring, you can see the wrestlers try
06:47to react.
06:48They do their best to get their moves down the way they practiced them, the way they
06:51rehearsed them, the way they set them up, at the same time trying to keep the crowd involved
06:56in the action.
06:57Fans, as you see here in the ring, are a little bit quiet during this match.
07:02The idea of the object is to get this crowd riled up as loud and as noxious as you can
07:08get them, while at the same time everyone is doing their job.
07:12The wrestlers are working their moves to their perfection, the referee maintaining control
07:18and being a messenger of sorts for the wrestlers to each other as well as from the promotion
07:23end of it.
07:24We have the ring announcer and the timekeeper who makes sure that the matches don't go
07:28longer than the time frame allotted on the show for them.
07:31He also plays cheerleader.
07:33Keep the crowd anticipated.
07:35Now that we've seen a lot of this stuff, we're going to start talking with the fans and the
07:39wrestlers themselves.
07:41What's your name?
07:44Spencer.
07:45Talk loud.
07:46Spencer.
07:47What's your name?
07:48Brian.
07:49Brian, what's your name?
07:50Jordan.
07:51Jordan?
07:52You all enjoying the matches tonight?
07:54Yes!
07:55Have you been to one before?
07:56Yes!
07:57No.
07:58Who's your favorite?
07:59Who's your favorite tonight?
08:00You!
08:01Me?
08:02I don't really know.
08:03You don't have a favorite?
08:04Who did you not like tonight so far?
08:07Red Bull.
08:08Red Bull.
08:09Red Bull?
08:10You didn't like Red Bull?
08:11No.
08:12Who did you not like?
08:13Who did you not like?
08:14Um...
08:15Sable.
08:16Sable.
08:17You guys watch Wrestle on TV a lot?
08:18Yes!
08:19Who's your favorite?
08:20On WWE?
08:21John Cena.
08:22John Cena.
08:23Ray Mysterio.
08:24Ray Mysterio.
08:25You watch TNA?
08:26Yes.
08:27Who do you like on TNA?
08:28Yes.
08:29Who do you like on TNA?
08:30Yes.
08:31Who do you like on TNA?
08:33Yes.
08:34Who do you like on TNA?
08:35Yes.
08:36Who do you like on TNA?
08:37Sting.
08:38Sting.
08:39Sting.
08:40Sting.
08:41Who do you like?
08:42Papa Pump.
08:43Big Papa Pump.
08:44You don't like Christian?
08:45No.
08:46You don't like Jeff Jarrett?
08:47No.
08:48You guys come out to these live events a lot?
08:51Yes.
08:52Jennifer, what's your name?
08:54Steve.
08:55How long have you been a wrestler fan, Steve?
08:57Uh, 1980.
08:58Since 1980?
08:59How about you?
09:00Since Hulk Hogan.
09:01Since Hulk Hogan.
09:02Since Hulk Hogan.
09:03Since Hulk Hogan.
09:04Socks.
09:05That's been two days before Dark then, ain't it?
09:07Who's your favorite WWE character?
09:12I don't know.
09:13I mean, there's a few of them.
09:15It ain't Cena.
09:16It ain't Cena.
09:17Oh, shut up.
09:19I take it John Cena's your favorite?
09:21Cena bitch.
09:22You guys watch TNA?
09:24I haven't been keeping up with it.
09:26Samoa Joe.
09:27Samoa Joe.
09:28The ultra-fat wrestling machine?
09:29Yeah.
09:30He's gonna be another Wahoo McDaniel.
09:31I'm not exactly right.
09:32You're not into TNA?
09:33No, I mean, I watch it, but I don't have all those channels like USA.
09:36Well, I know you come out to a lot of live events.
09:47I've seen you many times.
09:49What draws you to these smaller independent shows?
09:53First of all, accessibility.
09:55I mean, it's good that you've got something going on in your hometown.
10:00I mean, I don't have to drive to Charlotte or Texarkana someplace.
10:05I mean, I can come here and, you know, see some people I know.
10:10It's a relaxed atmosphere.
10:12It's very enjoyable.
10:14And, I mean, I don't have to walk 2.3 miles from the car today.
10:21And one thing I've seen earlier on this film, you really get into it and you bring a lot
10:25of signs.
10:26Yeah.
10:27What draws, what gives you that extra...
10:30Well, I mean, I'm like the only person that does this here, but I see it on TV and a lot
10:37of the stuff they put on there is really freaking hilarious.
10:40And it's like, this is partly a tribute to those wrestling fans, but it's also my way
10:46of kind of bringing that element here.
10:51Because you don't see a lot of people in this area getting too much, really, real passionate
10:55or excited about things.
10:56I like to come in here and act stupid and hold up a sign that says, your mom was good
11:01or something like that.
11:02You know?
11:03Well, I know we're in Wilmington, North Carolina, and there's been several promotions
11:06around here.
11:07ICW, NACW, UPWA event tonight.
11:11Who are some of your favorite wrestlers on this smaller...
11:16Oh, Clark Ashe, Dave Renegade, Dark Star, Solitude.
11:23And who are some of the guys that you really like to get on their nerves?
11:28Who do you like to aggravate out of all these days?
11:30Prison Bitch.
11:31Prison Bitch?
11:32That would be Pete Nixon or The Felon?
11:35The one that was like, Carly from The Three Studios, whatever his name is.
11:38That's probably Pete Nixon.
11:40The ball head guy?
11:41Yeah.
11:42Well, they're both balls.
11:43The big fat one, he's all mouthy to the crowd.
11:48Would you say you have more accessibility to actually communicate and meet and talk to
11:53the wrestlers on this level?
11:55Definitely.
11:56I mean, when you go to WWE shows, you're going to be able to talk to someone.
12:01Maybe for two or three minutes.
12:03But, I mean, if you really like professional wrestling, you know, and you really like to
12:10talk to people that are in the business, you've got to go to regional and local shows.
12:15You've got to.
12:16That's a lot of people don't realize.
12:17Just about everybody from Hulk Hogan on down has started on the independent level and worked
12:23their way up.
12:24So do you expect to see any of these guys making the WWE ring, say, a few years down the road?
12:28I mean, that definitely could be happening because, I mean, when somebody's got a great
12:33talent, the word gets around, you know.
12:36There's a lot.
12:37There's people that have started here or kind of had a base here.
12:42I mean, like for instance, I know Ricky Morton, well, he's already famous and everything,
12:46but he's got a place down here in Shiloh, man.
12:48I mean, you've got a lot of people that, um, Dark Star was on NWA, national television,
12:56wrestling against Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, wrestling against other guys, and he was a
13:01high school wrestling coach.
13:03Yeah.
13:04Andrew Bellamy right here out of Wilmington.
13:06Right.
13:07And it was a shock you to sometimes see what these guys do for a living, like, you know,
13:12Dark Star as a waiter at Golden Corral.
13:14I saw him cutting a guy's yard when I was drinking water beers.
13:18Right.
13:19He did his own lawn cutting business, like Mark Ash, correctional officer to go to prison.
13:23Um, Solitude, former Marine, which is his character.
13:27Right.
13:28I mean, does it shock you sometimes to see what these guys actually do to make a living?
13:32Well, I mean, yes and no, um, because you know that when you're working in the local
13:39area, you know that it's not the, this is not like a big revenue area.
13:44You know, you know that the guy's gotta, you gotta live, especially in Wilmington, and
13:49the cost of living is through the roof.
13:50And, and I say that whatever a man does makes him a better person for developing character
13:56and working to make the ends meet.
13:58It can only serve to enhance his experience in the rink, bring more to his character.
14:02Now, outside the big crowd, and of course the big creatrix with the lighting system,
14:07the titan shrines and all that, what would you say is the big difference between what
14:11happens in the ring, say in WWE, than what's happening here tonight in UPWA?
14:17Um, I'd say that one of the biggest things is the passion and the fans.
14:26Like, it's kinda hard for me to understand, like, there's, I know a lot of people in Wilmington
14:33like wrestling.
14:34And you tell them about the local wrestling events, you don't really see them.
14:37When they come here, they're not that into, like, you know like they should be.
14:40You know, we get excited, but you know, we can take it to a whole other level.
14:44Right.
14:45I mean, y'all put on some great shows in here, I think.
14:47You know, um, another thing is, you know, maybe the promotion side of it, maybe you can get
14:53some local free time on, uh, channel, uh, local access television and do promos between
14:59the shows.
15:01Because that, that will help you with your storyline continuity.
15:04Right, because the media definitely does not jump on our bandwagon as much as they would
15:08when WWE comes to, you know, the local areas.
15:11Right.
15:12I mean, do you think that these smaller promotions are being done an injustice?
15:16Yeah, I mean,
15:22I think that it would be good.
15:26I always wonder why the, uh, sports page or the newspaper didn't feature local professional
15:32wrestling.
15:33They'll put it in lifestyle.
15:35They'll put it in, uh, weekend.
15:37Okay, they're gonna wrestle at Riverfest.
15:39But, you know, I'm thinking, man, WCT could come out here with a Red Cross, do a blood drive.
15:46Hey, we're out here.
15:48Here's Mark Ash.
15:49We're talking to him.
15:50Mark Ash throws down a promo for the match he's gonna do in an hour now.
15:54You know, against Dark Star or whoever he's gonna wrestle.
15:56You know what I mean?
15:57You know, I'd like to see media and some other promotions like the Red Cross, or Make-A-Wish,
16:06get together and do a live, uh, you know, some live promotions.
16:13Alright, well, thank you, Steve.
16:14It was a good time.
16:15Lookout.
16:18Ooh, dang.
16:19Ooh.
16:20Ooh.
16:21Oh.
16:22Ooh.
16:23Nice momentum for explaining your heart.
16:28Yeah!
16:30Oh.
16:33Come on, colleagues!
16:345!
16:35Grampi, 2 days go!
16:38St 코�di great!
16:41Ty.
16:43I'm loud.
17:10Crystal.
17:11Did you enjoy the matches tonight?
17:14Yes.
17:15You did?
17:15Who was your favorite one tonight?
17:21Don't know?
17:23Who did you not like tonight?
17:27The black man?
17:28The one in the last one, Dan the man?
17:31The one that always holler, who's the champ?
17:33You didn't like him?
17:35How long have you been a wrestling fan?
17:39Long time?
17:42You watch WWE on Monday nights?
17:45Who's your favorite?
17:50John Cena?
17:52You like John Cena?
17:53Who do you not like?
17:59You like Triple H?
18:02You don't like Triple H?
18:03How about Carlito?
18:07You watch any of the TNA with the six-sided ring?
18:11She can't watch me.
18:12Damn.
18:13Too late?
18:13It's all too late for you?
18:15The only person who watched is the one.
18:16Did you have fun tonight?
18:17Yeah.
18:18All right.
18:20What's your name?
18:21Priscilla Rankin.
18:22Priscilla?
18:23Yep.
18:23Did you have fun tonight?
18:24Yes.
18:25Who was your favorite one tonight?
18:27I would just say you.
18:29Me?
18:30You like Sexton Tyler?
18:31I like The End of Man.
18:32Okay.
18:33Who did you not like?
18:35Well, United States, but personally, I don't know.
18:40The End of Man?
18:41Yeah.
18:42All right.
18:42You watch WWE on Monday night, I would think.
18:44Yeah.
18:44Who do you like there?
18:46John Cena.
18:46John Cena?
18:48Who do you not like?
18:49Edge.
18:49You don't like Edge?
18:51Who do you like Edge?
18:53He's the champion.
18:54So, you watch Smackdown on Fridays?
18:58Yep.
18:59Who do you like there?
19:01Batista.
19:02Batista?
19:03All right.
19:03Who do you least like there?
19:05King Booker.
19:06Who?
19:07King Booker.
19:08King Booker.
19:09I like King Booker.
19:10How about The Big Show?
19:12He's all right.
19:13You like The Big Show?
19:14You have fun tonight?
19:15Yep.
19:16You gonna come next time?
19:17I hope so.
19:18You hope so?
19:19All right.
19:19Well, thank you.
19:21Robert Morgan.
19:22Robert, did you have a lot of fun tonight?
19:24Yes, sir.
19:25Who did you like the most?
19:27The Beast.
19:28Who?
19:29The Beast?
19:30The Beast, yeah.
19:30So, you like The Beast and The Ring Busters?
19:32Mm-hmm.
19:33Who did you not like tonight?
19:34The prison guy.
19:36Pete Nixon?
19:37Yeah.
19:38How about Don Brower and Playboy Marcus Shields?
19:41I'm not really sure about that.
19:42You don't like them either?
19:43Do you watch WWE on Monday nights?
19:45Yes, sir.
19:45I do.
19:46Who do you like there?
19:48John Cena.
19:48John Cena?
19:49All right.
19:50Who do you least like?
19:53Carlito.
19:54Carlito?
19:55You don't like Carlito?
19:56I don't.
19:57That's not cool.
19:58No.
19:59All right.
19:59You watch SmackDown?
20:00Yes, sir.
20:01Who do you like there?
20:02Ray Mysterio.
20:03Ray Mysterio?
20:04Little Ray Ray?
20:05Who do you not like there?
20:06Chavo Guerrero.
20:07Chavo Guerrero.
20:09How about ECW?
20:10You ever watch any of that?
20:11Mm-hmm.
20:11You like Big Show?
20:13Mm-hmm.
20:13How about Rob Van Dam?
20:15Yeah.
20:16You don't like Rob Van Dam?
20:17No.
20:17How about Tez?
20:19Mm-hmm.
20:19What do you think of CM Punk?
20:21Yeah.
20:21I like CM Punk a lot.
20:23How about TNA?
20:24You ever get to see any of that?
20:25I really don't like it too much.
20:27The only time I've been watching this, I've heard angles on there.
20:31So you don't like that six-sided ring?
20:33No.
20:33Yeah, that's a little turn-off for me, too, there.
20:36All right.
20:36You have a lot of fun tonight, you said.
20:37Mm-hmm.
20:38You come back next time?
20:39Yes, sir.
20:40What do you like more about these smaller shows than, say, WWE?
20:43They don't cost as much.
20:45Don't cost as much?
20:46Yeah, and we don't have to go our way out of bed, I've said.
20:49And do they interact with the wrestlers a little more?
20:51Mm-hmm.
20:51Yeah.
20:52All right, buddy.
20:53We hope you had a good time.
20:54All right, thanks, man.
20:55All right, we're talking to Carnage now, long-time independent wrestler.
20:58How long have you been going, Carnage?
21:00It was great.
21:01How are you doing?
21:02How long have you been wrestling?
21:04Twelve years.
21:05Twelve years.
21:05What got you started?
21:07Well, I watched it when I was a kid.
21:09When I was like five years old.
21:13I started watching wrestling back in the day when I was a WWE and WL.
21:17Back in guys like Bruno Sammartino, superstar Billy Graham.
21:21You know, all those major players back then.
21:24You got any pictures of Big Pop-a-Wise, would you say?
21:26Let's see, I started with a small organization in Virginia called Ultimate Championship Wrestling.
21:33It was a small promotion.
21:34They trained me.
21:35And that's where I pretty much started working.
21:38So you worked with a lot of big names over the years.
21:40Who all have you worked with?
21:41Oh my God, the list is endless, man.
21:44Abdul the Butcher, The Masked Superstar, Manny Fernandez, The Iron Sheik.
21:51All right.
21:52Damn.
21:54Earthquake.
21:55Tommy Rogers.
21:56Honky Tonk, man.
21:57I mean, the list is endless, man.
21:58Endless.
21:59How long do you think you'll keep doing this?
22:00Hopefully for, let's see, 12 years now.
22:04Probably, I'm hoping for at least maybe another 5 to 10, I hope.
22:07All right, man.
22:08Good show tonight.
22:09Thank you very much.
22:10Take care, man.
22:10All right, bud.
22:11All right.
22:12Good thing.
22:14Now, we've got Wilmington's own Sexton Tyler, the UPWA Heavyweight Champion tonight.
22:21Sexton, how long have you been wrestling now?
22:24Eight years.
22:25Eight years.
22:25What got you started in the business?
22:28Grew up loving watching wrestling.
22:31Ran into a guy by the name of Mark Ash.
22:34That's sorry, sucker.
22:36Yeah, you know.
22:37I've heard some things, but hey, let it go.
22:40Yeah, he got me into business.
22:42He got me started.
22:44Now, I know you've gone a long ways in eight years.
22:47Who's some of the bigger names you've worked with?
22:49Oh, Lord.
22:51Ivan Koloff, Rick Link, Carnage, Mark Ash, Barbarian, Tony Atlas, Ricky Morton.
23:05Too many to name.
23:06So you've probably been in many different areas outside of North Carolina.
23:09Where else have you worked at?
23:11In Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida.
23:15So you think you've been doing this for a while to go?
23:16I hope so.
23:17As long as my body will let me.
23:20Amen to that, brother.
23:21All right, man.
23:22Good match tonight.
23:23Appreciate it.
23:23Here, Pete Nixon, how long have you been wrestling?
23:26Roughly about almost three years now.
23:28I've been training since I was 14.
23:29I worked my way up the ladder.
23:31So what really got you interested in wanting to do this?
23:34When I was younger, I was a big, big wrestling fan.
23:38And when I turned about 13, 14, I saw there was a school at the same time I lived.
23:42And I said, you know what?
23:43I've always been a big guy.
23:44I loved it so much that that kind of motivated me to do even better.
23:47Well, this is an independent show down in North Carolina.
23:50Where are you from?
23:50I'm from New Jersey.
23:51We're about 10 and a half to 11 hours away from here.
23:55So when you actually got started training, who were you working with?
23:58I was working with Jersey All-Pro when I worked, first set up their rings.
24:03Then I became a manager for a wrestler named Crazy Isaac.
24:06And he brought me around to different places.
24:09And I went to the AWA school in Union City.
24:12And then I went to ACPW school in Lake Hiawatha.
24:15And you met who?
24:16Gino Caruso.
24:18Caruso.
24:19And the lovely Andrew Anderson.
24:20And Playboy Marcus Shields.
24:22Yeah.
24:24All right, Playboy Marcus Shields.
24:25How long have you been in business?
24:26I've been in the business four years.
24:27Four years?
24:28Yes.
24:28What got you interested in wanting to be a wrestler?
24:31I was three years old running out around the house around Wrestlemania 3.
24:34My uncle sat me down.
24:36I was watching Macho Man's after Ricky Steepo.
24:38After that, I knew I wanted to be a wrestler.
24:40So when you busted in training-wise, who did you work out with?
24:43I trained with Gino Caruso and Andrew Anderson training.
24:49Did a lot of work with Scottie Prisma, Fred Sampson, a lot of guys out there.
24:55Scott Hales.
24:57Nungio Crowbar.
24:58Dan The Man.
24:59Jimmy Snooker.
25:00Jimmy Snooker.
25:00Kamala.
25:01Kamala.
25:02So we're talking about legends like Jimmy Snooker, Kamala.
25:04How many of you wrestled in a match?
25:06I wrestled- I had the honor of wrestling Kamala in a match, and it was the greatest thing
25:12because he actually let me body slam him.
25:14He told him I didn't- I didn't ask for it, and he just let me- he gave it to me.
25:18That's a gift that can't be given twice.
25:20And I also had the privilege just recently wrestling Pro Bar.
25:24All right, now we're going to move over to Andrew Anderson.
25:27These last couple of guys have credited in their training.
25:30How long have you been wrestling now?
25:32Too long.
25:33Too long?
25:33Too long.
25:34Too long.
25:34What got you interested in wanting to be a wrestler?
25:37Well, actually, I originally wanted to be a rock star because, you know, it's a sexual
25:41sort of thing.
25:43You know, when you see all these screaming naked ladies outside the doors.
25:46I figured wrestling would have that sort of same effect, but you know, it actually didn't.
25:50Tell me the truth.
25:50Tell me the truth.
25:51You said you wanted to be the juggernaut.
25:53I wanted to be the juggernaut, bitch!
25:54No, seriously.
25:55No, seriously.
25:56No, seriously.
25:57I was bouncing in a bar in Jersey and a little fat man with a mullet came walking in and a
26:06pretty built guy, Samoan fellow by the name of Jimmy Snooker walked in and they said to
26:12me, I was walking out of the bar with a guy who was 6'7 on my shoulder in a fireman
26:18carrying in New Jersey and I threw him out and I turned around and the little Samoan
26:22fellow goes, brother, I want to talk to you.
26:26I need to talk to your brother.
26:28So I came over, got inebriated with this guy.
26:31It happened to be Jimmy Superfly Snooker and his little troll friend, the Metal Maniac.
26:36A lot of people don't like him.
26:37I don't know if I still like him.
26:39I know him too long, but he's all right, I guess.
26:43So they brought me up to Lake Hiawatha where I was introduced to Gino Caruso, the Kodiak
26:49Bear, Rocky Jones, former WWE Tag Team Champions, the Executioners, and I was introduced to
26:56I had my first tag team match, we're in four months, against the Executioners, it beat
26:59the shit out of me.
27:01From there, I had my match with Jimmy Snooker and the Metal Maniac, I tagged a part of the
27:07Metal Maniac.
27:08I wrestled with probably most of the biggest names from WWE, from the 80s, Tino Santana,
27:15Tony Atlas.
27:17I wrestled all over the world, Hawaii, Australia.
27:20I did some stuff for ECW, ECBW, AWA, HIWF, White Island Wrestling with Amorakko.
27:34You name it, I did it already.
27:36And I had the pleasure of training a bunch of guys, training with a bunch of guys.
27:40I don't take credit for training them.
27:41They trained hard, they worked hard, they trained themselves.
27:44Pete Nixon, Playboy, Marcus Shields.
27:46The referee right here, next to my right, Chris Seacrest.
27:50So, I had a pleasure getting away with Mark Ash, who's filming this right now.
27:54Smile, Mark.
27:55That was a nice backdrop, by the way.
27:57Yeah, there you go.
27:59Carnage has lovely nipples.
28:00He's standing behind you, manipulating his genitalia.
28:03So, and, um, that's pretty much it.
28:08You know, I had a nice career.
28:10I just got off working test.
28:12I worked a few shows with, um, I've got to go on.
28:16I go on.
28:16I don't know how much tape you got, but I can go on forever.
28:19Pro Bar, one of my dearest friends.
28:21Went to a bunch of matches with him.
28:23Had the opportunity of doing a War Games match six months ago.
28:26Um, he was great.
28:29Uh, I'm a pretty cool manager, Doug DeVito, sports agent.
28:33I still think he's gay, but, you know, because he cuts hair for a living.
28:36So, that's an inside joke.
28:38Let's talk to the referee here.
28:39Great kid.
28:41I'm a little bad with names.
28:43I don't think I caught yours tonight.
28:44What's your name, man?
28:45Chris T. Crest.
28:46Chris T.
28:46So, you got into refereeing.
28:47How long have you been doing that?
28:48Uh, I've been refereeing for about a year and a half now.
28:51Uh, long story behind that, I actually trained as a wrestler, but, uh, started refereeing
28:56about a year and a half ago, and did a great job, and been doing that ever since.
29:00Do you think you'll be doing this for a while, or are you going to move into wrestling?
29:02Uh, I like to get into wrestling.
29:03Uh, I'm just happy to be in the business, to be honest with you.
29:06Uh, I love the business.
29:07I love being out there.
29:07Uh, so, whatever I get to do to be part of it, I'm fine by it.
29:12All right, well, let's shoot straight here now.
29:14I know on the independent circuit, through experience, you do a lot of long road hours and very little
29:18pay off.
29:19Does that bother you paying your dues that way?
29:21No, it doesn't bother me at all.
29:22Again, I love being a part of everything, with just the people, uh, meeting everybody.
29:26Hey, you know, it really doesn't bother me.
29:28He's in it for the girls.
29:29I'm in it for the girls.
29:29You're in it for the girls.
29:31Unfortunately, there aren't many here tonight.
29:33Not many here tonight.
29:34Not many go after referees, either.
29:36All right, but good job tonight, man.
29:38For our fans at the UPWA event tonight, what's your name?
29:40Richard Davis.
29:41Richard Davis, and from my understanding, you work at a local radio station.
29:44That's right, news director for Cumulus Broadcasting, 980 Wave, Double Cube Country, and, uh, Coast.
29:49So how long have you been a wrestling fan?
29:51Uh, my whole life.
29:52My dad used to build rings for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Jerry Jarrett, and those guys, and
29:56been a wrestling fan my whole life.
29:58Yeah, I remember Smoky Mountain.
29:59I've worked there a couple times myself.
30:00Good stuff.
30:01So you've been a wrestling fan, growing up.
30:02Who's been some of your favorite wrestlers over here?
30:03Uh, Ric Flair, Arne and Ole Anderson, the Four Horsemen, um, the, uh, Texas Tornado, uh,
30:10some of those old guys.
30:10Big WCW fan myself, uh, The Rock, Triple H, love the Eels.
30:15All right, shoot straight with me.
30:16Not gonna hurt anybody's feelings.
30:17How would you rate tonight's action compared to today?
30:19I'd say, definitely, uh, definitely a 9 out of 10 tonight.
30:24It was a good show.
30:25Really impressed the hell out of me.
30:26Good deal.
30:27So you'll be back again?
30:28Absolutely.
30:28All right.
30:28December 2nd.
30:29All right, now, what's your name, buddy?
30:31My name is The Greatest Man Ever on Camera.
30:34Well, you're on camera now.
30:36So this is a first.
30:37This is a UPW first.
30:39So, from my understanding, you work at the local radio station also.
30:43Like I said, they never see me.
30:46They never see you.
30:46Actually, people say my looks are made for radio.
30:49I let them off the hook.
30:51I let them off the hook.
30:52The guy behind you's looks are definitely made for radio.
30:55Made for radio.
30:57Whee!
30:57All right, Andrew Anderson, a promo shot here.
31:00He's also a...
31:01Watching the Metal Maniac, the man who discovered me.
31:03Metal Maniac.
31:04You know, a lot of people don't like him.
31:05Nobody likes him.
31:05He's also a Michigan fan.
31:07He's got two more weeks.
31:07So how long have you been a wrestling fan?
31:08He's also a Giants fan, though.
31:09Yeah.
31:11Giants fan, we won't hold that against you.
31:13Yeah, all right, all right, all right, all right.
31:14Enough, enough, enough.
31:15So how long have you been a wrestling fan?
31:17Man, let me tell you, since I was around 10.
31:2027 right now.
31:22Oh, you're a young man.
31:22That's not a math.
31:23But hey, you know what?
31:24This is good luck.
31:25I feel great.
31:27I'm in UPW.
31:29So yeah, that's 17 years.
31:31About 17 years.
31:33So who have been some of your favorites over the years?
31:35Man, let me tell you.
31:38My favorite of all time would have to be...
31:42And I'd either have to go with Bret Hart or Ric Flair or the great one, Rocky Johnson.
31:50So how would you rate tonight's action compared to some of the other stuff you've seen?
31:54Man, my wingman just gave it a 9.10, so I like to do it a little bit better than him.
32:01I'm going 9.5.
32:02There you go.
32:03There you go.
32:04So you'll be back again, I take it?
32:06You know this.
32:07All right, man.
32:08Glad you had fun tonight.
32:09No question.
32:09All right, thanks, sir.
32:11No question.
32:12Big Dave Renegade.
32:13We're, of course, at an independent show in Wilmington, North Carolina.
32:15You're definitely a local fan favorite.
32:17How long have you been wrestling now?
32:1812 years.
32:1912 years?
32:20What was one of your inspirations to get into the business?
32:25I believe it was...
32:26I actually grew up watching...
32:29Nice!
32:30Back during the day, Wilmington used to have their big matches.
32:34And I used to love watching the likes of...
32:37I don't know how you do the ball.
32:39Yep.
32:39I'm going to be handsome.
32:41I don't know how you do the ball.
32:42I don't know how you do the ball.
32:43I don't know how you do the ball.
32:44I don't know how you do the ball.
32:45I just pretty much was raised up on old school wrestling.
32:49I just loved watching it.
32:53I used to play wrestling a little bit.
32:55But I kind of found my way into toughness, fighting, and martial arts for years.
33:02For years.
33:03I finally found my way into the ring.
33:06My very first match, I went up against this young man called the Rusty Assassin.
33:12Doing a little show for some old people.
33:17Of course, I beat him up.
33:18That was a long time ago.
33:20I believe his name was Mark Ash.
33:22But Dave, you and I, we've just been around the horn a lot together.
33:26And we've been up and down the road.
33:29And nobody can tell you about the road.
33:31As well as myself, of course you, Viper, Carnage, James Beasley, and there's so many of us.
33:49There's been through the thick and thin and the hardships of independent wrestling.
33:54And everybody can say what they want to about independent wrestling.
33:58But the independence is where so many people have cut their teeth.
34:04I've worked with so many people.
34:06And have seen them have gone to WCW, ECW.
34:11And I love it as a benefit of watching them and remembering the days back when we had the time.
34:20But anybody that's coming up through the independence, learn one word, one real, real word.
34:27That's called respect.
34:28Respect for who you're wrestling and what you're doing.
34:32And you're doing okay.
34:33All right.
34:34Thank you for your time, Dave.
34:35You're a young wrestler who wrestles with the name of Red Bull.
34:38How long have you been wrestling now?
34:39Probably about eight months now.
34:41About eight months.
34:42What got you interested in wanting to be a wrestler?
34:46Basically being able to travel, get to meet new people, see different people, see different places in the world.
34:53The money's interesting to me also.
34:56A couple other guys said they were in it for the girls.
34:59Well, maybe that too.
35:00But there's a lot of things, a whole lot of things that are appealing to me about it.
35:05You know, being able to use my physical gifts and abilities to make a living.
35:12All right.
35:13Of course, you are a wrestler.
35:14I'm going to take it you've been a fan for a number of years.
35:16Who would you say were some of your favorites growing up?
35:19Definitely Road Warrior Hulk and Road Warrior Animal.
35:21They were two of my favorites also.
35:23A big fan of Sting and also Hulk Hogan.
35:25You had a chance to actually get in the ring with any of the legends yet?
35:28No, I haven't, but the closest I have, I've been in the ring with a former WCW wrestler.
35:36So, you enjoy working in the Independence?
35:40Yeah, there's some things.
35:42Traveling is kind of tedious at times, you know.
35:45And of course, the notorious low payoffs.
35:48Yeah, definitely.
35:49Definitely that.
35:50But you've got to have, you've got to start with the end in mind.
35:52I mean, you can't think about the right here, right now.
35:54You've got to look at that years down the road.
35:56And, you know, you've got to make sacrifices if you want to become something great.
36:00So, I don't understand that.
36:03All right, man.
36:04We wish you the best of luck.
36:05Okay, thanks a lot.
36:06Thanks, bud.
36:06One of the members of the UPWA ring crew, what's your name?
36:10Brian Corkin.
36:11Brian Corkin.
36:12I take it you're a wrestler fan to get involved in this end of the business.
36:16Yeah.
36:16Who would you say were some of your favorites?
36:19Hulk Hogan.
36:20Hulk Hogan.
36:21Stone Cold Steve Austin.
36:22Stone Cold.
36:23How do you like the feel of, let's say, the smaller independents like you were at tonight
36:27as compared to, have you been to a live WWE event?
36:31So, how do you like the feel of the small independents compared to the larger scale?
36:35I like it.
36:36You can see a lot more.
36:38A lot more interaction with the wrestlers?
36:40Yeah.
36:41So, do you see yourself becoming a wrestler in the future?
36:44I'd like to be.
36:45You'd like to be?
36:46Give you some good advice.
36:47Find a good trainer and listen to it.
36:49All right, bud.
36:50Before you just ringing out, Sir Casting Wilder, what got you involved in the wrestling?
36:56Well, I've always been a fan of wrestling since Mid-Atlantic had come along.
37:01And my favorite two wrestlers when I was growing up was Rock and Roll is Fritz.
37:05And I loved, you know, I always hated I'm a co-op and those guys.
37:10But every Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, I was sitting in front of the TV watching it.
37:14And even after I got married, you know, the Mid-Atlantic, right before it became WCW and
37:19all that, it was coming on late night.
37:21So, I had a couple channels.
37:22You know, that was poor TV cable and all that.
37:24But I loved watching it.
37:26And then when I got the opportunity to become a referee, I started doing that.
37:31And, you know, after a while, we decided that I was a little bit too tall for some of the
37:36matches.
37:36So, then I got involved in ring announcing, which I love being part of the show.
37:41I mean, it's like an adrenaline rush.
37:43I mean, I've tried myself to get out of business about four or five times.
37:48And it's like you get the bug and you come back in.
37:51And it's like, forget it, it's like in your system and it's like your white blood cells
37:59or your red blood cells.
38:00You can't get it out.
38:01So, you got to keep right on going.
38:03So, I'm having a wonderful time and I work with a great group of people, including Mark
38:07Ash.
38:09Yeah, I know what you mean.
38:10I've tried to walk away two or three times myself.
38:12So, you think you're hanging around a while?
38:14Yeah, I'm not.
38:15I used to promote, co-promote with my husband and my son-in-law.
38:21And if you got out of that, it's just a lot of work.
38:24You just, some people do not realize how involved it is just to run a wrestling show.
38:30I mean, because you're working two or three days prior to the show, like eight hours a
38:35day, getting posters ready, signs ready, name tags, making sure everybody's booked.
38:42And then you got to get there, set up the ring and tear it all down.
38:45And I'm at the point in my life where I like to be able to take my suitcase and walk out
38:51the door when I'm ready to.
38:51I ain't got to worry about somebody put the chairs up or taking the wrestling ring down.
38:55And you can just sleep, you know, tell everybody goodbye and have a good time.
39:00All right.
39:00Mark Ash will tell you what goes on behind the scenes and if it's fake or not.
39:06Well, wrestling, per se, fake is not a good word to use.
39:10Okay.
39:11Do we know who's going to win or lose before we get in the ring?
39:14Yes, we do.
39:14As you can see, last match, when you guys are at, I broke a bone.
39:19I mean, so it's not fake somewhat just with a scripted end.
39:25Because the average person couldn't get up and take the beating we take.
39:28It's just, they just couldn't do it.
39:30So there's a lot of hard training in it.
39:32Now, behind the scenes, you deal with people's egos.
39:35You deal with people, I mean, it's just like anything else.
39:39There's backbiting, there's backstabbing, there's people that are easy to along with.
39:44But there's, you know, the camaraderie, the family, the atmosphere sometimes.
39:47I mean, it all varies.
39:48There's just, but behind the scenes, it's just like behind the scenes of anything else.
39:52There's the good and the bad.
39:54The rules of this backbiting month are there are no rules that we're never joking with the chain.
39:59And the winner has to touch all the corner corners consecutively.
40:03No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
40:14The winner has to touch all the corner corners from Satan and will be driving another pony.
40:26Come on.
40:30Left.
40:33I'm holding you.
40:34I'm holding you.
40:35I'm holding you.
40:36I'm holding you.
40:37I'm holding you.
40:38I'm holding you.
40:39I'm holding you.
40:40I'm holding you.
40:41I'm holding you.
40:42I'm holding you.
40:43I'm holding you.
40:44I'm holding you.
40:45I'm holding you.
40:46I'm holding you.
40:47I'm holding you.
40:48I'm holding you.
40:49I'm holding you.
40:50I'm holding you.
40:51I'm holding you.
40:52I'm holding you.
40:53I'm holding you.
40:54I'm holding you.
40:55I'm holding you.
40:56I'm holding you.
40:57I'm holding you.
40:58I'm holding you.
40:59I'm holding you.
41:00I'm holding you.
41:01I'm holding you.
41:02I'm holding you.
41:03I'm holding you.
41:04I'm holding you.
41:05I'm holding you.
41:06I'm holding you.
41:07I'm holding you.
41:08Hey, hey, hey!
41:13Come on Harrison, you're not chasing me!
41:22Uh-oh, look at the rules!
41:24I'm scared Mark.
41:25Hey, Mark!
41:26I'm scared Mark!
41:27Okay.
41:29Come on.
41:30I almost did it.
41:41This guy right here, I think it's in.
41:44Alright, get off.
41:47Get off.
41:48Get off.
41:49Get off.
41:50Get off.
41:51Get off.
41:52Get off.
41:53Get off.
41:54Get off.
41:55Get off.
41:56Get off.
41:57Get off.
41:58Get off.
41:59No.
42:01I know I can do something.
42:03Ah!
42:04Ah!
42:05Ah!
42:06Ah!
42:07Ah!
42:08Ah!
42:09Ah!
42:10Ah!
42:11Ah!
42:12Ah!
42:13Ah!
42:14Ah!
42:15Ah!
42:16What are you doing, sir?
42:17Ah!
42:18Ah!
42:19Ah!
42:20Ah!
42:21Ah!
42:22Ah!
42:23Ah!
42:24Ah!
42:25Ah!
42:26Ah!
42:27Ah!
42:28Ah!
42:29Ah!
42:30Ah!
42:31Ah!
42:32Ah!
42:33Ah!
42:34Ah!
42:35Ah!
42:36Ah!
42:37Ah!
42:38Ah!
42:39Ah!
42:40Ah!
42:41Ah!
42:42Ah!
42:43Ah!
42:44Ah!
42:45Ah!
42:46Ah!
42:47Ah!
42:48Ah!
42:49Ah!
42:50Ah!
42:51Ah!
42:52Ah!
42:53Ah!
42:54Ah!
42:55Ah!
42:56Ah!
42:57Come on, come on.
43:27.
43:31.
43:34.
43:39.
43:43.
43:45.
43:50.
43:55Come on, come on.
44:25No!
44:55One, two, three, four!
45:25No!
45:26Oh!
45:26Woo!
45:27Woo!
45:28This is hard.
45:30Oh!
45:31Oh!
45:32Ah!
45:33Ah!
45:34Ah!
45:35Ah!
45:36Ah!
45:36Ah!
45:37Ah!
45:39Ah!
45:40You can't do it, Jason!
45:41Ah!
45:42Ah!
45:43Ah!
45:44Ah!
45:45Ah!
45:46Ah!
45:46Ah!
45:47Ah!
45:48Ah!
45:49Ah!
45:50Ah!
45:51Ah!
45:53Ah!
45:54Ah!
45:55Ah!
45:56Ah!
45:57Ah!
45:58Ah!
45:59Ah!
46:00Ah!
46:01Ah!
46:02Ah!
46:03Ah!
46:04Ah!
46:05Ah!
46:06Ah!
46:07Ah!
46:08Ah!
46:09Ah!
46:10Ah!
46:11Ah!
46:12Ah!
46:13Ah!
46:14Ah!
46:15Ah!
46:16Ah!
46:17Ah!
46:18Ah!
46:19Ah!
46:20Ah!
46:21Ah!
46:22Ah!
46:53One.
47:08One.
47:10Yeah!
47:12That's the mark.
47:15Keep him down.
47:18Two.
47:21One.
47:23Easy, 50, so.
47:25Woo!
47:26Yeah!
47:27Yeah!
47:28Yeah!
47:29Yeah!
47:30Yeah!
47:31Yeah!
47:32Yeah!
47:33Yeah!
47:34Yeah!
47:36Yeah!
47:38Yeah!
47:52All right, everybody.
48:22Don't move up on this side.
48:30Get off, Lord!
48:44Get off, Lord!
48:47Don't take down that three.
48:52Get off!
48:59Oh!
49:00Oh!
49:04Oh!
49:08Oh!
49:12Yeah!
49:14Oh!
49:16Yeah, Lord!
49:17Yeah!
49:18Yeah!
49:22Good job!
49:24Uno!
49:25Oh!
49:31Oh!
49:33Oh!
49:35hedgehog
49:37Hannes
Recommended
44:10
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