6/26/2009
Back to Respect
I often think about wrestling today, in regards to what I like to call “The Current Movement” and wonder what could make it better. I guess we could all talk about that for a long time so I’ll save that for another editorial, but I will speak for myself and what seemed to work for me.
I can remember when I first got my real taste for the business, I was invited to be a spectator at a show by whom I consider to be and will be regarded as a legendary Ky promoter. When I first walked in he was training a group who I would later add one to. I will rewind for a bit because growing up I had always been in awe when I saw a wrestling ring whether in a coliseum, stadium or a flea market walking into this venue was no different. There it was, black and red in color, squared with four post and three ropes, I had never been this close to a ring. Shortly after training the trainees would finish setting up for the show; the talent/workers would come in and give advice pointers etc. They would even work out spots in the ring with each other even with the trainees at times.
I could easily see this would be the right business for me, so I optioned to take up training. I remember setting foot in a wrestling ring for the first time. The ring being an “ol school ring” I could feel that there would be quite some time getting my body adjusted to being slammed on ply wood. I took my time, walked around and felt the ropes, punched the turnbuckle, then I hear “alright first things first, you’re going to learn how to bump!” Suddenly everyone’s eyes were on me, I could hear them thinking it’s going to be loud when this big ol boy bumps, later I would figure out they were more interested in seeing if a big boy like me could do it right much less handle the morning after pain associated with it.
So here goes nothing, tuck my chin in and land on my back with arms spread and Bam! Wow, what happened next? I quickly developed a new found respect for the wrestling ring and respected wrestling/wrestlers 100 times more than before. You see I would view wrestling in a totally different way from that point on, even the jobber’s/enhancement talent worker‘s had all the respect in the world coming from me. I told myself that they too had been through what I was going through and they finished, graduated and were living their wrestling dream!
I had now separated myself from being a mark to a trainee who would wake up the next Monday morning feeling like my neck was made of Jell-O, my eyes glazed with tears from the pain of just getting out of bed the next morning, my legs feeling like they had given up on me. All that pain was tuff, but I still got through the grueling day of work, which was moving furniture and appliances and anything else that is heavier than hell! What got me through? My pride, because I felt different, I now set myself apart from the rest of the world. I was now a part of something different, I was training to be a professional wrestler. One year later and 150 pounds lighter I would be a given my first opportunity to put my hard work into action, then a new Respect for the business would begin…
6/18/2009
Daniel Ruettiger and Wrestling
Recently I had a chance to read an internet article involving a man named Daniel Ruettiger. His story is both inspiring as well as dramatic as this less then athletically gifted individual would leave his stamp in Sports History.
While Daniel Ruettiger persevered in football, I can’t help but associate his challenges with the ones I endured during my training to become a professional wrestler. Remember those days of setting up the old style rings that take three hours to complete. The smell of a wrestling mat first thing on a Sunday morning, or the ever daunting task of booming and old school ring from below. These few duties or task are what the vets describe as paying your dues. Something that I believe everyone who is cut out for the wrestling biz should to some degree endure. A good friend once told me that he charges everyone to train even his family because if he didn’t the trainee would have no invested interest in completing or respecting their training. Makes a lot of sense though considering I have been approached by friends and relatives alike who requested me to train them. I can honestly say that 10 percent or less of those who asked me would actually be able to make it.
Ahh yes make it…that is a relative term in the professional wrestling biz. Why, because not everyone will make it. In fact truly making it in the wrestling Biz is that or smaller then comparing the amount of people who make it into the NBA Or WNBA for that matter. The wrestling business is full of obstacles, you cannot just be athletically gifted but you must be mentally gifted as well. Getting through training is one thing but being able to get over with the fans is another. Leaving it 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical as my trainer would say. Yes there are the days in training that you will puke, there are the days where you will be told that you are a prototype. There are also days that you will be made so humble that you will flat out tell everyone that you quit! But then, one week later, two weeks later maybe even a month later, you will come back. Why….because deep down inside of your GOD given heart pumps the blood of a Professional Wrestler.
Oh, the gentlemen I spoke of earlier, also has a nick name -“Rudy”, the subject of one the greatest underdog stories made into a movie. Have I watched it? Of course once every year or whenever I tell everyone that I quit!