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Post by Emanuel Melo on Apr 6, 2004 23:44:51 GMT -5
One thing that has always facsinated me about Independent Wrestling was the amount of pain and toll the workers take on their bodies even when there are just a few fans and you may not even be getting paid for it. I want to ask you guys Why?
Seriously think about your answer, don't just give me the standard "because I love it" answer. Tell me what drives you and motivates you to keep doing it whether you have been in the business for 10 years or 10 months. To those of you that no longer do it, tell me what made you decide to retire and do you regret retiring?
I hope to see some sincere and honest responses to this post. Anyone that knows me knows I have such great respect for anyone in the business, I just want to pick your brain and understand you passion a little more.
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cody
Full Member
Posts: 130
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Post by cody on Apr 7, 2004 2:00:18 GMT -5
Good question. I ask myself the same question all the time.  But the "I love it" answer is pretty much the answer you should get across the board. I obviously don't love the pain ... but I love the business. I love wrestling. Sometimes I'll go weeks without a show and my back is hurting and I'm busy with school and I question my status in wrestling. Then I do a show, and my passion returns. It's an addiction. Plain and simple. I am addicted to professional wrestling. I was addicted to watching matches when I was a "Mark" (and darnit I still am), and now that I'm in the business, I'm addicted to working. Addicted to manipulating a crowd. Addicting to performing. Addicted to the business. I think a lot of indy guys retire early for political reasons. This business isn't for everybody. There is ALOT ALOT ALOT of crap in this business and some guys just can't take it. They can't make it through the crap. It's understandable ... but if you are gonna make it in this business you have to swim through a sea of garbage and carnies to pursue your dream. I'm willing to do that because I need to feed my addiction. That's my answer for now. Hopefully we'll get some more responses. Giver, Cody Steele |
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Post by TJ on Apr 7, 2004 11:39:02 GMT -5
"fight club wasn't about winning or losing it wasn't about words."
"it became the reason to cut your hair short or to trim your fingernails"
Theres a lot of single words and feelings that I could use to describe it, passion, love or addiction. But I couldn't honestly say one or all of those words describe it for me.
In a word I could only describe it as the reason. The reason I moved to Cambridge and soon to Niagara Falls. The reason I go to the gym every day. The reason I live my life with nagging pain and injuries and why I struggle through financial dismay.
People in general can be good at a lot of things, but for each person there is one thing that you are "great" at. It might be public speaking, writing or even masturbation. Most people might go through there entire lives and not be lucky enough to find it. Others may have it fall right into there laps. I know that pro wrestling is what I do, it is the only thing I'm good.... or dare I say great at.
Those 10 minutes in the ring..... the sound of the crowd..... the bumps, the adreniline, the sweat, blood the tears. The friends I have made. The fans. Driving 6 hours to a show in front of 10 people. Spending all my spare time thinking about it. Spending all my money trying to improve. Miss a family event, miss graduation.... Breaking down on the Gardiner and getting to play fight in the back seat of a cop car. Romeo stories. Being a winner or a loser, being a champion, being looked up too, being a student and a teacher. Getting the shit kick out of you by a 300 lb man, being chopped 20 times by and angry biker. Driving 24 hours for 3 shitty shows and $50. Karaokee. Boston Pizza. Fast Eddies. Watching tapes and trying to improve. Watching your students improve. Watching JC smash green kids. To see Jim Duggan's balls. Watching Buff Bagwell have a childish fit. Honky picking on some chubby wannabe. Fanmail. Taking Clotheslines. Drawing 300 people in a town of 150. Being on television. Showtime. Being the opening match. Stealing the show. Being underated. Repect. Being over. Shawn Micheals, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair... etc..... etc..... etc
Nead a reason... an explaination??
Pick one.
TJ
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the WILD ACE phil gervais
Guest
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Post by the WILD ACE phil gervais on Apr 7, 2004 16:10:44 GMT -5
Wrestling - well my dads friend told of us of a school
in Hull and we went down ( age 13 ). I was having
problems in school, and it was great - trained twice
a week. Helped out doing vidio work and other things.
Then i met DAVE DALTON. Dave wanted to start a school
well i made all the phone calls and guess what we had
a school. This was in Aylmer QUEBEC. Dave is one of the
best trainers in CANADA - former wwe and wcw superstar. I thank DAVE for everything.
We always had a great time at shows, Dave would be
going off the deep end and my dad would somehow
calm him down.
Wrestling itself is very hard - i have been in wrestling
for over 7 years now, i'm 20 years old 6'6" 245 lbs.
As you know i'm on the injured list at the present
time - my back and neck. I hope to back in action
next year 2005. People say why don't you wrestle
now - do stay up all night with pain - well i do.
I have met alot of great people JAKE CAIN, RICK
STERLING, PAT HAMILTON and a host of others, but
the best yet was WAYNE ( HONKY TONK MAN ).
We did a show last June and i got hurt real bad - a
five inch gash over my left eye - man the blood was
wild - won the hardcore tittle that night - left the ring
left the belt in the ring - walked down the runway
got my health card and off to the hospital. To my
surprise local fans came to the hospital to see if
i was ok 20 to 30 people, man i signed t-shirt,
pictures and god knows what else. I thanked all
the fans and we went back to the hotel. Well
i got out of the car and we started drinking 12 a clock
or so - we chatted till about 4.30 am or so, had a great
time. Honky had alot of great stories.
One of best friend TIM ( the hardcore hic or the hickster ) Tim wanted to get into wrestling but his mom
said no way, guess what he came anyway.
I will return - the new improved WILD ACE will be back.
Many wrestler want to make to big time - well it's
really hard. I have met VINCE and SHANE ( wwe ). We met at
a RAW show in OTTAWA, Have you ever walked down
the ramp at RAW or Smackdown it's awsome.
Wrestling is an art - get trained - and be careful.
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Post by Rory MacAlister on Apr 7, 2004 19:50:47 GMT -5
Because when I decided to do it, everyone thought I was an idiot. They said some guy from Glasgow who weighed 168lbs at the time, would never make it and that giving up my business, home, and family for a 1 in a million chance made me a retard. Fine man, they can all fuck right off. Every time I'm on deck waiting to go out to wrestle I think of each and everyone of them and doing it is like shoving it deeper down their throats.
I have no health insurance, I have no money and I haven't seen my family in nearly 4 years. But wrestling is the best thing man, and trying to explain that to someone is not an easy thing to do. We're wall street stuntmen. Hit or miss no second chance and I thrive on it like I'm sure all the other real workers do......Oh and you can act like a kid for as long as you want.
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Post by Emanuel Melo on Apr 15, 2004 16:59:44 GMT -5
Thank you all for your very honest responses. Now where are the other workers in Ontario. Tell me why you do it. Where's TID, Hornet, Warhed, Kwan, Phil Latio, Jacob Cain, Xzibit etc ...
I'd love to read your thoughts on this.
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Post by The Hammer on Apr 15, 2004 18:45:16 GMT -5
Well, the reason I retired is because of to many injuries, from in-ring and from weightlifting in order to be in shape to perform. I had always wanted to wrestle, but was such a skinny kid, I never could have without weights and a little gear here and there. I just hope that the younger performers don't take their health for granted, as it's not worth the $50 they get paid to end up without the ability to lead a normal life.
Give your all boys, but remember there isn't always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sometimes it's just a pot of Percocet.
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Post by Phil Latio on Apr 23, 2004 22:01:20 GMT -5
Ive been asked that question many times, and more often then not, I give this answer..
I have a thrill of performing. I thrill for being in front of a crowd and being able to control there emotions. I have a passion for wrestling that just doesnt seem to go away, even though its cost me more money then Ill ever make back. I am sore vurtually everyday, and i am sure Ill be paying for it even more when I get older. Would I change anything that I have done ? Not at all. Ive been blessed with alot of opportunities that alot of Indy guys would die for. I appreciate everything I have got out of wrestling, and cant imagine not wrestling, or doing something wrestling related.
Phil Latio
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