Vince Russo's website partner explains PyroandBallyhoo drama
Mar 6, 2015 6:27:45 GMT -5
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Post by Chip Chipperson on Mar 6, 2015 6:27:45 GMT -5
As someone who wants to run a business someday I don't think I'd work with a wrestler on any project. All of the older guys are waiting to con their next mark whether it's a fan, promoter, website host or whatever else is out there. I unfortunately learned this the hard way:
I remember when I was 15 a certain wrestler who I won't name came to my local indy. I begged someone in my family to take me 3 hours north to see him because he was a favourite of mine and I wanted to see him perform live. Hotel costs, show tickets, meet and greet tickets this was easily a 100-150 dollar night that I paid for and my parents helped out with. Anyway we get to the show and after being promised a singles match the promoter changed the match to a tag match. Was still pumped and the crowd was decent for this indy (About 200-250 people). Anyway, the wrestler in question who was working for TNA at the time and wasn't hurting for money (This was like 2007 when TNA let their guys work indies, ran taping's twice a week with an occasional house show. This guy was there weekly)
Anyway we get into the meet and greet which cost 15 dollars to even gain entry to but the website says for the 15 the wrestler would sign anything I had and take a photograph. I had three items for this guy to sign. I get to him after waiting in line and he says hi, tells me his prices and tells me I HAVE to buy a 15 dollar 8X10 because I might sell his autograph on eBay. I hand over my 15 dollars, he signs the 8X10 and 2 of my items. I hand him my third and he tells me I have to buy yet another 8X10 if I want my final item signed. I was 15 and this guy fleeced me for another 15 dollars and signed my items.
Anyway, we get to the match and he's the main event star and the only "name" on the show. He does about a minute of brawling, tags out, stands on the apron for the next 10 minutes, tags in, wrestles for another minute or two, hits his finish and gets the win. Fans who paid to see him are ripped off, promoter who wanted his local guys to work with a name is ripped off and the performers in the ring who were excited to be working with a name are ripped off due to the laziness of this individual.
Later as an adult I talked to a few of the local guys and shared my story. Turns out this wrestler was making about 1500 dollars a night for a total of 4500 dollars for the entire tour all in cash and likely tax free. That night I was there he had at least 40 fans at the meet and greet to meet him and they all paid the 15. After the show he did another signing for free (People had to buy merchandise for him to sign). He also took a cut of photographs from the promoter and ran a seminar in which he took 100% of the profit. He probably made close to 6000-6500 dollars for all three days work and he had to fleece me for an extra 15 bucks? He fleeced the promoter by refusing to work a singles match all tour (He worked tags all tour) and of course the fans were ripped off due to this guys laziness.
That's when I realised that wrestlers were piece of shit carnies. Not really the newer guys for example I saw Sonjay Dutt at the same indy and he put in 100% and sent the fans home happy as did Sinn Bodhi and Chris Masters but the guys who got famous in the 80's and 90's really are just the worst. People will still employ them though and they'll continue to con fans, webmasters, promoters and everyone else.
I remember when I was 15 a certain wrestler who I won't name came to my local indy. I begged someone in my family to take me 3 hours north to see him because he was a favourite of mine and I wanted to see him perform live. Hotel costs, show tickets, meet and greet tickets this was easily a 100-150 dollar night that I paid for and my parents helped out with. Anyway we get to the show and after being promised a singles match the promoter changed the match to a tag match. Was still pumped and the crowd was decent for this indy (About 200-250 people). Anyway, the wrestler in question who was working for TNA at the time and wasn't hurting for money (This was like 2007 when TNA let their guys work indies, ran taping's twice a week with an occasional house show. This guy was there weekly)
Anyway we get into the meet and greet which cost 15 dollars to even gain entry to but the website says for the 15 the wrestler would sign anything I had and take a photograph. I had three items for this guy to sign. I get to him after waiting in line and he says hi, tells me his prices and tells me I HAVE to buy a 15 dollar 8X10 because I might sell his autograph on eBay. I hand over my 15 dollars, he signs the 8X10 and 2 of my items. I hand him my third and he tells me I have to buy yet another 8X10 if I want my final item signed. I was 15 and this guy fleeced me for another 15 dollars and signed my items.
Anyway, we get to the match and he's the main event star and the only "name" on the show. He does about a minute of brawling, tags out, stands on the apron for the next 10 minutes, tags in, wrestles for another minute or two, hits his finish and gets the win. Fans who paid to see him are ripped off, promoter who wanted his local guys to work with a name is ripped off and the performers in the ring who were excited to be working with a name are ripped off due to the laziness of this individual.
Later as an adult I talked to a few of the local guys and shared my story. Turns out this wrestler was making about 1500 dollars a night for a total of 4500 dollars for the entire tour all in cash and likely tax free. That night I was there he had at least 40 fans at the meet and greet to meet him and they all paid the 15. After the show he did another signing for free (People had to buy merchandise for him to sign). He also took a cut of photographs from the promoter and ran a seminar in which he took 100% of the profit. He probably made close to 6000-6500 dollars for all three days work and he had to fleece me for an extra 15 bucks? He fleeced the promoter by refusing to work a singles match all tour (He worked tags all tour) and of course the fans were ripped off due to this guys laziness.
That's when I realised that wrestlers were piece of shit carnies. Not really the newer guys for example I saw Sonjay Dutt at the same indy and he put in 100% and sent the fans home happy as did Sinn Bodhi and Chris Masters but the guys who got famous in the 80's and 90's really are just the worst. People will still employ them though and they'll continue to con fans, webmasters, promoters and everyone else.
