Post by ipwgreg on Aug 28, 2010 18:53:05 GMT -5
Reading these little memoirs of mine is the closest that Mike Williams has come to reading a book in the past five years. That is just the plane and simple truth.
Before I get started down memory lane and our foray into small town Indiana , Martinsville IN to be exact. I would like to take a look at some of the personalities that have come and gone .In no certain order except that I wont bring up people who were not a part of IPW yet.
Dave Davidson. Dave was in the same training class that I went through, and while I never really tried to actively wrestle he had talent. He was the standout in that class. He caught on quickly and had a sharp wit about him. I can easily say that if it were just about skill and ability Dave should be wrestling in Japan or ROH. He has that ability to make his opponents look better than they are, but isn’t selfish and so while he makes them look better, he doesn’t always do the same for himself.
Apollo Starr. Apollo had his second ever match in IPW. We didn’t book him, we just looked around the locker room and there he was. Travelling with someone or other, I don’t remember who, we threw him in a match and boy were we surprised. He had that rap, a realistic working style and he looked like a wrestler.
Cliffton Crunk. The single most insane individual I have ever met. But also the one from that group of guys I find it easiest to talk to. You could just tell with Cliff that wrestling was fun. He is the guy that just wants to enjoy every second of everyday, and when wrestling got to be no fun , he walked away.
Scotty Vortex. When we first saw that group of young guys, Scotty was the one Mike was most excited by. Scotty could do a 450 you see, and Mike was stoked. Scott is a phenomenal talent. I honestly believe that he should be farther along than he is, but the only drawback I can see is that Scotty is a naturally quiet guy. He is fun and can make you laugh , no doubt about it. But his low key personality makes it very unnatural for him to do promos and so he struggles at it. His charisma is there, just not as obvious as some people.
Drake Younger. While Mike was salivating over Scotty ( Can anyone say Man-Crush) I was saying that I thought Drake was the one. Drake and I had many of the same tastes in wrestling. We both thought Dynamite Kid was the man ( He IS the man, say something different, I dare you !!) and both loved Japanese wrestling. Drake went through some hard times, growing pains if you will, and he made it through in one piece. No dirt here, he was just a bit wild in his younger days. Who of us wasn’t ? I am incredibly proud of the man Drake has become. He is a good son to his dad Ranch, a great Big brother to his 2 sisters, and from what I know is a good man to his fiancé. Not to mention one of the premier indy wrestlers in the Midwest and east coast.
Jeremy Dayton. This guy may very well be just too nice for wrestling. He never quite went as far as the others, but he is a quality human being with a nice family now. Also one of the funniest guys I know.
HillBilly Jedd. I know everyone already knows part of the story about the split. I will NOT be giving my side here, or ever on a public forum. What I am going to say is this. Jedd is the best big man I have ever witnessed in wrestling. He is also one of the most king and caring individuals with a heart of gold. I miss my friend as well as miss watching him in the ring. If you have a chance to see him wrestle, pay the money and go see him.
Kamala Jr. Jr. Who the hell would think to take a short, pasty, fat white kid and turn him into Kamala ?!?!? We did. Then when that ran it’s course, and he became Playboy Skip Raddison we put him into the 12 man hardcore rumble ( I won that match) and watched as thingy Loc and Diamond Dog stapled a bra on him. He and I don’t always see eye to eye, but he was a sport back then.
Johnny Blaze. Johnny worked 1 minute of 1 match in IPW, he ran into the ring, took a bump and separated his shoulder, never to be seen again. Seriously, I don’t know what happened to him after that.
American Kickboxer. Frank Mullins has done more for the wrestling industry than most of you will ever know. His mind for the business is amazing. He has trained some of the best young talent I have come across and he broke barriers when men his size were not thought to be wrestlers. IPW owes a debt of gratitude to Frank that will never be completely repaid. Frank got married in our ring before one of our shows. He didn’t tell us, he just showed up with a priest and a few close friends. ( He actually did Tell Mike, but it sounded funnier that way) If Linda is his wife ( she is) then wrestling is his mistress.
That’s all for now, and I know I left out some important people, but hell this is a lot to write.
Before I get started down memory lane and our foray into small town Indiana , Martinsville IN to be exact. I would like to take a look at some of the personalities that have come and gone .In no certain order except that I wont bring up people who were not a part of IPW yet.
Dave Davidson. Dave was in the same training class that I went through, and while I never really tried to actively wrestle he had talent. He was the standout in that class. He caught on quickly and had a sharp wit about him. I can easily say that if it were just about skill and ability Dave should be wrestling in Japan or ROH. He has that ability to make his opponents look better than they are, but isn’t selfish and so while he makes them look better, he doesn’t always do the same for himself.
Apollo Starr. Apollo had his second ever match in IPW. We didn’t book him, we just looked around the locker room and there he was. Travelling with someone or other, I don’t remember who, we threw him in a match and boy were we surprised. He had that rap, a realistic working style and he looked like a wrestler.
Cliffton Crunk. The single most insane individual I have ever met. But also the one from that group of guys I find it easiest to talk to. You could just tell with Cliff that wrestling was fun. He is the guy that just wants to enjoy every second of everyday, and when wrestling got to be no fun , he walked away.
Scotty Vortex. When we first saw that group of young guys, Scotty was the one Mike was most excited by. Scotty could do a 450 you see, and Mike was stoked. Scott is a phenomenal talent. I honestly believe that he should be farther along than he is, but the only drawback I can see is that Scotty is a naturally quiet guy. He is fun and can make you laugh , no doubt about it. But his low key personality makes it very unnatural for him to do promos and so he struggles at it. His charisma is there, just not as obvious as some people.
Drake Younger. While Mike was salivating over Scotty ( Can anyone say Man-Crush) I was saying that I thought Drake was the one. Drake and I had many of the same tastes in wrestling. We both thought Dynamite Kid was the man ( He IS the man, say something different, I dare you !!) and both loved Japanese wrestling. Drake went through some hard times, growing pains if you will, and he made it through in one piece. No dirt here, he was just a bit wild in his younger days. Who of us wasn’t ? I am incredibly proud of the man Drake has become. He is a good son to his dad Ranch, a great Big brother to his 2 sisters, and from what I know is a good man to his fiancé. Not to mention one of the premier indy wrestlers in the Midwest and east coast.
Jeremy Dayton. This guy may very well be just too nice for wrestling. He never quite went as far as the others, but he is a quality human being with a nice family now. Also one of the funniest guys I know.
HillBilly Jedd. I know everyone already knows part of the story about the split. I will NOT be giving my side here, or ever on a public forum. What I am going to say is this. Jedd is the best big man I have ever witnessed in wrestling. He is also one of the most king and caring individuals with a heart of gold. I miss my friend as well as miss watching him in the ring. If you have a chance to see him wrestle, pay the money and go see him.
Kamala Jr. Jr. Who the hell would think to take a short, pasty, fat white kid and turn him into Kamala ?!?!? We did. Then when that ran it’s course, and he became Playboy Skip Raddison we put him into the 12 man hardcore rumble ( I won that match) and watched as thingy Loc and Diamond Dog stapled a bra on him. He and I don’t always see eye to eye, but he was a sport back then.
Johnny Blaze. Johnny worked 1 minute of 1 match in IPW, he ran into the ring, took a bump and separated his shoulder, never to be seen again. Seriously, I don’t know what happened to him after that.
American Kickboxer. Frank Mullins has done more for the wrestling industry than most of you will ever know. His mind for the business is amazing. He has trained some of the best young talent I have come across and he broke barriers when men his size were not thought to be wrestlers. IPW owes a debt of gratitude to Frank that will never be completely repaid. Frank got married in our ring before one of our shows. He didn’t tell us, he just showed up with a priest and a few close friends. ( He actually did Tell Mike, but it sounded funnier that way) If Linda is his wife ( she is) then wrestling is his mistress.
That’s all for now, and I know I left out some important people, but hell this is a lot to write.