SWF: Who Is Richard Eisen?

James Casey · May 10, 2011

OOC: Thanks, Inky. I hadn't been planning on doing any backstage stuff in the next diary, but I might put the odd bit in. I've been toying with a piece that should serve as a nice introduction ahead of the next show - we'll see how it goes.

*

So far, I wasn’t knocking them out of the park. Tamara was staying put in Vegas, Art was happy in California, and the young man I was about to speak to was barely out from under his mentor’s wing – indeed, had been quick to follow his mentor out west to keep training while he searched for work.

I couldn’t blame him – learning from Joey Minnesota was excellent grounding for a wrestling career.

Minnesota is someone I’d love to have on board. Athletic, dedicated and naturally intense, he made wrestling look like a sport, but he was also able to make it exciting and entertaining, unlike many athletes and MMA crossovers. They often had trouble adapting their styles to allow others to look good alongside them. Minnesota was athletic, but he was a wrestler first and athlete second. He’d found the balance.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q81/jamescasey_photos/SWF/KCGlenn.jpg

KC Glenn is a decade younger, and almost as talented. When he walked up to the table, eyes wide apparently at the sight of an SWF scout, I said a quick prayer that I wasn’t about to chase him away.

“Mr Glenn, please, take a seat.”

“Thank you, and, uh, Kevin or KC is fine, sir.”

Ah. The voice. I’d been warned about this. Glenn has real charisma. He’s polite – he chatted to the waitress for several minutes while Reed and I were finishing up – and apparently very easy to get on with. But he had a thick Southern accent that would need some work before he’d be given much mic time in the predominantly Northern SWF.

“Well, KC, as you may have guessed I’m from the SWF and I’ve come here today in order to speak to yourself and Art. Now, before we talk business I have to warn you that our company is a steaming morass of morally reprehensible scumbags, eager to assassinate the careers of anyone with youth and talent on their side. Signing for us would be the mistake of a lifetime as we’ll misuse your talent, drain your love for the business until you’re a lifeless husk, and then spit you back out in such bad shape that you’d be lucky to get work as a ring boy in BSC. You’ll never come across a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”

I sat back, and smiled.

“A lot of what you’ve heard about SWF is true. It’s hard to make it there, and having talent isn’t enough. You have to be prepared to live and breathe SWF, 24/7. Your life will be in the ring, and with those you share it with. If you plan on having relationships, or becoming a parent, make it clear you won’t be around that much. You won’t work too hard in our matches, but you will wrestle a lot – four or five times a week, and it’s a lot of travel.

“Rising to the top of the SWF is something that maybe only two or three people do in a year. In terms of achievements, it’s about the single hardest thing you can do, and if you join us you’ll start at the bottom and it might take you years to make it just to the first rung on the ladder.

“I’m telling you this because I’m honest. You might consider it a terrible character flaw, and I’m sure I’d scare away a lot of people if I was this honest all of the time, but I don’t believe in messing around with a kid who has the world at his feet. I’m sure Joey’s told you about the business, and about how hard it is to be a success, but Joey’s never been to the SWF. You’ll be travelling the world, and you won’t have time to stop. You’ll miss birthdays and anniversaries. You may as well forget that your friends exist, and even your family won’t see much of you. It’s not unknown for our big names to only get ‘home’ one or two days a month – but home is where you make it, and a lot of our roster essentially live on the road.”

I sat forward again, my expression deadly serious.

“It’s a hard life, but the rewards are great, and if you want to be as good a wrestler as you possibly can be, then the SWF wants you. Here’s a plane ticket. It’s open-ended, but we’d like to see you in New York by the end of the month. If you let us know when you’re arriving, we’ll arrange for you to be picked up and put up somewhere before we meet to talk.

“Go away and think about it. Talk to Joey, talk to Tommy, talk to Sam. Talk to anyone and everyone. Weigh the good against the bad. I’ll be honest, wherever you end up working I expect you to go on to be a great wrestler.”

I set the plane ticket on the table between us. He looked at me incredulously.

“You make quite an argument, sir. Do you really think I’d sign for SWF with you having said all that?”

“Yes. Because you can be a great wrestler here, or you can go to Japan and be a great wrestler, or even head south and learn to be a great wrestler in Mexico. As for Canada, well, that goes without saying.

“But if you come to New York you can be a great wrestler as well, and you can be famous for it. Think about it, who’s the most famous wrestler in the world?”

“Sam Strong.”

“Then?”

“Christian Faith.”

“And?”

“Rip Chord.”

“We could go on, but think about this: Of the ten most famous wrestlers you can think of, have any of them not hit their peak with the SWF?”

He blinked.

“Optimus,” he said after several seconds’ thought.

I raised my hands in submission.

“Fine, but if you went out to the man on the street with your top ten and asked them to pick the odd one out, are they going to say Jack Bruce, or are they going to say the

Transformers

character?”

I pushed myself upright.

“SWF isn’t for everyone. It’s hard work, and sometimes even the most perfect candidate can fall at the wayside. It happens, and I can’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen to you. But you’ve got a rare talent, Mr Glenn, and I want to make you a star.”

I tapped the ticket.

“Open-ended,” I repeated. “Even if you only use it to come and talk to Stomper about a job, it’s yours.”

*

Later that night, I was packing my suitcase ahead of a too-early alarm call the next morning. My phone rang, and I put it on speaker as I worked my way around the anonymous hotel room with an ease born of long practise.

“Well?” Mr Eisen demanded.

“Ask the office to check the reservations. What day is it?”

“Tuesday.”

“Already? Bloody hell. Well, he’ll be in contact before Friday. You might want to see if we can get him out to next week’s Supreme TV, maybe even throw him out there in a dark match or something.”

“Too much, too soon.”

“With this lad, I don’t think there’s any such thing. Still, you’re the boss, sir.”

“I hear Reed knocked us back.”

“For now. He has a contract, and he’s not going to break it. I’d love to have him on board, but he’s not worth breaking the bank for – not with Edward Cornell already having cost a wodge of cash.”

Mr Eisen let that one go. Possibly he didn’t know what a ‘wodge’ was.

“Where next?”

“Seattle. I’ll check in on Triple A while I’m there, and talk to the next target as well. Then on to Canada for the last one.”

“Well, see you when you get back James. Glick’s holding the fort ‘til you get back.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied, guardedly. Then: “Tell him to stay out of my office.”

Mr Eisen cackled loudly. “He knows where the power lies, Casey. Now, go get some sleep. Red-eyes can be a killer, especially for negotiations.”

“I’m coping so far, sir.”

“Good. Keep pushing. I want as many of these people as I can. You’re right not to give Cornell any of my money, but if that’s what it takes to get any of the others then spend it.”

“Yes, sir. Sadly, some of them have morals and principles and so on.”

Mr Eisen snorted.

“No, Casey. Some of them have higher pricetags and so on. Now go and sleep, and keep me up to date.”

Next: Seattle...

D-Lyrium · May 12, 2011

<p>It took me a long while to get caught up on this one, but I'm glad I eventually did because - as with 10SR - every post is fantastic. I'm always jealous of the ability you and BP42 have of bringing to life such a wide array of characters so well. Even when some of the actual booking isn't the best or most interesting to me personally (it's rare, but sometimes it happens!), it's still very well written and a good read.</p><p> </p><p> Did we ever find out what CCX stood for? I seem to remember Tyler introducing them as simply "CCX", and nobody ever finding it strange at all. ¬_¬</p><p> </p><p> Oh, and for some reason I found this:</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>“Yes, sir. Sadly, some of them have morals and principles and so on.”<p> </p><p> Mr Eisen snorted.</p><p> </p><p> “No, Casey. Some of them have higher pricetags and so on.”</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> to be one of my favourite quotes. Not sure why. Maybe it's because I imagine Casey's voice to be somewhat akin to Gregory House (maybe it's because they're both Brits in an American show, and if Casey has been in America for over 16 years, he'd probably have picked up something of an accent), and House delivering that line would be brilliant. Actually, thinking about it, Hugh Laurie delivering that line to Blackadder would've been even better, but now I'm way off topic.</p>

James Casey · May 12, 2011

<p><em>Thanks, D-Lyrium. Glad to have you on board. I can certainly see the comparisons between Casey and House, although Casey's a bit less of a deadpan snarker - still British, though.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

CCX stands for something totally awesome, and as soon as Gumble and Allen can agree on what it is, they'll let us in on the secret.</em></p><p> </p><p>

*</p><p> </p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">So far as I can tell, Seattle is famous for three things: Grunge music, coffee and the Space Needle. Well, being British I don’t drink coffee. Being middle-aged grunge music came a few years too late for me. As for the Space Needle, it’s a nice place to visit once, but I’ve been though here a few too many times to pay it much notice nowadays.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

No doubt Seattle has many charms, but as a city it fails to resonate with me for reasons I’ve never quite determined. I tend to spend as little time as possible here – maybe it’s just the thought of spending as much time travelling as it takes to get here from New York?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Actually, I enjoyed </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Frasier</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Well, regardless, Seattle is my latest stop and the converted warehouse that’s home to AAA is my destination. Unfortunately, even flying first class doesn’t guarantee you’ll get where you’re going at a reasonable hour, so a late-night check-in at a fancy hotel leaves me with little to do but sleep – and sleep I do. In fact, I slept so late I missed my check-out time, which was both slightly embarrassing and also pretty costly. On the plus side, it went on the company card. On the minus side, ‘unannounced bookings’ attract a premium. Still, it saved me wondering what to do in Seattle in between leaving the hotel and heading to AAA headquarters to meet my target and check out the development talent. By the time I’d sorted my room, it was already time for my meeting. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The Angels are a serious, dedicated group, and in the time it’s taken me to get here from LA I realise that one of the reasons I don’t much like coming here is because of them. The Angels can have a bit of a chip on their shoulder about the lack of respect that they get among wrestling fans, and there’s a definite vibe about their shows that their product is serious business.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That’s not a bad thing, exactly, but I can’t help but feel that they’re ignoring one of the basic strengths of their roster – many of the AAA girls are </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>really</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> good looking. Why ignore that? There must be a way to integrate that aspect. In fact, scratch that, I </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>know</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> there is – USPW are very good at it. The SWF does it all the time with its male wrestlers, although I’ve consciously tried to avoid overdoing it with our division so far. Still, there’s no reason the girls shouldn’t look good. It might fill more seats, and if done right there’s also no reason it should take away from the in-ring performance.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Still, what do I know? This is the way that Anne Stardust wants it, and the way that the women themselves want it, apparently.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

AAA leads a strange, double life nowadays, the same strange life that all our development feds leave. The core of the company remains their long-time roster members, the women who’ve been there for months or even years on end. They come in every month, work the show and do their bit to keep the fans coming. But they’re not the ones getting the most out of AAA. That would be the half of the roster getting training while they prepare for their possible SWF debut. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Wrestlers like Kammy Ling, Zoe “Agent 69” Ammis and the Neptune twins signed development deals back at the start of the year. In some cases they’re really coming along. In others, not so much. Still, they’re here and they’re learning every day, which is more than most of the AAA-contracted wrestlers could do.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Technically speaking, Crusher Ichihara and Cuervo are in AAA to work with our talent, and our talent alone. That said, if one of the AAA girls wanted to learn to, who was around from head office to check? Still, they couldn’t afford to be there every day, and when our rapidly-improving prospects (Paige Croft in particular – a name to watch out for if she continues to improve at her current rate) moved up to the SWF it might be that AAA really struggles to replace them.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I’m also conscious that AAA and the other development territories always have a tough choice on their hands when it comes to booking our workers. Either they can rely on wrestlers who might be a cut above their roster and who are improving visibly month on month, or they can put them at the bottom of the card, risk a lopsided show, but be insulated against the development talent moving on at short notice.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It’s not a perfect system, but no-one said it was. At least they don’t have to worry about their bills getting paid – we cover that, no questions asked.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That brings us to the woman I was there to talk to. Sat on the top tier of one of the grandstands gathered around the ring was Ashley Grover.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><span>http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q81/jamescasey_photos/SWF/AshleyGrover.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

She was watching the action in the ring, where Crusher was taking Jen Neptune and Roxy Kitten through a series of armdrags – with palpable longing on her face. As I made my way carefully along the row in front, she barely glanced in my direction.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Come to see where the money’s going?” she asked, as I sat down.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“In part, yes. I’ve come to speak to you, too.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That earned me a curious look.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Me?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You. We want you to come on board. You’re a talented wrestler and you’ve got charisma, and when you boil it down that’s what the SWF needs. I’m not promising you a title, I’m not even promising you that you’re going to make it to the main roster. What I am promising you is a spell here, full-time, working with Crusher and the others who’ll help you be the best wrestler you can be.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

She sighed.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You’re the only game in town, aren’t you?” she asked.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I nodded soberly. “AAA are us, the new development territories we’ve opened are all hiring women... but they’re us too. USPW is a closed shop, BSC isn’t for you and 5SSW won’t take you – yet. They can take anyone, and you’re not good enough to make the cut – again, yet.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Sign with us. You’ll get full-time training from one of the all-time greats, you’ll get mic training from Cuervo, who’s very good. If you get the call we’ll turn you over to the Gilmores and Christian Faith to make sure you’re ready, and they do a lot of work with the active roster as well. Training never ends.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“If you make it to the main roster, I’ll never pressure you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. I can’t promise you be won’t </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>asked</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, but you can say no.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You’ll benefit from the exposure, even if it’s just here. You’ll benefit from the training, if you’re prepared to work hard. What have you got to lose?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Grover shook her head. “I promised myself I wouldn’t sign for the SWF unless you were my last resort. Well, you’ve made sure there’s nowhere else, haven’t you?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I kept my expression neutral. “There’s always Canada.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“The Stones keep their numbers low, and they just signed Raven and Sara Marie.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I know. They beat us to the punch,” I admitted.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Ashley huffed. “If you’d got them...”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We’d still be trying to sign you. A monopoly doesn’t take a break just because we do or don’t sign one man – or woman. The SWF wants you, Ashley, and it’s changing to make you feel comfortable joining us. If you don’t like it, I’m offering the same deal I offered Steve Flash: If you’re not happy after six months you can walk away, no hard feelings.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

In the ring, Crusher powerbombed Neptune on Amber Allen. It looked like it hurt like hell, but from the way that Allen and Neptune popped upright, I presumed either they were really bad at selling, or Crusher was just that good.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It wasn’t lost on Grover.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I’m in – for six months at least.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

We shook hands and I watched her walk down the steps to share the news with her new colleagues. There were a few hugs, but a few funny looks as the realisation dawned that another contender had joined their ranks. Some looked at Grover with worry on their faces. A few appeared confident, as though they felt they were further along than the new girl. One or two appeared unconcerned, and it didn’t escape my notice that they were among the most physically attractive members of the roster.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

No matter how the SWF changed its product, a wrestler’s look was always going to matter. There was a reason that men like Rich Money, Jack Bruce and Greg Black were on top – they were good looking guys. Brandon James was striking in his way, Runaway Train and Vengeance looked like monsters and Steve Frehley and Remo were incredible physical specimens. It wasn’t quite an absolute, but by and large the fans responded better to people who were striking in appearance, and that generally meant good-looking – only a very few workers, most noticeably Sam Strong, have got to the SWF main event without the benefit of good or great looks to hook the crowd. Strong had the kind of a once-in-a-generation charisma that could get the Elephant Man into bed with Emma Chase, and in truth he was just average looking – the muscular build and charisma more than made up for the deficit in his looks.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The women in SWF... Well, time would tell. We’d weighted the dice with out first recruits. Melody, Suzanne, Lauren and especially Joanne and Grace: None of them fell out of the ugly tree. I hadn’t given the matter too much thought when I was making the recommendations for the Vixxens division, but then, I hadn’t had to. These were women who’d made it to the top of the indies, and as much as AAA tried to deny it, a significant part of that was down to them being very good looking women. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

We hadn’t set out to sign models – in fact, we wanted great wrestlers. Frankly, in so much as I’d thought about it, I figured that having the girls wrestle well in the skintight ring gear would be enough. Somehow, though, we’d ended up with a bevy of babes vying for the Vixxens title. It wasn’t intentional, it wasn’t meant to overshadow the talent of the women in question, and yet somehow, even in AAA where talent was paramount and makeup – apparently – was flushed down the toilet if any of the girls was caught with it, the message had come though loud and clear.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Ashley Grover isn’t an unattractive woman, but if you were told that SWF was looks-biased, and you were given the choice between Ashley Grover on the one hand, and Amber Allen or Jaime Quine on the other...</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Well, I could understand Grover’s reluctance to sign on with us.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><em>Next: Toronto...</em>

James Casey · May 14, 2011

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">Last stop on my tour of North and Central America saw me land in the Great White North. I’m used to New York winters, but Canada at this time of year can be a whole other kind of cold. It might not be winter, but it’s more than cold enough for me. I’m glad for my thick coat, but my aching knee is a constant reminder that the Great Lakes should probably be about as far north as I ever travel.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I’d thought that the image of Canadians spending six months of the year snowed into their log cabins was a grossly exaggerated stereotype – an exaggeration our Canadian workers were happy to perpetuate in their version of the four Yorkshiremen sketch.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Imagine my surprise, then, when the Torontan taxi passed through the city, out the other side and kept going, deep into the countryside, deeper still, and still deeper again. At first I was mulling over the issue of image and the Vixxens division, so I didn’t worry too much. But, as the counter kept on rising, I had visions of being stuck after the credits in </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Airplane</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> – or, given that we seemed to be a long way from civilisation, stuck in the middle of </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Deliverance</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

When the log cabin loomed out of the darkness and the cab began to slow to a halt I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or to tense up, prepared for whatever came out of the cabin.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I shook my head. Three countries, back and forth through the time zones... No wonder my mind was messed up. I needed sleep – not a meeting with one of the great hopes of the next generation of wrestling. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I paid the driver, adding a generous tip for coming so far out of the city. It was all, after all, going on the company credit card. Leaving the warmth of the cab behind it only took the bare few seconds for me to cross to the cabin’s front door for the biting Canadian wind to part the layers of clothing I was wearing and chill me to the bone. I rang the doorbell with chilled fingers and waited, my teeth chattering, for the door to open. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><span>http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q81/jamescasey_photos/SWF/DavisWayneNewton.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“How are ya? I’m Davis. Shall we go inside?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Davis Wayne Newton, the Triple Threat, was stood beside me, arms filled with logs, a rather silly looking hat on his head, but while I shivered – and I thought </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Middlesbrough</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> was cold – he looked as though he was enjoying a mild, autumn evening.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

For all I knew, this </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>was</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> a mild, autumn evening.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Just push the door. Grandpa won’t shoot ya, not unless you’ve got moose horns on your head, eh?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I gave up, and led him into his house.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><em>Next: Clan Newton...</em>

May 14, 2011

I've gotta say, I think Deeley's your hope from the great white north. That said, Newton makes for a good story since he has the morals not to sign with SWF.

James Casey · May 16, 2011

<p> <em>OOC: Ah, morals. Pesky things...</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

*</p><p> </p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

An hour later I was wondering when the albino with the banjo would come along for a duet. Oh, the Newton clan was nice enough, but that was it – it was a clan, with Davis having the most understandable accent by some distance. Grandpa Newton sat by the fire, idly stroking a hunting bow. Ma and Grandma were dickering and bickering in the kitchen. Pa Newton was watching an old hockey game. Several junior Newtons were scampering around the place.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

An extended family, then? Yes – extended, enlarged, wrapped around... As the evening went on more and more Newtons arrived, each bearing a striking resemblance to Ma or Pa. Sometimes both. I wondered about that, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask Davis whether he was his own uncle. Somehow, it didn’t seem polite.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Instead I drank tea, which was welcome, and listened to Grandpa talking about his hunting success that morning, which wasn’t. The only reason I knew he was talking about hunting was because, after ten minutes or so, he pulled a fat turkey carcass from under his chair, yanked a lethal looking arrow from its neck, and plucked it casually while he chuntered on about how much he was looking forward to eating it – I think.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The cabin filled up quickly. A trip to the bathroom revealed four bedrooms but, unless I missed my guess, around fifteen people were living in the cabin. I tried to dissuade myself from that line of thought – no doubt there were more cabins close by, and familial closeness was hardly something to be skittish about. Still, the more I looked at the Newton clan, the harder it was to keep track of who was who – they all looked so much alike. On my way back to the main room I passed a wedding photo that illuminated matters somewhat: the three Newton men on their wedding day – the </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>same</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> day. As for their brides, well, they were all clearly related as well. Davis joined me and we stared at the picture together.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Cute, eh? Ma and Pa’s wedding day – and our aunties’ and uncles’, of course. The Newtons and the Wollenbucks – saved Grandpa a ton of cash them all getting married on the same day. He celebrated by marrying Grandma Wollenbuck.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Wollenbuck?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Ma’s maiden name. Becoming a Newton must have been a relief, eh?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I looked at Davis again, actually paying him close attention for the first time. A shy, but intelligent, grin sat on his face.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We’re not as backward as some folks think. It’s just a simple life out here. Anyway, come on through. Dinner’s ready, and everyone’s got questions.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I followed him back into the main room. From nowhere a large dinner table had been conjured. The Newtons (some of them nee Wollenbucks) were aligned along the sides. Davis moved to one end, leaving me with the other.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Seems you and Davis have some talkin’ to do, eh?” Pa Newton said, as I sat and felt fifteen pairs of eyes turn on me. “Don’t mind us – just dig in. It’s turkey.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I glanced at Grandpa Newton, who had a feather in his hair. Just over his shoulder I could see the morning’s kill, plucked and beheaded, lying on his chair.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Cranberry sauce?” Ma Newton asked, passing me a large pot as one of the younger Newtons took my plate and expertly filled it with half a dozen spoonfuls of the various foods that covered the table. By the time I’d taken the pot my plate was back in front of me and I was looking at the largest – and no doubt healthiest – meal I’d eaten since before last week’s Supreme TV, however long ago that had been.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Thank you,” I said. I put a small spoonful of the stuff on the side of my plate and resolved to lose it in the gravy if at all possible. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I was about to start eating when I noticed that no-one else was, despite their plates being full. I glanced around, and noticed that as they finished serving up each Newton closed their eyes and reached out to the people either side of them.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Ma Newton and the younger Newton who’d served me were the last to finish and I felt their hands close on mine as Davis stood up at the far end of the table, his eyes closed, his face tilted upwards. I followed suit quickly, noticing as I did so that everyone else had done likewise.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Thank you, Lord, for the many gifts that we have – loving family, good food, and new friends,” Davis intoned. “Help us always to understand one another, to work together to spread your word and your way. Bless us and keep us safe, however far we roam, and return us to your loving embrace. Amen.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Amen,” we entoned en masse. As Davis sat everyone let go of one another’s hands and reached for their cutlery.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Bugger,</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> I thought, as I picked up my knife and fork and started in on the turkey. A quick glance around the room had revealed a number of clues I’d failed to pick up on earlier. Numerous bibles, a plethora of crosses, a small shrine in one corner of the room... </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Fundamentalists. This isn’t going to be easy...</em></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This was going to be a hard sell.</span></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">

</span></div></div></div></div><p><em>*</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

Next: The discussion...</em></p><p>

</p>

Bigpapa42 · May 16, 2011

Gotta admit - I like the take on Newton. Different from any I've seen. Great work on these, JC.

Rathen4 · May 17, 2011

Not sure I like my beloved Ace Newton being an inbred... nah, actually, it's a really interesting idea and I love it <img alt="

" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

May 17, 2011

He's not inbred, just down home!

James Casey · May 17, 2011

<p>Thanks for the comments.</p><p> </p><p>

I hope it'll be clear that I'm not aiming to knock fundamentalist Christians with my take on the Newton clan - a sizable number of my family and friends could be described as fundamentalists, and probably to a lot of non-churchgoers I'd appear the same.</p><p> </p><p>

However, I did want to take a look at the religious side of the moral argument. My wife occasionally watches WWE with me, and being a deeply Christian person she does have the occasional problem with it (mainly the Divas). What she'd make of stuff like the NWWL or ECW - or, at the other end of the scale, SHIMMER - I don't know. She doesn't watch that much <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Anyway, I wanted one of the original rejecters to be opposed on religious grounds. I nearly went that way with Art Reed, but like <a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1450648&postcount=521" rel="external nofollow">Chris Caulfield</a> his past with DaVE made him a poor candidate for deep religious beliefs so I went another way with him. I can only imagine some of the attention that SWF would have got from the sleazier, more earnest or otherwise more publicity-conscious religious groups (plus the letters of objection that would have been received privately). Incidents like the Cornell/Nemesis match, the Gilmore/Scott angle, the ignoring of women, characters like Joe Sexy...</p><p> </p><p>

Anyway, I figured that it wouldn't attract too much attention, and the possibility of Newton having... an unusual lineage would be more arresting. Still, there is a <em>bit</em> of thought going into all this beyond the cheap jokes about rural folks. Easy as they turned out to be to write... <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

Hashasheen · May 17, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="James Casey" data-cite="James Casey" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> However, I did want to take a look at the religious side of the moral argument. My wife occasionally watches WWE with me, and being a deeply Christian person she does have the occasional problem with it (mainly the Divas). What she'd make of stuff like the NWWL or ECW - or, at the other end of the scale, <strong>SHIMMER </strong>- I don't know. She doesn't watch that much <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Didn't Portia Perez threaten to abort Allison Danger's baby one time? Remember 4 or 5 refs just dog-piled her when she tried to go for a spear.</p>

Kluge · May 17, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hashasheen" data-cite="Hashasheen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Didn't Portia Perez threaten to abort Allison Danger's baby one time? Remember 4 or 5 refs just dog-piled her when she tried to go for a spear.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Thanks for reminding me</p>

Hashasheen · May 18, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Kluge" data-cite="Kluge" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Thanks for reminding me</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Hey, that angle freaked the **** out of me when I watched it. Allison Danger is truly "King of Old School" Steve Corino's sister. <img alt=":eek:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/eek.png.0e09df00fa222c85760b9bc1700b5405.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

James Casey · May 18, 2011

<p><em>So... I should avoid getting my wife watching SHIMMER, too?</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

There really is only USPW, isn't there? </em><img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

*</p><p> </p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">“Well, how do you justify that nonsense with Angry Gilmore and his wife last year?” one of the uncle Newtons was demanding, an hour or so later.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I don’t. It was dreadful TV, poorly performed, classless, and everyone involved came off the worse for it – the SWF included.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He sat back, slightly mollified. The Newtons had asked a lot of questions. One of the younger girls, about fourteen, had been especially vocal, rattling off a series of questions about the Vixxens and their future role in the company. I’d been able to answer them as truthfully as possible. I hated to think of how some of my less enlightened colleagues might have coped.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We support Davis and his desire to be a wrestler, but how do we square his going to work with you with our beliefs?” Ma Newton asked.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We’re not an anti-Christian company. If anything, we promote Christianity through showing Christian Faith – the character – and presenting him with a platform for his beliefs. Those beliefs are real, the church we showed was real.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“That’s one character among sixty or more.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Not everyone defines themselves by their religion.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Vengeance and his Acolytes do.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“A belief system is not the same thing as a religion,” I said, after a moment’s thought. “Vengeance is an inherently selfish character – if he were inclined to believe in something greater than himself, that would be a big difference from his portrayal. DuBois and Greed don’t </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>believe</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> in Vengeance – they just follow him. He’s their teacher, their mentor, not their god.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Still, the SWF uses extreme violence and emphasises the sexuality of both the male and female competitors,” Ma Newton said.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“The characters are adults, ma’am,” I replied. “It’s part of being an adult. As for the violence, I’m consciously sought to tone that down. With the exception of the most epic of matches, blood is seen a lot less nowadays. Our wrestlers don’t tend to use weapons either.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Do you think that your shows present a strong moral argument?” For a moment I’d hoped that this was Davis’ first entry into the discussion – so far his relatives had carried the weight of their side. Unfortunately it was just an uncle sat next to my target.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Sometimes, but it’s not something that we actively set out to do – not in every segment. If you ask some of my colleagues, morality has no place in wrestling, but ultimately nearly every storyline boils down to good and bad. That always gets a stronger reaction. The public want to see black and white.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Don’t you feel that you have a duty to educate the public?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“With respect, no, I don’t. We’d get hammered hard by the networks if we were to take on an overtly moralistic approach – never mind an overtly Christian one. People decide who to cheer, and it’s not always the good guys. A few days ago I was in Mexico, offering a contract to a man the fans will loathe – and love. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“It’s our job to entertain, to tell stories. At the core of those stories is a message of how, when people do the right thing, when they work hard, they come out on top. That’s what people want to believe is the case. They want to believe in the stories. They want to believe that at the core there’s a logical, consistent universe that falls in line with the stories we tell our children – whether we tell them from the Bible, the Grimm fairy tales, </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Harry Potter</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Star Wars</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, whatever.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“But for every hero there has to be a villain. For every moral victor there has to be someone for them to triumph over. Entertainment is built on staples like cops and robbers, heroes and villains, rebel and unreasonable authority... The public generally choose to support the person who’s doing the morally sound thing, but almost no-one is simon pure, and to pretend otherwise would be wrong. We can just about squeak by with Faith, who </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>is</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> that good a person, but the majority of our good guys are good guys who occasionally do morally dubious things. We even have our commentators call them on it when it happens, so both sides of the argument are given. Is it right to do the wrong thing for the right reasons? In a wrestling ring, generally not – faces cheat to avoid losing, which isn’t really a good enough reason.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Sounds like nonsense to me,” Grandpa Newton announced. I realised that my time in the Newton household had allowed me to acclimatise to his thick accent.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“It’s entertainment,” I said, setting aside my cutlery with a sigh. “We don’t have an obligation to present morally correct programming. We don’t need to show the good guys coming out on top. We could still make money – a lot of money – by consistently showing the good guys doing well, but losing in the end. You could make an argument that it’d be more realistic, that the bad guys win out more often than not, that adversity makes the occasional triumph by the good that much sweeter, and that much truer to life.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“But there’s more money to be made in giving people what they want, and that’s what it comes down to. We want Davis to come in and work with us. We want to start him off as a good guy – maybe he’ll be the new Christian Faith, maybe he’ll be the new Sean McFly, or the new Rich Money. Maybe he’ll be the new Eric Eisen, or Enforcer Roberts. Maybe he’ll go off the rails and be the next Big Smack Scott. We don’t want that to happen to anyone, and we work hard to avoid it, but who can say?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“We’re not going to change the basic approach that the company takes. We don’t do that for anyone. If Christian Faith had shown up last Thursday night and said he was taking the World title to TCW unless everyone on the roster opened the show with a rendition of the Hallelujah chorus followed by the Archbishop of New York saying Mass in the middle of the ring... We’d have let him walk and take the title with him, because that’s not the SWF. It’s wrestling, no matter what else it is, it’s the struggle between good and evil, and sometimes evil wins.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“And if my boy signs with you, what guarantee do we have that he doesn’t walk oot on a Tuesday night in a red cloak and facepaint, eh?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I bit off my first response – a mocking reply to Pa Newton’s question would get me nowhere, except maybe back out in the cold.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I won’t demand of anyone that they do anything they’re uncomfortable with. Christian’s been a good guy in the SWF his whole career – almost twenty-five years.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Have you been there that long?” Pa asked.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“No, I’ve been there almost twenty years.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“And how long have you been in charge?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I frowned. “Since last December.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Who’s going to be in charge of the SWF for the whole time that my son is there? Who can tell me that he won’t be made to do something he shouldn’t do?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I... Well... Only Mr Eisen has that kind of power.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Davis’ parents exchanged a look. Davis’ expression remained neutral as his father set his knife and fork down on the plate with an audible clink.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Then I think we need to speak to him as well. If he can come here and tell us our son won’t do anything against his faith, we’ll be happy to see him sign with you.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

As I considered </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>that</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> proposal, I looked along the table at Davis.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“What about you, lad? What do you say?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He tilted his head in his parents’ direction. “The SWF are a huge company – the biggest in the business. Of course I want to work for you.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He looked around the table, and then up at the cross hanging over the fireplace.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“But some things have to come first.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I wanted to ask this Canadian backwoods family how realistic they thought it was that the chairman of a multi-million dollar company would suddenly drop everything and jet up here from New York – or even his mansion in Connecticut.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I glanced around the table, the fifteen or so members of the Newton clan all looking at me. It was jetlag that replied: “I’ll give him a call.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p><em>Next: The Newton-Eisen equation...</em></p>

Hashasheen · May 19, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="James Casey" data-cite="James Casey" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><em>So... I should avoid getting my wife watching SHIMMER, too?</em></div></blockquote><em> Let's just say they don't pull any punches. </em><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="27367" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p><em> There really is only USPW, isn't there? </em><img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> So it seemes. <img alt=";)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/wink.png.686f06e511ee1fbf6bdc7d82f6831e53.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

Bigpapa42 · May 19, 2011

Another really really good segment, JC. Well-written, as always, and quite intriguing. I initially thought you were going to go with a straight ignorant redneck approach with Newton and his family, but this is far more interesting. It also explores some fundemantal issues that a promotion like Supreme would have. Great way to bring those up...

James Casey · May 21, 2011

<p><em>OOC: Thanks bp. This has ended up being as much 'what is the SWF?' as 'who is Richard Eisen?' - but we'll get back to that soon enough...</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

*</p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Oddly enough, Mr Eisen was less than enthusiastic when I called him up to ask him to join me on the Newton homestead.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You’ve pushed a long way and spent a lot of money in the last two weeks, James.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“On your orders, sir. We’ve talked about bringing in Newton for two years. I think if he hears that, he’ll sign – but he needs to hear it from you.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“What’s the family like?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Fundamental Christians. I can talk the talk a little, sir, but I’m not as devout as these people are. You and Christian Faith must have had discussions like this.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Christian has always known his role. James, maybe if Newton is going to be this much trouble-“</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I cut my boss off.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Six months, sir. We bring him in, we get Faith to babysit and we see how devout he remains when he’s away from the clan. If he’s still against the more extreme aspects of our product, well, that’s my problem – not yours. We’ll have to be careful about what media work he does, but we can keep him away from the more risqué angles and storylines.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Hmmm... And you say he wants to hear it from me, and only me?” Mr Eisen didn’t sound convinced.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“The organ-grinder, not the monkey. Er... those are my words, not his.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“You think we need this kid?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I hesitated.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Need, sir? No. We’re the SWF, and he’s a twenty-three year old with next-to-no name value outside of Canada. It’ll be years before we look at him anywhere above midcard – unless the paying fans say otherwise, of course.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“So we don’t need him... but for what he’d cost us, and what he’d bring to the locker room, he’s worth it,” I said. “He’s a born leader, he’s got star quality oozing out of every pore and with a few months work he’ll hold his own on the mic. Give him to Faith, and he’ll be a Pillar for the next fifteen years – in and out of the ring. Honestly, sir, I know you weren’t sure about Heroe, I know you had to work hard to sell the board on the idea of even changing slightly... We could throw Newton out there with Money and Faith and Eric next week and the fans would accept him as being on there level by the end of the year. Heroe’s my boy, he’s the one I’ve gone in to bat for... Newton doesn’t need me to do it for him. He just needs to get in front of a camera, and he’s the next star.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“This is your last stop, right?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Yes, thank God. I’m sorry, sir, but my body’s struggling with all this travel. A few days ago I was in Vegas and Mexico City – now I’m only a few miles from the North Pole, or so it seems.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Okay, I’ve pushed you hard, and you’ve done better than I expected. Cost more, too, but I guess we won’t be doing this very often. I didn’t think Marquez’d come. I knew Reed wouldn’t. I was surprised you got Flash, but at his age a guaranteed deal must start to sound good.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I’ll tell the crew to fuel up the jet. I’ll be there tomorrow sometime. Can they put you up, or do you need to hammer the company card some more?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I’ll ask. I’m sure they’ll be good Samaritans.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

They were. I got a bedroom to myself, which I think meant Davis and his brothers all sharing one room. I slept soundly, and late, and by the time I dragged myself out of bed the late morning sun was dazzling on the crisp, new snow around the cabin.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Your phone rang,” Pa greeted me as I stumbled out of the room. “Hope ya don’t mind, I answered it.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Who was it?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Mr Eisen. He’s on his way. We had a little chat – I wanted him to understand our position, eh? Breakfast?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I nodded, accepting the phone from him. I checked the time of the last call – more than thirty minutes. I wondered at the type of person who could talk to Mr Eisen like that. I also wondered about Mr Eisen not stopping him. As I sat down to breakfast – or brunch, Grandma Newton-Wollenbuck-Whatever insisted on calling it for my ‘refined’ sake – I also wondered whether chewing the boss’ ear for thirty minutes every time I wanted something would get me it, or get me fired?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Mr Eisen arrived mid-afternoon. He talked hunting with Grandpa on the porch for half an hour before he got in the door, but showed no signs of cold. His coat is a lot thicker than mine, clearly.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He mingled happily, chatting with teens and pensioners alike as the Newton clan descended once more, apparently happy to chat with the most powerful man in wrestling about... everything, so far as I could tell. I sat with Davis and watched as Richard glad-handed his way around the room, passing us twice as new people arrived.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I imagined this was something he did quite often, chatting with network executives and arena managers. Still, this was a log cabin in the Canadian countryside, if not wilderness. It took dedication to come out here and take a chance on a kid who might, one day, be worth the considerable investment he’d require first.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It made the difference, though. With Richard handing out personal assurances with the same sincerity as a used-car salesman, he was swaying the Newtons to his side. He stayed to dinner, and I sat and listened as he took control of a re-run of last night’s conversation, asking the Newtons whether it wasn’t Davis’ </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>duty</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> to come to the SWF and save the sinners among our ranks.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That earned a few chuckles, but equally I saw Davis and his parents exchange a meaningful look. I’d learned along the way that Pa Newton was the local preacher, and maybe he felt better with that idea.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

We didn’t stay much past dinner. Mr Eisen had to head back, and I gratefully accepted his offer to fly with him. So did Davis, who was going to crash at mine for a few days while his contract was agreed.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Davis looked around with wide eyes as we entered Mr Eisen’s jet. I’d seen it before, and while it’s always a bit of a thrill – not least because Richard keeps upgrading the interior – I was still pretty exhausted. I slept for much of the flight, but managed to rouse myself to chat with Davis about his likely future on the ride into the city. He expressed excitement about working on Uprising to start with, but shyly admitted he’d like to work with some of our bigger names, one day – Brent Hill was mentioned, Chris Morrisette too, and Christian Faith, of course.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I was able to reassure him on the last point. Even if it took a while, Newton would face off with Faith at some point. I wanted the Supreme Legend to do little </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>but</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> fight the younger members of the roster over the coming months, and while I only had a skeletal schedule thus far, there were around 35 workers who I felt could benefit significantly from involvement with him. Faith had agreed to work matches on both Supreme TV and Uprising over the coming months to sell the gimmick, and I hoped that what with one thing and another the Iron Man would live up to the moniker and make his partners and opponents look great night in, night out.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

My sleep pattern thrown to hell and back, I got caught up on my e-mails while Davis slept. Along the way I made a point of taking a break to re-watch the match that had sealed my determination to sign Newton, a man I considered almost as big a prospect as Héroe.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It wasn’t anything much, really, just Newton in a pair of boxing trunks going toe-to-toe with Canadian Crusher, the proto-Scott Sinclair in whom 4C had placed a lot of faith. It was a very good match, with Crusher looking dominant as he bounced Newton around with authority. Newton’s job, mainly, was to sell, and he made Crusher look like a monster. However, about a minute from the end Newton reversed a military press into a beautiful cross armbreaker, floating down Crusher’s hefty frame with impressive grace and bearing the big man down to the mat. A few seconds later, Crusher powered out and pummelled Newton down for the win, but that was neither here nor there – Newton’s beautiful move had piqued my interest, and marked him out as one to watch.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

It’s little things like that which can mark out the extraordinary workers from the ordinary – the Faiths and Moneys from the Laramees and the Steadyfasts. Newton has that gift in the ring to make the advanced skills look commonplace. Money can turn a crowd’s mood with a word. Faith doesn’t even need to </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>say</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> anything, such is his physical presence.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I think Newton will follow in their footsteps. I think Héroe will, too. The rest... I’m not so sure. They have talent, they have charisma, they could do it... with the right luck, the right gimmick, the right opponents.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I’ll do what I can for them – I’m looking forward to seeing if they can make it.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p><em>*</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

Next: Who is Richard Eisen?</em></p>

James Casey · May 24, 2011

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The last week has taught me a lot. A lot about the wrestlers we’ve signed, a lot about the effects of jetlag on the human body, and a lot about how much fun it can still be, even in these days of sports entertainment, battles over peoples’ souls, wives, dignity, and even masks and hair, to just have an honest-to-goodness tournament taking over the show. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

But I’ve learned a lot about Richard Eisen as well. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

My promotion to head booker of the SWF came about because someone asked John Campbell ‘Who is Richard Eisen?’ Nearly a year later, and with my predecessor Peter Michaels’ interview apparently marking the last in that line of interviews to be published, I’d like to offer a coda:</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Richard Eisen took a chance on me. I don’t know why, exactly, but if I had failed I had the support mechanism in place to prevent the company failing as well. He takes chances, but those are chances he believes will pay off. I don’t think he does anything without believing in it – not if being wrong might cause damage to his company.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He took a chance on me, and I think it’s paid off. The company is secure, it’s making money, and we’ve just signed up another in a long line of workers who’ll make this company secure for years to come.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Richard Eisen is many things – a father, of course, and husband, but the articles didn’t get into that side of him. Is he proud? Yes, no question. Brilliant? No question about that, either. Ruthless, egotistical, self-serving? Yes, yes and yes – in doses.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that Richard Eisen isn’t any different to anyone else. He’s not the monster many would have you believe. My favourite Richard Eisen story is one that didn’t make the interviews, oddly. Pay-per-views are screened free of charge to childrens’ care homes up and down the country, and Richard himself foots the bill on that one. What little is publicly known about Richard’s early days is that he spent time in and out of homes like this, his father having walked away, his mother struggling to cope. Word is that Richard dotes on his mother nowadays. Apparently his father tried to re-establish contact once. His son didn’t take it well...</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

If I had to pick one word to describe Richard Eisen it would be determined – determined to be the best. As the SWF hoovers up money, pays hundreds of people their monthly paychecks, draws audiences from every corner of the globe and continually puts on great show after great show, it’s all down to one man.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Because of Richard Eisen, and his drive to be the best, wrestling is a viable career for thousands of people around the world, and a lot of that is down to him. In America, Canada and the UK and Europe especially, the SWF is </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>the</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> big name, and to a greater or lesser extent the smaller companies’ success can be traced to the SWF forging the path. It was Richard Eisen who decimated the old territories. I won’t claim he did it out of altruism or from far-sighted knowledge that his was the divine path to greatness, but he’s taken wrestling into the mainstream, made it much more accessible, and inspired thousands of wrestlers and others to take a chance.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Even those who decry Richard Eisen, who paint him as the devil for railroading his way into every home in the country and crushing any and all opposition, well, they may be right. Still, ask the wrestlers who they wanted to wrestle for – Trenton Evenrud or Richard Eisen? Shane Sneer or Richard Eisen? Hell, Phil Vibert or Richard Eisen?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Richard Eisen put wrestling on the map. It’s not really a joke anymore. The company operates of the cutting edge of television production, being one of the first to offer HD and 3D broadcasts, for example. It established an early presence online, and offers forums for fans to share their views. Even if only one post in a thousand is of value to the SWF, I know that my boss has someone watching out for it. In countless ways, Richard has led the field in order that he </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>stays</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> ahead. As a live entertainment production, as a soap opera, as an athletic exhibition, the SWF is the best in the field, and unlike almost any other comparable production we do this night in, night out. The SWF is the best, and Richard Eisen is responsible.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The SWF has evolved wrestling. Where once it was stocky, even fat guys in trunks rolling around and pretending to fight for real, now there’s a much greater emphasis on the entertainment and athleticism produced in the ring. We still have guys like Runaway Train and Sundance Morgan who are, basically, stock guys in trunks who pretend to fight, but we also have the rockstars Jack Bruce and Troy Tornado, bikers in Christian Faith and Steve Frehley, the punk Ford Gumble, the Vixxens, the blue chippers Davis Newton and Spencer Spade and the awesome athletic specimen that is Rich Money. Everyone brings something a little different to the table. Everyone has – or should have – an identifiable character. Everyone should be someone’s favourite wrestler, and you should be willing to show your allegiance by dropping thirty dollars on a t-shirt to say so. The SWF is big business, which means big money, and in today’s world big money buys respect. Richard Eisen and his company demand that respect.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

And if the SWF isn’t to your taste then its reflected glory allows dozens of companies to exist. Every local fed probably has a couple of guys on the show who you saw on Supreme TV once. I fought in the territorial days. I know what sort of crowds most companies played to – I had to work for three or four companies, three or four nights a week just to make ends meet, never mind make any real money. Nowadays even the ‘name’ indy guys like Steve Flash will only need to work a couple of shows a month to make a comfortable living. That’s Richard’s doing. I’m sure it wasn’t his intention – he wanted to make enough cash to employ people to count it for him, and screw anyone else – but it’s a welcome after effect.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

When the time comes and he retires or – more likely – dies in his office, Richard Eisen will be remembered for a lot of things, but as I sit in my top floor office in a Manhattan skyscraper overlooking Central Park in all its autumn glory, one thing is perfectly clear:</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Who is Richard Eisen? Richard Eisen </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>is</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> wrestling.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Interval</strong></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p>

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SWF: Who Is Richard Eisen?

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