IrishCanadian25
Going on 10 years with WrestleZone
I appreciate all of the great things people said about part 1, but to be honest, this second part is where I felt the most interesting stuff occured.
After skulking around getting autographs and chatting with "the talent" for some time, NorCal, Becky and I hit the merch room. We had missed getting to meet Awesome Kong and the TNA contingent due to lack of time, but I am told Kong is, in real life, the sweetest woman around. She also hit on Eric Stein, but that is another story for another day.
The merch room is where I met Jerry Jarrett. I wanted to come off like I knew something about him, and the result was 2 minutes of awkward pleasantries. Nice guy, though.
The merch room is also where NorCal met the future Mrs. NorCal in the (to quote Bon Jovi) "purfume, plastic, and paint" of Missy Hyatt. I thought she looked worn.
We also met a gentleman from Billy Graham's Organ Donor Organization. NorCal, Becky, and I all have signed donor cards, but we learned so much here. With Graham near death due to liver failure, a sadly deceased but gorgeous young woman's liver was transplanted to Billy some time ago, saving his life. While the girl had died in a tragic accident, her memory lives on in Billy Graham. Though their website is still being built, the link is http://sbgfoda.org/. Folks, the back of a drivers license will not hold up in court. Please, get a donor card and have it signed by 2 witnesses.
We leave the merch room and I have to take a leak. Damn water. Anyway, I go to the room adjacent from the main room where we are scheduled next, and hit the urinal. Now, I have a history of accidentally peeing next to famous people. A hockey commentator, a NY Radio DJ, a NJ State Senator. So I should not have been surprised with what happens next, but joining me in the rest room at the urinal next to mine...
Tomko. Oh boy. Just look forward, look forward, don'tmove your head a notch. No, no, don't speak to him while he's peeing.
After the merch room, we returned the main room, Staff passes in tow, for the Tomko shoot interview. Much to our shock, the shoot wasn't us watching anyone interview Tomko...WE were interviewing Tomko! AND I'D JUST PEED NEXT TO HIM!
No holds barred, on camera. Of course, with a room full of terrified fans looking at an angry looking professional with broken fingers, who started things off? Yeah...
Q- I know a lot of people ask you about the difference in the dynamics between WWE and TNA, but what did you notice change between US Wrestling and wrestling in Japan?
A- In the US, it's mainly a show - it's theatrics. In Japan, it's a fight. It's like a shoot, and even though it's predetermined, you have to go out there and actually hurt your opponent without crippling him to make it more realistic. Also, when an opponent is in a rest hold, the biggest pop you hear is when the opponent gets to the ropes, because that means that match goes on. That's what the fans love - that's what they came to see.
Q- What is your background prior to wrestling?
A- Bodyguard for a rock band (turned out to be Limp Bizkit). I held a black belt in Judo, and everywhere I went, people asked me "hey, are you a wrestler?" After a while I figured "well, maybe there's something to this." (Editors Note - long before wrestling, Tomko bodyguarded for several musicians and lived with Fred Durst for a short time.)
Q- Not long ago, the only competition pro wrestling had were other pro wrestling companies. Now, MMA is competing directly with WWE. What are your thoughts on MMA and the landscape as it affects wrestling?
A- Anyone who dismisses MMA is a fool. It's very real; it's the hot thing right now. I have a Judo Background, and I was recently offered a 3-fight deal to do MMA in Japan. You also look at a guy like Brock Lesnar and what he's doing - he fought a former World Champion in Frank Mir in only his 2nd fight, and was only a rookie mistake away from beating him. He's someone to reckon with. I've literally seen Brock pick up a referee by his belt buckle and sling him OVER the top rope without touching it using his LEFT HAND. People just don't realize how strong Brock is. I love TNA, but I'd consider MMA.
Q- How do you feel the wrestling landscape changed following the deaths of Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero?
A- (pause)...I really don't want to field questions about Chris right now, if it's alright with you. He was my best friend, and I just don't really want to talk about it. Obviously the business changed, for the better because it cleans it up for the young guys, but I just don't want to go into that right now. (at this time, feeling bad and having not known the two were so close, I apologized to Tomko if I'd brought up anything emotional. He gladly said "that's alright" and again said he'd just appreciate staying away, which everyone understood and respected. I was amazed to learn how close Tomko and Chris Benoit were, and it made me feel that much worse about Chris's death knowing how deeply it affected these wrestlers.)
Q- I know they say never say never, but would you ever go back to WWE?
A- Never say never. I didn't leave WWE on bad terms. I asked Vince McMahon for my release do I could go work in Japan, and he though about it for 2 months before he finally said "sure, go ahead." No doors closed, no bridges burned. But I really love it in TNA. It's so close to where I live in Florida, the travel is less, and I get to be more myself. What you see on TNA is me, turned up 4 notches, and that's the difference.
Q- Who do you think is being underused in the WWE by guys like HHH?
A- Let me be clear about this. HHH may very well be the greatest professional wrestling in history. He has so much charisma, and if you've never gone to a house show, you've never seen him go out to every show and wrestle for 40 minutes, drawing as a heel, trying to get his opponent over. Sure, he does get the lion's share of mic time, but the fact is he's a top guy because he's great, and he was great a long time ago.
Q- What is it like working with Vince Russo in TNA?
A- Honestly, and I know he gets a lot of heat, he's awesome to work with. Unlike with WWE creative where I got a verbatim script to follow, in TNA, Vince hands me a bullet point list of things to touch on, but let's me go at it my way. Like I said, me in TNA is just who I really am, turned up 4 notches, and that's why we're successful. We have fun because we get to be ourselves, but magnified. Also, you have to realize, Russo is far from the end-all be-all of decision making in TNA. But I love working with him. (This was a facinating part of the shoot. Tomko genuinely loves his TNA work, and it affirms the bad rap Russo gets that he may not deserve.
Q- Would you care to comment on your suspension from TNA?
A- (laughs derisively) I wasn't suspended. I know that's the "rumor" and what's been going around, but I was injured. I suffered an injury (I think he said his shoulder or his tibia) and went to Jeff Jarrett and asked if he'd take me off TV for a while so I could heel, and he did. But if you want to believe I was suspended, whatever.
Q- There were rumors about a factioning of the backstage between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. Any truth / care to comment?
A- Yeah, I don't know where that got started. Kurt is an athlete and a professional. The only time he asks for something to be changed if it is in the program HE is working. He'll respectfully go to Jeff and say "hey, something needs to change with my match," and I know because I was usually in his matches. Jeff Jarrett is a total professional.
This is maybe 75% of the shoot - we got some GREAT STUFF from Tomko. All of the answers above are paraphrased from my memory, and are NOT TO BE TAKEN VERBATIM IN ANY WAY! Also, Norcal and I did not ask all of these questions, but the question about Japan vs the US, the advent of MMA, and the Benoit question was me. I will let NorCal tell you about the question he asked and what he got from it. Tomko was shockingly soft-spoken, but very direct. He showed us a passion he has for wrestling in Japan, wrestling in TNA, and the possibility of doing MMA. He is married with a 12-year old daughter. He also has a very subtle humor. I gained a new respect for this guy today.
At this point, we all go for the rest room. Kevin Kelly comes out of the other room and asked me "Hey Chris, (yes, Kevin and I are on a first name basis now, though he, too, calls me IC25 now) how was the shoot?" I tell Kevin about it, and he heads in for "The John Cena Sr. Show." After careful deliberation, we decide to skip the Cena Sr. show and go downstairs to the restaurant for a bite to eat.
This was mine and Becky's time to get to know NorCal. Great time. He's a true straightedge - no alcohol. Thankfully he was OK with me having a beer. We talked politics, we talked about the military, we talked about wrestling. We talked about all of you. Yes, I said WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF YOU! Nice stuff, though.
After watching NorCal inhale a platter of fried calamari like he was going to the chair, we went upstairs and sat down as Cena Sr. was getting ready to leave. No joke - he went around to every single fan in the room, and with a huge smile on his face, thanked EVERYONE for being there, enjoying the show, and being a fan. He came up to us, thanked us, and shot the shit. REALLY NICE GUY. He was so friendy, none of us had the heart to tell him we hadn't stayed for the show. I wish we had.
Bill DeMott and Al Snow enter the room for the FINAL EVENT - the Developmental Debate. Just like the Tomko shoot, where we asked the questions. Al and Bill were ANYTHING but soft spoken. They were direct, honest, and pulled no punches.
(the Q&A got lost, and I forget the questions asked. Instead, I will just mention what they said about certain topics.)
Q- What percentage of developmental should be the physical end, and what percentage the business and charisma side?
A- Physical is largely the responsibility of the athlete. They have to prove that they want to be there and the best way to do it is to show up in good condition. A guy could tell us "I want to be here, I want to be here" but when they show up out of shape, it tells us how hard they're willing to work to be there. Our job isn't to teach guys how to wrestle, our job is to teach guys how to work, and that's where all of you (the fans) get confused, because you just don't get it. The object of professional wrestling isn't to wrestle a 5-star match, it's to draw a crowd and draw money. At Wrestlemania 3, which was the best match? No, not Savage vs Steamboat, because nobody showed up and sold out the Pontiac Silverdome for Savage vs Steamboat. It was Hogan vs Andre. That match DREW the crowd. No matter what you say about it, that match DREW the crowd. The other object is to get the fans to "pop." And a lot of you don't know what a pop means either. A pop means we have to make you orgasm in your pants. The "pop" is what we work towards, and the rest is all bullshit. Each match gets only one real pop, and each event gets only one real pop. The idea for the mid-carders is to get the crowd worked up for the main event. We're all a team, and in order for US to be successful, every other guy has to go out and be successful. If one guy fucks it up for all of us, we're ALL out of a job.
Regarding what's hurting the business:
Al- I'll tell you exactly what it is. It's a new guy coming in, being trained by us to draw money and work a logical match, and then getting yelled at by management for what they do wrong, then being yelled at by management to listen to what we teach them. They get mixed signals, and they get frustrated, so instead of trying to draw money, they start caring what you (the internet fans) think about them. They read about what a shit match they put on and how they can't wrestle, so they start trying to pu on that 5-star match that makes no sense. They're happy because they read on the net "hey, that match was a 5-star match" but in the meantime instead of drawing 10,000 people at a 30,000 seat venue, they are drawing 5,000, or even 2,000. Because they stopped trying to draw and make money, and started trying to wrestle a 5-star match.
Regarding Vince McMahon "holding people back-"
A: This is such bullshit. That makes no sense. Why the hell would Vince want to "hold people back." If a guy can draw, then he gets to draw! What, do you think Vince got sick of making money? That's what he cares about! Why would Vince want to hold someone back from drawing and making money of they are capable!?
Q: What is your reaction to only 2 successes out of Tough Enough. (we watch as Al and Bill's blood starts to boil at the fan who asked this one.)
A: A HELL of a lot more than 2 people were successful. Look at Maven. He was a Survivor Series main eventer and had a feud with the Undertaker before he let his personal demons get in the way. Look at Linda Myles. She had a big push coming her way, but she decided she didn't like the business! Jackie Gayda would up with TNA and married Charlie Haas. Marty Wright was cut from Tough Enough 3, but stayed with it and came back as the Boogie Man. Melina was cut before Tough Enough 2 even started! (he mentioned several others as well).
All I can say is that if SlyFox had been at the debate, he'd have a fist full of "told you so's" for everyone. They echoed what he's been saying for over a year.
That's what I recall from the Fan Slam Experience. I hope all of you enjoyed what we discovered. Pics are likely to be posted by NorCal on Wednesday (all 8 or 9 of them) and I anxiously await his addition to the written accounts.
Overall, there is nobody I wasn't thrilled with. From Chris Cash to Kevin Kelly, Nick Dinsmore to Nick of 1000 Names, Tomko to Snow and everyone in between, this was a great group of guys and they made those 6 hours on a Saturday WELL worth it.
After skulking around getting autographs and chatting with "the talent" for some time, NorCal, Becky and I hit the merch room. We had missed getting to meet Awesome Kong and the TNA contingent due to lack of time, but I am told Kong is, in real life, the sweetest woman around. She also hit on Eric Stein, but that is another story for another day.
The merch room is where I met Jerry Jarrett. I wanted to come off like I knew something about him, and the result was 2 minutes of awkward pleasantries. Nice guy, though.
The merch room is also where NorCal met the future Mrs. NorCal in the (to quote Bon Jovi) "purfume, plastic, and paint" of Missy Hyatt. I thought she looked worn.
We also met a gentleman from Billy Graham's Organ Donor Organization. NorCal, Becky, and I all have signed donor cards, but we learned so much here. With Graham near death due to liver failure, a sadly deceased but gorgeous young woman's liver was transplanted to Billy some time ago, saving his life. While the girl had died in a tragic accident, her memory lives on in Billy Graham. Though their website is still being built, the link is http://sbgfoda.org/. Folks, the back of a drivers license will not hold up in court. Please, get a donor card and have it signed by 2 witnesses.
We leave the merch room and I have to take a leak. Damn water. Anyway, I go to the room adjacent from the main room where we are scheduled next, and hit the urinal. Now, I have a history of accidentally peeing next to famous people. A hockey commentator, a NY Radio DJ, a NJ State Senator. So I should not have been surprised with what happens next, but joining me in the rest room at the urinal next to mine...
Tomko. Oh boy. Just look forward, look forward, don'tmove your head a notch. No, no, don't speak to him while he's peeing.
After the merch room, we returned the main room, Staff passes in tow, for the Tomko shoot interview. Much to our shock, the shoot wasn't us watching anyone interview Tomko...WE were interviewing Tomko! AND I'D JUST PEED NEXT TO HIM!
No holds barred, on camera. Of course, with a room full of terrified fans looking at an angry looking professional with broken fingers, who started things off? Yeah...
Q- I know a lot of people ask you about the difference in the dynamics between WWE and TNA, but what did you notice change between US Wrestling and wrestling in Japan?
A- In the US, it's mainly a show - it's theatrics. In Japan, it's a fight. It's like a shoot, and even though it's predetermined, you have to go out there and actually hurt your opponent without crippling him to make it more realistic. Also, when an opponent is in a rest hold, the biggest pop you hear is when the opponent gets to the ropes, because that means that match goes on. That's what the fans love - that's what they came to see.
Q- What is your background prior to wrestling?
A- Bodyguard for a rock band (turned out to be Limp Bizkit). I held a black belt in Judo, and everywhere I went, people asked me "hey, are you a wrestler?" After a while I figured "well, maybe there's something to this." (Editors Note - long before wrestling, Tomko bodyguarded for several musicians and lived with Fred Durst for a short time.)
Q- Not long ago, the only competition pro wrestling had were other pro wrestling companies. Now, MMA is competing directly with WWE. What are your thoughts on MMA and the landscape as it affects wrestling?
A- Anyone who dismisses MMA is a fool. It's very real; it's the hot thing right now. I have a Judo Background, and I was recently offered a 3-fight deal to do MMA in Japan. You also look at a guy like Brock Lesnar and what he's doing - he fought a former World Champion in Frank Mir in only his 2nd fight, and was only a rookie mistake away from beating him. He's someone to reckon with. I've literally seen Brock pick up a referee by his belt buckle and sling him OVER the top rope without touching it using his LEFT HAND. People just don't realize how strong Brock is. I love TNA, but I'd consider MMA.
Q- How do you feel the wrestling landscape changed following the deaths of Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero?
A- (pause)...I really don't want to field questions about Chris right now, if it's alright with you. He was my best friend, and I just don't really want to talk about it. Obviously the business changed, for the better because it cleans it up for the young guys, but I just don't want to go into that right now. (at this time, feeling bad and having not known the two were so close, I apologized to Tomko if I'd brought up anything emotional. He gladly said "that's alright" and again said he'd just appreciate staying away, which everyone understood and respected. I was amazed to learn how close Tomko and Chris Benoit were, and it made me feel that much worse about Chris's death knowing how deeply it affected these wrestlers.)
Q- I know they say never say never, but would you ever go back to WWE?
A- Never say never. I didn't leave WWE on bad terms. I asked Vince McMahon for my release do I could go work in Japan, and he though about it for 2 months before he finally said "sure, go ahead." No doors closed, no bridges burned. But I really love it in TNA. It's so close to where I live in Florida, the travel is less, and I get to be more myself. What you see on TNA is me, turned up 4 notches, and that's the difference.
Q- Who do you think is being underused in the WWE by guys like HHH?
A- Let me be clear about this. HHH may very well be the greatest professional wrestling in history. He has so much charisma, and if you've never gone to a house show, you've never seen him go out to every show and wrestle for 40 minutes, drawing as a heel, trying to get his opponent over. Sure, he does get the lion's share of mic time, but the fact is he's a top guy because he's great, and he was great a long time ago.
Q- What is it like working with Vince Russo in TNA?
A- Honestly, and I know he gets a lot of heat, he's awesome to work with. Unlike with WWE creative where I got a verbatim script to follow, in TNA, Vince hands me a bullet point list of things to touch on, but let's me go at it my way. Like I said, me in TNA is just who I really am, turned up 4 notches, and that's why we're successful. We have fun because we get to be ourselves, but magnified. Also, you have to realize, Russo is far from the end-all be-all of decision making in TNA. But I love working with him. (This was a facinating part of the shoot. Tomko genuinely loves his TNA work, and it affirms the bad rap Russo gets that he may not deserve.
Q- Would you care to comment on your suspension from TNA?
A- (laughs derisively) I wasn't suspended. I know that's the "rumor" and what's been going around, but I was injured. I suffered an injury (I think he said his shoulder or his tibia) and went to Jeff Jarrett and asked if he'd take me off TV for a while so I could heel, and he did. But if you want to believe I was suspended, whatever.
Q- There were rumors about a factioning of the backstage between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. Any truth / care to comment?
A- Yeah, I don't know where that got started. Kurt is an athlete and a professional. The only time he asks for something to be changed if it is in the program HE is working. He'll respectfully go to Jeff and say "hey, something needs to change with my match," and I know because I was usually in his matches. Jeff Jarrett is a total professional.
This is maybe 75% of the shoot - we got some GREAT STUFF from Tomko. All of the answers above are paraphrased from my memory, and are NOT TO BE TAKEN VERBATIM IN ANY WAY! Also, Norcal and I did not ask all of these questions, but the question about Japan vs the US, the advent of MMA, and the Benoit question was me. I will let NorCal tell you about the question he asked and what he got from it. Tomko was shockingly soft-spoken, but very direct. He showed us a passion he has for wrestling in Japan, wrestling in TNA, and the possibility of doing MMA. He is married with a 12-year old daughter. He also has a very subtle humor. I gained a new respect for this guy today.
At this point, we all go for the rest room. Kevin Kelly comes out of the other room and asked me "Hey Chris, (yes, Kevin and I are on a first name basis now, though he, too, calls me IC25 now) how was the shoot?" I tell Kevin about it, and he heads in for "The John Cena Sr. Show." After careful deliberation, we decide to skip the Cena Sr. show and go downstairs to the restaurant for a bite to eat.
This was mine and Becky's time to get to know NorCal. Great time. He's a true straightedge - no alcohol. Thankfully he was OK with me having a beer. We talked politics, we talked about the military, we talked about wrestling. We talked about all of you. Yes, I said WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF YOU! Nice stuff, though.
After watching NorCal inhale a platter of fried calamari like he was going to the chair, we went upstairs and sat down as Cena Sr. was getting ready to leave. No joke - he went around to every single fan in the room, and with a huge smile on his face, thanked EVERYONE for being there, enjoying the show, and being a fan. He came up to us, thanked us, and shot the shit. REALLY NICE GUY. He was so friendy, none of us had the heart to tell him we hadn't stayed for the show. I wish we had.
Bill DeMott and Al Snow enter the room for the FINAL EVENT - the Developmental Debate. Just like the Tomko shoot, where we asked the questions. Al and Bill were ANYTHING but soft spoken. They were direct, honest, and pulled no punches.
(the Q&A got lost, and I forget the questions asked. Instead, I will just mention what they said about certain topics.)
Q- What percentage of developmental should be the physical end, and what percentage the business and charisma side?
A- Physical is largely the responsibility of the athlete. They have to prove that they want to be there and the best way to do it is to show up in good condition. A guy could tell us "I want to be here, I want to be here" but when they show up out of shape, it tells us how hard they're willing to work to be there. Our job isn't to teach guys how to wrestle, our job is to teach guys how to work, and that's where all of you (the fans) get confused, because you just don't get it. The object of professional wrestling isn't to wrestle a 5-star match, it's to draw a crowd and draw money. At Wrestlemania 3, which was the best match? No, not Savage vs Steamboat, because nobody showed up and sold out the Pontiac Silverdome for Savage vs Steamboat. It was Hogan vs Andre. That match DREW the crowd. No matter what you say about it, that match DREW the crowd. The other object is to get the fans to "pop." And a lot of you don't know what a pop means either. A pop means we have to make you orgasm in your pants. The "pop" is what we work towards, and the rest is all bullshit. Each match gets only one real pop, and each event gets only one real pop. The idea for the mid-carders is to get the crowd worked up for the main event. We're all a team, and in order for US to be successful, every other guy has to go out and be successful. If one guy fucks it up for all of us, we're ALL out of a job.
Regarding what's hurting the business:
Al- I'll tell you exactly what it is. It's a new guy coming in, being trained by us to draw money and work a logical match, and then getting yelled at by management for what they do wrong, then being yelled at by management to listen to what we teach them. They get mixed signals, and they get frustrated, so instead of trying to draw money, they start caring what you (the internet fans) think about them. They read about what a shit match they put on and how they can't wrestle, so they start trying to pu on that 5-star match that makes no sense. They're happy because they read on the net "hey, that match was a 5-star match" but in the meantime instead of drawing 10,000 people at a 30,000 seat venue, they are drawing 5,000, or even 2,000. Because they stopped trying to draw and make money, and started trying to wrestle a 5-star match.
Regarding Vince McMahon "holding people back-"
A: This is such bullshit. That makes no sense. Why the hell would Vince want to "hold people back." If a guy can draw, then he gets to draw! What, do you think Vince got sick of making money? That's what he cares about! Why would Vince want to hold someone back from drawing and making money of they are capable!?
Q: What is your reaction to only 2 successes out of Tough Enough. (we watch as Al and Bill's blood starts to boil at the fan who asked this one.)
A: A HELL of a lot more than 2 people were successful. Look at Maven. He was a Survivor Series main eventer and had a feud with the Undertaker before he let his personal demons get in the way. Look at Linda Myles. She had a big push coming her way, but she decided she didn't like the business! Jackie Gayda would up with TNA and married Charlie Haas. Marty Wright was cut from Tough Enough 3, but stayed with it and came back as the Boogie Man. Melina was cut before Tough Enough 2 even started! (he mentioned several others as well).
All I can say is that if SlyFox had been at the debate, he'd have a fist full of "told you so's" for everyone. They echoed what he's been saying for over a year.
That's what I recall from the Fan Slam Experience. I hope all of you enjoyed what we discovered. Pics are likely to be posted by NorCal on Wednesday (all 8 or 9 of them) and I anxiously await his addition to the written accounts.
Overall, there is nobody I wasn't thrilled with. From Chris Cash to Kevin Kelly, Nick Dinsmore to Nick of 1000 Names, Tomko to Snow and everyone in between, this was a great group of guys and they made those 6 hours on a Saturday WELL worth it.
. And yes, I'm sure Becca will totally enjoy these pictures. Speaking of pictures, they should be posted round about now.