Russel David's The Mark

... a special thanks to the eWrestling Associated Press. eW, FW and PTC-wide. Next Feature: FWSX

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Last Man Standing OOC :: 2x Mark Person of the Year :: Jon Katz

w/ the co-winner in 2004 and winner in 2005 of The Mark Award for Person of the Year Jon Katz, handler of Craig Miles and Mike Randalls, co-owner of New Frontier Wrestling

Russel Harder: So where are you living these days?

Jon Katz: Is this for the interview?

RH: Yeah, I'm going to start off the beaten path and then vier into eWrestling and writing. California, right?

JK: I'm living with 3 Sherpas and a communist llama on the top of Mt. Washington.

RH: When I said vier, I didn't mean to the top of Mt. Washington.

JK: Hey, you asked!

RH: I just wasn't aware that you where leaning towards communism.

JK: Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm not, that's the llama. I also don't want to receive any hate mail.

RH: Ah, right. Though how can the man of the year for 2004 and 2005 get hate mail, especially since he's so popular amongst a select group of people on the internet.

JK: Read the last 7 words please. On a side note, I didn't have a baby with Devin or Renner. That was completely yourself, and I'm still shocked a Canadian would start rumors like that.

RH: Lord knows that'd at least be an entertaining love child with unfortunate hair, and a pension for Mega Man and juice boxes.

JK: We'd see the first battle rap ever created for Kool-Aid vs. Hawaiian Punch.

RH: I enjoyed the two nights of Wrestlebowl 2, by the way. Craig Miles and Eddie Mayfield, how long had that been planned in advance?

JK: . . . before Season 2 started. (laughter) Around 4 weeks into the angle. . . I had an epiphany of how it should end. After every handler hated the cage exploding during the Season 1 All-Star Week, it just made sense. Well, not every handler. . . A lot of people were confused. . . we were pretty sure that everything would lead to Miles vs. Mayfield I Quit, Miles' stake in NFW on the line. We just didn't know the ending until a few weeks into writing it. People's reactions, as well as the thought of what would nobody see coming just made it seem like a good thing to do. When the fWo started fading, I just expanded the logistics of how everything tied together. . . and why Miles would do what he did. The unfortunate part is not telling the fWo half, 'cause there's a lot that was to be done with Deacon and Miles dealing with severe consequences.

RH: So there was planned story crossover between Miles/Mayfield and Miles/Deacon? Or just Miles mindset through this whole time?

JK: Well, the stories were inter-related already. After the riots for fWo, there were a lot of possibilities out there. Nothing was ever set in concrete, but what if Miles had to explain to everyone that Silver Fox had originally ok'd the angle before getting kidnapped? Or he could've explained it if certain people died like planned. Mayfield was never coming to fWo, but with Miles destroying the locker room and political structure. . . there was definitely a lot of writing material, and backlash from people like Rana Venenosa.

RH: Right. Can you say anything more about the fWo plans that never came to fruition? Or is that something that you'd rather keep quiet and close to the vest, since the fWo could inevitably come back.

JK: I can talk about Miles, ideas that I had that obviously aren't going to happen. . . but there's things that would be in bad faith, if I talked about.

"I'd rather see Randalls win the match, but Miles rule the world."

RH: Quite true, understood. Back to NFW, and Wrestlebowl 2. The two shows got quite a nice reaction, and NFW 3.0 is looking just as strong as some of the other top feds in the hobby, at the moment. This is even before the first show of the new NFW is posted, as well.

JK: Thanks, I'm excited for 3.0 and relieved 2.0 even finished. (laughter)

RH: Speaking of which, do you think the pace of Season 2 negatively affected those final shows? Or has time between shows become common place enough in the hobby, or at least in NFW? The credits of the shows certainly show how much writing you'd put into the fed by the end, to produce the shows in any amount of time.

JK: Well. . . NFW hasn't had luck with matchwriting 'cause people were always RPing a bunch. Also, 2.0's pace wasn't helped by its continual turnover and general flaking by people from the fWo/tSC parts of the world that were losing their steam. The playoffs were delayed because I moved across the country, got a new job. But McNichols was always timely with the East, so if we had enough people from the West jumping in and saying they'd help. . . it would've been a lot quicker this season. Unfortunately, most of them were pretty f'n busy. . . and others were hard to get in touch with. As for Wrestlebowl 2. . . 'cause we had an off-season following, I didn't really care about the time it took to post. 3.0 will be majorly different. I'm not even scheduling Crash's without having enough people signed up to write a match. Otherwise, the fed can expect to see alot of short-form results.

RH: Still planning on running a two show format?

JK: Nope, we're expanding the concept of ESEN and NFW working together through different media markets. To help integrate your typical skilled fWo/tSC/angle writer, we'll be doing House Shows that are reported by NFW: The Brawl, a radio show/web presence that's hosted by Hellmachine, a former NFW tag team. Their creator Jon Morris first created the concept back in 2000-2001, but it was only on the radio. As far as television goes, we'll only be doing CRASH TV's as our 'normal' TV show, while adding in SUPERCrash's and PPV's.

I'm sorry I'm not mentioning ACW or LoC as an angle reference, but I wrote a little bit more for fWo and tSC so its just easier for me to remember.

RH: I understand what you're saying. It's like if you where going to reference roleplaying, you'd bring up the FW side of things before PTC. It's just more a home base, a familiar shorthand, as opposed to a slight.

JK: Exactly.

RH: Would you ever look to handle in a PRIME or within a PTC competition (ecspecially now that they're open to everyone)?

JK: If Hoyt Williams were champion and Al wouldn't get offended with a man wearing a Johnny Cash mask. . . it could've happened. Actually, I just did the IG33 Trash Talk competition. Mainly to make sure Seth was kept grounded and beaten like a mangy dog. I'm hoping Hunchblack wins, so I can write an NFW highlight with Miles helping him Rocket Launcher Senton Silver for the win.

RH: How powerful a weapon is controversy to even an eW character, in your opinion? And I mean just as much in-character, if not more, then anything that happens OOC. I ask this because you've seemed kind of surprised of the popularity of Craig Miles. I character that seems to thrive off controversial happenings.

JK: I don't think controversy helps anyone unless other people in the fed are selling it. I guess that COULD be used OOC as well, but that's just a mean fed. (laughter) Craig Miles' popularity. . . or the ten people that read him (thanks guys!) has always been built on who he's railing against. Deacon and Miles' build-up was loosely based on Jerry Lawler fighting for a motorcycle jacket as one of his all-time greatest Memphis era feuds. But everything that got built around that was from all the other handlers wanting to get involved, or just figuring out how to make the Internet Title entertaining. The Heel Academy was born out of RJ wanting Bowman to 'learn' being a heel and me randomly writing it out. My goal in the fWo during the beginning was to get involved from the lowest-tier to the highest-tier. I don't even know why Miles should've held the Internet Title, in hindsight. . . that would've been the greatest part of his run. But there were alot of handlers that through their names in the hat, so Miles' popularity should be attributed to people like Don, Renner, Ford, Pants that put over Miles as a certain character. Even Jeff was cool enough to not job me. . .and that was all after Deacon without main eventing anything.

RH: Right, everyone wants a fun writing enviornment. Do you have an idea of how many characters are 'part' of The Heel Academy? I know I even got Alias involved, because I loved the idea.

JK: How many? (laughter) . . . I'd say there's 50 students, but very few Masters.

RH: You've gotta have the three Masters written down and posted to your desk, no?

JK: Well, there's Miles and Mayfield. . . I'm sure they'd give one to Randalls out of complete fear, but find some loophole to ban him.

RH: Rana?

JK: I could see Guns having one. . . Rana is still a student. Of course, Rana was the focus of my plan. . . until the riots. I wanted to run a Round-Robin tournament that led to a Countdown Zero, Miles or Flyer walking out World Champion. Of course. . . things kinda didn't get past those riots. (laughter)

RH: Those riots. Where they an unplanned thing (coming up not that far in advance, I mean), designed to give the fed a storylined break that just became longer then expected?

JK: Oh, they were planned. Too many handlers had that confused response that led to NFW West's same sluggishness.

RH: Was it the lack of communication, around what was planned out after either of the riots?

JK: Some people think too much about what they're supposed to write in angle feds. . .

RH: They just forget to riff.

JK: Of course, a lot of people had real-life to deal with. If Travis had time to actively run the fed, people would join quickly. . . but I know how hard staying active is and the consequences of not having enough people in tune with your brain to write what you want.

RH: Do you have a favorite character of your own, at this point? You seem to be writing more Miles then Randalls these days, but that could be an off-shot of the stories that've snowballed with him in the center.

JK: Well, Randalls' locker room was pretty active during Night 2. <.< To answer the actual question, I'd rather see Randalls win the match, but Miles rule the world.

RH: I like how that sounds. Who are the people that've affected your growth most as a handler and fed head?

JK: Chad Merritt, Stephen Thomas, Jamar Nicholas, Gregg Gethard, Pete Russo and myself may be looked back on as the Sinister Six. My favorite writer of all-time will always be Jamar, followed by CS. I think those three are who I look at when constructing stories for a fed. Any NFW handler has made me a better fed head, and somehow I've been lucky to get a lot of good ones.

As far as my tSC/fWo/otherworldly adventures: Renner, Ford, Don, Pants were the biggest forces behind making Miles. You, Pants, Devin actually sold Randalls for what he was supposed to be at different times. . .and Travis for the beers, laughs and key to the Matrix.

Ric Byrne also rocked, as did my Halo teammates, Huph and Kevin. . . .and Warren, the opener of Pandora's Box ironically. Warren should be added to the biggest forces list obviously too, but he had to go and win the World Title without me.

RH
: To be followed by Ford going and winning the World Title without you.

JK: Yeah, well. . . it was actually a shame the fWo ended without him getting a chance to run with the title. Of course, he gets to be the last champ. . . or next one if Travis ever returns from his ninja wars.

RH: Damn ninja wars. Hey, I'll always be a big supporter of an fWo comeback. I mean, it was what drew me into the hobby. You came into the hobby through, gasp, Prodigy, right?

JK: Yessir.

RH: How did that come about, running into Merritt and the boys?

JK: They had first started running an interfed of leagues with EN: CSWA, EN: SLWA . . .anyway, I had stopped trying to run one and joined SLWA with "Devastating" Mike Randalls. . . . then I was off-line for awhile and joined CSWA when it was just a stand-a-lone fed, and the rest is drug-addled, hazy memories of summer camps and stalkings.

RH: (laughter) Actually how much do you write under the influence? All-in-all, what is your writing process? How has it differed since those lazy hazy days of summer, and does it differ between shows and RPs?

JK: Shows are completely different beast than RPs. . . and shows end up getting more under-the-influence moments due to the fact they take longer. I think my writing process hasn't changed in awhile. . . if you see me writing an RP, its usually for a match or something I randomly thought up. Shows. . . I think my fully written NFW shows have a certain formula at this point, which is why I'm interested in 3.0 as those won't happen. I think anything I've written before 2001 is probably complete crap to read.

RH: So with 3.0 on the horizon, and a situation being set-up that should take a good amount of work off of your shoulders, are there any plans concerning bringing Miles or Randalls into a new fed? Or any new characters that you'd like to introduce? l

JK: When CSWA or fWo officially close, maybe I'll think about them somewhere else. For now, I'm trying MBE with a new guy. A straight up uber-face for once.

RH: That's crazy talk, from you. Details?

JK: That's why I'm trying it. 'Wild Card' Jeff Hawkins, a wrestling mish-mash of Jericho, RVD with a made-up wrestling lineage similar to the Funks, Windhams, Von Erichs.

RH: It seems like you like to play with that era of wrestling. Though, actually, it's a reoccurring CSWA trait, I think.

JK: Old-school ECW, old-school NWA, WCCW are my favorite times of wrestling.

RH: If fWo was ever the WWE(F), then the CSWA was it's NWA/AWA/etc.

JK: Chad and Steve are from North Carolina, so that's not a shock for them. I'm from Maryland, which is on the border. When Flair cut his hair, I lost my smile.

"When Flair cut his hair, I lost my smile."

RH: What are the pro wrestling influences on you, as a writer in this hobby? There are a lot there, I can imagine.

JK: Obviously, its a little taboo, but Benoit was a lightning spark when I first saw him, Malenko, Eddie together. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Title was the first time I liked a WWF match. I don't think I ever recovered from Jake the Snake going titleless there. Cactus Jack, Van Vader for big guys, I'm starting to watch Rey Mysterio/Psychosis matches for NFW 200 lbs. and under. ECW obviously. Well pre-WWF bought ECW.

RH: Right, like you said the old-school, bingo hall, ECW.

JK: Yeah. I'll watch You Tube for random stuff too.

RH: Hear about something from someone, and then go and check it out. The accidental finds are always the funnest to spin things out of. Who's material, in eW now again, are you really digging these days?

JK: Obviously, Nova. (smiles) Chris seems to be one of those weirdos that takes things I do in NFW and just runs with them. Him and Jeff (Yori) really accentuated where the handlers took Season 2. I haven't read outside of NFW at all in a very long time to be honest...so its all I can talk about in that regard.

RH: With Chris and Jeff it seems that, like you said... people that tune into your brain. And so you're saying it'd be useless to ask you who the 2006 Man of the Year should be (since the Mark Awards weren't published this last year)?

JK: Nah, there's plenty of folks that I know are doing stuff. But never count out Lindsay either.

RH: Touche. Person of the Year. She's going to tackle me now. Just jump me.

JK: (laughter)

RH: Final words. Any final stories to tell, things you'd like to plug?

JK: The Light of Biaakazatron burns inside us all.

Interview took place on July 10th, 2007

Monday, June 11, 2007

FWSX :: June & July '07

The Fantasy Wrestling Stock Exchange (FWSX) is the official showcase of my wide knowledge of a handful of federations out there in a world full of wrestling, and also my favorite feature for possibly that reason. These are the Top 20 men and women in the world of wrestling… from my POV. Everyone has a different opinion I’m sure, and in no way is this a list that’s been figured out by a mathematic formula, but here’s hoping that if nothing else you at least enjoy it for what you think it’s worth. As many feds are included on the list, more feds now then ever before. The only rule I gave myself is that to be on the list the person had to be active over the last month… after that, what they’ve done has determined where they are. This used to be quarterly, but with the timing of the issues, that almost spanned itself to bi-yearly, former #1ers Rook Black and Karina Wolfenden, during the last half of 2005. Now with the blog format, I hope to do the list atleast bi-monthly, if not monthly. May 2007's #1 was Lindsay Troy.

For the period of early Summer [June & July] 2007

Current Rank :: Name :: (Fed): /-# (Last Ranking); Highest Ranking; MOL – Appearances on List; Note/”Quote”

1 :: Nova
:: (PRIME, TEAM, NFW) : 3 : HR - 1 : AOL - two
The Risen Star continued his outstanding three month run, after having won the ULTRATITLE at NFW's Ultrabowl 2 in May. With NFW currently in an off-season, Nova recently won TEAM's 2007 Tournament of Champions, defeating, among others, Tchu in the final. Speaking of huge victories over numerous opponents, at PRIME's Overkill PPV main event between FU and the anti-FU forces, Nova eliminated Tchu and Danny Ferguson before eliminating the PRIME Universal Champion Lindsay Troy to win the match. FU then fell apart as Jason Snow and Tony Gamble, along with Chainz, tore Nova apart to end the PPV. Nova bounced back with a tag team win with Dusk on ReV131, as a collusion course between Nova and Danny Ferguson roared towards an inevitable Colossus IV clash.

2 :: Jason Snow
:: (PRIME, PTC) : 2 : HR - 2 : AOL - two






3 :: Lindsay Troy
:: (PRIME, EPW, NEW) : 1 : HR - 1 : AOL - three






4 :: Dan Ryan
:: (A1E, TEAM) : 8 : HR - 4 : AOL - three





5 :: Clinton Sage
:: (FUSE) : 3 : HR - 3 : AOL - two





6 :: Stylin' Kyle Roberts
:: (REBEL, TEAM) : NEW : HR - 6 : AOL - one






7 :: Illustrious Face-Eater
::
(PRIME, PTC) : NEW : HR - 7 : AOL - one




8 :: Ravager
::
(NAPW, TEAM) : NEW : HR - 8 : AOL - one





9 :: Sonny Silver
::
(PRIME, PTC) : 11 : HR - 4 : AOL - four





10 :: Tchu
::
(PRIME, PTC & TEAM) : NEW : HR - 10 : AOL - one





11 :: Tsuyoshi Tanaka
::
(FUSE & PTC) : NEW : HR - 11 : AOL - one





12 :: Big Dog
::
(A1E, TEAM) : 9 : HR - 9 : AOL - two





13 :: Troy Douglas
::
(A1E, TEAM) : NEW : HR - 13 : AOL - one





14 :: Joey Melton
::
(EPW) : NEW : HR - 2 : AOL - two






15 :: Easton Hall
::
(PRIME, PTC) : 18 : HR - 15 : AOL - two





16 :: "Triple X" Sean Stevens
::
(EPW) : NEW : HR - 16 : AOL - one






17 :: Danny Ferguson
::
(PRIME) : 10 : HR - 10 : AOL - two





18 :: Rex Caliber
::
(REBEL) : NEW : HR - 18 : AOL - one






19 :: Donovan Astro
::
(NAPW) : NEW : HR - 19 : AOL - one





20 :: Roman
::
(CWO) : 19 : HR - 19 : AOL - one





Highest Debut and Biggest Gain: Stylin' Kyle Roberts (NR to #6)
Biggest Loss: Jacob McKail (#5 to NR)

Mark'd Out (from ranked to not ranked):
Jacob McKail (FUSE), Rune Winters (FATE), Killean Sirrajin (PRIME), Daniel Cruz (FATE), Sun Tzu (PRIME), Bryan Mayhem (GCW), Fred Fusion (FUSE), Jake Keeton (FATE), Apocalypse (SCW), Chainz (PRIME)

The Nine Next (making an impact outside the top 20):
Doc Silver (MBE), David "Obsidian" Vance (PPW), Stone Zellor (NAPW and TEAM), Jordan White (GCW), Dusk (PRIME, PTC and TEAM), Curtis Knight (GLCW), Pierce Lavelle (PRIME), Notorious Jon (cWo), Tom Walczak (PRIME)

Thank you to all the feds and there respective artists, for the images used.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

BWBJMQB :: #001 :: WWJLVD? + BJ 1 - 5

I'm writing a column for the fine people at Spinebuster Wrestling, because they pay well and they provide some honestly good entertainment (and a free PPV feed *thumbs up*). The first column is up on there website and is linked below. I had some catching up to do, as far as shows go, so it's a nice long read for everyone. The good news is the Spinebuster folks enjoyed it and I got myself a HOLY SHIT chant out of the deal.

Nothing like getting your first HOLY SHIT chant...

+++

Every fortnight Russel David (journalist/novelist/smark) goes to the Spinebuster show called Bad Juju (or sliiightly more likey watches it on TV, heh), pays for the PPV, and critiques the whole show. These shows are given a quick run through, then I go through the people, matches, and taped segments that I find to be entertaining. All segments are given a GOOD (I'd buy that), MEH (at least it's useful information) and UGLY (why?!) rating, which are all subjective since that's what I got out of them. Matches get a rating out of a nice and classic ***** stars. Interviews might also be had, along with notes on the show by, from an on the floor perspective of SbW's own CEO. The week post show (Voss's monopolistic practices willing), you'll be able to get thoughts about all of that ... something like this ...


Tuesday, December 19, 2006

One Man Rant :: State of The Mark :: 2007

Since summer, and the conclusion of the The Mark's VS Tournament at the start of June, I've been good and absent with updated features and specials on The Mark. Not even much of a warning shot, or any number of reasons have been given. I realize that. So to all my readers...

Yes, all two of you, I am sorry. heh, Who's kidding who? Take it like a loyal reader, alright?! Hopefully I haven't kept many people waiting so long that they've officially walked away and erased the bookmark of this web magazine from there web browser. If they have, then they'll just have to be given a reason to read my random ranting and self-styled pro wrestling media features. Though as one side note as to why I've put the Mark on the back burner since summer (not to say that the re-invigorated world of wrestling didn't have anything to do with it), I have the pleasure of announcing that on August 29th of 2006 I went and got myself married.

You can call her Mrs. Rachel David... and yes, we'll save money on the monogrammed towels.

Celebration! That's right, I mean, I wasn't doing all that much with my single life anyway, so might as well go for the upgrade. I mean, really. Not to mention I didn't want to have a child out of wed-lock.

Aha... ha... no not really. I'm hardly ready for the responsibilities of married life, let alone that of being a father. Right now, my only baby is The Mark, and as I've spent the last little while talking about, I'm an irresponsible enough parent in that regard, as is. ;)

Hmmmm, I going to be sleeping on the couch tonight too, after that baby comment.

Yes, enough about all of that then, the personal life and the plethora of reasons as to why you haven't read all that much of Russel David's The Mark, this last year. Or at least not as much as you could have. I know you're asking yourself... what's on tap for '07?

Yes, what's on tap for '07?!

Well aside from the column itself, I've been hired on for a notable side project. And no this isn't stalling because I have nothing planned for The Mark's column-major. No, far from it. You see, the thing is, after starting The Mark as a column for a wrestling federation in and of itself, I've been sure to separate it from any one fed since. One, because no fed will ever equal the amazing history and grandeur of a Championship Wrestling League... probably, at least on the history part. Two, because I don't want The Mark to be seen as favouring or pandering to one or a handful of feds, over all others. Sure, that's effected by the feds I have the time to pay attention too, and the things that friends show me otherwise... but it's been my want to make The Mark independent since the closing of the CWL. And that's still the case. But that's also kept me from taking offers from wrestling companies out there, who wanted me to write a column for them, in there magazines or on there sites. But let's FACE it, I'm a married man now, and I need the money!

Kidding.

I happened to find myself in an interesting situation. I enjoyed this certain fed, that came to me with an opportunity. I'm no stranger to working with the owner, thanks to my day job at PWM, so that was even more pull. Plus I think, me arriving with some possibly kind criticism (most of the time, heh) will help give myself and the fed a bit of cross-publicity in a new and entertaining way.

The fed is Spinebuster Wrestling.

The column is Bi-Weekly Bad Juju Morning Quarterback. If you know about the SbW, the long-winded column title hopefully makes good sense to you. So yes, keep an eye on that space, if you're partial too, every couple of weeks starting January 1st, 2nd or 3rd, and then every two weeks after that, every one of there fortnightly shows. It'll be in essence a show review, sure, but with the twist on wrestling column's that you've become used to, in The Mark.

Speaking of The Mark... '07 news, finally.

First and foremost, there'll be the much anticipated final results from earlier in the year, or at least the official results to what had finished and ON-TIME on the 16th of June, the official end and recap of The Mark's VS Tournament, almost a look back on the year that was and the year that changed, since the summer of '06. Chief among those changes, the fact the two finalists, Lindsay Troy and Angelo Deville... are now on a single roster together, that being the scary talented PRIME. When the tournament had ended, Troy was indeed a member of PRIME, but Angelo had disappeared off the face of the earth.

But with this Fuck You business in PRIME, he's about as far away from disappearing as possible.

So yes, look forward to an overview on The Mark's VS Tournament, as well as the 'simulated' fantasy match of Lindsay Troy and Angelo Deville... as well as possible visual accompaniment. This is slated for December/early-January.

Also, slated for January is something I very much look forward too, and that's award season. From the Golden Globes and the Oscars, to the Grammies and the MTV Movie Awards, I love 'em all. Check out and see what the great thinker in the medium, heh, the Blogger, has to say so very well about THAT. And awards season also means the return of the skewed and distorted, and very much biased, Mark Awards. Third annual. And I didn't even think I'd make it past a first annual kind of situation. It'll still be the same set-up, a group of categories voted on by the eWAP, a brain-trust of valid and widely arrayed opinions. Or as widely arrayed and opinionated as possible. Hopefully I can garner as many perspectives on the hobby as possible... keep raising the bar from the first two features. If you would like to be apart of the balloting, make sure to get in contact with me... if you where part of it last year, you'll be receiving a chance to vote this year.

Oh, and I'm also hoping the winner of Federation of the Year, isn't already or about to die within the next calendar year. A repeat would be a nice possibility, people. hah, At least to prove that these shining gold pieces aren't holding any curses, only a respectful nod from your peers to do with what you want.

And of course, the return of all of the regular features.

Like, finally, an up to date as possible FWSX, which is slated for early February, that'll place my Top 20 wrestlers from January in a good form of order... that'll have me second-guessing each one of my picks right along with you, from 1-20. Also there's bound to be plenty of Last Man Standing interviews along the way, where you'll get to here from some of the most note-worthy and notorious wrestlers of the moment. More Roleplay interviews, with superstars talking to superstars (yes, the E took my idea... that I took from Interview magazine, sssshh). Not to mention up to the moment Must Read TV, as I see it, more Reel Wrestling features if I can manage and Thomas Ford's the Bookmark if I can pull him away from his funlarious spin-off blog.

Oh, and retroactively marking out with features from past issues, post-blog, post-web magazine, whenever I happen to run into writers block or a lack of personal productivity. We're talking old interviews with KVC, as well the Ultra Violet edition of Reel Wrestling.

All of this and more... of me ranting, when I have something to rant about. Maybe even some guest rants, when the opportunity arrives, and guest editors are brought in to carry my weight. :D

So aye, LOOK FORWARD TO IT!

I know I will, otherwise... well, my name won't be in the title.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Reel Wrestling :: LoC's Kevin Kenwright :: OOC

Ryan Keaney casts "Repressed Belief"

Repressed Belief would tell the story of Kevin Kenwright up until the point of his wrestling debut in Legacy of Champions. His life and his beliefs would be angled so that he came across as an ethnic minority in the film while at the same time delving into the mind of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the spin they have taken on the Bible. The film would be low-budget with a lot of product placement to fund it. No major company would touch it. It's too risky. A happy ending to a story about a racist? Yeah, like that would be commercially successful.

(Editor's Note: The great thing about the Kevin Kenwright character is he doesn't walk away without paying for his racism.)

The story itself would begin with Kevin as a child, show the death of his mother to cancer when he was 14 and then shift to 19 where he joined the RingRats wrestling academy. Very little of the film would be based in the ring with the main focus being on his relationship with certain characters outside of the ring as he attempted to get to the top of the wrestling world.

The main sections to the story would include:

- Kevin as a child, educated in Harrison by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
- The death of Kevin's mother, and his reaction to it. How both he and his father used the KKK teaching and twisted it so as to blame black people everywhere.
- Kevin joining RingRats and being roomed with Husani Dakarai.
- Kevin progressing through RingRats and tagging with Jackson Snow.
- Kevin eventually getting the call for to join LoC, and being told he would remain with Jackson Snow as a tag team.
- The first two months of Kevin's career in LoC as he battled with his dad's disgust at his son.
- And finally his decision to turn on Jackson Snow on Violence 23 and then his declaration to the world at Or Die Trying.

The main characters...

Donald Faison as Jackson Snow

I am a Scrubs geek! I was so close to simply casting the whole Scrubs cast in this film with the Janitor as Mace Williams and the nervous guy as Scott Riktor for comedy value but then I saw sense. Donald Faison is an underrated actor. He is a really strong actor, as he showed in Remember the Titans and Scrubs. He does comedy well, which would be useful for the light-hearted scenes, but most of all he would enjoy the chance to really get to grips with being the complete victim in this story but at the same time, through KKK's twisted view on the world, still be hated. Plus Donald is built like a Linebacker; so he'd pass as Jackson Snow.

Thomas Hayden Church as Mace Williams

Mace Williams would be a major character in this film and with Thomas Hayden Church I get an accomplished actor that can lead the film (see: Sideways) and also can look imposing (see: Spiderman 3 photos). Hayden Church would be an awesome pick and would really act like a strong father figure when KKK was in RingRats.

Robert Patrick as Steve Kenwright

Have you seen "Walk the Line"? No-one plays the disappointed father better than Robert Patrick. Plus he somehow managed to age realistically throughout the film, so I wouldn't need to employ a "young" Steve Kenwright. Just get this guy to play him the whole way through.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Husani Dakarai

I love this guy. He was awesome in OZ and is awesome in Lost. The character of Dakarai would be the first one to see KKK as a racist and I feel Adewale would pull this off really well.

Sergei Bodrov Jr as Constantino Zergolov
And
Aleksei Chadov as Igor Arefiev

Have you ever watched an arty or foreign film but never known what it is on about? I have. But when I have watched these two they have always seemed like they were good actors. Plus they have the Russian complexion that The Flying Vergomovs would require after the masks came off. I did a quick IMDB search on the films I watched and here they are. My Flying Vergomovs.

Matthew Fox as Scott Riktor

Why not get in a big name? Matthew Fox has the look of a LoC commissioner and can act.
Therefore he gets to be the great Scott Riktor.

Isaiah Washington as Brandon Thomas Patrick Dempsey as Trev Echo


I’m a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy which explains the next two picks. Both men can act but the pairing would have small parts in the film. Thomas would be portrayed as the boss that KKK really REALLY hates. Dempsey has the look of Echo and I think he could pull off the extreme boss role.

Cayden Boyd as Child & Teenage Kevin Kenwright

Cayden Boyd plays the child Angel at the beginning of X3 and I think he would be awesome as the child KKK as the role would be demanding. He loses his mother and is turned towards racism. From what I have seen of Cayden Boyd, he’d be perfect to play the role.

Kelly Rowan as Veronica Kenwright

One of very few women in the film, I’d cast Kelly Rowan as she is fit. Oh, and I saw her in CSI as a discretely vicious wife, so I think she would play the role of the KKK mother quite well until she dies from cancer.

Kevin Kenwright will be played by Ben Foster

Yes, I have realised that I have cast the two Angels from X3 as my two KKK’s but that’s how it goes. Ben Foster is an consummate actor (see: Six Feet Under) and has the look of an Aryan (see: picture of him). I really want the part of KKK to be played by a relative unknown so that his performance isn’t altered by anything that others may have seen him in. Plus playing this role would be an awesome opportunity. How many of you wouldn’t want to go see this?

Monday, May 22, 2006

Pulped Culture :: Windham, Cain, Hopper, Nova & Rollins

But of course, the grid isn't the entire story. It's the thumbnail of the pro wrestler's pop culture perspective... but what's the rest of the answers? In most cases there answers had to be severely edited down. Due to space constraints or... content. To all those questions that wheren't fully answered, you'll find the soundbyte bellow. I'm giving a "reader's descretion is advised" warning right now, but I'm sure you'll still enjoy Jimmy Cain's total loss of sanity almost as much as I did (though it's kind of said seeing a guy with so much potential lose his mind due to drugs... but it's still his decision).

Though, yes, here are the stories behind the answers...

With LoC’s Relentless Champion Max Hopper
[1] “The one with that guy and that lady, guy, and they did some stuff, and then it was over .”

With ACW’s "American Pyscho" Jimmy Cain
[2] "Anything that incorporates screaming, whispering, and complete and total violence fests where blood pours from the sewer systems into the waters like a cork being popped on a whine bottles. Anything by Billy Idol or the Townie Bady Supper Club."
[5] "What're the fucking SAG Awards… and why do I give a shit? I'll lead a coup of US Navy Seals, hard up for pussy, into the sheets of your 80-year-old grandmother! I'll make sure we pick some plastic cocks up, too, so your warm and grampa-y grandfathers can join in the fun! I am the only one worth of an Academy Award -- all categories, I win! Why? Because I fucking KNOW. I don't dick around with a bunch of honey dipped cocklovers, if I feel like peacin', I'll walk the fuck out. Join this renegade circus where we slay the audience in the middle of our show... swinging down from the ceiling of the tent, catana at our waists. It feels so FRESSSH. But that's fine -- I'm not scared of the fuckin' bitches I've seen postin' up on in N.Y.C. I'll beat Lord Lowell into a grave of shredded memories and drained rainbows of majestic violence! LIVE BY IT, OR DIE ALONG WITH THE NEW WORLD! I'LL GIVE YOU A NEW WORLD! A WORD OF BLOODID SHEETS, SCABBIN' TO THEM LIKE THAT SHIT'S NORMAL!? FUCK, NO! YOU'VE GOTTA BE ON *SHIT* BEFORE YOU CAN START PASSING THAT FUCKING SHIT OFF AS "commonplace." BULLLLLLL SHIT!"
[6] "What the fuck? What're you asking me here? Do - I - waaatch - thaaaaaat - showwwww? Ahhh, like... fuck no, bitch! I already KNOW why everybody hates Chris... it's cuz he won't cut off the jive and he just continues SHUCK. SHUCK SHUCK SHUCK~! Keep your wise-ass "homie talk" back to the Bernie Mac. The Bernie Mac who likes to be a fucking sharp cock in a newly purchased pair of scuffed jeans?? That big faggot? "doggone, doggone, doggone!" It's fucking GODDAMNIT, already! DAMN - IT - GODDDDD! FUCK YOU, GODDDDD! I'ma TAKE THE JOURNEY INTO THE MARY'S BLOOD CROTCHAL HEDGE MAZE! WHY? CUZ I AM THE SHIT! AND I TOTALLY FUCK MY HOS THAT WAY -- PUMPER TILL SHE SCREEEEEEAAMS~!"

With PRIME’S Nova
[1] "I saw Hostel. That shit was just too gruesome, ya know? It doesn't take a genius to recreate scenes of horrific violence. It takes someone like M. Night Shlamayan to make a movie that can scare you without making you puke. I'm drunk."
[2] "Shit, right now? No. No. Can't do that. What I can do is give a shout-out to Eddie Hazel's Game, Dames, and Guitar Thangs. It has the sickest "California Dreamin'" cover you've EVER heard. I'll guarantee my PRIME Universal Championship on it. And I'm not even PRIME Universal Champion."
[3] "You really want to know the color of my American Express card? No, no, I'll tell you. It's fucking peach. Peach for the color of my fucking hand, which is all I see when I pull out the wallet to see how my finances are doing...which, while we're on the subject, are pretty nasty."
[4] "I don't read magazines. I'm sorry to harbor a boring answer, but I just don't have the time to read magazines. I'm too busy paying attention to RP deadlines and finding creative ways to avoid them. Fourth Wall broken says WHUT!"
[5] "HA! Whoops, that's impolite. I'm sorry. I've had a bit to drink. What I mean is...who cares? Honestly, I know about potential Oscar winners and all that, and I know Brokeback Mountain is crazy or what-have-you (I haven't seen it) but I mean, let's just be serious with one another...there's the dank film to be seen that we all haven't, and I for one would like to pick up Do The Right Thing before I check out whatever blew up the theatres this summer."
[6] "Everybody Hates Chris?" Fine, sitcoms are desperate. I'll accept that. But I just feel, and you'll pardon me for saying so, that the main character is SOOOO underrated. I mean, he's a good-lookin' cat. And charismatic. All I ask is that people give him a chance."

With CSWA’s last UNIFIED World Champion, currently retired Troy Windham
[5] "Cable Ace Awards. I've won three."
[6] "Only the two episodes I was on playing the concerned guidance counselor."

With GCW’s GTT5 Winner Rich Rollins
[1] ""Hostel." I liked "EuroTrip." I liked "Saw." But putting them together was the worst idea since Spice TV."
[3] "Yellow. It used to be red. I dropped it in the bucket of paint they used to mark the stripe on Deville's backside with."
[5] I watch the Tony Awards. Yeah, I have a sensitive side too.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

VS :: Introduction :: 2006


Ladies and Gents, as you might have already gathered from the nomination process and the bracket seeding in the week there after, the Russel David's Mark 'VS' Tournament 2006 is presented to one and all.

Okay, so I might be a little behind the starting gun when it comes to hyping my own hobby-wide tournament, but it's been building it's own hype anyway since the start of April... and I'm just pushing everything to the fore-front now that the Regional Semi-Finals AKA the oh so Sweet Sixteen. The nomination process proved quite eventful, seeding went well, and you can see how the field of 64 panned out by the graphic above.

Look for more updates soon, as far as the statistics behind each round up until now... and also some expert thoughts on most all the match-ups from round one up until now. Atleast expert thoughts, as in my friends and I. Nod.

Until then... last years finals showdown picture and match-up rundown!


Giving up five inches, and 150 pounds, not to mention a countless amount of strength… one would have to say that Keith Scott Zimmerman would have to be insane if he thought he could face and defeat KVC in a fare fight. Well, hell, maybe he would have actually gone insane before the fight… and maybe, just maybe you don’t know who the Dean of the Digital Mafia is, because especially against a man like Creed, he wouldn’t be fighting fare.

Nevertheless this was set to be an otherwise classic battle between the two. With all the archetypes to play off of, too.

Big vs Small

Size vs Speed

Power vs Technique

Status quo vs Smarkdom

KSZ looked to wear Creedzilla down early, avoiding any real direct contact, and all locking up, and instead going for his larger opponents legs. The plan was to make him as mobile as possible, and take away his push. Otherwise keeping his distance or running like hell when necessary. Even the best laid plans can be over turned though, because before long KVC did indeed get a hold of Zimmerman. Using his size advantage The Juggernaut tore into the Patron Saint of Work Rate… keeping a hold of him, to refrain much movement from the usually quick on his feet Zimmerman. An over the head belly-to-belly suplex garnered a long two count.

You had to give Zimmer credit, if nothing else; he was a persistent son of an itch.

Creed looked to follow things up with his own selection of harsh triple powerbombs called the Shockwave, only for KSZ to sneak in a not so subtle low blow, followed by a quick as possible cradle piledriver to keep the Main Man down. From there the Pride of Berkley did his best to use the ring to his advantage over Creed, which of course meant Allison inserted herself into play whenever possible as well. When KVC stood to his feet, on his own power, Zimmerman was quick to take him back down with a flying clothline off the second rope. Soon enough he parlayed a straight-jacket neckbreaker into a very groggy and worn KVC, and he thought he could press his advantage. The big roid monkey was out on his feet after all. Best Brainbuster in the Business? Miles had proved it could work on…

Thing is, Miles gave up much less of a size advantage, and even though Zimmerman was a motherfunkin’ bulldog of a pro, he wasn’t Superman. Well… only to the online community…

The Kodiak’s eyes glistened with the fire of an awakened beast. He stayed on the ground… and instead pushed Zimmerman up into the air, ripping KSZ’s grasp of his neck cleanly away. Then brought the Messiah of Message Boards down from the Gorilla Press into a high angle DDT. The sight was to be seen, the over confidence had set in for Keith Scott, only to be dispersed. Maybe next time, maybe, but not today.

The three count was elementary.

Victor of the 'VS' THUNDERDOME 2004: Kodiak Vic Creed via pinfall