Retrospective: Chase For The Championship

I’ve executed this twice thus far. Written this weblog…made it virtually to the tip then I do one thing that causes me to lose the entire thing. That is the third time.

With that stated, this will likely be just like the Tenacious D tune “Tribute”…it isn’t the best weblog ever, but it surely’s a tribute. 

Forgive me prematurely if this feels redundant. It definitely does writing it.

We’ll name this a retrospective for lack of a greater time period – although this was solely in 2022. 

Let’s start…for years it has been mentioned having a W4H Champion. I am all for championship titles, but it surely will get slightly too wild when it will get previous round willy nilly or when you’ve too many championship titles.

After a great deal of dialogue, a pair buddies satisfied me to only do it. Initially I wished all of the legends of the underground scene – Jonny Firestorm, Tristan Baldwin, Scrappy, Braden Charron, and many others. Scheduling all these guys for a similar day has confirmed tough. I’ve had shoots with 3/4s of these guys however by no means have I ever been capable of get them suddenly.

If I could not get all the celebrities I wished then I would should go a special route. For our first picks, I went with some guys I appreciated and thought have been both nice or on the verge of being nice.

I wished to shoot the event in one-day. A real take a look at of the champion and I feel you recognize if somebody has what it takes if they will do all of it in at some point. Alas, we weren’t capable of get 8 guys who I assumed have been certified. We have been capable of get 6 certified candidates for the primary evening of filming. That meant 3 of our first spherical matches.

Now I wanted a customized championship belt. Positive utilizing a reproduction or toy belt is enjoyable, but it surely would not really feel like a real customized championship belt…and luck would have it that I knew somebody who was making fairly priced customized gold. I am a fan of the white leather-based belts just like the WWF Intercontinental one within the late 80s early 90s, so I wished one thing related. After some forwards and backwards on the concept, we agreed on a glance. All I needed to do now was wait.

I met up with him at a professional wrestling occasion and he had the stuff. After coming back from his automotive, he pulled out of his bag the model new, one-of-a-kind W4H Championship. I used to be stoked! It is official, I am the “mastermind” of my very own wrestling group – full with an actual championship belt. 

We set a date to make use of my associates ring in his storage. He was gonna be out-of-town however did not thoughts us utilizing the ring so long as we weren’t too rambunctious.

The primary spherical needed to be distinctive from what we have executed earlier than, so I picked Brit Professional Rounds as the principles of the primary bouts. Because the first-time I took half in a Brit Professional match, I felt at dwelling with the model. A lot enjoyable concepts you are able to do with it plus it is an endurance sport.

Everybody needed to have a particular look or one thing distinctive. Being a fan of 80’s and early 90’s professional wrestling, I had some concepts in thoughts for the fellows. I additionally had the advantage of a good friend with an unlimited assortment of WCW & WWF Superstars precise wrestling gear that they’d parted with together with Buff Bagwell. 

First up, Javier The Hunk – a scorching up-and-comer on the professional and underground scene. He is younger and has an excellent novice wrestling pedigree. On prime of that, he is gaining some success within the professional wrestling scene with the massive guys. He wasn’t a prime canine but, however I knew he had the potential to be.

Now what was he gonna put on? He reached into his bag of wrestling gear and pulled out a couple of gadgets. I am not an enormous fan of singlets however one thing about his pink novice singlet from his highschool days felt proper…so long as he made positive to tug the straps down to indicate these pecs and abs. He agreed and we had our first star of the event.

Each rookie must face a veteran opponent, so I pulled my very own identify out of the hat. I knew after I scheduled Javier that I wished to check him within the ring. I’ve seen him in motion and I’ve heard good issues, however nothing like getting up-close to search out out if he is nearly as good as marketed. 

I am very fundamental in my favourite outfits – clear white boots, traditional 3-striped socks pulled up and a metallic/latex speedo. My buddy threw me his lengthy ring jacket to prime off the look, however I later ditched that.

Subsequent up, was Joey Nux – he is a heavyweight badass. Positively has the potential to be the highest man at W4H. The title laid round his manner or over his shoulder. He is been on hearth since debuting at W4H, so let’s examine if he is obtained what it takes to win the gold. 

My good friend with the WCW ring gear assortment pulled out considered one of his favourite appears – a half pair of trunks mixed with a protracted pair of tights in brilliant pink zebra print. I had my doubts, however he saved reminding me that we have been making an attempt to do one thing totally different (and hopefully higher) than the usual W4H wrestling match. Joey eased my considerations with the proper black leather-based vest. A bandanna to match topped the look off. 

Seeing Joey in that outfit, Gabe Steele began licking his lips. Gabe is a fan of traditional professional appears and knew he wished  to get his arms on the muscled bodybuilder. Gabe virtually at all times has the very best gear within the room and this was no exception. He pulled out a couple of outfits earlier than hand-picking one. Gabe has a singular look and a few latin flare, so he match completely into the event and it is arduous to argue that he hadn’t been worthy of a spot. He simply has had probably the most matches, realized probably the most strikes and improved probably the most within the shortest time I feel I’ve ever witnessed.

Final of our first evening first spherical motion pitted boy subsequent door, clean-cut and healthful Max Ryder in opposition to Drew Harper. I knew precisely what I wished for Max…like I stated, I am a fan of that 80s and 90s professional wrestling and he was the proper patriotic babyface. It is considered one of my favourite outfits to put on on the professional scene and in underground matches so I knew proper the place to get it.

I am not saying I used to be cheering in opposition to Max Ryder however I feel it is apparent that Max has the potential to be one of many huge stars of W4H, nonetheless, I do not assume he has the killer intuition. It is greater than strikes and abilities – it is angle. 

Drew Harper has that look, he is grown as a wrestler and he’d make a very good champion. Not too huge, not too inexperienced. He might’ve upset his manner into being W4H Champion – I strongly imagine that. We wanted one thing that match the texture of the event and it did not take Drew lengthy to tug the Tarzan impressed trunks out. He regarded like a man on TV wrestling. Now, might he pull it off.

 On the finish of the evening, Gabe Steele and I have been sitting round with our different good friend chatting when it was determined we would have the primary match of spherical 2 proper now. All of us agreed it needed to be one thing totally different than the primary spherical and the reply was NO DQ, WEAPONS ALLOWED. I had a desk that we might break so Gabe and I wiped the sweat off, freshened up and performed round within the ring – inside and outdoors.

It was enjoyable…till my good friend returned dwelling proper as we concluded our match. 

The place was a multitude. Weapons and speedos all over the place. Plus I feel we have been utilizing a fog machine for one thing. He had forgotten we have been utilizing his place…or I did not make clear absolutely and he was VERY SURPRISED. After he calmed down a bit, he wished to understand how the matches have been and if he might see them.

That first evening was excellent and we labored out some concepts to get the event going. We simply wanted 2 extra guys to fill out the bracket. I used to be holding out hope for Scrappy or Tristan or Jonny or somebody of that caliber. Hell, perhaps Lon DuMont would come out of retirement. After considering on it, I knew I had 2 guys who have been succesful.

Daddy Texas was recent on the scene. He is tall and watching him in motion I noticed glimpses of greatness. He is moist behind the ears, however, hell, he is from Texas – that is virtually the land of Champions. We wished to current him much like Max Ryder however totally different. We could not discover the cowboy outfit so we went with that traditional  clean-cut school wrestler look. 

He was out-matched from the star. With just one spot left within the event, I knew I needed to get probably the most expert and knowledgable wrestler I knew- Chase Sinn. Because the first time I met him I have been amazed by how a lot he is aware of concerning the guidelines and strategies of wrestling – not simply professional. I as soon as noticed him re-position himself on a pin-fall as a result of his toes have been below the ropes and that was in opposition to the principles. Most referees do not even know that rule and Chase Sinn did not wanna depart any probability for dropping the match.

We filmed the second half of the event after the completion of the primary spherical. Chase Sinn ended up competing 3 occasions that day – a real take a look at of a champion. And actually, I feel he ought to’ve gained. The dude can wrestle anyone – irrespective of the dimensions or talent stage. He is that rattling good.

I used to coach with Chase Sinn and we have wrestled a couple of occasions – each time I study one thing new and I’ve enjoyable attending to problem my abilities. You might say I used to be trying ahead to the massive Championship match between the 2 of us. We have got good chemistry and do not thoughts going “off-script” in our bouts. 

The completion of the event left me slightly unhappy. Sure, I gained the event. Sure, I in all probability ought to’ve been the primary actual champion in W4H (hey, I am the boss and I am virtually retirement age) – however I wished my associates to be in it. 

Do not take that flawed. The event was excellent. However what do you assume we make this just like the Olympics. Possibly each 4 years we put one on. Possibly each 2? What do you assume?

Possibly a committee to see whom will get voted in to compete for the W4H Championship.  Who would you’ve put within the 8 man event?