Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Coach's Corner: "Worrying About The Jones"

----This area, as has been documented on RRO, is sometimes known for not the wrestling ability, but for the ability to gossip. Most people know that wrestling is a back stabbing business. It seems at times people are more worried about other promotions than their own. I have found recently though that it seems that most people have done something totally different – they have spent time worrying about themselves. That has also turned into success for the parties involved.

----In a recent phone conversation with RRO Wrestler of the Year 2008: Derrick King, he stated that he could care less what the other companies are doing when it comes to angles and such. I believe probably 95% of that is the truth, but DK is like a lot of guys in the business – he is still a fan, so he is probably reading what is going on. The thing he is not doing is worrying about what they are doing. DCW is drawing better in Dyersburg than any promotion since the start of this site in May, 2006. The promotion is doing the simple stuff like putting out posters – that is called advertising!! Not a new concept, but when you don’t have people behind you that actually help you, then you cannot be successful. DK’s job has been to book wrestling that people will want to see. But the promoter’s job is to make sure they help in getting those people to the show. DK job is to keep them there. RRO Booker of the Year 2008: Greg Anthony always booked a good show, but he did not have the backing to have good crowds. Apparently DK does and he is giving the people something they want to see. Also, the key being that he does not worry about what EWE or NBW or whoever.

----I also talked with Austin Lane a few days ago. Lane worked for the ASWF promotion for over 8 years. He was instrumental in their move to Tuckerman, AR and was a draw for them. Many can say that he was a driving force behind them getting RRO Promotion of the Year 2008. It is always apparent that when you talk to Lane, that he is excited about one thing – Lane. LOL That is not always a bad thing if you can’t put yourself over, then who will do it for you?? But, not only was he excited about “Austin Lane”, but he was highly energized about RWA. If anyone in this area could say they were the reason for fans coming out to see one guy – it would have to be Lane. His comments were not in that direction though. He was all about how good of a job that Rodney Mack is doing. Frank Martin has got behind everyone and giving them the support they need. Everyone helps everyone. Lane wanted to talk about RWA and how he felt opportunities were going to be available for him there. Did he talk about ASWF?? He did briefly only after I brought it up, but he had no ill feelings and didn’t want to bury them or anything. He just wanted to put over RWA and talk about them. The key being that he is worrying about RWA and focusing on that – and it has meant success for everyone involved in that promotion.

----NEW is a promotion that I probably get more heat over than any other. Mainly because I have talked about how much I enjoyed it and such. Why is that always a bad thing when I like something?? Can you say that NEW has been successful at this early?? To a certain degree they have been. They are accomplishing their goals and doing what they want to do. Are they worried about what other people are saying or what other promotions are doing?? Nah and that is apparent in any conversation that one would have with Ken Wayne. Wayne is still a student of the game and he is always in the hunt for new talent and such. But, that is what makes him different than others of his generation – most are all just trying to do it like it was done in the 1980s. I know what most of you are saying..”Brian they are drawing 40 people..” and you would be correct in stating that, but incorrect in knowing what their end results would be. No advertising and just word of mouth, this group set out to spend time putting a TV show together that would be ready to air with the broadcast quality. Each week something is added and the finished product has come out looking good. I remember saying something to Ken’s wife Debbie about the show look like old Memphis TV tapings. The “look” might be that, but they are presenting a total different product and since October have put on a show every week. Even though it had been mentioned on Dustin Starr’s World of Wrestling that Wayne was going to be upset because Jerry Lawler was running a show in West Memphis [it has been moved], in reality, Wayne could have cared less. Wayne along with the whole crew are worried about one thing when they walk thru that door – putting on a good show for NEW and not what is going on everywhere else.

----Lessons are sometimes learned the hard way. I know I have been a person that has had to sit down and look at the direction of this site at times. Take a look at the direction of just my life in general. The main key to success in doing this is to worry about yourself – your surroundings. Don’t worry about what the “Jones” are doing down the street. Believe me they are not going to be there to help you when you can’t pay your bills or no one shows up to see your wrestling show. It is all up to YOU – it is all up to YOU to go out every night and give 110% and worry only about what you can do for that show. As a promoter, you can’t blame a wrestler or the storylines, when you are doing nothing to support the cause. It has been already proved early in 2009, if you worry about your own promotion and taking care of business, it will mean success.


Coach's Corner is a bi-weekly feature at RRO by Brian Tramel. Tramel was wrestling manager Coach BT in a former life with Coach's Corner being published on the internet during those days. He has since added it to RRO as his signature column.