Chuck Poe and Downtown Bruno
----Downtown Bruno has been writing every other week for us and I do appreciate his effort. I always enjoy his comments on various people in the business. This column is a great piece and stay in his non controversial mode [and he will stay in that mode unless you mention Missy Hyatt to him..LOL], but it also give everyone an idea of how many people it takes to put on a wrestling show. I would welcome a piece like this for all the promotions we cover on a weekly basis.
This time around, I’d like to discuss some of the guys and gals I’ve met through NEW and the “Nightmare” Ken Wayne School of Wrestling. These are the unsung heroes behind the scenes of NEW.
-When you first walk into the school-studio-arena-event center – whatever form the building is taking that particular night. The first two people you meet on Friday night are The Clarks – nice friendly couple who sell the admission tickets for NEW events. A lot of people do not know that these are Ken Wayne’s in laws and of course the mom and dad of Debbie – Ken’s wife.
-Debbie is the former Brandi Wine of days gone by in the wrestling scene. Debbie is also a big behind the scenes contributor to NEW. She runs the difficult and demanding task of keeping the cameramen in touch with what needs to be done during the live to tape NEW wrestling program as well as running the switchboard for the tapings too.
-DJ Stegall and his Dad Dan Senior are also a big part of NEW as DJ is diligently training to become a pro wrestler [and coming along very well..I might add]. He is also in charge of the lights and music at the show while his dad is an occasional ring-apron cameraman for NEW.
-Richard Bressler is irreplaceable as the floor director, head cameraman. He is basically Mr. Everything when comes to the technical aspect of NEW. His entire family is instrumental in working the cameras at the broadcasts as well.
-John Steele’s wife pitches in selling tickets along with Ken’s sister in law and my cousin – Vickie [formally known as Vicious Vickie in Memphis Wrestling] helps out.
-Robert Walker of Critter Gitters has been a great addition to NEW – not only as a great sponsor, but also the force behind the great new brick and mortar design of the NEW set. Walker is also such a great member of the audience along with his great family particularly his son, my buddy, The Weasel.
These folks are the backbone of NEW and we wouldn’t be the same without them. I would personally like to thank each and every one of them.
----“Downtown” Bruno Lauer is a legend in Memphis Wrestling. He surprised everyone last year winning RRO Referee of the Year 2008 from his work at NEW. He appears bi-weekly with his non controversial column. Lauer had his biography published last year “Wrestling with The Truth” and can be purchased at www.crowbarpress.com. Lauer is also currently employed by the WWE.
