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All I’m going to say about “Breaking Point” is for God’s sake let the Montreal screw job die. Next will they reenact the crucifixion during Easter season? The only reason the original deal in Montreal was so high profile and controversial to begin with was because it was…well controversial, and it was real.
While on the subject of creative or uncreative minds; TNA released one of the few left breathing in the person of Jim Cornette. Now I don’t know the real reason behind this move nor will I pretend to, however when the company says it was an amiable split and Jim is welcome back ANYTIME, then the question begs to be asked why was he released in the first place?
The answer to the above is he wasn’t on the same page as the rest of the people in creative which is hardly news to anyone who understands the nature of the beast. In this case the beast being the pro wrestling business or Cornette, or both. Not going into a long rant here, but it is interesting that several of the very best “Bookers” I ever worked with would throw out a basic idea for an angle/storyline to those involved and ask for their feedback. Quite naturally everyone didn’t have the same exact idea, and often times the booker would take bits and pieces from everyone and fine tune his original idea. That over the years shaped my thought that when more then one person was involved you fine tuned the foundation idea with input from all involved. That’s why you asked for their ideas pro or con in the first place, and looking at it from multiple sides stimulated bettering the overall picture. That’s my opinion, but I could be wrong.
Lester Welch passed away last week and I want to send out my late condolences to his family, wife Lucille and sons Roy Lee, and Jack who I have worked and socialized with over the years,
Lester was one of the people involved in my being invited to wrestle in the Tampa territory back in 1967, and ultimately being awarded the “NWA Rookie of the Year” trophy.
In early “67” I was wrestling in the Mobile territory and they were presenting a one night tag team tournament in Dothan, Alabama. At that time I didn’t have a steady partner so booker Rocky McGuire put me with Lester because we were both named Les. Clever right? Well not exactly as my full first name is Leslie not Lester (no wisecracks).
Anyway, it was our first meeting and in the dressing room Lester a quiet and reserved gentleman decided that I should shine as I was a regular for the promotion and he was just in for a couple of nights. Also on the card were Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat who had flown up from Tampa with Welch. Eddie was a major owner in Tampa and ran the company, both Sam and Lester were stockholders and Lester was one of the bookers.
I do not remember who our opponents were that night but we worked well together and the match was watched by Graham and Steamboat. The next night after a show in a Florida town the three of them approached me and said they liked my work and had talked to Rocky McGuire, and if I was interested in wrestling for the Tampa office I had Rocky’s blessing to workout a starting date with them.
The honest truth was that I was nervous and excited all at the same time as Tampa was one of the top offices in the business at that time with a roster of many of the best talents in the industry and I knew there was a waiting list to get booked. In truth, had you of asked me a week before that, if I would like to work there I would have answered yes, but didn’t feel I could measure up to their roster; so this young man was also very proud to have been asked to join their line-up of wrestlers.
I attended the Ring of Honor event in Dayton, Ohio on September 18th and enjoyed visiting and sharing experiences with everyone from Cary Silkin right down to the ring crew where I got to hang out with and was hosted by Shane Hagadorn who has grown so much since he attended a training camp that Steamboat and I did in New Jersey when Shane was just getting his feet wet in the ROH School a few years back.
Three matches jumped of the page and highlighted the night for me. The opener was a top match anywhere else but here as Eddie Edwards squared off with Brent Albright. Here was a clever concept, they wrestled! Very nice chain wrestling, switches, both guys working holds and going for their finisher. Very nicely done and it set the tone for the evening.
Davey Richards and Claudio Castagnoli just plain tore it up mid-card with a
very solid well worked match. As I’ve said before Richards reminds me in some
ways of Benoit, and I’m more impressed with Claudio each time out, and his is
in bodybuilder shape on that long frame and the look enhances his very good
work ethic.
The main event was everything you would hope for and the scene was set with
Bryan Danielson the former ROH champion and poster boy wrestling his last
match in Dayton for ROH against hometown product Chris Hero. They kept the
audience in it all the way with solid wrestling and a good emotional roller
coaster ride with Hero getting the nod. As the fans gave Dragon a wonderful
farewell I couldn’t help be think that I just hoped he got the chance to stand
out in his WWE run as he tonight, and Chris Hero had come such a long way from
the brash young man who wrestled as “Wife Beater” what seems like a hundred
years ago. I made the trip home with a nice feeling that there was actually
still real pro wrestling out there you just had to hunt for it in this day and
age.
Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
For a unique training experience and to up your game book your seminar or weekend camp with Elite Pro Wrestling Training. EPWT’s instruction is based on the principles of the founders Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Les Thatcher, and former staff member Dr. Tom Prichard. To learn more about the company go to www.epwt.com . To book a seminar or camp contact Les at les@epwt.com.
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout and Instructional Guide”
by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at
your local bookstore or at the PW Insider Super Store.
The annual Harley Race/Pro Wrestling Noah training camp is September 28th thru
October 2nd at Harley’s school in Eldon, MO. capped off by a show in Eldon
10/3 featuring appearances by Terry Funk, Bret Hart, Ricky Steamboat and
others. For all the details go to
www.harelyrace.com.
Les returns to Philadelphia for CZW and Maryland for MCW with training sessions and shows for each promotion Oct. 8th thru 11th. For more information contact DJ Hyde at academy@czwrestling.com or call 302-345-1077.
Thanksgiving weekend Les returns to the Gulf Coast and Pascagoula, ME. For a weekend training camp and show Nov. 27th, 28th, 29th. For all the details contact John Saxon at johnsaxon4@yahoo.com or call 228-327-7098.
Join Les and Host Rich Tate every Wednesday night at 9: PM EST with their special guests on “Peach State Pandemonium” by clicking on www.gerogiawrestlinghistory.com.
