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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Wrestling Board => Topic started by: Montague on April 10, 2010, 08:24:59 AM

Title: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 10, 2010, 08:24:59 AM
Over the last 8 months or so, I’ve received some PM’s from people curious about getting into (and being in) pro-wrestling.
I know there are some posters who used to or currently wrestle/train pro.
Additionally, I know that some of you know people who do/have done it.

This thread is for anyone wishing to discuss anything to do with personal involvement in the business.

You can discuss your own experiences,
Post your questions,
Or weigh in with your thoughts.
Even if you have no aspirations to break into the biz, but are merely curious about it - this is the place for you...
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 10, 2010, 08:28:28 AM
To get the ball rolling, I’ll post my responses to several PM’s I received a while back:


PM:
Quote
Hey,
Didn't want this on the general board, you know how it is on here sometimes. I've had a guy I've known thru the gym trying to get me to give wrestling a go. I have always wanted to try it and have no delusions on being a star or anything. Just think the experience would be cool. Any advice or things to offer?


Monty:
I can’t tell you if it’s right for you or not.
Only you can decide that.
I will tell you some observations that I made (in no particular order).

1.) It’s easy to get hurt. You’ll want some kind of health insurance plan, as medical bills will pile up quick. Usually this involves working a “9 to 5” job. I wouldn't have done it without health coverage.

2.) As with anywhere, expect to eat shit as a rookie. I was 24 when I trained, and I was a bit bigger than the other “kids,” so I didn’t get stuck doing much initiation type stuff other than setting up the ring and picking up a few “celebrity” wrestlers from airports, etc. Most newbie’s, though, are messed with by the boys.

3.) It’s gonna cost you some $$. Most promotions/people charge for the training. Even once you start working matches you’ll probably spend more on gas, boarding, ring gear, etc. than you’ll make from the shows. However, if you start claiming this shit on your taxes, then those things – and others, like supplements – can be a write-off.

4.) You’ll lose most of your free time. I like my weekends, and prefer to spend them with friends and family rather than a gymnasium with the "whitest" of trash and the "reddest" of necks (and then there’s the fans.)

You have to really like it to justify doing it. There’s a lot working against you, but then there’s also always a chance you’ll get discovered. My buddy got into OVW after being offered a tryout for a dark match.

You may not know for sure if it is or isn’t for you until you actually try it.
Many places will require full payment for training whether you stick with it or not. So learn about any and all catches before you sign any kind of agreement.
That’s about all I can offer.
Good luck.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 10, 2010, 08:32:06 AM
PM:
Quote
Hey man hope you dont mind helping me with a quistion......
In my wrestling promotion im known for throwing alot of different ( especially overhead ) Suplex's
I was wondering if you know of any exercise's that would directly help my throwing ability??
Thanx in advance


Monty:
I would focus a lot on shoulders.
The shoulders are complex joints that move in a plethora of different directions, and they are CRUCIAL overhead work.

Ken Patera had big POWERFUL delts, and he never needed “help” from his opponents to pick them up and then do whatever he pleased.
Other suplex masters who come to mind:
Steiner
Angle
Benoit
Dynamite Kid
All these guys had good shoulder development.

I would do a variety of shoulder training with heavy emphasis on presses since they build the most strength and size.
Try alternating between:
Seated dumbbell
Seated barbell
Standing dumbbell
Standing barbell
Arnold presses
Cuban presses
Smith Machine presses
And if your gym has different Hammer or Life Fitness machines, alternate those as well.

The idea is to work those shoulders from EVERY possible angle and position. Also include isolation work for each head, and don’t forget rotator cuff strengthening.

It is also advisable to pay special attention to abs, low back, and legs because your core is your foundation to work from when hoisting your opponent overhead. Train these parts directly as well as doing the popular “core-strengthening” exercises for maximum development.
You’ve mentioned lower back issues, which is why I would add even more ab work to help negate some of the deficiencies in the lumbar region.

Of course bi’s and tri’s are strong upper body ancillary muscles used for suplexes, so don’t neglect them either.
Basically, you’ll want to train your entire body, but for overhead throwing purposes, I would prioritize the shoulder work outlined above.


PM:
Quote
Hey man thanx alot for the advice alternating alot of presses on top of regular shoulder work sounds good, I just wasn't exactly sure what muscle controlled the throwing motion the most but that sounds right.
I do train whole body and shoulders do seem to lag behind a little maybe i havent been training them hard enough.
But in your opinion as a natural would training shoulders twice a week to bring them upto par be too much???
Again thank you


Monty:
I wouldn’t do a FULL shoulder workout more than once per week, though I don’t see a problem adding a couple of supplemental sets of presses at the end of another workout day.

If your wallet allows, consider investing in some proven OTC supplements that aid in recovery – BCAA’s, creatine, Vitamin B6, etc.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: leonp1981 on April 10, 2010, 08:27:29 PM
Paying for training is a big hit, I was surprised how expensive it was.  And they didn't pay you for the shows until you had been there for a good length of time.  Even then it was only the equivalent of a weeks training!

The other big thing for me was the injuries.  Just taking the bumps at first caused days of neck pain, and once you got used to that, there'd be the other niggling little things.  A dodgy landing from a hip toss put my shoulder out for a couple of weeks, a suplex into the ropes twanged my knee, and then I broke my foot being thrown out of the ring.  This was all in the space of 3 months!  I have no idea how the pro's manage to keep going, night after night, when their bodies must be in pieces.

For the guy asking about Suplex training, I'd make sure to incorporate some type of power clean and/or clean and press into his training to build that explosive power he needs.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 11, 2010, 08:05:03 AM
It's always interesting to hear feedback from people who've actually worked inside of a ring.
I truly believe that is the only way you can fully grasp what it's like - to get in there and actually do what these guys do.

Even those who critics consider lousy workers posses some skill and absorb some abuse when working.
You can’t "NOT!"
If the average person subjected themselves to a few intermediate ring drills, I don’t think they’d be so quick to criticize and/or dismiss the business.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 12, 2010, 05:25:54 AM
It's always interesting to hear feedback from people who've actually worked inside of a ring.
I truly believe that is the only way you can fully grasp what it's like - to get in there and actually do what these guys do.

Even those who critics consider lousy workers posses some skill and absorb some abuse when working.
You can’t "NOT!"
If the average person subjected themselves to a few intermediate ring drills, I don’t think they’d be so quick to criticize and/or dismiss the business.


Great thread Monty.  I think anybody who has watched wrestling for any length of time has wondered "what if?"
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 12, 2010, 05:43:35 AM
Great thread Monty.  I think anybody who has watched wrestling for any length of time has wondered "what if?"
I agree. For me, watching "Wrestling with Shadows" is the closest i've seen to guys training to make it big and the stuff that goes on behind the curtain.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 12, 2010, 05:57:53 AM
I agree. For me, watching "Wrestling with Shadows" is the closest i've seen to guys training to make it big and the stuff that goes on behind the curtain.

That was an excellent movie.  Had kind of forgot about it.....and yeah, it opened a lot of eyes to the "stretching" that goes on.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 12, 2010, 06:32:56 AM
Shadows & Beyond the Mat were - in my opinion - the two best pro-wrestling documentaries ever produced.
The ironic part is that both projects took unexpected turns that made each a much bigger success than planned.

Bret, himself, had doubts about his doc.
The producer assured him after filming wrapped that the footage caught at the end with Vince would seal the deal.
Even the critics loved it.

As for BTM, Barry Blaustein chose to follow Foley as the broken down, indy-wrestler winding things down at the end of his hard career.
Shortly after filming began, Foley shot to super-stardom and became one of the highest paid workers in WWF at the peak of its popularity.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 12, 2010, 06:43:11 AM
Shadows & Beyond the Mat were - in my opinion - the two best pro-wrestling documentaries ever produced.
The ironic part is that both projects took unexpected turns that made each a much bigger success than planned.

Bret, himself, had doubts about his doc.
The producer assured him after filming wrapped that the footage caught at the end with Vince would seal the deal.
Even the critics loved it.

As for BTM, Barry Blaustein chose to follow Foley as the broken down, indy-wrestler winding things down at the end of his hard career.
Shortly after filming began, Foley shot to super-stardom and became one of the highest paid workers in WWF at the peak of its popularity.




The Jake Roberts stuff was tough to watch...kinda like a car wreck in slow motion.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 12, 2010, 06:48:08 AM
Yeah.
He apparently addressed that and the WWE DVD in another shoot interview he did about a year ago.

I was going to order it, but he’ll just use the money to buy more drugs.
 :)
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 12, 2010, 06:49:58 AM
Yeah.
He apparently addressed that and the WWE DVD in another shoot interview he did about a year ago.

I was going to order it, but he’ll just use the money to buy more drugs.
 :)

haha, plus it will be on youtube at some point..... ;D
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 12, 2010, 09:02:06 AM
Yeah.
He apparently addressed that and the WWE DVD in another shoot interview he did about a year ago.

I was going to order it, but he’ll just use the money to buy more drugs.
 :)
:D  :D  :D  :D  ;D
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 12, 2010, 09:44:45 AM
 ;)
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 12, 2010, 01:47:25 PM
Monty, did you ever juice?  If so, was it hard way or blading?
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 12, 2010, 03:26:35 PM
During my VERY short stint, no – I never did.
IMO - you're asking for trouble.
Besides, at least in the 3 indy promotions near me, you were essentially looking at ECW rip-offs.
(That’s about the only thing that draws anymore, so that’s what the promoters, um... promote!)

Blood was usually reserved for the more brutal matches, and - for the most part - came naturally.
Occasionally, somebody would fix up a blade in the locker room in case they needed it.
Usually, though, somebody like New Jack got the job done with his fukking fork!

One very interesting method I’d heard of (but never seen) is to cut your forehead ahead of time. Patch the wound with Nu-skin (that liquid band-aid stuff), and go out.
When the time is right, it’s a simple matter to use your hand or wrist to brush open the cut and start the color flowing.
I suppose if you’re going for it early, or only doing a promo, this would work well.

Cutting yourself during a match is always dangerous. It’s very easy for something to go wrong – cutting too deep, or infection (there’s a lot of gross shit on ring ropes & mats).

I don’t think blading/juicing is as common as many people think.
You might be surprised how many big names have never done it.
Prior to his WM XIII match, Austin had never got color – and that was after a stint in ECW!
When the time came, he actually got Bret to do the slicing.
Bret may have been among the last workers who could skillfully carry out that art.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 13, 2010, 04:27:45 AM
During my VERY short stint, no – I never did.
IMO - you're asking for trouble.
Besides, at least in the 3 indy promotions near me, you were essentially looking at ECW rip-offs.
(That’s about the only thing that draws anymore, so that’s what the promoters, um... promote!)

Blood was usually reserved for the more brutal matches, and - for the most part - came naturally.
Occasionally, somebody would fix up a blade in the locker room in case they needed it.
Usually, though, somebody like New Jack got the job done with his fukking fork!

One very interesting method I’d heard of (but never seen) is to cut your forehead ahead of time. Patch the wound with Nu-skin (that liquid band-aid stuff), and go out.
When the time is right, it’s a simple matter to use your hand or wrist to brush open the cut and start the color flowing.
I suppose if you’re going for it early, or only doing a promo, this would work well.

Cutting yourself during a match is always dangerous. It’s very easy for something to go wrong – cutting too deep, or infection (there’s a lot of gross shit on ring ropes & mats).

I don’t think blading/juicing is as common as many people think.
You might be surprised how many big names have never done it.
Prior to his WM XIII match, Austin had never got color – and that was after a stint in ECW!
When the time came, he actually got Bret to do the slicing.
Bret may have been among the last workers who could skillfully carry out that art.

That's very interesting to know, Mont. Just curious, have you ever seen anyone get seriously hurt in the ring?
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 13, 2010, 10:48:10 AM
Excellent feedback Monty.  Was that the match where Austin was bleeding like a stuck pig?  That was insane.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 13, 2010, 12:20:43 PM
That's very interesting to know, Mont. Just curious, have you ever seen anyone get seriously hurt in the ring?

I remember a guy having a steel cage door slammed head into his head as he was about to exit.
There was a bolt projecting about a half-inch through the frame on the side that hit him.
The bolt punctured his forehead and the threads grabbed & ripped off a good hunk of his skin with it.

As we broke down the ring at the end of the night, you could see the flap of scalp (complete with hair follicles) stuck on the end of the bolt.



Excellent feedback Monty.  Was that the match where Austin was bleeding like a stuck pig?  That was insane.

Yes.
It was their submission match from that year’s Mania.
They used to play the clip of him all bloodied (right before “passing out”) during the RAW intro.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Thin Lizzy on April 14, 2010, 05:21:09 AM
Here's a match with Bruno Sammartino blading.

At about 6:15 Zbyszko leaves the ring to get a chair. Bruno, still in the ring, goes into his tights and pulls out a blade. When Zbyszko hits him with the chair, Bruno rakes the blade across his own forehead.

It seems really dangerous to keep the blade in the bottom of your tights as Bruno does here. If something goes awry and the blade cuts your femoral artery, it's game over.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 14, 2010, 06:23:58 AM
Here's a match with Bruno Sammartino blading.

At about 6:15 Zbyszko leaves the ring to get a chair. Bruno, still in the ring, goes into his tights and pulls out a blade. When Zbyszko hits him with the chair, Bruno rakes the blade across his own forehead.

It seems really dangerous to keep the blade in the bottom of your tights as Bruno does here. If something goes awry and the blade cuts your femoral artery, it's game over.


Nice clip! And I agree with you on keeping the blade in the tights. If he took a bump the wrong way, he could slice his dick. Ouch!!
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 14, 2010, 08:06:01 AM
You can’t tell for sure from the clip, but some guys would have pockets sewn inside their trunks to retrieve and/or ditch the blade.
Others would just toss it in. :-\

Have seen matches where the guy deposits it into his opponent’s kneepad or waistband. I remember Sabu stuffing one into the turnbuckle while selling.
In one of his matches with Foley, HHH cut himself, and instead of ditching the blade, simply retained it in his fist for the last several minutes of the match. That’s why his hand was clenched the entire time.

The worst televised blade job had to have been Hennig’s AWA title match with Bockwinkle.
Nick couldn’t have been more blatant & obvious about it if he’d tried.

It looked like he had it hidden in his wrist tape because he unraveled a good 2-inch length of it just before whacking.
Curt clobbered him, and as Nick was selling on all fours, the whole arm of his cutting hand was rigid and could be seen to make a cutting action.
This was back in the Kayfabe days.

The icing on the cake was a fan in the same camera shot excitedly miming cutting his own head while pointing at Bockwinkle & shouting to his buddies – pointing out what was happening.

Curt could later be seen on the arena floor tossing a blade under the ring apron after slicing himself.
Sometimes it pays to smarten up the camera people so they can avoid focussing on shit like that.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 14, 2010, 10:27:28 AM
I remember a guy having a steel cage door slammed head into his head as he was about to exit.
There was a bolt projecting about a half-inch through the frame on the side that hit him.
The bolt punctured his forehead and the threads grabbed & ripped off a good hunk of his skin with it.

As we broke down the ring at the end of the night, you could see the flap of scalp (complete with hair follicles) stuck on the end of the bolt.



Yes.
It was their submission match from that year’s Mania.
They used to play the clip of him all bloodied (right before “passing out”) during the RAW intro.

That's f****d. Imagine how painful that must have been. A bolt being dug into your forehead. Ouch....and they say wrestling is "fake". Ya sure...tell that to Foley. 
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 14, 2010, 10:40:58 AM
Firstly, the owner of the cage should have inspected it for hazards like that.
So, I lay the primary blame with him.

Secondly, it’s up to the guys in the match to do a safety inspection for spots such as that one.
However, that match’s finish was changed at the last minute, and unfortunately, that’s the alternative they’d come up with on the fly.
There was no time for inspection.

Imagine the ER Dr. asking how in the hell that happened.
Almost any lie you concoct would probably sound more believable than telling him it happened while you were pretending to fight – which is exactly what the majority of the public dismisses it as.  
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: UPINTHEMGUTS on April 14, 2010, 10:48:27 AM
Remember being a kid and watching WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event. Late 1986 or early 1987. Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff in a steel cage. That was the one were both Orndorff and Hogan were both exiting the cage and landed on the floor at the same time. They restarted the match and Hogan ended up winning.

Anyway....during the match you could easily tell Orndorff was blading. You could clearly see him taking the blade out of his wrist tape and cutting his forehead. Hogan was actually walking toward him and paused for a second because he noticed last minute that Orndorff was blading. Then he threw Paul against 3 sides of the steel cage and then that's when the blood started flowing.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 14, 2010, 12:52:03 PM
Really? I must have seen that match about a hundred times and I never noticed it. Now you have me curious. I will have to check for that.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Thin Lizzy on April 20, 2010, 04:33:22 PM
In an interview, Ric Flair said that when he was training to be a wrestler, Verne Gagne had recruits run 2 miles, then, immediately do 200 hundred squats.

Is this a typical cardio program for a wrestler?
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 20, 2010, 04:45:04 PM
Not these days - at least, not "typical."

Gagne’s program was designed to weed out the merely interested from those with the desire, drive, and skills to excel.
His camp turned out some phenomenal talent.
In fact – a large percentage of the guys Vince Jr. brought into the Fed when he took things over from his dad were from MN.


Read the first few paragraphs of this interview that Jeremy Hartley conducted with Ricky Steamboat several years ago:
http://www.solie.org/interviews/stmboat.html (http://www.solie.org/interviews/stmboat.html)
He discusses his training days in AWA.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Thin Lizzy on April 20, 2010, 06:53:50 PM
Good stuff. I ended up reading the whole thing.

Some crazy shyte. We used to do "Wheelbarrows" at Renzo's (BJJ).  I never thought they were a good exercise. Too hard on the wrists and shoulders, especially when you start getting older.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 20, 2010, 07:05:23 PM
I know that Vince has footage of AWA’s training camp.
I hope they include some good video on Steamboat’s new DVD coming out this summer.

I have the shoot interview Ricky did with RV Video.
It contains some match footage, but the problem is – they can’t show much since WWE owns almost everything now.

WWE’s DVD’s show some good footage, but there’s a lot they leave out, and the guys don’t have free reign – or even the time – to just sit down and say everything they want to say.
(Piper cut out soooooo much from his WWE set compared to what he said in his Highspots interview.)


To get the most, you really need to buy the shoot videos for the interviews and Vince’s discs for the archival footage.
Put them together, and you have about as much as you can purchase.
Although, many people are surprised at what all they can find on youtube, etc.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 21, 2010, 04:07:25 AM
I know that Vince has footage of AWA’s training camp.
I hope they include some good video on Steamboat’s new DVD coming out this summer.

I have the shoot interview Ricky did with RV Video.
It contains some match footage, but the problem is – they can’t show much since WWE owns almost everything now.

WWE’s DVD’s show some good footage, but there’s a lot they leave out, and the guys don’t have free reign – or even the time – to just sit down and say everything they want to say.
(Piper cut out soooooo much from his WWE set compared to what he said in his Highspots interview.)


To get the most, you really need to buy the shoot videos for the interviews and Vince’s discs for the archival footage.
Put them together, and you have about as much as you can purchase.
Although, many people are surprised at what all they can find on youtube, etc.


Some of this old AWA training camp footage is on the Ric Flair DVD. Some pretty crazy shit. Nick Bockwinkle said that when Flair entered the camp he was a chubby 275lbs and by the time camp was over he trimmed down to a solid 240lbs. Verne Gagne knew how to prepare the trainees correctly and like Mont said, weed out the week. Some of the greatest stars ever came from that camp.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 21, 2010, 02:23:42 PM
This is what Verne's camp did:

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/21.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/44.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/66.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/42.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/16.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair/48.jpg)

(http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/ricflair2/16.jpg)

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: UPINTHEMGUTS on April 21, 2010, 03:19:13 PM
wow......Cannot believe how heavy Flair in his younger years. I remember reading that he said he was 300 lbs at one point but I couldn't picture that....
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on April 22, 2010, 04:53:29 AM
wow......Cannot believe how heavy Flair in his younger years. I remember reading that he said he was 300 lbs at one point but I couldn't picture that....
Oh yes...he was a big boy. He was training with Ken Patera and wanted to try to get as big as him at one point.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Thin Lizzy on April 22, 2010, 10:29:59 AM
That Flair pic threw me for a loop, too. I had never seen it before.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: UPINTHEMGUTS on April 22, 2010, 12:40:30 PM
There was a time briefly in his career that Ric Flair was shredded. I remember back in 1986 during the Great American Bash. There were like a dozen different Bash's over that summer. Flair got in terrific physical shape to do all of those shows. He was facing the Road Warriors and Rock Roll Express in singles competition that year and lost the world title to Dusty at one of those shows.


That last picture above looks like that era of his career.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 22, 2010, 01:53:31 PM
Well, I suppose that, since this is - technically - a bodybuilding site, I can say this with it being taken the right way…

In that last photo, check out Flair’s lower pectoral line.
It is more defined than in any other picture in the chronological series I posted.
Also, his face has a much more carved look.
Nature Boy looked good throughout most of his career, but during the timeframe you mentioned, he looked fantastic!
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 23, 2010, 12:20:38 AM
There was a time briefly in his career that Ric Flair was shredded. I remember back in 1986 during the Great American Bash. There were like a dozen different Bash's over that summer. Flair got in terrific physical shape to do all of those shows. He was facing the Road Warriors and Rock Roll Express in singles competition that year and lost the world title to Dusty at one of those shows.


That last picture above looks like that era of his career.

I think you are correct on the timeline.  I went to one of the bashes back then, and Flair was in excellent shape.  That is BY FAR my favorite era of wrestling.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 28, 2010, 04:49:08 PM
Monty, did you ever juice?  If so, was it hard way or blading?


Forgot to add this way of juicing:




R.I.P. Captain.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on April 29, 2010, 09:23:37 AM

Forgot to add this way of juicing:




R.I.P. Captain.

haha, Lou was one of a kind.....I remember Abdullah doing something similar where he would just hit his head with an object and blood would start flowing from those deep scars on his head.

also, I was reading something yesterday that reminded me of something.  Are you old enough to remember Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods?  I was very, very young, but he was my original favorite wrestler.  Anyway, I remember him juicing thru his white mask on occasion.  Don't see that everyday.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on April 29, 2010, 11:49:33 AM
haha, Lou was one of a kind.....I remember Abdullah doing something similar where he would just hit his head with an object and blood would start flowing from those deep scars on his head.

also, I was reading something yesterday that reminded me of something.  Are you old enough to remember Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods?  I was very, very young, but he was my original favorite wrestler.  Anyway, I remember him juicing thru his white mask on occasion.  Don't see that everyday.


Abby could supposedly insert a poker chip into the groove between scars on his forehead, where upon it would stick & totally freak people the fukk out.

I was also quite young when Tim Woods was still wresting, but I must admit that - during my prepubescent mark years - I was strictly a Federation fan.
Vince had already taken over the wrestling world and was the most mainstream organization in my viewing area.
What did I know?
 
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on July 31, 2010, 07:17:10 AM
Monty, just on a general note, what did you most enjoy about it?  Physical performance, mental performance, hanging out with the guys, fan interaction, etc....?
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on July 31, 2010, 07:31:05 AM
I didn’t do it for long at all, and I never made any money doing it.
I didn’t like giving up my weekends to travel from one white-trash shithole to the next.
I didn’t like being in constant pain & discomfort.
I didn’t care to hear about (or see) “the boys’” drug habits.
I didn’t like the promoter.

Does that answer your question?

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on July 31, 2010, 07:37:36 AM
I didn’t do it for long at all, and I never made any money doing it.
I didn’t like giving up my weekends to travel from one white-trash shithole to the next.
I didn’t like being in constant pain & discomfort.
I didn’t care to hear about (or see) “the boys’” drug habits.
I didn’t like the promoter.

Does that answer your question?




haha, was there ANYTHING you liked?  ;D
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on July 31, 2010, 07:49:32 AM
It was cool (but often sad) meeting some interesting people.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 03, 2010, 04:36:00 AM
It was cool (but often sad) meeting some interesting people.
Wrestling is an extremely tough sport / life. i honestly don't think the general public has any clue what wrestlers / performers go through.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on August 03, 2010, 06:50:06 AM
Yep.
And all for a chance - JUST A SLIM CHANCE - to make a decent living for a few years.
Only a few make it to that level.
Even fewer make it farther.

Most don't make it at all.

I wasn't about to turn into a 30-year-old with a practically worthless education...moving furniture by day and wrestling white trash for white trash for $40/shot on weekends.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 03, 2010, 08:21:29 AM
Yep.
And all for a chance - JUST A SLIM CHANCE - to make a decent living for a few years.
Only a few make it to that level.
Even fewer make it farther.

Most don't make it at all.

I wasn't about to turn into a 30-year-old with a practically worthless education...moving furniture by day and wrestling white trash for white trash for $40/shot on weekends.


Exactly. I know my buddy went crazy for about 5 years living in limbo. Japan for 6 months, then the independants, then to more training. He wasn't poorly off buy he struggled bigtime. Not easy to achieve something in the world of wrestling and if you get hurt, its even worse. In his words, he felt he was also lucky for being in the right place at the right time. Paul Heyman found him and brought him into OVW. The rest was history.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Captain Equipoise on August 16, 2010, 02:47:12 PM
I cant imagine any normal woman taking a guy in his late 20's early 30's that 'wrestles' seriously... LOL, I have two friends that are semi-pro wrestlers (think ECW level) and they are both mid-late 30's women just laugh at  them when they tell them what they do in their spare time (they both have 2 jobs each to support their pro wrestling hobby) I think they make around $150-175 a match..

this is them (they're a tag team)

http://www.fleshwrestling.com/

I've been to a few of the shows, the average attendance is maybe 150-200 people, I think it's a joke and a waste of time
they tried to get me interested in it based on my physique a few years ago but it wasn't for me..
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on August 16, 2010, 03:14:34 PM
I cant imagine any normal woman taking a guy in his late 20's early 30's that 'wrestles' seriously... LOL, I have two friends that are semi-pro wrestlers (think ECW level) and they are both mid-late 30's women just laugh at  them when they tell them what they do in their spare time (they both have 2 jobs each to support their pro wrestling hobby) I think they make around $150-175 a match..

this is them (they're a tag team)

http://www.fleshwrestling.com/

I've been to a few of the shows, the average attendance is maybe 150-200 people, I think it's a joke and a waste of time
they tried to get me interested in it based on my physique a few years ago but it wasn't for me..



Probably the smart thing to do is avoid it.
What your friends are making is average (I'm assuming they're making that amount each).
Unfortunately, that's about as far as most guys make it these days.

At one time, it was bad-ass to be a pro-wrestler.
A lot of girls dug it.
Right now, though, wrestling is far from hot, and there's no prestige associated with it like back in the territory days when the public perceived all wrestlers as financially well to do.

If you're smooth enough and have a good body, you can find a girl to screw any night in any town.
But no woman will want to settle down with a guy pushing 40 who's more serious about wreslting in high school gymnasiums than an actual career with a 401k.
Unless you're in the big leagues, it should be the other way around: career first, wrestling as a hobby.

One of my buddies was about 33 when WWE signed him to a developmental contract.
He was released a short time later.
I thought for sure that he would move on and try to settle on a real career, but no...
Four years later (and older), he's still chasing the dream.

These fukking people need to set deadlines for themselves.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 17, 2010, 04:36:05 AM
I cant imagine any normal woman taking a guy in his late 20's early 30's that 'wrestles' seriously... LOL, I have two friends that are semi-pro wrestlers (think ECW level) and they are both mid-late 30's women just laugh at  them when they tell them what they do in their spare time (they both have 2 jobs each to support their pro wrestling hobby) I think they make around $150-175 a match..

this is them (they're a tag team)

http://www.fleshwrestling.com/

I've been to a few of the shows, the average attendance is maybe 150-200 people, I think it's a joke and a waste of time
they tried to get me interested in it based on my physique a few years ago but it wasn't for me..

That's just it though, Cap. If they do get noticed and they do make it, they make major coin in one of the top 3 organizations. That being TNA, WWE or NJPW. Its a chance they take. If they make it, great. If not they become a Greg Kovacs....and you and I both know what happend to that mishap.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on August 17, 2010, 05:29:41 AM
LOL!!!
The last I heard of Kovacs, my buddy saw him some years back at a booth at the Arnold.
He was just sitting there, had several fans blowing on him, and sweat profusely while signing autographs.

Give me the "where are they now" update!
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 17, 2010, 08:13:10 AM
LOL!!!
The last I heard of Kovacs, my buddy saw him some years back at a booth at the Arnold.
He was just sitting there, had several fans blowing on him, and sweat profusely while signing autographs.

Give me the "where are they now" update!
He went to the same gym as Cap & I in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He did no more then 4 plates per side on an incline smith and max 3 plates per side on smith front presses for shoulder on a good day. No dumbells / all cable / machines. So this bullshit of him doing all these "crazy weights" was just that. Bullshit.

He is now divorced, working at some mickey mouse gym near Hamilton, Ontario making protein shakes for people. hasn't touched a weight in about 3 years and has atrophied to stage 5 palumboism.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: The Showstoppa on August 17, 2010, 10:14:36 AM
He went to the same gym as Cap & I in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He did no more then 4 plates per side on an incline smith and max 3 plates per side on smith front presses for shoulder on a good day. No dumbells / all cable / machines. So this bullshit of him doing all these "crazy weights" was just that. Bullshit.

He is now divorced, working at some mickey mouse gym near Hamilton, Ontario making protein shakes for people. hasn't touched a weight in about 3 years and has atrophied to stage 5 palumboism.

Pity, he had such a flowing physique...... ;D
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 17, 2010, 11:28:42 AM
Pity, he had such a flowing physique...... ;D
His problems really started in 1999 when he really ramped up the HGH / Inslin / IGF-1. Totally ruined what little he had and buried him. He stupid too. Muscletech was paying him 150k (plus guest posing, seminars, etc) per year to stay big and compete once per year. All he had to do was one lousy show per year. Well, NOC 2001 rolled around and we all know what happened there. It was downhill after that. He became a bum now. He has absolutely nothing to show for the last 10-15 years. No accomplishments, nothing. He made his own bed and now let him lay in it.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on August 17, 2010, 11:40:59 AM
Pity, he had such a flowing physique...... ;D

ROFLMFAO!!!


He went to the same gym as Cap & I in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He did no more then 4 plates per side on an incline smith and max 3 plates per side on smith front presses for shoulder on a good day. No dumbells / all cable / machines. So this bullshit of him doing all these "crazy weights" was just that. Bullshit.

He is now divorced, working at some mickey mouse gym near Hamilton, Ontario making protein shakes for people. hasn't touched a weight in about 3 years and has atrophied to stage 5 palumboism.

Cap86?
I didn't know both of you bastards were from Ontario!
Hey, check your PM's sometime.

Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 17, 2010, 11:44:42 AM
ROFLMFAO!!!


Cap86?
I didn't know both of you bastards were from Ontario!
Hey, check your PM's sometime.


Ontario is where its at brotha :)
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Captain Equipoise on August 17, 2010, 12:32:13 PM
He went to the same gym as Cap & I in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He did no more then 4 plates per side on an incline smith and max 3 plates per side on smith front presses for shoulder on a good day. No dumbells / all cable / machines. So this bullshit of him doing all these "crazy weights" was just that. Bullshit.

He is now divorced, working at some mickey mouse gym near Hamilton, Ontario making protein shakes for people. hasn't touched a weight in about 3 years and has atrophied to stage 5 palumboism.

Yup, that about sums it up... his wife did EVERYTHING for him, even took the plates off the machines for the lazy bastard!!! and loaded them up, then would run around and towel him off and/or put the water bottle in his mouth between sets, laziest m*therfcker I've ever seen train, he couldn't walk 5 steps before going into mild cardiac arrest..I saw him a year or two ago around hamilton, looks HORRIBLE.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 17, 2010, 01:11:46 PM
Yup, that about sums it up... his wife did EVERYTHING for him, even took the plates off the machines for the lazy bastard!!! and loaded them up, then would run around and towel him off and/or put the water bottle in his mouth between sets, laziest m*therfcker I've ever seen train, he couldn't walk 5 steps before going into mild cardiac arrest..I saw him a year or two ago around hamilton, looks HORRIBLE.

Lol...I saw this first hand at Treasures (a peeler joint) back in 2002. He would walk 10 ft and have to sope and lean on a chair whilst breathing heavy. lol...what a dumbass.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Montague on August 17, 2010, 01:52:09 PM
It was all worth it in the end.
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Captain Equipoise on August 17, 2010, 11:27:33 PM
Lol...I saw this first hand at Treasures (a peeler joint) back in 2002. He would walk 10 ft and have to sope and lean on a chair whilst breathing heavy. lol...what a dumbass.

LOL, I dated 2 girls from treasures :)

good times
Title: Re: So you wanna be a wrestler…
Post by: Playboy on August 18, 2010, 05:28:26 AM
LOL, I dated 2 girls from treasures :)

good times

Lol.....Small world dude....small world....me too!

But I did the majority of my damage at Cannonball  ;D