[Concrete TG]

Pro Training LLC is a small school in north Cincy that is looking to start having shows twice a month. Last night was a test show, starring some local (former HWA talent) and a surprise guest wrestler from Ohio Valley Wrestling.

A light card, but tough to do a lot with one ref in a building with no A/C:

KIMERA v. "The Kid" Jalen Russell

Mary Elizabeth v. Jessica

Ganger v. OVW's Johnny Punch(w/Melody)

JT Stahr v. Ronnie Bailey

North Metro Youth (Jake Omen & Johnny X with manager Scary Gary) v. GP Code (HWA's Andre Heart and Deja Vu)

Why is this big? The head trainer for PT Wrestling is none other than WWE's Jimmy Wang Yang.

I've been asked back - twice a month and they trust me with a microphone

[Eric O'Mac]

That's awesome news Crete. I hope this is something you enjoy doing...announcing in any sport, including wrestling, has always been a dream of mine, so I hope you are able to find success with this, even if it's just for fun.


(But if you end up getting a job with WWE or TNA....tell them to give me a call. )

[Pun]

Announcing on the TV or introducing the wrestlers? Either way, that's awesome!

[Stu]

Congratulations!

[Concrete TG]

Aug 22, 2008 9:19:05 GMT -5 Pun said:

Announcing on the TV or introducing the wrestlers? Either way, that's awesome!

Introducing the wrestlers - this group isn't on tv (yet). The show was videotaped so I'll ask if I can get a copy of it so I can post some bits. If we get to tv I'll ask for the color commentary position.

What was really cool is that a lot of these guys were surprised to see me on "their side" of the guardrail. Punch knows me from OVW and GP code knows me from HWA as the resident heckler (or just "that chick in the heyman costume").

[salmonjunkie]

congratulations, Crete!

[Attitude Adjuster]

Ahh, you're not a ring announcer until you have to flee the ring because some insane wrestler can't wait for the bell. Piledrive the announcer!!!!

[Mr. Dashbee]

Congratulations! Out of ring announcing, commentary and ringside interviews, I enjoy ring announcing the most.

I can't wait to see some footage. I have a DVD with 4 match intros on it, I should get it posted so you all can laugh at me!

[bdbdbd]

Are you going to do the Lilian Garcia thing of dressing slutty in awesomely cleavage bearing shirts and short skirts emphasizing a random syllable in the last name?

[Concrete TG]

Aug 22, 2008 20:47:45 GMT -5 bdbdbd said:

Are you going to do the Lilian Garcia thing of dressing slutty in awesomely cleavage bearing shirts and short skirts emphasizing a random syllable in the last name?

Glad you crossed out part of that, I couldn't pull that off without a computer

I strive for ACCURACY in my announcing (though I admit I missed some city names) and put a little character to it. For example, Jalen Russell and I are always at odds in GDW and he worked this show. I originally wanted to go off on a tirade about "Taking a break from having to see his ugly mug" to just seeing the name on my runsheet, shaking my head and grousing "what is HE doing here?"....

I'm also apparently in charge of keeping the crowd going, usually with gems of "Am I at a wrestling show or in Church?"

[Demko]

Sorry that I just wound up reading this... this is awesome, Crete! Question for you, though... how would you recommend to a relative newbie like myself, how to get involved in a local wrestling gig? See, we've got this little local wrestling outfit down here called FCW, and I'd love to get a referee position or some backstage random staff position... but I'd have no idea how to go about it. Any recommendations?

[Mr. Dashbee]

Demko - I know the question wasn't for me, but I'll chime in anyway.

First off, if you cna get your start in FCW, then more power to you! That'd be one hell of a coup.

But one thing I've noticed about "the business" is that you need to have spent some time in the smaller leagues if you don't have someone with a big name to get behind you.

Based on where you live, you should find a smaller league and see if you can get on with them. I don't know if you have any training as a ref. If not, you'll need that. A good way to get it for free/cheap would be to latch on with a small promotion by offering to do anything...take tickets, sell merchandise, work the door, what ever they need. Once you prove you're a hard worker, they'll start to include you in conversations and welcome you in. Then you can get to talking to someone at one point and throw in a random "Dude, I think I could ref. I know it's hard, but I think with hard work and a lot of practice I could make it work." Most likely, you'll get a response like "sure, you could do it. Talk to so and so about it." Then they might teach you.

The point is, you'll need to go out of your way to get in touch with someone, and go out of your way to impress them to the point where they trust you. Then you have to create your opportunity. But be unselfish about it, anyone worth their salt in wrestling can see right through someone who is out to screw them and just out for personal gain. On the smaller level, it's about benefiting the show and getting the promotion over. When the promotion gets over, it's better for everyone involved.

OR, there is this. That might be a faster track into an FCW refereeing gig.