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Post by duan on Apr 7, 2011 15:43:01 GMT -5
(take two)
The wrestling industry has lost a load of steam ever since we've entered the 21st century. From the Monday Night Wars to the Ruthless Aggression Era, things have gone South. There is now only two 'real' mainstream wrestling companies, with one having the majority of the popularity. The days of enjoying wrestling with your friends and family have come and gone and the stragglers who still enjoy the professional sport are now being looked at strangely. With the popularity decrease, comes loss of money. Most independent companies cannot afford to keep their doors open and their federations active due to financial problems. Many bookers, writers and promoters have run away from the industry in fear of losing everything they own. Many workers have chosen different careers over professional wrestling since the popularity and quite frankly, the money, aren't there. More workers are just without jobs from nobody wanting to hire any new just because they cannot afford them.
Struggling independent promotions have all but abandon ship on their original goals and are trying so hard to make a quick buck to turn things around. These extreme measures seem to have no effect and just end up turning fans away from the sport even more. It is a known fact that this industry needs a fresh idea to bring things back in order and to gain fans back. With no promotions hiring, the workers who want to work are about to just give up on their hopes and return to a dead end job.
Well, this ends now.
In January 2011, independent worker stalwart Duan Sanchez Jr. got to thinking. As he sat home with his wife and child for the third straight month without work, he got up from his couch to use his computer. After checking his bank account, he had noticed that his unemployment didn't clear and that the government has stopped supporting him financially. Duan has been living off the money he had earned from the short-lived National Wrestling League, NWL for short. It wasn't much, since when you worked for the NWL, you had to cover all of your own expenses and with being out of work for three months and none of the mainstreams wanting anything out of Duan, he let out a big sigh and almost shed a tear. He would have to now find a job unrelated to wrestling and most likely, his wife's salary as a middle school teacher's aid will be the predominant one. As if all hope was lost, Duan went onto a wrestling message board to see the rumblings of the industry.
Find that Ring of Honor is on the brink of bankruptcy, Duan sank further into depression since they were the only company to show interest in a 29 year old who has seemed to peak. When he watched his dad wrestling professionally 10 years ago, he thought things would be a little easier and he'd be living the high life by now. Duan took solemn in the fact that a ton of other workers haven't found jobs and were on the brink of jumping off the bandwagon. To amuse himself, Duan clicked on a thread titled, "The Death of Independent Wrestling". A bunch of smarks crying over how they will never see their friend wrestlers, like Evan Pagano, Jordan Devine, T-Mac, and Ace Bennett ever fight again in a wrestling ring. After reading only a few posts, Duan couldn't bring himself to finish the thread and was about to close out of the window when he got an instant message on the message board's IM. It was from someone familiar...
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Post by duan on Apr 7, 2011 15:43:24 GMT -5
WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Aaron Wade | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "A-Drop" | - | Adam Nelson | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Picture This!" | - | AJ Matthews | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Eastern Execution" | - | Danny Archer | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Glam Slam" | - | Devin Curtis | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "450 Splash" | - | Evan Pagano | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "The Calling" | - | JD Richards | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Tiger Driver" | - | Kid Carnage | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Double Stomp" | - | Nick Jacobs | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Distortion" | - | Nikollaj Punk | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Nikollaj Driver" | - | Ricky Slayer | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Lariat" | - | T-Mac | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Shining Wizard" | - | Tyler Moxley | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Moxicity" | - | FOREIGN WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Cameron Stone | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Cam Slam" | - | Cody Rejero | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Piledriver" | - | Jason Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Psycho Driver" | - |
WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Ace Bennett | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Syracuse Drop" | - | Anthony McCraver | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "I'd Hit It" | - | Brock Irish | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Goldrush" | - | Chris Jackal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Shooting Star Press" | - | Duan Sanchez Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "SGM" | - | Joe Money | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Million Dolla Slam" | - | Josh White | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "The Shining" | - | Kevin Shamrock | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Famine Driver" | - | Matt Daniels | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Sinner's Laugh" | - | Matt Justice | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Double Underhook Powerbomb" | - | Sean Shafer | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Augustan Heat" | - | Tim Smith | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "STO" | - | FOREIGN WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Jin Yamato | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Rising Sun" | - | Marcus Jones | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "The Glory Bomb" | - | Rated R | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Demonstration of Hell" | - |
WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Brady Thomas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Sling Blade" | - | Bret Thomas | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Hammer's Fall" | - | Brian Thompson | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Roll the Dice" | - | Drew Parkland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Parkland Driver" | - | Jack Richardson | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Burning Hammer" | - | Jordan Devine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Moon Over Miami" | - | Korey Gunz | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Vertebreaker" | - | Luke Collins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Burning Hammer" | - | LyNN | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Springboard Tornado DDT" | - | Matt Original | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "The Final Cut" | - | Ricky Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Oklahoma Stampede" | - | TriPod | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Running STO" | - | FOREIGN WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Chris Hammers | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | "Bloodrush" | - | Cyrus Black | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "The Anxiety" | - | Johnny Arsenic | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Dishonorable Discharge" | - | Kevin Hart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Sharpshooter" | - |
WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Adam Impact | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Impact Drop" | - | Daniel Sinn | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | "The Original Sinn" | - | Mike Bockwinkel | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | "Bockwinkel Special" | - | Mike Edwards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Lariat" | - | Mike Fury | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Fury Cutter" | - | Ryan Ricklash | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | "Lashing Out" | - | Safu Anoa'i | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | "Samoan Drop" | - | Sean Impact | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Impact Driver" | - | Steve Kagemann | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | "Fire Tornado" | - | X Jack | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | "The X" | - | X Matt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "The Avalanche" | - | FOREIGN WORKER | W | L | D | WP% | FINISHER | NOTES | Jason Star | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Star Struck" | - | Red Dragon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Red Dragon Driver" | - | Sam Kineval | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Chaos Death Shot" | - | Zeke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | "Zeke Driver" | - |
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Post by duan on Apr 7, 2011 15:43:36 GMT -5
DATE | TERRITORY | LOCATION | VENUE | ATTENDANCE | MAIN EVENT | | East | Hoboken, NJ | 'Convention Center' | 867 | Duan Sanchez Jr. vs. Sean Shafer | | West | Tempe, AZ | 'Seminar Hall' | 712 | Mike Fury vs. Safu Anoa'i | | West | Phoenix, AZ | 'Convention Center' | 902 | Red Dragon vs. Mike Bockwinkel | | South | San Antonio, TX | 'Entertainment Hall' | 658 | Jordan Devine vs. Bret Thomas | 5/7 | Central | Chicago Heights, IL | 'Recreation Center' | - | Devin Curtis vs. Ricky Slayer | 5/8 | East | Astoria, NY | 'Seminar Hall' | - | Ace Bennett vs. Matt Justice | 5/8 | South | Dallas, TX | 'Convention Center' | - | LyNN vs. Chris Hammers | 5/11 | South | Montgomery, AL | 'Gymnasium' | - | - | 5/11 | Central | Lansing, MI | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/13 | West | Huntington Beach, CA | 'Entertainment Center' | - | - | 5/14 | East | Hoboken, NJ | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/14 | Central | Lincoln, NE | 'Recreation Hall' | - | - | 5/15 | West | San Diego, CA | 'Seminar Hall' | - | - | 5/15 | South | Savannah, GA | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/15 | Central | Chicago Heights, IL | 'Recreation Center' | - | - | 5/19 | East | Long Island, NY | 'VFW Hall' | - | - | 5/19 | Central | Jefferson City, MO | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/20 | South | Dallas, TX | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/22 | West | Huntington Beach, CA | 'Entertainment Center' | - | - | 5/22 | Central | Lansing, MI | 'Convention Center' | - | - | 5/28 | East | Long Island, NY | 'VFW Hall' | - | - | 5/28 | West | Tempe, AZ | 'Seminar Hall' | - | - | 5/29 | East | Astoria, NY | 'Seminar Hall' | - | - | 5/29 | South | Montgomery, AL | 'Gymnasium' | - | - |
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Post by duan on Apr 7, 2011 15:43:42 GMT -5
TSW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT BRACKETS CENTRAL: ROUND ONEEAST: ROUND ONESOUTH: ROUND ONEWEST: ROUND ONE[/font]
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Post by duan on Apr 7, 2011 15:43:50 GMT -5
Extra
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Post by Rule 30 on Apr 7, 2011 15:44:20 GMT -5
Nice, very nice.
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tom
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 23, 2010 22:23:34 GMT -5
Posts: 875
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Post by tom on Apr 7, 2011 16:48:01 GMT -5
Yes yes yes please. I love the little cliffhanger at the end of the backstory part 1. Count me in!
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Deleted
Joined on: Nov 15, 2024 6:38:19 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2011 17:14:12 GMT -5
Dear lord yes.
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Post by Mike Bockwinkel on Apr 7, 2011 17:16:34 GMT -5
Dammit duan, you take the best accronyms!
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Post by Elliot on Apr 7, 2011 17:51:37 GMT -5
Yes, please.
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Post by Zeke on Apr 7, 2011 18:18:44 GMT -5
This has given me wood, hopefully myself and Ron Caramel have made it.
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Post by CF9™ on Apr 7, 2011 19:17:46 GMT -5
Very awesome write up, sir! Excited to see more!
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Shamrock.
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Aug 29, 2008 8:40:28 GMT -5
Posts: 476
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Post by Shamrock. on Apr 7, 2011 21:14:01 GMT -5
Me, Want, This, Now
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Post by jbarqu88 on Apr 8, 2011 1:36:49 GMT -5
Who left the IM!?!?!?!?!?!?! Darn cliffhangers.
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Post by Red Dragon on Apr 8, 2011 1:58:55 GMT -5
Awesome backstory, can't wait to see what you do with this. Good luck.
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Post by legendkiller8 on Apr 9, 2011 23:20:08 GMT -5
Oh...hell...yeah!
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Post by duan on Apr 12, 2011 23:10:59 GMT -5
PART 2.
Duan was shocked to see that former 'co-worker' Mike Bockwinkel had contacted him via instant message on this random message board. Duan was a little skeptical of thinking that this was really Bockwinkel, but he quickly changed his mind after they change the conversation to telephone. Sanchez and Bock discussed how neither man could really find any kind of work and before they lose all hope, they try something out. Sanchez, despite all comments made about his family from Bockwinkel, deep down respected Bockwinkel, his family and the way he cares for the business as a whole. The last person he thought he'd be doing business with would be this guy.
Bockwinkel told Sanchez Jr. that he had been staying back home with no real work. Bock admitted that the 'quality' time with his family has given him the itch to get back into things and fast. Sanchez told Bock that he wholeheartedly agreed and that something needs to be done about this 'wrestling recession'. Bockwinkel and Sanchez then shot the breeze for another 20 minutes before signing off with each other, but not without promising to speak soon. How soon is nothing what either man expected. That night, Sanchez laid in bed thinking about how badly things have gotten for him. His wife rolled onto him and cuddled up to stay warm, but there was no warmth for Sanchez. Duan just laid there thinking about his conversation with Mike Bockwinkel earlier in the day. Out of all people, a person he certainly respected, but has HATED for many years, would come to him. He knew that meant things have hit rock bottom for everyone. Then, his mentality had changed forever after what just crossed his brain.
"Bock, call me when you see this. I have it."
Mike Bockwinkel woke up to this text, which was sent to him 3:30am eastern time. With Bockwinkel being on the west coast, he received the text at midnight and wondered what Duan had planned. He returned Duan's call that morning and it was nothing like he expected. The one-on-one call turned into a 'conference call' of sorts. Sanchez had lined up himself, Bockwinkel, Matt Original, Marc Jones (Red Dragon), and Devin Curtis into this call for a major announcement. Duan explained to the 4 others that it was their jobs to save independent wrestler from extinction and this is how they would start....from the beginning all over again. Sanchez wouldn't let anyone talk until he was completely done explaining. He proposed a 'territorial' system, just like the National Wrestling Alliance had when they hit their boom period. It would consist only in the United States, which led to Red Dragon chiming in about why he was on this call. Duan told him to wait and listen and things changed from there on out...
This system will be divided into four sections of the United States; East, West, Central, and South. Each of the men on the call would take a territory to control and book throughout, including venues, matches, traveling etc. And, instead of having four separate companies that couldn't survive on their own, the men would pool some seed money together and have one major company like the NWA, with each territory being a sub-division. Bockwinkel would take the West, Original would control the South, Devin had the Central and of course, Duan with the East. This led to Red Dragon's part. With no work outside of the United States either, it was Dragon's job to bring 'foreign' talent to each company. He would be the leader of 'foreign relations' for this unnamed company. And since this would be one major company, they wouldn't have four separate champions, but one unified championship, to be defended in all territories. Otherwise, to cut down traveling costs drastically, the people in each territory would only have to travel within a small region of the United States, excluding the champion of course. Duan concluded his 'presentation' by stating that the 'owners' of each territory would have complete control over choosing who they would want in their territory and then Red Dragon would supply them with some foreign talent.
After he was all done, the skepticism evaporated from the conversation and everyone seemed to enjoy the idea. Sanchez said he had to make some phone calls to other guys about possibly working. Before he concluded the call, he told them that profits and pay would be low at first, but if they succeed, they would reap the most benefits. He asked if they were on board and with four astounding positive answers, Duan told them that he would be in touch about budgets, schedules, and most importantly a name.
Following the call, Sanchez went to see his accountant about planning out the entire financial backbone of the company. As he finished his meeting, he received a text message from Matt Original.
"TSW. Territorial. Sims. Wrestling."
Sanchez heart sank after reading this. He knew he had something here, but he just hoped everyone would bite. Sanchez walked out of the bank with his head held high. TSW had been born and right out of the gate, he knew it would have to be the savior of all he knew.
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tom
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 23, 2010 22:23:34 GMT -5
Posts: 875
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Post by tom on Apr 12, 2011 23:17:59 GMT -5
Okay, you got me. I'm hooked. I love the articulation in the writing, man. Even little tidbits of mentioning the EST that the text message was sent. This, as a concept, could be something that brings older guys back into the Sims board and sparks interest. All the best of luck! I'll be reading/replying like a hawk
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Post by Mike Bockwinkel on Apr 12, 2011 23:23:29 GMT -5
I knew it'd be me. "but one unified championship," YES! Lets begin!
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Post by kurtangleisgod on Apr 12, 2011 23:39:12 GMT -5
I'm loving this Duan baby! Count Cameron Stone in, don't care which territory.
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