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October
3, 2002
Ultimate
University continues to get busier --and more fun-- all
the time. There were more than 30 trainees in
attendance this past Tuesday alone. I can tell you
that The Ballards are doing a great job with this BIG
Tuesday class, keeping everyone busy (more like
"wiped out," after 2 hours) and learning at a
rapid rate. I'm really happy how our new squad of
monsters --Chris Mordetsky, Alec Prokushev, Shane Roberts
and Lamar Tinnin are progressing. They're all big,
hungry guys, with great looks and excellent
attitudes. You can see them under "Student
Roll-Call" at the Ultimate
University Section of our site.
"Hardkore
Kidd" is doing a commendable job with our recently added
Wednesday night "basics" class at UU.
Attendance is growing slowly -- a little too slowly for my
tastes. Hopefully soon, many of our newer and
continuing students who are so in need of
basics will manage not to miss this all-important class.
The
next UPW show, "Home of the Brave 2," takes place
at our home, The Galaxy Concert Theatre on Wednesday,
November 7. We have a stellar card booked from top to
bottom, featuring over 50 talents all in all! It's a big
night for us and our wrestlers in more ways than one.
WWE will be back with us for the first time in nearly two
years, so the incentive for everyone to be at their very
best is there.
The
first "Home of the Brave" show took place at The
El Rey Theatre last November. This was the one where
we put it all on the line --financially, TV-related and
otherwise-- and "unfortunately," things didn't
come down the way I hoped -- at that time. I put
unfortunately in quotation marks because in retrospect, I
was forced to down-size the company and get back to the
roots. This included the basic Business 1A rule of
keeping expenses as low as possible and managing your growth
at a very careful pace. This has fortunately
resulted in Ultimate being much stronger than ever, in terms
of our talent roster, our school and our related areas, such
as our activities in Japan and our Web Site business (where
--shameless plug-- Sonicfish is now running all sorts of
great specials on awesome UPW merchandise! Check out
the "Rough Cut" and
"Future Shock" videos for sure!)
Realizing that we are not going to be "the next
WWE" anytime this century has taken so much
(self-induced) pressure off and brought me an appreciation
of what we have. And that is a strong, small company
with very solid foundations (and if you're going to Vegas
anytime soon, I'd lay odds that this small company will be
around longer than the many "next WWEs" out
there!). I like where Ultimate is, and where it seems
to be going, which in short is a company that is founded on
its ability to provide learning experiences, and moreover,
opportunities --in wrestling and in other entertainment
fields-- to those who associate with it. The Todd
Keneleys, Les Honigs, Aaron Aguileras, Marty Rubalcabas, Ron
McIntyres, Shane and Shannon Ballards, Tom Howards, Josh
Waldrops, Sylvester Terkays and Nathan Jones' know what I'm
talking about. If we, and a whole lot others, can get
just a little something out of this "ultimate"
venture, then we're doing something right!
Anyway,
back to Home of the Brave
2 -- It's an amazing card and one on which I think stars
will be made. The 3-way dance with Steve Corino V
Christopher Daniels V Samoa Joe should alone be worth the
price of admission.
WWE
will stay in town the following night to visit with us at a
special "by invitation only" practice at Ultimate
University.
Speaking
of all things WWE, UPW had the opportunity to bring several
of its standouts last week to RAW (in Orange County) and
Smackdown (San Diego), for tryouts with Fit Finley and the
wonderful Molly Holly, with John Laurinaitis, Gerald Brisco
and many otherkey WWE execs keeping a watchful eye.
The "UPW "roster" on Monday consisted of
"Hardkore Kidd" Aaron Aquilera, Shane Ballard,
Shannon Ballard, Mark "Smelly" Bell, Melissa
Coates, Nikki Fuller, Anni King, Erica "Jungle Grrrl"
Porter, "Samoa" Joe Seanoa and Matt
"Horshu" Wiese. Tuesday, we went to
Smackdown with Van "Shaolin Punk" Ayasit, Mike
"Kid Vicious" Balasis, Brian "Al
Katrazz" Fleming, Robert "Ghostwalker" Gallo,
"Outlaw" Mike Knox (Hettinga), Televise "Skulu"
Masalosalo, Ryan "Keiji" Sakoda, Sylvester
"Predator" Terkay and Don "Hollywood"
Yates. It was great being back amongst our friends at
WWE, many of whom I haven't seen in so long and witnessing
those priceless moments, such as Skulu, Van and Kid Vicious
first time meeting Stephanie! Predator and Outlaw Mike
very particularly impressive. Horshu had a very solid
dark match outing with Al Snow at Smackdown and it wouldn't
surprise me in the least to soon see Matt (as well as
several more of UPW's hopefuls) join the OVW roster, or
maybe even go right to WWE TV.
By
the way, if I were booking Smackdown (and I don't see that
happening anytime soon), I'd sign Frankie Kazarian and put
him with Nova (yes, Evolution reunited!) for the upcoming
Smackdown tag team tournament. I just know they'd get
over HUGE.
The
Jenny Jones trip to Chicago was a blast! Looney and
Horshu both got over like a million bucks. Shu has
already become the new "Mr. Jenny Jones" in a
fashion. No surprise, due to his physical presence and most
of all -- that mouth! He was flown back to
Chicago last week for a special show where we went 10-on-1
with an assortment of "lovely ladies".
Anyway, "our" episode was great --barring
destruction in the editing process-- We'll have the air date
soon and I'll let you know. Met two great girls there
-- workers "Angel Williams" and "La Felina"
out of Montreal. Looking at their tape and speaking
with them for only a short time, my years in the business
tell me they have the goods to go all the way, work-wise and
attitude-wise. It doesn't take any experience to see
that they have the look too. They've both been invited
to participate in the UPW Women's Championship Royal Rumble
at The Galaxy on November 6 and I hope they'll make
it. Maxi Minx is a confirmed, welcome addition to that
match.
Well,
it's almost that time of the month -- for the Zero-One tour
that is. I remember when we first started with Z1 a
year ago last June. They were running one show,
"shoot-wrestling" style, every 4-6 weeks or so.
Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Nakamura talked of moving to a pro
wrestling style and running much more frequently
and...they've done it! For the better part of a year
now, UPW has traveled to Japan to work with Zero-One on a monthly
basis, which is just a Godsend for so many workers.
Last month, I claimed that UPW was sending its strongest-ever
contingent to Zero-One September tour. Well, I'm claiming it
again for October! Beginning on the 20th at
Korakuen in Tokyo, Jon Heidenreich and Solo Snuka, Jr. both
debut for UPW at Z1. They'll be joining Predator,
Nathan, Spanky, Keiji and UPW leader Tom Howard. This
is for the long-awaited Tag team Tournament and it should be
awesome!
Boy,
Nathan and Spanky sure are busy! This week, Nathan
works for WWA in Australia and Spanky heads to WWE in Vegas
and Phoenix. On the 17th, both Nathan and Spanky head
to Japan for Zero-One's "Genesis II" tour.
Between October 29 and November 17, Spanky will
undoubtedly work a zillion indy shows from Coast to Coast
(watch out Fallen Angel!) and Nathan just might have
something very big (cryptic message) in the offing during
that time period. It's back to Zero-One for both in
mid-late November and then they're both, along with Frankie
Kazarian --all representing UPW-- off toWWA's European
tour from late November until early December and then guess
what? Yep, back to Japan for Zero-One's December
tour! Good for two of the hardest-working guys in
"indy" wrestling!
UPW,
at long last, is at The Edgewater Resort and Casino on
October 17. We have a great card booked and due to the
environment, it should be a lot of fun. Check out The
Edgewater's site for more info.
This
Friday night, I'll be on Dr. Mike Lano's radio show. I
want to talk mainly about the ups (and downs) of this
business and my theories on what it takes to make it. Crib notes
--and of course, these are my opinions only-- To make it as a
Promoter: the ability to withstand a financial
beating, while you "learn your lessons" and an
extremely thick skin, to ward off all the inevitable ill
will that is coming your way, no matter how hard you may
think you're trying to help others, as well as
yourself. As a worker: Well, let me pose these
questions first: If you wanted to become a surgeon,
would you miss lots of days in medical school? Would
you perform surgery in an unlicensed fashion, in
less-than-adequate facilities? Well either you get the
analogy--- or you don't. If you want to become a "pro
wrestler," either you practice your heart out, hit the
gym like there's no tomorrow, watch your diet like a fiend,
seek out matches with those that can teach you something,
watch tapes and maintain a humble and positive attitude---
or you don't. Nonetheless, from "little" Rey
to the "giant" Kane, I'm willing to bet that both
these guys did everything they could to become the
consummate (and successful!) professionals they are
today. Are the "little" Nate Nickersons and
Van Ayasits and the "giant" Sylvester Terkays and
Nathan Jones' doing everything they can? Darn
well better believe they are!
I'm
equally baffled by those who constantly complain they don't
"get breaks" or "special attention" as I
am appreciative of those who show appreciation for the
opportunities Ultimate --or any other organization for that
matter-- helps to provide. At the end of
the day, I am reminded of an old adage: Preparedness +
Opportunity = Success. Succeeding in the pro wrestling
business --doing everything you can-- is like most
everything else in life. IF you
work hard, if you PREPARE, then eventually, you'll get an
opportunity, or many opportunities. It's a difficult
question to answer whether or not those opportunities will
lead to measurable success, but at the very least, you'll
have the satisfaction of knowing that you're giving it your
all. If you DON'T prepare....well that's an
easier answer.
So
from the Nates and the Vans to the Sylvesters and the
Nathans, and to the many others like them, both at Ultimate
and elsewhere, it's a pleasure to be working with you
toward realizing the same dreams.
Catch
you all in a couple of weeks,
Rick
Just because I like this picture!
(l-r: with ORIGINAL UPW girls
Carnidge, Savvy, Looney & Miss Delicious) Ultimate
Update Archives: September
15, 2002 September
5, 2002 August
1, 2002 July
1, 2002 -- Ultimate University June
21, 2002 May
25, 2002 -- Japan and more
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