Ask Scrappy: Fourth Edition
By Adam Pearce
WELCOME TO “ASK SCRAPPY”
FOURTH EDITION
DISCLAIMER: The opinions presented herein are those solely
of independent pro wrestler and wannabe columnist “Scrap
Iron” Adam Pearce. These opinions are in no way intended
to be representative of those possessed by SocalUncensored.com
or anyone affiliated. This transmission may not be reproduced
or rebroadcast without the expressed written consent of the Chicago
Cubs or Major League Baseball.
Benjamin Tomas asks:
When you first came to SoCal, you didn't debut small and build
up, you walked right into a 3 way with Kazarian and Daniels. Was
it scary to make your debut with two of the best Indy guys out
here with no build up to establish credibility with the fans?
AP replies: “Good question
Ben. I don’t know if it was scary exactly, but I was definitely
nervous. It’s never easy being the new kid on the block,
so-to-speak. I came from a situation in the Midwest where I was
the top guy for a couple of years, and was on every show in the
“biggest” match. It’s debatable whether Indy wrestlers
have drawing power beyond the Internet, but nonetheless, I was
considered the “draw” when I lived there. That made
it pretty easy for me mentally to walk into that match comfortably.
I knew that I was going to be working with two guys who would
go out of their way to put anyone over, so I didn’t worry
about shining. I had also met Chris Daniels a couple of years
before in Chicago, and we come from the same people more or less,
so that was built in comfort. I just concentrated on putting on
the best performance I could within the story that was being told
(Frankie getting the strap). I really never worry about what the
fans will think about a performance per say, it was more important
to me (and still is) that the story being told gets across. I
think it did. That was a fun night. Big thanks to Paul Ventimiglia
for putting me on the show in a major way, and bigger ups to Chris
Daniels for putting me over to him. I miss MPW.”
timetapes asks:
What was it like working with The Hardkore Kidd as a part of Hardkore
Inc. in UPW? (I thought you guys where one of the better tag's
in a long time) and why did the partnership end?
Jay Cal asks:
Some say when you walked away from the sport that you definately
burned a bridge or two with UPW. However you have recently returned
to a UPW ring and with seemingly no animosity for the owner. Are
we to believe that the "problems" that you and Rick
Bassman shared are now nothing more than water under the bridge?
What excatlly led to the "animosity" between you and
Rick? Most importantly, will it ever be used as a storyline for
UPW's writing team?
AP replies: “These questions
tie together in a way, so I’ll kill two birds with one stone.
Hardkore Incorporated was a good time. It was easily the best
tag situation I’ve ever worked in, and Aaron was the best
partner. We gelled creatively, that is we had the same kinds of
ideas when it came to getting heat, telling a story, etc. I’d
say that Aaron was still a bit green in certain areas (remember
this was now almost 2 years ago), and I think I made up for that
with the throwback way of thinking I have for wrestling. UPW put
us with some good opposition; in fact I just recently got to see
a copy of HK Inc/Lost Boys from UPW TV (Thanks Joey). I thought
we had an opportunity to be a great tag team, but never got the
time in necessary to make that happen. Some of the blame for that
might to go Aaron having back surgery (which led me to working
for a few shows with ex-XFL and New Orleans Saints Tight End,
Josh Wilcox), but the majority of the blame for the break up goes
to me. Which leads to question 2.
I wish I could say that there was
a group of dastardly evil enemies at UPW that caused me to leave,
but in truth, it was my ego. At that point, I was still interested
in pursuing the WWF. UPW was the ticket for that; in fact the
WWF’s Kevin Kelly was the person who contacted Bassman about
using me. I came in still feeling like I should be a top dog instead
of paying my dues in UPW, and as a result, my attitude was the
shits. I didn’t go out of my way to do anything for UPW.
I didn’t go up to their camps to work with Aaron like Bassman
wanted, even after he told me that Jim Ross was interested. I
guess maybe part of that was me still being bitter about WCW and
not trusting Rick, or maybe I was just a pussy and afraid to let
it fly one more time. Either way, after a short period, I was
done with UPW seemingly bridges torched. That went on for over
a year. In reality, I didn’t work for 99% of 2002 anywhere.
That was enough time for me to grow up, look at my situation and
realize that I have a lot to offer to guys who are just breaking
in. So truth be told, I emailed Rick out of the blue asking about
a spot. I expected nothing, which for me says a lot because I
came from a past of expecting the hilt. He replied seemingly interested,
but said he didn’t have anything for me at that point. So
every couple of months I’d email again, just throwing the
line out. Finally just before the UPW show at The Grove in Anaheim,
he said he’d like me to come in for the battle royal, which
I jumped at. It was great to be back in that environment, a much
more laid back Rick Bassman even greeted me with a hug. It was
like I never left, like there was never an issue. Will I be back
in the fold at UPW? I really hope so, and no one has given me
any reason to believe I won’t.”
The Big Man asks:
Why is it when a wrestler "retires", he never really
does?
This is not meant as an insult in any way.
AP replies: “No offense
taken at all. I’ll give you my opinion and my actual life
reasons for coming back, some of which may be unexpected. It’s
simple really. What other business entails hundreds, maybe even
thousands, of people to pay to stroke the egos of a group of guys?
There aren’t many. When guys walk away, they lose that attention,
and feel a let down. Once you get used to having people “ride
your nuts”. It’s hard to live without it. You get insecure,
you feel lonely, and you literally crave that spotlight. I know
I did each time I was “done”. And I came back every
time. This may not describe everyone who has ever “retired”
but it describes my situation and most of the guys who hang around
way past their prime. Money isn’t an issue for a guy like
Ric Flair, and if it is, then he fucked up. Money isn’t an
issue for Hulk Hogan or Sable. These types of performers (myself
included) love the limelight. That roar of the crowd makes them
feel like they have accomplished something. The problem is that
the wrestling industry traditionally didn’t allow much free
time to develop other interests, so when wrestling is done, there
isn’t something there to make the guys feel like they are
productive and contributing. That’s something that wrestlers
need to rectify, because going in, you know what the wrestling
business brings. Now on the independent circuit, things are smaller,
but not really different. The first time I walked away was right
after WCW, and I was gone for about 6 months. That time off made
me almost a “special attraction” for the fans that were
used to seeing me, and as a result, I’d say the houses were
up a little when I came back. That translates into a better payoff,
which is also an incentive for coming back. As shallow as that
is, it is TRUE. Look at when Hogan came back to WWF, bigger houses,
bigger interest, bigger paydays for everyone (although it sure
is down now). Now, I never walked away with that specific purpose
in mind, although I was accused of it. The second time I walked
away (yes, there were only 2 times), was in 2001, and it was for
a more noble reason, education. I went back to school and got
that ball rolling. I really am glad I did too. Now I am back to
a certain extent, and a lot of that is because I miss the spotlight,
but this time I feel like I need to give back to the business.
I was never a star but I think a lot of the newer guys could use
the crap that is stored in my mind, and hell, I can’t use
it anywhere else. There are no WWF dreams in my mind anymore,
but I can still go, and as long as it doesn’t overshadow
school or my wife, I’ll do it. Hope that helped.”
Knucklenuts McGee asks:
I saw your music video promo from about a year ago. Did you make
that yourself or did some fed make that for you?
AP replies: I wish I made
that. My boys Movie Marty and Matt hooked me up. These guys dabbled
in small budget movie stuff back in Chicago, and since then have
moved to LA where they are both currently living their dreams
in that business. Class guys that do some good stuff. Marty told
me to mention that any workers out there who have a lot of footage
of themselves (2 or 3 matches doesn't count!) and are interested
in a professionally produced promo can write me and I'll put you
in contact with him. They charge, but they are not outrageous,
they are VERY reasonable. It's a great way to put yourself over.
If you need to see what kind of quality they can provide, drop
an email--you won’t be disappointed. With a name like Movie
Marty you know he’s over.”
NEXT TIME AT “ASK SCRAPPY”:
*How to collect from promoters who stiff you…
*Stiff opponents? Whaddya do about it?
*Steroids in wrestling
*Wrestling on the East Coast
*and much, much more…
