Features
DETONATION TIME with TNT
Published January 25, 2012 at 8:27 am by Marek Indyka
Written by TNT (Greg Bownds) November 2011
DETONATION TIME
with TNT
THE AUSTRALIAN WRESTLING LANDSCAPE IN 2011
THE WRESTLERS
I began attending regular live Australian wrestling bouts in 1992, and inspired to be part of the action began training in 1994, to make my debut wrestling in front of crowds in 1995. Throughout that period to today some 19 years later I have seen many changes in the Australian wrestling scene, having grown through the ranks from being a spectator, to reporter, evolving to wrestler and promoter. I am fortunate enough to have met some great people along the way and have done something with my life that I really wanted to do. I would never change any of that. In this column I have been asked to share some of my experiences and opinions on the Australian Wrestling scene. I thought to give those new to Australian wrestling my view of the current product I would try to give an overview of where I think we stand in 2011 over the next few issues. In this first instalment I will take a look at Australian Wrestlers.
Currently in Australia there are approximately 300 active pro-wrestlers. Some wrestle regularly, some irregularly. Some are good for the art form of wrestling in Australia, some not so good. Some wrestle exclusively for their home promotions and approved external events, others are freelancers. Some make excursions interstate. Some even make overseas trips to expand their wrestling. All States except Tasmania and Northern Territory (I know it’s not a state, but you know what I mean) hold regular live Australian wrestling events which the wrestlers participate on when booked. Pretty much every weekend in Australia there is a live wrestling card going on somewhere in the country. There are people in each active state who wrestle on these Australian wrestling events. To my knowledge for 99% of these people, wrestling is not their full time paying job. These men and women are fuelled by their passion for pro-wrestling. Some train at wrestling facilities and at gyms regularly honing their crafts and their bodies. Most wrestle on weekend live events, either for no payment, or a small fee for their services and/or travel costs. There are some Australian wrestlers who are world class, and others who are not so good. It would be preferred that the not so good didn’t apply their form of wrestling in front of a paying audience. Without regulation this will likely never go away. To the world class wrestlers I hope you get the opportunities to achieve whatever you have set out to achieve with wrestling, and thank you for helping to improve wrestling in this country.
Currently Australia has a top tier of about 20 wrestlers who can be placed in credible main events in Australia, and are of a quality suitable for a world stage. In 2011, Australian wrestlers have put on some great bouts locally. This year in AWF, matches between Jay Law and “Iron” Ben Coles have been standouts. Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste popped the roof off at Perth Supanova, as they have done many times in EPW. Elsewhere all reports say matches between the likes of KrackerJak and Slex in MCW, Mimic and GD Grimm in RCW and many others have also been great. The point being, there are excellent wrestling bouts taking place in Australia on a regular basis, put together by exceptionally talented Australians.
Internationally many Aussies are also making strides and spreading their wings. In January I was in Japan for a month tour where I wrestled for Osaka Pro as Aussie Ozbone and Dragon Gate as TNT. February saw Hartley Jackson and referee Daniel Beaumont travel to Nepal for events in front of crowds of nearly 20,000 fans. In later months Hartley Jackson travelled to Japan for Zero-1, which also has since seen Wrecking Ball Wilson, Slex, “Mad Turk”/”Big Huss” Mark Hussein and Robby Heart appear. Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls of Western Australia also wrestled in Japan extensively for Pro-Wrestling Noah, even overcoming a natural disaster zone. In the USA, Tama Williams, Percy T and Kabel appeared at the Chikara King of Trios, Ryan and Robbie Eagles, Craven plus Jack Bonza wrestled on independents, and “Powerhouse” Matt Theo spent three months expanding his skills at The Dudley Boys training school. Perhaps most notable are the international accomplishments of our women wrestlers, with Tenille Tayla picking up a WWE Developmental contract which she will commence in 2012, and Madison Eagles becoming Shimmer Champion, and subsequently defending her title in USA, Japan and Australia. Victoria’s Kellie Skater has also appeared in Japan and USA, along with Jessie McKay in USA.
As can be seen Australian wrestlers are getting out on an international level in 2011 and have been looking to improve their skills and horizons, and are doing a good job in creating awareness and an identity for wrestling in Australia. With all these individual wrestlers doing well internationally, and many others who could do well, Australia may be close to having some breakout stars who are truly recognised all around the world. These Australian’s mingling and wrestling with international stars and learning the finer points of various fighting styles is of great advantage to the Australian circuit. After touring with often more experienced pros, in professional atmospheres, upon returning home, the skills and lessons learnt often rub off on and inspire others in local promotions in Australia, and moving forward the local scene improves.
In Australia currently, possibly the only recognisable Australian wrestler to the general population would be AWF Australasian Champion “Iron Jay” Ben Coles through his appearances on I & J Fish TV commercials and associated activities. Despite not yet making him a major draw at the box office, it certainly doesn’t hurt having one of our own on TV. If only more Australian wrestlers could break through locally even further, and bring Australian wrestling to a media spot it deserves, it certainly could only be good for “the scene”.
Overall I see that Australia has a lot of young keen good wrestlers. They need to be nurtured and their all-round skills built up. A majority of the top echelon of our current main event guys are young also. Skills wise we look to have a good future. Wrestling is not something that is easy to learn, and it takes many years to get good, but luckily we have had a few dedicated and skilled ones who have progressed. It would be great to see our top talents who have put in much hard work receive accolades from more Australians for the hard miles they have put into their passion.
Unfortunately there is still a group of wrestlers that run about play wrestling and doing a disservice to Australian wrestling. They are often unprofessional in appearance, do not maintain ring fitness, and by being on shows give Australian Wrestling an unprofessional impression. To these “wrestlers” please stop damaging shows where people are paying to watch and STOP “WRESTLING”. Promoters stop booking these guys! Do everyone a favour and have a break and re-programme yourself. Start acting and looking the part, go and get in shape, improve your craft and then try to return. If you are too old step away from the ring and guide the future talents. If you are someone who isn’t getting booked because you are told you aren’t very good, and you buy a ring and get your buddies together please keep it in the backyard or a shed where it belongs. Play wrestle with your friends and not to the public if you need to get your fix. Leave the wrestling to those who act and are striving to make Australian Wrestling truly professional. Please don’t run shows and hurt the good work being done by hardworking wrestlers and promotions.
Away from the ring some wrestlers also hurt Australian Wrestling by going on public forums such as the internet stirring trouble. Be an adult, and stop slagging and moaning other wrestlers and turning off fans. Sure promote your upcoming bout, dates and appearances. But don’t make us all look bad with your childish antics, profanity and pathetic rants. Wrestling has a bad enough name as it is. We need good PR from our wrestlers to turn the ideas of the public around so they view Australian Wrestlers favourably, as positive people in the community. Please don’t make it worse.
In all there is a group of skilled Australian Wrestlers who are dedicating a lot of energy out of passion to entertain audiences around Australia. Please go out and support these quality Australian talents and bring a friend. You’ll likely be surprised how much fun you will have and how skilled they are. To the wrestlers, let’s try to keep raising the bar and let’s make the wrestling world notice us even more by continuing to improve and grow. Soar and let’s bring in a new era of respect for Australian wrestling and hopefully raise our great craft back to the levels of success it achieved in the 1970’s here in Australia.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to bringing you more insights soon. Saaaaa!!!
Please send feedback to me at contacttnt@hotmail.com, and join me at my Facebook account at Tnt Greg Bownds
