(This was something else I found going through those old discs, Axeman's In the Spotlight Interview with me. I enjoyed this and thought I'd repost it here for those that may have missed the first time around a couple of years ago.)
This edition of In The Spotlight focuses on "The War Machine," Gene Jackson. I asked Gene a number of questions, and found his responses to be quite interesting. I'm sure you will, too!
As always, I need to remind you that the opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock, The Axeman, or anyone else connected with this site.
When & how did you get into wrestling?
"I was a MAJOR wrestling fan for most of my life. I always wanted to get into the business but never really knew how. In early 1996, I found a number to Bill Dundee's wrestling school and I called and talked to him and wasn't really impressed and didn't really think much else about it. Then a DJ in Columbus started running shows at the Lavender Coliseum with Davey Rich, Steve Armstrong, etc. I asked the promoter after the show who I would talk to about getting trained and he told me, "Sammy Hall." So I talked to Sammy and he gave me his number and said he didn't have anywhere to do any training at the time but to keep in touch. Well about a year past and I had finished school at Northeast Community College and I seen a poster for a show in Saltillo, MS. I went to the show and talked to Sammy and he was training Chris Kilgore, Josh Holly, and Tony Dabbs at the time. I went and worked out with them and he agreed to train me. Due to scheduling conflicts with work, I missed a couple of months but around October of '97 I started training regularly and in December I debuted doing a run-in on a match pitting Sammy and Big Bubba Monroe against the Fly Boyz. I couldn't come up with a name and I was kinda thrown out there for my first match so I decided to use the name of the only suitable ring music in my car, 'War Machine' by Kiss. I was only gonna use it temporarily 'til I came up with something better, but it stuck, and despite several attempts to change it over the years, it's still what most people know me as."
Who trained you?
"Mostly Sammy Hall, but Chris Kilgore, Josh Holly, and Tony Dabbs played a major part in my training."
When and where was your first match?
"My first actual match was in January of '98 in Saltillo, MS. teaming with Chris Kilgore (as a masked babyface no less.....don't ask) against Bobby and Rocky Ewing, it was a fun little match and those guys were great to work with. The next month I got my first win in a singles match as a heel against "House of Pain" Keely Rhodes who was very generous in offering to put my green ass over, I really appreciated that."
Who has been the biggest influence on you as a wrestler and why?
"I studied a lot of heels over the years and tried to implement a lot of the stuff I had learned watching them. I really wish I had the time and opportunity to work these days, as I feel after stepping away from it for a while and watching so much old school wrestling I would be a lot better at it today (psychology wise, not work wise). In the past I was bad to do things that amused ME, or friends in the crowd, than doing what would get over the best. (I GUESS THIS IS MORE OF AN ANSWER TO THE NEXT QUESTION) Anyhow, I was kind of ironic as I downed old school thinking and tried to rebel, yet worked a totally old school ring style. But anyway, to answer your question, at the time I started wrestling I was a big fan of the Outsiders, and was a big fan of Brian Pillman's Loose Cannon gimmick, and I really loved Bret Hart's heel run before leaving for WCW, and of course DeGeneration X was the inspiration for a lot of mine and Neil's antics (inside the ring, and in the back) during our run as Southern Destruction and prior to that as 'The New Breed'."
What organizations have you worked for, and where are you currently working?
"Bad Boys Promotions, IWF, CWA, MSWA, MUWA, NWA MS, TWA, and a whole lot of other initials I won't bore you with. No I'm currently not involved with wrestling other than writing for HollywoodJimmy.com."
What championships have you held? Do you currently hold a title?
"The IWF Tag Titles (twice), the ICWF Tag Titles(a few times), the Bad Boys Tag Titles, and the CWA Light-heavyweight Title (no that's not a misprint.....long story). As for currently, I own a replica NWA title belt so I guess that makes me as much of a champion as most on the indy scene."
Hold it, I just gotta know about you holding the CWA Light-heavyweight Title.
"LOL...O.K. In Corinth they were doing an angle where Johnny Dotson was the CWA Light-heavyweight Champion, and manager Honest John was bringing in challengers each week to try to take the title. Well, after a couple of weeks of failing with light-heavyweights, he promised the next week he had someone who would take the title for sure. The following Friday, Johnny was in the ring and Honest John came out alone. Dotson asked him 'where's the challenger,' so while he had his back turned I hit the ring and they rang the bell and the title match began. I dominated him for several minutes until he finally made a comeback. After a flurry of moves, he got me down and nailed a frog splash from the top rope. Honest John jumped on the apron and distracted the ref., while my valet at the time slid in the ring and nailed Dotson in the back of the head with a high heel shoe, allowing me to get the pin and the CWA Light-heavyweight Title. However then promoter Rodney Grimes came out moments later and stripped me of the title with a ridiculous claim that I was 'over the weight limit' for the division, to which I threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit, but unfortunately the decision stood. So, that's how much like Bret Hart, I was SCREWED out of the CWA Light-heavyweight title.
What are your goals in wrestling?
"To have a couple of more matches and to have people on there way home say, 'you know that fat guy can't wrestle worth a s***, but he's pretty funny'."
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in wrestling so far?
"I've beaten Ricky Franks at least 99 consecutive times. I got to tag with Don Bass (may not mean much to most people but I thought it was pretty cool to work with someone I grew up watching). "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant has put me out with a sleeper twice. I once pinned "Mega Man" Rodney Grimes for the title in Corinth!! (O.K. I made that up, but that woulda been pretty cool huh!). I worked a couple of shows with legends from my childhood like Greg Valentine and Jake "the Snake" Roberts and actually witnessed one of them snorting cocaine in the dressing room (and not the one you'd think). And my biggest accomplishment in wrestling, Tommy "Wildfire" Rich, former NWA World Champion (well for a week at least) talked a Sheriff in Greenwood, Mississippi into not taking me to jail for "trying to run over some people". (Yes that is a true story, ask Neil)."
Hold it, I just have to know about that incident in Greenwood. Details, please.
"O.K., to this day I'm still not clear exactly what happened here, but here's the story. Neil and I went to Greenwood to do an ACW show for Rick Ivey. It was a big show at some kind of festival, and he had Jake Roberts, Doug Gilbert, Buddy Landell, Tommy Rich, Big Don Brodie, amongst others there. Well, we had trouble figuring out how to get to the tent/dressing room, and were basically told we had to drive through the middle of a bunch of people. Well, there was another truck heading in so we followed it. At one point we had to make a sharp turn around a tree, and the wheels kind of slid around a little bit because it was grass, but I really didn't notice anyone around the area. So we get to the tent and are about to go in when this Sheriff walks up and asks to speak to the driver of the silver Buick. So I say 'that's me.' He tells me some woman claimed I was cutting donuts and nearly hit her kids. Well this pissed me off because it was ridiculous, and I told the guy, 'They're full of s**t, I wasn't even close to anyone, and I sure as h*** wasn't cutting any donuts.' He then said, 'well why would they say that?' I replied, 'I couldn't tell why, but it isn't true.' And with that I turned and went on into the tent and started getting ready for my match, not really thinking much else about it. Shortly after that, Tommy Rich comes over to me and tells me I was 'pretty stupid to talk to a cop like that, take it from someone whose dealt with them plenty.' I agreed, but still really didn't think much about it. Later, towards the end of the show, a couple of the guys told me while I was in the ring the cop came back looking for me and was gonna arrest me, but Tommy eventually talked him out of it, assuring him I was just a smart ass kid and didn't mean anything by it. I went and thanked Tommy after-wards and apologized to the cop. From that point on every time I worked a show with Tommy he would ask me 'how many kids did you mow down in the parking lot?' I have to say I gained a lot of respect for him for that, 'cause he didn't know me. He could have easily stood back and let me go to jail and laugh at my dumb ass for getting smart with a cop, but he didn't and that's cool."
What is your biggest asset as far as wrestling is concerned?
"My mouth and my natural ability for making people despise me, whether intentional or not."
What has been your biggest challenge in wrestling?
"Being a fat ass. Not many 60 minute iron man matches on my resume....and my natural ability for making people despise me, whether intentional or not."
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing pro wrestling today?
"The death of kayfabe and the fact that it has become cool to be a smark and rip on everything. I mean does anyone even like wrestling anymore. People go to shows just so they can shred it on the message boards. It's gotten pathetic. With that being said, the fact that there is very little good to be said about wrestling these days from the WWE down to your local Community Center don't help. Times are bad."
What advice would you give to someone who is considering getting into wrestling?
"DON'T!! It sucks you in, it gets to you. No matter how pure your intentions, how much you love it, and your only doing it for love of the business, it gets to you and gets in your head and swells your ego and eventually drains all the fun out of it. I'm not saying that as a knock on anyone, I'm saying that from personal experience. I believed there was no one who could hold a candle to me. Now I watch tapes of me wrestling and I'm totally embarrassed, and I'm pretty sure that most of the guys putting themselves over on the boards aren't seeing the same thing I am when they watch themselves. I don't hold it against anybody, it happens to everybody at some point. Some people come back down to earth while others write fan letters to themselves on the internet."
What do you like best about being a professional wrestler?
"Making people react the way you want them to, that was always the biggest thrill to me, going out there and getting the response I wanted. But besides that, it would have to be the friends I made. They say there are no friends in this business. But I made a lot, a ton of casual friends. But people like Tony Dabbs, BoJangles, Chris Kilgore, Josh Holly, these guys are like family to me. I used to hang out with them all the time outside of wrestling, and even though we hardly even get a chance to talk on the phone anymore, I still consider Neil Taylor to be my best friend in the world. He helped me out in the lowest times of my life, and kept me from getting kicked out into the street on more than one occasion, when I lived in Fulton and didn't have a job. Truth be known, around that time he carried me more outside the ring than he did in our tag matches, and for that I will always be deeply thankful even if I've never said it to him face to face. And on that subject, I'm glad he's getting the chance to work with guys like Bobby Eaton, and be on big shows and on TV. He deserves it, he lives and breathes wrestling, has devoted a lot of time and effort to it, and deserves to get ahead."
What are your other interests, hobbies, etc.?
"Sadly, not many. I go to work, go to school, spend time with my wife, and watch wrestling. Not exciting but it suits me."
Last but not least, if my memory serves me correctly, you were in a match, in the SCW or early IWF days, involving Danny B Good, at the Salvation Army in Tupelo. Danny got really angry about something that happened in the match, and had some not-so-nice things to say to you. What was that all about?
"I wrote a whole big thing on this a year or so ago on my website and don't really want to rehash it again in light of the stuff going on right now. Basically it was something that got out of hand and everyone's temper got out of hand, but I TAKE FULL BLAME FOR IT. And even after all that, Danny has been nothing but nice to me since and I'm not going to bash him just because everyone else is mad at him right now. The thing at the Salvation Army was something that shouldn't have happened and it stemmed from me taking something that was a work personal, because I was green at the time and should have known better."
I gave Gene some names of people connected with wrestling, and asked him to tell me what he thought of these individuals. Here's what he had to say:
Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock: "Never a dull moment with Jimmy. Had alot of fun working with him, be it announcing, being apart of the 'clique', or just sitting around shooting the bull at his store."
Tony Dabbs: "Member of the 'Fulton Bad Boy Clique', he's like family to me, I worked with him from the very beginning training, first person I ever tagged with on a regular basis, we could give each other total hell and neither of us ever took it personal, always had fun whether in the ring or staggering around in his yard on a Saturday night (as Death Wish was so kind to bring up recently)."
Josh Holly: "LOL, man at times some people would have sworn Josh and I hated each other, we would dog the hell out of each other, but he's another one of the 'fulton boys', despite all our b.s we were always tight, We had some great times like our trip to Dallas, which was something I'll never forget."
Chris Kilgore: "My best matches I ever worked were with Chris, we always thought alike and never really had to plan or say what we were gonna do, we could pop the hell out of a crowd with the most simple b.s., I learned a lot from him. Another one of the 'family', I hate we all don't see each other anymore.
Pure Destruction: "Bruno (Cody), I've known for quite awhile since he was working for Sammy when I first started. Didn't hang out with him much outside of wrestling, but he was always nice to me and easy to work with in the ring. Brody, I worked with some but don't know all that well. They started their team right after I left, but from what I've seen they've taken that brother gimmick and ran with it and became one of (if not the) most successful tag teams in the state."
Sammy Hall: "Sammy and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything but I've always respected him and have always appreciated all he did for me, training me and giving me the opportunity to get started in wrestling. I learned a lot from him and even though I may not have seen it at the time he really did a lot of things to make sure we were trained properly and knew how to work, and honestly I ripped off alot of my heel stuff from him."
Keely Rhodes: "Keely gets a bad rap sometimes but I have to say that Keely was one of the first people who helped me out in the business and offered to put me over in only my second match, when he really didn't have to and I've never forgotten that.
Leslie Jones: "Leslie and I have had an interesting friendship as long as I've known him dating back to when he was running Trendz in the mall, working for SCW and I was working for Sammy and I would come by and we would compare notes on things. I like Leslie and I think he likes me although I've always felt he doesn't totally trust me for whatever reason, but he did push the hell outta me and Neil in the IWF even though it wasn't popular with the 'home team', and for that I'm grateful."
Johnny Dotson: "Great worker, I had a lot of fun teaming with him and Alan Steel when I first started in Corinth, glad to see he's still working."
Johnny Morton: "I've gotten along good with Johnny except for one night in Batesville when Neil and I caused him to throw a hissy fit in the dressing room over our commentary of his match."
The Stud, Scott Porteau: "Smooth worker, hilarious in the dressing room. I always enjoyed working with him and he and Wraith went out of there way to make 'Southern Destruction' look good when we came to IWF."
Ricky Franks: "I've had hundreds of matches with Ricky Franks, poor Ricky took some helacious beatings that were supposed to be matches by being around at the wrong place at the wrong time when I was pissed about different things. A great guy outside the ring with a lot of heart for wrestling and eventually learned how to inject some personality into it, which made a world of difference."
Outlaw Don Bass: "Legend...it's so entertaining just to sit and listen to him tell stories and cut up in the dressing room...and in the ring. Being in Bass' Posse in Corinth was a lot of fun."
Jimmy Valiant: "It was so strange to be in the ring with someone I had grown up watching all my life. My dad was really amused by the fact I got to work with Handsome Jimbo."
Tommy Rich: "Another guy I had watched all my life. Very moody, one time you'll see him he'll be the nicest guy in the world the next time he was like a total different person. But I've heard the same said about me so....."
Don Brodie: "One of the nicest guys I met in the business. Always liked working for Brodie, he was always very good to me."
Jake Roberts: "Crack head...disappointment. I was so excited to get to be on a show with Jake 'the Snake' Roberts the first time, but to see what he has become is pathetic. Beyond the Mat was a dead-on portrayal of what a sad sad story his life has become."
Doug Gilbert: "Easy to work with but a lot like Tommy, you never knew which Doug you were going to encounter."
Jerry Lawler: "Never gotten to work with him, but I've watched him all my life and he is a legend, and it's just sad his legacy is gonna end up being that of the 'dirty old man' commentator, rather than the Memphis hero he portrayed for years."
Bo Jangles: "A great friend and another person I had good matches with. Anywhere you went people loved him, he has such an energy when he comes to ring, classic baby face!"
Bobby Eaton: "A legend of tag team wrestling, The Midnight Express vs. Rock-n-Roll Express will always be the greatest, longest running tag feud in history. He, Lane, and Cornette complemented each other so well, they were like a machine."
The Asylum (Psycho & Wraith): "Wraith is a great guy, I worked with him (and for him) many times. Psycho, I know a little from Gibson. I hear they are a great team, I've never gotten to see them work together."
Danny B Good: "Danny is one of the few workers who is just as a good as a baby face as he is a heel, I've seen crowds goes nuts cheering and I've seen people ready to kill him and he does them both well.
"In closing, I just want to say to my critics, I know I was a not a good wrestler, and I don't claim to have been, nor do I think that people really care what I have to say about anything. I just think that I do know a little about this business and might have some views that some people may find entertaining, and to those people, I thank them for reading, and to the others, well you need something to b**** about, so I'll provide something. Everybody wins."
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Cheap Re-Heat: Interview w/ Leslie Jones 2004
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE "BEST OF CHEAP HEAT" SERIES I WILL BE POSTING HERE WITH MATERIAL FROM MY FIRST YEAR ON HOLLYWOODJIMMY.COM, THIS WAS ONE OF MY MOST TALKED ABOUT, MY INTERVIEW WITH "MR. SENSATIONAL" LESLIE JONES. ENJOY.
GJ: What do you consider to be IWF's most successful angle?
LJ: The ownership angle because it was a true wrestling storyline. It was well thought out and every detail was planned to have the most impact at the right time with the right people. Heck it lasted almost 6 months because of all the twist that were involved. Myself being suspended, me firing Parental Advisory then they come back to a show where they are arrested, My arrival via limo along with the neat production aspects added to the “owner’s” entrance, me firing Vision and telling her she can valet but only had a week to find someone to valet for then she brought out Parental Advisory to make me have the old mud on the face routine. It was a great plot and even was written about in Pro Wrestling Illustrated that year. It kept fans glued to there television sets every week wondering what was going to happen next and when would the IWF owner be revealed.
GJ: If you could go back in time and talk to Leslie Jones in 1998 when you were first starting IWF, what advice would give yourself that would have helped you out back then?
LJ: I hate to say it but do not trust anybody. This business called wrestling is a cut throat business even on a small independent level. I have made many friends over the years but also made a few not so good of friends as well. I am an honest person and a trusting guy and in the wrestling world that is not good traits to have some of the time so I would have told myself to keep my guard up and not be so trusting if I knew then what I know now.
GJ: I know from talking to you personally and also from reading it on the boards, your goal with the IWF from day 1 was to get regional t.v. and to get on t.v. in Memphis, you succeded at both. However what did you hope to obtain from that? Were your hopes fullfilled when you accomplished that, or was it not all you expected?
LJ: I had hoped to accomplish a lot by going on television in Mississippi. I feel that we did. You have to remember at the start of the IWF SLAM tv run wrestling in general was frowned upon by many. WWE was doing some outlandish stuff at the time and many buildings and advertisers, etc. were scared or not impressed with wrestling due to it not being “family programming”. I took a group of young talented guys that could be your next door neighbor or the guy you work with everyday and with everyone working hard IWF put out a product that was entertaining, exciting, upbeat, and family friendly. In IWF programming you did not hear a bunch of cussing and foul language. You also did not see questionable storylines that could be considered immoral or offensive. You did not see a bunch of half naked women that were only there for the T and A factor. You did not see a bunch of so called “superstars” from the past who didn’t want to work or even so called “stars” of today that cost huge amounts of money and really wouldn’t do anything or be interested in helping the show but only be interested in their personal “big payout”.What you saw Gene was workers who busted their asses for the love of this business to put on a great show for the fans who paid their hard earned money to buy a ticket and all of those who watched at home each week. So yes as far as the Mississippi tv run I had all my hopes fullfilled plus some. I feel if it were not for the IWF tv show that many of the fans going to other shows in the North Mississippi area and those fans watching other shows on tv now may not have ever become a wrestling fan if IWF had not help pave the way with our tv show. As far as the short Memphis television run IWF had I was not fullfilled at all with that and in fact looking back on it now it should have never happened. Financially it was a nightmare although it was a ratings winner. The show even airing at an awful time of 1:30 am slot drew huge numbers and Fox was very pleased with the show. However due to lack of management,organization, and lack of finances it was short lived.. But, hey I can say IWF was on Memphis tv and ratings wise it was a success.
GJ: As a promoter, if you could pick ANY wrestler past or present to have appeared on one of your shows, who would that be, and why?
LJ: Ric Flair just because I personally feel that he was a pioneer and even though Hulk Hogan will always be considered to be the guy to put wrestling “on the map” I think that Ric Flair help put the “smalltime/territorial” wrestling on the map back in the early days. And hell man he’s the best talker on the mic in the business
GJ: Knowing what you know now, do you think that it is possible to run a PROFITABLE wrestling promotion on a regional level with no one like WWE supporting you(i.e. Ohio Valley Wrestling)?
LJ: I think it is possible but not very probable. At the height of IWF and the peak of the success of the tv show I held the record for being the promoter in the area who spent the most money in order to put on the best show. Thousands of dollars a month were spent month in and month out on a professional film crew to film the shows and then edit that footage and create the best wrestling show on television. I am talking about an award winning production company that traveled all over the USA doing projects for tons of clients and IWF was the number two client in amount of dollars spent with that company. Hell as many know I had a successful store in the mall in Tupelo and I eventually had to close it due to the fact I drained it dry by spending every cent I had on IWF Wrestling. Therefore I have been there and I tell you Gene it might could happen but it would be tough unless you inherited some money or maybe won the lottery
GJ: What do you feel caused the notorious walkout of the IWF, and did it really lead to it's eventual downfall as some people claim?
LJ: First of all the so called big walkout was nothing more than all of us having our heads up our asses. The success of the tv show made many folks feel they were irreplacable and also made many of us be hardheaded when it came to the creative end of the show. Looking back on it now I just laugh and wonder how we all could have been so damn stupid. Everyone involved then are still talking to one another and everyone has buried the hatchett and we are all friends. The show did take a new direction for a while but to be honest that was the point that financially the show was in trouble anyway so it was not going to be long before televison was going to have to be given up for a while and that is another reason why the fussing started anyway. Stress was at an all time high during that time period. So lack of money to keep up with the cost of production was the so called down fall of IWF tv ,not any one or any group of people not working for the company anymore. And again it was not a “downfall”. It was just the end of the IWF SLAM tv show for a while. I did return later and plan to return again when the timing is right
GJ: What do you think makes you such a target on the message boards for criticism, and being blamed for the majority of negative things posted on the board here at HollywoodJimmy.com?
LJ: I am a target because of one word and when I say this oh the crap it will stir up on Jimmy’s board but it is the truth so here you go ... JEALOUSY. Gene im going to speak from the heart here for a while and I am either going to be classified as the guy who’s wishing I was on DCW tv or be classified as the sonofabitch who is bitter or whatever so I can’t win when discussing this subject matter ,but you know I can tell the truth. The truth is that many people of done lots for wrestling in the area but for now lets concentrate on Tupelo and the North Mississippi area. Moons ago wrestling was in Tupelo every Friday night downtown in the Gardner Watson Ice Building or whatever it is called today. Anyway its downtown. The promoters back then were the first to help wrestling in the Tupelo area. Along the way you had Sammy Hall who ran shows forever it seems then you also had Chris Kilgore both of who ran there version of Bad Boys Promotions ,You had Keely Rhodes who ran SCW. Then you had me and the IWF. Now basically many workers just moved from whatever company to the next whenever someone new opened up. Everyone was one big family and everyone respected each other. Now Keely’s SCW was on comcast channel 9 first so technically SCW did tv first in Tupelo however me with the IWF was the first to put wrestling on in north mississippi on a Regional station which ofcourse was WKDH . At that time( and here comes the first comment I will get slammed for but it is the truth) and even now I feel the IWF tv show was the best. I spent the money to make it have the best production possible. The shows had great plots and storylines which made people want to watch every week. Hands down it was number 1 from a production standpoint and most agree it still is number one today comparatively dealing with that aspect of the show. Lighting, sound, organization, everything dealing with production my show could not and can not be beat. Secondly No matter how big or fancy a building you hold shows in and no matter what so called superstars you book from the present or legends from the past if your show does not have a constant and followable, understandible exciting set of stories then it is lacking something. Just merely bringing in “big names” for one or two appearance may get a few more fans to come out that night but it really does nothing to help build the show long term. For example DCW rented the coliseum and brought in Kevin Nash and yes to some that seems real impressive but look what happened. Nash couldnt even be used on television and from what I understand was not in the ring but just a few minutes. Now did that help or hurt that show. Well it may not hurt it but in my opinion the one thing we did at IWF is we took the “true local talent” and “built” the company around those guys. Hell Gene we had fans wanting to pay there money to see Justin Envy Or Neil Taylor OR House of Pain OR Parental Advisory. The IWF fans could have cared less about a huge building or seeing a former legend or a pay per view star. There passion was seeing folks that with the proper knowledge and proper booking became as big as a star in there minds as any former hasbeen. Therefore in my opinion nobody has come close to duplicating the success IWF had as far as tv goes to this point. No stars, no legends, no half naked women, no huge coliseums...just plain good old wrestling that was fun to see live and great to watch on tv. The success IWF had on WKDH is the reason I get slammed on the message boards all the time. All the troublemakers claim I am jealous or whatever but in reality they know deep down they are the jealous ones because like it or not IWF as far as tv goes in North Mississippi was the first and will always be the standard by which all other mississippi TV wrestling shows are judged. That standard and reputation is a high one to stand up to.
GJ: Seeing as how I've been out of the loop for quite some time, can you explain to me how your former business partner Dwayne Huckabee(sp?) went from being part of the IWF to starting DCW and what are the main differences between the IWF and DCW? Production wise? Booking Wise? Otherwise?
LJ: As far as Dwayne and my partnership stuff is concerned, Gene I tell you that is still a bit of a mystery to me as well. We agreed to put IWF on Fox13 in Memphis last fall. It should have never happened due to lack of financial backing with sponsors but we were both hardheaded and went forward anyway. Now I think we both had different ideas on what direction the show should go but we did agree that giving Memphis Wrestling some competition was the main goal. I know from the start Dwayne was real big on bringing in “names” for example we brought in Iron Shiek and like I said above what good did that do? Not a damn thing except cost 350 bucks and a hotel room. Dwayne was also big on the women. I necessarily was not against that but I felt some of the asking prices of the female workers was too high. He must be getting a better deal now that he books 6 of them a show. So the show even at 1:30 am which is a terrible time and only being 30 minutes long drew absolute great ratings. Heck we even beat Memphis wrestlings numbers a week or two. However finding advertisers was impossible. Hell me and Dwayne and an advertising company were all working on it and it just did not ever happen. Therefore the money issues became very stressful. Every week we had to meet or talk for hours on the phone about what can we do. Dwayne as most know is a very laid back person and thats ok but me on the other hand I want to get problems solved when they occur. Anyway this money problem plagued us from the start. Finally we did get behind with Fox and they said “ pay up or else”. Well Dwayne said he had no more money and I said I didnt have any more money so then Dwayne said lets see what they mean by “else” and I said they mean “sue” us. He said let them sue. I said no I will take care of it somehow and that night the decision was made for us. No money means NO show. I paid the remainder of the contract buy out to Fox which was two weeks. It was over. Now then only a couple of months later Dwayne starts up DCW and is spending money out the ass on workers, buildings, and tv deals so yes I was a little bewildered so I went to Dwaynes first show in Ripley and he said no big deal, he had no heat with me, and all is cool. I took him at his word and told him I had no heat with him and wished him the best. He claimed he even wanted to work in my Mr. Sensational character into the show and I said thanks man ill be here when youre ready for me. Well after months passing by with only a couple of phonecalls I guess Dwayne just doesnt want to have dealings with me and thats fine. I offered to help out with the show especially in Tupelo because face the facts folks what better person than me to help DCW grow in Tupelo. My offer received no response from Dwayne although some folks on the DCW roster agreed I could be an asset to the show but listen I have no hard feelings and no regrets. I think Dwayne is a nice guy. I still don’t really understand why he never really man to man told me he did not want to be partners or work together anymore but since he is so laid back maybe he tries to avoid problems and conflict where I like to take on problems and conflict straight on and get it over with.. I am not jealous of anyone or anything although it is obvious that DCW is doing everything possible to follow in the IWF’S footsteps. Thy are running the Salvation Army in Tupelo, a building the IWF made famous and just recently they asked Kimble to announce Again following in my footsteps. Do I get mad or jealous about that kind of stuff? Not really cause I take it as a compliment and also I take it as proof positive of what I said earlier . IWF was and is the number one tv show and always will be and for DCW or anyone else to even come close they will have to do the things I did years ago and DCW is doing that by working former IWF guys ,using Kimble, Jimmy, Al Hall,and running shows in my old building. But folks even by doing all that I was told by someone that was there the other night that DCW only had about 80 or so at the Salvation Army for there show. Not bragging but I could come back to Tupelo without tv and not having been around for almost two years and draw that well. That proves my other point I said earlier. Where was any of those supposed 1600 coliseum fans at the other night at the army building? They were at home cause there wasnt a “name” there. If DCW had the local guys being the names like IWF did then more of those supposed 1600 from the coliseum would have been at the Salvation Army. Denise and Wayne and Tony with MUWA and Floyd with DWA are proof that if a show is run with the emphasis being placed on local talent and if good storylines are booked then the fans will show up .Heck DWA and MUWA are still using many of the old IWF crew and to this day even years later both MUWA AND DWA are out drawing DCW on a consistent basis. That proves fans want excitement more than they want names and more than they want the possibility of an WWE developmental deal. I know that possibility is there for DCW but it is a losing proposition for the fans either way. If DCW gets the deal then DCW will become an even staler less exciting show with all the muscled up guys headed to the bigtime and there will be no local presence just like what happened to the guys like Danny and Rocker in KAW a few years back. So the fans lose that way tv wise and as far as live shows wise they want get to see all this talent DCW has been bringing in no matter what they say. If DCW becomes on Vinces payroll then DCW will be run Vinces way and if Vince says no more local yocals they they are gone...end of story. And I hate to say it but it is true and its about business not friendship .If Dwayne is offered the deal and he refuses it cause he cant keep his buddys on the roster then he is an idiot. The guys may not want to admit that but they think that too even if they lose there spot. If Vince shows up asking then DCW should say yes even if every person currently on the roster has to be let go. It is about business here and not friendships if DCW is offered the developmental deal. So in review as of now I feel that MUWA and DWA are tied for number one when it comes to promotions in North MS. They both use local guys and put on quality shows and do it consistently without the hype of “ stars” or “fancy buildings”. There hype is what the sign says...wrestling. I would rank DCW number two or three overall and of course if me and the IWF should show back up sometime in North Ms. Then the rankings might change a little. (LOL)
GJ: There's an old saying, "there are no true friends in wrestling", Would you agree with that statement?
LJ: Gene, if you find a true friend in the business called independent wrestling then hold onto that friendship cause ...yes ...they are hard to find. I am lucky to have many who I consider friends that I met with IWF and even though we may not all agree all of the time they are still friends
GJ: What do you feel is the biggest misconception people in the wrestling business have about Leslie Jones?
LJ: The biggest misconception is that some think I am this jealous, bitter, trouble making guy and the reason they think that is simple. They mistake my honesty and my pride and the fact that I feel IWF is the best for those other things. If someone doesnt like someone elses views then does that automatically make the person giving his opinion an asshole or jealous? NO!! IT JUST MEANS THAT PERSON IS NOT AFRAID TO SAY WHAT’S ON THEIR MINDS EVEN IF SOME OTHER FOLKS MIGHT NOT LIKE IT. SO GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON!!
GJ: Years from now when people look back on Leslie Jones' IWF, what do you think it will be remembered for most? What would you like it to be remembered for most?
LJ: It will be remembered as being the forerunner for wrestling television programming in Mississippi. I t will be remembered for the being the best wrestling tv program North Mississippi ever saw.(up until something is better and nothing has been yet) It will be remembered as a family show where parents could bring the entire family and be entertained and have a good time and see the best indy wrestling available Personally. I would like it to be remembered for the reasons I just mentioned
GJ: To go through all the ups and downs and invest all the time and money you've had into wrestling, you had to have loved it, After everything(and everybody) you've dealt with in the past few years, do you still love it?
LJ: Yes I sure do still love it and as you can see by my long answers to your questions I still have the same passion I had for it when I started out years ago. What I do not have the patience for anymore is all the fighting and backstabbing and lying and jealousy that goes with it these days. I wish everyone could be man or woman enough to post there real names when they write on the message boards. I wish everyone would not be so damn defensive when someone else may give a negative opinion or give constructive criticism about a show or federation. I love Jimmy Blaylock to death and consider him a great friend but I’ve noticed even Jimmy will erase post on his board if they talk negative or criticize DCW. I feel that is wrong and each person is entitled to their own opinion good or bad. AND LATELY why is it that anybody with a thought about DCW that is not positive is automatically characterized as a jealous worker or promoter THAT IS “WISHING” they were a part of DCW. People can talk bad about DWA or MUWA on the boards and you rarely see any response because they are PROFESSIONAL and don’t act like a spoiled 3 year old with a bunch of nonsense responses. Hell I know me and IWF have taken our fair share of smartass comments and putdowns over the years and I am sure there will be many regarding this interview but I’m not crying. Heck let them put me down because I know in my heart what is true..So yes I still love it ....but I do not love the way people act on here sometimes. Promoters and wrestlers should focus there energies and concentrate on one thing...making there show/federation better. They should not be on a message board putting people down and calling people jealous and etc. and using foul language That kind of stuff looks bad to the fans and without the fans what are any of us? NOTHING!! That’s what. An example of that is folks running up votes for IWF, DCW, MUWA on this dang poll Jimmy has going and then trying to get all of us to argue about it. Just is what I call P.D.I. -Pure Damn Ignorance!! And it all should stop!! So with all that being said Gene I still love it and in fact ,believe it or not , I have been approached by some businessmen to develop a show for them . We had a meeting on it a couple of weeks ago. They approached me with the idea they said because they knew of my passion for the business, my ethical attitude, and my vast knowledge of how to produce a successful television show. It is an interesting proposal but I told them the money had to be there, the sponsors had to be signed up, and there would have to be an organized dedicated hard working effort put behind it or I was not interested. We are meeting again the first week in September and at that time I will come on board with the project or wish them luck. So Gene, you may not have heard the last of good old Mr. Sensational Leslie Jones. And I can promise you you have not heard the last of IWF . I am in the middle of planning a huge IWF show that I guess some might refer to as a reunion show. It should be a blast! More info to come soon on that!!
GJ: Is there anything not covered in this interview that you'd like to get off your chest?
LJ: Yes...Finally lets not all forget about the troops fighting for our freedom to let us put on out little wrestling shows. In good faith why cant we just all try to get along and if you disagree with someone’s opinion be mature about it and post mature replies about it if you post on the internet. Remember it is America. Thats why we can all have an opinion on what company is number one or anything else we feel like talking about. Just cause it may not be your opinion does not mean the other person does not have the right to give it. GENE thanks for the forum man. I am sure it will get some attention. Take care and God Bless You And God Bless America!! Oh yea 1 more thing... IWF WRESTLING..........NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GJ: What do you consider to be IWF's most successful angle?
LJ: The ownership angle because it was a true wrestling storyline. It was well thought out and every detail was planned to have the most impact at the right time with the right people. Heck it lasted almost 6 months because of all the twist that were involved. Myself being suspended, me firing Parental Advisory then they come back to a show where they are arrested, My arrival via limo along with the neat production aspects added to the “owner’s” entrance, me firing Vision and telling her she can valet but only had a week to find someone to valet for then she brought out Parental Advisory to make me have the old mud on the face routine. It was a great plot and even was written about in Pro Wrestling Illustrated that year. It kept fans glued to there television sets every week wondering what was going to happen next and when would the IWF owner be revealed.
GJ: If you could go back in time and talk to Leslie Jones in 1998 when you were first starting IWF, what advice would give yourself that would have helped you out back then?
LJ: I hate to say it but do not trust anybody. This business called wrestling is a cut throat business even on a small independent level. I have made many friends over the years but also made a few not so good of friends as well. I am an honest person and a trusting guy and in the wrestling world that is not good traits to have some of the time so I would have told myself to keep my guard up and not be so trusting if I knew then what I know now.
GJ: I know from talking to you personally and also from reading it on the boards, your goal with the IWF from day 1 was to get regional t.v. and to get on t.v. in Memphis, you succeded at both. However what did you hope to obtain from that? Were your hopes fullfilled when you accomplished that, or was it not all you expected?
LJ: I had hoped to accomplish a lot by going on television in Mississippi. I feel that we did. You have to remember at the start of the IWF SLAM tv run wrestling in general was frowned upon by many. WWE was doing some outlandish stuff at the time and many buildings and advertisers, etc. were scared or not impressed with wrestling due to it not being “family programming”. I took a group of young talented guys that could be your next door neighbor or the guy you work with everyday and with everyone working hard IWF put out a product that was entertaining, exciting, upbeat, and family friendly. In IWF programming you did not hear a bunch of cussing and foul language. You also did not see questionable storylines that could be considered immoral or offensive. You did not see a bunch of half naked women that were only there for the T and A factor. You did not see a bunch of so called “superstars” from the past who didn’t want to work or even so called “stars” of today that cost huge amounts of money and really wouldn’t do anything or be interested in helping the show but only be interested in their personal “big payout”.What you saw Gene was workers who busted their asses for the love of this business to put on a great show for the fans who paid their hard earned money to buy a ticket and all of those who watched at home each week. So yes as far as the Mississippi tv run I had all my hopes fullfilled plus some. I feel if it were not for the IWF tv show that many of the fans going to other shows in the North Mississippi area and those fans watching other shows on tv now may not have ever become a wrestling fan if IWF had not help pave the way with our tv show. As far as the short Memphis television run IWF had I was not fullfilled at all with that and in fact looking back on it now it should have never happened. Financially it was a nightmare although it was a ratings winner. The show even airing at an awful time of 1:30 am slot drew huge numbers and Fox was very pleased with the show. However due to lack of management,organization, and lack of finances it was short lived.. But, hey I can say IWF was on Memphis tv and ratings wise it was a success.
GJ: As a promoter, if you could pick ANY wrestler past or present to have appeared on one of your shows, who would that be, and why?
LJ: Ric Flair just because I personally feel that he was a pioneer and even though Hulk Hogan will always be considered to be the guy to put wrestling “on the map” I think that Ric Flair help put the “smalltime/territorial” wrestling on the map back in the early days. And hell man he’s the best talker on the mic in the business
GJ: Knowing what you know now, do you think that it is possible to run a PROFITABLE wrestling promotion on a regional level with no one like WWE supporting you(i.e. Ohio Valley Wrestling)?
LJ: I think it is possible but not very probable. At the height of IWF and the peak of the success of the tv show I held the record for being the promoter in the area who spent the most money in order to put on the best show. Thousands of dollars a month were spent month in and month out on a professional film crew to film the shows and then edit that footage and create the best wrestling show on television. I am talking about an award winning production company that traveled all over the USA doing projects for tons of clients and IWF was the number two client in amount of dollars spent with that company. Hell as many know I had a successful store in the mall in Tupelo and I eventually had to close it due to the fact I drained it dry by spending every cent I had on IWF Wrestling. Therefore I have been there and I tell you Gene it might could happen but it would be tough unless you inherited some money or maybe won the lottery
GJ: What do you feel caused the notorious walkout of the IWF, and did it really lead to it's eventual downfall as some people claim?
LJ: First of all the so called big walkout was nothing more than all of us having our heads up our asses. The success of the tv show made many folks feel they were irreplacable and also made many of us be hardheaded when it came to the creative end of the show. Looking back on it now I just laugh and wonder how we all could have been so damn stupid. Everyone involved then are still talking to one another and everyone has buried the hatchett and we are all friends. The show did take a new direction for a while but to be honest that was the point that financially the show was in trouble anyway so it was not going to be long before televison was going to have to be given up for a while and that is another reason why the fussing started anyway. Stress was at an all time high during that time period. So lack of money to keep up with the cost of production was the so called down fall of IWF tv ,not any one or any group of people not working for the company anymore. And again it was not a “downfall”. It was just the end of the IWF SLAM tv show for a while. I did return later and plan to return again when the timing is right
GJ: What do you think makes you such a target on the message boards for criticism, and being blamed for the majority of negative things posted on the board here at HollywoodJimmy.com?
LJ: I am a target because of one word and when I say this oh the crap it will stir up on Jimmy’s board but it is the truth so here you go ... JEALOUSY. Gene im going to speak from the heart here for a while and I am either going to be classified as the guy who’s wishing I was on DCW tv or be classified as the sonofabitch who is bitter or whatever so I can’t win when discussing this subject matter ,but you know I can tell the truth. The truth is that many people of done lots for wrestling in the area but for now lets concentrate on Tupelo and the North Mississippi area. Moons ago wrestling was in Tupelo every Friday night downtown in the Gardner Watson Ice Building or whatever it is called today. Anyway its downtown. The promoters back then were the first to help wrestling in the Tupelo area. Along the way you had Sammy Hall who ran shows forever it seems then you also had Chris Kilgore both of who ran there version of Bad Boys Promotions ,You had Keely Rhodes who ran SCW. Then you had me and the IWF. Now basically many workers just moved from whatever company to the next whenever someone new opened up. Everyone was one big family and everyone respected each other. Now Keely’s SCW was on comcast channel 9 first so technically SCW did tv first in Tupelo however me with the IWF was the first to put wrestling on in north mississippi on a Regional station which ofcourse was WKDH . At that time( and here comes the first comment I will get slammed for but it is the truth) and even now I feel the IWF tv show was the best. I spent the money to make it have the best production possible. The shows had great plots and storylines which made people want to watch every week. Hands down it was number 1 from a production standpoint and most agree it still is number one today comparatively dealing with that aspect of the show. Lighting, sound, organization, everything dealing with production my show could not and can not be beat. Secondly No matter how big or fancy a building you hold shows in and no matter what so called superstars you book from the present or legends from the past if your show does not have a constant and followable, understandible exciting set of stories then it is lacking something. Just merely bringing in “big names” for one or two appearance may get a few more fans to come out that night but it really does nothing to help build the show long term. For example DCW rented the coliseum and brought in Kevin Nash and yes to some that seems real impressive but look what happened. Nash couldnt even be used on television and from what I understand was not in the ring but just a few minutes. Now did that help or hurt that show. Well it may not hurt it but in my opinion the one thing we did at IWF is we took the “true local talent” and “built” the company around those guys. Hell Gene we had fans wanting to pay there money to see Justin Envy Or Neil Taylor OR House of Pain OR Parental Advisory. The IWF fans could have cared less about a huge building or seeing a former legend or a pay per view star. There passion was seeing folks that with the proper knowledge and proper booking became as big as a star in there minds as any former hasbeen. Therefore in my opinion nobody has come close to duplicating the success IWF had as far as tv goes to this point. No stars, no legends, no half naked women, no huge coliseums...just plain good old wrestling that was fun to see live and great to watch on tv. The success IWF had on WKDH is the reason I get slammed on the message boards all the time. All the troublemakers claim I am jealous or whatever but in reality they know deep down they are the jealous ones because like it or not IWF as far as tv goes in North Mississippi was the first and will always be the standard by which all other mississippi TV wrestling shows are judged. That standard and reputation is a high one to stand up to.
GJ: Seeing as how I've been out of the loop for quite some time, can you explain to me how your former business partner Dwayne Huckabee(sp?) went from being part of the IWF to starting DCW and what are the main differences between the IWF and DCW? Production wise? Booking Wise? Otherwise?
LJ: As far as Dwayne and my partnership stuff is concerned, Gene I tell you that is still a bit of a mystery to me as well. We agreed to put IWF on Fox13 in Memphis last fall. It should have never happened due to lack of financial backing with sponsors but we were both hardheaded and went forward anyway. Now I think we both had different ideas on what direction the show should go but we did agree that giving Memphis Wrestling some competition was the main goal. I know from the start Dwayne was real big on bringing in “names” for example we brought in Iron Shiek and like I said above what good did that do? Not a damn thing except cost 350 bucks and a hotel room. Dwayne was also big on the women. I necessarily was not against that but I felt some of the asking prices of the female workers was too high. He must be getting a better deal now that he books 6 of them a show. So the show even at 1:30 am which is a terrible time and only being 30 minutes long drew absolute great ratings. Heck we even beat Memphis wrestlings numbers a week or two. However finding advertisers was impossible. Hell me and Dwayne and an advertising company were all working on it and it just did not ever happen. Therefore the money issues became very stressful. Every week we had to meet or talk for hours on the phone about what can we do. Dwayne as most know is a very laid back person and thats ok but me on the other hand I want to get problems solved when they occur. Anyway this money problem plagued us from the start. Finally we did get behind with Fox and they said “ pay up or else”. Well Dwayne said he had no more money and I said I didnt have any more money so then Dwayne said lets see what they mean by “else” and I said they mean “sue” us. He said let them sue. I said no I will take care of it somehow and that night the decision was made for us. No money means NO show. I paid the remainder of the contract buy out to Fox which was two weeks. It was over. Now then only a couple of months later Dwayne starts up DCW and is spending money out the ass on workers, buildings, and tv deals so yes I was a little bewildered so I went to Dwaynes first show in Ripley and he said no big deal, he had no heat with me, and all is cool. I took him at his word and told him I had no heat with him and wished him the best. He claimed he even wanted to work in my Mr. Sensational character into the show and I said thanks man ill be here when youre ready for me. Well after months passing by with only a couple of phonecalls I guess Dwayne just doesnt want to have dealings with me and thats fine. I offered to help out with the show especially in Tupelo because face the facts folks what better person than me to help DCW grow in Tupelo. My offer received no response from Dwayne although some folks on the DCW roster agreed I could be an asset to the show but listen I have no hard feelings and no regrets. I think Dwayne is a nice guy. I still don’t really understand why he never really man to man told me he did not want to be partners or work together anymore but since he is so laid back maybe he tries to avoid problems and conflict where I like to take on problems and conflict straight on and get it over with.. I am not jealous of anyone or anything although it is obvious that DCW is doing everything possible to follow in the IWF’S footsteps. Thy are running the Salvation Army in Tupelo, a building the IWF made famous and just recently they asked Kimble to announce Again following in my footsteps. Do I get mad or jealous about that kind of stuff? Not really cause I take it as a compliment and also I take it as proof positive of what I said earlier . IWF was and is the number one tv show and always will be and for DCW or anyone else to even come close they will have to do the things I did years ago and DCW is doing that by working former IWF guys ,using Kimble, Jimmy, Al Hall,and running shows in my old building. But folks even by doing all that I was told by someone that was there the other night that DCW only had about 80 or so at the Salvation Army for there show. Not bragging but I could come back to Tupelo without tv and not having been around for almost two years and draw that well. That proves my other point I said earlier. Where was any of those supposed 1600 coliseum fans at the other night at the army building? They were at home cause there wasnt a “name” there. If DCW had the local guys being the names like IWF did then more of those supposed 1600 from the coliseum would have been at the Salvation Army. Denise and Wayne and Tony with MUWA and Floyd with DWA are proof that if a show is run with the emphasis being placed on local talent and if good storylines are booked then the fans will show up .Heck DWA and MUWA are still using many of the old IWF crew and to this day even years later both MUWA AND DWA are out drawing DCW on a consistent basis. That proves fans want excitement more than they want names and more than they want the possibility of an WWE developmental deal. I know that possibility is there for DCW but it is a losing proposition for the fans either way. If DCW gets the deal then DCW will become an even staler less exciting show with all the muscled up guys headed to the bigtime and there will be no local presence just like what happened to the guys like Danny and Rocker in KAW a few years back. So the fans lose that way tv wise and as far as live shows wise they want get to see all this talent DCW has been bringing in no matter what they say. If DCW becomes on Vinces payroll then DCW will be run Vinces way and if Vince says no more local yocals they they are gone...end of story. And I hate to say it but it is true and its about business not friendship .If Dwayne is offered the deal and he refuses it cause he cant keep his buddys on the roster then he is an idiot. The guys may not want to admit that but they think that too even if they lose there spot. If Vince shows up asking then DCW should say yes even if every person currently on the roster has to be let go. It is about business here and not friendships if DCW is offered the developmental deal. So in review as of now I feel that MUWA and DWA are tied for number one when it comes to promotions in North MS. They both use local guys and put on quality shows and do it consistently without the hype of “ stars” or “fancy buildings”. There hype is what the sign says...wrestling. I would rank DCW number two or three overall and of course if me and the IWF should show back up sometime in North Ms. Then the rankings might change a little. (LOL)
GJ: There's an old saying, "there are no true friends in wrestling", Would you agree with that statement?
LJ: Gene, if you find a true friend in the business called independent wrestling then hold onto that friendship cause ...yes ...they are hard to find. I am lucky to have many who I consider friends that I met with IWF and even though we may not all agree all of the time they are still friends
GJ: What do you feel is the biggest misconception people in the wrestling business have about Leslie Jones?
LJ: The biggest misconception is that some think I am this jealous, bitter, trouble making guy and the reason they think that is simple. They mistake my honesty and my pride and the fact that I feel IWF is the best for those other things. If someone doesnt like someone elses views then does that automatically make the person giving his opinion an asshole or jealous? NO!! IT JUST MEANS THAT PERSON IS NOT AFRAID TO SAY WHAT’S ON THEIR MINDS EVEN IF SOME OTHER FOLKS MIGHT NOT LIKE IT. SO GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON!!
GJ: Years from now when people look back on Leslie Jones' IWF, what do you think it will be remembered for most? What would you like it to be remembered for most?
LJ: It will be remembered as being the forerunner for wrestling television programming in Mississippi. I t will be remembered for the being the best wrestling tv program North Mississippi ever saw.(up until something is better and nothing has been yet) It will be remembered as a family show where parents could bring the entire family and be entertained and have a good time and see the best indy wrestling available Personally. I would like it to be remembered for the reasons I just mentioned
GJ: To go through all the ups and downs and invest all the time and money you've had into wrestling, you had to have loved it, After everything(and everybody) you've dealt with in the past few years, do you still love it?
LJ: Yes I sure do still love it and as you can see by my long answers to your questions I still have the same passion I had for it when I started out years ago. What I do not have the patience for anymore is all the fighting and backstabbing and lying and jealousy that goes with it these days. I wish everyone could be man or woman enough to post there real names when they write on the message boards. I wish everyone would not be so damn defensive when someone else may give a negative opinion or give constructive criticism about a show or federation. I love Jimmy Blaylock to death and consider him a great friend but I’ve noticed even Jimmy will erase post on his board if they talk negative or criticize DCW. I feel that is wrong and each person is entitled to their own opinion good or bad. AND LATELY why is it that anybody with a thought about DCW that is not positive is automatically characterized as a jealous worker or promoter THAT IS “WISHING” they were a part of DCW. People can talk bad about DWA or MUWA on the boards and you rarely see any response because they are PROFESSIONAL and don’t act like a spoiled 3 year old with a bunch of nonsense responses. Hell I know me and IWF have taken our fair share of smartass comments and putdowns over the years and I am sure there will be many regarding this interview but I’m not crying. Heck let them put me down because I know in my heart what is true..So yes I still love it ....but I do not love the way people act on here sometimes. Promoters and wrestlers should focus there energies and concentrate on one thing...making there show/federation better. They should not be on a message board putting people down and calling people jealous and etc. and using foul language That kind of stuff looks bad to the fans and without the fans what are any of us? NOTHING!! That’s what. An example of that is folks running up votes for IWF, DCW, MUWA on this dang poll Jimmy has going and then trying to get all of us to argue about it. Just is what I call P.D.I. -Pure Damn Ignorance!! And it all should stop!! So with all that being said Gene I still love it and in fact ,believe it or not , I have been approached by some businessmen to develop a show for them . We had a meeting on it a couple of weeks ago. They approached me with the idea they said because they knew of my passion for the business, my ethical attitude, and my vast knowledge of how to produce a successful television show. It is an interesting proposal but I told them the money had to be there, the sponsors had to be signed up, and there would have to be an organized dedicated hard working effort put behind it or I was not interested. We are meeting again the first week in September and at that time I will come on board with the project or wish them luck. So Gene, you may not have heard the last of good old Mr. Sensational Leslie Jones. And I can promise you you have not heard the last of IWF . I am in the middle of planning a huge IWF show that I guess some might refer to as a reunion show. It should be a blast! More info to come soon on that!!
GJ: Is there anything not covered in this interview that you'd like to get off your chest?
LJ: Yes...Finally lets not all forget about the troops fighting for our freedom to let us put on out little wrestling shows. In good faith why cant we just all try to get along and if you disagree with someone’s opinion be mature about it and post mature replies about it if you post on the internet. Remember it is America. Thats why we can all have an opinion on what company is number one or anything else we feel like talking about. Just cause it may not be your opinion does not mean the other person does not have the right to give it. GENE thanks for the forum man. I am sure it will get some attention. Take care and God Bless You And God Bless America!! Oh yea 1 more thing... IWF WRESTLING..........NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Cheap Re-Heat Coming Soon!
Last night I came across a disk that has the first year's worth of Cheap Heat columns I wrote for hollywoodjimmy.com and some of the interviews I did. Over the course of the next few weeks I'm gonna be posting some of the stuff from those columns that I still find amusing, kind of a "Best of Cheap Heat" if you will. I hope everyone enjoys it.
GENE
GENE
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