Are You Feeling Creative? Plus More Great Florida Memories



I am amazed at the power of this website.

If anyone doubts that Wrestlezone is a true force in wrestling today, my recent question about puttting together a creative team for a new project and the volume and quality of responses I got proves it.

Since coming on board many months ago, I’ve been fortunate to hear from many of you on subjects far and wide. Well-written, thought-provoking responses… many of which I’ve replied to. But nothing like this! And I thank you!

I feel like I owe you some kind of answer to the most asked question. “What’s this all about?” Here’s what I can tell you at this time. I would tell you more but details still need to be worked out but the idea is solid, vetted and will work.

Wrestling today is languishing for many reasons. The loss of the biggest stars in the industry (Rock, Austin), untimely deaths and a lack of connection with the core audience. Wrestling fans want wrestling, not silly skits. So, why not give wrestling fans what they want?

Well, because wrestling on television today requires wrestling producers like WWE and TNA to seek the casual fan. Advertisers want the casual fan to sell their message to and since networks like USA and Spike pay big bucks for WWE and TNA programming, wrestling producers play the game.

But what if there was another vehicle to watch wrestling? And since the curtain has been lifted on many of the secrets of the wrestling business, why not let the savvy fan be a part of the process in putting together a wrestling show that fans can watch on that other vehicle?

That’s the core of this concept.

So, the question this week is what five unsigned wrestling free agents would you want to book if you had the power? Email me at kevinfsu90@yahoo.com.

Also, any fans in the NY/NJ/PA/CT region, please come to the Fanslam Convention on Saturday June 21st in Totowa, NJ. I will be there as will some big stars and true legends. Personally, I am looking forward to shaking hands and meeting Jerry Jarrett for the first time. I also can’t wait to give a great big hug to my long-time friends Howard Finkel, Al Snow, Scotty, Nick Dinsmore and Tomko. It is going to be a show, not just an autograph session so please come! Order tickets online by visiting fanslamwrestling.com.

I also got some great messages sent to me about the stories I told last week about the start of my career in Florida. This week, I wanted to tell you about the “next generation” that I worked with in the later 1990’s when I had joined the WWE.

One of the best jobs I had for the WWE was booking guys to be extras for TV. I tried to find the best talent available, not just warm bodies because we were launching the Talent Development program at the same time. In Florida, I brought in some old friends and got to meet new friends as I tried my best to get these talented guys jobs for the WWE.

Chris Nelson was someone I knew since he was just getting started. “Classy” Chris was so good… He could wrestle, he could fight. His partner Vito DeNucci, who I went to high school with, was equally talented and their run as the New Heavenly Bodies led them to travel the world and fill a library with stories from the road.

Through Chris, I got to know the “Black Nature Boy” Scoot Andrews. Scoot was someone who I thought the WWE should have signed and for whatever reason, they didn’t. But, Scoot made such a good living on the indys that he bought a big house and is celebrated as one of the most talented guys in the business. Scoot and I became and still are great friends.

Billy Fives, a South Florida product, was another key player in my time booking guys for extra roles for WWE TV because he made me look good for booking him. Billy looked great, could work great and was a pro’s pro. I would like nothing more than to sit down and have a beer with all of those guys and shoot the bull one more time. We will again soon!

I’ll leave you this week with a little haha. Scoot sent me a tape of a three-way match with him and Billy both in it. They were both so good, I wanted Terry Taylor to see it. I brought the tape into Terry’s office and he agreed that both guys deserved a shot. From Terry’s office, I called Scoot on speakerphone, complimented him on the match… and then asked him if he had Billy Fives’ number. Dead silence… I let him go for a couple of seconds and then burst out laughing. I shared lots of laughs with Chris, Vito, Scoot and Billy and many more guys throughout the years and I’ll share more stories about more Florida guys next week.

Remember… fanslamwrestling.com and email me your top five wrestling free agents that you would want to write for to kevinfsu90@yahoo.com

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