... uh, yeah, I know, it's been almost a month again, and things are all wongo again, too.  So, let's see, where to start...   (I guess before I get on to the good stuff, I should say that I am single again.  I won't go into details, but I wish her well with whatever it is that she is that she does with "her" life.  I really don't want to bad mouth anyone, but those for who already know of her and her mother, well, then, you probably already know what happened....)   and the N.E.W. TV show was changed to Friday nights at 1am.

On 9-1, in Elmira NY, "Second Dosage" from Ultimate Wrestling.  I reffed 4 matches.  Their next show, "3X's the Pain", is his next Saturday, the 29th.  Sunday, the 2nd, I went and worked a couple matches in Savona, NY, for ICW.  That made it a good weekend.  ICW was the 4th fed I worked in 4 weeks, and the first time that I reffed two Feds in the same weekend, and two shows in the same weekend.  But then, this hapened....

Friday, the 7th, I went to Canada to work for WCCW (my 5th Fed).  Greg "the Hammer" had scheduling conflicts and could not make it, so Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake replaced him.  Chris Sabin was there, also, and put on one hell of a match with Jimmy Olsen.  I reffed 4 matches there, 2 of them with Quinson Valentino, who I found out later worked for WWE, and was on Velocity, working Booker T.  I didn't ref Brutus or Sabin, but I had fun working in an old school ring.  Saturday, the 8th, N.E.W.'s End Of Days, 3 more matches.  4 Feds in 8 days, the 2nd back to back weekend in a row.  BUSY BUSY!!!!!  N.E.W.'s next show, the Ascension 3 tournement, is October 13th.  I can't say why yet, but I have a strong feeling that this is a MUST ATTEND SHOW FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME.  The Sandman will be there, along with the annual Ascension Tournement.  So, contact me for tickets!!

I had the next weekend off, and while relaxing, watching some TV, I got a text from my Mentor, Ref Ashe, asking if I was going to Syracuse for the "Back 2 Back" 2CW shows.  I was planning on going to watch the Jerry Lynn show on Saturday, the 22nd.  I was asked if I might be interested in reffing a match.  Silly question, Ashe, you know I do!  Then, earlier this week, he asked if I could make it to the Friday show, I said yeah, and told me to be there early, I might get a spot that night.  So I got there at the venue at 5.  Ashe showed up about 15 to six.  I got to chat with Steve M from the "Killer Steves", Brody Lee, tried to converse with Lida Loca (man, my spanish sucks now), but stood there outside the gym, patiently waiting to see if I needed to get my gear out of the car.  I stood there til 7:15, when they opened the doors to the public, when Ashe came out and said I was given the ladies match.  I ran down, got the gear, ran back up, and spent the first 15 minutes walking around the locker room and kithchen being introduced, and chatting with the few guys I knew.  Spike Dudley was there, I was him in Rochester in January, Brody Lee from the Canada show, "Main event" Jason Axe, to name a few of the few....  I met with Nikki Roxx and Lexxus individually, went over the rules, timing and stuff.  They are the first match after the intermission.  So I got on my gear, chatted with more of the guys, had some catered chinese, and got more nervous as the night rolled on.  Yes, I STILL get nervous, and tonight, it was pretty bad, but I tried not to let on....  The match went pretty good, it was a fun match to work, no one got hurt, and I didn't hinder them.  (My 6th Fed in less than 2 months...)  Afterwards, the other ref Keith joked that now I could relax, get back into street clothes and hang out.  No, not really.  I always stay in gear til the last match is over, you really don't know for sure if you'll be needed again or not, and as things happened, I was needed for the Main Event for security purposes, as the "Main Event" Jason Axe and Spike Dudley match against All Money is Legal broke down into a No Disqualification match, and they pretty much brawled out into the crowd.

Yesterday, Ashe and I met Kasper and rode out to night 2 of the "Back 2 Back" weekend together.  We arrived just in time to catch the end of their "Fan Fest".  Ashe fielded a fan question, AMIL and Steve jumped Axe and Spike, and then we went up, had some catered pizza, and shook hands with all there.  As I walked into the locker room, Jerry F'n Lynn was there, I greeted him, and we chatted a bit.  This night, I had the first match (too bad I didn't bring my T-Shirts to sell....) with Dan Dynasty against Kevin Grace, and then, I will be one of the refs for the Battle Royal at the end of the night.  I was hoping to maybe work the Roxx/JD Love v Lexxus/Vida Loca match, since I have worked with 3 of them in the past, but it was OK that I didn't.  I was just happy to be there and work my 3rd back to back set of shows in a month.  I got ready, got with Dynasty and Grace about the rules, etc etc, and waited to go on.  This was a good match, maybe a bit too much posturing and stuff at the beginning, but the crowd was into it, again, no one got hurt, and it was a fun match.  The Battle Royal seemed to move pretty quick, which was good, as it was getting late.  Afterwards, we got cleaned up, said out good-byes, and headed back to Rochester.  A quick bite to eat and a cup of coffee at Denny's, with a short drive back home, a check of emails and myspace, and I was in bed by 3.......

To Mr. Ashe, and the N.E.W. Fans, who I feel are, hands down, the greatest wrestling fans in New York~

Please bare with me if this blog if it seems a bit wordy, but there is something that has been on my mind since the N.E.W. show last month, especially this past week, and I need to get it off my chest. Over the last few weeks since the Ultimate Clash, I too have been asked about the "interaction" between my Mentor, Jonathon Ashe and myself. I have also been asked about my response to his recent blog post on his myspace account.

Over the last few days, I have been trying to get in touch with Mr. Ashe, to try to clear the air about this misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I have been unable to contact and discuss this issue with him directly, as he has not responded to my email or voice mail messages. I have been unsuccessful in trying to meet with him at the Tyger's Den training facility. So I will, against my better judgment, attempt to open a dialogue with Mr. Ashe about this matter indirectly through this blog.

Simply put, I did not, nor would I ever, question Mr. Ashe's authority. And I would never intentionally disrespect my Mentor.

What I did question was the health of Mr. Tony Zucco, after he hit his head on the Armory floor before he even made it into the ring for the Clash. Mr. Zucco seemed dazed as he labored to climb back into the ring. I did question Mr. Ashe's decision to allow him back into the ring after that. Later in the Clash, when Mr. Zucco flew out of the ring, under the top rope, and crashed to the floor head first, he seemed very disoriented. And again, Mr. Ashe allowed him to enter the ring. (I believe I even saw Mr. Ashe cheer for Mr. Zucco while he was working in the ring.)

So, ultimately, I questioned whether putting Mr. Zucco in the ring was a good decision for the health of Mr. Zucco, and the health and safety of all the N.E.W. Superstars in the ring at that time.

As a part of the N.E.W. Officiating Team, one of the responsibilities we have toward all of the N.E.W. Superstars is to be watchful of their health and safety in the ring. And this comes before any and all partiality or bias we may have or feel for or against any Superstar on a personal level. We must treat the wrestlers, the fans, and our official responsibilities, with the utmost respect, dignity, and professionalism at all times.

I welcome a one on one meeting with Mr. Ashe, so that we may be able to rectify his situation, so that it does not adversely affect our working relationship, our trainer trainee relationship, or our friendship away from the ring.

First off, many thanks to N.E.W. for all of this in the first place....

I had a good day yesterday.  I got to work out at the Den, then drive to Buffalo with some friends, I had "Texas" red hots for lunch (yeah, that's a different discussion), and reffed 3 matches for the OSPW show.

I had match 2, that had Rico Cruz and Doberman go against the Davidsons.  The Davidsons got the pin fallagainst Rico, but for actions after the bell, I had to have the decision was reversed.

I had the 7th match, the TV Title match, Al Jihad v Bishop, with Bishop submitting Jihad.  Jihad was not having a good night, as not only was the crowd against him, but the ring steps also....

And I had match 9, Kriptic and Kazz v "Retro" Rex Atkins and Mike McGee for the Tag Team Titles.  It ended up being a handicap match, as Rex was delayed and never made it to the arena, and the former Hardcore Champ defended the titles alone.  Mike McGee won via disqualification when Kriptic hit him in the face with one of the title belts.

In a side note, in the main event of the night, Deacon lost the Heavyweight Championship to Black Jack Phoenix.

I had a long, enjoyable day, not as physically tired as I expected, not nearly as tired as last weekend. I am looking forward to my trip to Texas next week, getting back to the ring to work out the next week, and hopefully get to review my matches with my trainers for criticisms and learning opportunities.

Again, I want to thank N.E.W. for the training, shows, and friendships, and to OSPW for the extra matches to continue to learn my craft.

As some may have noticed, I changed up my Top Friends, and I hope that no one gets offended, there is a reason for my madness.  I took off half the list, as I do not want to be accused of showing favoritism to any wrestlers over others.  I have MY Fed, the one who got me mixed up with this in the first place, my trainers, our home arena, and the Fed Band. 

"Tonight's the night!
It's gonna be alright...."

Ok Ok, I know, I should be slapped for coming up with a Rod Stewart reference, but it fits the situation.  As some know, most may not, I have spent the last 2 months training to be a Pro Wrestling Referee for Next Era Wrestling.  Being IN the ring has been a dream since I was a punk kid watching Houston Wrestling every Saturday night on channel 39 in Houston.  WCCW, Mid-South, UWF, NWA are just some of the Feds and stars that shown there, thanks much to Mr Paul Boesch.  Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Terry Taylor, Ted DiBiasse, Iron Sheik, Sting, Mean Mark Callous (Undertaker), the Guerrero's, shoot, a lot of wrestlers came through Houston during those years.  When I lived in San Antonio, my ex-wife and I went to all the WWF shows, and got to meet some wrestlers, Bavy Boy Smith, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, the Barbarian, Koko B Ware, the Undertaker, Kevin Von Erich, and Roddy Piper.  Since then, I have tapered off a bit, as I have grown older, wiser, eh, that stuff is for kids, and as I go through life, the slim chance I had when I was younger to get in a Pro ring got less and less a possibility.  I still met more guys at shows, the one and only Mick Foley, and recently, Abyss and Matt Hyson (fka Spike Dudley).  But I see I am digressing again...
In November, on what at the time I figured would be a lark, I went to the Tyger's Den here in Rochester to see what entaled training to be a ref.  I know realistically, being a wrestler at this point in my life is pretty much out of the question..... I had conversations with the head ref (Ashe), and the two lead guys in the wrestling part of the operation (Tyger himself, and Swift, before he was unceremoniously fired) and before I knew it, I had purchased wrestling shoes, knee pads, and I was in the ring training.  I have learned a lot from Ashe, and the trainers there, and it all culminates with the purpose of this blog, Tonight is THE night, I have my in ring Professional Wrestling Referee debut.  Tonight, Tonawanda NY.  Tonight, my cuts, scrapes, bruises, sweat, sprains, training, watching. learning, absorbing, it all comes to fruition, as N. E. W. Referee Al Scott steps into the Squared Circle to officiate.
I am nervous, my stomach has been causing me discomfort, but I know that if the trainers did not think, nay, know, I was not ready, I would not step in.  Ashe is qualified, and able to ref all the matches if need be, I have seen it happen before, he does have the heart and stamina.  Someday, I hope to be as good, knowledgeable, and respected as he is, well, if you ignore the 2CW show the other night......  So I know I will be OK, thus the song line from before.
Tonight is the night I make my debut, and mark off yet another entry from my life wish list, and I know it will be alright, as most of my in ring support group will be there, Beast and Ashe, not Swift, though, as he is "retired" and I do miss him and him unfailing encouragement around the gym......  Today is going to be a good day, and Tonight...... Tonight will be a GREAT night!

Yes, I know, a bit corny, but then, I am from Texas, so excuse my vernacular.  I want to wish everyone a great N.E.W. year, and thanx for welcoming me at the Den, and helping me in my quest to take yet another item off my list of things I have always wanted to do. 
Going back to being a fan in Houston, watching Paul Boesch's shows on TV, with the SuperStars of UWF, Mid-South, and WCCW, I had always in the back of my mind wanted to get in the ring in some capacity.  And in a few weeks, I hope to mark off  that wish.  I just want you all to know I appreciate your help, assistance, and input, but most of all, your patience.
Have a happy, healthy, safe 2007!