It's been a long while since I've done one of these. I don't really have a format so I'm just gonna flow with whats on my mind.
First things first...I can't thank all you fans around the world enough for all the love and support you have given me throughout this whole year. I feel like one of the luckiest guys in the world getting to do what I love to do. You guys help make it all worth it for real. I really value and cherish the relationship I have with the people. I've had a lot of good times and highlights this year which include:
-Making IPW's strap a World title, it made me feel good to help out the promotion that first gave me a place to work.
-A couple trips of Germany(wXw kicks ass)
- Best of the Best, T.O.D., Young Lions Cup, King of the Deathmatches, Double Death, IWC title tournament, Masters of Pain, and the Ted Petty Invitational. Some of the best tournaments in the world.
-Wrestling Trent Acid(Man he was on point,I miss that guy)
-Wrestling Sonjay Dutt(I learned a lot and that dude is smooth)
-Being in the ring with Claudio and Sami for the TPI finals, one of the best moments of my life. It's so awesome to have the respect of your peers and the people you work with. Thanks to all the boys that were in the ring celebrating with me afterward.
-Wrestling the "Deathmatch Dragon" Ryuji Ito
-Feeling so alive in the ring with Nick F'n Gage
-Earning a spot in CHIKARA
-My matches with Egotistico Fantastico in ICW
-Wrestling Andrew Patterson in wXw...it was his first hardcore match and he did a damn good job. He let me know that he felt motivated and found out a lot about himself. It makes me feel good that he felt so great about the match. What a great guy too, one of my good friends. We slammed down some Quincy burgers too...those things are off the chain.
-My matches with Vincent Nothing in Absolute Intense Wrestling-we tried to make those pretty special
-The story that Thumbtack Jack and I told in our NRBW match at wXw...that was one of the coolest atmosphere's I was ever around
-Watching Thumbtack Jack win Masters of Pain...he is so great for the american scene and it was cool to see such an awesome talent get some recognition.
-Receiving a great sign of trust from CZW in the Heavyweight strap. Thank you to Nick Gage. It feels good to get the sign of approval from all the guys that helped build that company. I wanna thank them for all they did so that there could be a place for us to work. (Wifebeater, Zandig, Mondo, Gage, LOBO, Ric Blade, Ian Knoxx, Ca$h, and all the rest)
-Jack Daniels shots with Viking and Sexxy Eddy...I love those damn French-Canadians
-Closing down bars in Cleveland with Josh Prohibition...that dude is fun to hang out with. Another great guy to have in a locker room...lots of skill and knowledge.
-My matches with Dingo in IWA...he is a badass wrestler and a deserving champion. We have fucked eachother up...lol.
-Press from the magazines
-Spending time and getting to know one of the coolest guys in the business B-Boy. We are lucky to have a guy like him in our locker room. I wish I lived closer to him so that I could just absorb his knowledge all the time like a sponge.
-Saving money...I finally stopped blowing all my paydays away...lol.
-Being in the ring with Jon Moxley in IPW
-Wrestling more regular matches and opening eyes
-Seeing some dope-ass new talent tear it the fuck up(QUICK Carter Gray, EGO Fantastico, Jason Hades, Prince Ali, Jayson Strife, Ryan McBride, Drew Blood, Soul Touchaz and Pinkie Sanchez son)
-Watching the evolution of Devon Moore and forming the team Deadly Under the Influence(it's no gimmick, lol)
-Not losing any body parts
-Closing down the Joliet Harrahs Casino bar with Necro Butcher, Eddie Kingston, and Sami. Thanks to Dylan for introducing me to Tanqueray(sorry for spelling) and Grapefruit. That drink has come in handy in many airport and hotel bars.
-Watching my boys xOMGx and Scotty rock out on Jerry Springer
-Being a part of the Cage of Death 10 which had a sold-out turn away crowd at the ECW arena, that was simply electric.
-All the partying and hell-raising that I participated in worldwide. Too much to name and too many after-parties but I've had more fun this year than some people have had in a decade.
As some of you know Dustin and Scotty quit wrestling and Dustin ended our friendship over some petty bullshit. If thats what he wants, whatever. I was supersad about it for a little while but I know on the inside that I've done good by him and tried to help him. Trying to make me and xOMGx choose sides like this is dodgeball or something is a little on the wack side but so be it. I hope he makes a lot of money off of a name we helped build, maybe he'll actually smile a little bit. It's a shitty situation but sometimes this business makes people bitter and negative. Thats all I've got to say about that. I miss the hell out of Scotty. That was my road-dog, we lived together for almost 2 years. He was the most talented out of all of us and could've done some BIG things. I wish him luck in all his future endeavors. I miss xOMGx a lot as well...especially since we're not all together anymore. I've been talking to him and in February he's coming back with a vengeance and fans in CZW, IWA , and IPW watch out cuz that high-flying hardcore luchadork is gonna rock out.
I wanna thank my boy Dan for being there for me when I need help and advice. Whether it's losing a girl or avoiding stupid politics, he's been there for me. I got mad love for him and his family. Thanks Homie!
I miss J.C. Bailey a lot. I speak with him almost every week and he is in good spirits. He should be out in September 09. Stay Strong Brother!
On to a kind of sad note. I've been informed that one of the greatest men to ever grace our business, Rollin Hard has only a couple of days to live. He's been fighting cancer for 3 years now. He is such a great person and an amazing guy to have in the locker room. He wrote me a special e-mail a few months back. He told me that he doesn't really know and/or trust newer guys in the locker room. He asked me to hold it down and keep wrestling for IWA for him(at least until his son, Justice is old enough to wrestle) and to not do Ian wrong. That was so special to me that I started shedding tears. The least I can do is fulfill one of his dying wishes. I prayed for him last night at midnight mass to have a peaceful last holiday season with his wife Angie and the kids. Please if you would, keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. WE LOVE YOU ROLLIN! LIVE HARD!
Well thats all I can think of for now. I was recently invited to wXw's prestigious 16 Carat technical wrestling tournament. I very much look forward to coming back and wrestling for some of the best fans in the world. Thank you again to everybody that I have been blessed with to have in my life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...Here's to a kickass 2009. Peace!
Random quote: "I wonder if they will remember me as I fold, I wonder if they will remember me as I grow old"-Jeff Hardy