Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Mar 20, 2015 10:56:27 GMT -6
(Coshocton, Ohio): Shane Douglas headlines Ohio Championship Wrestling’s 12th anniversary show at Hopewell School. Douglas is scheduled for in-ring action on the show.
www.coshoctontribune.com/story/news/local/2015/03/17/wrestling-veteran-humbled-perform-local-fans/24927203/
Wrestling veteran humbled to perform for local fans
COSHOCTON – Shane Douglas said he was just as disappointed as local wrestling fans when a show he was to appear at in October in Zanesville was canceled at the last minute.
The same day, he talked with a promoter friend in West Virginia about finding another company he could work with in the area. He’s confident he and fans will come away satisfied from Ohio Championship Wrestling’s Tradition 12th anniversary show Saturday at Hopewell School. Douglas’ opponent for the show is yet to be announced.
The Pittsburgh native, born Troy Martin, said he thinks the independent scene is the lifeblood of the sport today. The fans, many of whom will stand outside a high school gym or armory for hours so they can get the best seats, are what keep him going after more than 30 years in the business, he said.
“It’s humbling to me to have people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for the years of entertaining us,’ ” Douglas said. “I can still remember the kid who got into wrestling and never, ever having the gumption to believe he would ever be a champion.”
Douglas has worked for organizations such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. His throwing down of the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title right after winning it and declaring the Extreme Championship Wrestling Title as the only real world title is seen as one of the key moments of what was known as the Attitude Era in wrestling.
He has seen firsthand how those on top can start worrying more about money than putting on a good show for the fans.
“The kids aren’t there because they’re getting a big paycheck. The fans aren’t there because they’re getting the slickest product,” Douglas said. “In the basic sense, they’re getting guys and girls who are eager to be wrestlers and learn the craft. The fans respond to that. For me, it’s fun to go back to the basics and see the energy in the room.”
Douglas also prides himself on helping out some of the up-and-comers who make the backbone of such promotions as the Coshocton-based Ohio Championship Wrestling. Many young wrestlers will ask Douglas for his advice or to watch their matches, and he said if he promises to do so, he will.
llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com
740-295-3417
Twitter: @llhayhurst
If you go
•What: Ohio Championship Wrestling’s Tradition 12th anniversary show
•When: March 21. Doors open for VIP ticket holders at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for general admission. Bell time is 7 p.m.
•Where: Hopewell School, 23720 Airport Road
•FYI: General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. A family pack of four tickets is $35 in advance only. Tickets are available at Crowtown Pizza, Coshocton ReStore, Buckeye Beverage Barn and ocwrestling.net. VIP tickets are sold out. An after party will be at the SportZone featuring the wrestlers; it is open to fans.
•Card: Announced matches include Takahashi vs. Jimmy Shane for the Ohio Heritage Title and the Redneck Wrecking Crew vs. Juice Jennings and Joey Vengeance for the OCW Tag Team Titles. OCW Champion Robby Starr and “The Franchise” Shane Douglas also will be in action along with other grapplers.
www.coshoctontribune.com/story/news/local/2015/03/17/wrestling-veteran-humbled-perform-local-fans/24927203/
Wrestling veteran humbled to perform for local fans
COSHOCTON – Shane Douglas said he was just as disappointed as local wrestling fans when a show he was to appear at in October in Zanesville was canceled at the last minute.
The same day, he talked with a promoter friend in West Virginia about finding another company he could work with in the area. He’s confident he and fans will come away satisfied from Ohio Championship Wrestling’s Tradition 12th anniversary show Saturday at Hopewell School. Douglas’ opponent for the show is yet to be announced.
The Pittsburgh native, born Troy Martin, said he thinks the independent scene is the lifeblood of the sport today. The fans, many of whom will stand outside a high school gym or armory for hours so they can get the best seats, are what keep him going after more than 30 years in the business, he said.
“It’s humbling to me to have people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for the years of entertaining us,’ ” Douglas said. “I can still remember the kid who got into wrestling and never, ever having the gumption to believe he would ever be a champion.”
Douglas has worked for organizations such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. His throwing down of the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title right after winning it and declaring the Extreme Championship Wrestling Title as the only real world title is seen as one of the key moments of what was known as the Attitude Era in wrestling.
He has seen firsthand how those on top can start worrying more about money than putting on a good show for the fans.
“The kids aren’t there because they’re getting a big paycheck. The fans aren’t there because they’re getting the slickest product,” Douglas said. “In the basic sense, they’re getting guys and girls who are eager to be wrestlers and learn the craft. The fans respond to that. For me, it’s fun to go back to the basics and see the energy in the room.”
Douglas also prides himself on helping out some of the up-and-comers who make the backbone of such promotions as the Coshocton-based Ohio Championship Wrestling. Many young wrestlers will ask Douglas for his advice or to watch their matches, and he said if he promises to do so, he will.
llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com
740-295-3417
Twitter: @llhayhurst
If you go
•What: Ohio Championship Wrestling’s Tradition 12th anniversary show
•When: March 21. Doors open for VIP ticket holders at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for general admission. Bell time is 7 p.m.
•Where: Hopewell School, 23720 Airport Road
•FYI: General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. A family pack of four tickets is $35 in advance only. Tickets are available at Crowtown Pizza, Coshocton ReStore, Buckeye Beverage Barn and ocwrestling.net. VIP tickets are sold out. An after party will be at the SportZone featuring the wrestlers; it is open to fans.
•Card: Announced matches include Takahashi vs. Jimmy Shane for the Ohio Heritage Title and the Redneck Wrecking Crew vs. Juice Jennings and Joey Vengeance for the OCW Tag Team Titles. OCW Champion Robby Starr and “The Franchise” Shane Douglas also will be in action along with other grapplers.