Bob Cassidy

What up boys and girls and welcome to another McInterview. We are only a few days away from the J-CUP, and what a better way to get ready for it, then interviewing one of the men who own JCW, Bob Cassidy. Most people don’t know about Bob’s involvement, so this should be a real eye opener for a lot of wrestling fans and talent alike. Bob gave the DOI a lot of information about himself and his views, and it’s a great read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The MiC: How did you get into the wrestling business, and ultimately, JCW?

Bob Cassidy: I have been a wrestling fan since 1981 or 1982. I used to buy all the wrestling magazines, all the videos-the only person with a bigger collection than myself would have to be Dave Greco, I would order every ppv, wrestling figures, wrestling books, basically if it was wrestling related I bought it.

I never thought I would be involved in the business other then as a fan. In 1999 my two best friends got involved in JCW and kept telling me I should come to the shows & help out. Finally I did and started out doing security, setting up chairs, setting up the ring, basically anything that needed to be done. Slowly Ricky & I starting become closer friends and I started stepping up in the company & doing more. So what started out as just helping out turned into being one of the owners, bookers, writers, the TV and home video producer, etc... in JCW.

The MiC: What do you feel about your role as JCW's "silent partner"?

Bob Cassidy: Honestly it is tough sometimes because I do put so much time into JCW, whether it is running the live show or working on the tv show, and it seems like everyone thinks of JCW as a one man show. But I choose to stay behind the scenes so I can't complain when no one knows about my contributions. The reason I agreed to do this interview was to let the fans know that JCW is run by Ricky & myself equally. When we run successful shows like we have been doing for the past 2 years consistently it is because of both of our hard work. When something doesn't work on a show we should both take the heat for it.

The MiC: Is there any truth to the rumor that the Kevin Smith character, "Silent Bob" is based off of your role in JCW?

Bob Cassidy: Their is no truth to that rumor since I have no problem talking when something needs to be said for the good of JCW. Their is no one that I will back down from when it comes to JCW because I put too much of my heart into it to let someone hurt it.

The MiC: Where do you get storyline ideas?

Bob Cassidy: Basically I take the card that Ricky & I write up and build a script around it that I feel will be entertaining to the fans. I can't really say where it comes from. I can see it happening in my head, I write it into the script, and then the workers bring it to life. Their is nothing more satisfying in this business then reading a review or talking to fans and have them say how much they enjoyed something I wrote.

The MiC: Who are the easiest wrestlers/talent to work with? Hardest?

Bob Cassidy: As one of the owners of JCW I am not going to name names as I feel that is un-professional. I will say the easiest guys to work with are the ones that see the big picture. When we write up a storyline it is designed to build the character and take them to a different level. We would never write a storyline for a worker that would make them look bad because then we look bad as a company.

The hardest guys to work with are the ones that only look at the short term results. To me the best storylines are the ones that are allowed to grow because they let the fans see different sides of the worker and their character. The workers I am talking about only look at the immediate situation when they should be looking at how is their character going to build and be more valuable to JCW & the wrestling business. The other type of workers that are the hardest to deal with, and we do not have anyone like this in JCW anymore but we used to have quite a few, are the guys that walk in the door and try to tell us they won't lose to certain people. No offense to any worker out there but when you come to work for JCW it does not matter where you have been, what you have done, or who you have wrestled. You are there to do a job and make JCW, as a company, look good. If that means you have to lose a match here & there then so be it. The key to this business is not whether you win or lose but whether you kept the fans guessing as to who is going to win the match.

The MiC: What is it like working with Ricky O?

Bob Cassidy: Working with Ricky is very challenging because he tends to act or say things without thinking about the consequences. I am exactly the opposite in that I think before I speak or act. We argue like any great partners do but in the end we always do what is best for JCW as a company. I think the key to our success is that we don't always agree on everything and between the two of us we come up with a lot of great ideas. The most important rule we have is we do not let JCW affect our friendship.

The MiC: How much work goes into running a successful show?

Bob Cassidy: The first step is Ricky will write the card up and send it to me to so that I can give my thoughts. Once we both agree on the matches I take the card and start building a script around it that will continue our storylines and entertain the fans. I write everything out and send it to Ricky, John Shane, and Ace or Simon, when he was running our locker room, to get their input. Then I write up the promos that we need to shoot to further the storyline based on what happened during the matches. Everyone gives their input and we come up with a final script that we plan on using at the show. Basically this happens over the 2-3 weeks leading up to the show.

The day of the show I try to be the first one at the building and the last one to leave. Anything that goes wrong is my responsibility so I oversee every aspect of the show. From setting up the a/v equipment, to making sure the cameramen are getting the best shots for TV, to making sure the workers are ready and know what is expected of them, to making sure the referees know where the cameras are so they don't block them, to making sure the fans are enjoying themselves, to handling problems with the building, to doing payroll, to making sure the commentators know what storylines they are trying to get over, and another hundred things that I won't bore anyone with. Honestly their is no one that works harder at a JCW show then myself and I think it shows in our product at the live show & on TV. I am a perfectionist and will not accept anything less if it is within my ability.

The MiC: When will we see the JCW returns of The Solution, Tim Arson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz, Bob Cassidy: Danny Demanto, Kevin Matthews, Jonah, Justin Credible and Los Problemas?

The DRS is already coming back starting on the Sept. show. With the new direction JCW is going to be taking you never know who will show up. As a matter of fact even I have no idea who is going to be booked half the time. Ricky is always working on bringing in the best talent on the indy scene.

The MiC: NJ is overflooded with lots of independent promotions. Where do you see yourself on the scale?

Bob Cassidy: I really can't compare JCW to anyone else because I don't go to see other company's product but I do not see anyone with the type of storylines we run. Look at our shows and for the most part every match is involved in furthering a storyline.

I will say that I would put our product up against any other indy company in terms of the live shows and our TV shows just based on the reviews I read on the DOI and other sites. I was told recently by a writer for another wrestling site that he felt we were one of the top 3 indy companies in the Northeast and the DOI named us the number 5 indy company so I'll take the compliments but as far as comparing us to other companies I couldn't say.

The MiC: How much of your time goes to JCW on a daily basis? With two new members to your family, do you find it more difficult to manage both your wrestling life and family life?

Bob Cassidy: From the time I get up in the morning to the time I go to sleep I am either thinking about a storyline, writing a promo, working on the TV show, or figuring out new ways to get JCW out there to new fans. It has always been difficult to manage both my wrestling life and my family life but thankfully I have the best wife in the world who understands my passion when it comes to JCW. The day I got back from my honeymoon I dropped my wife off at home and left to run a JCW show. For the first few months of my marriage I would be up until 1 or 2 in the morning working on the TV show while my wife was sleeping in the bedroom alone. The next day I would be up at 7 AM to go to my real job and as soon as I got home it was back to the TV show. Since we just had 2 boys I obviously found time for other activities but for the most part is was JCW getting most of my time. Now I think I have found a good balance between the two where I can handle the JCW business while keeping my wife happy and spend enough time with the boys.

The MiC: Do you have any pre-show superstitions?

Bob Cassidy: No superstitions just a lot of hard work.

The MiC: JCW has been on fire as of late, and is steam rolling towards the J-CUP. Even the next show afterwards, Sept 28, is fully loaded. Can we expect big changes by JCW in the near future?

Bob Cassidy: JCW is right on the edge of taking that next step and we don't plan on stopping. The Sept. 28 show will be the debut of a new JCW without the negative workers that just bring down the whole locker room with their whining & complaining. I'm sorry but when a company is writing storylines for you, putting you in major angles on TV, and trying to build your character, which will make you more valuable in this business, you should be thanking them not criticizing or complaining.

JCW is going to work on making every match special and continue writing storylines that the fans can follow and will be excited about seeing where they will lead.

Word association

Ricky O
Ricky O was my best man at my wedding, he is going to be the godfather of my boys, we are partners in JCW and I consider him part of my family. He brought me into the business that I grew up loving and I thank him for that.

Shawn Sheridan
Shawn and I have had our problems here & there but for the most part I consider him a close friend and an extremely talented worker both in the ring & on the mic. I used to kick him out before the JCW shows because I didn't know who he was but I made it up to him by getting him a spot in the 2002 J-Cup.

Livewyre
Live Wyre has a lot of potential to go far in this business. He has the drive, the ability, and with the right training he will be a big star.

Noel
Noel is someone that I have gotten to know very well since she joined JCW and has proven that she belongs in this business. She is always willing to do whatever it takes to get job done and has risen to the top of the female performers in JCW.

Fat Frank
Whenever I have spoken to Frank he always has positive things to say about JCW so in my book he is a true professional. I used to go to JAP shows on a regular basis and always enjoyed them.

Frank Goodman
I recently had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Goodman on-line and found him to be a very professional and courteous. We talked about our respective companies and I can see that he has a passion for USA Pro like I have for JCW.

Jac Sabboth
I give Jac a lot of credit for what he has done and I hope he & Ricky can resolve their problem soon. I wasn't happy that he took a tape I personally made and sold it as his own but in this business I guess their is no honor.

Damian Dragon
Damian is someone I consider a close friend but I don't think he is ready to move to the next level. I think he has all of the tools, the in-ring presence, and the ability but until he is ready to move forward without Foxxy at his side he will stay right where he is. Look at Simon Diamond and Dawn Marie. Dawn did not turn down the WWE because Simon wasn't there, she took the job and made the best of it. Damian doesn't want to do anything without Foxxy by his side even if will further his career. Once he changes that attitude I think he can go far in this business.

Foxxy Dreams
I see so much potential in Foxxy but I do not see the drive that I know she has in her. Again it comes down to not wanting to work without Damian at the expense of furthering her career. The storyline with her having to go with Shawn and Damian becoming the loose cannon would have put the 2 of them in the top storyline in JCW and they both complained about it because they were not working together. I'm sorry but you live together, you go to the show together, you are backstage together, and yet you are going to complain because you can not be at the ring for 6-8 minutes together to build your characters? I do not get it and with the new direction in JCW I don't know if they have a place with us unless they can change their attitudes.

Becky Bayless
I like Becky, I thought she had a lot of potential, and I thought she was going to be a big part of JCW. When I heard she quit JCW I was surprised and sorry to see her go. I wish her the best in whatever she does and would offer her some advice-In this business their are going to be people that say things about you and their are going to be people that tell you someone else said something about you. Either way it does not matter what anyone thinks as long as you know the truth and what kind of person you are. Let people think or say anything they want, then go out and prove them wrong.

Miss Michelle
Michelle is someone that did a lot in JCW in the past but is not with us right now. Hopefully things can be worked out and she will return with a different attitude. Michelle needs to realize that while she is a beautiful woman that can only get her so far in this business.

Jonah
I followed him on Tough Enough 3 and it was a pleasure to meet him & have him work for JCW.

Los Problemas
This was a great idea that unfortunately got sidetracked and wasn't able to reach it full potential.

DRS
I love these guys and really pushed for them to win the tag belts. I won't discuss what caused their departure from JCW but I am happy that they will be back with us starting in Sept. and look forward to having them back on a regular basis.

Tim Arson
I only met him briefly when he worked a JCW show at Lucky's but I was impressed that he went on our message board and apologized for something that wasn't completely his fault. I have discussed bringing him back with Ricky and we both agreed that he will get another chance to prove himself and show the fans what he can do.

Danny Demanto
I wrote a storyline for the him & Kevin Matthews that, in my opinion, would have pushed both of them to a different level. I put my neck out for them, I got Ricky to agree to the storyline, and then they didn't show up. The next show Danny was booked on again he did not show up. I consider Danny a close friend but you can only burn so many bridges before people stop giving you a chance. His actions at the recent SSCW show left a bad impression on a lot of people so he is going to have a long road gaining back any respect that he might have had.

Kevin Matthews
Kevin recently got into a little message board war with Ricky that should never have happened. Ricky was posting as a fan that attended a show and did not like what he saw. Kevin should have just ignored the post, apologized to the promoter & the fans, and let things cool down. In my opinion when you argue on a message board no one wins and it only made things worse for Kevin. I wish him the best and hope he too can gain back any respect he might have lost at the recent SSCW show.

Solution
A team that was the back bone of JCW tag team scene for a long time. About a year ago I went to Ricky and told him that I wanted to build up the tag team division around the Solution to make them a stronger team. We brought in 5-6 teams and had some great matches. One of my all time favorite moments in JCW history is when John Shane turned on the Solution. Unfortunately sometimes workers take things for granted and it can cause problems behind the scenes. I hope things will be worked out and the Solution will be back in JCW very soon.

Ace Darling
Ace is a guy that has been everywhere in this business and we are proud to have him leading JCW as it's heavyweight champion. He is part of the booking team, he runs our locker room, and he is a true professional. The few times we have had a problem it was worked out immediately & it made us a stronger team.

Striker
Stryker is a guy that I first met at the 2001 J-Cup and while I did not know who he was he was very polite and respectful. I would see him every now & then at a JAP show and he would always say hello and shake hands even though I'm pretty sure he didn't know I was one of the owners of JCW. That showed me he wasn't trying to kiss my ass like some workers do thinking it will get them a spot in JCW. When I saw him work in the ring for the first time I was not impressed, this was about 1 1/2 years ago, but now I think he is a great talent and look forward to seeing him work his way to the top in JCW.

Devin Sturgis
Devin is a great manager and a good friend. I think the promo he did at the charity show in Paramus was done at the wrong time and it was done without consulting Ricky or I but I understand why he wanted to do it. He has a great mind for the managing side of the business and anyone that will come out in a thong & tape over his nipples to further a storyline has got my vote.

Dirty Money
I pushed for Dirty Money to win the TV title and was very proud of his performance in JCW. The one problem I have is when a worker shows up hurt to a show and doesn't tell the booker. So many things could go wrong that the promoter is going to be responsible for that he has to know when a worker is not 100%. Otherwise I think Money is a great talent that will go far in this business.

Ref Garry
Ref Garry is someone I met when I first started in JCW and think very highly of. His ass gets in front of the camera a little too much but not as much as Hanson's did at the 2002 J-Cup. Honestly I am glad to see he is getting the credit he deserves and would love to see him in the WWE some day.

Vince McMahon
You have to give Vince the credit for taking the sport to places that no one ever thought possible. I have been following the WWF/WWE since the days of Snuka, Muraco, Backlund, Morales and always just loved the sport-I will admit when I started watching I thought it was real-but I never watched it because it was the cool thing to do. Back then it was actually uncool to watch wrestling. Vince made it the cool thing to do but he did so in a way that the long time fans could still enjoy it. I'll admit I don't like some of the angles-Katie Vick-Shawn Michael's sexually harrassing Davy Boy's wife, etc-but that is the nature of this business. You can not please all of the people all of the time.

Vince Russo
Their are so many stories about Vince Russo that no one knows what to believe. I give him credit for trying & doing his best. Their are only so many people in this world that will ever know what it is like to try to book a successful show or write a successful storyline and see it come to life. Their are a lot of armchair bookers out their that criticize everything a promoter does but it's not that easy or every show would be a perfect show and they're just not-even in JCW.

Bastion Booger
Bastion Booger, Maka Singh, Norman the Lunatic... The best memory I have of him was when he faced Kevin Sullivan in a falls count anywhere match. He made the pin in the bathroom and came out with the toilet seat around his head.

Giant Gonzales
He had the size, he had the facial expressions, and they made him wear a suit of fur. The last time I saw him he came out as a mummy at Halloween Havoc.

Declaration of Independents
They were the ones that broke the story of my twins being born and I will always be thankful to Sean for that. I consider Sean a friend that I can talk to and get an honest opinion out without worrying about it ending up on the site. I check the site everyday to keep up on what is going on in the indy scene and I think they are doing a great job. I just started listing them on the JCW TV show along with the Wrestling Clothesline so hopefully more people will be coming to the site.

The MiC: What do you want to say to anyone reading this interview?

Bob Cassidy: I hope that people that come to a JCW show or watch us on TV realize that their are real people behind the scenes doing everything they can to put on the best show possible for them. It is easy to criticize a company or person when you have never had to do what they do and don't know what they go through.

So next time you are going to put up your "Ricky sucks" post when you've never even met him or "JCW sucks" post when you've never seen a JCW show or saw the show & didn't like one segment out of ten, take a minute and think about the people behind the scenes that busted their ass to try to entertain some people for a few hours. If you still feel the need to be a prick & make your post then go for it. This is America and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

The MiC: Thanks for doing this interview.

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