Sal Hamaoui
What up boys and girls and welcome to another McInterview. Today, I interviewed Sal Hamaoui, who promotes FIPW in Florida. FIPW has been doing deals with ROH, JCW, LXW and other promotions. FIPW recently drew their highest crowd of the year at their most recent show with 650 people. In this interview Sal discusses his dealings in the business, NWA Florida, his infamous email and much more. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: How did you get into the pro wrestling business?
Sal Hamaoui: I was in law school 3 years ago when I met Missy Hyatt and started helping her out in a pre-law course that she was taking. We then started discussing her career and it evolved into us starting wrestlingvixxxens.com. That’s how I later got involved with the World Wrestling Network (WWN), which then led to Full Impact Pro (FIP).
Sal Hamaoui: I never intended into getting involved with this aspect of the business. It was the last thing that I wanted to do. I started an online webcast company called World Wrestling Network (WWN) in early 2002. Actually, it was started right before the 9-11 attack. I still remember driving up to meet with the guys from RF Video and passing the Pentagon and it was still smoldering. I am very proud to say that I established the very first 24 hour Internet broadcast network. We went through a year of R&D and finally launched the site in October 2002. During that R&D period we started producing wrestling DVD’s with a couple of our local content providers down here in Florida. We keep the web casting segment of our company operational for roughly one year. It was in no way profitable and technological difficulties that we experienced really made it obvious that the Internet had not developed to the point where we could make this work and be profitable at the same time. Once the painful decision was made to discontinue the web casting we started focusing on the DVD segment. Our first DVD was FOW’s King of Carnage. This was filmed in Davie, FL on April 13, 2002. Future of Wrestling (FOW) was a sister promotion to IPW-Hardcore Wrestling (IPW). IPW was based in St. Petersburg, FL and was the most successful independent wrestling organization in Florida for quite a while. IPW was run by Ron Niemi. FOW was run by Bobby Rodgers, whose real name is Michael Rapuano. We secured a DVD distribution deal with a North Carolina company to distribute the DVD. Unfortunately, that company really didn’t have much luck marketing the DVD, so WWN made the choice to basically purchase all the DVD’s that were produced and try to market the title ourselves, as well as try to secure another distribution deal. To make a long story short, Rapuano ordered $9,500 worth of the DVD’s, as well as other products, from us in September 2002. His check bounced and we were forced to prosecute him, which eventually lead to the demise of FOW. I need to add that FOW was on shaky ground to begin with. I’m not sure about the details, but it did have something to do with credit card fraud. Well to say the least, this drove a wedge between WWN and IPW, due to IPW’s close association with FOW. WWN, had by this point secured a world wide distribution deal on 24 titles with Riviera Entertainment. The Internet segment of WWN was still operational and we had started speaking with XPW, which had just moved into the ECW Arena in Philly. It should be noted that WWN had good working relationships with most of the top NE indy’s at that time, including ROH, CZW, JAPW and XPW. XPW VP Kevin Klinerock expressed an interest in securing a TV deal with Sunshine Network. This was right before MLW had secured their deal. One thing lead to another and it eventually evolved in the formation of an organization that was to be called War Zone Wrestling (WZW), that could be promoted along with XPW on Sunshine and which was to be somewhat of a feeder league, so to speak, for XPW. It should be stated that XPW had no financial investment in this new organization and that WZW was to be run completely independent from XPW. I figured with a DVD distribution deal already in place and not working with any of the organizations locally, that it would make sense to start running our own shows, especially if we would have exclusive access to XPW talent. WZW was later renamed Full Impact Pro (FIP), out of respect to John Zandig and CZW. Then everyone knows what eventually happened with XPW in early 2003. FIP ran its first show on August 3, 2003.
Sal Hamaoui: Let’s face it; there really is no comparison when it comes to the fan base. I mean to say that the fans that are down here are just as passionate about wrestling as they are in the NE, but that there is no where as many fans down here as there are in the NE. A wrestling company is lucky if it can constantly draw 100 or so people down here in FL. In fact, we just ran our most successful show last month and drew 650 and still barely broke even. The workers are pretty much the same wherever you go. They constantly bust their asses out of true love for the sport.
Sal Hamaoui: FIP is a lot like any other indy group, just trying to make a name and promote it’s workers. I can honestly say that we have the best locker room in the state of Florida, but every promoter down here will say that about there company. Our strengths would be the loyalty of our workers, that fact that we do have a world wide DVD distribution deal and that, in my opinion, we’ve made a sizable impact in the nine or so months that we’ve been in business, than most organizations out there have in that same period of time. With regard to our weaknesses, my own inexperience is a big weakness, as well as continuity. We are addressing both those issues. We are just about to secure a five year least on a new 5,000 sq ft. building in New Port Richey where we’ll run bi-weekly events and operate our school and we’ve secured the exclusivity on a few first class venues throughout the state. We will also be hiring a full time booker very shortly.
Sal Hamaoui: I really don’t have any feelings toward them. We don’t work with them and really don’t follow what they are or are not doing. They really are not “competition” so to speak. We don’t run in the same towns and we don’t run on the same nights. That was the case with IPW early on. In fact, IPW ran head to head against us for about two months before Ron Niemi closed it down.
Sal Hamaoui: This “fan” really does nothing but bash FIP and put over NWA Florida like they are the second coming and I really just got feed up with it. The final straw was when this “fan”, who is nothing more that a plant, started badmouthing a couple of my workers on the ROH forum. These two workers, who have busted their asses for many years, like most of the workers out there, finally got a break and are scheduled to compete at Do or Die III this July in NJ. This “fan” started bad mouthing them only because they work for FIP and for no other reason whatsoever. I had no idea that this “fan” was 15 and sent him an email basically telling him what a piece of shit I thought he was and that we should meet face to face to straighten this out. No where in this e-mail did I threaten this “fan” with violence, but Alan Wojcik, regardless on what he claims, works directly for NWA Florida, decided to make a huge issue over this whole situation. I lost my cool and issued an apology. However, everyone has to understand, these workers, just like all the workers out there, including NWA Florida’s talent, bust their asses for little to no pay day in and day out and I just got sick of this asshole constantly bad mouthing them. But, I’ve realized pretty quickly that this is how this business is. The majority of the fans really appreciate what the workers and promoters are trying to do, but you’ll always have assholes that you just have to ignore and you just have to accept that fact.
Sal Hamaoui: I met Slash in January 2003 up in Philly during a XPW event. He’s a great guy and has a very viable concept with LXW. We had a great time working with them last month and I wish him and his guys all the best.
Sal Hamaoui: I met Ricky O when I attended the March JCW show in Garfield, NJ with Ricky Steamboat. We really hit it off right away. Ricky O is as straight up a guy as you’ll find in this business. He truly loves this business and puts JCW ahead of a lot of things. He’s unbelievably knowledgeable about the business and I hope to learn as much as I can from him. What really impressed me about Ricky was when he came down here to Florida, along with Shawn Sheridan, Ryan Wing, Dave Greco and the JCW Angel, to represent JCW during the International Xplosion tour that FIP did with LXW. This guy had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands. I have never seen anyone work a crowd into a frenzy like he, along with Thunderbolt Norton, did. They literally wanted to kill this guy. In fact, we had an after show party and there were fans that literally followed Ricky to the center intending to kick his ass. I remember Ricky saying “we’re not in Jersey anymore.” What a true talent, and I’m not just saying that. Once the DVD is released everyone will know what I’m talking about. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t picked up by the WWE somewhere down the line.
Sal Hamaoui: What literally happened is that a dozen or so guys from NWA Florida tried to attend one of our events and we refused to let them buy tickets. It was obvious that they were there only to disrupt the event. We had 140 fans there and didn’t want to cause a scene, so we basically refused to allow them entrance, asked them to leave and when they started making threats, we called the police. One of the individuals was Leroy Howard a.k.a. Navy Seal who just got arrested for what I believe was insurance fraud and was featured on CNN.
Sal Hamaoui: Roughhouse Ralph Mosca, who some of the NE fans may remember from North East Wrestling, is one of our main guys. Kahagas and Aaron Epic, who both will be part of this year’s J-Cup are exceptional. Joshua Masters, who will be having a tryout with OVW later this year, is definitely a star in the making. Brian Gamble and Scott Davis, who will be part of Do or Die III, are as solid workers as you’ll find anywhere. If I’ve forgotten any, I’m sorry.
Sal Hamaoui: WWN just secured a long term DVD distribution deal with Liquid 8 Entertainment and Navarre Distributing. We currently distribute Mike Graham’s Best of Classic Championship Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Turnbuckle Memories, as well as others. WWN also edits, authors and replicates all of ROH’s DVD releases. We just signed a deal with JCW and hopefully will shortly be representing more of the top NE and International leagues.
Sal Hamaoui: I truly believe things are on an upswing. WWE is moving away from the over-the-top story lines and focusing back on “wrestling” and their ratings are improving. That can mean nothing but good things for the Indy scene.
Sal Hamaoui: ROH, of course. JAPW is another phenomenal company that has been lacking the exposure that it deserves. 3PW is fun to watch and has a lot of potential. CZW also continues to be one of the best produced indy’s out there and hopefully will also be receiving a lot more exposure.
Sal Hamaoui: Filming the King of Carnage event is one that stands out in my mind. There were 3100 fans and they were hot all night long. The main event was incredible. Especially considering the ages of the four participants (Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Kevin Sullivan & Abdullah The Butcher). Bobby Rodgers may have been many things, but he definitely knew how to book and promote a show. New Jack diving through a flaming table during our “Dangerous Intentions” event was unbelievable. Lastly, Ricky O telling Thunderbolt Norton, after sending T-bolt to the back for help during the Kahagas – Ryan Wing match on 4.10.04 in Arcadia, FL ,“I sent you for help and you bring me a chicken?” You had to be there – buy the DVD. The WWE couldn’t write shit that good.
Sal Hamaoui: Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Superfly Snuka, and Don Muraco (I was a huge Fuji Vice mark)
Sal Hamaoui: Homicide is phenomenal. There really isn’t anything that this guy cannot do. Low Ki’s work ethic is second to none. CM Punk really understands the psychology of the business like no other, and lastly, Tony Devito, who is really one of the hardest workers in the business.
Sal Hamaoui: I wish them all the luck in the world. They both work for NWA Florida and honestly, other than a ROH convention match that Strong worked, which I wasn’t too impressed with, I have never seen either of them in action. The NE is and will continue to be the hot spot for Indy wrestling in this country and I hope that all the talent that makes it up there, whether it be from Florida or anywhere else gets a fair chance to show what they got.
Sal Hamaoui: First, our workers give 100% all of the time. Period. Second, we put on a quality show from start to finish. It’s a mix of old and new school. Thirdly, I truly believe that we have some of the most talented wrestlers in not just Florida, but the world. Lastly, FIP will be starting to bring in a lot more outside talent to some of our bigger shows. This will be talent that Florida fans don’t get to see on a regular basis.
Sal Hamaoui: We will take our first 9 our so shows and create some best of DVD’s that will feature some of the better matches and higher profile names that we’ve used. Secondly, bigger shows, like last months International Xplosion Tour and November 2003’s Return of The Dream, will be available as full shows. All FIP DVD’s will be available through Liquid 8 Entertainment at over 17,000 retail locations worldwide. As well as through Highspots.com & RFVideo.com.
Sal Hamaoui: First, like I said earlier we will be moving into a brand new 5,000 sq ft building at the end of next month, where we’ll be holding bi-weekly events. Second, we will also be doing a huge double-shot once a month in exclusive buildings throughout Florida. Third, we are in talks with a new booker about taking us to the next level. Fourth, we will continue to forge lasting relationships with some of the top wrestling organizations out there and lastly, we will be focusing on our DVD product.
Sal Hamaoui: Kahagas and Aaron Epic are two of the best wrestlers in the entire Southeast United States. Their actions will speak for themselves.
Sal Hamaoui: We ran two huge shows last month and have already secured a triple shot weekend for July 23rd, 24th and 25th. We will be bringing in some huge talent for all three shows. We also just signed a five year lease on our new building in New Port Richey, FL and will be moving in on the end of June. We will probably run 1 to 3 shows between now and the triple shot.
Sal Hamaoui: If any organization is interested in participating in WWN’s DVD Distribution Program and wants more information please e-mail me directly at sal@fullimpactpro.com. We pay a flat fee per piece sold, with no costs being deducted and no upfront costs involved.
For more info about FIP please visit www.fullimpactpro.com
An added thanks goes out to DOI, Ricky O, Jaison Moore, Shane and everyone else at JCW, WWN and FIP. Peace Out.