What's up DOI fans and welcome to a unique McInterview. Today I interviewed current merchandise vendor, former promoter, former wrestler and all around jack of all trades, Eric Simms. Eric Simms has been around the wrestling business for 10 plus years and has seen alot. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

McNote: Eric Simms shift key was broken, hence his answers being in lowercase.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Were you always a fan of wrestling growing up?

Eric Simms: i started watching wrestling around 1977 when i was about 9 years old. a friend of mine told me about a big match at msg between bob backlund and greg valentine and to watch sat night wrestling at midnight on channel 9 ny the old wwor. i was hooked after that.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: How did you get involved in the wrestling business?

Eric Simms: in 1986 i went to a show at the asbury park nj convention center and met some kids standing on the stage wearing wrestling outfits they must of been 14- 15 year olds. 2 of the 3 turned out to be chris candido and john rechner ( ballz mahoney ). i wont mention the other person as he didnt make it in the business. we formed a friendship and started going to shows and a year later i promoted my first show with the unnamed person at the asbury park convention center with abduallah the butcher vs david schults in a cage as the main event. we had a nice house but i didnt make any money that night. after that i met up with dennis corraluzzo and he took me under his wing and the rest is history

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Alot of people may not know who Eric Simms is. What have you done in the wrestling business that people might know you for?

Eric Simms: i have done every aspect of this business from wrestling ( 1986 underground shows at the old galaxian gym ) but i never pursued a career as i knew i was not good enough to be a wrestler so i decided to work behind the scenes. i promoted a couple of shows that were very good back in the old days but never made any money but i found my niche in merchandising. i took a lot of photos and a friend of mine who i will mention later on told me i should sell them so i did. i have some great photos from back in the day including some great posed ecw photos from the gilbert booking days. i was given the nickname mr. snapshot and it just stuck. when the merchandise boom took off around 1995 i formed ess promotions which sells licensed merchandise. i also act as a talent coordinator for the old timers and i formed a good bond with them. as for today i have been in the business for 18 years more than most and if you ask anybody on the east coast about me someone has heard of me ( good, bad or indifferent ).

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on independent wrestling today?

Eric Simms: the wrestling business has changed in many way. i prefer old school wrestling. i feel a lot of that is lost today as todays up and comers dont understand what old school is all about.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: As someone from the "old school", do you prefer today's wrestling or the wrestling of years ago?

Eric Simms: i prefer old school wrestling. nothing beats old school wrestling. todays wrestlers can do old school if they are taught correctly. by that i mean slow your match down just a tad, tell a story and use psychology. the high spots and spot fest matches that are becoming common place here is not wrestling its acrobatics. the young guys can do there spots but just a few if it fits within the story line of the match that has the right psychology. REMEMBER LESS IS MORE. watch a george steel match to understand what i am talking about.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What do you think about mentors in wrestling?

Eric Simms: metnors are very important in not only wrestling but also in life. i was lucky that i had some good people by my side. big andy got me into merchandising and taught me the way there. dennis coralluzzo taught me a lot about the business. gino moore has been a good friend also, i have also learned alot from jim kettner, the iron sheik, george steele, many of the old timers that like to talk and tell stories ( its great to learn from them ), joe panzarino. i am forever loyal to chris candido and john rechner ( ballz mahoney ) as they were the one to get my foot in the door.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: You conducted an interview with Ralph Soto aka Mr. Puerto Rico. What was that like?

Eric Simms: we did that shoot in the basement of my house and i didnt know what to expect. i really didnt didnt have any material on him. i just thought of stuff and after doing the shoot including the hopsital scene. i watched it a few days later and i didnt want to sell it because i thought ralph would get blackballed. i told donnie b about it and he begged to buy the tape from me. i finally sold it to him for $25. needless to say he made copies for the boys and the rest is history. it even made the ecw lockerroom. i cant tell you how many of the boys compliment me on that tape. it got me in the good graces of a few that i had heat with. i heard it got to the wwf as well but i cant confirm that.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: If you were to own your own promotion, how would you run it and who would you use?

Eric Simms: i would run my promotion very old school. i am very big on gimmicks. if you have a gimmick then you will work for me. i will have a champion and tag champs and have people to feed to them and try to run a territory or area. i would do a 7 match card mix it with a comedy match, a gimmick match a few solid wrestling matches, maybe a womens match and your championship matches as far as who i would use: josh daniels, damian adams, rob eckos, kodiak bear, prince nana, mike kruel, hasheem ali,simon diamond, soul brothers,april hunter and slyck wagner brown,homicide,sriker,glenn osborne,mr ooh la la, ace darling i look for good workers and good gimmicks. i would do a lot of leg work to make sure there was a good crowd and i would have an agent backstage helping me put the matches together and tell the proper stories. this is where the old timers come in. i would use george steel, cousin luke, afa guys like that who have been to the mountain top and understand what i want to accomplish.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What indy promotions do you feel have a grip on the way things should be?

Eric Simms: i feel that every promotion has something to offer. i also feel that every promotion has good and bad. as far as what i feel on who has a grip: jim kettner ( ecwa ) there is no one better
joe panzariono and gino moore ( nws ) joe knows how to pack a building and there shows are much improved they run a very family oriented show
ricky o ( jcw ) has good talent and with his new direction will get better. all that is missing is the crowds but i think that will improve in the near future
fat frank and company ( japw ) they are very consistent
roh they are hot new thing
3pw they do a nice mix
czw if hardcore is your thing then that the show you should go to. they also have some solid workers also . ( backseats ,ruckus )
iwf good training facility and some solid workers have come out of there
wxw they are consistent not to mention have a great training facility
sscw eckos,adams,daniels 3 great workers

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What indy promotions do you not care for?

Eric Simms:like i said before there is good and bad in every promotion but i hate marathon shows. anything of 2.5 hours and you are losing your audience. if you go to a broadway play they have you out off there in 2.5 hours give or take a few minutes. basketball games usually last 2.5 hours. football usually lasts 3 hours. remember less is more and always have them wanting more so they will come back next time

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: he wrestling business has been called a "cut throat industry". Do you believe that? If so, why? If not, why not?

Eric Simms:wrestling is very cut throat. its a con game. some are better at than others. there is very few people that you can trust. i try to treat people how i want to be treated and i try to do business fairly.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: If you could work for one promotion, which promotion would it be and in what position?

Eric Simms:i always wanted to work for wwe. i would work in there merchandise department as that is my expertise. i always wanted my chance at booking. i think i could make a difference. i just need a chance

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What wrestlers do you see today as being future stars? What wrestlers do you think have no chance?

Eric Simms: i like josh daniels, rob eckos there are so many good young talents as far as who i dont think has a chance i will not answer that as i dont want to hurt anybody nor make waves with anybody

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What career goals have you accomplished?

Eric Simms: i wanted to promote and i did i wanted to merchandise and i did i wanted to do public appearances with the legends and i did i wanted to wrestle and i did ( 1987 ) " i just wasnt tough enough "

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What goals have you set for yourself in wrestling, that you would like to accomplish?

Eric Simms: i wanted to be a top merchandiser and i was when the business was good. everyone knows who i am ( good,bad or indifferent ).

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: When people say Eric Simms, how do you want to be known?

Eric Simms: as a person that someone can count on. i want to be known as an honoralble person that always gave a fair deal to everyone. ( it sometimes doesnt work out like that but i try )

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: You currently operate your own business. What new things will you have coming in?

Eric Simms: wwe product is always changing and i try to go with what's hot and current

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

Eric Simms: www.esspromotions.com

i need a new web person so if your interested please contact me. if you are interested in having a wrestler come to your business or a party let me know or if you want to buy a t shirt or a picture let me know.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Thanks for doing this interview.