One of the DOI's most popular columns from way back when, The McRoss Report, is back for its 31st edition. I haven't written one of these since my last McRoss Report sabbatical, which was nearly 9 months ago, so if you never read one of these before, here's a link to the McRoss Report archive section:
McRoss Report Archives

As you can tell, the name of this column is a bite/tribute to a one Mr. Jim Ross, and are just my random thoughts on a bunch of things. I guess this is kind of like my "Blog" here on the DOI. Since I don't do MySpace (which for reasons I've explained in previous columns) what better way to put out my random thoughts on the wrestling world than putting all this crap in one nice little McRoss Report!

So sit back, get a beer, or if you gotta take a dump, print this out and read it there. I should give you a good 15 minutes of pushing and groaning with this thing.

And of course, Greetings From The Man Underneath The 5 Gallon Heineken Bottle.

I'm going to preface this by saying I'll probably offend some people here, but at this rate I don't care. There's an underlying message here and if you can't grasp it, I probably won't want to be bothered explaining it to you.

Alot of people have sent me emails asking where I've been the last several weeks on the site. I haven't really done any unique writing or indy reviews lately, because to be honest, I'm unmotivated, and running the DOI Video section is a time consuming task. (And while on that, make sure to check out the DOI Video section today, and help support the DOI's ever- growing website costs!)

I think the current state of indy wrestling is down from where it was 1-3 years ago. I don't see it getting much better anytime soon. Of course there is alot of indy wrestling today. There is alot of good indy wrestlers out there. But how much of it is the same shit? Even the promotions I'm associated with, or people associate me with, fall into the same trap.

I don't think indy wrestling is as fun as it was, not just for me personally, but as a whole. For long time readers of the DOI, silly stuff such as the Carmine/Ricky O War, Shawn Sheridan journals, mindless bickering from promoters drawing 30 fans, Billy Firehawk and the birth of the Masked Maniac hotline were all entertaining. I think alot of people these days take shit so seriously. It's ridiculous how many times I get bothered from people about the DOI Message Board. Who gives a shit what's really written there? Trust me, nobody really believes you have AIDS. No one really thinks you do cocaine off a black hookers right tit. No one really thinks you fuck pets in your pet store. No one really believes your girls got herpes from a sheep. Alot of people in indy wrestling need to realize that wrestling is supposed to make fun and when you take yourself seriously and ache and moan about everything little thing, you are sucking the fun out of it. Grow the fuck up already and relax.

One story that had me laughing was that indy wrestler Pinkie Sanchez was complaining about his spot in Damian Dragon's PWF/JRW/Whatever letters some mark is paying for this week in regards to his spot in AWA. Young Mr. Sanchez thought Dragon was burying AWA guys in JRW. I couldn't help but laugh, but the person who told me this story was serious. This was a major issue in Sanchez's life. Even though he's 100 pounds trying to make it in the sport of kings, Mr. Sanchez was more adamant about his spot in JRW than looking like a wrestler. Who the fuck gives a shit? I don't feel like saying "No offense" everytime I'm going to say something in this column, but really, is this something worth complaining about?

Let's run down the facts:
-JRW is lucky to have 30 paid fans a show.
-Out of those 30 fans, not one can care about JRW in relations to AWA or to any other fed.
-Damian Dragon is running these shows for his entertainment value and realizes he's not going to make any money with this. He's really only doing this project for the boys, which is somewhat commendable and admirable.
-Outside of JRW, I don't know too many other promotions looking for that prime AWA talent, considering that most of the guys look like extras in a rap video and not like pro wrestlers, like trainees from the ECPWs, the Chaotics, the ECWA's, etc.

So what is the problem? You are upset about losing a match in a promotion that draws 30 people? Work is work. Indy guys need to stop crying about doing jobs to this one and just worry about having good matches. As a booker/talent relations guy/someone who sees alot of people, the last thing I think about when watching someone wrestle is whether he wins or lose, and if it will affect the AWA. Seriously, just worry about having good matches and about looking like a wrestler. Trust me, Johnny Ace, Tommy Dreamer, and all those WWE scouts don't give a fuck about win/loss records. I don't think any wrestling scout does.

And this isn't to pick on Pinkie or make jokes at JRW's expense, because this happens everywhere. EC Negro, someone who I've known since I ever got into the indy wrestling game, and actually gave me my first interview, got caught up into a situation with JAPW and other stuff in his career. He's a great heel wrestler on the indies, and I'm not just saying that because if I don't Mike Zevon will come after me.

Like many, Negro worried about "what my character will look like if I lose?" I understand caring about winning/losing and if it will make you look bad, but trust me if it's bad, the fans will shit on it, and that's a reflection of the promotion. When La Familia was getting jobbed out and Danny Demanto was able to beat all three guys in a battle royal 9 months ago, the fans shit on it. What happened next? JAPW regrouped and La Familia became one of the top heel stables in JAPW history. Things always work their way out. Even if you're right, as a wrestler, it's better to keep your mouth shut, because there are always 100 other guys looking to have your spot, and will work for a cheaper price (free) than you.

So going back to being unmotivated about the current indy game, I guess it's the quality and maybe the over-quantity of promotions out there. The good promoters are having a tough time staying afloat because there are always bums like that guy from PWA-NJ cancelling shows, which hurts fan trust and ticket presales for the good promoters. NWS is always a target on the DOI boards, but they've always made good on everything they've promoted. A bunch of alphabet soup promotions fucked them with cancellations, and even Cyberspace fucked them hard by killing a whole diocese of buildings by blatantly going against building rules. JAPW gets fucked by alot of these fly by night guys too in NJ.

Here in NY, UXW & NYWC get fucked by the Gladiator guy who promises these huge shows to unsupsecting fans, takes their money and cancels it. For every good promoter looking to do the right thing, there are 10 more guys looking to make a quick buck and get out. Give credit to Jimmy Hustler of ABC. He knew his Sunday 7/30 show wasn't going to draw, but didn't want to cancel it out of principle. The boys got paid. The building got paid. He made good, and when he debuts in Brooklyn, everything should pay off, because I do believe karma exists in wrestling.

I guess my personal tastes in wrestling right now is what has me turned off on some stuff. Looking at your big indies, I can't really get into most of them. ROH is the same old shit to me. Every show looks the same, and every 4 months Homicide will get pushed and will lose to whoever the champ is. CZW looks like a complete fucking train wreck to me. Chikara looks like a bunch of people playing out a Mortal Kombat game. That's not to discredit any of these feds, it's just my personal tastes. Your JAPW's, UXW's & PWU's are doing great stuff right now, but all three promotions use alot of the same guys and they use them differently. It's tough to stay all on the same page in indy wrestling, but I think you lose some of those fans who BELIEVE in wrestling when they see one guy teaming with one dude here and then bashing his head in the next night.

To be honest, I enjoy watching the NWS's and the smaller feds trying to do the family thing, because the crowds there are great. They are a throwback to the way wrestling was. If JAPW can ever get their project off the ground, I think they'll do great too. (Whoops sorry for blowing that, but you know the DOI has to break that story too!) I know smarks hate it, but like I said everyone has their own opinions and tastes.

How about all these INDY WARZ! we got going on? Mr. Make-My-Own-Press-Pass himself, Bob Magee, wrote in a recent column that CZW's Joker & Sabian jumping ship to PWU was like Blanchard/Anderson leaving the NWA for the WWF. Are you fucking serious? I get the reference, a major tag team left one rival for the other. But there are tons of differences, and here's a few:
- Blanchard/Anderson were making serious money, and Joker/Sabian are lucky to be getting $300 for the team
- No one represents any promotion in real life. No one has a fucking contract.
- CZW could still book Joker/Sabian if they want. What's stopping CZW from booking Sabian/Joker? Zandig & CZW's pride?
- If Joker and Sabian walked the streets, not one person would recoginize them, whereas fans back then would recoginize Blanchard and Anderson.

This is fucking indy wrestling, and even though we've covered it here on the DOI, the "if you work here, you can't work here" stuff is great. Being part of UXW's creative staff, I know UXW has had this problem with NYWC. You don't want guys doing different shit or having your top guys look like crap. Let's be honest- Dickie Rodz as a champion of anything else but a video game promotion is a joke. NYWC fans won't have the same opinion as me, but whenever I see Dickie Rodz, I think of the guy who The Masked Maniac squashed on a free show, and looked horrendous while getting squashed in the ring. This is also the same guy that 1/2 the NYWC locker room tells me makes them wonder what the hell they are doing wrong when they see Rodz with the top title there. But for NYWC, in their own little corner of the wrestling world, Dickie Rodz is their champion, and if UXW booked him just to keep getting squashed by The Masked Maniac, it wouldn't look so great for them. Likewise, it wouldn't look great if UXW's Triple Crown Champion Trent Acid, showed up in NYWC, only to get pinned by Spyder. I understand those situations, but if guys are booking the same talent, and making them look strong, I don't see the problem, as this case with CZW and PWU.

Both CZW & PWU want to push Sabian/Joker, so what's the fucking problem? Pride? If anything, it makes both feds look stronger if the team becomes a strong draw. It's not like PWU is bringing in ex-CZW guys to lay on their back. They want to use them . I'm sure if CZW could book PWU champion Devon Moore, they wouldn't job him out. They'd want to use him right. Although Devon Moore as a Heavyweight Champion is definitely highly questionable and suspect. But this comes from a guy who can't really buy 100 pound wrestlers as the focus of a promotion, even if they are the most athletic. I guess I'm somewhat WWE-ized in my thinking, as the goal of being in indy wrestling is to live off the business, and the only real way to do that in America is to work for Vince. I can't see Vince signing Devon Moore due to his size, which isn't a knock on his talent, as Moore can wrestle in circles against most. But gotta give PWU credit for building up their own guys instead of trying to desecrate others.

Another thing that makes me laugh is all this WXW/NHPW stuff. WXW is ran by Afa of Wild Samoan fame. On a side note, how many wrestlers do you think are sending the fake and flowery emails to WXW, now knowing that WXW is rumored to become a WWE developmental territory? According to my sources, alot. And supposedly these emails are worse and faker than the ones Fat Frank gets for guys looking for JAPW work!

Anyway, NHPW is ran by Mana "The Polynesian Warrior". A guy who was trained by Afa and a guy who used to wear Afa's top title. Supposedly there is some beef there. Maybe Mana is mad that Umaga is making mad loot for doing a gimmick that Mana never did right. Everytime I see Umaga on TV, I think this could've been Mana if he lost the fucking sweatpants and T-Shirt. Mana is a great wrestler, just never did the wildman thing the right way, and I'm not saying that's my opinion, it's a fact that even the WWE saw. Hopefully Mana will get a chance in Titanland soon, cause the guy has heart and can bang with the best of them.

So I'm reading all this lovely back and forth crap between WXW people and NHPW people on my message board. It's so silly that these two promotions are fighting over 100 fans that will go to both promotions no matter what. I guess the only thing everyone can agree on is that Doc Daniels seems kinda clueless when it comes to booking WXW, and that no booker should be doing dives at the company's Wrestlemania show. WXW has their own thing going, and I do forsee alot of guys getting canned in WXW if it becomes a WWE territory, because there are alot of small guys there. But WXW has their own family and has fun at what they are doing. When I read all this back and forth bullshit and bickering, the only thing I wonder is if NHPW exists soley as competition for WXW?

When I read these war of words, NHPW seems to admit they are number 2 and are just going after WXW. Anyone knows when you're number 1 you never mention number 2. That's why I dropped alot of my petty wars with other internet writers, because when you're number 1 there's no reason to acknowledge number 2 at all. Attacking number 1 is good in small doses to get your name out there, but this NHPW stuff seems like its only goal is to go after WXW.

And Tiny Tim- you need to fucking chill out. I read some of your posts and realize that I'll never get that time back. A fucking bell ringer who doesn't get paid should just chill out and hope both promotions do well. It's better for you that way.

So back to where I was going with this, I don't think wrestling as fun as it used to be. Everyone is worrying about what everyone else is doing. People take these stupid message boards seriously. I miss my JCW's, SSCW's, 3PW's and IHPW's. Watching these promoters fight over the 20 fans they draw is just ridiclous. At least when Ricky and Carmine did it, both were in on it and having fun with it. I'm glad Ricky is having fun with LSW, and getting rid of Eric Nyenhuise was the best move he's ever made. (Sorry Eric- you mean well, but you don't have a great track record.)

This Pro Wrestling Xplosion project, started by Ronnie Lang of Atlas Security, looks like it will be a great and fun show. But of course, the internet dickheads such as Jeff Schwartz (I hope you get probed by 40 inch dick Aliens, cause maybe that will clear all the bugs out of your ass. BTW, stop posting on message boards that you're going to sue me because I've never done anything to you but call you a dickhead for attacking my site non-stop since you got a hard-on for me.) and the other all knowing assholes are quick to say "ROB FEINSTEIN! ROB FEINSTEIN! ROB FEINSTEIN! ROB FEINSTEIN! ROB FEINSTEIN!" I guess RF is more important than Hart/Corino, Jack/Mana/Ian and the other great matches Ronnie has booked.

Without even knowing Ronnie personally, without even asking Ronnie, everyone's convinced this is all RF's doing. Listen to the DOI interview we did with Ronnie. It's not. Shut the fuck up and enjoy the show. Knowing Ronnie, he's a good guy and is a fan's fan and a man's man. He wants to put on the best show possible for you miserable fucks, and all some people can do is talk about Rob Feinstein. Retarded.

And I hate to rehash this issue, but guys this shit is almost 3 years old, and nothing was ever proven and nothing was ever filed. If you want to go after people who abuse kids, go after Don Vito and MTV. Everyone has an angle, and in wrestling it's more evident than anywhere else. Everyone likes to use incidents for their own personal gains. RF Video has tons of great new DVD's out and people just need to relax and stop with the finger pointing and calm down. Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy his latest shit, like the Hart Foundation, Dudley Boyz & Billy Jack Haynes shoots if you get off your soapbox.

I think as TNA grows it will also suck some of the life on the indies. But it will also force the indies to get better and will give fresh faces a chance. Every wrestling fan wants TNA to do good because it will be great for wrestling. It's something I've hit on here before on the DOI. It's good to see guys like Homicide, Daniels, AJ, Dutt, Lethal and the other indy stars get their chance to shine. Hopefully guys can stop whining about losing, how this affects their AWA career, and all the other silly shit that goes on, and concentrate on being the next big indy stars. Guys like Reefer, Archadia & Deranged (even tho both still need to add size so people don't confuse their arms with the ring ropes) can be the future of the cruiser/light weights. Guys like Nick Berk, Greg Matthews and Xavier deserve a chance to shine. Hopefully they all get it.

While talking about the silly stuff that goes on, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Rebel. The guy is a genius and knows how to make money. He might not be the best worker and you might be able to see through his political bullshit, but he's a funny guy and has tons of great stories. I think he's another guy who needs to sit back, just laugh at all the crap that goes on and drink some beer and have fun. When he's not money hungry Goodman style, he can contribute alot to the indy wrestling business.

Someone who ate up all the bullshit that went on was Billy Firehawk. He's only been gone for a month or so, and I already miss his blogs and people signing his belt stories. He knew how to have fun, although it cost him alot. It sucks that he surrounded himself with leeches who only cared about themselves and his money. I think in the end, the wrestling game and all the BS caught up to him. Dave Levy said the guy lost $250,000 in wrestling. I don't think Firehawk died happy or as a rich man, which is a shame, because he did mean well, he just didn't know what the fuck he was doing. The guy would even ask wrestling figures to sign his belts.

In a funny story, I heard that Steve Corino got justice from a fan. Someone forwarded me the following and if it's true, this is so totally cool:

Wrestling heavies track down belt thief A TERRIFIED thief was left shaking in his boots after stealing the Doncaster-based 1PW World Heavyweight Championship belt. For world champ Steve Corino and two of his wrestling superstar pals, Ricky Landell and Takao Omori, tracked him down in America.

The trio, with a combined weight of more than 50 stone, made a 13-hour trip to knock on the thief's door and ask for the belt back.

"He didn't hesitate. He knew we meant business," said 6ft 2ins 1PW World Heavyweight Champion Corino, who won the title at The Dome in Doncaster - where he returns for 1PWs Invincible event this Saturday.

"He was shaking in his boots when we knocked on his door and he even handed over other belts he had stolen - it was like liberating Dalmatians from the home of Cruella de Vil. I felt like TV's Dog the bounty hunter."
Corino explained: "I turned detective to track it down, with information from fans, on the internet and the police. It had fallen into the hands of a collector.

"I live in Philadelphia, but I was doing a show in Indianapolis, Indiana - and we knew the thief was in Ohio, which was a good 13-hour drive away. It was well worth the drive.

"The new replacement belt I was given is the one we now compete for and it's fantastic - but I wanted to get back the original for 1PW."

Steven Gauntley, Company Director of 1PW Promotions Ltd said: "We're grateful to Steve and his pals. This is one thief who really did make a big mistake."

WHAT THE FUCK IS INDY WRESTLING TURNING INTO WHEN FANS ARE STEALING BELTS? I expect Eric Walker to do this shit, not some guy. Imagine explaining to your family and neighbors whatt three guys with scars on their heads are doing at your door and why you have a silly belt with cheap medallions all over it. Jesus H. Christ.

There is so much crazy crap going on indy wrestling it's really unbelievable. But it is entertaining, and that's why the DOI exists, for stories like these. So even though wrestling might not be as fun as it was, and the people in it take themselves way too seriously, whenever you get a story like this, you're glad you're around it.

Also, when you got your own site in this indy wrestling world , you can do things like this:
"HEY REF HANSON! HOW ABOUT DEM YANKEES!"

While on that, Simon Diamond said it best to me a few years ago- there's nothing in wrestling like Red Sox/Yankees. What other rivalry in not only wrestling, but in the world of sports, illicts so much emotion and passion? Yankees/Sox = money. If wrestling had Red Sox/Yankees, the sport would be so much better. Maybe when Simon Diamond isn't fucking around with Elix Skipper & David Young, he can write an essay on that subject, because to make the Yankees/Sox a minor column within a column, isn't doing justice to that feud. Plus guest wrestler columns=more hits which = more advertising money! Yes, there's a Jew in this Irishman somewhere!

So I guess the whole point of this column was to let everyone know that they should all have fun and try to relax. Even when you read the stuff you read on here. Most of the stuff you read comes from a fat drunk. Who cares what I say, I have one opinion and there's millions of opinions out there. If I say you had a shitty match, it was my opinion, so don't get your panties in a bunch. Feel free to say I'm not a wrestler so I don't know what I'm talking about. If that makes you feel better, go for it. I'm happy being the number 1 indy site, and running the DOI has been fun and why would I want to be an indy wrestler making jack shit and being underappreciated when I can run the best indy site today and have a forum so dirty that Andrew Dice Clay blushes when he reads it.

Shit, an indy wrestler has to be the worst job in the world. Unless you're in wrestling, no one understands why you're doing it. Who else would drive to Bumblephuck, USA for $20 or in some cases for free. Paying your dues in wrestling is unheard of in real life. Hell, some won't believe it, but even writers and ring announcers pay their dues too. How else can you explain getting drunken phone calls from people in wrestling crying that they didn't fuck that black midget at an Elks lodge show? With gas prices at astronomical rates, anyone who is an indy wrestler right now must have a strong drive and dedication for the game. There's alot of wrestlers who know they won't make it due to their size, and are doing indy wrestling for the love of the game, and you gotta respect that too. Even if the critics say your shit sucks, as long as you're having fun who cares what anyone else thinks.

Oh, and the number 1 thing I miss in indy wrestling the most are Frank Goodman Elks Lodge Shows. If you weren't there, I can't explain it. You had to be demented as an indy wrestler to appreciate it. I'm glad Goodman shows are only 3 hours long now, but for once a month, an average of 800 people (fans and wrestlers) would come to the Elks Lodge once a month for their monthly "wrestling nightclub". The shows were 34 hours long but no one cared because the beer was flowing and the creative chants were louder as the night went on. Frank Goodman's Elks Lodge shows are one thing in wrestling that can't be replaced. If you weren't there, you won't believe me, but if you were there, you know what I'm talking about. It was fucking indy, dirty, piss infested and sleazy, but good god, those were the best days in all of indy wrestling for all the crazy shit that went on.

In addition, what's a McRoss Report column without letting everyone know that Brian Wittenstein enjoys the company of men and letting them know he can make them squirt. What a sick fuck this Wittenstein is!

In closing, keep it here on the DOI for more crazy shit. I might not write as many opinion columns as I used to due to a lack of interest in the crap that goes on, but when I do write, it will be good. The DOI has come a long way and we've got a bunch of good writers here. Zevon's political pieces have been phenomenal. When I'm not harrassing Johnny 5 over DOI DVD productions, he puts together a hell of a column. We also got Aaron Casey, the wizard of id, Oliver Newman, Steve Urena and a slew of other people writing some great stuff. I think we got a great collection of opinions here. Oh yea, we also got that Hyatte guy who has been amazing in his time here. The Midnight News, in my opinion, is one of the best wrestling (or perhaps non-wrestling related) columns around today, although I do think the man has toned down over the years.

Plus where else, but the DOI, can you get the craziest stories on indy wrestling? We'll cover anything, and everything everyone else won't!

Before I go here, if you have some free time, feel free to let the DOI know (either by emailing me or posting on the message board) what do you think about the DOI's UFC coverage. Do you want more? Do you want less? Also, would you like to see Boxing get covered on the DOI? I'm a huge fan of UFC and Boxing, and with wrestling in the shitter right now, those topics are funner to write about right now, when I'm not discussing Yankee Baseball in bars or with Big Head Dan Barry. Feel free to let me know.

Well I started this at 5 AM and it's now 6 AM. As you can tell, I wrote this buzzed and didn't spell check shit. I hope you enjoyed this rambling and nonsense, and the next time I feel motivated I'll pump out another one of these bad boys. Hopefully this column wasn't as painful to read as it was to write.

Until next time,
YANKEE BASEBALL > Red Sox

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com