Hello Eric,

While reading the sheets today I came across your article about the recent FTW show and I would like to pass along this information to you:

The NJPW affiliation with FTW is no scam.

First, I am an employee of New Japan Pro Wrestling Co. Ltd. and Inoki Sports Management, Inc. My role with NJPW is to act as the North American point person for all business as it relates to NJPW. Kevin Quinn (trained Christopher Daniels, CM Punk, Samoa Joe and many others) is also an employee of both companies; his title is "Director of Talent Relations and Bookings." The reason we were in Brick was to scout new talent for our new venture into the North American promotions business. Together with Simon Inoki, President and CEO of Inoki Sports Management, Inc./NJPW-USA we are the front office. Quinn and myself answer to NJPW Director and Executive Officer Mr. Uwai. Quinn has the authority to book American workers to Japan via Mr. Inoki and Mr. Uwai.

Quinn and I both feel that the trip was not a waisted one and we believe that there is a good chance that some of the workers we met in Brick will be invited to attend the Inoki LA Dojo and appear on out TV program. So, the FTW show was truly a showcase for our company and we appreciate the time and energy that Eric put into the show.

The only disappointing part of the trip was the no shows, but what can you do? I hope this marks our first of many to the East and we look forward to the next trip. Thanks for coming out and reporting on the show. Those 40 something in attendance witnessed one of the best shows of the year. I think you will agree with that. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us. Here is a press release on our upcoming television program.

Regards,

David Marquez
Director of Business Development

I was also taken to task for not knowing Kevin Quinn. So at this time I would like to apologize to anyone that I might of wronged in my last piece. While this was an actual tryout I have different ideas about that. When WWE does tryouts they do not hold special shows. They usually send scouts that you don't know about to the shows to see who is good. Then if you are lucky enough you might get invited to the WWE DOJO in CT for a tryout or even better get an invite to do a dark match at a local TV taping ( raw or smackdown ). Even better if they like you then you might get a heat or velocity match. That's a big honor. If your even luckier and they like you they might even send you to there farm system which is OVW. TNA does the same thing. If they are interested in you, you will get an invite out to Nashville, TN for a dark match ( at your own expense of course ). On the small indy scene it's the same way. " Rival " promoters go to the different shows looking for talent and if they like what they see then you might get invited to there show and if you impress them you might have a spot on there show. For example JAPW had announced that they would be at the AWA show looking for talent and that a few of them would get dark match tryouts. At there last show JAPW had 2 matches from talent that works for AWA. They work elsewhere also but I am just making a point. I have never heard of a promoter throwing a tryout show for another promotion so I was thrown on that one and if I offended anyone I am sorry. Lets just see how many of the boys get invited to NJPW CA.

As far as this weekend goes, I was looking forward to the big Wrestling Reunion show in Carteret, NJ. As far as I am concerned this show did not disappoint. My big thing is the legends and I have to say this show for me was a home run. There was a very good crowd there of over 500 fans. All the talent showed up and was pleasant with everyone. It is amazing to see the stars today compared to what they were. Stan Hansen has lost a lot of weight and looks a little different. It took him a little while to warm up to people as this was his first ever convention. He is not used to this as he has spent the last 25 or so years in Japan and did not know that the legends do these type to things. Ivan and NIkita Koloff looked to be in great shape. Both have found religion and were pushing there books about that. I picked up a copy of Brian Blair's book about kayfabe and it looks to be a good read if you like all the inside stuff. He looks good and is running for office in Florida. Jim Brunzell as well as Ivan Putski and the rest of the guest looked to be in good shape. Lanny Poffo was doing his poems and has a book out with all his poems which is a good read. A special thanks goes to the promoter of the event Thomas " Mambo " Rivera for running a great event and allowing me and a few others access to the wrestlers for photographs. There was the usual vendors there that go to every convention. I think this was more of an autograph crowd than a buying crowd so some of the vendors might not have done a well as they would have liked to. There was also a slight traffic jam in there as space was tight. If it was me I would put Vader and MIke Awesome ( guests of JAPW ) on the other side of the room as to spread the crowd out and not cause confusion with the main line. From my viewpoint it seemed like onside of the room was overcrowded ( autograph section and some vendors which is obvious and the other side was lighter ). I will have a ton of photos on my website www.esspromotions.com in about 2 weeks in a special section called wrestling reunion. After the autograph session came the Q & A session which was hosted by Luscious Johnny Valiant and he was just brilliant. I felt that some of the fans could of asked better questions but all in all I felt the convention was very successful. I look forward to bigger and better things from Mambo and Wrestling Reunion in the future. They announced Don Murrocco for July 10 I believe.

After the convention I headed over to the JAPW show. They draw a steady crowd and this was no different. With the country in mourning over the death of former president Ronald Reagan and the loss of Smarty Jones in the Belmont JAPW still drew close to 500 fans. I really wanted to meet Somoa Joe. I have heard so much about him. I saw him working out before the show and teaching and playfully stretching some of the other guys. I questioned him about his martial arts background which is quite impressive. If you haven't seen Joe he looks immense. Both of us think along the same lines when it comes to martial arts. He is a very nice guy and I was impressed with his work. I also had an opportunity to talk to Bob Magee from PWBTS fame. I guess you can say for whatever reason that we have a rocky relationship at best. I really enjoyed our conversation as we think alike. I hope whatever our pasts were can be left in the past and work for a healthier future. I also got a chance to meet Vader and MIke Awesome very briefly at the end of the show and both were gracious and took photos with me and I took some photos backstage of them together. As far as the show goes the fans were very into the matches. I was popping in and out of watching the matches. I caught a few of them which were good. One of the biggest pops on the show outside of Vader and Mike Awesome were for the " special " police of Rahway. I won't get into what happened but lets just say they are very good at what they do and got the respect of Fat Frank for there quick response. Look for new Jay Lethal shirts coming in the near future. Japw has just commissioned me to make them so they should be ready by August if not sooner.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all a great weekend. The convention was great the JAPW show was great.

I also got wind that the FTW promoter was looking for me. He says he owes me a receipt. Hey brother just chill out. Your reputation preceds you. On this occasion you were right. Don't let it go to your head.

Eric Simms
ESS316@aol.com
ESSPromotions.com