As I kid, I am sure that many of us were told that "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all." While some of us may struggle with that philosophy more than others (guilty as charged), I think that most forget that the inverse must also be true ... If you CAN say something nice, then you should say LOTS. This weekend, I had the opportunity to catch a couple of cards in the Vancouver area and am happy to say that I see a lot of promising things on the Canadian wrestling scene.
As each of us focus on our own careers and try to navigate the challenges ahead of us, I think that all too often, we forget to applaud the efforts of those around us. If you take the time to recognize the positive things being done by your peers and the accomplishments that they achieve, you might be surprised at just how much the positive outweighs the negative.
This morning, I would like to dispel the myth of a "promotional war" in Vancouver. While there are two active promotions (ECCW and All Star) promoting regular cards, and each using a talent base that is somewhat exclusive to their marquee, as ASW champion, I believe that the Vancouver market as it exists is large enough to support two wrestling franchises. As a wrestler for one company, I can still appreciate the successes of the other company and its wrestlers ... in fact, I had a hand in helping some of those guys develop early in their careers. This weekend, I even took advantage of an opportunity to catch their latest event at Bridgeview Hall.
Easily one of the most wildly entertaining matches that I have seen in a long time took place on an ECCW card on Friday night between Kyle O'Reilly and El Phantasmo. These guys don't need my acclaim, as they have certainly developed a strong following from the regulars at the Bridgeview Hall, but this match was a true indication that both of these guys (bell to bell) are fantastic. Great match!
On that same card, I was also encouraged to see some of the leaders that have emerged in that environment and the seriousness that they bring to not only their own match, but also the product as a whole. I dare say that anyone who has been openly critical of this visible west coast star may want to step back and re-assess. Scotty Mac, a long time rival of mine between the ropes, demonstrates the leadership of a champion.
On Saturday night on All Star Wrestling's card in North Vancouver, I had the pleasure to see a couple of great talents make a return to the ring as I-Ton and J.J. Jetson, who were both stars from the Al Tomko era of B.C. wrestling took to the ring after an absence of more than a decade. For guys coming up in our business, this was a great match to watch, as these two guys took to the ring and put on an action-packed match - showing no signs of ring rust whatsoever. Watching this match, it was not apparent to me that they had been away from the ring for any time at all, a credit to their initial training and the attention that they pay to their craft. I look forward to seeing these guys tear the house down in Barriere and Clearwater later this month. If you get a chance to see these seasoned performers, get your tickets early.
To my friend, Freddy Funk: You demonstrated true character on Saturday night and I wish you the best of luck in all of your future pursuits.
This morning, I have to tip my hit to T. Kasaki. Kasaki has been active on the west coast for about seven years and I think that many within the industry may have dismissed him as a character wrestler, and typecast him as a mid-card villain. After wrestling Kasaki on Saturday night, I was impressed with both his innovative offense and intuitive defense. Kasaki is truly one of the most under-rated talents in Canadian wrestling today.
If the action showcased this weekend was any indication ... wrestling fans in British Columbia are in for a tremendous year of wrestling in 2009! See you at the matches.
Vance Nevada