Welcome to the second ever “The Word in Your Ear”, with me, the most controversial man since records began – “The Word” Rudy Wynne! Now, whilst I maintain my high reputation of asking the questions that matter most to you, the BWP fans, I am tuning down the questioning this time, for two very good reasons.
For those who remembered last weeks interview with “The International Managing Sensation” (and I use that term incredibly loosely) McGrou, you will know that he refused to answer key questions, and left the interview early. Whilst normally it doesn’t bother me, it bothered some of you. So this week I’m sacrificing a little bit of quality for a lot of quantity!
The second reason is that my guest this evening pays my wages. Yes tonight I am interviewing the owner of this company – “The Sax Man“. Welcome Sax. Can I call you Sax?
Sax: You know you can Rudy
The Word: Okay, well lets begin at the beginning, you have had a long and distinguished career in the ring, for over 10 years, wrestling some of the biggest names and ugliest faces on the British circuit. For those who have been living under a rock for the last 10 years, give a brief summary of your career. How did you get involved in wrestling?
Sax: Pretty much the cliche you would expect really, I grew up watching the British legends like Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Mick McManus, Rollerball Rocco and all the other guys of the ITV World of Sport glory days. From there stemmed the addiction and obssession that I had for over 20 years as a hardcore WWE/WCW fan! As a kid, I dreamt of being a wrestler one day, I took the critisism and jibes from friends in the safe personal knowledge that I would one day be a wrestler! My parents relocated to North Wales when I was 15 years old, leaving Stoke on Trent, much to my displeasure and frustration! However I soon found comfort in the knowledge that there was an annual summer wrestling show held in the nearby seaside town of Rhyl. I concocted a handwritten letter, expressing my deep desire to fulfil my dream and to perform in front of the masses, etc etc etc ….I addressed that envelope with ‘The Wrestling Show, Rhyl’ …. somehow it found it’s way into the hands of the intended recipient, Mr Orig Williams, a Welsh wrestling icon … formerly known in his heyday of wrestling as El Bandito, Orig had been promoting shows throughout the UK for decades, and held the summer season shows in Rhyl each year – an absolute favourite amongst the locals and tourists. A few weeks later, I get home from work, my Mum passes me a note with ‘The Wrestling Federation …. 01745 35**** written on it … I returned the call and spoke to Orig and he invited me to attend the opening night in Rhyl Town Hall the following week. I turned up for the show, met Orig at the door, talked for a while, and then he introduced me to his main guy, Boston Blackie … who then got me in the ring and that was the first step in what became a very successful and extremely enjoyable career and dream.
The Word: Who has been your toughest opponents in that time?
Sax: Without a doubt Boston Blackie, this guy trained me, he knew my capabilities and when put in against this beast of a man, he did not hold back regardless of my inexperience and basic offensive material …he was a hard man all round … in the lockeroom he was the guy everybody looked up to, and didnt annoy, he had a deserved aura of respect that everybody instantly picked up on and reacted to. His training methods were hard yet effective, you mess up, you get hurt, after one mess up with Blackie, you tended to learn pretty quickly and make sure that you got it right from there on!
The Word: And – most interestingly – why have you hung up your boots and stepped behind the curtain?
Sax: For now, yes, The Sax Man has not competed in a match for almost 18 months now, I have reached an era, and age in life where I need to explore news angles, new projects and ventures, I have a wife and 3 children that I need to consider, throughout my entire wrestling career I had worked a full time job and fit wrestling in around my working hours, being aay from home for long periods during the short periods i had off my daytime job, coming home aching and hurt, it wasnt fair on them or me. So I decided to put my extensive knoledge and experience in business into the wrestling business! Why? Because I love the wrestling business, and I accepted a long time ago that I can’t physically compete forever, and when that time eventually comes, what then for The Sax Man? So right now I’m planting the seed that will grow into my families future. It’s a fresh challenge, to break into an industry that has been established across our small nation for generations, its a tough challenge, but one worth fighting for. The Word:
The Word: You have mentioned that whilst you are general manager, you also have complete control in the day to day running of the BWP, yet you have these “Mysterious Business Partners”. The people want to know who these people are, and what their interest is?
Sax: I’m sure the people do want to know that Rudy, but we both know that I’m not going to tell you who the Mysterious Business Partners are. What I will happily tell you is that they are there for a reason, they have purpose and together we have a combined interest.
The Word: So – say for example they don’t approve of the champion, he’s (or she) is not profitable – are they above hiring a few hired guns? If they do, where would you stand on this?
Sax: My associates and I stand together, they understand that the BWP works well under my individual regime, they have no reason to involve themselves in the affairs of the BWP or of The Sax Man. However, hypothetically, for the sake of answering your question, should my associates take it upon themselves to hire people without my knowledge and consent, in order to sabotage the show, champion or particular wrestler(s), I can easily say that I would not be happy and would handle the situation in whatever manner was required in order to ensure that the BWP remains under my control without ANY external influence!
The Word: Moving on we’re just a few short weeks away from the BWP’s first show in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, shows you and your “Mysterious Business Partners” have arranged, booked and promoted. Nervous?
Sax: Nervous … no … anxious … yes! With the media hype that the BWP has been receiving already in Cinderford, it seems that the show is set to be another successful one, especially with the bill for the event, the Cinderford fans are in for a few treats on the 13th. I don’t get nervous, I am confident in both myself and the BWP product, it sells itself, to be nervous would show a lack of faith in myself.
The Word: There are many new faces on the roster this time around. A few have shown potential and you have put them in tough matches to show their skills. As somebody with a wealth of experience, what advice would you give to these new faces?
Sax: Stick at it, there will be times when you get knocked on your ass and you won’t like it, just get up and stick at it. A wrestlers journy through the ranks is full of up’s-n-down’s, you just got to remember why you are there, and where you want to be in years to come, and get on with it, don’t moan and complain about the aches, pains, stiffness … you are a wrestler … a fighter … a gladiator … a warrior … conduct yourself in such a manner.
The Word: And finally, The Word on the Internet says a lot of wrestlers want to try their luck in the BWP. What advice would you give them to work their way up to getting an opportunity in the BWP?
Sax: The BWP has been receiving some serious applications from guys across the whole of the UK, wanting to come and work some try-out matches at the scheduled BWP shows, I say to them all, send me what you have thus far, pictures, videos, links, websites. We will always look at everything you send and will keep your details on file. We can’t take on or try-out every body that wants that opportunity, we strive to ensure that our BWP Roster consists of a variety of International talent, each offering a varied arsenal of moves and style of fighting … keep in touch with us, we are an email away and respond to all mail.
And that’s it! The Sax Man has to disappear to carry out interviews for a variety of media organizations, and I have to catch the back end of happy hour, and you guys need to get out more! Why not start with the Cinderford or Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys shows on the 13th and 14th of March respectively? Tickets are available on the “Shows” section. Until next time, I am The Word, Ruby Wynne saying goodnight!
