The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Wrestling News Center, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine, and mine alone. If you agree with me, OK, and if you don’t, that’s OK. Either way, you're gonna read this, and that's what is important.
OK, I have not posted in a while, but I have some stuff on my mind, so here we go....
The poster shown above is for a show which took place recently in Ripley, MS. Now, this poster says it is a show presented by XOW. I am not sure just how XOW is involved in this event, but I have been told it was actually Kenny Valiant's show. The poster advertises "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Now, it would really be something if he could have really booked Austin, but, of course, that ain't gonna happen. Austin is under contract to WWE, and Vince is not gonna let him appear at an indy show in Ripley, MS.
Also pictured above is another photo showing this so called Steve Austin. This does not even LOOK like Steve Austin. It is obviously a Steve Austin impersonator - I forget his name - that pops up from time to time around the country. Again, he does not even look that much like Austin, in my opinion.
So... Bottom line: A bunch of fans who were expecting to see Steve Austin were royally ripped off, screwed over, and royally shafted. What a shame. Kenny Valiant should be ashamed. I am shocked that someone who has been in the business as long as Valiant has would do something like this. I thought Kenny had more respect for the business than that. This is the type of BS that has given pro wrestling a bad name. At one time Kenny was one of the best promoters in the business. He put on some of the top wrestling events in this area for years. So... why would he decide to resort to these tactics now? It is, to say the least, very disappointing!
On to another subject, Ixxy Rotten. It is not new news that Gary Woolridge aka Izzy Rotten was arrested on numerous charges. He seems to have pushed his luck just a little too far this time.
Izzy has been pushing his luck for years. He gets himself into jam after jam and always seemed to weasel out of it. He has ripped off so many people I could not begin to name them all. It was not that long ago that Charlie Parks showed up at TFW and confronted Izzy about stealing a belt. Izzy, of course, denied it. Several weeks later I asked Izzy if he had taken the belt. His response was, "Hell no, I didn't take it! Why would I jeopardize my job by doing something like that?" I asked him if he knew where the belt was or who had it. He again said no.
In the mean time, Charlie Parks has passed away, and I have found out that Izzy did, indeed, have the belt in his posession and sold it to another worker in Mississippi. Now, the individual Izzy sold the belt to had no idea the belt was stolen when he bought it. When he found out it was Charlie's belt, he started making arrangements to return it to Charlie. Now that Parks had passed away, I guess it really does not matter. The point is that Izzy did have it and lied about it.
But, out of every situation comes some good. The good that has come out of all this is that Izzy Rotten is finished with wrestling - for good. Izzy has been ripping people off and giving wrestling a bad name for years - most recently at his show in Olive Branch, MS. But no more! Even if, by some miracle, Izzy manages to avoid going to jail, I do not see any way Izzy would ever be used by any group again, or get a wrestling license, for that matter. Bye bye, Izzy!
I have a lot more on my mind, but I am out of time again. If you have any feedback, send it to axemanchopchop@yahoo.com. All feedback, positive or negative, is welcome.
The Axeman has spoken.
