mykevermin
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 34 (97%)
Some information on a very off-the-radar promotion based out of Florida that's looking to grow nationwide. They're building a roster now, looking to start shows in the Fall.
What has my attention is the brilliance of the subtlety of it all - they're deliberately avoiding unwarranted hype-building. They're also going to treat wrestlers as employees, not as independent contractors, and provide them with health insurance and retirement policies - something we know WWE doesn't do, and something I imagine no other promotion does either. That's smart business, as if they do well on their word, I imagine a lot of talent will look in their direction (or, amazingly, the industry could move further towards treating wrestlers like human beings).
Let's keep in mind that the "independent contractor vs employee" lawsuit brought on against WWE was only thrown out of court because the statute of limitations had expired. They still treat their employees like shit. Yeah, you can make $100K a year, but when you're traveling 50 weeks a year and you have to pay for everything but a flight to the first show and a flight from the last show, in addition to funding your own health insurance and retirement policies, those six figures stop looking impressive REAL quick. Besides, any guesses on what health insurance premiums look like for a pro wrestler? That's 10% of that income, *easy*.
The talent signed to this promotion is enough to pique one's interest, but not enough to say "damn, that's some competition for TNA/WWE/ROH." Let's see where they go from here. Maybe they can pick up all the dejected talent from WWE and TNA.
What has my attention is the brilliance of the subtlety of it all - they're deliberately avoiding unwarranted hype-building. They're also going to treat wrestlers as employees, not as independent contractors, and provide them with health insurance and retirement policies - something we know WWE doesn't do, and something I imagine no other promotion does either. That's smart business, as if they do well on their word, I imagine a lot of talent will look in their direction (or, amazingly, the industry could move further towards treating wrestlers like human beings).
Let's keep in mind that the "independent contractor vs employee" lawsuit brought on against WWE was only thrown out of court because the statute of limitations had expired. They still treat their employees like shit. Yeah, you can make $100K a year, but when you're traveling 50 weeks a year and you have to pay for everything but a flight to the first show and a flight from the last show, in addition to funding your own health insurance and retirement policies, those six figures stop looking impressive REAL quick. Besides, any guesses on what health insurance premiums look like for a pro wrestler? That's 10% of that income, *easy*.
The talent signed to this promotion is enough to pique one's interest, but not enough to say "damn, that's some competition for TNA/WWE/ROH." Let's see where they go from here. Maybe they can pick up all the dejected talent from WWE and TNA.
Some new names that I've confirmed are signed to the Florida start-up promotion in the last week or so are Booker T, Paul London, Rocky Romero, Sonjay Dutt, Super Crazy, Hijo Del Rey Misterio and 2 Cold Scorpio. I am told that there are some other younger talents who have signed as well, but I haven't confirmed any names yet.
There's been a strong rumor in the last 24 hours that some top Ring of Honor talents may have signed here as well, but I cannot confirm that at this time.
I am also told that the contracts signed by talent do not officially take hold until this October. So, that is when it appears the project (which amazingly, has still been able to keep it's name private) is going to officially launch. As of today, there are no set dates or locations for the tapings but one would assume it will be around there since at that point, they will be paying wrestlers.
Any talk that the promotion is going to simply be a Florida-based company is just that - they are planning for a much grander scope in terms of their goals. The plan is to do tapings and try and find a national television outlet. I am told that everyone involved realizes the reality of the situation and that no one is expecting a deal to fall in their lap overnight. Based on what I am hearing, I don't believe the promotion is looking to buy themselves timeslots either, a strategy that has led to many an early death for pro wrestling companies.
One of the reasons the company has been so secretive about letting names out and launching is that they don't want there to be a huge buzz or hype, feeling it will leave fans waiting for them to get going while their main focus right now has been building the company's infrastructure. I am told one of the things the company has been working on is setting up benefits for the wrestlers. The story being told among those who are signed is that everyone involved will receive full medical benefits as well as a 401K and stock options in the company, so if the group takes off, everyone shares in that success. I am told that was something Milton Wilpon has pushed after hearing some of the stories from older talents about how they have been treated over the years. If all that comes together, it's certainly a great idea.
There's been a strong rumor in the last 24 hours that some top Ring of Honor talents may have signed here as well, but I cannot confirm that at this time.
I am also told that the contracts signed by talent do not officially take hold until this October. So, that is when it appears the project (which amazingly, has still been able to keep it's name private) is going to officially launch. As of today, there are no set dates or locations for the tapings but one would assume it will be around there since at that point, they will be paying wrestlers.
Any talk that the promotion is going to simply be a Florida-based company is just that - they are planning for a much grander scope in terms of their goals. The plan is to do tapings and try and find a national television outlet. I am told that everyone involved realizes the reality of the situation and that no one is expecting a deal to fall in their lap overnight. Based on what I am hearing, I don't believe the promotion is looking to buy themselves timeslots either, a strategy that has led to many an early death for pro wrestling companies.
One of the reasons the company has been so secretive about letting names out and launching is that they don't want there to be a huge buzz or hype, feeling it will leave fans waiting for them to get going while their main focus right now has been building the company's infrastructure. I am told one of the things the company has been working on is setting up benefits for the wrestlers. The story being told among those who are signed is that everyone involved will receive full medical benefits as well as a 401K and stock options in the company, so if the group takes off, everyone shares in that success. I am told that was something Milton Wilpon has pushed after hearing some of the stories from older talents about how they have been treated over the years. If all that comes together, it's certainly a great idea.
( 
that ran ECW into the ground, with no concern for money or financial well being (that much is obvious). Now it's the opposite. Don't get me wrong, Heyman has every right in the world to make his own asking price. I don't begrudge him that. But aside from being a maniacal genius, Heyman is known for being one other thing above all: a masterful bullshit artist. Few in the business trust him farther than they can throw his bloated carcass - so it stands to reason that anyone balking at his asking price has good reasons for doing so (even if they're the same numbskulls that hired Hogan and the Nasty Boyz).
