APWF Wrestling

The Trainwreck That is TNA!!

2010-01-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to a new blog here at apwfwrestling.com. I'll get to TNA, and my thoughts on Ring of Honor, WWE in just a bit.

We're having fun in the TV studio, and if you haven't watched the latest APWF Central, I invite you to do so. The graphics, and match quality continues to improve. It sure beats doing a show in front of a black tarb in the basement. You can change hosts, add interviews etc., but the black tarb, a slight improvement from a white sheet, still makes the product look cheap.

In this new episode, we bring to you a new tag team from Ohio called the Hi Def Supernovas. Two great guys in Robby Starr and Matt Mason, who brought the house down recently at a WAR Wrestling show in Lima, OH. Which by the way was attended by over 1,000 people! All of their shows, have these kinds of crowds. Amazing! I thought I knew how to promote, but now know I don't. But I'm really open to learning, and I am from Big Tom and his people! WAR shows are tremendous, and the crowds really make the event!

In my opinion, wrestling in PA has gotten stale. Almost as stale as watching Monday Night Raw. Same guys here, same guys there. Its time to shake some things up, and take the APWF in another direction. Something to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. But with that comes money, and to do it, we need another large crowd, like we had back in October! So get excited again, and purchase your tickets for Sunday, Feb. 28th. I promise that we will start to shake things up that afternoon!

I waited until now to post anything about TNA! I was hopeful, the night that TNA debuted live on Monday night against RAW. I was in the audience here in Dayton, when Brett Hart returned to the WWE on a history making night. And while the TNA surprises were fun, the aftermatch of the follow up shows, have been a complete and total trainwreck. Its like everyone else is saying, its WCW all over again. And we know how that utimately turned out! I have never watched anything so bad in my life. Weak and cheap VH1 reality shows are better than this garbage! Sorry Mr. Bishoff and Mr. Hogan! While you might be driving some ratings, your killing what's left of wrestling at the same time!

Bring on Ring of Honor! Love the TV show. Love the quality of the show, its matches and its roster. Jim Cornette is right, this is the future of this business! If you can't watch it like I do on HD NET TV, then watch them on U Tube. They update their shows online every week!

So taking what I've learned from WAR in Ohio, and what I watch on ROH TV. Its time to shake things up! Bubba? Maverick? Let me shake things up! Look for me at the Feb. 28th show to begin the process!!

Thanks for reading!

Chris Lash
APWF Founder!

A New Year, a New APWF

2010-01-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone, and Happy New Year!

I waited on purpose to write a new blog, as I wanted to see how the TNA vs. WWE challenge on Monday night played out. It was the biggest night in wrestling in the last ten years, and played out pretty much like I thought it would. More on that in a moment!

On New Years Eve day, I got remarried to Katherine Peck. If you attend APWF shows, you've seen her, and know I'm a very lucky man. I'm very happy! Finding someone like this following the death of a spouse is never an easy thing. The new Kathy Lash and I dated in high school, and reunited earlier this year. By the way she loves wrestling, and allows me to be involved in it. You will always see me with a smile on my face again at a show near you!

I hope you enjoyed watching the interview with my new Gem City Wrestling partner. Whe are very serious about this new project and challenge. Filming a wrestling TV show is a lot different than doing basically a house show. I still believe a good TV product can build attendance, and that is our hope as we debut later this year. It also gives a lot of good Ohio and Pittsburgh talent, yet another opportunity to apply their skills. And doing TV is another good learning experience. I for one, have no problem in front of a camera, but look forward to getting better at it as well!!

Vince McMahon is and will always be the greatest marketer and brander of his kind! The single sole reason that the WWE will always be successful and the leader in sports entertainment is that he has branded his product so rock solid that he will never be beaten again. He proved it to me again in the recent Monday Night Raw here in Dayton. The show went up against TNA on live TV. And except for the return of Bret Hart, he didn't react to what TNA was doing. Because he doesn't have too! While TNA had several surprises (Jeff Hardy and Ric Flair), Vince never missed a beat with his cable brand called RAW!! You can throw Hulk Hogan at him all day, he will not lose again! My two negatives on the WWE right now are: 1) same thing every week with a small roster 2) Their almost TOO big at live events.

But there's a part of me that wishes he would! We need the competition. When I started the APWF in 1997, it was almost a can't lose proposition! We drew big crowds, and all of wrestling was much bigger than! The WWE, WCW and ECW were hot. And so where we, along with most every other indy out there. Its also why I push the bottons of the other promotion in our area. I've tried to pick a fight with them from time to time, because competition is good for all of us.

People as me why I still care about wrestling? Three reasons: 1) Diceman 2) I grew up on it 3) it still better than 95% of everything else on TV.

I love it when I hear other promoters say: "I never watch the WWE or TNA" What? Why? I watch for different reasons then most of you do. But you have to watch, just to stay up on what's going on, so it can benefit your indy product. I always get ideas while watching. Lighting ideas, video ideas, and many other things!!

Right now, ROH is my favorite promotion. I love the athletes, love Jim Cornette, and love the fact that its basic and about wrestling. No comedy skits here, they cut promos, challenge each other to fights, and then go wrestle the match. They could push their storylines alittle harder for me, but I still enjoy what they are about!! If you don't get HD Net like I do, I invite you to go to You Tube and watch their TV episodes each week! Even with their recent losses to TNA and the WWE, there's still a ton of talent out there to continue to help them grow! I will agree however with a fellow promoter who said "They don't sell enough in matches."

We're finalizing our last tag team for the next APWF show on February 28th. This show looks really good on paper! All we need is for you to join suspended promoter Bubba Brewer at ringside to watch the show!!

Thanks for reading! I'm off to watch both ROH and TNA! I DVR'd both while attending RAW here in Dayton the other night!

Chris Lash
APWF Founder

NWA East/Heroes of Wrestling
Gem City Wrestling Promoter

Holidays and Wrestling

2009-11-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like spending time with family over the holidays, to make you realize that your more normal, than you think you are. Its not that I don't love my family, I do. But I can only handle them in short visits anymore. I plan to return once again to the Pittsburgh area on Christmas Day. And I'm hearing rumours of a New Years Eve wedding. Perhaps there will be a new Mrs. Lash soon!

So what is APWF Owner Bubba Brewer doing for the holidays? Well I can sure tell you he's not helping to promote his wrestling shows. This suspension has been a holiday gift for the big man, and he's taking it easy. When not watching the beloved Steelers lose, he's watching mostly movies from the 1980's, an occassional WWE program, and loading and lifting furniture for the rental place he works at. Not having to make any wrestling decisions, and with the next show months away, its like he's on vacation.

Congratulations to Norm Conners on his retirement from promoting. His final shows are coming up, and I'd like to say good luck Norm! Its tough to leave this business, and I wish him nothing but the best.

Having now filmed three episodes of APWF Central in a TV studio. I can't imagine going back to the old way. Let alone do a show in front of a sheet in someone's basement. And they wonder why their views are down. Nothing makes a product look more CHEAP, then to film in front of a sheet.

Having Scottie Gash wrestle The Sheik at the next APWF show was a great first move by new APWF Commissioner Maverick McCoy. Lets hope he makes the rest of his decisions the same way.

So I get to continue pushing the hype machine for another 4 months. My God! Either you want to promote wrestling shows, or you don't. But long gaps in between is not good! Just when you get momentum, you have to stop, and then build again. I'll do my best to hype here on the website.

Snow in the forecast this week! Now I know why I lived in Florida! Have a great week everyone! And remember to not film anything in front of a white sheet!

Thanks

Chris Lash
APWF Founder

Happy Thanksgiving from the APWF

2009-11-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Let me take this time to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! If I've learned anything in the last year, its that our loved ones can be taken away from us at anytime. Love and share every moment together! Thanksgiving was my late wife's favorite holiday, and this one will be hard for me. She so loved waking up and making her delicious breakfast rolls and danishes, and then watching the parades on TV. And then cooking and sitting down with the kids for a Thanksgiving feast. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her! But life does go on. And I'm happy, with my wife to be! Another great woman, who enjoys wrestling, and allows me to play and be an active part of it.

Congratulations to Scottie Gash, chosen by new NWA East/APWF Commissioner Maverick McCoy as the person to wrestle The Sheik on Feb. 28th, 2010. Having seen both of these guys at their best, all I can say is that it will be one hell of a match! I think this match will get a lot more interesting in the months to come.

Let me be the first to say that I disagree on the long delay between wrestling shows for the APWF. "Halloween Justice" was great, with an awesome crowd. And now here we sit for 5 months waiting for the next one. All this while APWF Owner Bubba Brewer pretends to know football, and believes he's the leader of somekind of special Pittsburgh Steelers fan club. New Commissioner Maverick McCoy might move fast in the ring, but moves at a snails pace to get anything else done. All this does is hurt the APWF! Wrestling Promoter 101 has always said, that you should run as soon as possible, coming off your most successful show to date. So while these two attend sporting events and wrestling PPV's, buy Christmas presents, and get drunk for the holidays, I'll do my best to keep the APWF hype machine going, for yet another 3 months.

What's the hardest part about promoting wrestling? Finding buildings! I have driven all over the Dayton, Ohio area, priced and tried to talk to realtors about buildings to remodel into a TV studio for our new Gem City Wrestling TV show. STILL haven't found anything. It will be the first time wrestling has been on Channel 2 in Dayton in 30 years. And its the first locally produced show of any kind since the great Phil Donahue started his career in Dayton. So needless to say, we are trying to find the perfect place to shoot and film.

Second hardest thing about promoting wrestling? Getting the people there! But I still believe that a weekly TV show can do that for any promotion. We shall see!

Is it me, or does the WWE roster for Raw just seem to be too small? Tired of seeing the same guys fued. Even though the Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton short fued as been entertaining. Oh and the recent TNA PPV was great! Sure wish their weekly Spike TV show was the same way. I'm not, nor have ever been a Russo fan! Oh and I hate the term "Writers". Its booker! Booker! Plain and simple! And these so called writers, can't book!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thanks for reading! Have a great week, and continue to check back to http://www.apwfwrestling.com/ for more updates.

The Hype Machine Continues!

Chris Lash

APWF Founder

New TV show experience and more!

2009-11-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I was in a real TV studio. And I thought technology was great in the radio business. There are no longer cameramen and women. Robotics run all the cameras that are used for your nightly local newscasts. And then things they can do are awesome. Heck my new TV producer J.L. Thrush made me even look good while filming new editions of APWF Central.

Channel 2 in Dayton is the home of our new wrestling TV show called Gem City Wrestling. Dayton is known as the Gem City, while Cincy is called the Queen City. So now you know the meaning of it. It will debut after the first of the year, and air on Channel 2, which used to be the site of filming for Georgia Championship Wrestling. You could feel the vibe, when my new partner J.L took us on a tour, of where they used to shoot TV.

So just as I was about to announce who The Sheik would be wrestling in the APWF in Feb. 2010. My phone rings and new commission Maverick McCoy holds me off. Its down to a couple members of the APWF roster. I have to salute guys like Ryan Mitchell, who stepped up willing to wrestle this madman! I'm not kidding! Having seen The Sheik work in Florida, one has to be nuts to be willing to get in the ring with him. We'll announce next week, just who that person will be.

Hey if you think Western PA can be dog eat dog in indy wrestling. Ohio is no different. We launched the NWA East/Heroes of Wrestling back in May, and did our first show in September. Then we announce our new TV show. So what does someone do? They form a new promotion called SUPER heroes of wrestling. WHAT? Come on! What is the matter with people? Well, they run in flea market, so what would you expect?

I didn't see it, but I read that the recent "Turning Point" PPV was really good. And while I have Dixie Carter on my Facebook and Twitter, I heard it from fans who just watched the show. Glad it was strong. Just hoping that this Hulk Hogan signing works, and makes the whole industry stronger. Remember the days when the indies even drew like crazy? I miss those days with a packed RAH Arena in Indiana, PA.

I always had three goals with starting the APWF. 1) Get one of our guys to the WWE 2) Get a TV show 3) Do shows that are remembered like Smokey Mountain. Failed at ALL of the above. Got close a couple of times, but still denied. Lets see if I can do better on #2 with this TV show in Ohio.

Have a great week, and keep checking back to apwfwrestling.com for more updates!

Chris Lash
APWF Founder

Welcome!!

2009-11-14T06:34:00.001-08:00

Years ago, back even in the early days of the APWF. I used to post a column called the "Founders Corner". Trying to keep up with technology, the idea of that column continues with this blog. Each week as I update editions of APWF Central, I'll blog APWF news, my thoughts on the promotion, and wrestling in general. We're trying to create as much new weekly content as we can, to try and get you to come back to apwfwrestling.com each and every week. As APWF owner Bubba Brewer said to me once "People like to hear you shoot off you mouth Lash". I will do my best, to do that each week.

The NWA East/APWF Halloween Justice show was great! Aside from the fact that guys were fantastic on the show, the crowd is what really made it happen. There is no better feeling, then to wrap up a show that you wrote, and have the crowd react exactly the way you wanted it too. To add to the drama, NWA East President Jim Miller was great, adding a lot to the outcome, and for future shows.

Things have really changed since that show. APWF Owner Bubba Brewer not only lost in his "Loser Leaves Wrestling" Casket Match to Pig Vomit. He was suspended by Jim Miller for interferring in the championship match between champ Jimmy Cicero and former WWE Superstar Kevin Thorn. And Miller appointed Maverick McCoy as the new APWF Commissioner. What does that mean? It means Bubba has to buy a ticket and sit at ringside at future shows. What does it mean for Maverick and even me? It means we have to do all the work ourselves. From setting up chairs, to putting our flyers and other marketing. To booking the shows, and everything else you can think of. Thanks Bubba! Like we didn't have enough things to do already. Bubba has informed us that he will be at ringside on Feb. 28th, when the APWF returns to action in 2010. At least we have some time to get things done.

I'm thrilled as we move APWF Central into a real TV studio. Just so you know, I'll be shooting inside the studios of Channel 2, the NBC affiliate in Dayton, Ohio. It is also the place where my promotion, the NWA East/Heroes of Wrestling TV show will air starting later this winter. I couldn't be happier with what my new partners J.L. Thrush and Bobby Fulton are doing to get this project off the ground. I always wanted to do a professional old school wrestling TV show. This show will have the look and feel of the old Georgia Championship and Memphis TV shows of the past.

For the past week, we have been hyping and talking about the arrival of "The Sheik" into the APWF starting at our Feb. 28th Allied Powers Tag Team Tournament. This guy is the real deal folks! Bubba and I had the pleasure of working with him in Florida. Currently he's the NWA Mid-West and Florida Champion. Its going to take a real man to step into the ring with him in Commodore. APWF Commissioner McCoy has narrowed it down to two people, and we'll announce who that wrestler is on APWF Central's next edition! Once you've seen this Sheik, no other Sheik even comes close!!

In an upcoming edition of APWF Central, in a post match interview. I take a shot at "Spiderman". It happened purely by accident, and was funny, so I did it again. We all know who "Spiderman" was in the APWF. Sorry it happened, and I don't take it back.

We're discussing our next "APWF Hall of Fame" show for early 2010. I know, people have mocked us when we have done this in the past. But at one time, the APWF truly was like a family. And because of that, its our small way of saying thank you to the guys and gals to started with us, or have gone the whole way with us for the last 12 years. We're tossing around a lot of names. And unlike Mr. McMahon in the WWE, we don't choose favorites. We choose the people who made a direct impact on what we accomplished, whether we like them or not today.

That's it for this week! I promise to write more in my next edition. I want to really share some stories, some funny and other sad that we've experienced in this crazy business over the years. Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Its' A Great Day For Wrestling!

Chris Lash
APWF Founder