by krayzie Bone » Sun May 16, 2010 3:36 pm
If you really want to be technical about this, no particular wrestler is an IWA guy or PWG guy or Chikara guy and so forth, because most independent wrestlers work for many different promotions, however there are promotions that develop talent and promotions where workers get better and better at what they do. For example Davey Richards made his name in PWG, this is where he got really good at what he does and this is where his career sky rocketed. Once he got really good in PWG, other windows of opportunity were opened to him such as ROH, Japan bookings, exc.
IWA is just one of those promotions where names are made and where workers find the kind of boost and competition they need to make it in this business. I know many people don't like Ian Rotten and I myself also had my share of disagreements with Ian, but try not to personalize this, try to be objective. The fact remains that in IWA big names in this business were made like CM Punk, Colt Cobana, Chris Hero, Chuck Taylor, Delirious, Matt Sydal, BJ Whitmer, Necro Butcher, exc, your ROH roster is filled with "IWA guys" Ask any worker in the midwest and they will tell you that IWA was a pipeline to get bookings in Chikara, CZW, ROH and Japan. Workers knew that once they go to IWA they will dramatically improve their skills which will give them opportunity to be booked world wide. John Zandig and Gabe Sapolski used to watch every IWA dvd just to scope new talent for their promotions, doesn't it tell you something?
I haven't seen IWA in over a year, so I don't know what the quality of wrestling there is now. Many people told me its not the same anymore due to financial difficulties, exc, I don't know, I'm only commenting on IWA of the past when I watched it.
I'm not trying to praise IWA I just want to give credit where credit is due. As a matter of fact this is why I love PWG, because it develops young talent and gives workers opportunity to get better and make name for themselves. I remember seeing Chuck Taylor as a rookie, driving 5 hours to work IWA shows, the kid definately has a talent he was improving everytime I saw him wrestle, I'm sorry to tell you this meltman but Chuck was developed into a solid competator in IWA not Chikara, Chikara booked him way after.