rap_sheet (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} rap_sheet) wrote,@ 2007-06-20 09:52:00 |
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An interview with a former ECW referee...
The Rap Sheet of John “Pee-Wee” Moore
6/20/2K7
Today the STLWC interviews former ECW and now current FIST referee John "Pee Wee" Moore, who's soon to release a shoot interview on the state of the wrestling scene and WWE's influence on pro wrestling as well as make a major proposal to reform how wrestling is presented. The debate got very interesting as the interviewer and the interviewee each have strong opinions. This interview was conducted via email over a period of weeks where questions and follow ups were asked and responses arranged in how the questions were numbered (numbers removed now that it’s complete). He recently filmed a shoot interview that is available on DVD at http://www.clotheslinewrestlingonline.c
CF: Please tell me about yourself for those who aren't aware of who John Moore is and how you became a referee.
JM: I trained under Al Snow in Lima OH. in 1992. I have been a referee for NJPW and ECW as well as XPW, Stampede. I currently book shows for XICW (Michigan) and FIST (St. Louis).
CF: How did you get hooked up with FIST?
JM: I worked an Indy show for Gateway Wrestling in 2002. I met Mike Gordon who was a referee. We became good friends. When I moved back to St. Louis in February I called him to see how he was doing and he told me he was running shows and asked me to help.
CF: Well this interview in truth was started weeks ago, but on this particular day I ask this question, what is your reaction to Vince McMahon being blown up in a limo?
JM: I didn't see it. All those IED's going off in Iraq have taken its toll on the WWE creative team.
CF: Thoughts on the press quickly exposing it as a hoax?
JM: What else are they supposed to do, report as if it were a shoot?
CF: You began writing columns for Declaration of Independents where it's been described by readers in Chicago and St. Louis as a "bastion of childish behavior" by a bunch of "grown smarks" who write very low brow things about promoters they don't like and angered a number of people for backing Rob Feinstein after he was caught in a child porn sting. Because of this, the comments you made in your DOI columns weren't taken as seriously as they could if it was printed on 411mania.com or 1wrestling.com. How do you see it?
JM: I never backed Rob Feinstein. I simply stated that WWE had something to do with that whole incident. I know for a fact the a WWE employee was front and center during that whole Rob Feinstein trying to pick up a 13 year old boy deal. I'm not going to say who. But I know it to be true.
CF: A quick Google search yielded that Philadelphia's NBC 10 & Perverted-Justice.com did the sting and though the IM convo is under archive now, the person he convo'ed with was Jay Alternative. What connection does the website, NBC 10 or Jay Alternative have with WWE?
JM: The question is who dropped the dime to Perverted Justice and I am not giving you the answer.
CF: Well I found the press release of the whole thing here, and they do not mention being tipped by someone with WWE, rather he contacted them. Now perhaps they contacted WWE asking who he was cause he knew nothing about wrestling but I have to tell you, I'm not buying this. I don't think the readership will either.
http://www.pwinsiderxtra.com/ViewArticl
JM: Nobody from WWE tipped him off. You just don’t understand how the whole system works…
CF: Well you’ve completely lost me here, so…
CF: You also had one of your articles pulled from DOI--"Pedophiles, Tournaments & More”--why did that happen? What was too hot for even DOI?
JM: WWE threatened legal action. I wrote for the DOI because I knew that a lot of wrestlers frequented the site. I wanted it to spread throughout the business like contraband. I was not trying to reach mainstream wrestling fans. I am trying to reach the wrestlers and smarten them up. I wrote a piece for the observer website about a year before. It was my ideas for wrestling (Competitive Season etc.). The problem was it only reached the fans. My message is for the wrestlers.
CF: You've come out and claimed using a lot of circumstantial evidence, but no direct evidence that I could see in reading the whole series of columns, that TNA is owned by the WWE. What direct evidence do you have that TNA is owned by WWE?
JM: Vince was able to shut down all the territories, all of them. Some of those territories made good money. Vince was able to destroy the entire network that this business worked under. Everybody in wrestling knows that Vince destroyed the territories. But he is not powerful enough to control rinky-dink TNA. Give me a break. TNA is nothing more than Vince McMahon’s lap dog. I don’t have a deed saying Vince owns TNA. But that don’t mean that it is not true.
CF: I don't agree that he single-handedly destroyed them ALL, for one Jim Crockett would had held if he wasn't such a bad businessman. He claimed credit for closing down Sam Muchnick's Wrestling at the Chase, which is utterly false cause he was retiring anyway. But what defines a territory these days? It seems there are more wrestling companies in the United States than ever before with more opening up every month.
JM: If Vince McMahon was never born, you think the territory system this business ran under complete with a traveling world champion would have died regardless. I don't believe that. I don't believe that. Nothing defines a territory these days because they don't exist. I guess ROH is the closest to an old school territory. IWA-Mid South would fit the bill as well.
CF: What about the NWA? Wouldn't NWA Midwest constitute a territory?
JM: Not sure you have to run at least four shows a month to be considered above an independent. Back in the day territories ran 12-16 shows a month. No company outside of WWE can run that much, that is why I don't consider anyone really a territory.
CF: Isn’t the real reason why no one can run 12-16 shows a month is that there is big glut of many small independent wrestling companies? For instance, the state of Illinois alone has about 40 different companies. Why are there so many indy groups in business now do you think?
JM: Yes, there are too many companies and they don’t do a good job of making sure the best wrestlers in the region are wrestling on most of that region’s shows. There are so many Indy groups because nobody is willing to take a back seat to make the area better.
CF: You said you don't have a deed that says Vince owns TNA, but if you're gonna convince anyone especially the readers you have to present some evidence. What evidence do you have?
JM: I have evidence as in proof that TNA office people in cahoots with WWE office people but if I was going to stooge them off I would have done it when I wrote for the DOI.
CF: Well if that were true TNA is owned by WWE, why aren't the Dudley Boyz allowed to call themselves the Dudley Boyz, Billy Gunn allowed to call himself Billy Gunn, not to mention any other former WWE talent having their identities robbed from them when their contracts were not renewed? Sting says he would never sign with WWE cause of the content of their programming. AJ Styles multiple times turned down contract offers from WWE.
JM: Vince wants total control over you. If he owns your name you are going to feel less valuable. He does not own TNA he funds it and controls it. If the public knew they were in cahoots (TNA and WWE) they would look for an alternative. People say I am crazy for saying that Vince is behind TNA. Well I think your crazy for thinking that some super billionaire is throwing millions of dollars into a company that has not made a dime. Just so you know a tax write off on a failing business is only 30%. Whoever this "billionaire" is he is still pissing away 70% of what TNA has lost.
CF: Ummm...I don't think you've met Ted Turner. Okay so you're saying WWE is just giving TNA funds. How is he funneling the funds to TNA? Through Panda? Or just giving cash outright to Dixie Carter?
JM: Ted Turner is worth way more $$$ then the Carters. In today’s corporate system it is not hard to secretly fund something.
CF: You predicted that Johnny Ace was going to be fired from WWE and put in as head booker of TNA sometime in 2007. But recently he got promoted to a Senior Vice President position, which doesn’t seem to me like he’s on his way out, despite the big negatives he has on him from lowering backstage morale and getting overruled by Stephanie McMahon on talent call-ups. Do you still hold to that prediction?
JM: 2007 ain’t over.
CF: Even if what you say comes true, would he really be welcome in TNA after his long history of lowering backstage morale and having much heat with former WWE talent?
JM: Look Johnny Ace is not at all the reason for backstage morale being low. The fact that they keep cutting their pay, And not allowing the wrestlers to show true emotion and personality. Forcing the wrestlers to follow the script, not allowing any freestyle wrestling other than once every season. That is why the moral is low. That has nothing to do with Johnny Ace.
CF: But he's had a history of misjudging talent, passing over people that should had gotten the call up (and he's gotten overruled a number of times) and calling in talent who were no where near ready for prime time and that's fueled his unpopularity has he not?
JM: Blaming Johnny Ace for Vince's mistakes is not the right thing to do. See they use Johnny Ace to deflect heat from Vince and Stephanie. That is why I said he would be in TNA. There is only so much heat they can dump on you before they have to "fire' (relocate) you.
CF: You claimed that the WWE is in bed with the military, due to all the advertising on its programming, WWE being the only one doing shows in Iraq & Afghanistan during Christmas, and wrestlers doing military gimmicks. Yet the US Military advertises on a number of different kinds of television programming, World Series of Poker for instance. It is also a known fact that International Championship Wrestling based out of right here in St. Louis, MO has been running shows at military bases such as in Japan & Korea for years. You also claimed each brand would be dominated by wrestlers with military gimmicks, though John Cena has been doing the Marine role based off the movie, who will be portraying these characters? Sgt. Slaughter??
JM: OK, You are right the US Armed forces market to all kinds of sports. But what is happening right now in wrestling is not good. During the Vietnam war (The last unpopular war in this country.) Pro Wrestling didn’t take a strong position on the political battles in the country. After Vietnam, The WWE and all wrestling had plenty of patriotic gimmicks and that is all and fine. Sgt. Slaughter, Corporal Kirchner, Hulk Hogan, the Patriot, etc, etc. But right now we are in the middle of a very unpopular war in Iraq, A war that we are going to lose, a war that the country does not support. Yet the WWE has gone out of their way to back the right wing liars who duped the people in to this war. Listen to what Sean Hannity (Makes 25mil a year to shill for the war.) and Rush Limbaugh (makes 40mil a year to shill for the war.) Listen to what Bush himself says. Then listen to what JBL and Vince McMahon say when they are on FOX News, It is the same talking points. Vince and JBL are representing the people who will go down in history as some of the worst people this world has ever seen. That makes Vince and JBL two of the worst people in the world right now and my shoot interview points that out.
CF: Well now this is gonna slip into a debate on the war itself. One, we aren't losing the war no matter what some unelectable hack on bankrupt Air America or Rosie O'Donnell or George Soros says, the only way we lose Iraq is we cut and run, and then every terrorist organization in the world will see that Americans in general are weak-willed and easily conquerable putting out videos saying they defeated the United States--and sadly it will take another major terrorist attack in this country to make people realize we cannot wuss out. Now I could very easily turn this around and say you got YOUR talking points from ultra-leftist Moveon.Org (depending on what you actually say during the shoot) and various left-wing columnists. But hey, the Democrats haven't put forth anything on how to fight the war on terror, if you were President John Moore, how would YOU fight the war on terror?
JM: I would end it. I support Ron Paul he is a Republican. He would end the war on terror. The war on terror is nothing more that a war to keep OPEC strong. We need to break away from the big oil companies control on us, and allow other countries so sell gas directly to the people. Would you rather pay $2.00 a gallon to an Iraqi or Iranian or Venezuelan State Governments. Or would you rather pay $5.00 a gallon with all the money going to fat old money rich pigs. You say anyone against the war is left wing. Chuck Hagel is left wing, George Will is left wing, Ron Paul is left wing. You people and I mean people who listen to Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich when they say that the people of the Middle East want to kill us and enslave our kids. You people disgust me. If you really think that the "Terrorists" are about to get us, Should you not fight them. The people of Iraq no matter what there age 12 year old boys, 80 year old men, they all fight the occupation. So if we are in the same boat and we are right now fighting for our people’s survival and self esteem. Should we not all fight? I don’t believe that what those shills say. So I will not fight so rich people can get richer. But you and your people, No matter what your age should man up and fight off our extermination (If that is what you truly believe). If I truly thought that America was in real trouble I would stand up and fight. You and your people say that we need to fight but you don’t want to do any of the fighting. You want to fight until the last drop of blood, that is of course other peoples blood.
CF: No no no, I'm gonna set you straight here, as someone who's well versed on politics, if we quit the war on terror cold turkey, I guarantee you Al Qaeda wouldn't stop what they are doing. They will keep killing innocent people however way they can and they will be motivated even further that they can attack us with impunity and we won't fight back. That's what happened with Black Hawk Down, we got a president in there that didn't care all that much about the military, the troops weren't given enough supplies to defend themselves, pictures were shown of soldiers bodies dragged through the streets and they bailed out of the country. Osama Bin Laden got the idea that America is a paper tiger, they kept hitting American targets throughout the eight years of Clinton, we didn't do much of anything about it except arrest a few people who didn't care what happened to them because they were promised the 80 virgins in heaven when they die. But as to your argument on who to pay for gas, we wouldn't be so dependent on OPEC nations for oil if the Democratic party wasn't cow-towing to all these environmentalist wackos who oppose drilling for new sources of oil and building additional oil refineries. I do not believe Ron Paul is left-wing, he is a noted libertarian, which is roughly a social liberal, economic conservative on political alignment. However his idea of going isolationist has been tried before, and Japan bombed us anyway in Hawaii dragging us into WWII. The chicken hawk argument is also lame, because I could turn around and use the same argument against you for wanting to criticize the government, yet you won't run for political office to change it.
JM: I don’t need to run for office. Ron Paul is a fine choice. I don’t want to keep going here. I don’t think that we have to police the world and you do. We agree to disagree.
CF: In the short clips posted on Youtube as teasers to your upcoming shoot interview hosted by FIST Wrestling, you really do not like John Cena. What is your beef with him? He has turned out some really good matches this year, as long as he's facing off with people his size and not someone like Khali or Umaga.
JM: I did not diss John Cena I was saying that the fans boo him because they don’t like the way the system is set up. It is not because he sucks, He doesn’t suck he tries hard every night. They are booing Vince and JBL's vision.
CF: If they are booing Cena cause of Vince, wouldn't booing Cena be ineffective when they have multiple chances to crap on Vince when he's in the ring now carrying an ECW title belt?
JM: Booing Vince does nothing because he is playing a heel. He wants to be booed. The way the fans show their displeasure is by booing those who are made to be cheered (Cena, Batista and Lashley.) That is how you make the WWE take notice.
CF: But doesn’t that usually cause creative to turn them heel? John Cena staying face for this long being booed as much as he has been is quite unusual.
JM: They can't turn him heel, He is the Military Babyface. If they turn him heel it would be admitting that the US Army and the people who run our government are heels in the world and in the country. This is not a diss on Cena, John Cena the person does not represent the war. John Cena the character does represent the war. When the fans boo they are not booing John Cena the worker, They are booing John Cena the character (A character based on Vince McMahon and JBL's political philosophy).
CF: Ah but they have done it before, they turned Sgt. Slaughter...who was made into a GI Joe character...and aligned him with Iraq during the first Gulf War! But I seem to remember fans weren't booing him much when he was chasing the champion as opposed to when he's been the champion. Truth be told, if Hulk Hogan had his four-year title reign during this decade, a lot of fans would had been booing him like crazy cause I remember back then there was a lot of anti-Hogan sediment that could be found on the old bulletin board services that were popular before the internet became widely available.
JM: True about Hogan, But the first Iraq war was quick and easy. It was not nearly as unpopular as this Iraq war. Turning John Cena heel would be admitting that the country has turned on the war. The WWE and the right wing are not willing to admit that just yet.
CF: You seem hung up on Cena PUSHING the Iraq war, but all year long, I haven't seen Cena in the ring cutting promos advocating support for Bush or the war itself. Vince McMahon however has blasted the drive-by media for their shoddy one-sided coverage focusing on the bad and ignoring the progress. I'm gonna say again, we cannot just walk away just because a majority oppose the thing, because Al Qaeda is NOT going to leave America alone no matter what.
JM: You got it right. Cena does not mention the war that would be suicide. It is Vince who is pushing the Pro-War neoconservative position. And Al Qaeda was funded by the CIA. So you are right they will not leave us alone they are 100% American made to create an enemy so we can secure the oil reserves in the Middle East.
CF: Now you're treading into convoluted and complicated territory here, while I won't dispute that the CIA funded the resistance to Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, that had to have ended prior to the first Gulf War. I'm just gonna point everyone to study up on the subject here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_qae
CF: Now Cena, is that what a lot of fans are telling you that they are booing Cena SOLELY cause he’s doing the Marine gimmick—and real loosely at that—and for no other reason? I just don’t buy it. From those I talk to it has nothing do with his gimmick.
JM: I think they boo him because they are not into his character. They are not in to his character because right now is not a good time to do a big military babyface gimmick.
CF: If you were the lead booker for the WWE right now who would you be pushing to the moon?
JM: That is quite the hypothetical. I don’t think I will be booking the WWE anytime soon. But I'll go with Harry Smith.
CF: Anyone else? Harry Smith hasn't even made his national TV debut yet and there are multiple brands to cover.
JM: WWE has their fans so brainwashed they only react to Cool Poses and Catch Phrases. I would not even want to book for those stupid sheep WWE fans. If I did I would reward strong, hard, competitive wrestling. So guys like Findlay, Regal, HHH, Benoit, Booker T, Shelton, Carlito and of course RVD (if they are smart enough to resign him.)
CF: Should RVD stay with WWE or go elsewhere?
JM: Rob needs to take some time off. Nobody has been buried more this decade due to backstage politics then RVD. Rob was pushed for 6 months in his 6 year stay with WWE. That takes its toll on a wrestler. He needs some time off, then come back on track and better then ever.
CF: With all the free agents that have come out of WWE in the past three-four years...is there anyone that should be signed by the competition now and where?
JM: It’s more about having a good booking team/booker. I relate it to a coach in sports. You can sign all the high price free agents but if you don't have a good staff and system you won’t have any success. Same with wrestling you need a good booking team more than you need a big name star.
CF: Can ROH overtake TNA as the #2 promotion in the United States now that they have entered the PPV market?
JM: They are #2 right now. What has TNA produced, all TNA talent was made in WWE, ECW or ROH. It's what you contribute to the business that makes you legit. Not having a TV show that nobody watches.
CF: Not everyone on the TNA roster wrestled for either WWE, the old ECW or ROH. But ROH has never had domestic TV in this country, what makes them #2 now? Is it because TNA cut ties with the NWA?
JM: Who on the TNA roster did not come from WWE, ECW or ROH. Shelly, A.J. and Daniels all came from ROH. The only "Star" that TNA has created is Abyss. One guy in five years, not too impressive.
CF: I don’t believe the Naturals, America’s Most Wanted, or Monty Brown started in WWE, ECW or ROH. There’s probably more if I wanted to take the time to research the alumni ranks. Ron Killings may had been in WWE, but he wasn’t made a star until he went to TNA with a completely new gimmick.
JM: You think the Naturals and America's Most Wanted are over. I don't, look how marginalized Kurt Angle has become sense he joined TNA. If you are a big name wrestler the worst thing you can do is go to TNA. TNA's booking is so awful they couldn't get Jesus Christ over as a face.
CF: Well if AMW wasn't over, how the heck did they win Best Tag Team in 2004 and 2005 of the RSPW Year End Awards? The second question is, how can it be the worst thing for someone to go to TNA? You are really gonna tell me for instance that Christian Cage is WORSE off? Would Ron Killings had EVER been world champion in WWE? I think you're broad brushing here that because one guy isn't at the top right away all the others who have been at the top don't matter.
JM: OK go to the mall and ask people who has heard of AMW. Then ask who has heard of TNA. How long have they been on TV and they are not memorable.
CF: First off, I'd NEVER do a wrestling survey at the mall, unless of course it was of customers of the Pro Wrestling Shirt Shop, cause I'd find a lot of people who don't care about wrestling and a bunch of people calling it fake, garbage and gay. It'd be the same as Jay Leno's Jaywalking segments asking who the president and vice president of the country is. The group I'd be asking are well educated wrestling fans who gather on various websites and message boards.
JM: Go to the pro wrestling shirt shop and see how many AMW fans stop by in a week.
CF: You still haven’t explained how if TNA is the worst place you can go, how Christian Cage is WORSE off now than he was in WWE and Ron Killings where he would be now had he stayed in WWE.
JM: Christian is no more over than when he was in WWE, and Ron Killings was hot for a minute but their bad booking killed him off.
CF: But Christian Cage became NWA world champion, it didn't look like WWE was gonna ever push him as a main eventer...seems to me he came out ahead here, and as a bonus not working a rigorous schedule like he was in WWE.
JM: But Christian lost that belt to Kurt Angle. Angle was higher up the WWE ladder then Christian, and he is higher up the TNA ladder then Christian. Angle will hold the belt until a bigger name WWE star comes to TNA and takes it from him. TNA's criteria is on how valuable a wrestler is, It is based on how big of a star you were in WWE. TNA is totally subservient to the giant mega-elite people who run WWE. To answer your question Christian is in the exact same spot now then he was when he left WWE.
CF: Going back to earlier when it was touched on briefly on fans looking for an alternative. For a while the new ECW was head to head with Wrestling Society X, there was one week where RAW was head to head with TNA, but WWE soundly got higher ratings. Are fans in general satisfied with the WWE product that they stick with its shows over the competition when given a choice?
JM: TNA and WSX were not real competition. The WWE fans support WWE. I am saying there is nothing for all the fans that WWE has turned off. Those fans have nothing to support other than ROH (which is not on TV).
8.1 What about the #4-#10 feds in this country? Who makes up the rest of the top ten?
JM: The independents just copy what they see on TV so they are irrelevant. I will say that if the business is go get better it has to happen on a grass roots independent level. That is why I try to work as many Indy shows as possible.
Top 10 - 1- ROH, 2- IWA- MS, 3- PWG, 4- JAPW, 5- Vacant, 6- Vacant, 7- Vacant, 8- Vacant, 9- Vacant, 10- Vacant
CF: Okay, well #1 would be WWE, #2 you said was ROH in a prior question, #3 would have to be TNA cause they have national TV...so you have no idea who past IWA-MS (who's have financial trouble now), PWG, and JAPW would make up the rest of the top ten?
JM: I thought it was just Indy's, Ya it would be like this
1.WWE, 2. Vacant, 3. Vacant, 4. Vacant, 5.ROH, 6.OVW, 7.TNA, 8.IWA-MS, 9.PWG, 10.JAPW
CF: Why did WSX fail so quickly despite putting in more wrestling in a half hour than a typical hour of TNA?
JM: It wasn't based on competitive philosophy. WWE is the only company that can make money with a non competitive wrestling product.
CF: You filmed an obscenity-laced rant against WWE and TNA that goes beyond the columns you did for DOI. What do you think the blowback is gonna be on this from fans, wrestlers and promoters?
JM: You are talking about me calling out JBL for what he said on Fox News Sunday. I woke up that morning to see on the news Lebanese people pulling children out of bombed out rubble. Then I watch Fox News Sunday and JBL is saying how it was a good thing that they were targeting terrorists and he saw no wrongdoing on the bombings. At that point I gave up on the WWE dream. Look there is a war going on, not just in Iraq but all over the world. I know whose side I am on, I chose my side from day one. Any "Blowback" I get will be from people on the other side, and I don't care what they think of me.
CF: Look, I haven't yet seen hardly any of the video apart from the short clips on Youtube so I don't know WHAT you covered in it...but the question stands unanswered, what will fans, wrestlers and promoters think of it? BESIDES WWE here...
JM: Those who agree with me will like me and those who disagree with me will hate it. I am willing to take a stand for what I believe in. I don't see it having much of an effect on me as a referee.
CF: In the most recent video posted online which appears to be the last ten minutes of the shoot interview itself you push the idea of competitive seasons, which would be tracking win-loss records, but also every move someone does in a match. I’ve gotten an awful lot of flack from people associated with New Midwest Wrestling and Great American Wrestling because I went tracking win-loss records inside their promotions where the wrestlers and officials were claiming they’re meaningless and don’t matter. Have you found any interest at all in your competitive season proposal from any of the independent promotions so far?
JM: Not really, it is a very costly concept. As is my idea about a March Madness-type 64-man wrestling tournament. I think one of the ideas will play out in the next two years.
CF: How would any promoter do a 64-man tournament? The only organization I could see doing such a thing is multiple members of the NWA holding eight matches at a time from each bracket.
JM: Bingo NWA would be perfect to do it. ROH or IWA-MS could do it as well.
CF: Well I don't think IWA-MS has the resources anymore to handle such a tourney with the lawsuit money they owe and Ian Rotten's injury that requires surgery. Now the NWA is holding a new world title tourney now that they fired TNA, it appears they are doing eight matches in round one throughout the country. Who do you see winning the tournament?
JM: Brian Danielson
CF: Well it looks like we're about to wrap this up, I know you're selling videos...please tell us what they are and how to get them.
JM: I'm not shilling any videos. I am pushing complete reform of our business. That is what I have to say, Pro Wrestling needs to adjust to reality. Reality is this business still has some carnival roots that need to be cleaned up before we advance to what our sport can be.
CF: Oh here’s my favorite part of any interview…word association.
WWE - The Past.
TNA - USWA version 2.0.
ROH - The best wrestling company in the US right now.
ECW - What a great time I had.
FIST - Might back the season one day.
CZW - Ruckus home fed.
IWA-MS - Ian Rotten has done a lot for all young wrestlers. He deserves a lot of respect for that. I am hoping to referee in IWA-MS in the near future.
CHIKARA - Not to familiar with them. I need to check them out.
NWA - I used to love watching the old NWA.
CF: What about the current NWA?
JM: Should have done a 64-man tournament for the NWA title.
AWA - Gagne’s were so overrated.
CF: What about the current version of the AWA? What do you make of the lawsuit?
JM: I don't know anything about it.
UFC - Just a phase, won’t stay popular forever.
CF: Why not? You don't believe fans may have flocked to UFC as an alternative to WWE and predetermined fighting? WWE seems really jealous of their buy rates right now.
JM: I don't think the sheer brutality is really marketable. I think that athleticism is what will sell. Right now pro wrestling is not based on athleticism, it is based on drama. UFC does not have enough athleticism.
Full Impact Pro - I don't know anything about them. I will check them out.
Lucha Libre - Great in Mexico, not so great in the USA.
Pro Wrestling Guerilla - Top Indy on the left coast.
Pro Wrestling Noah - Second best wrestling company in the world. New Japan is #1
GCW - I worked for them in 2002.
LWA - I don't know much about them other then Adam Raw and Nick Tyson work there. They are both good.
Wrestling at the Chase - That’s my S**t
Tough Enough - Boooring.
The Chicago Wrestling Scene - It is starting to heat up. They are doing a good job over there.
The St. Louis Wrestling Scene - Has a disconnect with the city's great history. The promoters need to respect the great tradition of wrestling in this city. Harley Race should play more of a role in St. Louis wrestling.
The Indianapolis Wrestling Scene - Don't know that much about the Indy's other than IWA running there. I worked there 13 years ago for Mike Samples that was aaaaa emmm Fun ya.
John Cena - Keep booing the Military BabyFace.
Bobby Lashley - Keep booing the Military Babyface.
CF: Whoa, I already disputed you on this, when has he been doing military stuff? I've yet to see him come to the ring wearing any military gear.
JM: But they always mention how he was in the military.
CF: Which branch?
JM: Air Force
John Bradshaw Layfield - Satan Worshiper
Vince McMahon - Satan
Dixie Carter - Irrelevant
Kurt Angle - Great Wrestler
Sabu - I would be nothing if not for Sabu. Best wrestler I have ever seen.
Rob Van Dam - With HHH's injury sure to limit his mobility. RVD is the best wrestler in the world right now according to my ranking system.
Raven - Taught me a lot in the old ECW.
AJ Styles - Great high flying wrestler.
Sting - Washed up.
Christian Cage - Great heel.
Ron Killings - Underrated
Voodoo Kin Mafia - Vince Russo's creation.
Edge - WWE's top Heel.
Christopher Daniels - Great technical wrestler.
Low Ki - Great Strong Style wrestler.
Great Khali - El Gigante version 2.0.
CM Punk - ECW's only over babyface.
Jeff Jarrett - No comment
Hulk Hogan - Icon (I had his poster on my wall when I was a kid.)
Bob Orton - Took him awhile to get over that wrist injury.
Randy Orton - What RVD is to Detroit, Randy Orton is to STL. Advantage DET.
Ric Flair - Time to retire: Message sent December 18 2001.
Chris Benoit - Represents what is great about wrestling.
Boogeyman - Represents what is wrong with wrestling.
Matt Sydal - Best high flyer to come out of St. Louis in a long time.
Delirious - Best technical wrestler from around here. Keeps getting better, Has a very bright future.
Daizee Haze – Delirious' girl, she has good taste.
MsChif - Good female wrestler, wrestles for Shimmer.
Dingo - All young wrestlers from around here need to look up to Dingo and learn what it means to be a wrestler.
Madman Pondo - Hardcore specialist. Good guy.
Zero Gravity - Lack size, but good high flying technique.
The Hybrids - Also lack size, I need to see more of them.
The Future Brian Ladd - I need to book him in matches that will push him as a competitor. Expect Brian Ladd vs. C.J. Otis soon to FIST.
Da Bomb Bryan James - Don't know to much, I reffed one of his matches, It was good.
Tommy Knight - Don't know to much, Nice guy.
Dan Velten - Quite the character. FIST wrestling's top heel.
Danny Daniels - Consistent good wrestler. Is today and has been good for over ten years.
CJ Otis - The Mid-West Champ, the only belt that the champion is voted on. As of right now the committee consists of A.T. Huck, Dan Severn and myself. We are looking to add Sabu and Scott Da'Moore. I am proud of the concept of the Mid-West title.
Chuck Taylor - I like him and Ricochet those cats can go.
CF: Well this interview can go on and on and on…but that’d be stealing Justin Macintyre’s line so we’ll end it here. John Moore, thank you for talking with me.
JM. Thank You, If any fans want to contact me my Myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/johnpeeweemoore
Peace.
The Rap Sheet of John “Pee-Wee” Moore
6/20/2K7
Today the STLWC interviews former ECW and now current FIST referee John "Pee Wee" Moore, who's soon to release a shoot interview on the state of the wrestling scene and WWE's influence on pro wrestling as well as make a major proposal to reform how wrestling is presented. The debate got very interesting as the interviewer and the interviewee each have strong opinions. This interview was conducted via email over a period of weeks where questions and follow ups were asked and responses arranged in how the questions were numbered (numbers removed now that it’s complete). He recently filmed a shoot interview that is available on DVD at http://www.clotheslinewrestlingonline.c
CF: Please tell me about yourself for those who aren't aware of who John Moore is and how you became a referee.
JM: I trained under Al Snow in Lima OH. in 1992. I have been a referee for NJPW and ECW as well as XPW, Stampede. I currently book shows for XICW (Michigan) and FIST (St. Louis).
CF: How did you get hooked up with FIST?
JM: I worked an Indy show for Gateway Wrestling in 2002. I met Mike Gordon who was a referee. We became good friends. When I moved back to St. Louis in February I called him to see how he was doing and he told me he was running shows and asked me to help.
CF: Well this interview in truth was started weeks ago, but on this particular day I ask this question, what is your reaction to Vince McMahon being blown up in a limo?
JM: I didn't see it. All those IED's going off in Iraq have taken its toll on the WWE creative team.
CF: Thoughts on the press quickly exposing it as a hoax?
JM: What else are they supposed to do, report as if it were a shoot?
CF: You began writing columns for Declaration of Independents where it's been described by readers in Chicago and St. Louis as a "bastion of childish behavior" by a bunch of "grown smarks" who write very low brow things about promoters they don't like and angered a number of people for backing Rob Feinstein after he was caught in a child porn sting. Because of this, the comments you made in your DOI columns weren't taken as seriously as they could if it was printed on 411mania.com or 1wrestling.com. How do you see it?
JM: I never backed Rob Feinstein. I simply stated that WWE had something to do with that whole incident. I know for a fact the a WWE employee was front and center during that whole Rob Feinstein trying to pick up a 13 year old boy deal. I'm not going to say who. But I know it to be true.
CF: A quick Google search yielded that Philadelphia's NBC 10 & Perverted-Justice.com did the sting and though the IM convo is under archive now, the person he convo'ed with was Jay Alternative. What connection does the website, NBC 10 or Jay Alternative have with WWE?
JM: The question is who dropped the dime to Perverted Justice and I am not giving you the answer.
CF: Well I found the press release of the whole thing here, and they do not mention being tipped by someone with WWE, rather he contacted them. Now perhaps they contacted WWE asking who he was cause he knew nothing about wrestling but I have to tell you, I'm not buying this. I don't think the readership will either.
http://www.pwinsiderxtra.com/ViewArticl
JM: Nobody from WWE tipped him off. You just don’t understand how the whole system works…
CF: Well you’ve completely lost me here, so…
CF: You also had one of your articles pulled from DOI--"Pedophiles, Tournaments & More”--why did that happen? What was too hot for even DOI?
JM: WWE threatened legal action. I wrote for the DOI because I knew that a lot of wrestlers frequented the site. I wanted it to spread throughout the business like contraband. I was not trying to reach mainstream wrestling fans. I am trying to reach the wrestlers and smarten them up. I wrote a piece for the observer website about a year before. It was my ideas for wrestling (Competitive Season etc.). The problem was it only reached the fans. My message is for the wrestlers.
CF: You've come out and claimed using a lot of circumstantial evidence, but no direct evidence that I could see in reading the whole series of columns, that TNA is owned by the WWE. What direct evidence do you have that TNA is owned by WWE?
JM: Vince was able to shut down all the territories, all of them. Some of those territories made good money. Vince was able to destroy the entire network that this business worked under. Everybody in wrestling knows that Vince destroyed the territories. But he is not powerful enough to control rinky-dink TNA. Give me a break. TNA is nothing more than Vince McMahon’s lap dog. I don’t have a deed saying Vince owns TNA. But that don’t mean that it is not true.
CF: I don't agree that he single-handedly destroyed them ALL, for one Jim Crockett would had held if he wasn't such a bad businessman. He claimed credit for closing down Sam Muchnick's Wrestling at the Chase, which is utterly false cause he was retiring anyway. But what defines a territory these days? It seems there are more wrestling companies in the United States than ever before with more opening up every month.
JM: If Vince McMahon was never born, you think the territory system this business ran under complete with a traveling world champion would have died regardless. I don't believe that. I don't believe that. Nothing defines a territory these days because they don't exist. I guess ROH is the closest to an old school territory. IWA-Mid South would fit the bill as well.
CF: What about the NWA? Wouldn't NWA Midwest constitute a territory?
JM: Not sure you have to run at least four shows a month to be considered above an independent. Back in the day territories ran 12-16 shows a month. No company outside of WWE can run that much, that is why I don't consider anyone really a territory.
CF: Isn’t the real reason why no one can run 12-16 shows a month is that there is big glut of many small independent wrestling companies? For instance, the state of Illinois alone has about 40 different companies. Why are there so many indy groups in business now do you think?
JM: Yes, there are too many companies and they don’t do a good job of making sure the best wrestlers in the region are wrestling on most of that region’s shows. There are so many Indy groups because nobody is willing to take a back seat to make the area better.
CF: You said you don't have a deed that says Vince owns TNA, but if you're gonna convince anyone especially the readers you have to present some evidence. What evidence do you have?
JM: I have evidence as in proof that TNA office people in cahoots with WWE office people but if I was going to stooge them off I would have done it when I wrote for the DOI.
CF: Well if that were true TNA is owned by WWE, why aren't the Dudley Boyz allowed to call themselves the Dudley Boyz, Billy Gunn allowed to call himself Billy Gunn, not to mention any other former WWE talent having their identities robbed from them when their contracts were not renewed? Sting says he would never sign with WWE cause of the content of their programming. AJ Styles multiple times turned down contract offers from WWE.
JM: Vince wants total control over you. If he owns your name you are going to feel less valuable. He does not own TNA he funds it and controls it. If the public knew they were in cahoots (TNA and WWE) they would look for an alternative. People say I am crazy for saying that Vince is behind TNA. Well I think your crazy for thinking that some super billionaire is throwing millions of dollars into a company that has not made a dime. Just so you know a tax write off on a failing business is only 30%. Whoever this "billionaire" is he is still pissing away 70% of what TNA has lost.
CF: Ummm...I don't think you've met Ted Turner. Okay so you're saying WWE is just giving TNA funds. How is he funneling the funds to TNA? Through Panda? Or just giving cash outright to Dixie Carter?
JM: Ted Turner is worth way more $$$ then the Carters. In today’s corporate system it is not hard to secretly fund something.
CF: You predicted that Johnny Ace was going to be fired from WWE and put in as head booker of TNA sometime in 2007. But recently he got promoted to a Senior Vice President position, which doesn’t seem to me like he’s on his way out, despite the big negatives he has on him from lowering backstage morale and getting overruled by Stephanie McMahon on talent call-ups. Do you still hold to that prediction?
JM: 2007 ain’t over.
CF: Even if what you say comes true, would he really be welcome in TNA after his long history of lowering backstage morale and having much heat with former WWE talent?
JM: Look Johnny Ace is not at all the reason for backstage morale being low. The fact that they keep cutting their pay, And not allowing the wrestlers to show true emotion and personality. Forcing the wrestlers to follow the script, not allowing any freestyle wrestling other than once every season. That is why the moral is low. That has nothing to do with Johnny Ace.
CF: But he's had a history of misjudging talent, passing over people that should had gotten the call up (and he's gotten overruled a number of times) and calling in talent who were no where near ready for prime time and that's fueled his unpopularity has he not?
JM: Blaming Johnny Ace for Vince's mistakes is not the right thing to do. See they use Johnny Ace to deflect heat from Vince and Stephanie. That is why I said he would be in TNA. There is only so much heat they can dump on you before they have to "fire' (relocate) you.
CF: You claimed that the WWE is in bed with the military, due to all the advertising on its programming, WWE being the only one doing shows in Iraq & Afghanistan during Christmas, and wrestlers doing military gimmicks. Yet the US Military advertises on a number of different kinds of television programming, World Series of Poker for instance. It is also a known fact that International Championship Wrestling based out of right here in St. Louis, MO has been running shows at military bases such as in Japan & Korea for years. You also claimed each brand would be dominated by wrestlers with military gimmicks, though John Cena has been doing the Marine role based off the movie, who will be portraying these characters? Sgt. Slaughter??
JM: OK, You are right the US Armed forces market to all kinds of sports. But what is happening right now in wrestling is not good. During the Vietnam war (The last unpopular war in this country.) Pro Wrestling didn’t take a strong position on the political battles in the country. After Vietnam, The WWE and all wrestling had plenty of patriotic gimmicks and that is all and fine. Sgt. Slaughter, Corporal Kirchner, Hulk Hogan, the Patriot, etc, etc. But right now we are in the middle of a very unpopular war in Iraq, A war that we are going to lose, a war that the country does not support. Yet the WWE has gone out of their way to back the right wing liars who duped the people in to this war. Listen to what Sean Hannity (Makes 25mil a year to shill for the war.) and Rush Limbaugh (makes 40mil a year to shill for the war.) Listen to what Bush himself says. Then listen to what JBL and Vince McMahon say when they are on FOX News, It is the same talking points. Vince and JBL are representing the people who will go down in history as some of the worst people this world has ever seen. That makes Vince and JBL two of the worst people in the world right now and my shoot interview points that out.
CF: Well now this is gonna slip into a debate on the war itself. One, we aren't losing the war no matter what some unelectable hack on bankrupt Air America or Rosie O'Donnell or George Soros says, the only way we lose Iraq is we cut and run, and then every terrorist organization in the world will see that Americans in general are weak-willed and easily conquerable putting out videos saying they defeated the United States--and sadly it will take another major terrorist attack in this country to make people realize we cannot wuss out. Now I could very easily turn this around and say you got YOUR talking points from ultra-leftist Moveon.Org (depending on what you actually say during the shoot) and various left-wing columnists. But hey, the Democrats haven't put forth anything on how to fight the war on terror, if you were President John Moore, how would YOU fight the war on terror?
JM: I would end it. I support Ron Paul he is a Republican. He would end the war on terror. The war on terror is nothing more that a war to keep OPEC strong. We need to break away from the big oil companies control on us, and allow other countries so sell gas directly to the people. Would you rather pay $2.00 a gallon to an Iraqi or Iranian or Venezuelan State Governments. Or would you rather pay $5.00 a gallon with all the money going to fat old money rich pigs. You say anyone against the war is left wing. Chuck Hagel is left wing, George Will is left wing, Ron Paul is left wing. You people and I mean people who listen to Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich when they say that the people of the Middle East want to kill us and enslave our kids. You people disgust me. If you really think that the "Terrorists" are about to get us, Should you not fight them. The people of Iraq no matter what there age 12 year old boys, 80 year old men, they all fight the occupation. So if we are in the same boat and we are right now fighting for our people’s survival and self esteem. Should we not all fight? I don’t believe that what those shills say. So I will not fight so rich people can get richer. But you and your people, No matter what your age should man up and fight off our extermination (If that is what you truly believe). If I truly thought that America was in real trouble I would stand up and fight. You and your people say that we need to fight but you don’t want to do any of the fighting. You want to fight until the last drop of blood, that is of course other peoples blood.
CF: No no no, I'm gonna set you straight here, as someone who's well versed on politics, if we quit the war on terror cold turkey, I guarantee you Al Qaeda wouldn't stop what they are doing. They will keep killing innocent people however way they can and they will be motivated even further that they can attack us with impunity and we won't fight back. That's what happened with Black Hawk Down, we got a president in there that didn't care all that much about the military, the troops weren't given enough supplies to defend themselves, pictures were shown of soldiers bodies dragged through the streets and they bailed out of the country. Osama Bin Laden got the idea that America is a paper tiger, they kept hitting American targets throughout the eight years of Clinton, we didn't do much of anything about it except arrest a few people who didn't care what happened to them because they were promised the 80 virgins in heaven when they die. But as to your argument on who to pay for gas, we wouldn't be so dependent on OPEC nations for oil if the Democratic party wasn't cow-towing to all these environmentalist wackos who oppose drilling for new sources of oil and building additional oil refineries. I do not believe Ron Paul is left-wing, he is a noted libertarian, which is roughly a social liberal, economic conservative on political alignment. However his idea of going isolationist has been tried before, and Japan bombed us anyway in Hawaii dragging us into WWII. The chicken hawk argument is also lame, because I could turn around and use the same argument against you for wanting to criticize the government, yet you won't run for political office to change it.
JM: I don’t need to run for office. Ron Paul is a fine choice. I don’t want to keep going here. I don’t think that we have to police the world and you do. We agree to disagree.
CF: In the short clips posted on Youtube as teasers to your upcoming shoot interview hosted by FIST Wrestling, you really do not like John Cena. What is your beef with him? He has turned out some really good matches this year, as long as he's facing off with people his size and not someone like Khali or Umaga.
JM: I did not diss John Cena I was saying that the fans boo him because they don’t like the way the system is set up. It is not because he sucks, He doesn’t suck he tries hard every night. They are booing Vince and JBL's vision.
CF: If they are booing Cena cause of Vince, wouldn't booing Cena be ineffective when they have multiple chances to crap on Vince when he's in the ring now carrying an ECW title belt?
JM: Booing Vince does nothing because he is playing a heel. He wants to be booed. The way the fans show their displeasure is by booing those who are made to be cheered (Cena, Batista and Lashley.) That is how you make the WWE take notice.
CF: But doesn’t that usually cause creative to turn them heel? John Cena staying face for this long being booed as much as he has been is quite unusual.
JM: They can't turn him heel, He is the Military Babyface. If they turn him heel it would be admitting that the US Army and the people who run our government are heels in the world and in the country. This is not a diss on Cena, John Cena the person does not represent the war. John Cena the character does represent the war. When the fans boo they are not booing John Cena the worker, They are booing John Cena the character (A character based on Vince McMahon and JBL's political philosophy).
CF: Ah but they have done it before, they turned Sgt. Slaughter...who was made into a GI Joe character...and aligned him with Iraq during the first Gulf War! But I seem to remember fans weren't booing him much when he was chasing the champion as opposed to when he's been the champion. Truth be told, if Hulk Hogan had his four-year title reign during this decade, a lot of fans would had been booing him like crazy cause I remember back then there was a lot of anti-Hogan sediment that could be found on the old bulletin board services that were popular before the internet became widely available.
JM: True about Hogan, But the first Iraq war was quick and easy. It was not nearly as unpopular as this Iraq war. Turning John Cena heel would be admitting that the country has turned on the war. The WWE and the right wing are not willing to admit that just yet.
CF: You seem hung up on Cena PUSHING the Iraq war, but all year long, I haven't seen Cena in the ring cutting promos advocating support for Bush or the war itself. Vince McMahon however has blasted the drive-by media for their shoddy one-sided coverage focusing on the bad and ignoring the progress. I'm gonna say again, we cannot just walk away just because a majority oppose the thing, because Al Qaeda is NOT going to leave America alone no matter what.
JM: You got it right. Cena does not mention the war that would be suicide. It is Vince who is pushing the Pro-War neoconservative position. And Al Qaeda was funded by the CIA. So you are right they will not leave us alone they are 100% American made to create an enemy so we can secure the oil reserves in the Middle East.
CF: Now you're treading into convoluted and complicated territory here, while I won't dispute that the CIA funded the resistance to Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, that had to have ended prior to the first Gulf War. I'm just gonna point everyone to study up on the subject here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_qae
CF: Now Cena, is that what a lot of fans are telling you that they are booing Cena SOLELY cause he’s doing the Marine gimmick—and real loosely at that—and for no other reason? I just don’t buy it. From those I talk to it has nothing do with his gimmick.
JM: I think they boo him because they are not into his character. They are not in to his character because right now is not a good time to do a big military babyface gimmick.
CF: If you were the lead booker for the WWE right now who would you be pushing to the moon?
JM: That is quite the hypothetical. I don’t think I will be booking the WWE anytime soon. But I'll go with Harry Smith.
CF: Anyone else? Harry Smith hasn't even made his national TV debut yet and there are multiple brands to cover.
JM: WWE has their fans so brainwashed they only react to Cool Poses and Catch Phrases. I would not even want to book for those stupid sheep WWE fans. If I did I would reward strong, hard, competitive wrestling. So guys like Findlay, Regal, HHH, Benoit, Booker T, Shelton, Carlito and of course RVD (if they are smart enough to resign him.)
CF: Should RVD stay with WWE or go elsewhere?
JM: Rob needs to take some time off. Nobody has been buried more this decade due to backstage politics then RVD. Rob was pushed for 6 months in his 6 year stay with WWE. That takes its toll on a wrestler. He needs some time off, then come back on track and better then ever.
CF: With all the free agents that have come out of WWE in the past three-four years...is there anyone that should be signed by the competition now and where?
JM: It’s more about having a good booking team/booker. I relate it to a coach in sports. You can sign all the high price free agents but if you don't have a good staff and system you won’t have any success. Same with wrestling you need a good booking team more than you need a big name star.
CF: Can ROH overtake TNA as the #2 promotion in the United States now that they have entered the PPV market?
JM: They are #2 right now. What has TNA produced, all TNA talent was made in WWE, ECW or ROH. It's what you contribute to the business that makes you legit. Not having a TV show that nobody watches.
CF: Not everyone on the TNA roster wrestled for either WWE, the old ECW or ROH. But ROH has never had domestic TV in this country, what makes them #2 now? Is it because TNA cut ties with the NWA?
JM: Who on the TNA roster did not come from WWE, ECW or ROH. Shelly, A.J. and Daniels all came from ROH. The only "Star" that TNA has created is Abyss. One guy in five years, not too impressive.
CF: I don’t believe the Naturals, America’s Most Wanted, or Monty Brown started in WWE, ECW or ROH. There’s probably more if I wanted to take the time to research the alumni ranks. Ron Killings may had been in WWE, but he wasn’t made a star until he went to TNA with a completely new gimmick.
JM: You think the Naturals and America's Most Wanted are over. I don't, look how marginalized Kurt Angle has become sense he joined TNA. If you are a big name wrestler the worst thing you can do is go to TNA. TNA's booking is so awful they couldn't get Jesus Christ over as a face.
CF: Well if AMW wasn't over, how the heck did they win Best Tag Team in 2004 and 2005 of the RSPW Year End Awards? The second question is, how can it be the worst thing for someone to go to TNA? You are really gonna tell me for instance that Christian Cage is WORSE off? Would Ron Killings had EVER been world champion in WWE? I think you're broad brushing here that because one guy isn't at the top right away all the others who have been at the top don't matter.
JM: OK go to the mall and ask people who has heard of AMW. Then ask who has heard of TNA. How long have they been on TV and they are not memorable.
CF: First off, I'd NEVER do a wrestling survey at the mall, unless of course it was of customers of the Pro Wrestling Shirt Shop, cause I'd find a lot of people who don't care about wrestling and a bunch of people calling it fake, garbage and gay. It'd be the same as Jay Leno's Jaywalking segments asking who the president and vice president of the country is. The group I'd be asking are well educated wrestling fans who gather on various websites and message boards.
JM: Go to the pro wrestling shirt shop and see how many AMW fans stop by in a week.
CF: You still haven’t explained how if TNA is the worst place you can go, how Christian Cage is WORSE off now than he was in WWE and Ron Killings where he would be now had he stayed in WWE.
JM: Christian is no more over than when he was in WWE, and Ron Killings was hot for a minute but their bad booking killed him off.
CF: But Christian Cage became NWA world champion, it didn't look like WWE was gonna ever push him as a main eventer...seems to me he came out ahead here, and as a bonus not working a rigorous schedule like he was in WWE.
JM: But Christian lost that belt to Kurt Angle. Angle was higher up the WWE ladder then Christian, and he is higher up the TNA ladder then Christian. Angle will hold the belt until a bigger name WWE star comes to TNA and takes it from him. TNA's criteria is on how valuable a wrestler is, It is based on how big of a star you were in WWE. TNA is totally subservient to the giant mega-elite people who run WWE. To answer your question Christian is in the exact same spot now then he was when he left WWE.
CF: Going back to earlier when it was touched on briefly on fans looking for an alternative. For a while the new ECW was head to head with Wrestling Society X, there was one week where RAW was head to head with TNA, but WWE soundly got higher ratings. Are fans in general satisfied with the WWE product that they stick with its shows over the competition when given a choice?
JM: TNA and WSX were not real competition. The WWE fans support WWE. I am saying there is nothing for all the fans that WWE has turned off. Those fans have nothing to support other than ROH (which is not on TV).
8.1 What about the #4-#10 feds in this country? Who makes up the rest of the top ten?
JM: The independents just copy what they see on TV so they are irrelevant. I will say that if the business is go get better it has to happen on a grass roots independent level. That is why I try to work as many Indy shows as possible.
Top 10 - 1- ROH, 2- IWA- MS, 3- PWG, 4- JAPW, 5- Vacant, 6- Vacant, 7- Vacant, 8- Vacant, 9- Vacant, 10- Vacant
CF: Okay, well #1 would be WWE, #2 you said was ROH in a prior question, #3 would have to be TNA cause they have national TV...so you have no idea who past IWA-MS (who's have financial trouble now), PWG, and JAPW would make up the rest of the top ten?
JM: I thought it was just Indy's, Ya it would be like this
1.WWE, 2. Vacant, 3. Vacant, 4. Vacant, 5.ROH, 6.OVW, 7.TNA, 8.IWA-MS, 9.PWG, 10.JAPW
CF: Why did WSX fail so quickly despite putting in more wrestling in a half hour than a typical hour of TNA?
JM: It wasn't based on competitive philosophy. WWE is the only company that can make money with a non competitive wrestling product.
CF: You filmed an obscenity-laced rant against WWE and TNA that goes beyond the columns you did for DOI. What do you think the blowback is gonna be on this from fans, wrestlers and promoters?
JM: You are talking about me calling out JBL for what he said on Fox News Sunday. I woke up that morning to see on the news Lebanese people pulling children out of bombed out rubble. Then I watch Fox News Sunday and JBL is saying how it was a good thing that they were targeting terrorists and he saw no wrongdoing on the bombings. At that point I gave up on the WWE dream. Look there is a war going on, not just in Iraq but all over the world. I know whose side I am on, I chose my side from day one. Any "Blowback" I get will be from people on the other side, and I don't care what they think of me.
CF: Look, I haven't yet seen hardly any of the video apart from the short clips on Youtube so I don't know WHAT you covered in it...but the question stands unanswered, what will fans, wrestlers and promoters think of it? BESIDES WWE here...
JM: Those who agree with me will like me and those who disagree with me will hate it. I am willing to take a stand for what I believe in. I don't see it having much of an effect on me as a referee.
CF: In the most recent video posted online which appears to be the last ten minutes of the shoot interview itself you push the idea of competitive seasons, which would be tracking win-loss records, but also every move someone does in a match. I’ve gotten an awful lot of flack from people associated with New Midwest Wrestling and Great American Wrestling because I went tracking win-loss records inside their promotions where the wrestlers and officials were claiming they’re meaningless and don’t matter. Have you found any interest at all in your competitive season proposal from any of the independent promotions so far?
JM: Not really, it is a very costly concept. As is my idea about a March Madness-type 64-man wrestling tournament. I think one of the ideas will play out in the next two years.
CF: How would any promoter do a 64-man tournament? The only organization I could see doing such a thing is multiple members of the NWA holding eight matches at a time from each bracket.
JM: Bingo NWA would be perfect to do it. ROH or IWA-MS could do it as well.
CF: Well I don't think IWA-MS has the resources anymore to handle such a tourney with the lawsuit money they owe and Ian Rotten's injury that requires surgery. Now the NWA is holding a new world title tourney now that they fired TNA, it appears they are doing eight matches in round one throughout the country. Who do you see winning the tournament?
JM: Brian Danielson
CF: Well it looks like we're about to wrap this up, I know you're selling videos...please tell us what they are and how to get them.
JM: I'm not shilling any videos. I am pushing complete reform of our business. That is what I have to say, Pro Wrestling needs to adjust to reality. Reality is this business still has some carnival roots that need to be cleaned up before we advance to what our sport can be.
CF: Oh here’s my favorite part of any interview…word association.
WWE - The Past.
TNA - USWA version 2.0.
ROH - The best wrestling company in the US right now.
ECW - What a great time I had.
FIST - Might back the season one day.
CZW - Ruckus home fed.
IWA-MS - Ian Rotten has done a lot for all young wrestlers. He deserves a lot of respect for that. I am hoping to referee in IWA-MS in the near future.
CHIKARA - Not to familiar with them. I need to check them out.
NWA - I used to love watching the old NWA.
CF: What about the current NWA?
JM: Should have done a 64-man tournament for the NWA title.
AWA - Gagne’s were so overrated.
CF: What about the current version of the AWA? What do you make of the lawsuit?
JM: I don't know anything about it.
UFC - Just a phase, won’t stay popular forever.
CF: Why not? You don't believe fans may have flocked to UFC as an alternative to WWE and predetermined fighting? WWE seems really jealous of their buy rates right now.
JM: I don't think the sheer brutality is really marketable. I think that athleticism is what will sell. Right now pro wrestling is not based on athleticism, it is based on drama. UFC does not have enough athleticism.
Full Impact Pro - I don't know anything about them. I will check them out.
Lucha Libre - Great in Mexico, not so great in the USA.
Pro Wrestling Guerilla - Top Indy on the left coast.
Pro Wrestling Noah - Second best wrestling company in the world. New Japan is #1
GCW - I worked for them in 2002.
LWA - I don't know much about them other then Adam Raw and Nick Tyson work there. They are both good.
Wrestling at the Chase - That’s my S**t
Tough Enough - Boooring.
The Chicago Wrestling Scene - It is starting to heat up. They are doing a good job over there.
The St. Louis Wrestling Scene - Has a disconnect with the city's great history. The promoters need to respect the great tradition of wrestling in this city. Harley Race should play more of a role in St. Louis wrestling.
The Indianapolis Wrestling Scene - Don't know that much about the Indy's other than IWA running there. I worked there 13 years ago for Mike Samples that was aaaaa emmm Fun ya.
John Cena - Keep booing the Military BabyFace.
Bobby Lashley - Keep booing the Military Babyface.
CF: Whoa, I already disputed you on this, when has he been doing military stuff? I've yet to see him come to the ring wearing any military gear.
JM: But they always mention how he was in the military.
CF: Which branch?
JM: Air Force
John Bradshaw Layfield - Satan Worshiper
Vince McMahon - Satan
Dixie Carter - Irrelevant
Kurt Angle - Great Wrestler
Sabu - I would be nothing if not for Sabu. Best wrestler I have ever seen.
Rob Van Dam - With HHH's injury sure to limit his mobility. RVD is the best wrestler in the world right now according to my ranking system.
Raven - Taught me a lot in the old ECW.
AJ Styles - Great high flying wrestler.
Sting - Washed up.
Christian Cage - Great heel.
Ron Killings - Underrated
Voodoo Kin Mafia - Vince Russo's creation.
Edge - WWE's top Heel.
Christopher Daniels - Great technical wrestler.
Low Ki - Great Strong Style wrestler.
Great Khali - El Gigante version 2.0.
CM Punk - ECW's only over babyface.
Jeff Jarrett - No comment
Hulk Hogan - Icon (I had his poster on my wall when I was a kid.)
Bob Orton - Took him awhile to get over that wrist injury.
Randy Orton - What RVD is to Detroit, Randy Orton is to STL. Advantage DET.
Ric Flair - Time to retire: Message sent December 18 2001.
Chris Benoit - Represents what is great about wrestling.
Boogeyman - Represents what is wrong with wrestling.
Matt Sydal - Best high flyer to come out of St. Louis in a long time.
Delirious - Best technical wrestler from around here. Keeps getting better, Has a very bright future.
Daizee Haze – Delirious' girl, she has good taste.
MsChif - Good female wrestler, wrestles for Shimmer.
Dingo - All young wrestlers from around here need to look up to Dingo and learn what it means to be a wrestler.
Madman Pondo - Hardcore specialist. Good guy.
Zero Gravity - Lack size, but good high flying technique.
The Hybrids - Also lack size, I need to see more of them.
The Future Brian Ladd - I need to book him in matches that will push him as a competitor. Expect Brian Ladd vs. C.J. Otis soon to FIST.
Da Bomb Bryan James - Don't know to much, I reffed one of his matches, It was good.
Tommy Knight - Don't know to much, Nice guy.
Dan Velten - Quite the character. FIST wrestling's top heel.
Danny Daniels - Consistent good wrestler. Is today and has been good for over ten years.
CJ Otis - The Mid-West Champ, the only belt that the champion is voted on. As of right now the committee consists of A.T. Huck, Dan Severn and myself. We are looking to add Sabu and Scott Da'Moore. I am proud of the concept of the Mid-West title.
Chuck Taylor - I like him and Ricochet those cats can go.
CF: Well this interview can go on and on and on…but that’d be stealing Justin Macintyre’s line so we’ll end it here. John Moore, thank you for talking with me.
JM. Thank You, If any fans want to contact me my Myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/johnpeeweemoore
Peace.
