My Influences: Part 2
Last week, I discussed about individuals who helped influenced me in the major companies. Guys like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Ultimate Warrior, Eddie Guerrero, and Rhyno were the five I chose to highlight (although I could’ve discussed a lot more!) This week, I’m doing the same thing, except this time I’m looking at independent stars who have influenced and helped shaped me along the years. All of these individuals have not only mentored me, but have become good friends of mine.
It’s really hard to really narrow it down to five, as there are many that have helped me along the way (some of which I identified in my locker room leader entry). I already wrote an entire entry on Johnny Gargano (whom has been very influential for me), but wanted to give other individuals credit as well. They are:
“Amazing” N8 Mattson (@AmazingN8): When N8 and I were paired together in Prime Wrestling for Sons of Michigan, it was essentially a way for N8 to do something for the promotion. It started as a way to help me learn and get over. Years later, we are the best of friends and talk often. N8 was in the main event of the very first Indy show I attended (a future blog entry itself), and was amazed (pun intended) at how brash he was as a heel. But he’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and one of the smartest minds around. Even today, I will pick his brain about psychology, ideas, and moves to him. I’ve been in HOURS long car rides where we talked nothing but wrestling, and it made that time fly by.
You may not realize this, but he’s been at this for almost 20 years! And he looks better now than when he started! There are plenty of his matches available on YouTube, so give him a watch! He’s one of many guys that has been everywhere, and everyone should take the time to talk to him and pick his brain in the back if they are on a show with him.
“Hot Commodity” Matt Mason (@HC_Mason): When I first Matt, it was in 2008 for WAR Wrestling in Lima, Ohio. My first thought upon meeting him was “Why doesn’t this man have a contract?” He had the look, a bad ass work ethic, and a hell of a personality that connected well wherever he worked. But he was another person that took me under his wing almost from the start. I’m not sure why, but he took a liking to me immediately, and would spend time with me in the locker room and at after parties. But he was also one of the first to give me blunt, honest criticism of my work. He told me “I wasn’t ready yet” after a tryout we did in OVW in 2010. And he was right! I was nowhere near ready in terms of my look, my in-ring work, or promos. But I was hungry and determined to learn, and Matt always took time for me, no matter what was going on.
He’s not in the ring these days, as injuries essentially forced him out. But I still see him from time to time, and we send each other messages occasionally. He’s busy raising a wonderful family, and honored that he took as much time with me in those crazy Lima days!
CK3/Krimson (@RealLikeTheMask): He goes by Krimson these days, but I still call him CK. That was his name when we first met, and was also in the main event of my very first Indy show I attended. I was also very intimidated by him when I first talked with him.
Our first show we were on together was in Waldron, MI on my birthday in 2009. We drove through a blizzard to get there, and CK was very anxious. I came to realize that he’s a nervous driver or passenger (especially in bad weather). As I got to know him more, he was in a bad place professionally at that time. Being passed over by the major companies, he hit a plateau work-wise, and didn’t know where to go. I remember him crapping all over Prime Wrestling when I told them I worked there (“The whole thing sucks! And Johnny Gargano put my work over? A 22 year old kid?! Whoop-de-fucking-doo!”) Ironically, it was because of Prime Wrestling he was able to reinvent himself as Krimson, which allowed him to work internationally and create an awesome stable called The Dead Wrestling Society. Oh, and he’s much kinder and easier to talk to these days. He’s another guy I go to when I have ideas or psychology questions to bounce off of. He also introduced me to individuals like Rhino, Scott D’Amore, and Kevin Nash (to name a few). He’s not only an incredible talent, but is one of the most creative guys I know. He’s also taught me how to negotiate with promoters (a skill he’s VERY good at). More places should utilize his expertise and skills.
Gregory Iron (@GregoryIron): What can I say about Greg? When I did my initial try-out for the Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling school back in 2006, Greg was the first person from that class to reach out to me through MySpace (remember that?). After a pretty grueling tryout, I was surprised to see when I got home that he sent me a friend request and a message. The message read “Don’t worry about what happened, you’ll get it.” I thought that was so cool that this guy would reach out to me like that. Oh, and that cerebral palsy thing he has? I thought it was pretty cool to see him keep up with the class (in between getting air back into my lungs, that is).
Greg is someone that I would constantly send texts to, and shoot the breeze about wrestling and life. We became even
closer as friends due to an incident where he sustained a near-fatal concussion at a show in Cleveland, where I took him to the hospital (he’s explained this story in various interviews. If there’s enough interest, I’ll explain that day from my viewpoint.) We’ve helped each other in many ways (personally and professionally) in our near-decade long friendship. But I have him to thank for a career rebirth in the formation of the Iron Curtain. Born out of necessity to protect him from unruly fans, we’ve been able to have incredible fun (and sometimes hairy situations) at AIW, AAW, and more. He’s allowed me an opportunity to not only give me work at more places, but a chance to have me grow as a worker, and I cannot thank him enough for that. Oh, and he writes for www.Cheap-Heat.com too, you should check out his entries!
Zach Gowen (@ZachGowen): He’s a former WWE Superstar, and a person that I’ve become close with the past couple years. I first met Zach in person when I was 19, after attending my first Indy show in the Toledo area in 2005. I was initially nervous to meet him, as I read stories about how he had become hard to deal with at shows. That day, though, he was very nice to me, taking time to sign my WWE Magazine and take a photo with me.
Years later, I invited both Zach and referee Brian Gorie to stay over my house so they wouldn’t have to drive through the night to Pittsburgh. After that, we bonded, and he has opened doors for me in introducing me to other promoters in the business. We are only a couple years apart in age, but he has helped me so much in knowledge and psychology not just in wrestling, but in life. He has really turned himself around professionally and personally, and has encountered a resurgence in his career in teaming with Gregory Iron. He’s in a good place, and if you take the time to meet him (whether you are a talent or a fan), you won’t regret it.
Thanks for reading my blog! I have a VERY busy week ahead, and here’s where you can catch me this week:
Facebook.com/BenjaminBoone
Twitter.com/BenjaminBoone1 (@BenjaminBoone1)
Instagram.com/BenjaminBoone1
Periscope: @BenjaminBoone1
Prowrestlingtees.com/BenjaminBoone
