Epitaph
08-05-2005, 01:28 PM
From his livejournal-
Just got back from the IWA Mid-South show in Plymouth, IN... which was my last. Due to the unfair treatment and subsequent termination of BJ Whitmer on Friday night in Herrin, in combination with money issues and the general direction of things, I, along with Danny Daniels, Brad Bradley, and Kevin Harvey all elected to leave the promotion. It's just not a place we're comfortable working anymore, and I'm sad things have gotten this way.
Someone like BJ has been there since 2000, yet was put in a horrible position, and was simply discarded and treated as though he's expendable, and for no reason that is at all justifiable. It should've never happened. He should have never been put in such a position. And it shouldn't ever happen to anyone else. I will not let it happen to me.
IWA-MS was a great place for young talent to gain valuable ring experience and pay their dues a few years ago, and it was the opportunities given to us that helped us all improve in our own way and come to realize our potential. There comes a point, however, when it's expected that we be treated with more dignity than the greenhorns who work their way into the promotion, looking to pay such dues.
I thank IWA Mid-South for the opportunities and the experiences I've had working there since July of 1997. I learned a great deal there, but it's time to move on.
Looking forward to FIPping it up in Crystal River and Bushnell this coming weekend, and then ROH in Dayton and Chicago Ridge the following weekend."
http://www.livejournal.com/users/daveprazak
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Ian posted the following on the IWA board:
You know folks this is indy wrestling. There is a lot of independent wrestlers out there. In indy wrestling, wrestlers come and go. But with all 4 guys who are in this sitatution, I wish them all the best of luck in the future and nothing but the best. Friday night when I called to check in on the show, I was made aware of a sitatution in which BJ Whitmer refused to do what was asked of him because of his current position with another company. And because of this, I had to set an example that the wrestlers don't run the show and pulled BJ Whitmer off of 3 upcoming shows he had with IWA. This was an action I had to take, to maintain my authority. When I spoke to BJ, he said he felt he was doing what he had to do and he understood I was doing what I had to do. The door is open for BJ to return to IWA sometime in the future if we agree on it. As far as the other 3 who have left the company, they certainly were not treated like "greenhorns" , they were treated the best they could be. And if they can't understand that, during these tough times, then I wish them the best of luck wherever they can go to be treated better. I do the best I can with what I have , and that is all there is to it. I did what I had to do to protect IWA and that is what I will always do. Ian
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It looks like Whitmer was booked in a tag match with Jimmy Jacobs against Vito and Sal Thomaselli. Whitmer and Jacobs, of course, are the ROH tag champs. If they were asked to lose to the Iron Saints, it's possible that Whitmer would object.
Just got back from the IWA Mid-South show in Plymouth, IN... which was my last. Due to the unfair treatment and subsequent termination of BJ Whitmer on Friday night in Herrin, in combination with money issues and the general direction of things, I, along with Danny Daniels, Brad Bradley, and Kevin Harvey all elected to leave the promotion. It's just not a place we're comfortable working anymore, and I'm sad things have gotten this way.
Someone like BJ has been there since 2000, yet was put in a horrible position, and was simply discarded and treated as though he's expendable, and for no reason that is at all justifiable. It should've never happened. He should have never been put in such a position. And it shouldn't ever happen to anyone else. I will not let it happen to me.
IWA-MS was a great place for young talent to gain valuable ring experience and pay their dues a few years ago, and it was the opportunities given to us that helped us all improve in our own way and come to realize our potential. There comes a point, however, when it's expected that we be treated with more dignity than the greenhorns who work their way into the promotion, looking to pay such dues.
I thank IWA Mid-South for the opportunities and the experiences I've had working there since July of 1997. I learned a great deal there, but it's time to move on.
Looking forward to FIPping it up in Crystal River and Bushnell this coming weekend, and then ROH in Dayton and Chicago Ridge the following weekend."
http://www.livejournal.com/users/daveprazak
__
Ian posted the following on the IWA board:
You know folks this is indy wrestling. There is a lot of independent wrestlers out there. In indy wrestling, wrestlers come and go. But with all 4 guys who are in this sitatution, I wish them all the best of luck in the future and nothing but the best. Friday night when I called to check in on the show, I was made aware of a sitatution in which BJ Whitmer refused to do what was asked of him because of his current position with another company. And because of this, I had to set an example that the wrestlers don't run the show and pulled BJ Whitmer off of 3 upcoming shows he had with IWA. This was an action I had to take, to maintain my authority. When I spoke to BJ, he said he felt he was doing what he had to do and he understood I was doing what I had to do. The door is open for BJ to return to IWA sometime in the future if we agree on it. As far as the other 3 who have left the company, they certainly were not treated like "greenhorns" , they were treated the best they could be. And if they can't understand that, during these tough times, then I wish them the best of luck wherever they can go to be treated better. I do the best I can with what I have , and that is all there is to it. I did what I had to do to protect IWA and that is what I will always do. Ian
__
It looks like Whitmer was booked in a tag match with Jimmy Jacobs against Vito and Sal Thomaselli. Whitmer and Jacobs, of course, are the ROH tag champs. If they were asked to lose to the Iron Saints, it's possible that Whitmer would object.