Catching Up
Ok, so i've fallen alittle short of my vow to write in this journal everyday. It's amazing too, when so much has happened. I woke up today, and decided that I wouldn't do another thing, until i wrote what, I believe, is maybe the most eventful of all my entries. Someday, people will look back on this and say how it was a milestone. To me now, it just feels like a beginning, even 5 years in.
In March, i began riding up to Memphis with Mr. Hughes, to Jerry Lawlers show. The first time, was on March 2nd, 2007, and it was actually Mississippi, short only 10 miles of the Memphis line. The event was at Sams Town, a large, but still cozy casino out in the middle of no where (except for the cluster of pawn shops and other betting buildings). That was the night I met Jerry Lawler for the first time. If your not aware who Jerry Lawler is, in addition to being the lead color commentary personality on WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, Lawlers history in the wrestling industry spans over 3 decades. He is a legend in Memphis, second only to Elvis Presley, and despite entering the twilight of his career, Lawler has not missed a single step, especially when climbing into the ring.
I remember, watching from the back as Jerry Lawler climbed into the ring, draped in his classic Kings robe, sporting the royal crown of wrestling that has become his trademark....there was just something very magical about it. It's amazing, to be standing back there, among the very people you admired growing up. I also met Jimmy Hart, another fixture in wrestling history. Jimmys behind the scenes role is what inspired me to do the job that I do; television production and post video editing.
Jimmy is exactly the person you see on television, full of life, and energy. He is also one of the warmest and down to earth celebrities i have ever encountered. Talking to him about doing some announcing with Memphis, really meant the world to me. He was soo full of energy, so positive, that i can see why Jimmy is so beloved with both the WWE and TNA.
On that night, i also met Corey Maclin, the official promoter for Memphis Championship Wrestling. Corey doubles as both the booker, and the announcer, which causes problems for me considering, to get onto the broadcast, the broadcast in which he has put himself at the top of, i'd have to be hired....by him. Corey, while i'm sure a nice man, seems overwhelmed by the situation he's in, and I can respect that. However, when Hughes introduced me as an announcer who'd like a chance to work Memphis television, Corey pretty much blew me off. I thought, because it was showtime, and everything was happening, perhaps he was just too busy, and i didn't take it personal. Infact, what was really great, was that Jerry Lawler personally told Hughes.."hey, bring him back to tv next week, and we'll do something with him."
The second time i went to Memphis, was in Mid-April, on Friday the 13th. Memphis Championship Wrestling has spent a great deal of time promoting this show, which was to feature many of the current stars of WWE. However, at the same time, Corey Maclin was promoting a seperate show for the end of the month, which would be headlined by Hulk Hogan. WWE, seeing it as a possible threat, offered to buy the show out from underneath Corey, however he refused. This prompted the WWE to give Corey the preverbial finger, and pull ALL WWE talent from the Memphis Roster, one day before the show, including main draw, Jerry "The King" Lawler. Corey was forced to bring in as many local names as he could, talents that had been previously with the WWE, and that were within driving distances. One of these men, were Rikish. Blood relative to "The Rock", Rikishis impact in professional wrestling was not a quiet one. As a multiple time tag team champion, and main eventer for several years under several names and gimmicks, Rikishi seems very at peace with his life.
On this show, i was excited, because Hughes was informed (and hence why I came) that I would recieve the opportunity to announce a few matches, in order to give Corey a chance to evaluate my skills, and consider me for the weekly programs. Due to the hectic nature of the event, it got back to me, that Corey was probably only going to have time for me to announce, one match. I had no problem with that, i still felt it was an honor just to stand their on that stage with the people i admired. However, moments later, it came back that because so much was going on, they wouldn't have any spot for me to announce on THIS show. Believe it or not, i still didn't feel upset. Hughes, on the otherhand, felt really bad, because the last thing he likes doing, is going back on his word, even if it isn't in his control.
I resumed my duties as Hughes assistant, and placed myself in the arena for the start of the show, where i'd film for Hughes. Suddenly, the music began, and the opening "dark" match began (dark matches are matches that occur to rally up the audience prior to what you see on tv). The crowd was instantly confused, as their was no ring announcer to explain what was going on, who was coming to the ring, or that the show had even began. So....moments after it came down that Corey Maclin had no spot for Taylor Mcknight to announce.....they had a match, with no announcer, which is pretty much unheard of in the wrestling industry, even at the lowest of levels. It was at that moment, that i began to see that Corey is someone who takes the stance.."if i can't do it, no one can." and despite the fact his booking duties were not allowing him to be in the ring to announce that particular match, he'd rather have it be an akward, non-explained affair, rather then have someone who could potentially take his spot, step into the limelight.
Even then though, my suspicions were only that, and i hadn't written Corey off, entirely.
The show went off without a hitch, with many top wrestlers appearing, most of them as surprises to fill the hole that Vince Mcmahon had left in the show with the depletion of name wrestlers.
However, despite the fact that the show was built around so many top names, what i saw as the "main attraction", nearly made me want to throw up. Perhaps, that is an overstatement, ..i didn't throw up, but what I did do, was shut my camera off, and walk to the back, no intrest in watching what was about to take place.
Corey Maclin,...wrestling announcer, Corey Maclin....booked himself, in the main event....and what is worse, put himself over as the top good guy, leading the crowd in chants of "Corey, Corey, Corey!" as the show
came to a close. It then became crystal clear....that Corey Maclin was out for himself. What made things worse 2 weeks later, was when Memphis Television was main evented by yet another similar segment, in which Corey made himself to be the "black hero", crying in the ring, talking about all the struggles he'd been through, and claiming how, all he ever wanted to be as a kid, was a pro wrestling announcer. Then...in the same breath, told everyone he'd be wrestling in a cage match in the main event of the next big event......Sounds to me that Corey Maclin has it wrong.....Taylor Mcknight wanted to be an announcer, Corey Maclin wanted to be a wrestler but couldn't cut it, so he became an announcer...then he got a little bit of power, and uses it to selfishly forfill his fantasies....there is a difference. I have enough pull with the companies I work for, to wrestle a main event match, but i just don't.
On April 27th, the biggest night of my career occured. I went with Hughes to the Clash of Legends show, in which Hulk Hogan, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, "The Big Show" Paul Wight, ....every top wrestling name not under contract, appeared for one night of wrestling celebration. Hanging out backstage with Hulk Hogan, ....was surreal....It didn't register until days later. He was so nice, and generous.....I'd met him early in the day, when he was in his street clothes, and despite being completely excited, i wasn't "star struck". However....a few hours later, backstage with Hughes, Hogan walked around the corner, wearing his traditional wrestling gear...the bright red and yellow........and suddenly i was 5 years old again. Hughes barked to Hogan.."TERRY!!! How about one more pic with my boy here?" .....Hogan looked over at me....and seeing he was in a rush, I said..."you don't have to stop sir, i'll walk with you while we take it." Hogan suddenly stopped, ..(and when Hogan stops, the room stops.) He walks over to me...so that we are eye to eye (if such a thing is possible with the height difference). Suddenly, he takes off his trademark boa, and places it around my neck...
"hows that, BROTHER?!" Hogan says with a smile....as he poses for the picture with me. Most times....when i smile for a photo, i have to think about it..but at that moment.....i didn't....it was the most natural smile i've ever had on camera...
.i thanked him, and he shook my hand, said your very welcome, and left down the hallway to prepare for his match with the Big Show. Later that night, i went out into the stands, and watched the match in the crowd. I realized...it was the first time, since 1991...with my grandfather, that i'd seen Hulk Hogan live. I so wanted him to be there......i know i'm not a big shot...but i just wanted him to see me....there I was...with my all access backstage pass pinned to my shirt, wearing a suit...rubbing elbows with all the great stars. I knew he'd be so proud of me...i wanted to show off to him..and say.."Look Pa, i made it!" Its a rare thing that dreams come true....and i thank God so much for letting me be one of the few. The whole night, i imagined my grandfather right there with me...i saw everything from both my eyes, and his. I called him from the show, and told him everything i'd seen, all the people i'd met...and then finished by saying.."oh...and I met Hulk Hogan." He was so damn proud...I could hear it on the phone.....later my grandmother told me he was so excited for me,..it was as if he was there with me experiencing it.
..That night, I also ran into Jimmy Hart, who remembered me, and asked me about doing some stuff for Memphis tv. Despite Corey....from what i have heard, both Lawler, and Jimmy, are very receptive to the idea of me trying out for the organization.
And that brings us to tomorrow. I'll once again, head up to Memphis with Hughes, and try to wedge my foot in the door. This is the first time i've ever attended their studio program, which is smaller and less stressful. I've learned something over the past year.....the biggest dreams, are the most likely to come true...but only if your willing to live just as big, with equal risk.
Tomorrow, i'm going for it all. What do i have to lose?..I'm already smiling, ..everything after that, is just a bonus.
In March, i began riding up to Memphis with Mr. Hughes, to Jerry Lawlers show. The first time, was on March 2nd, 2007, and it was actually Mississippi, short only 10 miles of the Memphis line. The event was at Sams Town, a large, but still cozy casino out in the middle of no where (except for the cluster of pawn shops and other betting buildings). That was the night I met Jerry Lawler for the first time. If your not aware who Jerry Lawler is, in addition to being the lead color commentary personality on WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, Lawlers history in the wrestling industry spans over 3 decades. He is a legend in Memphis, second only to Elvis Presley, and despite entering the twilight of his career, Lawler has not missed a single step, especially when climbing into the ring.
I remember, watching from the back as Jerry Lawler climbed into the ring, draped in his classic Kings robe, sporting the royal crown of wrestling that has become his trademark....there was just something very magical about it. It's amazing, to be standing back there, among the very people you admired growing up. I also met Jimmy Hart, another fixture in wrestling history. Jimmys behind the scenes role is what inspired me to do the job that I do; television production and post video editing.
Jimmy is exactly the person you see on television, full of life, and energy. He is also one of the warmest and down to earth celebrities i have ever encountered. Talking to him about doing some announcing with Memphis, really meant the world to me. He was soo full of energy, so positive, that i can see why Jimmy is so beloved with both the WWE and TNA.
On that night, i also met Corey Maclin, the official promoter for Memphis Championship Wrestling. Corey doubles as both the booker, and the announcer, which causes problems for me considering, to get onto the broadcast, the broadcast in which he has put himself at the top of, i'd have to be hired....by him. Corey, while i'm sure a nice man, seems overwhelmed by the situation he's in, and I can respect that. However, when Hughes introduced me as an announcer who'd like a chance to work Memphis television, Corey pretty much blew me off. I thought, because it was showtime, and everything was happening, perhaps he was just too busy, and i didn't take it personal. Infact, what was really great, was that Jerry Lawler personally told Hughes.."hey, bring him back to tv next week, and we'll do something with him."
The second time i went to Memphis, was in Mid-April, on Friday the 13th. Memphis Championship Wrestling has spent a great deal of time promoting this show, which was to feature many of the current stars of WWE. However, at the same time, Corey Maclin was promoting a seperate show for the end of the month, which would be headlined by Hulk Hogan. WWE, seeing it as a possible threat, offered to buy the show out from underneath Corey, however he refused. This prompted the WWE to give Corey the preverbial finger, and pull ALL WWE talent from the Memphis Roster, one day before the show, including main draw, Jerry "The King" Lawler. Corey was forced to bring in as many local names as he could, talents that had been previously with the WWE, and that were within driving distances. One of these men, were Rikish. Blood relative to "The Rock", Rikishis impact in professional wrestling was not a quiet one. As a multiple time tag team champion, and main eventer for several years under several names and gimmicks, Rikishi seems very at peace with his life.
On this show, i was excited, because Hughes was informed (and hence why I came) that I would recieve the opportunity to announce a few matches, in order to give Corey a chance to evaluate my skills, and consider me for the weekly programs. Due to the hectic nature of the event, it got back to me, that Corey was probably only going to have time for me to announce, one match. I had no problem with that, i still felt it was an honor just to stand their on that stage with the people i admired. However, moments later, it came back that because so much was going on, they wouldn't have any spot for me to announce on THIS show. Believe it or not, i still didn't feel upset. Hughes, on the otherhand, felt really bad, because the last thing he likes doing, is going back on his word, even if it isn't in his control.
I resumed my duties as Hughes assistant, and placed myself in the arena for the start of the show, where i'd film for Hughes. Suddenly, the music began, and the opening "dark" match began (dark matches are matches that occur to rally up the audience prior to what you see on tv). The crowd was instantly confused, as their was no ring announcer to explain what was going on, who was coming to the ring, or that the show had even began. So....moments after it came down that Corey Maclin had no spot for Taylor Mcknight to announce.....they had a match, with no announcer, which is pretty much unheard of in the wrestling industry, even at the lowest of levels. It was at that moment, that i began to see that Corey is someone who takes the stance.."if i can't do it, no one can." and despite the fact his booking duties were not allowing him to be in the ring to announce that particular match, he'd rather have it be an akward, non-explained affair, rather then have someone who could potentially take his spot, step into the limelight.
Even then though, my suspicions were only that, and i hadn't written Corey off, entirely.
The show went off without a hitch, with many top wrestlers appearing, most of them as surprises to fill the hole that Vince Mcmahon had left in the show with the depletion of name wrestlers.
However, despite the fact that the show was built around so many top names, what i saw as the "main attraction", nearly made me want to throw up. Perhaps, that is an overstatement, ..i didn't throw up, but what I did do, was shut my camera off, and walk to the back, no intrest in watching what was about to take place.
Corey Maclin,...wrestling announcer, Corey Maclin....booked himself, in the main event....and what is worse, put himself over as the top good guy, leading the crowd in chants of "Corey, Corey, Corey!" as the show
came to a close. It then became crystal clear....that Corey Maclin was out for himself. What made things worse 2 weeks later, was when Memphis Television was main evented by yet another similar segment, in which Corey made himself to be the "black hero", crying in the ring, talking about all the struggles he'd been through, and claiming how, all he ever wanted to be as a kid, was a pro wrestling announcer. Then...in the same breath, told everyone he'd be wrestling in a cage match in the main event of the next big event......Sounds to me that Corey Maclin has it wrong.....Taylor Mcknight wanted to be an announcer, Corey Maclin wanted to be a wrestler but couldn't cut it, so he became an announcer...then he got a little bit of power, and uses it to selfishly forfill his fantasies....there is a difference. I have enough pull with the companies I work for, to wrestle a main event match, but i just don't.
On April 27th, the biggest night of my career occured. I went with Hughes to the Clash of Legends show, in which Hulk Hogan, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, "The Big Show" Paul Wight, ....every top wrestling name not under contract, appeared for one night of wrestling celebration. Hanging out backstage with Hulk Hogan, ....was surreal....It didn't register until days later. He was so nice, and generous.....I'd met him early in the day, when he was in his street clothes, and despite being completely excited, i wasn't "star struck". However....a few hours later, backstage with Hughes, Hogan walked around the corner, wearing his traditional wrestling gear...the bright red and yellow........and suddenly i was 5 years old again. Hughes barked to Hogan.."TERRY!!! How about one more pic with my boy here?" .....Hogan looked over at me....and seeing he was in a rush, I said..."you don't have to stop sir, i'll walk with you while we take it." Hogan suddenly stopped, ..(and when Hogan stops, the room stops.) He walks over to me...so that we are eye to eye (if such a thing is possible with the height difference). Suddenly, he takes off his trademark boa, and places it around my neck...
"hows that, BROTHER?!" Hogan says with a smile....as he poses for the picture with me. Most times....when i smile for a photo, i have to think about it..but at that moment.....i didn't....it was the most natural smile i've ever had on camera...
.i thanked him, and he shook my hand, said your very welcome, and left down the hallway to prepare for his match with the Big Show. Later that night, i went out into the stands, and watched the match in the crowd. I realized...it was the first time, since 1991...with my grandfather, that i'd seen Hulk Hogan live. I so wanted him to be there......i know i'm not a big shot...but i just wanted him to see me....there I was...with my all access backstage pass pinned to my shirt, wearing a suit...rubbing elbows with all the great stars. I knew he'd be so proud of me...i wanted to show off to him..and say.."Look Pa, i made it!" Its a rare thing that dreams come true....and i thank God so much for letting me be one of the few. The whole night, i imagined my grandfather right there with me...i saw everything from both my eyes, and his. I called him from the show, and told him everything i'd seen, all the people i'd met...and then finished by saying.."oh...and I met Hulk Hogan." He was so damn proud...I could hear it on the phone.....later my grandmother told me he was so excited for me,..it was as if he was there with me experiencing it.
..That night, I also ran into Jimmy Hart, who remembered me, and asked me about doing some stuff for Memphis tv. Despite Corey....from what i have heard, both Lawler, and Jimmy, are very receptive to the idea of me trying out for the organization.
And that brings us to tomorrow. I'll once again, head up to Memphis with Hughes, and try to wedge my foot in the door. This is the first time i've ever attended their studio program, which is smaller and less stressful. I've learned something over the past year.....the biggest dreams, are the most likely to come true...but only if your willing to live just as big, with equal risk.
Tomorrow, i'm going for it all. What do i have to lose?..I'm already smiling, ..everything after that, is just a bonus.