I'd like to know just how independent organizations are suppose to afford to cover all these newly proposed rules. Independent wrestling organizations alone would be crushed by the new legislations. In theory some of the rules are great ideas (i.e. insurance); however, no wrestler nor independent organization could afford such a policy as the one described. To be honest, it seems pretty asinine to attempt to destroy anything that's not professional wrestling (i.e. WWE, ECW... though let's face it, they're the same thing). Even such companies like TNA would find it hard to put on shows in VA if these laws passed just because of the amount of money it would cost to cover the new rules and regulations. I find it hard to believe that the Commonwealth of Virginia wants to drive away small businesses. It seems that the Commonwealth would be losing money. Those in central VA would shut down while the organizations near the state line would just go over and host shows in neighboring states and give them their business. I have a sneaking suspicion that the people writing these new rules and regulations have no idea what the outcome would be if they came into being.

IF THESE NEW REGULATIONS ARE PUT INTO PLACE IT WILL NOT ONLY STOP THE WRESTLERS AND PROMOTERS OF INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FROM BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE SHOWS  IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA (THUS CAUSING THE STATE TO LOOSE OUT ON ALL  FEES, AND TAXES THEY COLLECT)  BUT WILL ALSO DEEPLY HURT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, CIVIC CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO DEPEND ON PRO WRESTLING AS THEIR MEANS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR PROGRAMS, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, HELPING THE POOR, NEEDY AND SO FORTH BECAUSE THEY USE PRO WRESTLING AS THEIR  FUND RAISERS. I HAVE SPOKE TO SEVERAL  MEMBERS ON VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ABOUT THESE CHANGES, AND THEY WERE VERY UPSET TO HERE THAT THIS MIGHT TAKE PLACE, BECAUSE PRO WRESTLING HAD HELPED THEM OUT SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS TO RAISE THE MONEY THEY NEEDED. AND WHY IS PRO.WRESTLING BEING GOVERNED BY THE DPOR AS A SPORT ALONG WITH BOXING ANYWAY, AND NOT AS IT SHOUD BE, AN ENTERTAINMENT? PRO WRESTLING IS NOT AND NEVER WAS ANYTHING MORE THAN AN ATHLETIC MEANS OF ENTERTAINING ITS AUDIENCE. NEVER HAS IT EVER BEEN REGARDED IN THE PUBLIC IMAGE AS A LEGITIMATE SPORT LIKE BOXING. BECAUSE IT IS ENTERTAINMENT! DO THE PROMOTERS, AND PERFORMERS OF A CIRCUS, CARNIVAL, OR A PLAY GO THRU THE SAME RIGOROUS LAWS AND REGULATIONS IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A SHOW IN VIRGINIA?($125.00 EVENT FEE, $40.00 WRESTLING LICENSE, $500.00 PROMOTERS LICENSE AND SO ON) NO, YET SOME OF THEIR PERFORMERS ENDANGER THEMSELVES AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THAN A PRO WRESTLER. BUT NO WHERE DO I SEE A TRAPEZE ARTIST OR MAGICIAN BEING FORCED TO HAVE A LICENSE TO DO HIS ACT IN VIRGINIA. IS THIS NOT DISCRIMINATION ON SMALL BUSINESS BY THE STATE TO WANT TO REQUIRE THESE NEW REGULATIONS, JUST TO OBTAIN MORE MONEY,OR TO FORCE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS IF THEY DONT COMPLY WITH THE NEW INDUSTRY STANDARDS. THIS WILL ONLY SEEM TO LEAVE THE WWE WITH THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PROMOTE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THUS GIVING THE WWE ALONG WITH THE DPOR A MONOPOLY  OVER THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.IS THIS NOT A RIGHT TO WORK STATE? EVERYONE I HAVE SPOKE WITH (SCHOOLS,FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND A LAWYER) HAVE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE DISCRIMINATION TO THEM. PRO WRESTLING CAN STILL BE GOVERNED AND TAXED BY VIRGINIA , BUT NOT AS A SPORT AS IT IS NOW. IT SHOULD FALL UNDER A DIFFERENT CATEGORY , PERHAPS REQUIRING AN ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE AND ENTERTAINMENT TAX LIKE IN OTHER STATES. DONT TAKE PRO WRESTLING AWAY FROM THE FANS WHO HAVE LOVED AND SUPPORTED IT, AND THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAY DEPEND ON IT TO SURVIVE  IN  VIRGINIA

DPOR  These new regulations will all but shut all wrestling down here in southwest Va. If it wasn't for wrestling at Christmas The Toy's For Tots events several children down here would have no Christmas.These wrestler's donate their time and money and drive several hours to help out these causes.Also my daughter's aaa basketball team planned to travel to Florida to play in front of several college scout's in a tournement if it wasn't for NWA VIRGINIA and Rick O'Brien and all the wrestler's these girl's would never been able to go.Also we did a show for family that lost everything in a fire and lost everything and a 7 year old boy who had a brain tumor and died. You should be proud of these wrestler's in the state of  virginia and everything that they do to help out . I'm proud to be part of this and hope you'll understand if these rules go in effect how many people that will be hurt.Please think about this very hard before changes are made and hope you'll see our side of this. thanks for your time.                                                                                                           

DPOR,

I am writing to inform you on my opinions towards the proposed regulations on professional wrestling.  If these regulations are passed then all independent promotions will most likely cease to exist leaving Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment with a monopoly on the Commonwealth of Virginia.  This would not be fair!  By passing these regulations you would be cutting off the major annual fundraisers for many schools, civic organizations and service clubs throughout Virginia.  Many schools or organizations count on professional wrestling shows to help pay for uniforms and equipment which can put a major strain on a school's annual athletic budget.  This money could mean the difference between a football team getting new helmets or having to use their old ones which may not be completely safe.  Is that what the DPOR wants!  A kid to get hurt possibly permanently so that you can rid the state of professional wrestling.  I sure hope that is not the case.  Many independent organizations provide no upfront cost to the school therefore guarunteeing them that they will earn some much needed funds.  Do you see the WWE putting on fundraising shows?  Absolutely not!  Vince McMahon would rather spit on these schools and organizations.  I have spoken with several principals, athletic directors and coaches about the ramifications for their schools of these pending regulations.  They have all expressed pretty much the same feelings.  They feel that these regulations are discriminating against the small businesses in Virginia and that many of their athletic programs rely heavily on the funds that these independent organizations help them raise.  These independent organizations often help raise money for people in need also.  Do you want to tell the family of a young kid who is dying of cancer that the wrestling event that was supposed to help raise money for the family's medical expenses is cancelled because you get more taxes from the WWE.  It's just not fair. 

To be continued in my next post

Ryan Michaels

I have been involved in shows that collected gifts for Toys for Tots and without these shows some kids would not have a Christmas.  It breaks my heart to know that the DPOR cares more about the WWE and Vince McMahon then the people of it's own state.  First, I felt it was wrong that the DPOR chose to tax these Toys for Tots shows eventhough no money was collected only unwrapped toys, but completely eliminating them takes the unselfishness to a new level.  No independent organization will be able to survive these proposed regulations.  Comparing these independent organizations to the multi-billion dollar empire of the WWE is like night and day.  There just is no comparison and it is a complete and utter injustice.  These changes will put many professional wrestlers out of work.  These wrestlers are the same ones who bust their butts week in and week out to entertain the crowd no matter how big or small and to help raise funds for schools and civic organizations.  I also have a few observations to back up the discrimination claim.  At a recent WWE Monday Night Raw event in Charlottesville, Virginia several wrestlers were allowed to physically participate in the event without a valid Virginia wrestling license.  Hulk Hogan and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan do not have valid Virginia wrestling licenses (Hogan-expired in 2003, Duggan-expired in 2004) yet they were allowed to wrestle that night, but yet the WWE is not being investigated for foul play.  If this was done by an independent promoter he or she would be suspended from any operations within this state.  Also, the wrestlers were not signed-in by the DPOR representative on hand that evening which is in direct violation of the DPOR's own rules.  Also, this same representative allowed a match to continue eventhough their was obvious bloodflow and another match to continue where two wrestlers fought into the crowd.  Both of which are direct violations of the DPOR's own rules.  The rules say that a match is to be stopped by the referee if their is bloodflow either intentional or unintentional.  This obviously did not happen!  Also, the rules state that the participants in a wrestling match must stay within in the confines of a physical barrier surrounding the ring which must be at least six feet from the ring, but yet the two WWE wrestlers were allowed to fight well beyond the physical barrier.  So apparently the Commonwealth of Virginia takes a blind eye to the WWE because they know that they are going to receive a large check for the 5% event tax.  Also, at a UWF-TNA wrestling event in Martinsville, VA on April 1, 2006, several stars of the popular NASCAR racing circuit were allowed to be lumberjacks in a wrestling contest eventhough they do not have valid Virginia wrestling licenses.  Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, and Scott Riggs actively participated in a wrestling match yet they did not have valid wrestling licenses.  Once again the DPOR turned a blind eye to the deep pockets of Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling, NASCAR, Hermie Sadler and Earl Hebner.  The common denominator seems to be that if you have deep pockets and established political connections you can do whatever you please in the Commonwealth of Virginia under the DPOR's watch. 

TO BE CONTINUED-RYAN MICHAELS

Another example of the rules clearly being violated would be at the WWE's Great American Bash 2004 held in Norfolk, Virginia.  In the Main Event, JBL wrestled the late Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope Match.  There was clearly bloodflow from both competitors, but the match was allowed to continue as scheduled.  A direct violation of the rules.  These violations would not be allowed at an independent show so they should be enforced equally regarding all professional wrestling in this state.  Also, it does not seem fair to tax wrestling events as a sport when professional wrestling is seen universally as a form of entertainment not a legitimate sport.  The universal public opinion is that professional wrestling is a form of entertainment not a sport therefore it should not be taxed like boxing and Mixed-Martial Arts competitions which are universally seen as legitimate sporting contests.  So if wrestling is a form of entertainment then it should not have to adhere to the policies of these other sporting events.  If wrestling is seen as entertainment and taxed/regulated as a sport then circuses, concerts, monster-truck rallies, rodeos. etc. should be taxed/regulated the same.  Wrestlers are to be licensed so then should clowns, trapeze artists, high-wire walkers, liontamers, rodeo clowns, etc. because they are in as much if not more danger than professional wrestlers.  It just seems like the Commonwealth of Virginia is trying to rid the state of professional wrestling and boxing and that is not fair to the people who count on it for entertainment and fundraising purposes.  It seems like the DPOR only cares about the moneypeople and could care less about the common people of Virginia.  No independent wrestling organization will be able to adhere to the proposed health insurance policy and thus many schools will lose their major fundraising events for the year.  The independent professional wrestling promoters should be commended for the countless time and effort that they give to help raise money for schools, civic organizations and service clubs throughout Virginia, but instead the DPOR is trying to put them out of business.  I just want the people working for the DPOR to take a good, hard look in the mirror everynight before they go to bed and when they wake-up in the morning because they were once students at many of these schools that count on fundraising money to survive.  How would they have felt as a student if they had to wear moth-eaten, mildewed uniforms year/cracked helmets year in and year out because they did not have the financial means like the wealthier schools in the state to procure new uniforms and their major fundraiser had been eliminated by their own home state?  Would they have wanted to play in unsafe equipment or their own children to be unsafe and not have the same opportunities as the wealthier schools?  In closing, I ask each member of the DPOR to take that long, hard look in the mirror each night and morning and answer the question posed above.  

Thank you for your time,

Ryan Michaels

I have spoken with David Holland, representative for the DPOR for Boxing and Wrestling.

We spoke about several parts of the proposed regulations and he agreed with several amendments that can be added.

Such amendments include allowing a worker to sign a waiver stating that they will not hold liable the state [or the promoter] if they are injured during an event and do not have health insurance. Another amendment includes changing the 18 foot ring to include a 16 foot ring as well.  There is also no requirement for mats around the ringside area.

I do have, and will ask about, concerns that have arisen since the time I spoke with Mr. Holland on the phone.  He has admitted in the past that the price increases imposed last year came from higher ups.  I have no reason to believe that Mr. Holland would lie about that.

Mr.Holland and I have disagreed in the past, and we have kept it professional and have worked on amicable and agreeable solutions.  I am hoping that this will continue in the future because NWA Virginia does quite a bit of work for fundraising.  I am sure that the schools, Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads, Athletic Associations, Community Centers and teams will greatly appreciate the fact that NWA Virginia, and most smaller promotions through-out Virginia, will be able to continue to aid them in their ability to raise funds while larger, television-based organizations would not give them a passing glance.

Thank you for reading this and I look forward to speaking to the assembled DPOR Officials and the Public Advisory Board Personnel who will be in attendance on September 27th.

Rick OBrien; Promoter/Owner, NWA Virginia

NWAVirginia.com

HOME of NWA ACTION ZONE 

To Whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter in support of local independent wrestling promotions. It has been brought to my attention through the D.P.O.R. website that there are some considerable changes being proposed which could greatly affect the sport of professional wrestling in Virginia. I would like to encourage the state to reconsider several of the proposed changes in lieu of the fact that their implementation would have an adverse affect on the sport as well as the various non profit organizations which benefit by using professional wrestling as a fundraiser.

In the past four years as the head basketball coach at Twin Valley High School, located in Buchanan County Virginia, we have held several fundraisers. Each year our biggest fundraisers are the ones in which we promote a professional wrestling event. I am happy to say that the promoters that we have worked with, Rick O’Brien and Stan Lee, have been professional and extremely dedicated to helping our school or organization raise much needed funds. To date we have collected over $10,000 in gate receipts and concession sales. This method of fundraising is quick and efficient and it does not require the transportation and reselling of low profit items. The funds raised through the wrestling programs are eighty to ninety percent profitable and require little work on the part of our organization.  Without these funds we would not have been able to purchase new uniforms, new shoes and provide meals for our teams without finding an alternative fundraising source. I would also like to point out that the funds that we have raised from wrestling programs, exceed every other fundraising project combined. It is a true viable source of assistance for our basketball program.

I would also like to ask the state to consider the categorization of professional wrestling. Professional wrestling is a work and is considered sports entertainment. By asking the participants, promoters and bookers to adhere to boxing and MMA regulations is a misapplication of the rules. I suggest that the state give careful consideration to the upcoming proposals as well as those currently in place. I feel that it would be in the best interest of the state, professional wrestling and non-profit organizations if these considerations were made and adopted.

In addition to the categorization of professional wrestling, I would like to encourage the state to consider the financial burden that some of these new proposals would place on the promoters, wrestlers and non profit organizations that rely on their support. Throughout my years dealing with independent wrestling promoters I have not found a single one that operated totally for profit. Independent promoters are not getting rich by promoting professional wrestling. Nonetheless they are helping several non-profit organizations raise much needed funds. Some of the proposed changes would require several thousands of dollars in upgrades, upgrades that would cause many promoters to go out of business. Needless, to say if the promoters are not able to put on shows, then independent wrestlers will be without work, if they are without work non-profit organizations, which survive through these fundraisers, will have greater difficulty supporting themselves.

In closing I would like to remind the state that organizations such as the W.W.E.(World Wrestling Entertainment) is a FOR PROFIT business and although they do hold shows within the state, they are not involved in assisting a non-profit organization with a fundraiser. It is the independent promoter and the wrestlers on the independent scene who give their time and effort to do so. Please give independent wrestling, promoters, wrestlers, and non-profit organizations consideration before enacting these unnecessary changes.

 

Sincerely,

Brian Moore

Head Basketball Coach

Twin Valley High School

 

 

 

 

p.s. I would like to add that while recently watching an episode of W.W.E. Raw, which took place in Virginia, I witnessed several rules violations by the W.W.E. During the course of the program wrestlers were allowed to fight in the crowd, wrestlers were permitted to bleed, allowed to perform without a license (the license information is readily available on the D.P.O.R. website), and a non licensed actor was permitted to take part in a segment in which he was attacked by another wrestler who also did not have a license. If the state of Virginia can turn a blind eye to the corporate giant that is W.W.E. and treat the program as sports entertainment, then why can’t the same consideration be given to independent promotions?

I have looked over all the proposed changes and heard the comments made from Dave Holland to numerous people that most of the stuff is being amended. I am glad to hear that and I hope he will be a man of his word and honor that. These new rules would hurt the pro wrestling business and would hurt the fundraising groups as well. It is not fair to the wrestlers or promoters to have to sit here and keep defending our profession because someone in the DPOR wants to make it hard on people to promote wrestling. We are not a legitimate sport, we are ENTERTAINMENT. I am tired of stuff being added at numerous wrestling shows saying we can not do this because we would have to get a MMA license, or you can't run a venue because of the time frame the show was in  and the location of it. That is discrimination at its finest. I am sorry if certain DPOR officials get mad at my comments but I am going to defend my profession. I will not be there Wednesday as I have started a new job and it is impossible to get time off right now and I apologize because I wanted to be there. So I am asking the DPOR to take a second look at what is going on here and consider what the effects could be if these rules went into effect, it would hurt us people looking to provide entertainment to the real wrestling fans of Virginia.

I just wanted to make my points made so they will be on public record. Thanks for your time and I hope Dave Holland keeps his word.

Robert Langston

South Atlantic Wrestling

I think that instead of health insurance for all wreslters that we should have a waiver of liability that does not hold the state responsible for any injuries. 

Most of the promoters in Virginia have 16 foot rings and I feel that this appropriate. 

I also suggest that promoters get one license for the year instead of individual licenses for each show that they do.

If bigger shows such as WWE perform events in Virginia they should have to follow the same rules as small promoters.

I feel that promoters should be given a new current rule book each year and bring it with them to each show.

I think if a person uses a promoter's license to perform an event that promoter should be at the event to make sure that if something happened a responsible party was present

Mr. Holland is fair and good to work with if we any questions.

Thank you

Troy Loveday BWF