The fee increases are not acceptable to anyone within the wrestling community.

While Boxing may be self-sustaining at this time, and Pro Wrestling is not, I fail to see how that is the fault of the wrestling community.  Having an inspector attend every show is foolhardy and a waste of resources.  Not all shows need to have an inspector.  Our NWA Virginia shows have had only ONE problem in the years we've been running shows in Virginia.  The DPOR Inspector at the show informed me of the infraction by that worker, sent me a letter stating that I was on probation for one year [as was the worker] and I haven't had a problem since then.

NWA Virginia runs small shows.  We aren't going to pay the amount that the DPOR needs to cover the cost of having an inspector at the show.  So, as punishment, we may be forced out of business.  Is this legal?  Is this the American way? Is this the way capitalism is to work?  We are to be 'legislated' out of business?  Are only the 'mega-shows' allowed to do business in the Commonwealth?  Interesting that a Commonwealth sanctioned body is looking to go the Wal-Mart way of doing business.  Crush the small stores so that no one has a choice but to come to the Wal-Mart.

Here are the increases, by percentage: Worker fee; + 100%, Promoter's License fee: +67%, Event Fee: +67%

All of this is being done in the name of what?  Very simply, send out an inspector to a show/organization that has caused trouble in the past.  At a previous meeting of the DPOR, held on a weekend, several promoters [myself, Kyle Leach, Kiley McLean, Travis Bradshaw, and Mr. Woody] offered to help DPOR with advice and/or assistance on how to clean up the wrestling industry within the Commonwealth.  To my knowledge, there has been no contact concerning that offer.

In Education, the Governor went to the Teachers and Administrators for help and created the PASS teams.  The increased SOL scores, the increased NCLB and AYP scores justify the Governor's faith in people who are IN THAT INDUSTRY! Why then, can't the DPOR create their own teams of workers, promoters, etc, to help police the Industry?  There's NO reason to pay an inspector $100 plus expenses to go visit a wrestling show, UNLESS there is some prior reason for that Inspector to be there.

Please show me where ANY industry would just sit by and allow the rate increases proposed by DPOR.  There aren't any.  If wrestling is done in the western part of the Commonwealth and it is too expensive for an Inspector to go, and the event license has already been issued, then there is no need for an Inspector to be there.

There MUST be room for negotiation, as well as greater communication so that ALL parties involved can come up with a satisfactory agreement that will NOT drive Independent Pro Wrestling out.

Mr. Holland once remarked to me at a show that WWE [then WWF]'s problems were created by themselves.  They drove their competition out of business.  What good, then, would be generated by driving out Independent wrestling from the Commonwealth?  Does the DPOR administration believe that there won't be any shows?  There are plenty of 'illegal' and 'underground' shows being done now.  Some, right in the heart of Richmond.  The number of those shows will simply increase, and I can't see State or local law enforcement, who are having a tough enough time as it is [at least in Richmond] with more serious crimes sparing the resources to stamp out 'illegal' or 'underground' wrestling shows.

I want it to be known for the record, that I am FOR having some form of governmental oversight in Professional Wrestling.  I have seen too many negatives on a wrestling show in unregulated States [New Jersey springs to mind], and too many negatives on a wrestling show in an over regulated State [New York springs to mind].  There MUST be a medium that we can reach.  Increasing fees so drastically, across the board, just isn't acceptable, nor is it, in my opinion, the way to solve any fiscal problems the DPOR may be having.

I thank you for taking the time out to read my lengthy repose.

Rick OBrien

NWA Virginia