Pro Outlaw Wrestling's referee George Smiley is named because he always has
a giant grin on his face while in the ring. But who can blame his
enthusiasm when every night he is refereeing matches involving Sabu and
Jerry Lynn?
"I wake up every morning excited about coming to work. It is an honor to
be here," said George, who went to High School with Wavell Starr and
started refereeing through him last year. "Wavell called me up a few weeks
ago and asked if I wanted to referee these shows, and there was no way I
was going to miss out."
The enthusiasm is contagious backstage at the event, but it is especially
evident on the faces of the POW rookies who have been taking advantage of
the tour to work as much as possible and learn from the veterans. During
every match, these guys are watching from the back or the stands as the
masters of the squared circle perform.
"It's been a learning experience for sure." Said El Asesino, a masked high
flyer who had his first match in October. ""When I first heard Lynn and
Sabu would be coming out, I was excited. Now that I actually get to meet
them, they are just like everyone else, just with a certain talent. Seeing
them wrestle inspires me to try my best."
The young athletes are lucky to have one of the best minds in the business
watching their matches and giving them advice and constructive criticism in
SLAM! Contributor Don Callis. Dice Steel was more than happy to
listen. "Don Callis and Wavell Starr have been really helpful. Even those
that I haven't worked with have pulled me aside and talked to me."
Added Asesino "Don has been great. I have asked him how I have done after
matches and he gives constructive criticism. I've only had a handful of
matches, so the advice guys like him give is important."
Van Dutch, who had his first match this past winter in a handicapped match
against Leatherface learned just from watching matches as well as
competing. "I've learned a lot about putting together matches and getting
ideas flowing. They are giving us a lot of tips on what to do in the
ring."
To step into the ring with Canadian veterans like Starr, Juggernaut and
Apocalypse has also contributed to their education. Honey Dipper Dan, the
350 pound mountain man who started training in September of 2001 faced
Apocalypse in a singles match and Juggernaut and Crash Crimson in a 3-way
on Friday night. "Since they have been around so long they can walk you
through a good match. Crash has been training us since day one, so we are
learning from a great wrestler. Being in the ring with more experienced
guys makes us better wrestlers as well."
The Exhibition shows are different from what the rookies have worked in the
past, as fitting three matches into a one hour show means they have to
often work 20 minute matches two or three times a day. "The veterans in
the ring are the reason why I can do 20 minute matches. They are taking
care of the younger guys." Said Steel.
For Asesino, the highlight of the shows has been wrestling Wavell
Starr. "He is a great worker and an awesome guy. He helped me through the
entire match and made it something great. When he gets a WWE contract,
I'll be able to say I faced him."
Steve is a POW trainee who hasn't wrestled yet. He had the opportunity to
step into the ring to referee, and being at the shows solidifies his
feeling that POW is where he belongs. "I moved here from Flin Flon
Manitoba, leaving my friends and family and a decent job behind to come and
do this, and it is the best decision I ever made."
In Other POW News.
Although matches throughout the week have catered to a more casual
fair-going fan, Friday Night's 9:00 show was the show to watch for diehard
wrestling fans.
The opening contest alone was good enough to main event at any promotion in
North America as Juggernaut, Crash Crimson and Honey Dipper Dan put on a
triple-threat match that featured chairs, Crash diving off the top rope to
the floor, and Juggernaut spraying blue mist into Dipper's face. None of
these three men are small, and the ring shook with the impact of their
slams and suplexes. "It's not very often Crash Crimson is the small guy in
the ring" said one ringside fan.
That match wasn't all that POW offered it's fans, as the next match
featured Johnny Handsome locking up with Sabu.
"I wasn't that nervous going into the match," said Handsome. "I've been on
tour with Sabu five or six times so even though I hadn't wrestled him
before I felt comfortable in the ring with him."
At the end of Thursday's 7:00 show Jerry Lynn laid down a challenge to
Carnival Champion Wavell Starr to defend his title. That match occurred on
Friday in one of the best matches of the Exhibition shows thus far.
"I feel really good about the match. I was nervous going into it because I
have never had a chance to work someone the caliber and conditioning of
Jerry Lynn. If there was one thing I was skeptical about it was being able
to keep up with him in that way. But we did the match and I think we
pulled it off ok." Starr had faced Lynn in tag matches the previous two
nights and that allowed him to get a feel for working the former ECW
Champion. "Even though the other times were tag matches it still helped
when it came to the singles match. It's different when you watch a guy on
TV compared to watching him from the ring apron."
A few weeks ago in Standoff Alberta Starr had the opportunity to team with
Ted Hart against Juggernaut and another superstar, Jim "The Anvil"
Niedhart.
"I feel very fortunate at this point in my career to be able to be working
with a lot of veterans. Don Callis told me a few years ago that as a young
wrestler your greatest asset is veteran wrestlers." It hasn't been just the
POW rookies that have been learning this trip. "Whether working a guy like
Lynn or just sitting in a car with Sabu I have my ears open and am
listening and learning from these people. I am very thankful for that
opportunity and hope I get more opportunities to do so in the future."
Day Four Results
4:00
Wavell Starr pinned Van Dutch after a Samoan Drop.
Juggernaut beat Dice Steel
Third time was the charm for Johnny Handsome, finally beating Apocalypse
with the Handsomesault. This time roles were reversed, and Handsome was
the face.
7:00
Dice Steel defeated Van Dutch with a flipping Diamond Cutter off the second
rope. After the match, Wavell Starr & The Natural attacked Dutch until
Steel made the save. He was outnumbered until Handsome made the save,
leading to...
Wavell Starr & The Natural defeated Johnny Handsome & Dice Steel.
Apocalypse beat Honey Dipper Dan with a Shining Wizard kick to the head.
9:00
Crash Crimson won a triple-threat match over Juggernaut & Honey Dipper Dan
when he pinned Dan after a elbow from the top.
Sabu pinned Johnny Handsome when Handsome missed a second rope moonsault,
hit the chair, and was finished off with a second-rope Arabian facebuster.
Wavell Starr defeated Jerry Lynn after hitting him in the face with the
Carnival Championship. Lynn challenged Starr for a rematch on Sunday
night, and the challenge was accepted.
Jason Clevett is finding it hard to be out in the blazing Saskatoon sun
all day, and can't imagine how much harder it is to go out and wrestle in
it. He still is lacking a giant fuzzy snake.
