The Sweeter Smell
of Success...
"Real Deal" by John Rambo, NWL Booker/Instructor - HoPWF president
Am I too old to make a start at professional wrestling or am I too old to become
successful? This is a question I was asked recently by a fan interested in becoming a
professional wrestler. The author of the e mail was a 31 year old male and had a burning
desire to give pro wrestling a shot. Is there a lot of money to be made? What's my chances
of getting with the WWF or WCW? What about this? What about that? All these questions, how
do I begin to tell this guy the truth? Actually, I get many questions like this one. This
Real Deal is intended to answer some of these questions pertaining to having a successful
professional wrestling career.
One of the biggest questions I get is, "Why don't you wrestle for the WWF or WCW?
You're good enough and you could be making a million dollars." This question alone
will take some explaining, but I am sure you'll appreciate it when I am through (Keep in
mind that I have had offers for tryouts thrown my way since 1990). To understand my
philosophies on this, you would have to really know me as a person (I would need to write
a "Real Deal" novel to explain all that). The first reason is my personal
commitment to NWL Dick Caricofe and his late son Neil Superior. I got my biggest breaks in
the NWL because of Mr. Caricofe and Neil. I believe this is my destiny to take the NWL as
high as it can go. This is my number one goal. The other reason is that I was very
fortunate throughout my life getting all the materialistic possessions I ever wanted. Nice
homes, nice cars, nice clothes, good food, great fun, etc. The big fancy things in life
have to real meaning to me anymore. As a child I always dreamed of owning it all! Now, I
don't want it at all. I have found a much richer reward in teaching and helping others
chase their dreams.
I don't need to sign a million dollar contract to be content with my professional
wrestling career. I do not need a million dollars to let me know I succeeded at what I set
out to do. I don't need a million fans watching on TV, every match I wrestle, to know I am
as good a professional wrestler as any TV superstar. I don't need a million kids busting
their parents chops to go to the store and buy them a $25.00 to $30.00 T-shirt with some
Big 2 logo and my picture on it, to tell me I am a success. Fame and fortune doesn't
constitute being a success. Keeping up with the "Wealthy Jones" really doesn't
interested me. How many people have gotten to where they are because of who they are, or
because of what they did? Too many! So what is a success? Let me quote the great words of
Ralph Waldo Emerson;
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection
of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of
false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit
better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know
even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
I was a US Government employee making great money when I decided to quit my high paying
job to become a professional wrestler at 26 years of age. I learned that money and
personal possessions don't last as long as your character and morals. In a nutshell, I
have preferred a "simple" life as compared to a "superstar's" life.
The desire for fame and fortune hasn't sunk it's greedy teeth into me. I got a big taste
of popularity through wrestling on TV with Portland Wrestling back when the PNW was as hot
as the ECW is today. There are actually some of us wrestlers that are as good as anyone
you'll see on TV, that don't have the desire to play the "political ass kissing
game" which is often needed to become a TV superstar. I have not ever in 11 years
time, taken the time to market myself to the WWF or WCW. Not once have I ever sent the WWF
or WCW a letter requesting a try out, nor have I ever sent them a promotional video tape
of myself. If any of you have seen me wrestle against TV superstars, you know I am just as
talented and gifted as any of them. There is no question in anyone's mind that knows me
that I am "TV superstar" material. Would I go to the WWF or WCW if offered a
definite deal? Probably if the deal was respectable, but I could guarantee almost
everything I would make would go to family and charity. I don't need much. Give me the 2
C's, "a Cot and a Crapper, and I am a happy camper!" Well, that and my work here
at the NWL and HoPWF.
The only true conflict this creates for me is that I have the instinctual urge to want to
"give back" to my parents after all the years of giving they provided to me. So
many people become successful financially and buy nice homes and cars for their parents
and other family members. Sometimes I feel like I haven't succeeded because I haven't been
able to do this, but then I think, "look at what I have gone out and done in this
professional wrestling industry in just 11 years time on my very own." I knew no one
in this business! NO family member of mine ever had any dealings with pro wrestling and no
one in my family was ever a major TV pro wrestling superstar! I didn't have close friends
or associates in this business when I started! I was a "not so wrestling smart"
pro wrestling mark. At 26 years old I went from watching pro wrestling on TV (and
fantasizing about becoming a wrestler) to what I am today...one of the top bookers and one
of the finest innovators in this business! I did this all through very hard work,
dedication, and determination. The success I have become, due to my upbringing, is the
only gift I have to offer. In my eyes, this is more than any materialist gift I can offer.
It was due to my upbringing that I have been able to accomplish everything I have in life.
I know my family can stand proud of what I have become because of them. That's a gift to
be cherished.
Can someone get into pro wrestling at a late age and still make big bucks? Yes, of course.
Can someone get into pro wrestling at a late age and still become a WWF or WCW superstar?
Yes, of course. But remember, you will still have the opportunity to wrestle each week
against TV superstar talent if your dreams don't pan out exactly as you would like them
to. You will have the opportunity to fulfill many of your actual pro wrestling dreams.
You'll be able to take your family to actual pro wrestling shows and have great memories
to share with them. You can always touch some youngster's life simply by taking the time
to sign an autograph and answer some of their questions. You don't need to be a TV
superstar wrestler to touch a kid's heart! Success isn't a paycheck you bring home or the
amount of fans you have watching on TV then going out and buying your merchandise.
Here's a quick, true story to show you what I mean by real success. When I was about 8
years old I would go to my grandfather's house on the weekends. My grandfather loved
professional wrestling. Being an immigrant that came from behind the Communist "Iron
Curtain," my grandfather hated Ivan Koloff. He would sit on the edge of his Lazyboy
recliner cursing and swearing every time Koloff did something dirty. My grandfather hated
Ivan Koloff and I would sit there, at 8 years old, and think how proud my grandfather
would be of me if I could knock the snot out of someone like this Russian cheater. In
1989, in Keyser, WV twenty years later, I defeated Ivan Koloff for the first ever NWL
heavyweight title.
Your profession is what you do. If you feel you were put on earth to become a pro
wrestler, don't worry about your size, age or how much money you will make. Don't worry
about if you will get to the WWF or WCW. Attack your profession with such passion and such
intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling. When you have given your profession 100%
and you are truly happy with what you do, then you have succeeded. If you want quick
fame...chase after it and be ready to kiss ass. If you want quick fortune...chase after it
and be ready to kiss ass. If you want that sweeter smell of success...chase after it and
earn it!
PS. Have a safe and Happy Labor Day weekend...make a success out of it!!!
John Rambo,
NWL Booker/Instructor, HoPWF President LLC, NWL Heavyweight Champion
www.NWLwrestling.com
NWL John Rambo Profile
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This is the Official NWL: John Rambo' "Real Deal." All rights are reserved.
All material is copyrighted © 1999 by the National Wrestling League
and the House of Pain Wrestling Federation. HoPWF
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Published September 4, 1999