1^st and Goal...

The "Real Deal" by John Rambo, December 13, 2000

Almost four years ago, I took over as the NWL's booker and instructor. NWL president Dick Caricofe crowned me as the NWL heavyweight champion and my first set of goals were established. Today, these goals have been accomplished. On the way to achieving these goals, many "firsts" in professional wrestling were set. Some of these "firsts" were no big deal, while others have proven to take a place in professional wrestling history.

First, let me touch upon the goals we reached as a team. My first goal when returning from the Pacific northwest was to get the NWL fan base back up to what it was in the late 80's and early 90's. My other major goal was to make the NWL's Superior Pro Wrestling Training Center (SPWTC) the best it could possibly be. Both of these goals were achieved with more success than I ever expected. The NWL has fans around the world, who constantly keep an eye on the weekly action we have to offer. Students from as far away as England and Kuwait have traveled to the SPWTC in Hagerstown, MD, to learn how to become professional wrestlers.

With the goals having been accomplished, many unexpected "firsts" in professional wrestling were added to our resume. When I took over as instructor at the SPWTC, I started doing something no other school in the world had done before. Weekly matches for all trainees began in April 1997, and the action has been going on to date. Since then, NWL trainees and wrestlers have had the opportunity to participate in over two hundred and fifty-five weekly events, which have been offered to fans free of charge! I named the newly founded league the "HOUSE of PAIN Wrestling Federation" (HoPWF) and it just took off like a skyrocket! Before we knew it, wrestlers from all over the country were coming to the SPWTC/HOUSE of PAIN just to get in on all the excellent wrestling that has been going on. Many of the top wrestling publications and websites have picked up on following our action and the exposure and recognition can't be beat, while being done on a weekly basis! Today, schools around the globe are trying to duplicate what I began almost four years ago.

The timing of my return to the NWL fell in perfectly with the Internet explosion which has been going on over the last five years. The NWL website has become one of the premiere independent wrestling league websites (thank you, NWL webmasters Cyberslammer Bob and Micki Davey) on the world wide Internet. Sixty-five countries from around the globe, turn in weekly to see what is going on in the NWL/HoPWF and the SPWTC/HOUSE of PAIN. With all this attention being shown to the NWL/HoPWF, I took advantage of the opportunity and started the first ever independent wrestling league weekly newsletter. Closing in on the 80th edition of the NWL WEEKLY Newsletter, you won't find a better informative publication about any independent wrestling promotion in the business. Again, many leagues have also adopted this new practice of supplying fans with newsletters.

Many other "firsts" could be listed, but I don't see them as significantly important as the two I have just mentioned. Instead, I want to take the remaining time to get to the main issue. On Friday, December 29, 2000, the NWL/HoPWF Year End Awards event will be held at the HOUSE of PAIN. With this year ending and the new millennium officially starting on January 1, 2001, I feel the time has come to really set things afire! Now that the NWL/HoPWF's popularity is up higher than it has ever been, I will be officially resigning my NWL heavyweight title and placing it on the winner of the NWL Heavyweight Wrestler of the Year 2000. NWL president Dick Caricofe and I have met and discussed this issue and we have both agreed on who is the most deserving of this honor.

The reason for me making this decision is so that I may concentrate more on the overall NWL/HoPWF product and the NWL's SPWTC/HOUSE of PAIN. The NWL heavyweight title matches are the highlights of all our events. Dick Caricofe signs big name talent for these events and I like to book these stars against the NWL wrestlers who have never had the privilege of working top name stars. I was fortunate enough in my career to wrestle all these big name talents throughout my thirteen years in this business. Now that we have gotten the fan following Dick and I have been after, the time has come to move to the next level of goals I have set for the NWL/HoPWF and the SPWTC/HOUSE of PAIN! I will still continue to wrestle on all the events and I guarantee any match I participate in, will leave the fans talking! This will make it easier for me to wrestle earlier on the cards, so I may attend to business matters when shows are over.

As I sit here after writing this "Real Deal" article, I think back to February 1997, when I took helm of the NWL's SPWTC. I think back at what I wanted to accomplish and I think about the all the hard work I knew it would take from everyone involved. Today, I have a whole new set of goals for us to accomplish and I think about how very possible it all will be! We're first and goal, with a lot more goals and "firsts" to score in 2001 and beyond! Thank you for your time and to the next NWL heavyweight champion, "Congratulations, you've earned it"! Too bad you have to wait over two weeks to find out who you are!

Have a safe and happy holiday season!
NWL Booker/Instructor - HoPWF President John Rambo (Hi, Mom. Happy Holidays!)

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This is the Official NWL: John Rambo's "Real Deal."
All rights are reserved.
All material is copyrighted © 2000
by the National Wrestling League
and the House of Pain Wrestling Federation/HoPWF
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Published December 13, 2000

Since April 20, 1997.