Wrestling-Radio.com Interviews PTW Promoter Peter Staniforth
Ben) : Could you give us an insight into Power Trip Wrestling and yourself?
Peter) : Me, I feel like I’ve been around forever in some shape or form. Even though it’s only been around eight years! I spent many years writing for wrestling websites and newsletters, and even had the honour of writing for no less than Bill Apter. I did a bit of talent relations for promotions, following that. Then, I got to chase my dream of being a manager, and have been doing it for two years now. I love being a heel, but I only do that in other promotions that I still work for now; as at Power Trip Wrestling people know that I’m in charge and with that combined with the fact it’s my hometown and I’m very loud about loving Luton, all I get is cheers and songs!
Power Trip Wrestling has been going since March, though the idea had been in my head for a long time. It turns out you can plan something to the finest minute detail, but the moment it becomes reality then you find out quite literally nothing goes to plan! In March, we had the road that the venue is on closed off from 2pm until 6pm due to a car crash and murder investigation; with doors opening at 7pm – and yet we still managed to pull a crowd of around 200. What a way to start your first show! And anyone who knows me, and PTW; knows that we have some kind of major crisis every show and yet still manage to keep standing and fighting hard for what we believe in!
Ben) : People say that British wrestling has never had the following since the classic 1970s/80’s ‘World of Sport’ wrestling. Would you agree or disagree, and what are your memories of the classic British wrestling?
Peter) : I grew up watching it, and it’s what got me hooked. I was lucky enough to go to events at ‘The Queensway Hall’, in Dunstable (now sadly, an Asda’s supermarket), and also at ‘The Drill Hall’, in Luton (now sadly unused). Both venues had and I guess have, a wonderful tradition; and it’s sad that one is now gone and the other just sits there. There’s so much you can learn from that era, and I myself am intensely proud to call no less than Johnny Kidd and Keith Myatt; good friends of mine. PTW acknowledged Johnny Kidd’s thirty years in wrestling this May, with a presentation on our show that month; and Johnny will be wrestling for us on Saturday October 27th. British wrestling in some respects died, the moment World of Sport left ITV, in my view; and it took a while to get it back on track. There’s still so much wrong with wrestling in the UK, but thankfully there is also still a lot that is right; and a lot that is positive and to be proud of.
Ben) : World Wrestling Entertainment is in the early stages of building a U.K. development territory. What are your thoughts on this for the British wrestling industry?
Peter) : In the past, I would have worried about this; and who would be in charge of it. With RQW involved though, and what with having met Len Davies by accident recently; I have no fears at all that it is all in the best possible hands. Everyone now has that something special to aim for, and know that if they’re showing the right signs on a regular basis; then it WILL be noticed. What you do from there, is up to you; but if your attitude is right then the potential is there for you to make it at a level not previously considered possible or open.
Ben) : What are your current thoughts on the wrestling industry from WWE and TNA to ROH?
Peter) : Assuming the Chris Jericho rumours and gossip are correct, which I’d imagine so; WWE has a real chance to put things right at the moment. I’ve never been a believer in a “one man team”, or one person carrying the entire load; but with how WWE has been in recent times with all the bad publicity and everything else – a motivated Chris Jericho who wants it once more, could literally be it’s saving grace.
TNA is something I personally supported from quite literally, day one. But it’s choice of talent that it signs, and it’s really quite bizarre booking; has driven people who really wanted to see it succeed into just not caring anymore or to wondering just what the hell went wrong. There’s so much good talent there, as well; that is what I believe frustrates a lot of us the most. WWE literally needs competition to keep Vince on his toes, but TNA right now isn’t providing it; no matter how much people want it to. And sadly, they’re doing to themselves. Here’s hoping they realise it before it’s too late, and manage to sort it out.
ROH, is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, you can’t criticise the majority of the wrestling talent that they have. I think, personally, the major downpoint of ROH; is the fans. If you’re not a ‘smart fan’, and you watch ROH for the first time; then you’re bound to either be lost, or have the business exposed to you. If you are clued into how this business works, then you either get very angry at the business being exposed and the wrestlers and booking being literally dictated to by the fans; or you just think that the fans are an annoying bunch of idiots desperate to get themselves noticed no matter what – even at the expense of the talent in the ring. I’ll watch ROH and enjoy parts of it, just like I do anything else and any other wrestling promotion; but I personally do it with the mute button on.
Down in Philly, CZW and PWU sure have it going on. I love the Philadelphia scene, and have since I was a early teenager who was scrambling around tape traders attempting to get footage of ‘Tri State Wrestling Alliance’ and ‘Eastern Championship Wrestling. But I watch literally any wrestling from anywhere, because it’s the only way to keep consistently clued up to what’s going on in the world; and what’s changing and also what is working for others.
Ben) : SCENARIO 1 : WWE and TNA both make you an offer of a multi-year contract (exactly the same), and both promotions are on the verge of another Monday Night War – Who do you choose and why?!
Peter) : Truth be told, I’d probably turn them both down; and try to get something of my own going. I’m an independent creature these days, and wouldn’t take to all of that too well. But to sort of answer your question, it’d be an interesting call. WWE need to get back to how they used to be, and that’s quite a challenge. And TNA are looking to step up and raise to another level, and that’s an entirely different ball game. I’m actually glad it’s not my choice to make!
Ben) : Which current wrestlers intrigue you to watch/buy an event and why?
Peter) : Buy? Buy?! I’m a promoter, we’re all cheap; I’ll get it taped for me! But I’ll always be into watching people like Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair; and people like that. I’ll watch anything, there’s positives you can draw from any show I feel.
Ben) : If wrestling was banned from the world tomorrow what would you be doing?
Peter) : I have a few choices. I’m a pretty decent snooker player, maybe I’d chase that once more. Same goes with playing guitar and writing songs, I could get back into that a bit deeper like I used to be. I’d still be found at Luton Town FC’s ground, watching my boys! And I’d be spending a lot more time with my fiancee’ Chrissie (an amazingly patient woman, who manages to love me no matter how hotheaded I am;and I’m very grateful for that), and my two children Andrew and Victoria. All three mean the entire world to me. My final thing I’d want would be to move down to Cornwall to relax, and just lead a quiet life with no pressure.
Ben) : Your thoughts on the recent drug scandals?
Peter) : It isn’t something I particularly like to talk about. Everyone has an opinion, and all I can say is that I’m fed up with it affecting the business that we love. I see it as people have choices they make, and they make them – for right, or for wrong. It isn’t professional wrestling that causes it in my view, it’s just a part of life that we need to take on head on, improve awareness of; and beat. I’ll say this much though, my friend Christopher Nowinski has this well worked out. A lot of problems wrestlers face, is through the blows to the head and concussions they receive. Because of that, you do not think straight, you do not make the right decisions; and it affects your temper. I had two concussions in a month in November of last year, and it’s affected my life quite dramatically. Chris was there for me, via email, at the time; and I will always be grateful for that. All we can do is hope that the one positive thing that will come from all these scandals and tragic losses to wrestling, is that everyone will pull together and clean up their acts in the wake of it.
Ben) : SCENARIO 2 : You are made a billionaire tomorrow (We can all dream) and you have the chance to build a wrestling promotion to go face to face with WWE . Give us an insight into what it would be like?
Peter) : Money? What’s that?! I think, if you were going to do that; the one certain thing is that you would need the right people on your team. You’d need people who have been around this business quite a long time, but who harbour no ego or desire for their own gratification. Quite simply, team players. Then you’d need someone booking it, who understands wrestling but doesn’t have any urge to be a star themselves; be that someone who’s worked at various non performing levels in wrestling or someone who used to be a wrestler and understands what it takes, but also doesn’t feel the need to be involved in that way anymore. If you could get a good hold of both of those points, you’d stand a reasonably good chance of getting Vince’s attention and becoming some kind of player.
Ben) : You are probably aware Wrestling-Radio.com is aiming to revolutionise certain areas of the “Wrestling Internet Community” as we believe it is very outdated and behind in comparison to most genres of Internet. What would you like to see from the wrestling side of the internet as a promoter and fan?
Peter) : I just wish that wrestling fans on the internet, would look for the positives more. Okay, I’m not going to say that their points aren’t valid; in any subject and in any walk of life – people’s opinions count, and you can get good ideas and pointers from them. But online, and in wrestling, for some reason wrestling fans have become so negative and bitter. What they forget constantly, is that new fans read this and their comments; and will either have the business exposed to them far more than is necessary; or they will be put off of wrestling because of it. If only it could be remembered, that deep down, professional wrestling is meant to be escapism entertainment and viewing – and even, shockingly enough; fun – and if everyone pulled in the right direction together; then the internet could be so much more of a positive for wrestling than it currently is.
QUICK FIRE:
Ben) : Vince McMahon.
Peter) : I sometimes think Vince isn’t the bad guy he likes to portray. I just think he wants that image, so that no-one even considers messing with him.
Ben) : ECW.
Peter) : I miss the old ECW. The proper ECW, back in the early 1990’s. With guys like DC Drake, Larry Winters, and the incredible feeling that a bingo hall in Philadelphia could give you; even on a quite badly recorded quality video tape of a television programme taped from America, that had travelled all the way to England.
Ben) : 1PW.
Peter) : I knew it! My past always comes back to haunt me…. I have nothing but good wishes for Steven despite our past, he gets a tough ride on the internet; and I know he’s doing his best now for wrestling and I really hope it works out this time around for him. I’ll never not acknowledge what we did working together, it was about getting noticed and making an impact; and one thing is for sure – 1PW sure did do that.
Ben) : The future of British wrestling.
Peter) : I daren’t guess. There’s a lot of positives going on for it right now, I don’t imagine it will ever reach the heights that it once had, but if we can keep it ticking over and all work on the same side (which is hopeful, but not impossible); then the main thing will just be British wrestling HAVING a future.
FREE SPEECH :
Ben) : You have free range to close the interview with a shoot on anything you like, be it wrestling or even us.
Peter) : Someone’s feeling brave! Luckily, you catch me at a point in my life where I’m far more interested in promoting Power Trip Wrestling, and dealing with the positive things; rather than criticising those who I feel have let me down in the past (they know who they are). This kind of thing can be found in every business, in every walk of life; and it’s not worth acknowledging. All I want to say, is that deep down, I feel blessed to be in this business and I appreciate every day in it. I may be a bit too loud, a bit too honest and to the point about how I feel; but that’s how I am. Wrestling, and life, is a constant learning curve; and all you can be is true to yourself and your beliefs. That, and I’d like to thank any of you who have read this far because you’re clearly a very patient person! Final cheap plug, my promotion Power Trip Wrestling have a show on Saturday 27th October, in Luton; and you can order tickets on 07856 164285, and they are priced at Adults £8, Children/OAP’s/Students £5, Family of four £20.
