IWA NEWSThe headlines that shape the IWA.
I always knew there would be a time where this would happen. Here it is....
Effective immediately, I, Patrick Patterson, am retiring from the IWA.
I promised myself long ago that I would never do something with my free time that I did not enjoy. The IWA used to do that. Several months ago, I began to grow tired of the game. Picking strats began to annoy me, and I didn't anticipate the bulletins like I used to. More recently, I cut back to just the DAL, hoping that having more time would respark my interest in the game. But it did not. I stopped making comments, a benchmark for my entire career. And now, last week, the DAL Commish Report seemed to be more of a chore than a labor of love. I dreaded "having" to do it. Rather than waste my time, I tossed the bulletin in a drawer and made the decision.
I came into the game in spring of 1994. I was preparing to graduate high school and had aspirations of becoming a pro wrestler. However, at 160 pounds, my chances were slim to none. I had seen the ads in Pro Wrestlng Illustrated for years, and decided to try the IWA. Seemed like the closest I would ever get to my dream.
I loved it. I first appeared in the Light Weight League with Scott Cobain. The first bulletin after my rookie cycle, I was excited to find that I had taken the Dixie belt! I began to really get into it, and talked my best friend Tom Cote' to try the game as well.
A couple of months later, we formed CGT. It was only the two of us and our five wrestlers, but we were convinced we were going places.
We were right. After 11 months in the game, I made IWA history by scoring the first ever 501 point IWA World Title with Party Animal Fred Rogers. At the same time, Tom nailed the first ever 501 point US belt with Wrathamon. Our time had arrived.
CGT went on to become one of the longest running and most successful stables to ever compete in the IWA. Unlike most other mega-groups, CGT were friends first, managers second. We attracted all types, including established stars such as Mitch Morrissey, The Wizard, Jon and OW Brakefield, Chad Stevens, Johnny T, and more. We also had the pleasure of watching others such as Matthew Wyatt, Marc Londo, and Nate and Austin Pierce shine like we always thought they would.
This was a good year for CGT. We took World, World Tag (twice), World Six Man, Ladies World (twice), Ladies World Tag and Six Man (numerous times), and much more. We gained the respect of even our most bitter enemies, because we did not have to resort to scams and none of us won with 50-100 or more wrestlers. We rested on our own skills, and knew we could win with them.
As it stand right now, not only am I gone, but Tom has apparently called it quits as well. Marc is gone for several months. I hope that CGT will continue, however. I am confident that the remaining members can stick together based on the way we ran the group. I would like to turn the reigns of the group over to Matthew, who has been with us the longest. I'm sure he can keep the CGT spirit alive and well. However, if you all decide to go your separate ways, all I ask is that you pick the right people to associate with, and perhaps keep CGT initials slashed with your others as a constant reminder of what we stood for.
As for the DAL: I'm sorry if anyone feels I have "skipped out" on you after working so hard to build the league into a great one. However, also effective immediately, I am turning the Commish Report over the Daryl Bonilla. Daryl is always active and competitive, and has to be the best pure angle player I have ever seen in the game. He also has insider experience as an announcer for a wrestling promotion in Hawaii, so he knows how to run things as I did: Like the real deal! I am sure that Daryl will do as good of a job as I did, if not better, and I ask that all the DAL's loyal give him a chance.
As for me, my dream was finally realized. I have indeed become a pro wrestler (now at 220 pounds) and am paying my dues as the Hotshot Scott Patric in the NWA Southwest in Texas. I will keep all of the IWA'ers up to date on how my career is going, and if you would like to follow it yourselves, go to www.swawrestling.com and look around.
Me and Melissa are also finally getting married late this March. We have been together through thick and thin for over six years now, and I am proud to preparing to walk that aisle with her.
Well, that's about it... Everyone can feel free to stay in touch with me at cgtpatrick@hotmail.com . I am storing Cobain and Rogers in the IWA Graveyard, just in case I decide to drop back by sometime. It's been an enjoyable 4 1/2 years. Goodbye, IWA, and thanks.