|
|
"To answer your question, yeah I think kids today have no clue what exactly professional wrestling is all about. Back in my day it used to be all about good versus evil. Pro Wrestling used to be about telling a compelling story. But today? Where are the real workers? Where are all the real role models? Where are the guys who didn't care about multi-million dollar contracts, silly movie roles, and how many hookers they could sleep in the sack with at one time while on the road away from their family? Come on, tell me... If you're here to find anyone who wants to be like that then you've come to the wrong place. I teach my boys disciple. I teach my boys respect. If they didn't learn anything like that at home... ha, ha, hell it looks like I'm about to put their momma's money to good use and teach their boy some manners. Not all my guys may leave here to become the World Wrestling Federation champion. They may never even show their stuff in a WWF or WCW ring. Yet, if they listen to what I teach them, if they learn the value of hard work, and if nothing else, why they should never quit pursuing their dreams they'll come away better men. They'll come away true champions... in LIFE."
Grecco Pro Wrestling School Instructor- Bill Grecco
When I met Bill Grecco I didn't know what exactly to expect. Here he was a man obviously from the "old school" of professional wrestling. Here was a man I grew up idolizing in my native country of Montreal, Quebec Canada. Bill Grecco once known as "The Canadian Crippler" well before Chris Benoit was old enough to put on a diaper let alone a pair of wrestling boots was virtually unknown here in the United States. Yet in Canada... in Japan... in Mexico... fans traveled for miles upon miles just to get a glimpse of this internationally recognized blue collar grappler. Bill Grecco may never have been the most flashy or flamboyant wrestler in his day but pound for pound he was one of the BEST wrestlers in his generation. He knew how to work a crowd. He knew how to sell professional wrestling as something legitimate. That is probably because Bill Grecco is one of the most LEGITIMATE tough men only a small portion of the world had the privilege to see.
When I heard about Bill Grecco finally retiring and opening a pro wrestling school in Navarre Beach Florida I just had to find out what had become of my childhood hero. Now comfortably retired and living off the Floridian gulf coast I had to visit him at his home and sell him on the idea of doing a televised documentary about his new school.
"Just make sure you only have that camera on when I say it is ok to have that camera on! You got me boys?"
Bill Grecco opened the door to his home and quickly ushered myself and the camera crew to his "front office". It was obvious good house keeping was not a top priority for the Grecco household. Pizza boxes, scattered clothing, piles of wrestling tapes, and empty milk cartons littered the living room floor. I brushed away what looked to be a week's worth of trash piled on the coked stained sofa. The camera crew did their best to make themselves comfortable on an out of place looking love seat and a few chairs pulled up in front of the kitchen counter.
"Don't mind the mess. I had company over. That son of a b*tch Dan better learn how to clean after himself if he intends to stay here and work for me. That's the last time I go away on business and let him have the whole house to himself."
I'd tell you who "Dan" was but maybe I should save that for an entirely different documentary.
Today was the big day. Bill had decided it was time to finally open the Grecco Pro Wrestling School to the general public. He had received quite a few phone calls and online applications. The initial turn out for everyone's first day of orientation and training was said to be "phenomenal" from assistant instructor Shawn FX. I could feel the cold air blowing in through the broken window right behind Bill Grecco's desk. I pulled up the zipper on my jacket as our camera crew set up for our first on camera spot. I could hear the crunching of broken glass being stepped on as Bill walked behind his desk and sat down. The look on his face told the whole story. I couldn't help but notice how tense Bill was before our cameras even began filming.
"Damn punk kids. That's the third window I'm going to have to replace this week. Some bored little bastards must think its real cute to vandalize something that doesn't belong to them. Damn dysfunctional delinquents. It's not my fault that parents today don't keep their children on a tight leash. Look at this mess! Hey, that little red light better not mean that your camera is on! Just wait until the boys wake up before you start taping. I'm letting them sleep in as a reward for the great show they put together last night. Hey, didn't you hear me? I said turn that damn thing off!"
"Chill out old timer!"
Shawn FX always knew how to make an entrance. The man characterized as "Mr. Thrill a Minute" unfortunately had his in-ring career cut short due to a back injury suffered during an infamous "Glass Ceiling Hell in the Cell Match" during the NHPW Xtreme Invitational Tournament. Shawn looked in good spirits though. He was looking forward to meeting all the students that had called in to be trained by the unlikely tandem of "traditional values" in Grecco's philosophy teamed with next generation bravado provided by Shawn.
"What are these guys doing here Willy?"
"Settle down Shawn. There are just here to give us a little extra exposure to maybe reel in some decent fishes from across the states rather than all these homeless locals you keep wanting to drag in here before this place is ready. I'm tired of stealing those kids money knowing that they'll never amount to anything."
Shawn pushed a member of our crew to the side to get face to face with his mentor and long time friend Bill Grecco. The tension in the room became very suffocating. Yet you could tell Shawn was creating a scene mainly because we were there.
"Listen. I don't care who walks through these doors. You told me you wanted my help to train some guys for the new and improved NHPW maybe send a kid or two to the fWo or the CWL. Well I hand picked 10 guys Bill. 10 guys! That's plenty to get us started. I'd just like to have a little heads up before you bring in cameras and some guy with an ugly cheap suit to watch the proceedings.
I'll have to admit my suit was pretty cheap looking. I was a bit over dressed for the occasion but who the hell was this guy "Shawn FX" to point out my fashion sense (or lack thereof) ?
"Look Shawn. I'll tell these guys in here to take a hike if that's what you want. I know you don't want this thing to turn out the DDT Documentary did. The cameras don't even really need to be on you. This is for the students Shawn. This is so maybe they can get their 15 minutes of fame and get noticed. You following me Shawn? I'll send them back to Pennsylvania where they came from right now. You just say the word."
Shawn looked at me and our crew for a moment. He then stared at the broken window. He then stared at Bill Grecco. For a few moments, all of us stood there wondering what would come from the lips of Shawn FX.
"I've got some doors to knock on over at the dorms and some asses to kick into gear. Those lazy asses should be up by now. Alright, the camera crew stays. Just keep them out of the way of what we are doing Willy. I can't be responsible if things get broken."
My camera crew and I looked at one another and thought about whether or not this whole thing was a good idea after all. The last thing we wanted was to feel like we were intruders.
"Fair enough, Ed... Keep your TV people away at a safe distance. We've got work to do here."
Bill Grecco watched as Shawn FX walked to the back of the gym heading in the direction of the dorm rooms outside. The camera crew reset their equipment to stay out of harms way for the first week's worth of pro wrestling training we were about to film. Needless to stay, I was already a nervous wreck wondering what would happen while filming this documentary.
Back to Top
