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Jeff James
VIP Member
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 11:37 am |
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This is an article I wrote for http://www.owie.ca about my first wrestling tour of the Northern Ontario Indian Reserves back in November of 2007
A Tale From The CWF Northern Tour
MY NORTHERN TOUR
By Canadian Badass
Recently I had the chance to tour Northern Ontario with the CWF as a ref.
This was my first time reffing anything more than a training match, At first I was looking for any excuse not to go as I was very nervous about getting in the ring and working infront of a couple hundred people, Yes thats right 'a couple hundred'.
My good friend Kwan Chang assured me he would be there all the way to help guide me and the tour was set.
The first day we rented a car and headed off to the great white north.... umm well after I got lost in of all places Toronto (again) we got on the right highway and continued our little adventure. On the way to the first motel stop we were pretty much out of gas in WAWA Ontario at about 1a.m. I pulled into a gas station that was CLOSED and informed Kwan we would have no choise but to crash in the car for the night and wait for the station to open in the morning. After about 10 minutes of that Kwan remembered he has CAA and gave them a call. After 15 minutes of explaining where we were and that we were out of gas, CAA said they would send someone out right away. 10 minutes later CAA called back to inform us we were about 200 meters away from a self serve gas pump that takes a credit card.
Back on the road we finally hit our first motel room of the tour. It was about 4a.m. and I am happy to say I only fell asleep driving about 3 times. we settled down in the motel room and got some sleep. When the front desk calls our room at 9a.m. to inform us the SUITE they gave us was the wrong room.
we move down the hall to the right room that one of the workers from Winnipeg was already in. Settled in the new room we introduce ourselves to our new room mate for the tour, Phoenix Dreamwalker. At the first show when we were warming up, Phoenix informed me he hasn,t been in a ring for 3 years, You sure wouldnt know it, this guy can fly with the best of them
Later in the morning I met the promoter, Ernie Todd. I was greeted with a smile and a handshake follow by the comment 'You are kind of big for a ref' and a laugh.
Also that morning we met the rest of the tour workers, Big Jess - a big native kid who actually works like a big man and doesnt try to be a high flyer, I was very impressed with this kid as I was with the rest of the crew. Bobby Sharpe - A young fellow from alberta. this guy is jacked for a youngin, he looks the part of a wrestler and I couldnt wait to see him in action. Scott the Body Puddy, another young worker with a good build and a good look, a bit smalled but in good shape. Kamikazi, also from Alberta who wrestles under a mask, once again, a good build and looks the part.
We show up at the venue for our first show and get the ring set up, We go get dressed for the show and that is when the nerves start. Felt like puking on more then one occassion.
First match is under way and all goes well, I didnt trip over my own feet and did a good job of staying out of the way. Second match the same only problem is I was already blown up. Third match went off with out a hitch and we are now into intermission.
During intermission all the wrestlers were out doing pics and selling their gimmicks, I was just floating around talking to fans and the other workers, Even had a few fans want their pic taken with me, I totally popped for that.
Intermission is over and it is on to the main event, 6 man tag action and I am soooo blown up I just want to go back to the motel and sleep, Surprizingly the match is over and I was still on my feet feeling pretty good about myself that I didnt screw up.
We get back to the room and all the guys had great things to say about my reffing, everyone has happy with the show and off to bed everyone went.
The next morning we pack up and head to a new motel in a new town. we have a day inbetween shows so we just chill and get to know eachother, I let my laptop float around the room so my room mates can check emails or whatever.
On to the next venue, Samething, set up the ring and get ready for the show.
The guys in the back must be getting some confidence in me as they work out a spot for me in the first match, the wrestlers would have a pose down, with the bad guy getting boo'd then they ask me to pose, and I dont mind saying I got a pretty big pop from the crowd, That made my whole tour for me!!!
Same format we go to intermission for gimmick sales, as I walked around I had many fans asking me for my autograph and ask me about 8X10's that I didnt have, You have no idea how great I was feeling and how much I really enjoyed this tour.
During the 6 man main event as I was getting 2 of the 'good' guys out of the ring they desided to rib me by rubbing my head and doing the 3 Stooges ' wo wo wo' I made it through the match without laughing my ass off and got back to the locker room and thanked all the guys for what they have done for a mark like me, it so rocked I cant put into words what it felt like.
Next day it was off to a new motel in another new city, but do to a mix up in the paper work the show was cancelled, At this point it was time for the 28 hour drive home, Kwan and I said our good byes to the crew and we took a group pic and headed out, This time we were 40kms north of Souix Saint Marie when we ran out of gas, legit. Again Kwan called CAA and I used this as a chance to get some sleep. An hour later Kwan woke me and it was time to go, The rest of the trip home was uneventful. Kwan and I just talked wrestling and listened to some tunes and yet again I fell asleep a couple times behind the wheel but We survived.
Thank you Ernie Todd, Kwan Chang and all the guys at CWF
Attachment: cwf tour.jpg (Downloaded 10 times) Last edited on Fri May 2nd, 2008 11:45 am by Jeff James
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horseshoe
VIP Member
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 12:17 pm |
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hey great tale there Jeff....cant wait fer da fish stories ... even had look around ya website ,,,thanks for sharing just a bit werried now tho Jeff ...that article and web sites could throw Dok dok offa that hockey stuff....hahahahaha
Horseshoe
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Jeff James
VIP Member
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 12:25 pm |
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Horseshoe, first off, I used to date a newfie lady so I understand you perfectly 
That is not my site, it is a friends, we do our best to promote all Ontario Indy wrestling , as not many people KNOW we actually have some of the best wrestling ANYWHERE, for the most part, even better than that crap on Monday night TV 
AND we get a lot of the old legends come to ontario. Reconize the guy in the pic below?
Attachment: me barbarian.jpg (Downloaded 10 times)
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dokdok
Moderator
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 12:50 pm |
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Your Northern Tour story was a great read! Glad you overcome your stage fright. Not many people can say they actually lived out their dreams and aspirations. Nice team pic ...those are some bad a#s characters right there! Thanks for sharin' ~dokdok
PS. You still "Nod and Drive"? Keep it safe brother!!
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Jeff James
VIP Member
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 12:53 pm |
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HA! Only when I drive more than an hour!! Went to Ottawa last fall driving the wifes CRV.. fell a sleep once and she punched me in the ribs!!! that woke me up in a hurry
..... She drove the rest of the way
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dokdok
Moderator
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 01:01 pm |
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| Here's a tip . . . Do what all us Canadians do "Large Double, Double" Please! hahaha ~dokdok
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Jeff James
VIP Member
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 01:05 pm |
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I can drink 3 extra large double double's before bed and have no problems falling a asleep
A list of my favorite things in life
1) my wife
2) fishing
3) wrestling
4) TIM HORTONS!!!
5) Sleep!
6) My computer
7) my XBOX!!
8) Old Mopar hotrods
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dokdok
Moderator
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 01:11 pm |
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horseshoe wrote: hey great tale there Jeff....cant wait fer da fish stories ... even had look around ya website ,,,thanks for sharing just a bit werried now tho Jeff ...that article and web sites could throw Dok dok offa that hockey stuff....hahahahaha
Horseshoe
Hey Horseshoe, I gotta be honest . . .This time of year (waiting to wet my line), "Hockey night in Canada" is my main squeeze!! Now what did ya think about those Redwings last night? Were they awesome or what!!
PS. New fish stories to follow!  ~dokdok
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dokdok
Moderator
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 01:22 pm |
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Hey Jeff,
re: A list of my favorite things in life
My list is pretty much the same as yours with the exception of number 1 and number 8. I merge these together, She's an old hot rod (braud) alright! 
Last edited on Fri May 2nd, 2008 01:24 pm by dokdok
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