BOGUS WRESTLING SCHOOLS AND CON MEN; TYGER SMITH, SHAWN COOPER AND RIK MATRIX, AKA MATT HENRIE

I want to say right off the bat, I don't know everything. I'm sure there are better trainers than me out there somewhere who know a lot more holds and possibly better storytelling. 

I won't post my resume, this being the Internet age you can look up what I've done in this business as far as my career, where and who I trained or helped train, if you care to. Best way to find out is ask.  I was the first trainer/coach for WWE's developmental system from 1996-2004.  I was released and returned in 2007. I was released again in May 2012.  The only constant in this business is change so being the head coach of any sport or organization is going to put you in the line of fire when any new administration or owner takes over.  I am still confident I am qualified and know what I'm talking about as far as coaching and training someone to work in professional wrestling /sports entertainment.

My stats and reputation, as well as the list of people who trained with me speak for itself.  I can be outspoken and opinionated.  That didn't always sit well with some.  I am passionate about what I do. I'm not perfect by a long shot.  I think I've been fair and tried to not only teach, coach and mentor people who trained with me but I believe I did my best to help them if they were going through a rough time, be it mentally or physically worn down.

Of course I know not everyone will see it that way.  Everyone has an opinion and I know not everyone will agree or see things my way. This business and the approach to professional wrestling really comes down to someones opinion anyway.

And no doubt, I'm about to offend and upset some people in this column!

I did a camp this weekend (Aug. 10-12) in Mt. Carmel, Tn and Waynesville, NC.  I came in for Southern States Wrestling (SSW) run by Beau James.  I've know Beau since he was a teenager from my days working for Continental Wrestling in Alabama.  He's done everything in the business from street teams (putting up posters and fliers), setting up the ring, referee, wrestle, promote and run shows.

You can check out Beau Jame's SSW TV Saturdays at 4 PM on Tri Cities CW 4, Online, youtube.com/kingofkingsportblip.tv/sswpowerhalfhour.

Beau became good friends and is considered family by a lot of the old school guys like Handsome Jimmy "The Boogie-Woogie Man" Valiant (and many others) due to his respect and love for the business.  Beau has a Crusher Jerry Blackwell physique and was born about 20 years too late. By that I mean Beau never had ambitions of going to WWE or anywhere other than the southern territories like Memphis.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  The Memphis territory was a stop for basically every major name in the business as it was a place to learn and develop. 

You had better love the wrestling business if you were booked in Memphis because you sure weren't going to make a lot of money!  But  if you could survive in Memphis, you could pretty much survive anywhere!  Beau came to know and become friends with a lot of people in the business and earned respect by giving respect.

I've told people for years to shake hands with everyone as they walk in the dressing room or building.  Treat everyone, from the guy (or gal) that sweeps the place, the office staff, TV people and camera crew, all the way up to the owner, with the same respect you want to be treated with.  It's not only common courtesy, but you don't know who knows who or who might be related to the person who makes the decisions or signs your check!  Give respect, earn respect and you will get respect!

Doing a camp for independent wrestlers  is always interesting and challenging.  I've done a lot of camps over the years and have come across novice, mid level and potential star quality workers. I hadn't done one in a while, so I was really interested and anticipating the ability level I would see.  We had 17 total with 9 coming from the northeast.  I believe 2 came  from Canada and the rest made two vans full from Rochester, NY.  That's a LONG drive to Mt. Carmel on Friday to do a live event and then drive another 80 miles to Waynesville to begin a camp with registration at 8:30 AM.
As I do with all my camps, I start out with the introductions and explain what we will be covering the next couple days.  This particular camp had the caveat that if you came to the Friday show in Mt Carmel, Beau would put you on the card to work a match with one of his (SSW) guys for his TV show.  So everyone worked the card Friday and drove to Waynesville that night.

Bright and early Saturday morning, after I do my introductions, I critique the rest of the matches from Friday.  I'd talked to some already so I just had a few to follow up on.  I went over and explained what was expected and how we would go over some basic drills and moves.  Depending how that went, we would progress to the next step. 

A basic lock up and footwork are two of the most important of fundamentals that any competent coach or trainer should know and teach.  Balance. Without it, you have nothing!

There are certain "rules" to follow in the ring.  If you've ever attended a credible school with a credible trainer, you understand what those "rules" are.  One is if you apply a headlock, your feet are like they are on a railroad track, approximately shoulder width apart, knees bent where you have balance.  Your opponent's feet are facing you. You should be in a "T" formation.  It's easier to show than type.

Time after time, these guys were grabbing headlocks and the man applying the hold would turn toward his opponent, with his feet FACING him so that they are facing each other!  What??  OK, I understand being green and not knowing.  Even if you've been training 3 years, that probably means you haven't had a lot of matches.  So I just kept making the same corrections over and over.  Until...

Someone asked "How is the correct way to stand in a headlock?  Because we were taught to 'mirror' your opponent."  What?  Explain what that means.  "We were taught to grab a headlock and then face him with our feet facing his."

Would anyone care to show me how that works?  And then show me how you shoot your opponent to the ropes in that position.  They showed me what they were taught and it made NO sense, any way you sliced it that it can work the way they were shown.

I went ballistic!  I wanted to know then and there WHO taught and showed them that?  Nobody wanted to say anything.  I understood why later.  But eventually, someone said, TIGER SMITH and SHAWN COOPER.  And guys, I'm sure this is the most publicity you ever got or ever will get.  If not, show me and prove me wrong! If you or your so called "Head Trainer" didn't show them this way, get in touch with me and explain what you do when you train at your "school."

Well, we had various degrees of experience levels from one year all the way up to a guy who said he had been doing this for 18 years and was just wanting  a shot, just one break and.....wait a minute.  18 years and you never had an opportunity, sent in a DVD, made a phone call?  Who trained you??  "Al Snow trained me 18 years ago." Oh no, wrong thing to say to me... I just happened to know Al Snow.

I watched this so called "18 year veteran" trained by Al Snow go out and stink the joint out on Friday night against a talented cruiser weight named Kyle Matthews.  This "vet" was 6'3" 275 lbs.  I would think he would know how to tell a story and have a credible match with a smaller guy.  What does he do within the first 3 minutes of the match?? He POWER BOMBS a 175 lb kid and covers him for a 2 count!  Kyle kicked out!!!  Then this "vet" continues to do big moves that make no sense, out wrestles his smaller opponent with no rhyme or reason and gets beat with a school boy! 

Saturday morning as I gave my thoughts on the match, he sat there like he wanted to cry.  I explained how Kyle kicking out of all these big moves and him out wrestling a smaller guy made NO sense.  I gave him a scenario I thought would have worked better he just shook his head but didn't say a word.  If someone tells me they have "18 years experience" and drops Al Snows' name, I'm going to watch very close what they do and how they handle themselves.  It didn't take me long to figure out something wasn't quite right here. 

Saturday after practice, this 18 year veteran, trained by Al Snow wants to talk to me.  His wrestling name is RIK MATRIX, real name MATT HENRIE.  I ask all the usual questions of most guys that say they've been around for a while; "Why haven't you tried to get with one of the major companies?"  Come to find out, he did jobs for WCW, try out for TNA in 2007, hurt his knee and had to have surgery.  They liked what they saw but there just wasn't a spot right now for him, yada, yada, yada.  Well, did you ever follow up with a phone call?  "No."  Why?  "I don't know, I guess I'm just bad about that."  That's not the ONLY thing you're bad about, kid!

Well, Saturday night Beau put RIK MATRIX in the main event against a guy more his size to see if he can tell a better story or have a better match.  I don't know how much worse it could get but it was pretty bad.  No rhyme or reason. No story. Here's this big, bad "18 year veteran" who had no idea how to get from point A to point C.  CLUELESS!  Now I have a pretty good idea why he never got called back or made any calls.

Sunday was the last day and everyone worked hard the day before in a hot building.  Last day of practice with an afternoon show and Mr. 18 year vet, RIK MATRIX is hurt.  He hurt his sternum from the day before and wasn't feeling good.  Come to find out, he was laughing and drinking with everybody Saturday night in a room and nothing seemed wrong then! 

I ran a drill and we finished up an hour before bell time.  The entire card was made up of the guys from the camp.  Both night the houses were horrible.  But it was a great experience for these guys to say they worked in front of 6 then 11 people.  That sucks but it should inspire you to want to get out and work in front of 6,000 and 11,000 people. 

But the 18 year vet, RIK MATRIX sat by me during the show trying to see my critiques.  I was going to review the matches after the show anyway so I didn't care.

After the show I went to the back and thanked everyone for coming down and working hard.  I was brutally honest with everyone, ESPECIALLY Mr. "18 year veteran" RIK MATRIX.

I told Rik he had no clue and couldn't have a match with a small or big man.  I said in front of everyone that he needed just as much if not more training than anyone here!  I gave everyone my thoughts and critique and expressed how pissed and disgusted I am by people who run "Rasslin' schools" and rip people off.  I told the Rochester crew that TIGER SMITH and SHAWN COOPER don't know SHIT if that's what they taught them.  I told them to deliver that message from me to them. 

Well, I'm delivering the message myself.  SHAWN COOPER and TIGER SMITH, I'm CALLING YOU OUT, BOYS. What are your credentials?  Who trained you?  Where have you ever worked and made a living in professional wrestling besides conning people, young kids and single parents with 3 kids to feed, out of their money when you don't know a wrist watch from a wrist lock??? What have you EVER done, where have you EVER BEEN and  who the F**K do you think you are???

Oh yeah, and this is the kicker.  This is the icing on the cake.  RIK MATRIX, AKA MATT HENRIE, THE "18 YEAR, I WAS TRAINED BY AL SNOW VET" IS SUPPOSEDLY THE TRAINER FOR THESE TWO JACK OFFS!!!!

There are so many con men and thieves out there everywhere that can buy a ring, say they got a "try out" with WWE in the afternoon before the show or did a TNA "gut check" and buy a ring and start "training" people!  YOU ARE PATHETIC!

Don't think for a minute I'm not going to tell Al Snow about my experience with you MATT HENRIE.  I heard you invoke Brodie Lee and Colin Delaney's name as people who came from your "school."  I know Delaney had a brief run in WWE but don't know him personally.  I know Brodie Lee.  And after you showed him how to bump he was smart to your shit and got as far away from you as he could! Yes, I did check with Brodie and he did re-enforce that you all are con men and belong nowhere near the wrestling business! YOUR NAME IS MUD! 

If I were you, RIK MATRIX AKA MATT HENRIE, TIGER SMITH AND SHAWN COOPER,
I WOULD QUIT NOW!!! I can't stand people taking advantage of someone coming off the street chasing a dream being taken advantage of and being lied to and taught by people who don't know what they're doing, have never done anything in this business and never will!

And it's not just in the northeast!  It's all over the country. 

Some advice:  If you are planning to go to a wrestling school, check them out.  I mean REALLY check them out.  Who are their trainers and coaches.  What are their backgrounds.  Who trained them.  Do they have contacts with anybody that could help you get booked somewhere and help you accomplish your dream?  Maybe it's a pipe dream.  Only you can make that call.  This isn't for everybody.  But you don't want someone telling you how "great you are" just so you keep coming back paying your hard earned cash just so they can pay THEIR bills!

They majority of wrestling schools out there are bogus rip offs.  If you hear something that sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.  If someone tells you they can make you a TV star in one or two weeks, RUN!!

Running a wrestling school is a hard job.  You have to rent a building, keep the electricity on, pay rent, upkeep and never ending problems from somewhere.  How can anybody keep it up without having students come in?  They can't so they have to resort to telling everybody how great they are and dangle the carrot as long as they can until that person smartens up and leaves.  Some have potential and will find a way to make it happen.  Others are living on a hope and a prayer.

When asked about credible and REAL wrestling schools in the country, there's slim pickins'.  My opinion is there are very few.  OVW in Louisville Kentucky and FCW in Tampa, Florida. There are no guarantees in either place but at least you will be in a place visited by WWE and TNA officials.  If you have something they're looking for, the trainers there will let them know.  They ARE connected.  Lance Storm in Calgary has a good school from all reports I've heard.  Kevin Knight used to have a great school in New Jersey that many WWE and former WWE talent visited and a few talent was signed from there due to Kevin's professional demeanor and he reached out for help and advice on how to do things the right way.  Darren Young is a product of the now defunct IWF as is a young Dante Dash, now training in FCW.

Harley Race still runs a school located in Eldon, Missouri.  It's in a small, sleepy town and you would have to find a job to live and support your wrestling habit.  But Harley is respected by the wrestling community and major companies keep an eye on his talent because if Harley says they're ready, chances are they're ready!

Pat Buck is now running PWS in Rahway, NJ and can be found at www.bedofnailz.com/school.html.  Pat trained with us at FCW and comes highly recommended and has a healthy respect for the business.  He is in the northeast and you can get more information by going to the website.  Google Pat Buck and find out what he's done in this business and the connections he's made.

I'm sure there are some more legit schools out there that are doing their best and aren't complete rip offs.  But before you give your money to anyone, find out what they've done, where they've been and what connections they have.  Also know and understand what your goal is.  Be realistic and know the odds of becoming a Superstar are not in your favor!

This weekend was an eye opener for me.  What prompted me to write this was when one of the guys who worked hard came to me on Sunday after everything was over and said "I'm going to have to give this up.  I have 3 kids and I can't travel right now.  That sonovabitch (MATRIX) has been taking my money and I haven't learned shit.  This weekend was an eye opener." 

I wondered why MATRIX left pretty quick after my post show meeting.  He was exposed like a cockroach when the light comes on and he ran like a coward.  He wouldn't train the last day because I called him out and critiqued him in front of the people he trained.  Now he looked like the goof and idiot he really is.  A con man.  The worst kind.  He cried when he was told he did something wrong instead of manning up and trying to learn, he quit.  Good.

If I were you, I'd pack up shop and stop now.  I will do everything in my power to expose all 3 of you phonies and con men for what you are.  You are the scum that somehow infiltrated the business I love and have been in most of my life.  You give this business a bad name by just trying to attach yourself to it.  I talked to other people you claim came from your school before I wrote this and I heard the same thing from every one of them: "Please expose those low life's for what they are!  They have given the Rochester wrestling area a BAD name!"

If you see or hear of any of these people RIK MATRIX AKA MATT HENRIE, TIGER SMITH OR SHAWN COOPER, DO NOT SUPPORT THEM!  THEY ARE SCUM CON MEN THAT SHOULD BE RODE OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL!  They make me sick!

Any questions or comments, PLEASE email me at bookdrtom@aol.com.

Thanks for reading.