The Rap Sheet of Jeremy Duerksen
8/16/2K4

The views expressed by Crimefighter are solely his own, and do not reflect the views of friends, associates, co-workers, organizations or pretty much all the other six billion people on planet Earth.

I recently conducted an interview with a former NMW trainee.  Well, I got a request to conduct another interview.  I think I will be making this a regular thing so every so many days, depending on who's online and when, I'll be putting out more of these interviews with various wrestlers.  Today's interview is with the NMW CEO and Promoter, Jeremy Duerksen!

CF:  How would Jeremy Duerksen best represent Ogle and Jo Daviess counties in Illinois?

JD:  Ah.... your infamous opening trick question.  I won't fall prey where Phil did not....

CF:  Good answer, you passed the quiz.  Although those were two real counties in N. IL.

JD: Then I suppose it is a good thing that I am a wrestling promoter as opposed to a politician... though the line between them seem to be ever more fading.  

CF:  Mystery guest please introduce yourself to the readers...

JD:  I am Jeremy Duerksen.  CEO and promoter for New Midwest Wrestling.

CF: You also are or were a pretty good wrestler currently in recovery from injury.

JD: Heh.  Thank you.  Yes, I also wrestled for years as many different names, the most popular and withstanding being "Real World" Jeremy.

CF:  Being that I did not find out there was a wrestling group based in Springfield until the point where the warehouse era had just ended...you wrestled under other names?

JD:  For a short time, yes,  when I first started my career.  It is a little known fact that I was one of the founding members of the team "Drive-Thru".  We quickly discovered that I wasn't exactly made for that part and I went through a series of shows emerging as a different gimmick each time.  Most I can't remember...but the name Ash rings a bell...

CF:  You're kidding me, there was more than one Drive Thru?

JD:  Three incarnations, counting the most recent.

CF:  Your last match was against "Trendsetter" Tom Arson back in January...the night you were defeated for the NMW Heavyweight Title...and you took like three piledrivers.  

JD:  I was awake and feeling every bit of the first two...by the time the third came around I was already out...but I saw it later on tape.  I can't explain the feeling of anger that washed over me as I watched my skull bounce off the belt that was just robbed from me...

CF:  Ouch.  So after that match, you had already been favoring a knee that several wrestlers (Guy Smith) seem to have kept going after and reinjuring, and something was messed up in the spine on top of that.  I see you move around pretty good now but how do you assess your condition and possible return to the active roster?

JD:  My knee.  It is truly my Achilles Heel.  It has been exploited for years.  You'd think I'd just learn to move it, wouldn't you.  As far as the problems in my vertebrae, those are all courtesy of Mr. Arson.  While my knee is still awaiting a doctor's care, I think we'll be seeing some major headway in that respect in the near future...

CF:  As for getting revenge on Tom Arson, he also retired recently, citing a build-up of damage to the back over time.

JD:  Of course he did.  He knew I'd come back for him.  He knew, and proved, that he could not beat me fairly.  He knew that my retribution would be terrible.  He removed himself from the situation.

CF:  Although I must admit, he sounded pretty good behind the mike doing color commentary with me.

JD:  I heard the commentary, and am forced to agree.  Arson has no lack of witty comments.

CF:  So after you went on the DL, you took on an active role behind the scenes...you actually became the CEO...how did that come about?

JD:  Actually, I've been on the administration of New Midwest for a long time.  Just recently the previous CEO made the decision to sell the company.  I did what I had to do to buy it.

CF:  Since I'm just one of millions of avid wrestling fans in the world, someone like me doesn't really know what it's like to run a wrestling company, but somehow there's more indy groups in the country than ever before making it appear that anybody can do it, but is it that easy or as difficult a challenge as you imagined?

JD: I could never have imagined how hard this was before I got into it.  As I eluded before, the line between wrestling promoter and politician is very thin.  You are absolutely right about other federations popping up at an alarming rate.  People think it is easy, because if you have the funds, it IS easy to get all of the supplies for a federation you'll ever need.  At the same time, it will also be the most exciting and gratifying thing they've ever done.  Bottom line is that it is NOT easy.  And I would expect that most of them will find that out and sink before long.

CF:  Now you most definitely not had an easy time so far this year, the home of NMW has been the site of much upheaval over the Club 10 parties and neighbors wanting nothing to do with teenagers.  The neighbors got their way getting rid of Club 10, but at this point that also had the effect of all assemblies of any kind being banned from the site, which affects NMW itself.  So currently a new variance covering sporting events is being sought.  Since I don't trust the board myself right now, what % of chances do you believe it has to pass?

JD:  I really don't know what to expect.  The neighbors made it clear that they want the area returned to it's previous bean field state.  I really don't think that they are content with their victory and that their eyes will now turn toward getting us denied as well.  So now it falls into the hands and votes of the county board.  Fraase has proven his worth at politics.  Now we'll see how far his sway carries.  As a businessman, I am hoping for the best and am expecting the worst.  If I were to take a stab at the actual percentage, I'd say 80/20 in favor of shutting us down.  I could be WAY off the mark there, but it seems to be the NMW's luck.

CF:   Boiling Point is the next show to be held at the site in question, this show will happen here on the 28th no matter what the board decides to do?

JD:  That is correct.  We were given blessing from someone high in the process.  We were told that Club 10 was the target and that we would be left in relative peace.  We will see how that pans out.  We will continue to have shows until they tell us that we cannot.

CF:  NMW has gotten an opening to hold a show at the IL State Fair, how did that come about?

JD:  We've been trying to get into the fair for a LONG time.  Finally we got a breakthrough.  We've agreed to do this show to show them what we can do.  Hopefully next year it will pay off!  

CF:  And what will we see during this event?

JD:  Well, the card still needs a bit of tweaking due to some last minute cancellations, but it's shaping up to be one of the best yet.  Scotty Cash is challenging Billy Morgan for his title of course.  Things have been made more interesting with the addition of a Ladder.  If you've ever seen a Cash or Morgan Ladder match, you know that's nothing to miss.  The NMW's resident big men, "Danger" Doug Fraze and "Mississippi Madman" Don Jackson are going to get a chance to tear each other apart.  Madman seems to be the current favorite, but I wouldn't count DDF out.  I think he's got a few things up his sleeve...Khaos Kidd has been running around in a jumpsuit lately trying (and failing) to play the guitar.  In addition LPC is demanding his rematch.  I believe that Devall is seriously considering a Guitar on a Pole match for the Central Illinois Championship.

CF:  Khaos Kidd is gonna break out the Honky Tonk Man personna?

JD:  Yes he is.

CF:  Billy Morgan's manager resorted to pulling Sage Ramsey's own mother out of the crowd with Brad Stephens acting as if he was gonna hit her with a chair...any comments about how Sage lost the title over that?

JD:  Yeah.  Travesty.  You know, I am getting really tired of some of the things these guys resort to to get what they want.  Devall and I have been talking though... I think he has a plan to combat that.  That poor guy has his plate full.... not that full plates and Sage Ramsey have any business being in the same conversation.  Heh.  Just kidding buddy.

CF: I attended the Wrestle-Mart fundraiser event this past weekend, the flyers around the ring had a most interesting picture on them about Boiling Point...rage in the cage...and Guy Smith and Michael Shard are in the graphic.  So is it true these guys will go at it in the cage, and is this the first cage match ever for NMW (counting the theater/warehouse era)?

JD:  Yes, those two have been at each other's throats.  Smith feels that Shard cost him the gold.  Shard hates Smith.  Devall is locking them in a steel cage.  This will be the first REAL Cage match NMW has ever had.

CF:  And Smith supposedly got Shard to leave town back in November, until 4GQ decided to attack him in the crowd despite being a mere ticket-buying spectator during the May show, supposedly voiding loser-leaves-town.

JD:  Exactly.  And don't think Shard took that lightly.  Don't forget that Smith has smacked around the President on more than one occasion.  I don't think Devall was too worried about enforcing that rule...

CF:  With the cage match on the 28th, NMW is up head-to-head against other shows in the neighborhood, has there been enough wrestling fans to go around between the feds around here?

JD:  You know, I really didn't think so about a year ago.  Now, I think, I've changed my perspective on the issue.  Personally I don't like playing that "I won't say their name" game.  3CW presents Springfield with an entirely different style of wrestling than New Midwest does.  They are the ECW to our WWE.  We are more family oriented.  They are hardcore.  And their fans LOVE it.  They don't take any fans away from our show, and we don't seem to be taking fans from theirs.  If we could get through all of the childishness on BOTH sides, we'd be sitting pretty right now.  Tony (The owner of 3CW) [Nemesis] and I are friends.  We are both trying to work things out.  I think that we will get it done and in a fashion that is good for both companies.

CF:  WWE used to have a hardcore title, now they don't and only do the hardcore matches once in a while.  NMW does hardcore matches or variations of every once in a while.  Is hardcore style wrestling a niche thing or can having hardcore matches all the time be sustainable?

JD:  I suppose that would be a matter of opinion.  Personally I don't think that you can have ALL hardcore ALL the time.  There needs to be a wide variety of things to please a variety of people.  However, as I said, it seems to work for others.  More power to them.

CF:  Any other observations of CCCW?  I've only seen their first two shows thus far...

JD:  I'd be lying if I said there wasn't somewhat of a hurt spot where 3CW is concerned.  I've spent a lot of time training a few of those guys.  Invested a lot of my personal time and energy believing in some of them.  And to repay me, they get tired of not being put into shows and run to the competition.  There is nothing more disappointing.  There is no larger slap in the face.  I don't blame Tony or 3CW.  He has a company to run.  I blame those individuals. The ones who go running and tell tales of people trying to hurt them or keep them down.  It's bullXXXX.  And nothing makes me angrier.  If I keep someone out of a show, it's because I do not feel that they are ready.  Because I feel that they are a danger to themselves or to others.  These people aside, I've heard great things about the 3CW shows.  I've heard bad things too.  Don't let it bring you down guys.  You go out there and give 110% and nothing less.  There will ALWAYS be critics.  And there are people who do not want to see us come together constantly fueling the flames.  Rise above it.

CF:  Is there anyone you wish to single out as the ones who have disappointed you the most?

JD:  Sure.  I don't like hiding behind elusions or bullXXXX.  Phil and Larry.  When Adam [Deacon] left the NMW, I was disappointed, but I accepted it.  Adam was a good kid, and a hell of a wrestler.  He made a decision that he felt was best for him.  And he came to us like a man and told us of that decision.  Larry and Phil are two people who I invested a TON of time and belief into.  And they slapped me in the face for it.

CF:  Were their reasons for leaving legitimate or all exaggerated ?

JD:  Completely 100% exaggerated.  I'll take this and separate it by case.  We'll start with Larry [Gavin Alexander].  I worked with Larry for months, and he was showing serious improvement.  I got in the ring with him.  Got down on the mat with him and tried to motivate him to keep going.  To keep pushing himself.  The previous owner spoke with Larry's physician and was told that, if Larry didn't lose a lot of weight, he would hurt himself.  So we lessened the amount of in ring work Larry was doing and increased his Cardio and weightlifting work.  Larry's attendance started falling off.  All of the sudden he is in 3CW.  Now I'm hearing that he's telling people that my trainers were TRYING to hurt him.  AND he included me in the accusation.  Needless to say, I am quite irate at this situation.  Then there is Phil.   I should have picked up on his dishonest pattern.  This is a person who claims to have pulled of a "450 hurricanrana" in a backyard show.  In his own interview with you he claims to have had 19 inch arms.  But I digress....No one thought that Phil would get as far as he did, but he did.  The kid bumped better than half of my students.  But it was only after months that he got it Phil went through some personal problems and quit several times.  Most recently he joined back up.  In a training session, HE was responsible for dumping another student on his head.  And to set the record straight, yes, PHIL was responsible for the injury.  He was told that he could not give moves to people until he put on some upper body strength.  Once again we scaled down his in ring time and stepped up his cardio and weightlifting.  Phil quit soon thereafter citing the importance of him focusing on his schoolwork.  He got a lot of flak from the locker room about quitting.  Flak that was WELL DESERVED.  This was, after all the fourth or so time he'd quit.  But I respected his decision to do so.  School is important.  However, I then read his interview with you in which he says he is leaving to join 3CW.  He lied to me.  He lied to everyone.  Most importantly... he lied to himself.  So good luck in your endeavors Phil.  But I am done with you.

CF:  I know what he claimed was his reasons for leaving...but anyone can read for themselves.  A lot has been said about the incident on Great Northern Road, many people heard bits and pieces, I've heard my fair share of it, you wanted to give your side ?

JD:  Sigh.  The infamous "gang fight".  They seems fond of referencing it, don't they.   Very well.  I'm sure you remember the time when we were running television spots on RAW?

CF:  Yep.

JD:  Well, after a few weeks of our commercials running, 3CW's commercial made it's debut.  The commercial had several shots of moves being given, not the least of which was Adam giving someone a Little Inspiration.  New Midwest fans will notice the use of Guy Smith's finisher.  Now I find it just as ridiculous as the next guy when workers argue over a Spinebuster being THEIRS!!  However, in a business where being innovative and unique is everything, there is some insult to be felt.

CF:  That would have been the second one in the series.

JD:  To throw fuel on the fire, someone under a 3CW alias went on their website and said, and I am paraphrasing as my memory of the details is a bit distilled: "There you have it!  XXXX New Midwest and in that commercial we saw Adam giving a BIG XXXX you to one person in particular."

CF:  I remember what was said but not the exact wording...something about the commercial being awesome and using f-words throughout.

JD:  The next day, Jarin (Guy Smith) decided that he would go to 3CW.  He had felt that they called out the thunder and intended to take it to their door.  The roster felt that if Jarin walked into 3CW, he would be slaughtered.  So they went to support him.  When they got there, BOTH sides jaw jacked and, personally, I'm surprised blows weren't thrown.  It was stupid.  It was childish.  And it was handled wrong.  But no more wrong than the commercial that caused it.  It is only one more example of BOTH sides fueling the flames of this hatred.  It is what Tony and I are trying to throw water on.  I read a lot of comments about how New Midwest is the antagonizer and that it is all one sided, but it absolutely isn't.  I really think that there are people making the situation worse because they LIKE to see us at odds.

CF:  I pretty much stated we'll all have to live with a little bit of fed bashing here and there, which happens a lot with sports teams.

JD:  Recently my webmaster said something about their shows sucking and that is why you write bad rap sheets on them.  Of course the day after people were on the site talking about how childish and unprofessional it was.  But none of them said anything when one of them went on WQLZ's website and answered some criticism with a string of anti-NMW four letter words.  It very much IS two sided and the problem is that a lot of the guys have no idea why the animosity even exists.  That is what Tony and I are trying to fix.

CF:  No one likes a critic it seems.

JD: No, and it seems that any time criticism comes up about one fed, it is not only assumed, but fiercely believed that it comes from the other side.  And 3CW doesn't hold all of the guilt there either.  NMW guys are just as guilty of jumping the blame gun.  I can't change people's opinions.  I can't go into their minds and alter their thought patterns.  But I can make sure that I am doing everything in my power to snub this conflict.  It truly is my dream for these two companies to come together as one.  That may be nothing but a pipe dream, but I hold out hope...

CF:  The NMW School of Wrestling, I had been debating people about what's a good training school and what isn't.  Since I've only watched training at one school, but you have been to more than one, if someone wants to try out to be a wrestler why should they select NMW's?

JD:  That's easy.  We care.  Give give a damn about every person that enters into our locker room.  That is what sets us apart from most other indy wrestling federations, and it is something that workers who have come and been a part of our show with vouch for.  We train hard.  We train safe.  And we are FAR less expensive than 99.9999% of wrestling schools.  

CF:  Anyone in training that should be breaking out soon?  I saw the first appearance in the ring of Eric Ruffington over the weekend.

JD:  There are a few faces in training right now that will soon make a BIG impact in NMW.  Eric Ruffington has some serious potential.  There are a few others who I won't mention by name quite yet, but I'm very excited to see how they break out.

CF:  Breakout stars on the active roster for the rest of 2004 early 2005?

JD:  Mr. Elite.  Alliances and questionable tactics aside, this man has talent.  And I expect him to be doing BIG things by the end of 2005.  El Diablo Silverado.  He has really broken his mold in the past few months.  He is constantly impressive.  And he is proving those who said he never would, dead wrong.  The Freshman.  This kid is just begging for an excuse to impress.  And he's got what it takes to do that...trust me.  In the Tag division, I'd REALLY keep my eye on Marvel and Hardcore.  These two have got it.  Once they get the rookie kinks worked out, My wager is that they'll be unstoppable.  Then you've got your same constant stars.  Michael Shard, "The AlphaMale" Guy Smith, Rip Mystic is back in the mix, the list goes on and on...  Another guy to watch...Don Jackson.  You may not realize it, but RON has really kept him in check.  The rage you see at the shows, is NOTHING compared to what he is capable of.  And I just hope I'm not in his path when it comes out.

CF:  Any words for those who have hung up the boots this year?

JD:  It's truly been a pleasure.  I can never thank you enough for what you've done for the company.  

CF:  Who would you like most to come out of retirement?

JD:  Tom Arson.  No question about it.  I'd love to get my hands around his neck one last time... I owe him three.

CF:  For those reading at home, it may take you 10-15 minutes, but this interview in real time has gone about three hours...so is there anything else you wish to say to close?

JD:  In closing, things are going well.  Despite some reports, our attendance is about par for this time of year.  We are seating around 250 on average.  The crowd has been absolutely fantastic.  We have more bookings than ever.  Business is good.  And it is thanks to the athletes and the fans who support us.  En Em Dubbya, you are all doing amazing.  Where the NMW/3CW "war" is concerned, there have been faults on BOTH sides.  We all need to do everything we can to bury this hatchet.  3 See Dubbya, keep your chins up.  Don't let the XXXX you hear bother you.  And don't always assume it is true.  Most of all, don't let it affect how you feel for what you are doing.  Give your all.  

CF's Note:  Being that I'm not a master interviewer, I did go back to cover some loose ends and inserted them in context.  And of course I edited for strong language and added aka's where needed.