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.