Shuffle It All

It's been awhile. I haven't had anything to say. Or more accurately, I wasn't sure if I should say what I wanted to. In the end, who really cares?

Just over five years ago I had a very difficult decision to make - walk away from the wrestling business which I truly loved or undertake the responsibility of keeping PCW going when it had sunk to it's lowest depths. Those that attempt to re-write history would have you believe they walked away from PCW when it was doing well. Truthfully, the second lowest draw we ever had at the LID (Then Stratosphere), was the last show before the big split in August 2003.

As I contemplated my options, it became clear that the future of PCW rested with my decision. The venue told me quite clearly that they were not interested in indy wrestling if they couldn't trust the promoter, meaning either I stayed or PCW would lose it's regular home, meaning I kept the band together or the boys would be scattered in the wind at a time when there was no other option for regular gigs in Winnipeg, let alone quality gigs in Winnipeg.

The story has been told in detail before but it crossed my mind recently as the fifth anniversary came and went. It was a critical point for the local business. Truth be told, I wanted out more than I wanted in. Only the encouragement of the boys changed my mind, not because they made me want it but because I felt I owed it to them to give it a shot. I stuck it out for the same reason I got involved in the business in 2001 - because I wanted the boys to have a quality place to do what they do, where they would be treated fairly and honestly.

At the time, I had no idea how long PCW would last. I probably didn't think it would still be going strong (and stronger) five years later. I did think in time the market and those involved in the business would come to truly appreciate and respect the existence of PCW and what it meant to indy wrestling in this city. Five years later I often catch myself wondering if it was worth it.

I don't consider myself to be one of the boys nor do I really consider most of the boys to be friends of mine. Some of them, absolutely. Unfortunately, it's a depressing moment to realise that a couple of the guys you thought were your friends turned out not to be so. You can forgive. You can feel sorry. But in the end, you can't change people. Those that are insecure, that crave attention to the detriment of everyone around them will probably always be that way. There comes a point when you have to stop taking them back and giving them the opportunity to disappoint you over and over again.

There is an old expression (which I first heard on an episode of Star Trek when Chekov claimed it to be a Russian proverb), fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.