The following is written by long time WrestlingClothesline.com supporter and contributor, Peter Staniforth. If you have any comments, questions, or inquiries regarding his statement, please contact him at Peterstaniforth@aol.com. It saddens me to see that the wrestling business is no different overseas than it is hear. Full of scum and promoters who just want to pass the blame. Peter, I'm behind you 100%! - Brett

' Thanking Old Friends'.

"This is for my readers. All three of you....."

So, there I was, with no plans to write a new column yet. And then I got to thinking about how long I've been doing this, and how I still get such a thrill from it even now. Sure, some days it's hard to find the will to type; but everyone in any walk of life has issues like that. So, I thought that now I virtually have a whole new audience; I'd share how I got started in all this for those who weren't around at the time.

I was just me. I thought it must be the coolest thing in the world to write for a website, particularly one on a subject you literally lived and died on; like professional wrestling is for me. But I had no clue how to get in on this. So what was I going to do? I barely knew the internet really, it was all quite new to me. Unlike now, where I'm as cynical as they come on all things net related; things were different then.

I used to go to the library in town to read the wrestling sites. I had this wonderful habit of managing to at least one time per session, crash the pc through lack of knowledge. I never even dreamed that one day, I'd have a pc and broadband in my own home; to be perfectly honest. That just wasn't going to happen. But then again, I was sure I'd never know anyone in professional wrestling.

As you do, you tend to surf around online and see what you can find. I found, and I'm still not quite sure how I found it or why I clicked on it; the official website of a man who's become a lot more known and respected in recent years as both an author and a wrestler - 'Lightening' Mike Quackenbush. Mike being kind enough to reply to my curious and innocent emails, made me realise that wrestlers WOULD talk to people like me; even ones all the way away in England.

Mike and I still speak today, 5 or so years on; and he's one of the nicest and truly genuine people in this business bar none. I want to thank 'Quacky' for showing enough interest to write me back, because who knows if I'd have carried on if I'd had no reply? If you've seen Mike wrestle, then you know how good he is. He deserves a bigger stage to be seen upon like the WWE for example, for more people to see his talents showcased; but then again he'd only make the 'established' stars look as paint by numbers as they really are.

From a writer perspective, two people have always stood by me with advice, friendship, and have stood up for me like father figures. Arnie 'Kingfish' Katz, and Bill 'Potshot' Kunkel; are two of the most wonderful people that I'll sadly most likely never get to meet. They've helped me professionally, and they've helped me personally. They've been there with love and support through my daughter Victoria's issues, and they've been there when I'm up, down, or sideways. I want to take this chance to thank them both for being marvellous to me, and want them to know I will ALWAYS appreciate them.

Another thing, is that I have the greatest webmaster that money can't buy. www.pswrestling.net wouldn't be here, and it wouldn't be worth visiting without the one man I can't do a thing online without - Jimmie Hughes, of BGWWrestling.com. Jimmie, I love you like family and you're quite simply the man. Whooo!

And then there's wrestlers. I have some wonderful friends now, that I really treasure; like Shaka, Mark Wolf, American Kickboxer, 'Hollywood's Next Big Hit' BJ Fuller, Zack McGuire; and others. Really great guys, who keep me sane and I'd do anything for that I can. But there's one guy, that if he called me up right now that I would swim the length of the pond between England and America for. You know who that is?

Well, his name is Bobby. I could write forever and a day about Bobby Storm, but it wouldn't do him justice. I wouldn't be doing this full STOP if it wasn't for him. Whenever things were bad, I just shouted (very) long distance; and Bobby was there for me. On MSN Messenger, or email; it didn't matter - I may never get to meet him, I may have more famous friends and nearer friends and so on and so forth - but he's the best.

And if I could only persuade him back to this ring.....ah, I wouldn't now. For ages, I wished I could help him catch that dream he was forever chasing. Just as I became in a position to do so, his dream changed and no longer involved professional wrestling. But that's okay. Ol' 'Bob-Dust' (remember that one, Bob?!) is the finest law enforcer you'll find in America today!

Things change, they come and go; but I'm blessed in this business. I thank you all that I've mentioned, and there's plenty more I haven't that I appreciate just as much. In a business misunderstood, and where genuine people go unappreciated; I want this to stand as my way of saying thank you to the people I'm grateful to the most.

Till next time, I'm Peter Staniforth; and I'm still chasing a dream.

Peter Staniforth.
www.pswrestling.net

Peter is a UK based sports and music journalist, for www.pwbts.com, www.kayfabememories.com, www.wrestlingdotcom.com, www.wrestlingclothesline.com, www.bgwwrestling.com, www.prowrestlingdaily.com, www.thesuplex.com, and the exclusive WWE writer and music reviewer for www.ukevents.net.

Peter has written for Bill Apter's "Total Wrestling" magazine, the well respected US based newsletter 'Wrestling Then And Now'; and also has written press releases for the UK's WWE Euro Shop merchandise company. He was also mentioned on the credits of the cult wrestling simulation game by Adam Ryland - EWR 4.0.

Peter works for UCW (www.ucw-wrestling.co.uk) in a Talent Relations capacity, and also various USA based indy promotions. If you are a wrestler either USA or UK based, and looking for more bookings; please contact Peter. This also applies to wrestling promotions in the USA or UK, if you're looking for independent workers; please contact for more details on wrestlers, prices and availability.

Peter has written reviews for many wrestling video tape traders, who come highly recommended by him - including www.simania.co.uk, www.modtrom.com (the official production team for Jersey All Pro Wrestling), www.ruffneckwrestlingvideos.co.uk, www.violentjtapes.com, www.a1wrestlingvideos.com, and many more.

When using any of this information give proper credit to Cactusb and the Wrestling Clothesline at http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com

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