One on One with Chris Damm

ONE ON ONE 

Never let be said that Chris Damm lets grass grown beneath my feet. As promised this is my One on One interview with Michael Devine over the phone. A little information about Michael Devine. For the sake of full disclosure I have known Michael Devine for over ten years first encountering him when he wrestled in Hemingway, South Carolina for a promotion called ECPW where he was both a heavyweight champion and tag team champion. Trained in Columbia SC by Johnny Z, Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young he has done just about everything there is to do in professional wrestling; from manager to referee; General Manager to wrestler, he was worn more hats in professional wrestling than I personally know. He is currently a member of Pain and Agony with Ali Steele and Big Bad Bully as well as the current Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and the first and former Power Pro Wrestling General Manager. Not one for keeping his opinions to himself and telling it like it is (Hmmmm...just like yours truly) when I contacted him about an interview to discuss the return of Power Pro Wrestling he was more than ready to talk about it. So here is the interview. Oh...Opinions expressed in this interview are those of the person being interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and opinions of the interviewer or Wrestling Reporters. (Okay Trip I did your damn disclaimer...Jesus)

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Chris Damm: Michael Devine it is a pleasure to speak to you and I want to thank you for this interview.

Michael Devine: Not a problem, what's on your mind.

CD: Power Pro Wrestling. In June of 2011 Power Pro Wrestling suspended regular operations. At that time you were General Manager. How did you hear the news and what were your thoughts when that happened?

MD: I got a message that there was going to be a major announcement concerning Power Pro, which was a surprise for me since I was General Manager. I went to P2WOnline.com and read the message where Power Pro Wrestling was suspending full time operations. My thoughts were what the fuck. I called Dick Foley, who was owner of Power Pro Wrestling and he confirmed and explained the reasons behind the decision.

CD: Now at that time you and Dick Foley were not on friendly terms.

MD: No, things between the two of us had gotten personal.

CD: Very personal from what I understand.

MD: Are you going to let me do this or are you going to just keep bumping your gums? Yes, very personal. I became General Manager of Power Pro Wrestling when the Four Corner Cartel won a best of five series of matches. Dick Foley could not handle the fact that he was not in day to day control of Power Pro Wrestling. In his mind the Four Corner Cartel were in control and his ego could not take it.

CD: This began a battle for control of Power Pro Wrestling. You fired Mark James and many of your decisions were questioned. It seemed like you were protecting then Heavyweight Champion Ali Steele; who was a member of the Cartel while you seemed to keep Scotty Mathews, another member, on a tight leash. You were not a popular man.

MD: You know Chris, you and I are friends and all that but you are working on my nerves son. Yes, I was not popular but when you are General Manager its not about being popular, its about being profitable. Dick Foley...I don't know he snapped. He went from being the man the fans loved to the man the fans hated. And in the meanwhile I'm trying to keep Power Pro moving forward while Foley and Mark James and Scrapyard Dog worked against that. It was a very difficult time. So when I got word of the suspension of operations I knew this was a Foley trick to get rid of me as General Manager.

CD: Which he did.

MD: Yes. Once Power Pro Wrestling ceased regular operations the position of General Manager was eliminated.

CD: How did you feel about that?

MD: Honestly, relieved...happy...I could breath. Don't get me wrong; I have been in the office before but this time there was so much going on, plus I was not finished as a wrestler. As General Manager I could still wrestle but it was just difficult to do that and try to run a company like Power Pro.

CD: But Power Pro Wrestling still ran the fair shows.

MD: Those were contractual obligations and remember there was a suspension of daily operations. So Power Pro was operating under those rules. Foley as owner had full authority, which was fine with me because I was doing what I loved doing wrestling and before you ask, yes...I made sure that my wrestling contract remained strong and it is a good thing I did.

CD: Right because in October 2011 you faced Dick Foley in a Fatal Four Way match in Chatham County where you won the Heavyweight title for Power Pro Wrestling.

MD: Yes...it was me, Mark James, Kenneth Franklin Carter and Dick Foley. Things had twisted up at that point. Moses Manson was back and running things. Foley was the Heavyweight Champion and the Youngbludz were the tag team champions. They were running all over everyone.

CD: Sounds like the same thing you and the Four Corner Cartel were doing.

MD: You know it's pretty difficult to drink a big glass of Shut your damn mouth with your whopper choppers on the floor. And for the record the 4CC ARE different than any other group and that is not part of this discussion. I had a victory over Foley at one of the Fair shows, I believe in Moore County and in Lee County he BAMBOOZLED and HOODWINKED Scrapyard Dog with the help of Moses Manson to become heavyweight champion. So at Chatham I called him out and in true Foley fashion he made it a fatal four way elimination mass of confusion until he could take advantage of me in a weakened state. But this old war horse still got some beat in my hoofs and well I became the champ. 

CD: How did that feel?

MD: It was great. It really was. I had been a tag team champion with Foley and later with Ali Steele. A Legends Champion, PPW MVP for 2009 and those were great accomplishments. But to be the heavyweight champion was like a trip to the moon. I never thought I would get there. It felt like things had come full circle.

CD: You were a champion of a promotion that wasn't running regular operations. That could not have been what you expected. For all you knew you were the very last Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.

MD: See that is where you are wrong. I knew in my heart and soul that Power Pro would be back. I knew that I would not have climbed to the top of the mountain for the mountain to be reduced to a hill. Of course life moved on. Ali, Bully and I formed Pain and Agony; promotions wanted us from ICW to ACPW to UPWA just to name a few. We are a team...a unit...that can't be stopped. And in the back of mind I just knew Power Pro Wrestling would return.

CD: How did you get the news?

MD: Like everyone else...Twitter and Facebook. I called Dick Foley when I got it and he confirmed it.

CD: So Power Pro Wrestling is back and you lead the promotion not as General Manager but as it's Heavyweight Champion.

MD: That's called irony.

CD: So do you know what the plans are for Power Pro Wrestling? What will you be doing?

MD: What will I be doing? You are just plumb ate up with the insidious disease stupid-osis. I am the heavyweight champion and I will be defending it against any challenger who steps my way. As for the Power Pro plans...well, it's not your old Power Pro Wrestling. Its a new year and a new Power Pro Wrestling. I know Dick Foley has definite plans for PPW and I can't wait.

CD: So you and Dick Foley are friends now?

MD: This is professional wrestling, it is what it is. It's a new year and what is in the past stays there. My focus is on Pain and Agony and on defending my title at the Power Pro Wrestling return show in Sanford NC on February 25th. You like how I got that plug in?

CD: I would have mentioned it.

MD: You still can. Anything else on your mind?

CD: Well...how are things between you and the Four Corner Cartel?

[At that point he just hung up the phone]

Power Pro Wrestling has scheduled it's return show at the National Guard Armory in Sanford, NC on February 25, 2012. You may visit  powerprowrestling247.com  for more updates and information concerning this event. I am hopeful to have an interview with Power Pro Wrestling Owner Dick Foley very soon. So until then remember this; If you wake up in the morning and feel like someone is better than you, you are right and it's me!

Chris Damm!

THE LOOSE CANNON REPORT by Chris Damm

Just when you thought it was safe to show your head, Chris Damm; The Loose Cannon returns to blow your frickin' head off!

For those who know how I write and what I do, buckle your seat belts it's gonna be a bumpy ride. For those who don't know...well, sit down, take your hands out of your pants and get ready to learn something.

So The Wrestling Reporters are back but we aren't the only return to make note of in 2012. Unless you were under a rock this past week, you saw on WWE programming the debut (hell, it's a damn return in my book) of "The Funkasaurus" Brodus Clay. Brodus came out wearing a throwback outfit tribute to RUN-DMC...I'm talking about a red ADIDAS style jump suit, a red hat and two RED HOT sexy dancers (Naomi and Cameron) and what does he come out...SOMEBODY CALL MY MOMMA which was last used by Ernest "The Cat" Miller...well scratch that it now belongs to The Funkasaurus. Now normally when the WWE pulls of things like this I barely react...positively BUT I came out of my seat when I heard the music and out came Brodus. He looked great, he lost some good weight and though he is still a big man, he moved like he was lighter weight. His moves, gyrations and verbalization (okay...for those of you with a substandard education; Gyrations = movements, verbalization = talking) reminded me of Dusty Rhodes back in the day. The thing that sent me over the moon to giving the WWE a thumbs up was the finisher for the Funkasaurus...the running cross body. Not only did he get up for it and made it look great, it made since to me that a 370 man launching himself into the air like a super-sized flesh missile could and would be a devastating move. So to WWE...I have to save they did a great job with Brodus and apparently the WWE Universe (McMahon Universe) loved the repackaging of Brodus Clay, he was trending world wide on Twitter after his appearance (well that may not mean everyone liked him but we will go with that anyway) talked about on Facebook and featured on WWE.Com with an after match segment. NOW...let's see how long it takes for WWE to mess up a good thing. SOMEBODY CALL MY MOMMA!

I guess I should give a mention to a couple of returns in WWE both which have me shaking my head. The return of the Masked Monster Kane...I liked it. (I always liked the masked Kane) what I did not understand at first was why was he going after John Cena. Then I sat down with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a cigar as the realization came to me. Kane was the last in a line of individuals brought in to capitalize on the "CENA SUCKS...RISE ABOVE THE HATE" adventure that we have been living with FOREVER! Now I am not a total idiot I know WWE is playing one end against the other to make money. The WWE Universe who love to hate Cena spend their money to share that with everyone just like the WWE Universe who love him do the same. Several legends of the WWE have urged Cena to deal with the "dark side" with all the hate from those who hate him but the smiling John Cena continues to remain loyal and true (reminds me of my dog Blue. Loyal and true til the day I had him put to sleep) defending everyone's right to love or hate him while vowing to never change. And then comes the monster...KANE who wants Cena to embrace the hate...blah blah blah blah blah BLAH! Just so EVERYONE KNOWS...neither John Cena nor WWE care if you hate Cena...especially if you are watching their programming, going to their shows and buying their merchandise. When the money stops they will care...but digress. Kane returns...or as they say RESURRECTED...to keep things interesting until Wrestlemania...making people think that...OOOH Maybe Cena will become a villian...(News Flash: He began as a villian so it's no big stretch). I'm glad Kane...the Masked Kane is back as for what they are doing with him...No So Much!

And THEN THERE'S JERICHO! SOOOOOOO we are supposed to believe that all the cryptic promos were to herald the return of Jericho (I still don't believe it...it doesn't fit to my mind). So He comes out like a rock star, brings the crowd to it's feet and then after long minutes and crazy fans cheering...he turns and leaves and the WWE Universe are stunned into confusion. The next week he comes out to the same fanfare, the same crowd reaction but this time he gets sooooo emotional that he can't speak and leaves in tears. The WWE Universe are stunned into confusion...again. To the WWE Universe who reacted I have three words for you...DANCE MONKEY, DANCE! It's GREAT to have the maestro...Chris Jericho back and I can't wait until next week for another edition of Chris Jericho's new show "DANCE MONKEY, DANCE!"

Now, I am not really big on WWE and The Hogan/Bischoff TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING gets on my nerves at times. I do appreciate the fact that TNA is not subscribing to the PG ratings like WWE is currently doing. I have said it before and I will say it again...WWE is now boutique wrestling. It's where the elite in entertainment come to be seen. To rub elbows with WWE Superstars. WWE has sports entertainers...Sports Entertainers??? So there is a Sports Entertainers School? Okay, whatever. TNA, does give us more than a PG rating...they definitely are keeping the censors on their toes they have their share of God Damns, Shits, Motherfuckers and such that just barely get clipped by the infamous [BLEEP] from the censors. So TNA does...in it's crazy way...tries to stay true to the term professional wrestling and not sports entertainment. For the record, every sport is sports entertainment. If you are watching your favorite sport and you are entertained...well need I say more? But the NFL doesn't call it's players...Sports Entertainers, they are football players. The NBA has basketball players, Major League Baseball has baseball players...I think you get the point, unless you live in SC, NC, VA, GA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, WVA, MD...so to the WWE...when you took the F out you also took the wrestling out. I say put the wrestling back and get the sports entertainment the FUCK OUT!

OKAY, let me take a sip of Jack. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH satisfied! Now the big news for me is on the independent circuit (where real professional wrestlers live, breath and roam) in North Carolina. For those of you who know. I use to do a column for Power Pro Wrestling based out of Sanford, NC. I enjoyed it, even though I had run ins with Dick Foley and the Power Pro Wrestling Management at times. Power Pro Wrestling was that promotion that wrestlers wanted to be a part of. For six years PPW...formerly known as AWA Power Pro Wrestling...made wrestling history and featured the best in professional wrestling [What? Did someone say PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING?]. When Power Pro Wrestling suspended operations the world continued to turn but it didn't seem to turn as fast as it use to. The sun still rose but it didn't seem as bright. Cats and dogs started living together, black became white and white became black. Well things are getting back to normal as Power Pro Wrestling has returned to full operations. Now there are still some questions such as who is actually in charge of Power Pro Wrestling? Is this a reorganization? To get to the bottom of this I attempted to contact former Power Pro Wrestling General Manager, Michael Devine. I have set up a One on One interview between us to discuss Power Pro Wrestling and its return. I also hope to conduct an interview with Power Pro Wrestling's Owner, Dick Foley. Once I have completed these interviews they will be posted here for all of your to read (for those of you who can't read...find someone to read it to you before you take your nappy nap).

THAT'S ALL FOLKS! Feel free to leave comments about this report and in mean while remember this;

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. SOOOOO KEEP YOUR TRAP TIGHTLY SHUT, FOOL!"

Chris Damm

The Loose Cannon Report by Chris Damm

I'M BAAAAAAACK! Mothers hide your daughters! Fathers tell your sons to run! Head for the hills! Duck and cover, zig zag and weave because THE LOOSE CANNON is back.

For those who don't know me, you will soon enough. I am Chris Damm, a member of this crazed experiment called The Wrestling Reporters and the mind and madness behind the Loose Cannon Report. Our glorious (yeah right) editor-in-chief came to the old crew with the idea of putting "the band" back together. After I rolled my eyes at his lame attempts to be "cool" and "with it" I decided that I would come back to lend my superior skill and wisdom to make this venture work. I just had one requirement; Freedom & Control. Freedom to report on and post what I want, when I want and how I want to and total control over my column. To my surprise ol' Tripper showed some great intelligence and agreed (like he had a choice in the matter). So the man they call "The Loose Cannon" is ready to blow things up and down. I will be sharing my opinion on all matters and if you don't like it or agree...well, acknowledge your lack of intelligence  as you read a less cerebral column. Check out what that tub of goo, Tabu has to say (nothing really) or that pontificating blow hard "The Professor" Matthew Burns because here you will get the truth, unvarnished, unedited, uncensored and unapologetic.

So with all that said and since I do not want to overload your minds with too many things, I will be back soon with my first official Loose Cannon Report.

Your welcome, it's been your pleasure.

Chris Damm

The Wrestling Reporters Blog

Hello Professional Wrestling fans my name is Tripp Atkins, Editor-in-Chief of The Wrestling Reporters Blog. It has been over two years since our beginnings on MySpace and now we are back. For those who may have followed us on MySpace, who wondered what happened to us, It is great to be back doing what we like to do. There were several legal and personal matters that has kept The Wrestling Reporters offline. It is now a new time, new place and The Wrestling Reporters are back.


We are still getting things together so we ask that you be patient as we get back into the swing and flow. So much has changed in the two years we have been gone but we are back and running to catch up.


So what will you get from this blog? You will get reports and results on independent professional wrestling companies that are sent to us by our reporters and correspondents. You will read opinions, commentary and analysis on WWE, TNA, Dragon Gate USA, Ring of Honor and other major companies. If it's wrestling then we will cover it and talk about it right here. Our reporters and guest contributors will give THEIR opinions on the state of professional wrestling. We will post interviews with professional wrestlers and the movers and shakers, who wish to be interviewed by us.


With that being said let me introduce you to some of our staff. I got my start reporting on professional wrestling in the late 1990's when I began reporting on ECPW in Hemingway, SC along with my friend and often time my nemesis Chris Damm. Together we reported on ECPW but soon branched out to other independent wrestling companies in the state of South Carolina. As Editor-in-Chief I try to maintain order, you will notice I said "Try" with some of the personalities around here that can be and usually is a monumental task.


Chris Damm AKA "The Loose Cannon" is our senior reporter and is one of if not the most controversial member of The Wrestling Reporter Staff. He is opinionated, challenging, rude, abrasive, obnoxious and an all around pain in the ass. He is also an excellent reporter and has a keen eye on the world of wrestling. You will grow to love to hate him as you realize he just might be right and that will make you hate him even more. "The Loose Cannon" most recent work was with Power Pro Wrestling in Sanford, NC where he reported on that promotion.


"Tabu" is our enigmatic and eccentric reporter who contributes most of her reports and opinions directly online to us. Tabu loves professional wrestling, she is fair in her reporting and tells it like it is. She is a fan of professional women of wrestling and has definite views when it comes to women wrestlers vs "Divas" & "Knockouts". Tabu and Chris Damm have a love hate relationship; they love to hate each other.


Matthew Burns AKA "The Professor" is our resident professional wrestling analyst. He is a virtual wrestling encyclopedia. The Professor breaks it all down as he uses his analytical mind and vast wrestling knowledge.


There will be several guest correspondents, contributors and interviews. So check out The Wrestling Reporters. You may contact us at wrestlingreporters@yahoo.com


Tripp Atkins
Editor-in-Chief
THE WRESTLING REPORTERS