Big Week

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.  Mine was slightly different, this year but certainly a change in the right direction.  There’s no doubt that I felt the warmth of the holiday spirit.  That’s what it’s all about, folks.

I was invited into a very special family’s home and had one of the greatest holiday experiences ever.  So loving.  So caring.  So festive.  We ate Thanksgiving dinner, decorated the Christmas tree, built a gingerbread house, painted Christmas decorations, sipped on hot apple cider and sat in front of the fireplace.  Of course, we had to throw in a little football, as the Crimson Tide remained undefeated with their victory over Auburn – but that’s besides the point.  It was a great time and I look forward to many more holidays with my Sweet Girl in the years to come.

It’s a very tough time of year for a diet.  I believe that goes without saying.  This is my “big week” and I’ve been thru it all.  Celebrated my Sweet Girl’s birthday a few weeks back… Then, Thanksgiving dinner… I’m suffering thru it all!  What a time of year to be prepping for a show!

Debut in Memphis Sport Magazine!

It’s finally here!  After months of waiting and not knowing exactly what to expect, Mike Bullard – publisher of Memphis Sport Magazine – delivered big time!  My very first… and very own column in Memphis Sport Magazine!  I can not even explain the feeling of seeing my own writings published inside of a magazine.  Especially, a magazine that focuses primarily on the happenings in Memphis sports.  I’m very proud and I’d like to thank Mike for the opportunity.

I’ve received quite a bit of feedback from the column, already.  It just hit news stands this week, so not everyone has had the time to read it yet.  But the first reactions were very good.  I expect honest criticism and everything has been very positive, thus far.  For that, I’m very thankful.  Also, along with thankful – I’m also a bit relieved.  Why?  Well, because I’m committed to writing a column in the magazine EVERY issue!

I’m very proud of this accomplishment.  It’s not only a new addition to my portfolio and resume… and not only does it put me that much further outside of the box, so to speak.  But, this new “gig” is an honor and victory for a “blogger” like me.  I started my website in 2000.  It was done through Tripod (I know!) and it was very basic.  A guy named Scott Summerton helped me out with the design.  Then, it just morphed.  I got into the creation aspect of the site and made things happen.

Great Training

There are very few great wrestling trainers out there on the independent level.  Sure, WWE producers and trainers are made up of the best of the best.  Past, present and future – they’re loaded with legends to teach the younger talent of the future.  But where I stand, there weren’t many options walking into this business.

A great trainer doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to create great wrestlers.  It doesn’t even mean they’ll create GOOD wrestlers.  A guy can be given the best training ever and still not take in the information needed to be good.  Furthermore, they may not even have the TALENT to do it.

I’m currently working out in a facility that is housing the best training I’ve ever received on this level.  Other than the WWE workouts with the likes of Jamie Noble, Fit Finley, Arn Anderson and several others – it is the best training I’ve ever gotten.  I’m not knocking any of the other training I’ve ever received, I’m just merely stating that I’m being trained on a much higher level at this point in my career.  During this point in my career, I need it more than ever.

I’d like to thank everyone involved with helping me get where I need to be.  All the trainees.  All the boys.  The facility owners.  EVERYONE.  Thank you so much.

You have concerns? I DON’T! – PART II

For those of you who were concerned before, take a look at the photos.  I’m trying, as I type this, to get my files converted to post actual video on the site.  Or better yet… maybe I should just make you all wait to see it in person.

Regardless, the images speak for themselves.  “Dustin Starr can’t work the cruiserweight style”… “Dustin Starr can’t do the necessary things to impress”… Whoever has been making statements like that – you better take them back! 

In-Ring Workouts

It’s time to really step it up a notch.  My cardio is up.  My workouts are strategic and they’re on a great pace to get where I need to be.  The only thing I’ve been lacking is actual time in the ring…

Until now.

I’ve been in conversation with several facilities that house wrestling rings.  I’ve also been in discussion with a few of my very close friends, who happen to be the very best wrestlers in this area.  All of them have come through for me, as of right now.  I certainly have the support I need on that end… I just need to make good use of the time I still have left.

It’s pretty simple, folks.  I’ve been doing this a long time.  Sure, I haven’t been inside of a wrestling ring for several weeks.  Actually, it’s been over a month now.  Along with that, I am not scheduled to step inside the squared circle until the first week of December.  But I’ve gone a lengthy period of time before without being in the ring… then, once I walked down that ramp – I was good to go.  It’s not something you forget.  It’s not something you have to make yourself re-learn.  It’s something that’s in your blood.  WRESTLING is in your blood.  I just need to polish up on a few of my skills.

Tonight marks the first of several training sessions I have scheduled.  You wouldn’t believe where I was going to work out, even if I told you. 

You have concerns? I DON’T!

I’ve heard a few concerns over the past couple of months that I would like to address.  Whether it is concern with the focus I have put on other areas of my career and life… Or concerns about how hard I’ve been working to get as fit as possible for opportunities that I have approaching.  Am I wearing myself too thin?  Do I have all the tools that I need to succeed in the ring, now that I’ve cut so much weight?  What about focus on wrestling for the WWE?

I’ve heard it from all directions, folks.  I’ve heard it from friends, family and even read about it columns on the web.  I appreciate the concern…

But I’m doing just fine.

I had my very best friend tell me that WWE would never sign me.  This is a guy I’ve known since I was five years old.  A guy that I thought would be supportive no matter what the circumstances were.  And maybe he still is supportive.  Maybe he’s just giving his honest opinion on the matter.  He thinks I’m too small for WWE.  He says TNA would love to have me though.

Let me put a few things to rest.

Full Schedule!

Well, I’m full.  My schedule, that is.  I haven’t been inside a wrestling ring in about three weeks.  Working on my fourth.  I feel great, by the way – but the question still remains.  When will I step back into the squared circle?

Hmm… What a question, huh?  Seems like an easy answer.  At least a few days ago, it seemed pretty easy.  I had an opening on November 28th, which was going to be filled by EWE’s Thanksgiving Throwdown.  But since then, it has been brought to my attention that Thanksgiving itself is that very weekend.  I will be out of town with family that weekend.  How obvious?  And how did I not think about that?

Well, that certainly throws a wrench in things, now doesn’t it?  Speaking of throwing plans off schedule… Think of how badly this mis-scheduling is messing with EWE’s programming.  Good lord, they’ve stuck by me thru it all and I can’t even commit to attending their shows.  It isn’t out of spite, at all.  There aren’t any hard feelings because of my scheduling conflicts, either.  The higher-ups within EWE know of my plans and completely understand them.

So, what now?  What about the EWE Championship I currently hold?  When will I be back in the ring?  What’s the story, Five Starr?

I can hear you all asking yourselves, right now!  And I’m going to answer you all, right now!

I’m in talks with EWE, right now, to find a solution.  So, it’s either looking like a mid-December return… Or I just forfeit the Championship.  There aren’t any other choices, really.

My return to the ring will definitely be the first week of December.  All of this training… All of this scheduling… All of this hard work culminates on the first week of December.  Root for me, folks this is it!

Until then, you can find me at the DeSoto Civic Center for Riverkings hockey.  I’m at every home game.  Come say hello.

( New picture from a photo shoot with Dennis Copeland! )

Response to Jamie Jay?

Well, if you haven’t read it yet – CLICK HERE – and take a look.  It’s a pretty interesting take on what I’m posting on the site every day, regarding my Diet Journal.  For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, take a look at the right-hand side of the page.  You’ll see an activity log of what I’ve been eating and when I’ve been eating it.

Sure, it won’t work for everyone.  Sure, not everyone will care.  But I’ve received so many e-mails, texts, direct messages and even comments on this website asking questions about how I’m doing what… and why I’m doing what – I just thought I’d give everyone a little insight on what I’m doing personally to get in WWE-shape.

I never said this would work for everyone.  I revealed that up front, right off the bat.  So, let’s just get that out of the way right now.

When I read Jamie’s “Food for Thought” I thought most of it was tongue-in-cheek… written in a joking manner.  But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to respond.  Here’s a bit of what he said that I feel I need to correct:

IWA Television???

Were you aware that there’s more wrestling in Memphis than Memphis Wrestling?  Okay.  Were you aware that this “other group” were actually aired on television every week?  Well, they are and they’re also aired on Saturday morning.  That’s right!  Just like the classic Memphis Wrestling we all know.

But wait, it gets even stranger.  Not only is there another wrestling company in Memphis.  Not only do they have a television show on Saturday morning… But they are also on the SAME station!  How ironic is that?

Some of my statements were a bit sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek.  But the fact of the matter is that many of the wrestling fans out there are currently unaware of the show’s presence.  You can tell that by looking at the ratings.  Not to mention the fact that the show isn’t the greatest quality out there… Nor is the talent.

I’m not here to bad mouth the IWA (still unsure of the meaning of the initials).  Rather, I’m here to let you know they exist and… Well, they’ve apparently set their sights of ME.

The problem with the IWA is simple I they’re new.  They don’t have the production quality that a major independent wrestling “player” should have.  But then again, how many major independent “players” are even out there any more?  None, to my knowledge. 

After a few days, I feel GOOD!

So, we are a few days into my Diet Journal (posted on the right-hand side of the page) and I feel great!  Physically, mentally… And I feel as if I look better already!  All in my head?  Sure, it is.  That’s half the battle.  But the bottom line is – the way I feel will keep me geared up and pressing on.  When that happens, you find the success your looking for!

Let’s take a look at the first few days, shall we?

Thru two days and working thru the third, I really do like my consistency.  That’s very key in any diet.  Mass gain or cutting – you have to have the frequent meal intake.  I have that.  So, there’s a plus.

No candy!  That’s right!  Not one single piece of candy has entered my mouth in the last three days!  After Halloween’s candy consumption, I’m very proud o report that I’m candy-free.  I did have a few sips of milk shake after last night’s hockey game, but hey – who wouldn’t sip a little shake with a pretty girl?  It’s my weakness.  I only had a few sips though, but I also felt that I needed to report it.  Honesty should be brutal when you’re keeping up with your daily plan.