Autozone Park

Memphis Wrestling will be setting up shop right in the middle of the infield at Autozone Park, on Saturday night, after the Memphis Redbirds’ baseball game.  This annual event has taken place for the last three years and certainly has been a favorite of wrestlers and fans alike.  This show typically features wrestlers from the old WCW and WWF days and certainly have a “big show” feel to it. 

One problem that’s been reoccuring every year is the weather.  Rain seems to plague the show in some way, shape or form.  This is especially bad considering that everything can go wrong, if this were to happen.  Cameras, canvas, ring ropes, the field… everything is a factor when it’s raining.  Then, you need to factor in the safety of the wrestlers.  Do you realize how easy it would be to get injured inside of a wet wrestling ring?  With all this being taped for television, it would make for some interesting match, indeed.  A few years back, I wrestled Mr. Hughes in the rain.  Luckily, we didn’t do anything too spectacular or anything too risky.  We were very safe and I enjoyed myself and the experience very much.

Power Pro Loses WWE Deal

Just a rookie in the business, I typically kept my mouth shut at all times.  That’s the way I was taught and brought into the wrestling business.  Sit down, shut up and listen.  This blog sure has turned things around in that department, hasn’t it?  Nonetheless, I didn’t keep up with too much gossip back then.  I didn’t read the wrestling dirt sheets on the internet.  I never knew what was going on until it actually happened.  All I knew was that I hated the fact that Memphis Championship Wrestling had invaded Power Pro and brought the WWE developmental contract with them. 

On a side note to this story:  I was really looking forward to wrestling for Brandon Baxter and Randy Hales at Power Pro.  My chances of being on television, even though my size was working against me, the chances were growing every single week.  Even if I was going to work a squash match or a filler spot – I would still be on live television.  It was going to happen sooner than later… until MCW showed up.  When Terry Golden’s group came into Channel 5 Studios, they brought along the WWE developmental deal.  That pushed the local guys like me out of the picture.  All the Power Pro originals were pushed off of TV.  Alan Steel, Blade, Bulldog Raines, everyone.  Derrick King was the only Power Pro guy to really be featured on the television show, after the merger.  I was left out in the cold, due to the fact that they had to work the WWE guys more frequently.

That being said – I wanted to tell you a story that has never been told before.  It has certainly never been told here before.  Those of you who are die-hard Memphis Wrestling fans, you’ll probably find this story interesting.

Brandon Baxter

One of the very first wrestling personalities that I met when I entered the world of professional wrestling was a man that would forever have an impact on my wrestling career.  It’s interesting how I walked through the door at Channel 5 Studios and met the head booker / writer for Memphis Power Pro Wrestling… and a guy who had worked in the Sportatorium and in USWA.  The guy had history.  And the guy had all the power in the world.  I was super-nervous to meet him.  Heck, he’d be the guy booking me on TV one day!  He would control my character and my direction!

As intimidated as I was, I couldn’t wait to actually meet him.  I couldn’t wait for us to actually have a conversation.  In a world where many guys who enter the business are considered “goofs”, this guy was totally different.  He never once treated me like a goof.  He never once spoke to me like a goof.  With the power of the pen… and the power of THE premier independent wrestling television show – this guy was level-headed and without a doubt the nicest guy I had ever met – to that date – in the wrestling business.  To be honest, he probably is STILL the nicest guy that I have ever met in this business.

The title of the blog has already stooged off who I’m talking about.  That man is BRANDON BAXTER.

At one hundred and forty pounds, I started setting up the ring and training with Power Pro Wrestling.  I even made the road shows and set the ring up until I earned a spot on the house shows.  Growing in stature and growing as a pro wrestler, I earned a small part on a few of the Power Pro Wrestling television shows.  Gaining experience wrestling on live television – the ONLY live independent wrestling show in the United States.  A rookie and a greenhorn in the business, I was given the shot of a lifetime.  Yeah, I had a few friends that helped me get there.  But Brandon was intramental in some of my very first steps in wrestling.

Five Starr DUD?

Here we go… allow me to explain.  I… well… umm… lemme just show you the teaser that Brian Tramel posted over on RRONews.com about NBW’s Summer Jam:

“Who had a match that some were saying should be [-**]??…Did Dustin Starr really have a [DUD] match??…How many “superstars” has Knight pinned this year??…Did the old guys live up to the hype of a “Street Fight”??…All this will be answered in the Arena Report!!!“

Very cute.  Very funny.  Brian Tramel using Dustin Starr’s “[DUD] match” as a teaser for his next post.  How funny is that?  I love it.  No, really.  I do.  Allow me to explain…

I walked into the building Saturday night in Newbern, TN with a clear understanding of what was expected.  There was going to be a beat down, lots of heat and I probably would be taking a little time off after wards.  Simple match, right?  It’s been pretty obvious as to what the build-up was.  Two bad guys steal the tag team titles (Jason Reed & I) and run away with them!  Then, the good guys get us back, beat us clean and get their revenge.  Pretty simple, right?  Almost like David versus Goliath.  Or plain ole good versus evil.  So, how did everything go so wrong?

PWA Entertainment – 7/23/09

Dustin Starr in Wynne, AR

So, I wrestled my very first PWA Entertainment show, last Thursday night.  I made the short trip to Wynne, Arkansas – a place I’m very familiar with but haven’t been to in many years.  This was my first time wrestling in Wynne since my Beale Street Posse days.  So, I was looking forward to seeing how the crowd would respond to me… and I was looking forward to getting in the ring with someone I had never wrestled before.

Once upon arrival, I made my way to the dressing room to see many familiar faces.  Some of whom I had met and some of whom I hadn’t met.  But check this locker room out:  RRO Wrestler of the Year (3 times) Derrick King, Kiss FM’s Brandon Baxter, RRO Winner Austin Lane, former Junior Heavyweight Champion Johnny Dotson, one of the most talented wrestlers in the Mid-South T@2, VH-1’s Matt Riviera, wrestling legend Bobby Eaton… I’m not kidding.  This was a pretty good crew of guys.  I was impressed when I walked in.  Throw me into the mix and you’ve got yourself a STARR-STUDDED crew (pun-intended).

For probably the first time ever, I actually saw and heard first-hand about the rumors of the Dustin Starr “stigma”.  You know, the rumor that I’m a bit of a trouble-maker.  That I’m a bit of a diva.  You’ve heard that rumors that no one really likes me, right?  Well, after being called upon to wrestle Austin Lane, I heard an interesting story.  Since when do bookers call ahead and ask if it’s all right to book you against someone?  I thought that was rather funny.  Another interesting tidbit was when I was asked what I would post about the company.  What would I say about the show?  For some reason, they knew I’d have something bad to say about it.  They seemed a bit worried.  But ya know what?

They were right.

Okay, okay, I’m kidding.  I don’t have too many bad things to say about the company other than the fact that the show went far too long.  The matches went far too long.  They had opening matches going as long as main events are supposed to go.  They had matches unorganized on the card.  I couldn’t figure out why the tag match went on last when you have guys like Derrick King and Brandon Baxter fighting all over the building.  Or when you have two of the top wrestlers in the area meeting for the first time ever.  If I was booking, I’d put DK and Brandon on last any day of the week.  Especially, on this day. 

New Photos from Wynne, AR!

Last night in Wynne, AR, I went toe to toe for the very first time against Austin Lane!  I will have many thoughts on that match, Austin Lane, the crowd in Wynne and the promotion itself later this afternoon.

But first, take a look at a few pictures from last night’s action!  More will be added throughout the day, so don’t fret!

Enjoy!

Dustin Starr v Austin Lane – TONIGHT!

Tonight, tonight, tonight!  Don’t miss the wrestling action in Wynne, AR at 7PM.  Not only will Derrick King be wrestling KISS FM’s Brandon Baxter but there will also be a first-time-ever on the show.  For the very first time Austin Lane v Dustin Starr will happen!

I remember back ten years ago when I started out in this business, one of the first guys I met in Rampage Championship Wrestling was a short-haired, skinny, shiny-shirt wearing punk named Austin Lane.  He used to like diving off balconies and wore loose-fitting spandex wrestling gear.  If you’re wondering – yes, spandex should be tight, not loose.  Nevertheless, he was certainly a shell of his new self.

Then, on the other side of the spectrum was a kid who graduated from the Power Pro School of Wrestling aka Don Bass’ School of Wrestling.  He was 140 pounds soaked and wet.  Had long, shaggy hair – cuz you know wrestlers all have long hair, right?  He also had an identity crisis… And was green as grass.  Pale, scared and uncertain would be three words that would describe this guy to a “T”.

That guy was me.

Learning…

The last two months have been without a doubt the most emotional months of my life.  In June, I had the biggest opportunity of my life with the WWE.  And here in July, the trials and tribulations with my everyday life, as well as the wrestling business has thrown me for a loop.

There’s not a whole lot that I can really say here.  But I did want to mention how much I’ve truly learned over the course of the last few months of my life.  I’m learning things about myself that I never knew.  I’m experiencing things that I never have before.  I’m even feeling new feelings that I’ve never felt in my 26 years on this planet.

Odd, huh?  You tellin’ me!

M Awards!

As you’ve all seen, I’ve been plugging away on Twitter – as well as this site – that the M Awards were fastly approaching.  That was weeks ago and now the results are out.  I’m very pleased that you all showed up for me and showed up for this blog.  Thank you for all the votes.  I’m very surprised to gain such a high ranking.

When I first started this blog, never did I imagine that I would earn honorable mention in ANY awards… Much less the MemphisSport.net M Awards.  Wow.  It is an honor, indeed.

Think I’m over-selling this a bit?  Sure.  To some it may be a bit much.  However, let me tell you what started this whole ordeal.  You might be surprised.

It all started one sunny day in Memphis, TN.  A young Dustin Starr running dustinstarr.tripod.com.  I was the very first indy wrestler in the area to have his own website. 

Dustin Starr v/s Austin Lane

One week from today (Thursday), I will be in Wynne, Arkansas wrestling.  It has been many years since I’ve performed in that town.  Probably thirty or forty pounds ago, as a matter of fact.  I’m excited and really looking forward to it.

When I was contacted about working the show, I was a little reluctant.  Not because I do not like the town.  Not because I don’t like to wrestle.  But weekly wrestling shows is not my thing.  It cuts into my training.  Training, meaning, lifting and cardio.  I can’t stand to miss a day in the gym.  Now, if it were WWE, I could work with that (obviously).

What changed my mind set?  Well, I was provoked by the fact that Austin Lane finally wants to step in the ring with me.  What’s the big deal?  Well, there’s been a long wait for the two of us to actually get in the ring together.  But finally, that wait is over.

Let’s take a look at the history, shall we?