Check me out!

I haven’t had a lot of time to really catch up on what’s been going on locally.  I’ve been so wrapped up in the WWE bookings and then trying to play catch up on real life happenings… I’ve sorta neglected a few people who have my back.  Any of you who have tried to call, text, e-mail, tweet or just get a hold of me in general – sorry if I haven’t gotten back to you.  Things are getting much more tame, now.  So, give me another try… or I’ll see you at the shows!

While I was away, there were a few good posts on RRONEWS.com that featured yours truly.  I was very surprised and flattered to see a column from Brian Tramel regarding my future in the wrestling business.  Check it out HERE.  It’s entitled “A Starr is Born“.  Imagine waking up early in the  morning on one of the biggest days of your career and logging on to the web.  Then, you go to one of your favorite wrestling websites… only to see that you’re featured on the top of the page with a customized banner AND you have a column that puts you over like a million dollars.  Imagine that for a moment.  This business is all about confidence and people believing in you.  If you don’t think that had a major effect on my attitude walking into the WWE bookings, you’re sadly mistaken.

So, Brian Tramel, thanks for the kind words.  Everyone check that column out, if you haven’t already.

A few days later, BT posted some more information.  Wrestling Observer is quoted in the article, as well.  Pictures from WWE.com are also posted on the story.  Check that one out HERE.  It’s entitled “Dustin Starr on ECW“.  RRO does a great job of letting the fans know when and where the wrestlers are going to be.  This is especially important when we’re supposed to keep our mouthes shut for various reasons.  BT is the voice for the boys, at times.  I appreciate that.

Check those stories out and let me know what you think of them!  I appreciate all of the support, as usual!

Injuries from WWE

I have a respect for WWE superstars that grows larger and larger by the day.  Many of you think, “well, wrestling’s fake anyway… they know how to fall…”  I’ve never been one to really be offended by comments like that.  But each time I have the opportunity to play WWE superstar for the week, I get a little more aggravated each time I hear it.  It really is offensive and I’ll tell you why.

It’s plain and simple:  I got my butt kicked last week in the WWE.  Enough said.  Period.

You think this business is fake?  You need to step in there with the big boys.  You’ll have a totally different perception of what really goes on inside that wrestling ring.  Injuries?  I couldn’t imagine how many injuries one WWE superstar gets all year round.  Those guys are constantly on the road.  Constantly wrestling.  Constantly training.  House shows and television shows… these guys are getting it done and they’re getting it done the hard way.

In June, I commented about exactly how sore I was from the training in the ring, the wrestling and just the constant grind from the two days of activity.  Well, it wasn’t any different this time around.  I’m walking away from last week with several tweaks and injuries that I would never complain about… but they DO exist.  Imagine doing this on a daily basis in Florida at Florida Championship Wrestling (WWE’s developmental territory).

If you saw the ECW match, you’ll understand why I came away a little banged up.  Let me walk you through these tweaks and sorenesses:

Last week was super busy!

I’m still reeling a bit from last week.  Everything has been so hectic lately.  It just seems to put you so far behind when you leave town and have to rush back.  The experience proves that you certainly have to figure out a system in order to live a life on the road.  It’s certainly tough… but I’m looking forward to it.

Before I discuss the activities from last week, I’d like to apologize in advance for the pictures I’m posting.  This picture, as well as the one I posted last week, are from WWE.com.  It seemed that I didn’t have too much time to pose for a good head shot… I seem to be in mid-flight on each of the pictures they snapped.  Why didn’t I have the time to pose for the camera?  You know I LOVE the camera.  Well, when you have two guys that each weigh about TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY POUNDS all over you – it makes it tough to have time to do anything but SELL.

So, if you follow me on Twitter, you have read a lot of this already.  But I had an extremely busy week, last week.

So, Monday morning I got on the road and headed towards Little Rock, Arkansas.  I arrived at Verizon Arena (formerly Alltel Arena) early enough to shake hands, slip out of my suit, enjoy a little catering… and slip into my workout clothes.  I’ll discuss the work out a little more later, but anytime you get a chance to get in the ring with the BEST of the BEST… it is an experience that you could never ever put a price tag on.  If you’re an independent wrestler and you think you’ve got it ALL… wait until you step inside the WWE’s 20×20. 

Thank you all…

You hear that?  Listen real close.  Now, can you hear it?  No  it’s not my head bouncing off the mat from a deadly Ezeckiel clothesline.  It’s the Mid-South wrestling scene buzzing about Dustin Brady… Err… Dustin STARR!

First and foremost, I’d like to thank World Wrestling Entertainment for the opportunity to perform on their stage.  I’d like to thank them for the exposure. I’d like to thank them for making a dream come true, once again.

Being in that ring, this time around, was just a bit more comfortable.  I wasn’t sure in May.  Now, I’m positive.  I belong in their ring.  Looking out at 18,000 fans… Not being the slightest bit nervous… And loving every minute of it – that’s the life.  That’s what I was born to do.  I was born to perform for the masses on their canvass and airwaves.

I won’t say “second of all” because it really doesn’t apply.  But next up, I want to thank my friends, family and fans.  There’s certainly some overlap there because my friends and family alike are also some of my truest and biggest fans.  Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart for the support and the cheers.  I need it more now than ever.  I’m getting chill-bumps just typing it.

The texts, the calls, the tweets, the messages posted on this blog… I get them all.  I read them all.  I enjoy them all.  I love them all and I love you all.  Support has really lacked in my life from previous experiences.  Now, it is in full gear because of you all.  Heck, my phone literally DIED because of all the texts after my ECW match aired.  It DIED!

What a Week

What a week it has been.  Rear-ended, storm hits and knocks out my power on Friday (btw, it’s still out!), a debut in Newburn, a Championship win at EWE and a benefit show that pitted the two top guys in the area against one another.  Let me say again – what a week!

I have a lot to talk about, moving forward.  Today, I’ll just narrow the topic down to the Tank Benefit Show from the weekend.

First off, I thought the turnout was fantastic.  The locker room was over flowing with supportive wrestling brothers and that made it a tough crowd to please.  Heck, they were all smart to the business!  They came with the wrestlers!  But it was fun, nonetheless.  I was very happy with the response during my match.  I could not have asked for more.

I also couldn’t have asked for more when it came to my opponent.  I not only stepped in the ring with a guy that I owe all my wrestling success to, but I stepped in there with one of my best friends in the world… And the best worker I’ve ever stepped in a ring with.  Derrick King is a very special talent.  Other than the boot print on my shoulder, I was EXTREMELY happy (no pun intended) with the match.  We stole the show, no doubt.

I had an even better time speaking with the fans.  I don’t get to do it that often but I enjoyed answering all the ECW and WWE questions.  Thank you all for the support.  I’m happy I could finally give some thanks in-person.  You will see me on WWE programming again.

Feedback & Haters

I’ve discussed the overwhelming support that I’ve felt the last week or so.  It’s something that I never thought I would see in this business.  Friends, family, fans, other wrestlers – you name it, they’ve come to stand by my side.  They’ve got my back.  Not only do they have my back with help, but they’re actually rooting for me.  Support is priceless.  I’ve never had the support of everyone to this extent.  And I honestly have to say – I like it.  I like it a LOT.

I was honestly surprised when I first saw Gene Jackson’s blog entitled “Here Come the Haters“.  I was coming off two of the biggest days of my career.  Received phone calls, texts, e-mails, you name it – all very supportive.  Then, I log on to RRO News and there’s the blog.  I couldn’t imagine what he could possibly be talking about!  Check out the blog and see for yourself.  Hit the blue link or just click HERE.

Honestly, I do not read message boards.  I could care less about reading opinions from folks who do not post their real names.  I think I was very turned off a long time ago by the fact that I saw a post under the name “Dustin Starr.”  Believe me when I tell you, I never post on any other site other than this one.  Just mark that down on the record, please. 

This Week’s Topics

Be sure to check in throughout the week, as I’ll be covering some very interesting topics.  There’s so much to talk about, with everything that’s happened in the last week or two.  Here’s a little bit of what to expect on the site:

-  Wondering what kind of feedback I’ve been getting from my ECW appearance?  Well, I’ll fill you in on what a few sites are reporting.  I’m very pleased, let’s just say that.

-  Haters?  Are there really haters out there?  Well, after reading Gene Jackson’s blog on all the haters, I will finally give my two cents on the topic.

-  As I stated on Twitter, I finally received a copy of the RRO Yearbook.  I didn’t particularly like everything I read.  I’ll talk a little bit about that.

-  I’ve been receiving quite a few phone calls from local bookers.  Where will Dustin Starr be sh0wing up next?

-  Also, I will be putting the tights I wore in my Smackdown! debut up for auction.  Big deal?  Well, the procedes will go to Tank’s family to help with his burial.  So, be sure to learn how to bid on those tights to help a family in need!

A lot of stuff, huh?  Well, check back later this afternoon.  I’ll be starting my checklist.  Thanks for reading!

This is just the start…

I know there’s a mixture of wrestlers and fans that read this site on a daily basis.  Most of you do not know everything that goes into this business.  The wrestlers do not know the steps that need to be taken in order to get certain opportunities.  It’s like cleaning a really messy room – you just don’t know where to start!  The fans, on the other hand, they only see what goes on outside of the locker room and in the ring.  So, it makes it very difficult to show all the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that goes into not only my career but my LIFE.

So, I’d like to share as much of that with you as I possibly can.  There are some details that I will need to leave out.  I don’t need to be getting heat for saying something that I shouldn’t be saying.  But I’ll do the best I can.

Many of you think that when WWE comes to town that they’re only looking for “jobbers”.  They’re only looking for guys to get in there and put their talent over in a big way.  If you think about it in that sort of light, you’re missing the big picture.  When WWE comes to town, the idea is not to get “a match”.  Although, that’s fantastic and gives you a lot of exposure… getting “a match” isn’t the ultimate goal.  The ultimate goal is to get a contract with the WWE and work with them full-time.  I’ve always heard that it’s more rare to be a successful professional wrestler than it is to be a successful rock star.  Think about that for a moment and let it sink it.  It’s VERY rare.

Five Starr Fans

I can not tell you how much it means to me that you all came through when I needed you.  Words can not even describe how I felt when Justin Roberts came to me to brag about the signs that were in the crowd.  When I went down the ramp and stepped in the ring, it was like a dream.  Looking out into the crowd and not only hearing… but seeing the support.  Wow.  It was unbelievable.

I’m going to be perfectly honest with you all – the last few days have been very emotional.  I’m no sissy, so I’m not talking about breaking down and crying or anything (tough guys don’t cry!)  I must’ve gotten at LEAST 150 text messages, Tweets, e-mails and phone calls over the last few days.  I’m not exaggerating at all.  I had people contact me that do not even like me!  I had people contact me that I hadn’t talked to in YEARS.  I had people from Twitter watch wrestling for the first time ever just to watch me on the show.

I can not explain to you how important that is to me.  My confidence level is sky-high right now, in a business where you can achieve the highest of highs and the lowest of lows within a matter of minutes!  There one day, gone the next!

With everything that has happened, the one thing that I will remember most is the support for all of you.  I can not say it enough, so I’ll say it again:

THANK YOU ALL!

I’ll leave this message short and sweet, but I’ll be back tomorrow with a little more detail of my happenings.  I will tell you this before I sign off – there was a whole lot more going on then just an ECW match.  I was there for a contract.  More info tomorrow.

The WWE Experience

I’m finally back.  Coming off the single-greatest wrestling streak of my life, I’m on cloud nine.  Starting out with EWE’s MAYHEM and ending it with an appearance on ECW, it doesn’t get any better than that.  The WWE experience was truly spectacular.

I really wanted to let every single one of you know what was going on the very minute that it was official.  But knowing the in’s and out’s of the business, I knew that I had to keep everything under wraps until it was time.  I want to walk you through my process a little bit and let you on the inside.  After all, if it weren’t for all of you, it wouldn’t matter anyways.

I started working on this months ago.  Working out harder than ever.  Eating better than ever.  Conditioning my body as best as I could for the big date.  Mind you, I wasn’t officially booked just yet when I started my prepping.  It was APRIL.  I just knew there was a very strong possibility that I would be called.  I focused on everything that I could cosmetically.  That’s what it’s all about, right?  I didn’t get exactly where I wanted to get… but take a look at the picture (thanks Vickie!) and you’ll see that I was physically fit for the biggest day of my life.