Promoter Herb Simmons Responds on the MMWA-SICW situation. Is there a break up between MMWA and SICW?
Posted by flairwhoooooo on August 18, 2011
Keith Smith, Tim Miller, Herb Simmons and Larry Matysik. (Photo Mike Van Hoogstraat)
I find myself responding to the article Ben Simon wrote regarding the issue with Ron Powers and the MMWA/SICW. I believe it’s time to set the record straight regarding the MMWA/ SICW issue first. It has been stated before by Ben Simon that MMWA/ SICW has split. I have attempted in the past to make it clear that those statements that he is making, are incorrect assumptions on his and a few others. Tony Casta and I have been the best of friends for many years and continue to be friends and will do so until one of us decides otherwise, so don’t hold your breath on that happening. Not Ben Simon or anyone will change that. Tony and I made that clear a few months back in the locker room at a South Broadway show. I continue to help Tony anyway that I can. Unless I was removed this past weekend while out of town with Keith Smith who is the MMWA/ SICW Commissioner in Chicago being a guest of Jim Cornett and Gary Juster of ROH, then I plan on being back behind the mic in September.
Now to set Ben Simon straight. He is no longer used at the show in Illinois due to him having his own agenda. He was filming the shows and putting them on his own program and using our talent and resources to benefit himself. IF I’m not mistaken he was even looking for sponsors. Now to do that is unacceptable in the business. Tony and I pay the talent and we have our own programs that we are trying to keep on air. Now if Ben wants to pay us and the talent then I say it’s okay for him to do this.
Ben Simon attended the open door session we held and tried out for the ring announcer position. He did okay but I don’t believe anyone told him he had a life time position. After a few try outs it was clear that Ben had a problem even adjusting to reading what had been wrote for him to announce. This was a conversation that was held between myself, Tim Miller and a few others. I have since begun using another individual from a local sports radio station that also helps promote the shows, (Good Business).
Ben Simon has continued to work at South Broadway and even with some mistakes he has made there I’m happy for him. I make no decisions on what takes place there. I have my own thoughts but keep them to myself. To further clarify to Ben, we attempted to work together on both shows but due to scheduling conflicts of some of talent needed in some of the story lines and due to the athletic board of Missouri being so hard on physical and license some workers have decided not to work there. This is an ongoing problem and nothing to do with a split of the two groups. In fact we attempted to run a few shows and a few of the main players from South Broadway had second thoughts and those matches were put on hold and held in Illinois. Tony and Keith are who I work with and the Ben Simon’s of the world and a few others need to understand that. Tony and I have been doing this longer then Ben Simon and the few others have been alive. Some may say we have been doing it to long, but I will put all my eggs in the basket with the like of Tony Casta, Keith Smith, Mr. Larry Matysik, and yes even the likes of Ron Powers.
I must say at this time I hate to agree with Ron but Ben Simon is so far off it’s almost amusing. In this business there is a term called a (Mark), its individuals like Ben Simon that word was meant for. He has certain areas that he may excel in but knowing the wrestling business isn’t one of them. He has been trying for so long to make an issue out of this so called MMWA/ SICW feuding that even after several times that it’s been explained to him he still don’t get it. It’s no different than when the WCW brought in the NWO, or when WWE brought on Smackdown, and the list goes own. The only thing I agree with him is that Ron Powers better not count Gary Jackson or any of the talent from South Broadway out.
They are some of the best in the business.
So please wrestling fans, and I’m sure you are if you are reading this great site that MWR provides for us don’t let the Ben Simon’s of the world mislead you. As I told Brian Kelley from MWR not so long ago, unless you hear it from Tony Casta or myself or from one of our team members like Keith Smith, don’t believe it. And Ben, this is WRESTLING, don’t get caught up in all the real work of the business, just sit back and enjoy and let those that have been doing this do it. The fans will let us know if they don’t like it.
I hope to see everyone at all the MMWA/ SICW shows.
And in the very near future on November 6th we will be supporting the return of ROH and Jim Cornett to the Collinsville Convention Center with the help of Larry Matysik.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 
Jim said
my question is what about tim miller’s comments ont he whole situtation? they seem to support what ben has said, and this article seems more like someone trying to say uh huh we are to together when it appears this person is in denial and after all these years he has in the business he is still attacking the young guys who could eventualy take his spot but being as old fashioned as he is he decideds to attempt to burry poor ben in public. some people just need to leave the St. louis scene altogether
Crimefighter said
Apparently Herb Simmons has not heard the Nose Bleed Seats podcast interview with Tim Miller…cause it’s not Ben Simon’s world here…
Crimefighter said
Simmons said he didn’t hear the podcast from July. So I’ve been ahead of the curve on this one.
Crimefighter said
BTW, this doesn’t even bring into account Tim Miller quitting SICW!
Ben Simon said
As for sponsorship, I directly told Herb that I wanted to look into it. He nodded. If he had a problem, he could have told me. I don’t believe that was why I was cut. He distrusts me for working with IHW on November 20 and March 5. I don’t know why. In a date conflict, I had MMWA & SICW cards as the priority. I looked up to Herb. I just wish he would have given it to me straight.
Here’s a fun fact: if I hadn’t answered Jeff Vernetti’s online query about ring announcing, no one would have brought him in. Why? No one ever checked online messages but me! I really like Jeff and I understand that bringing him in was business-related. I wonder what would have happened if I referred him to Tony Casta instead of Herb Simmons.
A “mark” is a mean-spirited term for a fan who sustains wrestling financially. Fair enough.
I never wanted any trouble (and I respect Ron Powers immensely). My previous comments were in good clean fun. Unfortunately, I hit a nerve and started a flame war–something that could be solved by sitting down and talking to each other.