Les Thatcher has worked in all aspects of the wrestling business over the past 41 years, but his legacy is still being shaped.
Thatcher is the founder of the Cincinnati-based Heartland Wrestling Association, which is World Wrestling Federation developmental territory for young talent. Some of the performers Thatcher is helping to train could become the WWF’s next generation of superstars.
“I guess anybody in this business would like to leave their mark,” said Thatcher, who initially formed the HWA seven years ago as a training circuit for his students. “I like to think we can turn out a string of performers who are technically sound and understand the business in all aspects. If I can help, I would like for the guys to learn to combine a lot of the modern flying with good solid, basic techniques.”
Thatcher has plenty of talent to work with, especially among performers who were re-signed to WWF developmental contracts after that promotion purchased World Championship Wrestling last March from Time-Warner. The HWA is especially strong in cruiserweight grapplers, with Jamie Knoble, Kaz Hayashi, Elix Skipper, Kid Romeo, Shannon Moore and EZ Money showing the most promise.
Thatcher works closely with Louisville-based Ohio Valley Wrestling, the WWF’s other developmental territory, and a rotation of WWF-allocated trainers such as Dean Malenko and David Taylor in working with the HWA’s 44-man roster. In the average week, Thatcher will hold three days of in-ring training sessions and spend one day working on interviews and character development. The HWA also holds several live shows each week, including television tapings in Jeffersonville, Ind.
While WWF matches tend to move at a quicker pace, the HWA wants its bouts to move at a more methodical pace so performers can practice the basics of wrestling that sometimes get overshadowed by high-risk maneuvers.
“This is an art form at its best,” said Thatcher, 61. “I think it’s just like being a well-trained circus act. A lot of these guys have not even scratched the surface of what they can do. I’m happy about that. When these guys get to the WWF, I want them to have a good solid base.”
With regional promotions that flourished in the past having fallen by the wayside, the WWF began establishing its own farm system in the late 1990s. When the WWF wanted to move one of its developmental territories from Memphis (where WWF superstar Kurt Angle cut his teeth), Thatcher’s HWA was an ideal destination.
Thatcher was an established name who earned industrywide respect by running benefit cards for Brian Pillman’s family after his drug-related death in 1997. The annual Brian Pillman Memorial Shows not only honored one of the industry’s most innovative performers but also became a showcase for young performers trying to catch the eye of WWF talent scouts in attendance.
The HWA features several established WWF performers who are either rehabilitating from injuries, working on new gimmicks or simply have gotten phased out. D’Lo Brown, Val Venis, Steve Blackman, Haku, Mark Henry and Brian Adams are currently working in the HWA.
While being regulated to a developmental territory could cause some grumbling, Thatcher said having WWF veterans in the HWA has proved a plus.
“It’s called leading by example,” Thatcher said. “They’ve done exactly that. I can’t say enough good things about all the guys. They run all the same drills the kids run. They actually look forward to it. They give the guys the ins and outs from a veteran perspective.”
The bigger attitude problems have come from some ex-WCW performers who were unhappy about not immediately landing in the WWF, although Thatcher said the situation has improved.
“We had three factions when we came together,” said Thatcher, referring to performers from the WWF and WCW meshing with talent that hasn’t appeared yet on a national stage. “Everyone is adjusting to everyone else. It’s like sharing a dorm room in college. It’s just with a lot more guys.
“A few of the WCW guys felt they didn’t belong here at first. That’s not a problem currently. Everyone’s work ethic is very good and they’re trying hard. Everyone realizes what’s at stake.”
Competition for those top spots has increased even more in light of the WWF’s slumping business. Vince Mc-Mahon’s company recently laid off 9 percent of its office staff with talent cuts probably on the way, which doesn’t bode well for some of the developmental performers.
“There’s only so many guys that can be employed,” Thatcher said. “But the other thing about our business is that young careers sometimes are cut very short by injury and other stuff. There’s always going to be a need to develop talent.”
Thatcher’s long-term goal is to clear enough television outlets in Ohio to begin promoting joint shows with OVW on a regional basis.
“As far as the climate financially, this is an industry were the flowchart is always up and down,” Thatcher said. “I think we are in a down period. Whether it’s the [WWF] writers or a lack of interest or maybe a combination of all these things, I don’t know.
“But I think we can pull ourselves out of it. In my 41 years in the business, it’s been shown that you can’t kill [wrestling]. And I’ve witnessed people like [ex-WCW matchmaker] Vince Russo who actually tried. Business will pick back up. It’s just a matter of when.”
Tapes of HWA shows are available at www.hwaonline.com.
More of the Les Thatcher interview can be found at www.wrestlingobserver.com.
GUERRERO FIRED
The WWF fired Eddie Guerrero following a recent drunken-driving arrest outside of Tampa. Guerrero, who spent time in a drug rehabilitation center earlier this year, was working in the HWA while training for a WWF comeback.
‘SMACKDOWN’ TICKETS
Tickets for a Dec. 22 WWF Smackdown taping at Orlando’s TD Waterhouse Centre go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ticketmaster outlets. The show will be aired Dec. 27. Ticketmaster’s number is 407-839-3900.
Also, WRBW-Channel 65 has no more Thursday night pre-emptions of Smackdown telecasts scheduled the rest of the NBA season. Smackdown was pre-empted locally Nov. 15 because of an Orlando Magic game.
Q&A;
Q: Will Mark Henry ever make it back to the WWF?
A: Henry has gotten into much better physical shape since being sent to OVW last year, but there currently are no plans for his return. I would expect Henry back at some point because he is making too much money ($250,000 a year) to justify being in a developmental territory much longer.
