Post by A Ghost in the Wind on Jul 13, 2015 13:00:23 GMT -5
We open the scene inside of an office of a lofty, South Carolina home. Various action shots of PCW Superstars can be seen lining the walls of the office, including one that the camera lingered on of PCW Hall of Famer and commentator, Ace Anderson.
“I get told we look alike, all the time,” a voice says with a chuckle.
The camera spins, and on the screen is now PCW President Frank Foley, attired in a pair of blue jeans, a tucked in black button-up with the collar loose, and a pair of brown-leather boots.
Frank Foley: Come on in, take a seat. Don't be shy. Begin when you're ready.
PCW Internet Correspondent (and nephew of “The Icemann” Luis Malave) Michael Malone comes into the picture, and it is apparent that he came dressed to impress; Michael is wearing a finely-tailored black suit, and a PCW-blue dress shirt can be seen underneath his suit jacket. Michael takes a seat on a wooden chair, while President Foley follows suit and takes a seat in a large office chair a few feet away. After a few moments, Michael begins.
Michael Malone: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second episode of 10 Questions with Michael Malone. I, of course, am Michael Malone and sitting just a few feet away is PCW President Frank Foley. Mr. Foley, let me just say it's an honor and a privilege to be interviewing you today.
Frank Foley: Ha, there's no need for the brown-nosing, Michael.
Michael Malone: Sorry, Sir.
Frank Foley: Please, call me Frank. Or Mr. Foley. Or Pres. Hell, even call me, Boss. But Sir is not needed.
Michael Malone: Noted. Thank you, Si...I mean, Boss.
Frank Foley: Don't mention it. Now, I assume you're here because you wanted to ask me some questions?
Michael Malone: Most definitely. Alright, so let me begin with the most prominent question I'm hearing right now...
Frank Foley: Go on.
Michael Malone: ...At this past Trauma, 174, you made a somewhat controversial call of honoring The Icemann Invitational Tournament contract that Non Compos Mentis earned and then was basically forced to agree to face Kelli "Dollface" Starr for the International Championship at Return to Glory.
With respect I state as fact that Mentis had every intention of going after Sadistic and the World Championship instead of Kelli and the International Championship, and he was rightfully angry when you enforced the signed contract. Why did you honor the contract when you knew it was signed under distress?
Frank Foley: Now, that's not really fair. We are a professional wrestling company and it's almost a standard occasion in our industry that contract signings don't go as planned when done in the ring. I'd be cheapening the tradition of our industry if I overruled that decision. A decision was made, by Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Rhodes alone, and he decided to go after the International Championship. We all heard Michael Wryght taunting Non Compos Mentis about being one of only two PCW grand slam champions, and we all know NCM was contemplating the idea. So for him to sign the contract, under duress or not, was expected.
What WASN'T expected was Non Compos Mentis putting his hands on me. I am not a competitor and never claimed to be. I am just a man in a very difficult position hoping that he can get the best out of every PCW Superstar. Nothing more, nothing else. I didn't press charges or suspend or strip Mr. Rhodes of his opportunity, and for that I think I should be commended for.
Michael Malone: The first time the PCW Faithful, as well as the boys in the back, met you was at Return to Glory Five back in September 2014 when you restarted a match between Murdoc and then-PCW World Champion Whitey Ford that Murdoc originally won by disqualification.
After the restart of that match, Ford went on to win the match and retain his championship. Throughout the weeks to follow, you and Ford butted heads constantly, and eventually, Whitey Ford lost the World Championship and found his way out of Pure Class Wrestling. Many pro wrestling fans blame you for Whitey's dismissal from Pure Class Wrestling, how would you like to respond to that?
Frank Foley: You know, I've been a fan of Pure Class Wrestling since Pure Class Wrestling competed for national prominence on the MSN Circuit. I was in the building the first night PCW reopened on the Proboards Circuit. I've seen the rise and fall of Jonathan Nordby...
Michael Malone: ... Pegasus for those unfamiliar with Mr. Nordby...
Frank Foley: ...I've witnessed the debuts of Murdoc, Ace Anderson, Lantlas, Angelica Night-Hunter, Tyrone "Crazy Boy" Smith, Loki, Whisper, Kory Kill or Cory Steel or Cory Steel or whatever he's calling himself today, Innovator, Grimm, Gem, Eira...you name 'em, I've seen them start and progress in PCW. You know the difference between Whitey Ford and everyone else? Ford had to contend with me.
I am not Skylar Marshall or Alejandro Walker or even The Icemann himself. I don't play favorites. I play it fair, and I play it by the book. Whitey Ford is no longer in Pure Class Wrestling because he couldn't hack it anymore as a competitor and he refused to follow the rules and guidelines set in place for an organization such as this. That has nothing to do with me and everything to do with him.
Michael Malone: I get a lot of questions on my social media pages, and a lot of people want to know if Whitey Ford will ever be back. How would you answer those questions?
Frank Foley: As you can see, I cleared Mr. Ford accompanying Buck Brochamp at this past Living a Legacy event. I do not have a problem with Whitey Ford the Professional Wrestler. Who I have a problem with is Whitey Ford the Unprofessional Wrestler. When Ford's ready to play ball, he'll be back. Not a second sooner.
Michael Malone: Moving on to something a little more current, there's been a lot of criticism hurled your way over the past several months due to a belief that you've been playing favorites with some of the Superstars in the back, specifically in regards to The Black Hand's dominance of Pure Class Wrestling as of late, as well as Gem's opportunities and rise in Pure Class Wrestling. What do you have to say about that?
Frank Foley: How is awarding performance playing favoritism? At the last set of Icey Awards we conducted, Gem won Best Breakout Star. Before that, we had an internal poll that determined Gem was the Most Underrated performer. Did I rig the voting on those? No. What about when Gem made our World Champion tap-out for the first time in his career? A feat not even The Icemann himself could do. Was that a result of me playing favorites?
I know Eira has gone on record stating I've just GIVEN Gem opportunities, but how so? Did I win the match for Gem when she became the Underground Queen? Did I not take away that title from her when I gave her the opportunity to compete for the PCW North American Championship, a match she lost, by the way?
In regards to me playing favorites with Gem, I find the insinuation laughable...which is why I haven't commentated on that rumor until this interview. Gem, like Nathan Saniti, Kelli Starr, Stormm, and any other Superstar we have in Pure Class Wrestling, has earned her shots. What she does with those opportunities are her's and her's alone.
Now, in regards to The Black Hand, that's even more laughable than the Gem insinuations. Let me go on record and make it clear: I do NOT condone the actions of The Black Hand....But, as long as they're playing within the rules of not only PCW but of professional wrestling as a whole, who am I to judge and say otherwise?
Sadistic is our World Champion and is one of the most dominant champions I've ever witnessed compete in a PCW ring. Lantlas and Ace Anderson were great, but Sadistic has been on equal, if not better, footing than both of those Hall of Famers.
"Mr. Showtime" Michael Wryght is the current PCW North American Champion, made it all the way to the finals of The Icemann Invitational Tournament, and is a former Tag Team, International, and World Champions; He deserves all the respect that he has earned.
And Grimm? Do I even have to tell you about Grimm?
That trio hasn't been favored...they've gone on to earn everything they have. Again, I say, I do not condone their actions, but I do condone their effectiveness. I just wish they were a little more respectful to the rest of the PCW roster, but I can't force them to show respect, can I?
Michael Malone: I guess you can't. But can you tell us a little bit about your plans for the returning PCW Tag Team Championships?
Frank Foley: I will tell you this: The PCW Tag Team Championships WILL return at the appropriately-named Return to Glory. At Trauma 176...the home of the next edition of The Iceys...we will have two matches, and those two matches will determine the two teams that will square off for the PCW Tag Team Championships. What those two matches are at T176...you'll have to wait for the official card...but what I can tell you is that the last PCW Tag Team Champions...after a few years hiatus...Tha UnHoly Alliance of "The Anarchist" Jason Willard and Johnny "Loco" Marquez...the PCW Hall of Famers...will be returning to PCW and will be in contention for those titles.
Michael Malone: Whoa! That's huge news- Tha UnHoly Alliance is coming back to PCW, and as soon as the next edition of Trauma! But let me switch gears for a moment, we do not know much about you from a personal perspective. What kind of things does our PCW President like?
Frank Foley: That's an interesting one, thanks. Honestly, you'd be surprised at how much time PCW activities take up in my daily life. It's not just the shows on Tuesdays and the Pay Per Views. There's a lot more to it than that, including a lot of travel. I'm not complaining though. I like to keep busy and PCW is very important to me. In the spare time that I have, though? I like to relax with a good book, spend time with those I care about and I love a good barbecue. Plus, I enjoy karaoke.
Michael Malone: *chuckles* I don't want to brag, but I'm the best karaoke singer you'll never hear. But tell me, as a fan, who are some of your favorite PCW Personalities?
Frank Foley: Honestly, it's hard for me to separate myself from my job and be 'a fan' at all these days. Plus, I'm well aware that anything I say here could be taken the wrong way. You said so yourself that people are already accusing me of favoritism, despite how untrue that is. I don't need to fuel any fires or start any rumors.
Now, back when I was a fan before I became President? Of course there were competitors that I enjoyed watching more than others. There were too many to name, in fact.
Michael Malone: Come on, Boss. You got to give us something.
Frank Foley: Okay, if I must, honestly, all of the champions in our Company impress me. They have achieved the peak of the profession and that's impressive. Of course, Gem and Eira at this point as well. They've battled their way into the World Title scene once again, against all odds.
Of course, the PCW is so competitive that just about everyone is impressive. I don't want to sound like a shill, but it's true. The level of skill and competition in this company is what drew me to it initially and what I still love that about it. I guess you could say I'm a PCW fan. Or...a member of the Faithful, as you will.
Michael Malone: Oh, your fandom is definitely something we've taken note of. Let me ask you, how is your relationship with the PCW Management brass? I'm talking about PCW Owners and A Ghost in the Wind Luis Malave and Skylar Marshall, the Board of Trustees...the works.
Frank Foley: I know this is going to sound like a very political answer, but I get along with pretty much everyone. I don't think we're on each other's personal Christmas lists or anything...and I'm okay with that; I get along with them pretty decently.
For instance, Skylar and I love to talk business and politics...my liberal views don't blend very well with his conservativeness, but we enjoy the conversations that we have. And Luis has always been professional with me. There are things he insists that I don't always agree with it, but he's the boss, so what can you do?
Michael Malone: As a man who has experience with dealing with The Icemann...*chuckles*...I can understand that way of thinking. Has he brought you to one of his Chick 'N' Strip's yet?
Frank Foley: He's tried to but I've turned down his requests. I prefer my meetings in an actual boardroom.
Michael Malone: That's fair, but if you get the chance, you should most definitely check it out. For my last question, I'd like to bring up The Icey Awards and this year's Hall of Fame inductee Nacho Grande. What led you making that call to bring the Fast Food Luchadore in the Hall?
Frank Foley: For one, it wasn't completely my decision, but I am thrilled by it nonetheless. Nacho Grande was, and still is, a great ambassador for the PCW brand. He showed kids...and people in general...that you don't have to look like a Justin Michaels or Michael Wryght to make it in this business nor do you have to be some kind of monster like Murdoc or sadists like Sadistic, Grimm, and NCM.
Nacho was just a fan of the sport who put everything he had on the line every single time he stepped in the ring...and he did that for the love of the sport and for the joy of those in attendance. He may not have found singles success, but he is one of the best tag team specialists that Pure Class Wrestling has ever seen.
He is truly a PCW success story and I hope everyone tuning into this broadcast will tune into The Iceys to help honor Nacho's ascension into the PCW Hall of Fame. And if that's not a good enough reason to tune into The Iceys, remember, we're going to be rewarding PCW Superstars with Icey Awards all night AND we have two awesome matches to boot. If you don't tune into that, then you're not a fan of professional wrestling.
Michael Malone: I couldn't have said it any better myself. But...*turning to the camera*...folks, we're out of time. Thank you for watching and please tune in next time where I will be interviewing...well, you're going to have to wait for the press release, but it'll be a doosey! I'm Michael Malone and he was President Frank Foley and this has been 10 Questions! Take care now!