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TWF Commissioner Tom Donovan's Interview

TWF Commissioner Tom Donovan's Interview

Posted: Apr 7th 2010 By: mikeiles

BTS - The Truth behind the Tournament

Hello TWF fans, Davis Marsden here, reporting to you the inside scoop from ''Behind The Scenes''! During a phone conversation with Tom Donovan, TWF Commissioner, I was able to get the answers to many questions that I myself, along with the rest of the TWF fans, were asking after the conclusion of the April 3rd show in Seguin TX. If you weren't there you can get the update from the results blog.

Mars: Mr. Donovan, we are curious to know the reasons behind your actions on April 3rd. What led you to turn on your former tag team partner, Les Mayne and align yourself with Dane Griffin?

TD: Hahaha! You know, sometimes I amaze myself Davis. Jimmy Perez never saw it coming. The fans are like sheep. I tell them who to like and what to do, just like Jimmy. This was never about the fans. Everything I did, I did to get at Jimmy Perez. I knew when the Judge ruled in my favor that I would control the TWF, and look at me now!

Mars: Right. But can you address the question on everyone's mind.

TD: Of course I can. Just like I stated Saturday night after laying waste to that puppet, Les Mayne. I carried him. I carried him for over a year and it was time for me to move on.

Mars: And by moving on you mean Dane Griffin?

TD: (laughing) Dane Griffin. You know Dane is of Irish descent just like me. That automatically makes us brothers.

Mars: So how did you manipulate Dane into seeing things your way?

TD: There was no manipulation. You must be as big an idiot as the rest of the TWF fans. Hello! Dane was in it from the beginning. I made it look like I was pulling for Les, but the whole time it was all about Dane.

Mars: But at the start of the tournament, he was never even in consideration. For crying out loud, Jimmy had kids pull names out of a bucket to fill the open spots! How did you ever pull off getting Dane in, if that was your premeditated screw-job?

TD: That was the easiest part. First, Dane approaches Jimmy as a 'long time rival' of mine. Once he was in good with Jimmy, he only had to pretend to like the fans, you know, kiss hands and shake babies, or something like that. Having his name drawn was as easy as him having Jimmy's trust. When Jimmy wasn't looking, I had Dane trash all of the envelopes and replaced them with about eight more, all with his name in them. The rest is history.

Mars: In the semi-final round, how did Brother Luthor come to replace Al Farat? Was Al Farat really hurt in his altercation with Chaz Taylor? And is there any truth to the rumor of "Heat" between you two?

TD: Was Farat really hurt? Probably in his pride. I would have paid him off anyway, just like I did with Luthor. 8 seconds, really? Luthor is a lot stronger than that. I wanted to keep Dane healthy and punish Les. Les was already a beaten man thanks to Wallace Gordon. To coin a phrase, "it was like shooting fish in a barrel.". As far as your rumor goes, Al Farat and I go back for many years. He and I were the first ever 'NWA dual tag team champs', holding both NWA Texas and NWA Oklahoma titles, not to mention three other straps at the same time. Bottom line is this, I know Farat and he knows me. We have problem at the moment, thanks to him hitting me with a spike a few months ago at a NWA show in Houston. We currently don't see eye-to-eye.

Mars: After the match, Dane clobbered Jimmy with the heavyweight title and you began to kick him while he was down. Is that what we can expect from you two next month when you face Jimmy in the ring, one-on-one? Or will it be a mob of your guys attacking Jimmy?

TD: Look when it comes to Jimmy, I can handle him by myself. I don't need a "mob" as you call it. I'm an Irish-American, we live for fight... hey wait a sec. That might be the best thing you've said tonight.

Mars: What might be? What did I say?

TD: Look Marsden, your time is up. I've got some new business to take care of. Mob business (laughs)!

Well gang there you have it. Les is out, Dane is in and we shall see what unfolds as we head to Flippin Arkansas, on April 17th. - DM

 

Tags: Tom Donovan, Les Mayne, Dane Griffin, Al Farat, NWA, NWA Oklahoma

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Spotlight in History

  • 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
05-04
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th Today!
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th Today!
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th Today!
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • Joe Cuedo May 15th
  • Erwin IV May 15th
  • Andrew Bridge May 15th
  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
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  • Kevin Von Erich May 15th
  • Alan Jefferson May 16th
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  • Billy Red Lyons May 17th
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  • Dan Maestro May 17th
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  • J. B. Pain May 17th

More Look Back In History