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Brandon Bishop Interview

Posted: Feb 9th 2011 By: CMBurnham

This is an interview I had with Indy wrestler and owner of Indy wrestling promotion Brandon Bishop about his time in Oklahoma, Current Issues and Wrestling in general.

How?s everything in ACW these days and can you believe you?re heading into your 10th year?

ACW is actually in a transitional hiatus right now. A self inflicted break from the strain of living for wrestling, but not making a living from wrestling. We did more shows in more markets and venues last year than we?ve ever done. After a brief, but since repaired issue with one venue recently, I just needed to step away from it for a little while. It?s nice to do that once in awhile, see who still stands by you when you not offering them anything. Those are called friends, and true genuine people, thankfully ACW still has a ton of them, and I appreciate everyone of them. The ones that fade off save me the time and efforts of trimming the fat in ACW, and I thank them as well. But We have HUGE plans and a million things in the works.. our own Venue, TV, possibly national (hopefully), New training center, New web design, new workers, some big names, just NEW NEW NEW... I?m considering a new logo, merch, ring, everything... I?ve never been more excited to be honest with you. Of course it can all go to poop at an instant, but everything is looking great...


You?re pushing a decade in the ring yourself, what tolls have been taken physically in that time? And are you thinking of hanging up the boots like a lot of the guys you started with have been lately?

Well, everything hurts sometimes, but it?s an acquired hurt. I?m quite used to the neck issues, and the back issues, it?s just a cause and effect of the fun we have. We?re all sick people that do this to ourselves, and those who are NOT sick in the head, usually either quit or suck really bad at it. I?ve been lucky though, nothing major as far as injuries or trauma. I?ve broken my big toe, some ribs (twice) dislocated each shoulder, right knee, my neck needs work, my lower back needs work, three fingers, my wrist, bruised my hip badly twice, cracked skull (Thanks Gary!) and a hundred or two gig marks... I?d say that i?m lucky for the type of work I do in the ring. I love setting the example and stealing the highlight of the night when I can. Someone has to... In ACW I like to lead by example... As far as hanging up the boots, I have Two goals before I do so.. Work William Regal and have a match with my son (Who?s 3 right now) I may slow way the hell down, but hanging them up? Nah... I?m better than I?ve ever been right now, The whole deal has clicked in my head, feeling the crowds, improv, in ring pysche, it?s all SO second nature to me right now and I?ve never had more fun wrestling than I do right now. I?m one of MAYBE 4-5 guys in this circuit with anything close to as much experience as i?ve got now, and i?m in a good spot, t?s still fun, i?m still healthy, old, chubby, but healthy... I have a few years left for sure.. Then the retirement tour will start... Angel, Se7en, O?Malley, Dean, Candy Mann, Jason Noal, Chris Von Luhr, Zorthos, Payton, Uncle Mikey Quinn, Carnage... etc... We?re all going to dance one more time before I give up the full time status...

Recently you?ve had a SNAFU of sorts in ACW concerning "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, and Vader, and Dawn Marie with Wrestling Rescue, What?s the real deal with that?

Well I?ve said everything I can say about that on Facebook etc. It?s pretty simple, you want to know where the money is that we raised for Doc after his tribute show? Ask Dawn Marie and Wrestler?s Rescue... Money was sent and I heard nothing back from anyone. I chose not to raise a fuss about it and have faith in her and her organization, if she didn?t give anything to Doc?s family, then that?s on her conscious, mine is clear... No one but me saw the money come from the door, go into a 7-11 Money Order, and get mailed to an address in New Jersey.. No One saw it, and why should they have? So I?m waiting for the big proof reveal.. Haha.. Basically, The Bottom Line is that I had some disagreements with some certain people, they wanted to have all our mutual people on THEIR side, so they dug up this garbage and laid it out there, and in the process are basically shitty all over an amazing tribute we had for an amazing man. Like i?ve said a hundred times, I?m not an amazing business man, sure ACW is heading into 9 years, but still.. not amazing by any means... I?m not a perfect human being either... I?ve done a million things i?ve regretted and made a million mistakes but I?ve learned from every single one of them. Of course the drama starved faction that started this crap have amazingly perfect lives, and have ALL ran successful businesses... yeah.. no... I am very proud of everything we?ve done for Doc, and if he were here, he would be as well. He was an amazing person and I miss him dearly. We were only able to raise like 530 bucks that night, an I felt like shit about such a low number, but it was what it what... I didn?t control the shirt money that should have gone to him, nor did I ever hear if Dawn got it, or anything from Dawn period. We were supposed to get stuff to auction off for Doc from her, but never got that either. So, what should I do? Cry, Bitch, Moan, Accuse, Scream, slander? Nope.. I?ll leave that to the simple minded idiots without a life outside of Indy wrestling drama, I have no time for it. But what we WILL do is give 10% of our gate to Doc?s fund (NOT WRESTLER?S RESCUE!!!) but one we will start ourselves, I will place several people in charge of it, and for as long as we run, we?ll donate to help our friend. Not because we feel guilty about anything at all, but because it seems like a nice thing to do, and we actually have been meaning to do that all along. Will that ease the trouble minds of our nay sayers? Don?t care... VADER can spew whatever VADER wants to, I respect his contribution to the game, but his reputation of being an asshole is well documented, and just about everyone I know can vouch on that one. VADER and I had a big disagreement before and during the Doc tribute show, but afterwards, with tears in his eyes, he apologized for everything and I thought we were on good terms. Truthfully, I?d be IRRATE if I heard that one of my friends stole money from a charity for Doc, I?d be leading the charge if I had proof and knew it were true... But in this case, there is no proof, there was no theft, (at least not on my end) and it simple DID NOT happen. Bring on the lie detectors! Bring on the hot seat! You?ll get much of the same kids...

What were your fondest memories of Dr. Death?

We had only met in person about 10 times. I remember at first being a little weary of him, because most bigger legends in the sport are kind of assholes when their careers lead them to little nuggets in the business like ACW, but from second ONE Doc was about the nicest guy i?ve met in all of the business. I?d been a fan of his for years and now I?m sitting next to him at Famous Daves. That first show in June 2008 told me everything I needed to know about the man. Easy to work with, up for doing just about anything, and he had an infectious personality. That first night I gave him a designer watch that cost nearly a thousand bucks, Sure I got them sponsored to me at a huge discount, but he appreciated it more than anyone appreciated anything I?ve ever given them. The second time he came out I paid him for his booking in a $120 Italian Leather wallet. No one talks about this stuff do they? I?m not looking for a pat on the back or a giant cookie, but when people say ACW ripped him off, well maybe they should see how much we didn?t rip him off. Months later we put him in the ACW Hall Of Respect. He wasn?t feeling great, so I didn?t make him wrestle like he was paid to do, he just came out, we cut him off, gave him a giant poster of him in ACW, chanted his name and said THANK YOU for everything he?s done for us and wrestling in general... Again, he was astonished and thanked us over and over again... No cookie please... Just stating facts.. On August 15th 2009, Doc retired in Asylum Championship Wrestling. He and Franco tore the roof off the building doing very little, but they didn?t have to. Doc gave us the greatest honor i?ve ever had in wrestling, and ended his storied career in our ring. It was one of the greatest things I?ve ever seen in wrestling, and easily the greatest thing anyone there had been a part of.. It was as real as anything that?s ever taken place in a ring, Dawn Marie was there, videos from Lawler, Demolition, Greg Valentine, and the roster and crowd gave him everything he deserved... I love that footage... Afterwards I paid him $800 when he was only booked for $500, we hung out a bit and I never saw him again... No one mentions that, because I never told anyone that.. why would I? Just like Why Would I post to everyone how much and when and where the money was sent... Anyways, I?m way off the question here.. Get a little fired up over these idiots...
My best memories with Doc were actually on the phone... We talked for hours about everything, and I felt lucky to be a part of that. We?d talk until he physically couldn?t talk no more because of his throat. We talked about our kids, our lives, he never liked the fact that I didn?t believe in God, but we always got past it. I miss being able to call him with ideas and hear him laugh about some of the silly shit I wrote. That?s what I miss the most...

What, if anything , do you miss about The Oklahoma/Texas Wrestling Circuit And having ACW here? Any names or promotions besides ACW you miss working for and with?

Not a single thing, screw that place!!! I?m kidding... I miss the boys... never really had much fun working in OKC or Tulsa back then, but ACW in Wichita Falls was way too much fun. Just a Rated R show with bad words and ridiculous storylines.. Guys like O?Malley, Angel, Chris Matthews, SE7EN, Zorthos, Payton, Tyler, Kenny, Joe, Magnus, and a host of other.. That?s really where I learned to write and put stories together. We never had a truly deep talent roster, but we always packed the places and had a lot of fun. I don?t miss the politics and DOUCHE mentality some have up there though. I missed a GPCW gig up there once as their champion because I was shitting myself dry and throwing up just as much, and the drive from Colorado to Cache, OK would have ben insanely miserable. Carnage told me not to come, and as my SECOND EVER missed gig, I felt like shit for ever about it, and still do because I wanted that match with Chris more than anything. It would have been a blood bath that very few can have. So a year or two later some nit wits out there still have heat about it, without ever talking to me, and got me UNBOOKED from a card. Just dumb shit. This is supposed to be a business, yes, but a FUN business you morons! Get your head straight! Until you sign a mutli figure contract with a big league, you?re not shit. Nor am I... Do what?s best for the shows, have as much fun as you can have, and calm the hell down already... I love how guys that I helped start in wrestling are now the kingpins around there... Funny stuff... I plan on doing an ACW 10th Anniversary show in Lawton in 2012, with all the old faces and character, as well as the cream of the current crop from Colorado.. It?ll be a blast.. Not for money, not to get over, not to compete with anyone, but to have FUN!!! Sometimes people forget why they?re doing it... I never have...

With Wrestlemania coming up, what are your predictions and your take on the state of wrestling today?

Current state? Well, GOOD! Arena are packed every night of the week. Ratings are good, The workers are better than ever, I?m still a fan.. nothing really bad going on... I know the SMARKS think wrestling is shit and thy long for the original ECW and the ATTITUDE era, well.. grow up people.. PG equals money.. Sorry.. Watch TNA?s horrid product if you want gore and bad story lines. I remember the attitude era, Yeah Austin and DX etc. were awesome... But I can also remember Los Boriquas feuding with the DOA, the Truth Commission etc etc.. Wrestling is better now than it has ever been... It?ll come around to you liking slowly.. then again, SMARKS only make up 10% of the overall product... I enjoy this time of year for Wrestling, The Royale Rumble is always fun, the Hall of Fame is my favorite gimmick WWE does, or course the BIG show. JUst a great way to start off better weather and kick off ALL of wrestling in a whole...

You mentioned that ACW might be getting it?s own venue soon and even the possibility of national TV. How?s that all going ?

Yeah, we have investors and we?ve been looking at real estate, it?s all very exciting. I?d love a cozy little venue that we can run every SAturday, run the school three days a week, and use it for who know?s what else. IZW has a great set up, They?ve passed ACW up in a lot a ways, and I need to catch up to them quickly. There?s always jealousy and motivation caused by other promotions, whether they?re next door or 10 hours away. As far as TV, the talks are long and annoying, but they?re still talks and it?s still exciting. I do all my own video editing, so I?ll have the exact product I want out there. I need to get better, but I will... And again, I usually don?t spew rumors and inside stuff, it may all fall to crap, but It?s looking really good.

Who were some guys in Oklahoma or in Colorado that you wished you had more of a chance to work with?

I?m always the guy on the card that wants to make the overall product better, I think I proved that In IZW and certainly with my own product. I know I?ll get over one way or another, but I want to entire card to shine. I would have liked to have worked more with every promoter in the circuit. John Zorthos and I would have been an unstoppable force between our combined skills and assets. We just didn?t get to that spot. I love production and realism and just finding ways to connect with crowds, I could have been a good asset for any other promotion in that circuit as a lot of them didn?t know how to do ANY of that. As far as In Ring stuff, Dexter Hardaway and I could have had some great matches, especially now... All the guys I mentioned on my retirement tour of course, and just about everyone that looked down on Brandon Bishop back then as a promoter or a worker, those without faith in me. I love knowing now that my promotional skills AND in ring skills have surpassed yours long ago. At least in most opinions... I had a lot of fun in that circuit and it?ll always be the place I first cut my teeth in wrestling. I am grateful for having awesome friendships with many people from that era, who still hit the ACW ring from time to time... Unlike many here, they KNOW where ACW came from, and they KNOW the work that?s gone into making it what it is today... They appreciate it, and that?s al I need.

There was a long standing personal rivalry between you and Johnny Z, the owner of IZW in Lawton. One minute you were friends and working together, the next moment bitter enemies, what were the problems about and where do you guys stand now?

Well he killed Payton Scott... I couldn?t have him killing off members of my roster, so things got tense... Nah.. Actually John and have have been the best of friends and the worst of enemies... We?re two totally different people, yet very much the same if that makes any sense. He will always be my brother, I?ll always respect him for what he?s created in IZW, and for the man he?s become outside of wrestling. I?m sure he feels the same. John and I are fine these days, we talk once a month maybe, and I?m super proud of him. We both know that wrestling is just wrestling, though John and I are more passionate about it than 99% of the people that surround us. Sometimes that passion makes us do dumb shit and make wrong decisions, but that?s who we are. John helped me out tremendously a few times, and he?s shit in my mouth a few times as well. Who cares? It was all years ago! I?d love to do a run in IZW again, and hope I get to at some point, but back to the politics and powers that be. It is what it is.. He?s always welcomed in ACW and I hope someday he takes that offer.

Any last comments?

Are you seriously asking the infamous Brandon Bishop to cut a promo without direction? Will you have enough ink or space on the web host? I?ll be nice I guess... I?m happy with my place in Wrestling, I?m excited about the steps ACW is taking, and as far as all the drama caused by those who seemingly crave it like Zombies crave brains, I?m above it... Brandon Bishop is a happy guy... I stopped writing my book because too much happens to change it almost daily... My Son, Little Brandon is amazing, I have a good life here in Colorado, some rough patches, but who doesn?t have them... Most don?t have them advertised on FB by grown men acting like teenage girls, but like I said I?m above it... I?m trying this new things from here on out called ?Killing people with Kindness? It?ll all start with you.. ?Thanks for the interview, it was enlightening and fun to brush stuff off my chest like a rough booger you sneezed out...? Thanks!