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Jerry Oates Interview Recap

Posted: Jan 28th 2007 By: CMBurnham

On January 23rd, Wrestling Weekly hosts Doc Young and Les Thatcher were joined by Bryan Alvarez (F4W Online) for"Hot Topic", Jerry Oates - the former owner of GCW and Lizzy Valentine of Wrestling Society X. Wrestling Weekly airs every Tuesday at 8pm Eastern at www.wrestlingweekly.com.

Bryan Alvarez was guest for the hot topic of the week. Alvarez discussed a variety of interesting topics with Doc & Les - the twenty releases by WWE, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Seth Skywire, Jack Bull, The Bashams, Bill DeMott, Dr Tom Pritchard's return to WWE as head trainer for Deep South Wrestling, about a Dr Tom seminar which he attended, MVP and more.

Jerry Oates is the first featured guest, he mentions that himself and Les go back to 1970. Les highlights that Jerry ran a gym, was a wrestler, promoter, involved with body building shows and now is planning on getting back in the business, running a wrestling school. Les talks about how everybody knew Jerry Oates in Columbus, Georgia. Jerry discusses how he's looking forward to getting back in the business and working with his brother. Les states how that himself and Jerry have been in wrestling for along time and have earned respect the hard way. Jerry tells his students it takes around a year to get in the business, Les Thatcher talks about when he ran the HWA (when it was a development territory for WWE), he recommended six months to his students. Les tells anyone who wants to be a pro-wrestler and told that they will be trained in a few months to keep their money as both himself and Jerry Oates agree it's not possible in that time.

Jerry talks about his brother-in-law Dick Steinborn, who he stated many referred to as the "greatest talent to put on a pair of boots". He highlights that Dick asked him what he had to offer the wrestling game and Jerry states he was stuck for an answer. Steinborn then asked Jerry Oates if he could beat Jack Brisco and later found out no one could beat him. Oates emphasises that by his brother-in-law saying "what do you have to offer" made a point. Jerry then talks about ability, learning and picking up things from working with other wrestlers. Oates then says he hasn't asked anyone if they wanted to be a wrestler, they have to come to you. Les says that some people who get trained don't really earn respect or have any respect for the wrestling business.

Jerry and Les then have an interesting discussion about wrestling promoters, independent shows and that they had to earn respect from the veterans. Les makes a good point on today's wrestling that it's "more about the sizzle then the steak". He makes another interesting point during his retelling of a story he told an upcoming wrestler who wanted a name on his tights. Les highlighted that it's more important to learn how to work in the ring first, have a match and worry about that before deciding the stuff (like names etc.) which will come eventually. Jerry talks about himself and brother Ted training wrestlers who include Greg Brown and Marty Jannetty, who he states was a good amateur wrestler, learned, listened and did very well for himself.
Les then talks about Marty Jannetty's match with Kurt Angle and talks about how the independent should watch the match as it makes sense and they told a story. Jerry Oates makes a good point that some people have talent (referring to Marty, who he said had the talent in him) and some don't. You can teach them holds, but not timing and makes analogies to basketball and Football. Oates says that most matches today are the same. Les discusses Ring of Honor and their top matches; highlights the sixty minute matches which Joe/Punk had and Danielson/McGuiness and states that Jerry Oates would appreciate and lovethese matches. Jerry then highlights that fans will appreciate wrestling and Les states that people will buy it if they know how to sell it; Jerry makes a point saying that nobody knows how to do it. Les then talks about how having a match with psychology takes hard work. Jerry says he was surrounded by great talent and learned from and states there is no one to teach them anymore. Both highlight you have to rise to the occasion, work with others who are better than you as it's the only way you'll learn.

Les then discusses how he had wrestlers go to another promotion and they worked with wrestlers less talented and how over time their talent eventually began diminishing, which relates to the points which himself and Oates were making about aspiring wrestlers having to work with better wrestlers to improve their in-ring ability. Doc asks Jerry Oates if still keeps up to date with wrestling on TV and Oates replies he never watches it. Les then talks about James Guttman who stated to him and Doc that some wrestlers he interviewed don't want wrestling today either.
Jerry highlights that today's wrestling is degrading. Les states how the business has evolved, but there's not a story. Jerry highlights that Leo Garabaldi was one of the greatest minds he's ever been around and was twenty years ahead of his time. He then tells a story about working in Texas and that "if you have no talent, you have nothing" - in reference to pro-wrestling and Oates states he has never forgot that. Les agrees that Leo was ahead of it's time and that Garabaldi was one of the bookers in Atlanta who built up Mr Wrestling. Les states that Georgia Championship Wrestling ran in the same state (unlike other territories which ran elsewhere) and that the Andersons, Mr. Wrestling II were top guys for a number of years - part of which was because of Leo Garabaldi. Les emphasises to Jerry Oates to watch Ring of Honor DVDs and highlights who he should watch, naming Pro-Wrestling NOAH's Kenta, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness. He then continues stating that Gabe Sapolsky is head booker, who worked for Paul Heyman in ECW and has a fertile mind like Paul E too. Doc and Les thanks Jerry for being a guest and that Les highlights that Jerry has been his friend for many years and is a class act, an honest man, worked for and with him. Jerry Oates thanks Les for his kind words and appreciates Doc and Les for having him on the show.