Post by MSW Admin on Sept 2, 2014 0:17:44 GMT -6
**PER STORYLINE THE ACADEMY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED BY FORCLOSURE**
Above is an image outside of the Emerald Academy. Founded in 2006 by MSW's Co-Head of Talent Relations and current Commissioner, Drew Stevenson, to bring technical wrestling back into the circuit during a time when Hardcore Wrestling was at an all time high and instill the old school values of respect back into the business. These were values that Drew was raised in by Uncle and MSW CEO/Promoter, Danny Stevenson, and with a lack of it in the business it was time for him to change things, which included him investing every penny he had at the time into the business, taking a huge risk. As time went on, and Drew's popularity began to flourish as well as his finances he began to grow and expand the Academy to what it is today.
The Emerald Academy consists of 23 thousand square feet, five training rings, state of the art weight and production equipment used to hone their in-ring skills as well as serve for rehabilitation for when a star may be injured and out for a period of time. The Academy also has a promo room specialized to help talents with their promo abilities.
The Emerald Academy up until earlier this year was used as a wrestling school; and still is but with other purposes as well which include being a training facility for anybody hired under the Missouri State Wrestling banner. The school has produced talents and many former world champions such as Scotty Addams and Kevin Sane, also including other talents pre-MSW such as Matt Ward, David & Bobby Langford, Noah Adelaide, and Steven Marion, just to give some examples.
The Emerald Academy has a number of trainers from all over the business that have earned their keep and that Drew has personally contacted, as he does with all of his trainers, taking great pride and joy into the business that he started from the ground up. From Left to Right:
Scotty Addams (Eddie Edwards): Current ICWA Heavyweight Champion; trained by Drew Stevenson and was the first graduate of the Emerald Academy training school. It took Scotty a while to find where he wanted to be in the business, working his way through the independents before making his way to the mainstream level. Traveling the road with Drew for years, learning how to be one of the strongest hybrid wrestlers in the business with a high risk style and a technical wrestling style. He, as most anybody in the Academy, is great and either side of the coin. Scotty teaches ring work and psychology.
Frank Washington (Seth Rollins): Current MSW Wrestler, originally from New Orleans out of the Cajun Wrestle Factory before relocating to San Jose several years ago. Catching fire on the independent circuit in 2007 he would go on to find success in virtually every company he wrestled for as he traveled North America and Europe frequently putting on “Match of the Night” performances. Originally he wrestled a more high risk style he scaled it back over the years in favor of a more technical and mat based style of wrestling out of injury concerns to prolong his career and his health. While firmly entrenched as an Indy mainstay he has cracked the national wrestling scene several times before finding his stride in ICWA’s most recent season with a future World Title match likely in the cards during the next season. Having been a part of several successful wrestling groups including The Uprising, Jokers Wild, and Washington’s Republic he brings a wide spectrum of knowledge to the table as both a wrestler and a manager. Like most in the Emerald Academy he can work either side of the coin but is most established as a heel in most territories outside of Missouri. Frank teaches ring work, psychology, and managerial dynamics between an agent and client.
Mark Robertson (Bobby Heenan): Mark has traveled the road with Drew for many years now, debuting by his side during the "Mr. Mainstream" era in San Antonio, Texas. Mark just joined the MSW commentary table recently following Back to Basics 2014 and is great when it comes to the promo, speaking for Drew on many occasions. He has a lot of experience on that microphone and he focuses on teaching and working with people on the promo.
Taylor "Wallstreet" McCallister (Triple H): Taylor is best known for being the owner of ICWA, being written off of Television as the authority figure a few years ago to handle things more on the back end of the company with it being on the road and such. He's an experienced man of the business, a jack of all trades and a former champion just about anywhere he's ever been on the road. Baby-Face or heel, it doesn't matter. He's a big fan of the old school mentality as well, and a good friend for years to that of Drew Stevenson and Scotty Addams, and more recently Frank Washington. Giant and Danny Stevenson have been working with him as road agents for the past few years and Danny also served as a liaison between ICWA and then-Kansas City based developmental territory, Kansas City Wrestling. Taylor works in the ring and on the mic, focusing on character and promos.
Burt Busch (Ron White): Burt is known best from his time serving at the commentary table for ICWA. Burt Busch has been in the business since 1982 and has a great knowledge of professional wrestling, especially old school professional wrestling (credit: ICWA), which makes him also perfect for the Academy. Burt, being part of ICWA creative for as long as he has makes him a great addition to add to our 'Character' division where he joins Taylor in helping our wrestlers build their character and express it through promo.
Alex Smith (David Letterman): MSW’s Play by Play Announcer is best known for his work outside of the wrestling ring. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan he has worked from every aspect of the wrestling business from the backstage, film and production, commentary, ring announcing, time keeping, managing wrestlers at ringside, and even winning his only match in a wrestling ring Alex Smith has definitely done it all in 40+ years in the industry. He has had the privilege to call wrestling matches for 3 different companies within the past 7 years; he hosted his own radio show from Grand Rapids called “Unscripted! With Alex Smith” before returning to the industry in Spring of 2013. Having been a Baby-Face for majority of his career, managing them and calling their matches this is a man that when he tells you how to be a good guy, you listen.
"Infamous" Jacob Mitchell (Randy Orton): Jake is a 4th generation athlete, being followed by his father Megastar Mitchell, and is succeeded by his nephew Cryse Treborn. Jake is one of, if not the single best bad guy in the business. From his run with the infamous, no pun intended, group known as the nWs and being a former ICWA and PWT World Heavyweight Champion, he came into his own over the past 10 years or so and became the one guy that when he showed up, you didn't want to mess with. Jake's dad, Megastar Mitchell, another legend of the territories, being the man who trained Drew Stevenson there's been a tie to Jake and Drew for a long time. On camera they're bitter rivals, but behind the scenes they could be seen as best of friends. Jake always gets into his opponents heads and never holds anything back, being knowledgeable in psychology. Jake comes on to work on Promos, Character and Ring Psychology. Want to learn how to be one of the best bad guys, or how to fight back against one? Jake's your man.
"The Southern Heartthrob" Christian Michaels (Matt Hardy): CM as he's better known to his peers, is one of the single most over, southern good ol' boys you'll ever meet. Massive baby-face wherever he goes and a former W2K, PWT and ICWA World's Heavyweight Champion. On camera he and Jacob Mitchell have had one of the most storied rivalries over the past decade and these two men together could teach you everything you need to know. Christian loves his Dr. Pepper and loves to joke around but when it comes down to business, he's all about business. Having feuded with some of the best bad guys in the business, like Jacob Mitchell, having even been a bad guy for a brief moment in time himself he's one of the best that you could have, joining this mega team of trainers. Want to be the best good guy you can be? Christian focuses his teachings on the promo, ring psychology and character.
Kit Black (Maria): Kit Black is a very well seasoned female wrestler and not just in women's divisions. She's know across other circuits to be one of the top inter-gender competitors where allowed, as well. Kit's biggest notoriety comes from being the only three time ICWA Women's Champion, but she dominated a Chicago based mainstream company and went from the bottom to the top becoming a major fan favorite, capturing their championship at the end. Kit's presence in the ring and her long standing relationship with Scotty and Drew, through Scotty's marriage is what got her eye on the Academy and the prospecting talent coming forward out of the Academy to the wrestling world, or just the MSW talent in general, got Kit to want to work with the Academy. Kit is one of the most loved women in the entire business and works with the wrestlers on ring presence and character development.
Tani Lyons (Sasha Banks): Nowadays Tani is known more-so as Scotty's wife due to being out of the ring full-time, outside of the occasional independent show here and there but now she joins best friend Kit Black and husband Scotty Addams at the Academy. Tani's most successful run in the business was 08-10 when she was ICWA Women's Champion, as well as Women's champion in the same Chicago based promotion that Kit dominated just a few years later. That promotion is where Tani and Scotty initially met. Tani joins the academy as a trainer to help develop our future Women of Tradition into ring masters along with all of the other trainers. Tani's job is getting hands on in the ring, focusing on ring work and ring psychology. Tani is specific to training the WoT.
Above is an image outside of the Emerald Academy. Founded in 2006 by MSW's Co-Head of Talent Relations and current Commissioner, Drew Stevenson, to bring technical wrestling back into the circuit during a time when Hardcore Wrestling was at an all time high and instill the old school values of respect back into the business. These were values that Drew was raised in by Uncle and MSW CEO/Promoter, Danny Stevenson, and with a lack of it in the business it was time for him to change things, which included him investing every penny he had at the time into the business, taking a huge risk. As time went on, and Drew's popularity began to flourish as well as his finances he began to grow and expand the Academy to what it is today.
The Emerald Academy consists of 23 thousand square feet, five training rings, state of the art weight and production equipment used to hone their in-ring skills as well as serve for rehabilitation for when a star may be injured and out for a period of time. The Academy also has a promo room specialized to help talents with their promo abilities.
The Emerald Academy up until earlier this year was used as a wrestling school; and still is but with other purposes as well which include being a training facility for anybody hired under the Missouri State Wrestling banner. The school has produced talents and many former world champions such as Scotty Addams and Kevin Sane, also including other talents pre-MSW such as Matt Ward, David & Bobby Langford, Noah Adelaide, and Steven Marion, just to give some examples.
The Emerald Academy has a number of trainers from all over the business that have earned their keep and that Drew has personally contacted, as he does with all of his trainers, taking great pride and joy into the business that he started from the ground up. From Left to Right:
Drew Stevenson (Matt Hughes): Founder/Owner of the Emerald Academy, wrestling legend and Co-Head of Talent Relations and current Commissioner of MSW. Multiple time World Champion and current part-time wrestler and a Master of technical wrestling and loves the old school style. Trained by Megastar Mitchell, a man that went to bat with Danny Stevenson countless times, some could even say they were rivals. Drew is known to be one of the biggest and best baby-faces in the business, as well as one of the best heels in the business when given the opportunity. Drew teaches ring work and Ring Psychology.
Danny Stevenson (Dusty Rhodes): Older in age now, but was once a major wrestler of the territory days and founder, Drew's uncle and CEO of Missouri State Wrestling. Known for his great feuds and fantastic matches, never the bad guy and one of the most resilient baby-faces the business has ever known. He knows the in's and out's of the business and isn't afraid to tell the people how it is, ever. Just because he can't take a bump anymore doesn't mean he can't tell you how to do it. Danny teaches some ring work but due to not being able to really go anymore, he focuses on Ring Psychology and the art of the Promo.
Giant (Sting): Better known to the ring as "Giant" he has been around the wrestling business since 2003 he got his start into his late 20s and became a wrestling legend in his own right. He's a big man and is another one of the greats on both sides of the coin. Being a former 9 time World Champion and helping train many others most notably Scotty Addams, training him along side of Drew Stevenson, his career was cut short but he has a name that carries on. Giant focuses his training on Ring Psychology and Ring Awareness.
Danny Stevenson (Dusty Rhodes): Older in age now, but was once a major wrestler of the territory days and founder, Drew's uncle and CEO of Missouri State Wrestling. Known for his great feuds and fantastic matches, never the bad guy and one of the most resilient baby-faces the business has ever known. He knows the in's and out's of the business and isn't afraid to tell the people how it is, ever. Just because he can't take a bump anymore doesn't mean he can't tell you how to do it. Danny teaches some ring work but due to not being able to really go anymore, he focuses on Ring Psychology and the art of the Promo.
Giant (Sting): Better known to the ring as "Giant" he has been around the wrestling business since 2003 he got his start into his late 20s and became a wrestling legend in his own right. He's a big man and is another one of the greats on both sides of the coin. Being a former 9 time World Champion and helping train many others most notably Scotty Addams, training him along side of Drew Stevenson, his career was cut short but he has a name that carries on. Giant focuses his training on Ring Psychology and Ring Awareness.
Scotty Addams (Eddie Edwards): Current ICWA Heavyweight Champion; trained by Drew Stevenson and was the first graduate of the Emerald Academy training school. It took Scotty a while to find where he wanted to be in the business, working his way through the independents before making his way to the mainstream level. Traveling the road with Drew for years, learning how to be one of the strongest hybrid wrestlers in the business with a high risk style and a technical wrestling style. He, as most anybody in the Academy, is great and either side of the coin. Scotty teaches ring work and psychology.
Frank Washington (Seth Rollins): Current MSW Wrestler, originally from New Orleans out of the Cajun Wrestle Factory before relocating to San Jose several years ago. Catching fire on the independent circuit in 2007 he would go on to find success in virtually every company he wrestled for as he traveled North America and Europe frequently putting on “Match of the Night” performances. Originally he wrestled a more high risk style he scaled it back over the years in favor of a more technical and mat based style of wrestling out of injury concerns to prolong his career and his health. While firmly entrenched as an Indy mainstay he has cracked the national wrestling scene several times before finding his stride in ICWA’s most recent season with a future World Title match likely in the cards during the next season. Having been a part of several successful wrestling groups including The Uprising, Jokers Wild, and Washington’s Republic he brings a wide spectrum of knowledge to the table as both a wrestler and a manager. Like most in the Emerald Academy he can work either side of the coin but is most established as a heel in most territories outside of Missouri. Frank teaches ring work, psychology, and managerial dynamics between an agent and client.
Mark Robertson (Bobby Heenan): Mark has traveled the road with Drew for many years now, debuting by his side during the "Mr. Mainstream" era in San Antonio, Texas. Mark just joined the MSW commentary table recently following Back to Basics 2014 and is great when it comes to the promo, speaking for Drew on many occasions. He has a lot of experience on that microphone and he focuses on teaching and working with people on the promo.
Taylor "Wallstreet" McCallister (Triple H): Taylor is best known for being the owner of ICWA, being written off of Television as the authority figure a few years ago to handle things more on the back end of the company with it being on the road and such. He's an experienced man of the business, a jack of all trades and a former champion just about anywhere he's ever been on the road. Baby-Face or heel, it doesn't matter. He's a big fan of the old school mentality as well, and a good friend for years to that of Drew Stevenson and Scotty Addams, and more recently Frank Washington. Giant and Danny Stevenson have been working with him as road agents for the past few years and Danny also served as a liaison between ICWA and then-Kansas City based developmental territory, Kansas City Wrestling. Taylor works in the ring and on the mic, focusing on character and promos.
Burt Busch (Ron White): Burt is known best from his time serving at the commentary table for ICWA. Burt Busch has been in the business since 1982 and has a great knowledge of professional wrestling, especially old school professional wrestling (credit: ICWA), which makes him also perfect for the Academy. Burt, being part of ICWA creative for as long as he has makes him a great addition to add to our 'Character' division where he joins Taylor in helping our wrestlers build their character and express it through promo.
Alex Smith (David Letterman): MSW’s Play by Play Announcer is best known for his work outside of the wrestling ring. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan he has worked from every aspect of the wrestling business from the backstage, film and production, commentary, ring announcing, time keeping, managing wrestlers at ringside, and even winning his only match in a wrestling ring Alex Smith has definitely done it all in 40+ years in the industry. He has had the privilege to call wrestling matches for 3 different companies within the past 7 years; he hosted his own radio show from Grand Rapids called “Unscripted! With Alex Smith” before returning to the industry in Spring of 2013. Having been a Baby-Face for majority of his career, managing them and calling their matches this is a man that when he tells you how to be a good guy, you listen.
"Infamous" Jacob Mitchell (Randy Orton): Jake is a 4th generation athlete, being followed by his father Megastar Mitchell, and is succeeded by his nephew Cryse Treborn. Jake is one of, if not the single best bad guy in the business. From his run with the infamous, no pun intended, group known as the nWs and being a former ICWA and PWT World Heavyweight Champion, he came into his own over the past 10 years or so and became the one guy that when he showed up, you didn't want to mess with. Jake's dad, Megastar Mitchell, another legend of the territories, being the man who trained Drew Stevenson there's been a tie to Jake and Drew for a long time. On camera they're bitter rivals, but behind the scenes they could be seen as best of friends. Jake always gets into his opponents heads and never holds anything back, being knowledgeable in psychology. Jake comes on to work on Promos, Character and Ring Psychology. Want to learn how to be one of the best bad guys, or how to fight back against one? Jake's your man.
"The Southern Heartthrob" Christian Michaels (Matt Hardy): CM as he's better known to his peers, is one of the single most over, southern good ol' boys you'll ever meet. Massive baby-face wherever he goes and a former W2K, PWT and ICWA World's Heavyweight Champion. On camera he and Jacob Mitchell have had one of the most storied rivalries over the past decade and these two men together could teach you everything you need to know. Christian loves his Dr. Pepper and loves to joke around but when it comes down to business, he's all about business. Having feuded with some of the best bad guys in the business, like Jacob Mitchell, having even been a bad guy for a brief moment in time himself he's one of the best that you could have, joining this mega team of trainers. Want to be the best good guy you can be? Christian focuses his teachings on the promo, ring psychology and character.
Kit Black (Maria): Kit Black is a very well seasoned female wrestler and not just in women's divisions. She's know across other circuits to be one of the top inter-gender competitors where allowed, as well. Kit's biggest notoriety comes from being the only three time ICWA Women's Champion, but she dominated a Chicago based mainstream company and went from the bottom to the top becoming a major fan favorite, capturing their championship at the end. Kit's presence in the ring and her long standing relationship with Scotty and Drew, through Scotty's marriage is what got her eye on the Academy and the prospecting talent coming forward out of the Academy to the wrestling world, or just the MSW talent in general, got Kit to want to work with the Academy. Kit is one of the most loved women in the entire business and works with the wrestlers on ring presence and character development.
Tani Lyons (Sasha Banks): Nowadays Tani is known more-so as Scotty's wife due to being out of the ring full-time, outside of the occasional independent show here and there but now she joins best friend Kit Black and husband Scotty Addams at the Academy. Tani's most successful run in the business was 08-10 when she was ICWA Women's Champion, as well as Women's champion in the same Chicago based promotion that Kit dominated just a few years later. That promotion is where Tani and Scotty initially met. Tani joins the academy as a trainer to help develop our future Women of Tradition into ring masters along with all of the other trainers. Tani's job is getting hands on in the ring, focusing on ring work and ring psychology. Tani is specific to training the WoT.