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“Big Trouble” Ben Bishop is one of the most recognizable names on the independent wrestling circuit.
The 7-foot behemoth has appeared across several promotions in the United States and will be involved in a big match against Foxx Vinyer at Awesome Championship Wrestling’s (ACW) Reckoning next weekend at the MJN Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
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Ben Bishop gives Killer Kross the deal at Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
Bishop has seen it all – the good and the bad. He opened up to Pakinomist Digital about what he wants to change about the indie scene, realizing that small businesses making a wrestling show is a bigger undertaking than most people realize. Finding the perfect place to have a ring, a backstage area, paying fees and setting a reasonable ticket price are all things that need to be considered.
“You have to figure out where the sliding scale is. So I get it. It’s hard. So when I hear something like, ‘What would you change?’ It’s little things,” Bishop said. “I think basic necessities on the independent scene is something that’s really important. The big joke in independent wrestling is like water is for the boys. Water is in the locker room. I think that’s a basic thing. I think that’s something that every promoter should be able to provide.”
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Ben Bishop offers support to Richard Holliday at Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
Bishop said the timing of each show should also be a thought in a promoter’s mind. He said shows really shouldn’t last more than 2 1/2 hours with showcase events having the option of going up to three hours.
“I think people just want to enjoy wrestling and want to get out of there at a reasonable time, maybe go to dinner, maybe have a drink somewhere and enjoy their night – leave them wanting more,” he continued. “At the end of the day, I think all of us wrestlers, we’re going to do what we love. There’s going to be some independent shows that are a lot better than others. There’s going to be some that are a lot worse than others – and I’ve been to them all. I’ve seen them all and I know what the bad ones are and I know what the good ones are.
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“And when it comes to Awesome Championship Wrestling, they’re unlike any of the indies that I’ve done. The MJN Center is beautiful. There’s a beautiful locker room. There’s so much space. There’s enough chairs for people to sit in. There’s even couches, which is incredible. They have snacks and food, and ‘catering’ know what happens in a locker room, and it happens a lot? Happy Nobody’s miserable in it And if nobody’s miserable and everybody’s happy, then the product gets better.
“Nobody’s worried about ‘Oh, I haven’t eaten in eight hours’ or ‘I’m dying of thirst here. I can’t find a water bottle’. It’s all the little things. But I’m just thinking about basic necessities, if indies could just take care of that. I’m not asking for a big spread. I’m not asking for sandwiches or pasta or any of that. Some water, basic things, and I think that could go a long way in the indie scene.”
Ben Bishop hypes Richard Holliday for Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
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Bishop has also been in Richard Holliday’s corner in recent ACW shows. While Holliday lost the ACW Heavyweight Championship to Killer Kross, he will get the chance to showcase his talent against current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Andrade.
ACW Reckoning takes place on May 16.
