Huskie Howard Interviews MidWest Wrestling Promoter Eric Alverado
Posted on July 20, 2012 by Huskie Howard
MidWest Wrestling
Alverado: Thank you for this opportunity. I’m very grateful for it. I’m great, just working on a lot of stuff for Midwest-Wrestling.
Huskie: How long has Midwest-Wrestling been in business?
Alverado: Only a couple of months. The first show was January 20th 2012 at the Niles Wellness Center. So we are still fairly new and looking to do a lot more shows in the future!
Huskie: How did the first show turn out?
Alverado: Our first show was great in my opinion! We had about two hundred people there, we were SOLD OUT, standing room only! The crowd was JAM PACKED and loud as hell! The DVD is available now on www.midwest-wrestling.com for only $10.00. The wrestling was great, all the fans enjoyed it and were dying for us to release the next set of dates.
Huskie: How often are you running shows?
Alverado: Right now we are only running shows every two to three months. Since running in Niles, before our show there wasn’t wrestling in the area for three or four years. So right now in that area wrestling is special to all the people there. We don’t want to burn them out and it not be special anymore! Our main goal of course is to run monthly shows and get every person in this town involved! We are doing all we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Be on the lookout for a big 2012-2013.
Huskie: What motivated you to start up Midwest-Wrestling?
Alverado: Well being honest. I’ve always wanted to be on the other side or wrestling. I used to be a professional wrestler. For awhile I had a lot of ideas and thought, why isn’t this something I can do also? Of course doing both just wasn’t realistic enough. There also are a lot of guys that I feel that are not pushed and could use that extra boost. Some guys I feel have chances of doing things in this business just that other promoters don’t want to take the chance on them or have yet to. So one day I got my promoters license in Youngstown and here we are today! Three shows in and ready to rock.
Fans line up for tickets at MidWest’s Tag-Team Warfare in April 2012.
Alverado: Well, not too long. The first show we didn’t have a great entrance way. We also needed a lot of improvements. Every show we flyer the old school way. 5000 flyers, that’s right I said 5000 flyers for each show! Which starts one or two months in advance. We also find sponsors who may want to help. Figure out who the ticket outlets are and we go from there. I have a certain mindset of which wrestlers I would like to be on the show, it’s not too hard of a process, but a little nerve wrecking. Every show we are trying to improve more and more, as you can see by ordering our DVD’s.
Huskie: Do you advertise the shows any other way than just flyers?
Alverado: We try to do most of our advertising via flyer, but of course we do have a website, www.midwest-wrestling.com, which is our home page! We have www.facebook.com/midwestwrestling and www.twitter.com/mwestwrestling and our YouTube page, www.youtube.com/midwestwrestling, where you can find teaser videos, music videos and much more! We also have a buy one get one offer which is a great deal and advertisement for us! If you go to this website you can get two tickets for $12.00!
Huskie: What do you look for when booking the talent?
Alverado: Well the first thing I look at from a business standpoint is, how are you going to make US money? How do you market yourself? And can the fans invest in you? Of course the typical in ring work, promos, characters, charisma, but at the end of the day this is a business. You have to sell YOURSELF and make me successful! So what are you bringing me and the fans to the table.
ROH Star Michael Elgin makes his way to the ring at a MidWest Wrestling event.
Alverado: Well I don’t think that those guys would honestly have the good feel for what I am going for. Don’t get me wrong, if that’s the direction other companies want to go in so be it. BUT if my first show had two hundred people there and there really was NOT one NAME there, it really isn’t needed. Young guys can draw, to me fans just want to see pro wrestling! I don’t really have much to comment here because going that route just isn’t my style. If you want to see WWE or TNA, just tune into Spike TV or the USA network.
Huskie: What is it like working with guys like Michael Elgin and Uhaa Nation?
Alverado: I will break this down in a couple of words for both of them TRUE PROFESSIONALS! For Uhaa Nation just wait until he comes back!
Huskie: Who are some of the stars of Midwest-Wrestling that people need to look out for?
Alverado: I’ll keep it short and sweet. Rickey Shane Page, Justin Man, Aaron Epic! Trust me! NO more words are needed!
Huskie: What are your thoughts on Indy wrestling in Ohio?
Alverado: I don’t know every Indy fed but the best federation out there right now is AIW out of Cleveland. They have top stars, amazing matches, just great everything overall. I know of HWA and a couple smaller promotions. I just wish that everyone could get together, work together, promote each other and go from there. Wrestling is a family and I hope one day everyone can help each other out!!
Alverado considers B.J. Whitmer and Ricky Shane Page two of the best in Ohio. We can’t say that we disagree with that!
Alverado: Right now. Johnny Gargano, BJ Whitmer, Dave and Jake Crist and Rickey Shane Page just to name a few.
Huskie: What does it take to run a successful promotion?
Alverado: Well, I can’t say that I know that because I’ve only had two live shows and one straight to DVD taping. So therefore I won’t answer that question because after two shows you can’t say you are successful.
Huskie: What do you think of promoters who don’t advertise their shows?
Alverado: To each their own…if you can have successful shows and not advertise, I’m not sure what your doing but good luck! Everyone should advertise, any kind of advertisement is good for business. I look at this as a business. This is not just fun and games, of course it’s fun but this is not a hobby for me. This is something that is entertaining the community and giving the people of the town something to do. Everyone should advertise all the time!
Huskie: Eric, it’s amazing to me how many promoters that don’t take advantage of Wrestle Ohio. We want to keep the fans updated on Indy news in Ohio and upcoming events. What do you think of promoters passing up FREE advertising?
Alverado: If your not doing it then your dumb! First of all anything free for the most part is good. Wrestle Ohio is one of the best and most updated on Ohio wrestling news, if NOT the BEST!! Let’s be honest here! This is similar to what we are doing even though we are helping a small town, you’re helping a huge state! Just like this HEY check out our site, you will know all of the shows around Ohio and BOOM! There is your info! If you’re not on Wrestleohio.com you need to get to moving!
Huskie: When and where is your next show, and can you give us some information on what is lined up for that show?
MidWest Wrestling presents The Invasion at The Niles Wellness Center on Friday July 20, 2012!
Huskie: Sounds like a great show!
Alverado: Thanks! It really is! Everyone needs to be a fan on Facebook like I said before! www.facebook.com/midwestwrestling. We also do a lot of giveaways on Twitter! www.twitter.com/mwestwrestling. So be sure to follow us! And be a fan!
Huskie: What do you hope to accomplish with Midwest-Wrestling?
Alverado: Hope to give all workers a place to work, and hope to give the fans the best experience for a independent wrestling show! That is my honest goal. Sometimes you can’t satisfy everyone! But as long as everyone enjoys the show! That is my main goal!
Huskie: Do you have any advice for those who are looking to start up a promotion?
Alverado: Well, all I can say is promote and advertise! I can’t give to much advice because I’m still learning myself and getting daily advice, Sorry guys!
Huskie: Is there anything you would like to say to the fans of Midwest-Wrestling?
Alverado: Thank you for all the support you have given us so far! The product will get better 100% , and if you haven’t seen us, give us a chance! And checkout our YouTube page. www.youtube.com/midwestwrestling.
Huskie: Eric, it has been a pleasure, but unfortunately that is all the time we have for now. I would like to wish you the best of luck, and thank you again for your time.
Alverado: Thank you so much and support Indy wrestling and wrestling of any kind!
Huskie: Wrestling fans, be sure to check out this young promotion, Midwest Wrestling, and watch them grow. It looks like big things are in store for Midwest-Wrestling in the future, so be sure to follow them online. Until next time, you’ve been Hanging with Huskie!
