Gary Michael Cappetta

The website is a tribute to one of the greatest ring announcers of all time, Gary Michael Cappetta.

Gary brought a certain class to the business, that I think is missing today. This is not a slant on Howard Finkel or Lilian Garcia.

The below is from Gary Michael Cappetta's official website Bodyslams, in order to promote GMC in the best way.

We are currently developing some unique content on this amazing talent. Greg Tingle, Director.

The Future Is Here . . . Please Pay Attention

I have posted reports on this page over the past few months expressing my appreciation of and congratulations to the new breed of wrestlers who have been wowing fans at indies from coast to coast. They are wrestlers such as Donovan Morgan, Matt Styker, Xavier, AJ Styles and American Dragon. And finally . . . finally . . .these talented young lions have been given a national PPV forum to display their athletic wizardry, all within the confines of sensible, no-nonsense highly athletic, stiff wrestling exhibitions. Not only are they the most talked about attraction featured on the NWA/TNA weekly programs, but the first indications are that they are capturing the audience necessary for Jerry Jarrett's new promotion to succeed in the long run. Thank you, Mr. Jarrett for giving these talented athletes the opportunity. You will profit in the long run, as you rightfully deserve.

A couple of weeks ago I attended the Super J Cup in Elizabeth, New Jersey and had my first look at American Dragon. From the second he stepped into the ring, he was intensity personified. It shouldn't amaze anyone that these still unknown guys are capable of wrestling before unfamiliar crowds, and without picking up the mic to tell the fans what they're all about, proceed to tell their stories on the mat. That's right, a unique concept to newer fans, but it works and it doesn't get tired . . . mat work, not mic work. It will take a re-education of those who have had no exposure to what pro wrestling is all about to make these guys the mainstay of our industry. But I believe it will happen.

So why hasn't the WWE, the group that always claims to be on the cutting edge of the next new trend, why hasn't the WWE led the way with their own division of "X-Wrestlers"? Actually, that's a moot question. Jerry Jarrett has already scooped Vinnie. The more interesting question is, How long will it take for the WWE to catch on? We're not talking about figuring it out. That has already been done for them. (And even Jarrett isn't the first guy on the planet to understand what is needed to get things back on track. He simply has the resources to provide a national forum for our superstars of tomorrow.) I think you can easily gauge the amount of arrogance that runs through the WWE organization by how long it will take for them to begin to feature PRO WRESTLING on their entertainment programs. The longer it takes, the greater their arrogance. My guess is that it will take a long while. Not only does Junior McMahon, Ross and the top tier of their veteran talent roster act as if they CREATED professional wrestling, they look down their noses with a "holier than thou" attitude at anyone who dares to defy them. If they were so confident in themselves and the WWE philosophy, attitude, or whatever you want to call it, then why steal talent (and stale talent, at that) from up and coming competitors? It certainly wasn't because someone like Curt Hennig is a blow-away talent who they needed to enhance the WWE product. The WWA competition failed, and the "valued" Curt Hennig was blown off the WWE roster in the time it takes to fly across the Atlantic.

This is yet another vivid example of how insecure Junior can be. From my personal dealings with Vinnie, and as I tell you about in Bodyslams!, his pompous public persona is as large as the insecurities that lie within him. That's why it will take a long while for the WWE to follow the TNA example. Now that he has been beaten to the punch, Junior will go down fighting to do things HIS way so as not to admit that he is following Jarrett's lead. How far down is he willing to continue down this path of proven failure before admitting his errors? Time will tell. I only hope that Jarrett's contracts with his "X Wrestlers" are iron clad. Remember, as I describe in Bodyslams!, Vinnie assumed control of the his father's WWF by revoking Vince Sr.'s partner's contracts . . . he would think nothing of gaining a rebirth for the WWE in the same manner. And you can take that to the bank!

gmc

June 11, 2002

Pro Wrestling Fans . . . Get Ready For What I Hope Will Be A Good Ole WRESTLING alternative

I will be looking closely at the new NWA/TNA pay per view series that starts next week. First, I hope that the concept of a PPV, unsupported by regular TV, can garner the attention necessary to draw a respectable audience, And more importantly, I'm counting on Jerry Jarrett to stay true to his promotional roots. My first hope will just be left for the market to determine. Staying clear of the Russo - Ferraro - WWE style of sports entertainment and its vulgar influences is much more questionable. The reason? I fear that Jeff Jarrett will be advocating his dad to "modernize" his thoughts. If that happens, then I'd rather that the public never finds his show. Too much of a bad thing will only make it more difficult to get back to pro wrestling, the art form.

Cappetta on Vince Russo

We'll talk a little bit about my upcoming New England tour later in the column, but first, see what you think about my take on a guy who, in my opinion, has no business being in a position of influence in pro wrestling, Vince Russo. He gained entree to Titan Towers' inner circle writing team when McMahon abandoned his wrestling roots for The Hollywood Treatment. And ever since, Russo has been a leech, sucking life from pro wrestling, while giving all of those who he has duped. . . well, The Hollywood Treatment, complete with all of the arrogance of Los Angeles' upper crust. The only problem is that Russo has never proven himself in the major leagues of the Hollywood entertainment community. So he destroys pro wrestling's public image with the crap that he was never able to sell to Los Angeles' major players.

First off, I have never met Russo. But to a guy like myself, who grew up in the culture of the con, he seems like a cocky New York City con artist. And I believe that he has conned wrestling’s ruling powers into shifting the emphasis of how pro wrestling is presented from an athletic drama to cheesy, low rent, sophomoroic "comedy" just to create a job for himself. I think he must know better. Maybe not. Nevertheless, if he doesn't, then he truly is a “moron”. And here’s why I say that.

To keep from making this personal, let me change the focus a little bit from Russo (where he wants it to be) to “moronic” which is what he is . . . and I choose that word for a particular reason.

If you listen to Russo he'll will tell you thatt he is only trying to make the wrestling product more “entertaining”. By entertaining he means funny. That seems to be his only way of entertaining . . . moronic comedy.

Well, wrestling has always been entertaining. When creatively conceived and properly executed, pro wrestling has been entertaining because of the drama, the suspense and the athletic art form that its best representatives practice. Entertaining is not synonymous with funny. Funny CAN be entertaining. But pro wrestling at its best is not built on a comedic premise. The heart and soul of the athletic art form known as pro wrestling is great drama. Once again, it is drama . . . it is suspense . . . it is athletics.

And that type of entertainment is lasting, as opposed to the chuckle of the minute comedy bit (which wrestlers are not trained to deliver anyway) that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

So in my opinion, only a “moron” thinks that the only way for pro wrestling to “entertain” is through comedy because he cannot appreciate the art form on the many different levels that has “entertained” us for so many years.

That’s just my insight to all of the ranting that has gone on about the ideology of the self-promoting Russo.

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