Interview with Wrestling Mind Bill Behrens

Bill Behrens has worked for the WWE, WCW and TNA in various compacities. With this interview I pick the brain of one of the top wrestling minds around today.

What was your background before wrestling? And how did you first get involved in wrestling?

I was a Television Syndicator for 20 years or so working with companies like Universal Television (ITC/Polygram), as an independent subcontractor through my company Show Business, Inc., and in the mid-80s wrestling companies began asking me to help out their show on TV starting with Florida Championship Wrestling, David Woods' Continental Wrestling, Eddy Mansfield's IWF, and then in the early 1990s I began working with Jeff Jarrett & Jerry Lawler's USWA (CWA) until it died after being sold in 1997. I also worked with Jim Cornette and SMW as their syndicator at the same time I was working with USWA. Then I started Music City Wrestling with Bert Prentice at the suggestion of Jerry Jarrett, which became NWA Worldwide when I joined the NWA. I then started NWA Georgia which became NWA Wildside which continued until 2005 when I shut it down to join WWE helping star it's Deep South Promotion. I had worked with WWE under contract twice before, and with WCW twice while doing the other stuff. Last WCW contract was when NWA Wildside was a development territory for the company. When TNA started I was offered a job. I left TNA briefly for the WWE/Deep South deal, but when I quit that I returned to TNA in my current position. I also help NWA Anarchy which replaced Wildside.

What are your current duties in the wrestling business?

I book the TNA wrestlers to 3rd party shows and appearances and assist creative in booking the house shows.

Who are the top guys on the independent circuit today in your opinion?

Lots of guys so no matter what I'll miss mentioning lots of wrestlers, but I've been helping talented guys & girls like Matt Sydal, Deliriousa, Daizee Haze, Luke Hawx, Jimmy Rave, Sal Rinauro, Slim J, Chad Parhan, Alex Koslov, John McChesney, Spyder Nate Webb, Kirby & TJ Mack, Iceberg, Onyx, Mikal Judas and lots more of the Wildside/Anarchy family. Plus there's guys like the Briscoe Brothers (Mark & Jay), Brian Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Rob Eckos, Riggs Brothers, TJ Dalton, and many, many more.

How does a 50 year old white man become friends with New Jack?

I met Jack at a SMW show then not again until I was promoting in Georgia 1998 or so and he started to come to shows to get back in ring shape after an injury, and that led to him being a semi-regular in Wildside. I simply tell Jack the truth and treat him with respect, and pretty much that how we became friends. Other folk have said they have trouble with Jack. My feeling is Jack's biggest problem is frequently himself and others just become collateral damage. Jack may be the best promo in the wrestling business and he has great natural charisma.

What makes a good worker?

Someone who can tell a good story, make the audience believe. It's not flashy high spots or a great finish. Those are just things that just help......the gravy rather than the meat & potatoes.

What do you try to accomplish when booking a wrestling show?

To create a flow in the matches that hopefully takes the audience on sorta a roller coaster ride...highs & lows. Match are similar in structure. Too many promoters overbook the card with too many matches. A good show runs 2 - 2.5 hours. And too many promoter "hot shot" their cards with "stars" rather than developing crowd interest in their own crew.

What advice do you have for someone that wants to make it big in the wrestling business?

Be patient, realize that fame won't happen overnight and maybe not at all. And if someone does make it, it will only last as long as it does. Too many wrestlers get upset at what hasn't happened for them even when they've accomplished more than others who wish they could have what that guy has. Odds are 90+ of all wrestlers will never make it big, and if the wrestler is not in good shape, does not wears pro gear, does not tan, does not constantly try to improve, does not try to get to as many new and hopefully good promotions as possible, does not listen, etc...then odds are they will never make it big nor likely even out of their own backyard. And lastly too many wrestlers look for someone else to blame rather than taking personal responsibility.

I know you get a lot of tapes from wrestlers around the globe. Does any one in particular jump out at you as being the end all be all worst tape ever?

One of my favorites was a guy dressed up as the Predator like the alien in the movie, trained by Adrian Street, and on the tape you see Adrian's ring which is in a room so small that two side are up against walls so that whenever those ropes are hit the wall is hit...good stuff. There was also a great tape of two guys just beating the crap out of each other in the woods because they were "extreme". Yes they were!!!

But what is sorta tragic are guys who are fat and wearing t-shirts or stick figure thin, who can't even lock up and they send a tape usually with lots of missed moves thinking they are "big time". Just make you wonder what fantasy world they live in.