2001.08.05

I am not a very sentimental person. I do not generally dwell on the past. Having said that, the past is important. The past represents a roadmap to our future. The past should not be forgotten. This week commemorates the 1-year anniversary of the first time Al B. Damm and I locked up. So, much has changed in the past year that it would be impossible to chronicle it all in the confines of this site.

One year ago (August 5th, 2000), Al B. Damm (then wrestling as Comanorris) and Mark Mattis (then wrestling as Merth) met in one-on-one action for the very first time. Al B. and I were the opening match for an FIW show in Crooksville, Ohio. I had been training for less than a year and had roughly a half-dozen matches under my belt. Al was a perennially 'talent enhancement' worker. Basically, we were both mid-card fodder. No one had high expectations for the outcome. I must thank Mark for giving us the ball and the chance to run with it.

When it was all said and done, we wrestled a good match. We wrestled well enough to become the first and only match on the premiere episode of FIW Meltdown's TV show. It was an honor for both of us. It was at the moment with that match that many people stepped back and took notice for the first time. That match acted as a springboard for both of us.

Let's fast forward to present day. Al B. and I are now working shows through out Ohio and West Virginia almost every week. We work (off and on) for close to 10 different promotions in the region including the NWA. We have been mentioned on many prominent wrestling websites as well as in the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. We both carry championship gold. We have worked in front of the legendary Harley Race and earned some very flattering compliments from him. It has been a very good year for us.

This weekend, once again Al B. Damm and Mark Mattis will lock up, this time in a PCW ring. We are going to go out there and deliver the best match we possibly can. We are going to do our best to make this match special.

God only knows what the next year has in store for us. As good as this past year has been, we still have a long way to go. We have to remain focused and be ready to deliver with every opportunity.