(Tony Dokoupil): That’s right Gayle, later this May, the winner of a very unique and monumental tournament, Ring Master will not just take home that exclusive moniker, but the HWA Championship as well. CBS News was there outside the Footprint Arena, in Phoenix and got fans reactions.
Video from post Havoc airs as we see fans leaving the arena in high spirits following Havoc and the blockbuster announcement made moments ago.
(CBS Reporter): HWA is bringing back championship gold, what does that mean to you guys.
(Teenage Girl #1): Like Oh My God…I like love Wisdom and when she pointed to the Havoctron and that video played I was like….Oh My God “Ring Master” and like everybody screamed even more when we saw it was going to be for the title.
(Teenage Girl #2): It’s like really specials because I was like 9 years old back in 2015 when they kinda closed and my parents had blocked Youtube because I had got like a “D” in Algebra and stuff so I went over her house to watch but I missed some stuff.
“HWA Rules” is heard in loud almost obnoxious shouts as a group of guys come out onto the street.
(CBS Reporter): Gentlemen, you seem fired up from the show, was it the big announcement that’s got you going?
(Guy #1): *Beeeeeep* yeah it was the announcement. The gold is coming home baby, and at Ring Master…man…Maniac all the way dude…its his time! He’s a freakin’ legend, and he’s the only guy that doesn’t care if he wins or not so he’s just going to slip on through while everyone else kills themselves to get to the top.
(Guy #2): Yeah man, it was a huge shock, we were all ready to leave and then Wisdom came out and had the whole roster there and then that video package…I was blown away.
(Guy #3): There’s just no way, no way man that anybody’s going to compete with this…*Beeeeeep* Wrestlemania, *Beeeeeep* All In….nothing is going to be bigger or better than Ring Master I bet my life on that.
There’s a family exciting the arena with smaller, young children all smiles, and a sleeping baby in tow.
(CBS Reporter): It appears we have a few generations of fans here, you kids enjoy the show.
Both kids nods.
(CBS Reporter): How about you mom and dad, what did you think of the big announcement.
(Father): It was really something, I didn’t expect that. You know the action has been so good this past year I honestly haven’t missed titles being around but I can’t think of a better way to bring it back than Ring Master.
(Mom): This is our Superbowl, and it’s been so long. I didn’t even watch wrestling until we met and he got me hooked and haven’t looked back.
Back live in the studio Gayle and Tony are smiling.
(Tony Dokoupil): Some very excited fans to say the least and that’s just a fraction of what we’ve seen on social media. Gayle you’ve met with Co-Owner Wisdom Parker on several occasions, what do you think this means to them as a company.
(Gayle King): I have Tony and while out meeting last summer ended less favorably that I’d hoped…I can tell you that Mrs. Parker is a very passionate woman, as is her husband Butch when I had the opportunity to meet him in the past. They care deeply for the business and for their company.
(Tony Dokoupil): Now they operated on Youtube for a while after losing broadcast deals n 2015.
(Gayle King): They did, and CBS picked them up last year, but I think it’s that perseverance is the real response to that question of “what this mean to them.” You look at everything from Basketball to Football, Soccer to Baseball, Hockey to Golf…sports are all about championships.
(Tony Dokoupil): Well they must be doing something right because here they are a year later and well on their way to reclaiming the throne of the most prominent promotion in the business.
(Gayle King): Joining us now from Los Angeles is Wisdom Parker herself.
Wisdom comes up on the screen looking fierce and fabulous as ever.
(Gayle King): Wisdom, thank you for joining us again and congratulations to you and the HWA on an epic night.
Wisdom definitely recalls vividly Gayle’s probing and accusatory questioning last June following a series of incidents with the Rhodes. She didn’t appreciate it, and hasn’t spoken to Gayle since, but has her boss lady hat on remaining professional. She had made it quite clear before agreeing to come on, what subjects were not to be brought up.
(Wisdom): Thank you for having me.
(Tony Dokoupil): Wisdom, you heard the fan reactions, at least some of them…there are millions more out there I’m sure…what’s going through your head now that both you and the fans have ad the opportunity to absorb things?
Wisdom flips her hair and takes a deep inhale in thought.
(Wisdom): I can tell you the nervousness I felt before going out there is all gone.
She says with a smile.
(Wisdom): Butch has resumed focused training so he was not present and while we discussed this at length it really was the biggest announcement we’ve had since our return announcement last year. But…the time is right. We’ve had a very successful year and we’re more than ready to get back to where we were in full.
(Gayle King): We looked at the footage and it was really an all hands-on deck moment, wasn’t it?
(Wisdom): That it was Gayle, and after the show I met with everyone backstage to really reinforce just that. This is the first Ring Master where the women of HWA have the opportunity to join should they wish to. Meaning, we could see our first woman as HWA Champion.
(Tony Dokoupil): Now HWA is no stranger to intergender matches, you just recently had Erica Martinez and Hans von Richtoven compete, and I understand Sarah Callahan issued a challenge to Maniac just this past show.
Wisdom nods…
(Wisdom): Right, and to be clear this isn’t some political statement about women or gender rights, professional wrestling is unique in its ability to circumvent the stereotypes and structure of other sports. This is about athletic ability pure and simple. I’ve been in the ring myself with men countless times, won some lost some, but the broader picture here is “Opportunity.” Although others do elsewhere…we don’t call the title “heavyweight” because in truth that means very little in our sport when a 200 pounder like Rey Mysterio or your Matt Miller’s have just as equal a chance of winning as a Dave Batista or William Draconis type.
(Gayle King): It’s been 15 years since your last Ring Master. For those of us less familiar with the details, tell us a bit about this tournament.
(Wisdom): Sure…I can tell you there is nothing like it in professional wrestling. It begins with teams selected at random, you could be paired with your best friend or worse enemy it’s all luck of the draw. The winners advance to the next round and face one another. Then a third round of those remaining, in stipulation matches until we’re down to the last competitors where one will leave as Ring Master and HWA Champion.
(Tony Dokoupil): And this all takes place in one night?
(Wisdom): Yes it does.
(Tony Dokoupil): Wow!
(Wisdom): It is a test of the human mind as much as it is the body, to endure not one, not two but up to four matches…even just one of which on any given night could push any individual to their limits. For the younger generation that have not seen Ring Master live or before, and for longtime fans this is going to be a truly great experience.
(Gayle King): Wisdom thank you for joining us, we look forward to seeing the superstars get themselves set for this grand tournament in May and we wish you all the best of luck.
(Wisdom): Thank you!
Gayle and Tony continue with CBS News as the scene fades to black.
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