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“Big Trouble” Ben Bishop is one of the most recognizable names on the independent wrestling circuit.
The 7-foot giant has appeared in several promotions across the US and will be in a big match against Foxx Vinyer at Awesome Championship Wrestling's (ACW) Reckoning next weekend at the MJN Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
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Ben Bishop gives the business to Killer Kross in Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
Bishop has seen it all: the good and the bad. He opened up to Fox News Digital about what would change in the independent scene, understanding that small businesses putting on a wrestling show is a bigger task than most people realize. Finding the perfect place to have a ring, a backstage area, paying fees, and setting a reasonable price for tickets are all things to consider.
“You have to figure out where the sliding scale is. So I get it. It's hard. So when I hear something like, 'What would you change?' “It's little things,” Bishop said. “I think basic needs in the independent scene are something that's really important. The big joke in independent wrestling is that water is for the kids. Water is in the locker room. I think that's something basic. I think that's something that every promoter should be able to provide.”
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Ben Bishop offers support to Richard Holliday in Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
Bishop said the timing of each show should also be a thought in the promoter's head. He said shows should last no more than two and a half hours and exhibition events can last up to three hours.
“I think people just want to enjoy wrestling and want to get out of there at a reasonable hour, maybe go to dinner, maybe have a drink somewhere and enjoy the night, and they leave wanting more,” he continued. “At the end of the day, I think all of us wrestlers are going to do what we love. There will be some independent shows that will be much better than others. There will be some that will be much worse than others, and I've been to all of them. I've seen them all and I know which ones are the bad ones and I know which ones are the good ones.
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“And when it comes to Awesome Championship Wrestling, they're not like any of the indies I've ever done. The MJN Center is beautiful. There's a beautiful locker room. There's plenty of space. There's enough chairs for people to sit. There's even couches, which is awesome. They have snacks and food, and catering, and that doesn't happen very often. But you know what it does? Leave the locker room happy. No one's miserable on it. And if no one's miserable and everyone's happy, then the product will be better.
“Nobody's worried about, 'Oh, I haven't eaten in eight hours,' or 'I'm dying of thirst here. I can't find a bottle of water.' It's all those little things. But I just think about basic needs, if Indians could take care of that. I'm not asking for a big difference. I'm not asking for sandwiches or pasta or anything like that. A little water, basic things, and I think that could be a big help in the indie scene.”
Ben Bishop excites Richard Holliday in Awesome Championship Wrestling. (Jay Vogel)
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Bishop has also been in Richard Holliday's corner at recent ACW shows. While Holliday lost the ACW Heavyweight Championship to Killer Kross, he will have the opportunity to showcase his talents against the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Andrade.
ACW Reckoning will take place on May 16.
