Dave Meltzer has some details on the demise of Deep South Wrestling in the 30th April edition of the Wrestling Observer. It seems that John Laurinaitis, Bruce Prichard and Mike Bucci called a meeting with DSW talent on the 18th April, without informing company owner Jody Hamilton, then informed them they were shutting things down immediately. Laurinaitis also mentioned a possible new territory in Florida, run by Bret Hart (long-time local promoter, not The Hitman). They then went to inform Hamilton and got their five wrestling rings taken from his gym, forcing him to cancel shows he had booked – including an American Cancer Society benefit.
WWE had been unhappy with DSW for some time leading up to this. According to Meltzer, firing trainer Bill DeMott, a friend of Hamilton’s, was “a big warning sign.” Hamilton publicly disagreed with the decision in an interview with the Charleston Post-Courier, which again made WWE unhappy. DeMott was renowned for being a tough trainer, in keeping with Hamilton’s old-school approach to training, yet people higher up felt such methods were too out-dated. Tom Prichard took over as head trainer but when Bruce Prichard visited DSW in early April he informed Vince McMahon that the territory was an embarrassment. Vince was so angry he even threatened to scrap the developmental system altogether, before just settling on Deep South.
Hamilton, who ran the WCW Power Plant at one point, had agreed a TV deal with the Fight Network in Canada before WWE nixed it as they had no deal with the station. He received the rings, talent, a salary and other costs but had to pay for the buildings in which to run Deep South shows, which did not prove cost-effective. WWE made deals for arenas like the Macon Coliseum but did not subsidise them, so even though they wanted developmental talent to work more shows and get more experience, Hamilton simply could not afford to do so.
According to the Observer, notable talents who will now be relocated include Drew Hankinson (Fake Kane), Nattie Neidhart (Jim the Anvil’s daughter), T.J. Wilson (Nattie’s man), Harry Smith (Davey Boy Smith’s son), Kofi Kingston (popular with creative), Mike Knox (ECW), Brooke Adams (Extreme Expose), Afa Anoai Jr. (yes, he’s related to Umaga), Sonny Siaki (former Flying Elvis) and Vito (the dress has been released, but Vito’s still around).
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 30, 2007 (click here for subscription info)
