Post by tom on Jul 28, 2008 13:42:28 GMT -6
Sami Callahan's pretty much the best wrestler in the entire region who hasn't had some modicum of success outside of it (and quite frankly, I personally think he's more interesting than a lot of those guys too). He isn't one of those, to steal a phrase from the elderly, "150-pound flippy kids with the kickpads". He's so different in a sea of repetition and similarity. He doesn't have a "gimmick"; he's a character. He looks different, he wrestles different; he just feels fresh. He's not going to go out and exchange wristlocks or hammerlocks with anyone; he's going to punch your face in and gouge out your soul. Independent wrestling needs more fighters and less move-do'ers. On top of all that, I think he's gotten the best match possible in 2008 out of both Dingo and Drake Younger at different Joliet shows. He also had, in my opinion, the best opening-round match in the Chikara Young Lions Cup in a couple of years with Vin Gerard this year.
If the cards are played right, Sami Callahan can be a superstar someday. Judging by how Luchacore's presented and how Sami presents himself, he realizes that being modern and fresh is a key to getting across to the masses. Unlike a lot of guys, just by seeing him perform, I think he gets it. You got guys out there who're going to do their standing Shooting Star Legdrops and their double-rotation splashes or whatever, and be higher up on the cards or get more chances right off the bat, but Sami Callahan's the type who's going to have way more longevity; he will not just die out and be the "oh, you did this in 2008, but this guy did THIS in 2009, so you suck" guy. To use a comparison, let's say you go to the fireworks show on the Fourth of July. Early on in the show, there's this really cool multi-colored deal that goes up kinda high and is the first big pop of the night. The crowd goes "Ooooh, aaaaaah!" and all that. That's the dudes who rely on their moveset to impress people. Sami is the big one at the end of the night who takes a while to rise to the very tippy-top of the sky, but when he does, KABOOM! It's the biggest and brightest explosion possible.
I'm not that huge on IWA the past year or so; just been soured on it for many, many reasons. But, I'm hoping Sami doing TPI and being paired with Hero will get people to notice Sami because he's way too good to just be "a well-kept secret".
If the cards are played right, Sami Callahan can be a superstar someday. Judging by how Luchacore's presented and how Sami presents himself, he realizes that being modern and fresh is a key to getting across to the masses. Unlike a lot of guys, just by seeing him perform, I think he gets it. You got guys out there who're going to do their standing Shooting Star Legdrops and their double-rotation splashes or whatever, and be higher up on the cards or get more chances right off the bat, but Sami Callahan's the type who's going to have way more longevity; he will not just die out and be the "oh, you did this in 2008, but this guy did THIS in 2009, so you suck" guy. To use a comparison, let's say you go to the fireworks show on the Fourth of July. Early on in the show, there's this really cool multi-colored deal that goes up kinda high and is the first big pop of the night. The crowd goes "Ooooh, aaaaaah!" and all that. That's the dudes who rely on their moveset to impress people. Sami is the big one at the end of the night who takes a while to rise to the very tippy-top of the sky, but when he does, KABOOM! It's the biggest and brightest explosion possible.
I'm not that huge on IWA the past year or so; just been soured on it for many, many reasons. But, I'm hoping Sami doing TPI and being paired with Hero will get people to notice Sami because he's way too good to just be "a well-kept secret".