IN THE ASYLUM!
with J.C. Dykes Jr. and his brother KaRL
Well to change the course of my column a little, I, J.C. Dykes Jr., am doing a series of interviews where I will pick the brains of mastermind promoters,legends and future legnds alike in only a way I can do. So read on cause here is a real treat..a one on one interview with the CEO of NWA MSW, the visionary promoter of the VERY BEST WV Independent Wrestling Promotion today, Mr. Leonard G. Sims II! So sit back and enjoy chuckleheads!!!!
JC Dykes Jr: Welcome Sir to the Asylum..I have many questions to ask, starting first with this...How did you get your start with the wrestling business?
Leonard Sims: WELLL J.C. it was in the late 70's-Early 80's I did publicity work for the ICW promotion ran by the late great Angelo Poffo and his family, then later did the same plus wrote a newsletter for Smokey Mountain Wrestling in the early 90's.
JCD: OK...well when in all of that did you get hooked and knew you needed to be a bigger part of this independent phenomenon?
LS: After SMW closed its doors in 95-96 I saw that WV was in need of wrestling in the smaller, lesser known areas so I decided to become a promoter. I wanted to bring good, family oriented entertainment reasonably priced ; otherwise, you had to go to Huntington, WV (WWF/WWE) or Charleston, WV (NWA/WCW).
JCD:Fast forward to MSW....from its inception to present day, from your perspective how do you think your brainchild has flourished?
LS:We started off with a core group of wrestlers and started running small with slow but successful growth. That grew into our first television exposure with Network WV, then once we were graced with the NWA name things looked up. I eventually parted ways with former business partners to become sole owner of what I created and landed a better television deal with FOX WVNS. From there things have steadily went up hill with great acceleration to the present day.
JCD: OK..this is a 2 parter sir... Who do you try to model yourself after business or personal-wise ? And what do you look for in your talent?
LS: I try to model and uphold myself to the same standards I expect from our locker room and that is this...to share the same dream and passion to continuously give the fans a quality family show filled full of great action and respect. And from my talent I ask loyalty, to have open ears and mind for listening, be a team player and again share the same goals I have for our success. Many have attempted to topple the MSW empire but in the end when smoke clears its not our ashes that remain.
JCD: OK to round this interview off I want to ask the normal questions..ready?
LS: SURE..Go ahead buddy!
JCD: Who was the very first professional wrestling star you met in this business?
LS: That would be "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff
JCD: Who were your favorites growing up?
LS: Johnny Weaver, George and Sandy Scott, Gene and Ole Anderson, and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
JCD:Who do you consider the greatest wrestling villian of all time?
LS: The Original Shiek Ed Farhat!!
JCD: I know you have seen many great matches in your time but which one sticks out in your mind the most?
LS: That would be STARRCADE '83 A FLAIR FOR THE GOLD....I even had the privelege to sit with both Ric Flair and Harley Race last year at NWA LEGENDS FANFEST in a Q&A session last August where they discussed this classic.
JCD: Sir thank you for your time and I got one last question before we close: Where do you see NWA MSW in 10 years?
LS: Thank you for having me and as far as the question goes..WELLL...In the next 10 years I see more growth, more television exposure and possible expansion into other areas in this state and beyond!
Well fans there you go,and stay tuned because this is just the first of many more interviews to come!!!! Till next time...dreaming is fine but reality is so much more rewarding!!!!!!!
