Drew Gulak

First & Foremost...

2012-01-15T12:23:00.005-05:00

First and foremost, I would like to thank every single person who showed up last night to support the professional wrestling that has taken place in that building for the last two decades. To me it is a little insane to think about how important the Arena has been to the wrestling industry. So many performers got their first break in that venue. I've seen people first hand fly across the world just to get the opportunity to share that same space, both fans and wrestlers.

There are so many fond memories I have in that building, the place where I have been so very fortunate enough to live out my dream for the last 10 years, and it is all thanks to Combat Zone Wrestling and the performers and artists that paved the way for guys like me to even get the chance to experience something like it. I had the opportunity to get to work with some of them last night. It was very surreal to share the ring with guys like Adam Flash, Messiah, Nate Webb, Nick Berk, Homicide, and The Blue Meanie and then again later in the night with Joey Styles, Todd Gordan, JT Smith, Gary Wolf, Balls Mahoney, New Jack, and Sabu. It was such an array of talent for me to get the chance to learn from and possibly even humiliate in front of where they lived out their dreams a little bit, which brings me great joy!

Unfortunately, it was mired by Danny Havoc who may have dislocated my jaw as well as breaking the nose of Mr. Tofiga and possibly popping the eardrum of that ginger kid who tries to be like me. Perhaps I was a little over confident last night and that led me to say some personal things that I should not have said, and to the many Gulakies out there who were in attendance, I apologize. However there is a silver lining.

Wherever the show is held, the clock is ticking for Devon Moore. He is a champion by coincidence, not by design, and the people of CZW have noticed this well in advance. If he is still champion by the time we meet in the ring, I promise you, the many fans of this great industry, that I will be able to defeat him swiftly and bring a reign of competence, excitement, and honor that was very lacking over the last year!

Nothing endures but change. The removal of the Arena emphasizes this. The picture has changed. I am the photographer.

- For A Better Combat Zone!

Photo used with permission from Zia Danger.

Jung & Wrestling

2011-12-15T22:14:00.007-05:00

I just wanted to excerpt this. I am in the middle of writing my final papers for my Personality Theory class and one of them was to write an analysis in the style of Carl Jung about something that occurred during my adolescence.

"When I was in the sixth grade, I set out on a journey that would one day culminate with me achieving something that most people never get to do. I live out my dream. I am a professional wrestler.

Among the various posters and papers, projects and possessions my science teacher had posted around his class room, one stood out to me above all. On the front chalkboard, right next to where the erasers sat, was an 8x10 inch autographed photo of King Kong Bundy. I knew who Bundy was. He was a professional wrestler, and on more than one occasion he fought my childhood hero Hulk Hogan. Bundy was a super-heavyweight as they called it. A monster of a man, he was bald and round, like a potato, standing at almost seven feet high with a single-strapped all black wrestling singlet nothing fancy, he was simply a monster not unlike the mighty ape for whom he was nicknamed after. Hulk Hogan was different. The Hulk was dubbed Immortal. He was this unstoppable force who stood up for every kid who ever needed someone to look up to. He wasn’t pasty, or boring, or simplified like King Kong Bundy was. No, the Hulkster marched around the ring in Yellow and Red attire and tore off his tee-shirt before every match! He was the strongest person I had ever seen in my life! I tried pulling my tee-shirt a part like him before and it was impossible. Only a man as strong as the Hulk could do such a thing.

So here was Hulk’s old nemesis sitting on my teacher’s blackboard. One day, when I was brave enough, I approached Mr. Zabarsky about the photo. This opened up a dialog about wrestling. Gone were the days of the Hulk, and with it my early childhood. Now was the time of pre-teen angst. I was 13 going on 14 then. A bar-mitzvah! I was a man and ready to face the burdens of life. I needed new heroes. And through the mythology of professional wrestling, live every Monday night on the USA network, I was prescribed the ultimate role model in “Stone Cold” Steve Austin!

Mr. Zabarsky and I would discuss Stone Cold’s antics every Tuesday night. Austin would literally kick his boss’s ass every Monday night, so that delighted my teacher who was constantly dealing with the Philadelphia Public School system in his own right. I just thought Steve Austin was cool. He didn’t care what anybody else thought. He was the typical American hero. He did what he wanted to do and he didn’t give a damn what anybody thought about it AND THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE 'CAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO!

I grew close with Mr. Zabarsky. He would tell me about a local wrestling company called ECW which I had only heard about. They ran monthly events in an old bingo hall in South Philadelphia. They had since ceased operations and a new promotion began running shows in South Jersey in lieu of ECW's closure. Jack would tell me of how they would fight through the crowd regularly and smash light bulbs over each others' heads! I asked to go with him one time. So I did.

Enter Combat Zone Wrestling. About 400 lunatics crammed into an indoor soccer arena in South Jersey surrounding a ring and watched what I considered to be minor league professional wrestling. I still remember the smell of the place, like walking into a new building for the first time and seeing the fluorescent hue of the lighting. During the show I saw some of the wrestlers were about the age of 16 or 17. People were going nuts for them in the audience. I thought to myself, if they can do it then why couldn't I? I watched as the boss of the company, a man called Zandig, decked out in leather and denim from head to toe with muscles that rivaled that of the almighty Hulk, would throw people through glass, barbed wire, and furniture with ease. I would take bits of tables that the wrestlers flew through the night prior and show them to classmates. This was the most personal connection I have ever had to something that seemed larger than life.

Three years later me and my little brother and Jack, Mr. Zabarsky insisted that since he was no longer my teacher he gets called by his first name, were still regularly attending events when my brother and I began helping the ring crew clean up after events and help break down the ring. We began to mingle with the other wrestlers. I began to unveil a curtain that had been shrouded in mystery to myself since I was three years old!

It was a rainy night at an outdoor show in New Jersey during the rain, my brother and I were helping the crew tear the ring down as usual when the man himself walked out to greet us. It was Zandig, the owner of Combat Zone Wrestling. He went up to me and my brother and personally handed us free tickets to the next event for helping the crew out. “Thanks.” He said. And then he mysteriously disappeared just as he had came. The two of us were thrilled.

We began interacting with the ring crew guys more from then on. A group of hard workers who knew how to build anything from cages of death to the ring itself, they were there after every show breaking down. Lead by a man named Shawn who was half the size of the rest of them, they toiled like the seven dwarfs on crack. In fact, Snow White would have been in awe of what these guys could do. They were like a mix of construction workers and bikers. None of them desired to wrestle, but they enjoyed the show and were loyal to Zandig. My brother and I grew to know them well.

One Summer my brother came over to me with a note. On it was scribbled an address. He said that he met a man named DJ Hyde who said he was the trainer at the CZW Wrestling Academy and he had asked if we were interested in training. My brother said yes immediately, but I wasn't going to let him go it alone. Just like that, the brothers Gulak were off to Deptford, New Jersey to train in the art of professional wrestling.

Pro Wrestling is a unique subculture. It has its own rules and etiquette as well as its own traditions. When you start training in the business of pro wrestling, you quickly learn that it is very much everything you think it is, and at the same time had no idea how convoluted it can be.

We arrived at the CZW Wrestling Academy, which was in a warehouse at an industrial park in Deptford. Inside were two large rooms connected by a huge sliding door each with a ring inside and lots of weightlifting equipment strewn about. Luckily my brother and I were taught about the etiquette from the very beginning. You must introduce yourself to every other member of the show before the show begins. The same applies to training. That is, you must shake everyone's hand. But not too hard, or they will assume you really throw punches.

Without spoiling too much, Professional Wrestling is a work. It isn't what it seems to be, at least when it is portrayed accurately. Pro Wrestlers are magicians. We are tricksters. We pretend to fight and whatever other emotions we can add to that in order to entertain people, much the saw way actors do in action movies. And like movies or the theater, pro wrestling is contained within its own universe. Typically that means that pinning your opponents shoulders to the mat garners a victory.

I was told to stand in the ring and throw myself onto the mat shoulders first so that I would protect my kidneys. It felt like falling onto the floor when performed slightly wrong. Luckily I got the hang of it in haste. I trained with my brother, who is three years younger than me, I must reiterate, for a full year until April 12^th, 2005 when it was time for my very first wrestling match.

The stage was set. It was a couple of weeks before my 18^th birthday, the legal age to compete as a wrestler in the state of Pennsylvania. I camped out for a week in my cafeteria and suffered a suspension; the show was a charity event that I helped to organize. It happened in my high school gymnasium. I had my very first professional wrestling match in front of 200 people, many of them my friends. It was myself and DJ Hyde, my trainer, against Sabian, Robbie Mireno, and Maven Bentley in a handicapped 2 vs. 3 match with the winner taking the money raised for charity.

I donned my high school wrestling singlet for the match. No longer was I an amateur. I was a professional. The bell rang, and for 15 minutes I was pummeled. I tried to make the tag to let my partner in the ring to help me but my opponents had me outnumbered. Finally, I slipped away and made the tag. DJ Hyde cleared the ring. He tagged me back in before outside interference behind the referee's back turned the advantage in my opponent's favor. DJ was sent to the floor by Sabian. I was all alone with Maven Bentley holding me up for one of his henchmen to throw powder in my face. The ref was distracted. The crowd was enraged. Maven's henchman climbed onto the apron, pulled out the powder reared back to throw. In that split second I slipped away again! The powder hit Maven in the face. I rolled him up with a basic pinning combination. The referee turned around! “One! Two! Three!” The count was made! I was victorious! The crowd went crazy! I climbed to the top rope and raised my arms in victory as all 200 people cheered at the top of their lungs!

I was a professional wrestler.

That was 7 years ago. Now I am a trainer at the CZW Wrestling Academy teaching students of my own.

A Note From Tonight

2011-12-04T02:20:00.003-05:00

I would just like to wish Dustin Rayz a safe and speedy recovery from an injury he sustained tonight. I think he is an incredible performer and what happened to him was a shame. He attempted to pull off an acrobatic maneuver during our match and hit his leg on one of the protective guardrails around the ring. He did not have to attempt this stunt, but he did it with the obligatory intent of giving the fans something enjoyable to watch. It is always unfortunate when accidents like this occur and I sincerely hope he comes through with no consequences. I'd love the chance to get to work with him properly and hopefully one day in the near future.

Thanks,

Drew

Day 15

2011-07-13T11:47:00.007-04:00

Germany was a treat. I got to grapple with Jon Ryan on the night Westside X-treme Wrestling presented Dead End XI. Some fancy British guy got a great gig training at NOAH in Japan so the entire card was shuffled around and an imprompteau tournamant was incurred. Even though I lost I had a great time sharing the ring with him in front of that crowd. I've often said that the audience at wXw shows are the polar opposite of the ones back home for CZW at the Arena in South Philly. Where the CZW crowd is super critical about the action they watch, and rightfully so, the wXw crowd is just there to have a good time. Maybe both sets of fans are critical, but they definitely show it in their own ways.

Before the show, Tas, an official for wXw and an all around good dude put myself and Jon Gresham up at his place. Hilarity ensued:

I misplaced my passport and wound up staying with a good friend in Krefeld. I had to trek back to Bonn to get my Passport back and along the way I got to see a lot of the town of Cologne.

Above Left: Cologne Cathedral, Above Right: The Rhine River

After hanging around Cologne I went up to the town of Bonn back to a club called Carpe Noctem which I had visited on my first night with Tas, Jakobi, Walter, and Gresham. They had my passport inside. It was a funny story actually. Let's just say the Americans made quite the impression in Germany that night.

Right: SUCCESS! I'm eligible for travel!

Jule, a friend of the family, allowed me to bunk with her for that week. She's a school teacher in Krefeld, and she teaches Gym class. Using my previous tenure in high school and collegiate wrestling, I was able to teach two classes of her's some of the same techniques I learned then. I had them bridging, sprawling, duck walking, hand fighting, shooting.... for those of you who have never wrestled, I taught these kids how to beat each other up and then had them face each other. All with a language barrier! They had a great time and so did I!

As I said, Germany was wonderful. wXw arranged for me to catch a flight back to England, where I should have been for the entire week. So last Saturday I traveled to Weeze International Airport near the border of Holland to head into London Stansted Airport.

Now what I haven't disclosed was that plans by this point had changed entirely than what they were supposed to be originally... not because of the missing Passport. The main reason for me being able to make this trip was that for almost six entire weeks I'd be working at a wrestling camp for All Star Wrestling promotions. Unbeknownst to our crew, which also consisted of BJW's Shinya Ishikawa, IWA's Jaysin Strife, and PWG's Willie Mack, almost half of the planned tour had been cancelled. And to make matters worse, because of my late arrival I was out a room in the house that we were all staying in. Hoorah!

To be continued...

Day 1

2011-06-29T14:46:00.002-04:00

Jon Gresham lives in Atlanta, Georgia and I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania so that's in the Eastern Standard time zone. Germany is 6 hours ahead of that. We arrived here after at 7:35 AM local time following an hour delay leaving the JFK Airport in NYC. Gresham can sleep anywhere he pleases, so the ride for him was nice, while my nose dried up and I slept minimally. I keep making the argument that I'm saving my rest for tonight (which, as I type this, should hopefully be shortly.)

Our travel into Dusseldorf, aside from the hour wait, was smooth. Even more convenient was that we were sent an ambassador of sort to greet us at the airport. Actually, wXw's ring announcer, Jakobi, had a day off and wanted to show us around the city. This worked out wonderfully because Gresham and I flew over a few days earlier than the rest of the foreigners wrestling this weekend. The flights were cheaper on Tuesdays. At least that's what my agent says.

We got to walk around Dusseldorf and ate lunch in the Japan sect of the town. The streets in the city were mostly wide with tall, intimidating architecture strewn everywhere you look. The weather was mild. Pastry shops and candy stores line several of the roads. And even though we were just hanging out, Jakobi makes for a hell of a tour guide!

As a matter of fact we have been very fortunate thus far. After we toured the city, we drove for about 45 minutes to wXw official Tas's home. He's putting us up for the night, making us dinner, and just bought a whole bunch of liquor to use for some reason. Talk about great hospitality!

These opportunities do not come often, so we will be making the most out of it. On Saturday, wXw presents the first ever Westside Rush Tournament. My opponent will be Jon Ryan. Luckily I've been able to see his work first hand and he is a VERY skilled technician. He trained Zack Sabre Jr. a competitor I bested at CZW's International Incident, and one of my personal favorite opponents to share a ring with. To say I'm looking forward to this one is an understatement. Like I said, opportunities like this one don't come often for me. If I'm to have more of these in the future I need to leave an impression.

Happy Birthday Johnny Saint!
- GULAK

Nick Gage is a coward!

2010-10-01T23:33:00.010-04:00

I was going to take this time to write a blog about the ongoing issue of obesity in America but now I'm not. As a champion, and one of the faces of Combat Zone Wrestling, I realize that I am obligated to appear on the 9th, which I will, but I will not sit back and allow the audience to dictate month in and month out who I will be wrestling against! Not that it makes a difference. Little Mondo, Ruckus, Andy Sumner, Nick Gage, the fans begged for this garbage and I beat every single one of them with little effort.

Well not this time. Not after what happened last month.

The Wired Television Championship represents hard work and dedication to a sport that has been around for over 6,000 years! It is to be respected and treated as such, which therefore means the officiating taking place during its defenses is to be obeyed with the highest regard! Being one of the best athletes in the game today, I have no problem with that notion. In fact I believe quite honestly in the integrity of holding such a prestigious title. However, the blatant disregard and disrespect that was shown at Down With the Sickness for my championship and the name Combat Zone Wrestling must not go without consequence!

Men like Nick Gage have no respect! People like that are bad for business! To resort to cheap tactics would have been the only way that animal could have had a chance at dethroning Drew Gulak! And referee Brett Lauderdale should have been awarded a medal for his fine, fair, and just officiating that evening. But what did he get in return? One of the most barbaric and inhumane treatments any person could receive! The fans left to cheer in horror at something that has the same class as some tasteless snuff film which bordered on torture!

Men like Nick Gage are not wrestlers. They are cowards! They are a disgrace to the company Combat Zone Wrestling and a disgrace to all of the people trying so hard to see through its success! Therefore, as a champion, and a face of this promotion, I am moving to request that Nick Gage be disciplined for his actions at Down With the Sickness. The disrespect shown to an official must not be tolerated in the wake of a new era in this company's history!

I will not rest until justice has been won!
- GULAK

Reflections of greatness...

2010-09-01T15:07:00.003-04:00

Ever since that loser Carter Grey left the company last year this dork has been actively pursuing me for his management. But guess what? Evolution doesn't require order. All it needs is a catalyst.

Rodney, you can't control everything and the sooner you realize that the better off you'll be. It's always killed you that the one man in your troop that actually achieved something is the one who could do it all on his own. I've been called the most intelligent man in wrestling for a reason, Rush. You've even said it yourself. Take a tip from me and go be proactive somewhere else. I'm sure there are some people with nothing to lose that are looking for a little direction.

This month, as I currently see it, there is no contender for my championship. They go from digging up Andy Sumner, to finding some random guy named Jon Gresham, to handing a tag team like Irish Drive-by an opportunity at the recognition I worked 5 long years for.

What's the problem, Combat Zone? Can't figure out a direction for once? Big surprise. What about your boy Tyler Veritas? Didn't he win that money in the bank rip-off "1 in 8" tournament a couple shows back at Home Sweet Home? Or is he too preoccupied with his best friend's recent success? Kid, it's hard to live in shadows. Take it from someone who knows.

Opportunity is always knocking. I've got it all, and I'm ready to fight FAIRLY for what I've earned.

If you can find a WRESTLER who is worthy, then I'll see them on the mat.
- GULAK

Monster Mania

2010-08-24T11:15:00.015-04:00

I've never been one to go out of my way to get myself bookings. If you work with me you already knew that, but lately I've been trying to find out about how someone gets in that mind state. Many other people in wrestling go well out of there way to get themselves booked on shows and other cards and I think that in order to be successful, possibly in every walk of society, that's what you have to do. I have found that it's very difficult to just rely on your abilities alone. But despite all my talking about discovering goals I've been comfortable.

This was also apparent to me this Sunday when I attended Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ. "Halfbreed" Billy Gram, a freaky, but genuinely nice, Native American guy with the build of a scarecrow and the face of Alice Cooper hooked Combat Zone Wrestling up with a booth for all three days of the celebration for horror films. Even though I was only able to go on the last day I met so many faces of all different castes from the film industry. I got to spend time talking with the scintillating Betsy Russell of the SAW franchise, and share a meal with William Forsythe, a bad ass actor you have seen in many different movies ranging from Raising Arizona to The Devil's Rejects.

Throughout Sunday I helped promote my home promotion as much as possible and even met a lot of Combat Zone Wrestling fans that attended. It always surprises me when someone comes up to me outside of the shows and says that they know about CZW. It's a good feeling to be appreciated for what we do. I can tell you that even in my little experience perhaps aside from professional comics no one doubts their passion more than professional wrestlers.

During the con Billy Gram took me around and introduced me to a number of film makers and was really trying to sell me to people. Not literally, this ain't no slave auction! He was trying to put over my abilities and get me a role in some movies. Conventions are great places to network. It's like a job fair for the entertainment industry! Anyway, we met up with a writer/director for a new movie in pre-production entitled Underground. I'm not going to say anything about the premise for fear of a government kidnapping, but I will say that they have their shit well together! Billy really tried to sell me to this guy for a role in the flick and perhaps I wasn't ready to go full in because I don't think he bought it. BUT, I did exchange contact information, and I was invited to read for a part in the film. I have some experience in movies from my time at Drexel and film has always been a passion of mine. It would be wonderful. But again, it's all about being persistent and staying the course until you reach your goal, even on the short-term.

All in all, Monster Mania was great. I wish more of the guys were able to come out to it, but there's always next time. It was a wonderful place to network and get exposure for CZW. I'm surprised wrestling promotions don't make use of these fairs more often. I always thought our industry was founded on the fairgrounds around the time of the Civil War.

It's funny how things come full circle isn't it?
- GULAK

Transition to Purpose

2010-08-16T16:26:00.004-04:00

The past four months has been the busiest time in my entire life, both physically and emotionally.

I was raised in the suburbs for most of my early childhood right up until age ten when my parents ran into some financial trouble and moved into the city. During those years, probably due to video games, I developed a knack for being lazy at things I didn't take personal pleasure in doing... like cleaning my room or doing my homework for example. I'm the kind of guy who from time to time lets the dishes build up in the sink. I don't think this is an uncommon thing, but it's something that I'd like to get better at, and for the last two years I feel like I have.

When I went to Drexel University back in the fall of 2005, I did so with a self-effacing attitude almost in a pious manner. More or less I thought that everything would be handed to me. Anyone who has a degree can laugh at my naivety. Although the more that I talk to people, the more I believe it's a pretty common thing. What isn't common is when someone grows out of that mind-state and decides to do something about it. Like I said, I feel like I am doing something about it.

I started back at school last year with the intent on getting the best grades I could afford. (I personally don't believe in the grading system we set for ourselves here, but that's for another blog.) And that was just the beginning of what is to be my transition to purpose. This Summer I worked for 8 weeks straight at the gym for a Summer Day Camp program. From there I'd teach private swimming lessons followed by group lessons for four hours and then head out to wrestling practice where I've been helping out as a program coordinator. In short I've been busy as hell.

On top of my workload and wrestling on the weekends I still have my personal relationships to maintain and balance myself out. I've been dating my lovely girlfriend Liz for almost 3 1/2 years now... steady! My Mother just recently got married to her long time boyfriend, Tony, lead singer and organist of the band Boccigalupe & The Bad Boys. One of my best friends, Josh Walsh got married to his beautiful wife Amelia and I had the honor of being a groomsman. And just the other day my Aunt Kim was married to her wife Lynora.

I hosted a top ten music video countdown for MTV's Dean's List. I've continued to defend the CZW Wired Television Championship, even against my old partner who had the gall to show his face in a CZW ring when I was set for a night off. I've got a steady work-rate on the wrestling end. I'm actively pursuing a degree for the right reasons. I guess it's nice to lay out what little accomplishments you have in order to keep yourself motivated. Well the truth is, for the first time in my life, I am really motivated.

So that's where I've been for the last four months. I stumbled upon a quote the other day that said, "A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." I don't know if I completely agree, but I do know that without a direction it's very easy to get lost.

And for once I have a direction in mind.
- GULAK

Twenty-Two

2010-04-27T22:47:00.003-04:00

This was a good year for me. For those who know me well, and there aren't many people who really do, you know that I haven't had it so easy since I graduated high school and left for college. But then again, who really has it easy anymore? Even with all the pressures surrounding me about my future and my family, I keep chugging along. That's what life is about: living. And I can say that for my 22nd time taking a trip around the Sun, I got to live a lot in the past 365&1/4 days.

Recently, I've been talking with some friends about goals and how important I think they are. Even though I say that, in all honesty goals are one of the things I have always and continue to struggle to grasp. However, this past year I've accomplished several goals. Some that I knew I was going to have to do, some that I had lurking in the back of my mind, and some that I really didn't even think I had, but I got to live them out.

This year I returned to school after taking two off since Drexel. After consistent nagging from my parents and a little motivation I decided that I want to get a degree. I'm currently studying for an A.S. in Behavioral Science with the plans to transfer for a B.S. in Sociology or Psychology... or both. I haven't made up my mind yet. All I know is that it is expensive and that it takes up a lot of time and money. Huzzah. Anyway, for the first time in my life, I achieved a 4.0 GPA. That's the first time with straight A's since elementary school. Suffice to say it felt really good.

I have continued to pursue wrestling and have evolved a lot since my fourth anniversary in the ring. It is amazing how a little persistence pays off. I've been around the world three times now and two of them were because of wrestling, and the other, well, wrestling went and found me.

This January I made a trip to Israel to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Alex Habbart, a kid, now a man, who I have known literally since his birth. And, for what it's worth, I remember what it was like to be thirteen. The world is yours and you don't even realize it. But I know, the smart man that he is, he will appreciate the experiences that I was so fortunate to share with him and his family throughout his entire life. It was an amazing trip, exhausting at every turn, but ultimately worth every second.

And as luck would have it, the trip truly was a return to the homeland. I've never felt personally connected with Israel, even given its historic background and my upbringing. That was until I got to meet people there who had the same passion that I do, in wrestling. I spent the entire night with the guys over at the IPWA, the only actual wrestling promotion in the entire country. I didn't know what to expect.

Two guys picked me up around ten o'clock at one of Israel's nicest hotels wearing biker shorts and wrestling shoes. I'm sure the bellhop was entertained. We drove into the night through Tel Aviv's Grand Theft Auto-like streets into a small business district and came up to an old run-down looking office building. This reminded me so much of CZW's old school in New Jersey.

I ascended some stairs and was greeted by some of the trainees before walking into a small boxing gym with a ring in the middle. Low ceilings, blue walls with boxing posters strewn about, a small kitchen in the corner. Some of the guys there knew me from my work in America. I was flattered. I threw on a pair of PJs, borrowed some nasty boxing shoes, and joined in on a training session. I was amazed at how much these guys actually knew even though they hadn't been taught professionally in almost a decade. A decade of training themselves based on bits and pieces of knowledge and these guys still showed up every week to only put on three shows a year. The amount of dedication they showed, the pride they carried, and the humble nature they all were so eager to share hit me. Never had I felt like I've taken the opportunities that I've been bestowed in the business for granted, until that night. They just wanted to learn from me. A kid who at 22 only had five years in the business with a few trips under his belt, and they wanted to learn from me. So, we had practice until two in the morning. They showed me around Tel Aviv for a bit, took me for a Moses Burger (AWESOME!), and then dropped me back at the hotel. It was something that I hadn't expected. I felt like I had a home in Israel.

CZW was bought out by DJ Hyde. Zandig abandoned the company until a couple weeks from now. Who can blame him? The dude is a walking car accident. It's not like he ever really cared about us anyway. We weren't HIS students. We were the product of something much better. All because we didn't embrace his beliefs.

And another thing, aside from my ventures to Israel, and a sweet trip to Chicago, I've achieved my first singles championship in CZW. And I did it all alone. Without anyone else's help. It's a tough feeling to have faith in a person only to be let down. But it goes without saying that it really is all about survival of the fittest. Sure I could go on and on with evolution puns, but who needs that, right? All that needs to be said is the right man is the Wired Television Champion. The smartest man in the company to be exact. I just bid my time and took it... something I'll be doing much more from now on. I think our trainers would be proud of me.

So, a big thank you to my many fans across the globe. You've made 22 great! And to the people who can't stand me, you have no idea what you are talking about. A great man once said, you cannot deny talent. The proof is in the pudding, don't you think?

See you for 23.
- GULAK