IWF Wrestler Blog - Kevin Knight

Video Blog:

Kevin Knight interview about IWF One-Night-Only Hit n' Run Live Event w/ WWE Legends, April 28, Nutley NJ

Posted: March 31, 2012

History in the Making!
A Knight's Tale BLOG
by Kevin Knight

Posted: June 20, 2011

With 1,177 pounds in the ring at once, history will undoubtedly be made this Saturday Night, June 25, at the Independent Wrestling Federation 9th Annual Commissioner's Cup Tag Team Tournament Finals in Woodland Park, NJ.

To qualify, IWF American Champion Real Deal Flex Freeman and myself defeated the "Glitz & Glamour" combination of God's Gift Aaron Stride and Bright Lights Jarrett Foster in a hard-fought bout in front of a sold-out crowd last week on June 11 in order to advance to the Finals. Now, we face off against the current two-time IWF Heavyweight Champion, the 400-pound Mastodon Franciz and grand slam champion Hi-Definition Chris Steeler.

Flex and myself alone bring a combined 13 feet and 559 pounds of raw power, so I am confident in the fact that we stack up well against the beast and brawn of Franciz, as well as the technical ability of Steeler. The wild-card however, is if Commissioner Rich Ross, who demanded his former protege Steeler team with Franciz, will make his presence known. After the bare-knuckle punch Ross took to the jaw courtesy of WWE Legend Dr. Tom Prichard last month, I highly doubt Boss Ross will have the guts to show his face.

In the history of this prestigious competition, only two men have won the IWF Commissioner's Cup Tag Team Tournament on three occasions with three different partners: current WWE superstar Darren Young in 2006, 2004, 2003. And Travis Blake in 2009, 2008, 2007. I was Darren Young's partner in 2004, when he was known as The BoneCrusher. And Blake opted not to enter this year's tournament, claiming the whole event should be re-named in his honor.

And only two men have won the IWF Commissioner's Cup Tag Team Tournament on two occasions with two different partners: Aaron Stride in 2010, 2005. And Franciz in 2008, 2006. (Franciz' partner in 2006 was Darren Young). I now look to win this championship for the second time with a different partner, a partner who happens to remind me of Darren Young, and that is Flex Freeman. On June 25, we are coming to WIN at ALL costs!

Evil Hatred:

A Knight's Tale
by Kevin Knight

Posted: October 11, 2010

I HATE Aaron Stride!

I HATE Chris Steeler!

I HATE Travis Blake!

I HATE Franciz!

I HATE Rich Ross!

See you ALL at Evil Intentions Weekend! Vengeance will be mine!

P.S. - Oh, I also HATE Flo, the red-headed woman in the Progressive Insurance commercials!

WWE's Darren Young Makes an Impact

A Knight's Tale
by Kevin Knight

Posted: July 8, 2010

The date was September 8, 2002, and I remember it like it was yesterday. That was the day that current WWE Superstar Darren Young, fresh out of high school, entered the Independent Wrestling Federation Training School in West Paterson, NJ, to begin his in-ring training. As a former standout football star and amateur wrestling champion at Union High School, he had a presence about him like no other.

His first match took place in December 2002 and BoneCrusher Fred Sampson (as he was known in the IWF) made an immediate impact. He is the youngest man to ever hold the IWF Heavyweight Championship, having defeated me in May 2003. He would hold that title on two occasions, as well as become an IWF Tournament of Champions winner in 2004, and a three-time IWF Commissioner's Cup Tag Team Tournament winner with three different partners in 2003, 2004 and 2006.

Young was signed by WWE in May 2009 and began training at Florida Championship Wrestling in Tampa, FL, under the supervision of WWE Developmental Coach Dr. Tom Prichard. It took him six and a half long years to finally get his big break. After making his mark on season one of the NXT program, Young is now making a big name for himself on Raw and SmackDown. And he truly deserves it.

During his time at IWF, he was the first one to show up for training and live events, and the last one to leave. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and stopped at nothing to achieve his goals. He is a shining example that if you want something bad enough, work hard enough, and spill your blood, sweat and tears, you will succeed.

Another former IWF Heavyweight Champion and IWF Wrestling School graduate, Fady the Arabian Bull, follows in Young's footsteps after signing with WWE in June. Hats off to future WWE Champions Darren Young and Fady the Bull, who will always be remembered fondly in the IWF for their positive contributions!

Kevin Knight with Shannon Tweed, star of A&E's Gene Simmons Family Jewels, at KISS - Madison Square Garden, October 10

Rock n' Roll All Night, IWF Every Day

A Knight's Tale

by Kevin Knight

Posted: October 17, 2009

Last weekend was only the third weekend all year IWF did not have a live event. All three "off weekends" occurred on holiday weekends. We have been extremely busy with 70 shows so far this year...51 children's birthday party events and 19 regular events. We will end up with 90 events for 2009.

So last Saturday, October 10, I saw KISS at Madison Square Garden on the Alive/35 tour. They are celebrating 35 years of rockin' and rollin' all night, and partying every day. Having been to over 50 concert-type events (music, comedy, plays, etc), this was the best show I ever saw. So I got to reminiscing and looked through all the ticket stubs I saved from all live acts I have been to...

Kiss, Paul Stanley solo, Van Halen, David Lee Roth solo, Sammy Hagar solo, Alice Cooper, Hall & Oates, Journey, Def Leppard, Queensryche, Eagles, Don Henley solo, Sheryl Crow, Bangles, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Jason Mraz, Skid Row, Bryan Adams, Kenny Rogers, Rick Springfield, Til' Tuesday, .38 Special, Simply Red, Genesis, Paul Young, Glass Tiger, The Hooters, INXS, George Michael, and Joan Jett. Heck, I've even seen comedians such as Lisa Lamponelli, Bea Arthur and Don Rickles.

What memories. I just love attending live shows. So I know how important it is when fans and children come to an IWF live event. We work on improving the live experience for our fans and party guests with each performance. Since our debut 12 years ago in 1998, there have been 425 IWF live events. At Evil Intentions, we will debut a new wrestlers entrance stage, and some new lighting effects. Being successful is always a work in progress, and you learn something new every day. We've come a long way baby, but you ain't seen nothing yet!

Legendary Sports Broadcaster Spencer Ross

A Knight's Tale

by Kevin Knight

Posted: September 20, 2009

Spencer Ross is a legendary sportscaster. With the exception of the Mets, Ross called play-by-play on radio and television for every professional New York area sports franchise, including the Yankees, the Nets and Knicks, the Jets and Giants, and the Devils, Islanders and Rangers. Outside New York, he called games for Florida State Seminoles and Boston Celtics. Nationally, he worked for NFL on NBC and Major League Baseball on CBS Radio.

William Paterson University was well known back in the day for its great Radio and Television communications program. During my junior year, the radio station wisely returned to the previous faculty advisor, the late-great John Kiernan. He and department chair Doc Maltese and Dean McCloud brought in Spencer as a guest professor for a semester, and having worked at the radio station the prior two years, I was first to register for his class.

The previous administration really taught us nothing. We were thrown on the air without guidance. Learning from Spencer in the classroom was a wake up call. The first Pioneer football game of the season, he decided to pay a surprise visit to the broadcast booth where I was the radio play-by-play man. I was terrible. During every break, he ripped me. "You aren't painting a picture for the listener!" "You aren't telling a story!" "You don't know the play formations!" "Why aren't you wearing a suit and tie?"

That Monday, he criticized me in front of every student during the 3 hour class. He played the tape of the broadcast and ripped every mistake I made. He destroyed me. If it was a fight, they would have stopped it. But he told me why I was wrong, and what I needed to do to improve. I didn't quit and I asked for extra help. He helped me prepare roster charts. Told me how to read formations. Explained how to tell a story and paint a picture. He told me a broadcaster needs to wear a suit always because you represent the station and the university.

My broadcast the next week was tremendous. He played the tape in class, and praised me and explained everything I did right. The next week, he brought in Ian Eagle for a seminar, who was at WFAN Sports Radio and now does NFL on CBS. The following week, Erik Spitz held a seminar, who was WFAN operations manager. The only way to learn your craft is to learn from legends and those who came before you in your field. There is no handbook for a successful career...advice and knowledge are passed down.

I did radio play-by-play for football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball. I then moved to television senior year and did those sports, in addition to men's and women's soccer, and volleyball. My partner on television was Kevin Burkhardt, who moved on to WFAN and now is a broadcaster for the Mets on SNY. We made a great team. Burkhardt was hungry and the best. Spencer was a mentor and the best. To learn, you must be guided by the best legends, and surround yourself with the best team. You cannot soar with the eagles if you hangout with mice.

No Excuses at Reckless Abandon or IWF Wrestling School
A Knight's Tale

by Kevin Knight

Posted: April 18, 2009

On April 25, 2009 at the Independent Wrestling Federation's 12th Annual Reckless Abandon Weekend Anniversary Live Events, there will be no excuses in the "I Quit" Match as I challenge IWF Heavyweight Champion Hi-Definition Chris Steeler in West Paterson, NJ. Two men enter...one man quits...the other man leaves as champion. No excuses!

Speaking of excuses...with IWF Wrestling School in our 10th year, I decided to compile a Top 10 List of the worst...actually the best...excuses I have heard from students for missing a class. Yes, they are all 100% true. Yes, they all eventually quit wrestling...shockingly.

Somehow I doubt the likes of WWE Superstar Seminar and Clinic Instructors John Bradshaw Layfield, Dr. Tom Prichard, Honky Tonk Man and Tito Santana ever made these excuses as they made their way up the ladder of the professional wrestling ranks.

10. My father died. (I believed this at first)
9. My knee is sore. (we are all sore, suck it up)
8. The Giants football game is on TV. (do you want to watch football or do you want to wrestle?)
7. It's raining out and there's a puddle on my street. (I guess the world stops when it rains)
6. Mick Foley is signing books at the mall. (at least he told the truth and didn't make up a phony excuse)
5. My father died. (yes, 6 months later from the same student who provided excuse #10)
4. Got sick from eating Wendy's bacon triple cheeseburger before class. (at least he told the truth)
3. I'm in jail. (at least, unfortunately, he told the truth)
2. I'm upset DX broke up last night on Raw. (at least he wasn't a mark)
1. My father died. (for the third time, 9 months later from the same student who provided excuse #5 and #10)