Reloading NFW: A Semi-Authorized Investigation of the Greatest Show on Earth (Part 1)
"A Tale of Two Presidents"
He was quiet, while the rain poured outside his new office overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Quentin Sullivan sat in the same office as a man that betrayed him personally and as a Professional, but he could only shake his head and smile.
“I look back at the early days and leading to the Ultratitle and I now understand that Craig Miles was never trying to be my friend, so there’s no reason I should have thought of him as one. And it’s not like he ever hid that, I just didn’t want to see it. I never could…nobody should see what that man sees. And there’s only one man that understood what the vision was…he didn’t want to see it, he didn’t agree with it, but he accepted it. I couldn’t.”
Sullivan turns back to look at me, the smile fading to a wearied sigh. “That’s why Craig chose Eddie to lead New Frontier Wrestling.” The man once known as “Sully” to so many New Frontier Wrestling, leans back in his chair, looking up in thought. “Craig wanted to see if I’d fight for ESEN, as much as he trusted Eddie…he either figured if I wanted this bad enough, a balance would be created for the future.” Sullivan’s eyes linger for a moment, any trace of enthusiasm removed from his face for the moment. “Or he’s testing Eddie, maybe I will get fooled again.”
*.*
Slipped into the dirtsheets, never mentioned on the website…on September 9, 2009, ESEN announced that New Frontier Wrestling had decided not to renew their contract and would be negotiating with outside vendors. Rumors swirled around Eddie Mayfield’s lack of staffing and increasing production expenses, while the announcement of Quentin Sullivan returning to ESEN even increased the media fervor.
How did Sullivan get back in?
Was he tearing everything down?
…and why? Ratings were off the charts, attendance was phenomenal on the road, Crash 50 was the highest rated Crash TV in history.
President Dennis Edward Mayfield declined to comment for this story, but it was two days before Crash 50 that Quentin Sullivan won back his name in court. A stock ownership recognized and wrongful termination suit settled shortly thereafter, Quentin Sullivan was recognized as President of ESEN.
Two presidents and two media entities that used each other to build each other. ESEN had grown exponentially on the international level during the Ultratitle, a big-time fed crossover marketing and promotion strategy allowing them to build a considerable cash foundation. It allowed them to gain the rights to CSWA Classic Programming, future start-up/indy Next Level Wrestling for a wise buy-in and tied them in as a secondary or tertiary provider for Empire Pro, fWo and many other big-time promotions.
“ESEN was big, I’ll always concede those things to the past regime.”
Just hearing those words from Quentin Sullivan was odd, seeing how much he recognized this was even stranger. He was supposed to be part of that regime, he was the one that was supposed to build the kingdom.
“But nothing was streamlined, nothing was off-limits. Sanctions, multiple lawsuits, we were forced to show certain programming only at certain times and that became restrictive. Eddie and I do see eye-to-eye on one thing, I hope…I really, really hope that we do.” Sullivan took of his glasses, wiping them and looking me straight in the eye.
“This whole thing was a freight train running out of control, there was going to be a point where something bad happened, where someone would do something too outrageous. ESEN is the only place willing to touch fWo at this point and that’s only because we have a lot of friends there. NFW wasn’t far from a bad overdose or accidental death, I truly believe this.”
On September 10, 2009, one day after the contract with ESEN expired, New Frontier Wrestling learned that things would have to change. DirecTV was tired of broadcasts going over the time limit, but had tolerated it due to the ratings and advertiser cashflow. Other networks were demanding stricter limits on obvious things like drug testing to actual input on the direction of broadcast shows as well (and shockingly) development of new talent.
Sullivan waited, but also held firm even as he literally sat in the East Wing of what’s address read “New Frontier Wrestling Headquarters.”
“We occupied 25% of the building with 75% of the employees in the building. I don’t even care if that was the case, we were both going to hold ourselves accountable.” Sullivan smiles, “I’m not trying to be the bad guy, but I’m not crazy. The crazy years, the anything and everything will happen attitude was the force that built the youth of New Frontier.”
I shake my head in agreement with that notion, which gets Sully to chuckle.
“Yeah, we passed one decade with a wild ride, but the second will take more planning…it will take more than one man doing everything. That’s not safe for the business, it’s not very efficient either.”
Around Thanksgiving, NFW was looking at offers from F/X with possible FOX SUPERCRASH agreements, a full-time partnership with TBS and TNT and even a rumored complete RETCON experiment debuting on HBO with voiceover narratives and off-camera fictional dramatic entertainment.
Once again, quietly through it’s promotional advertisement for the AFTERMATH DVD Edition for CRASH 50, ESEN and NFW announced with one line, “All-new LIVE PROGRAMMING coming SPRING 2010!” People were puzzled, but anticipation grew even as it’s own wrestling roster’s frustrations grew. There were no guaranteed contracts in place except for the champions and newer hires. Somewhere in the negotiations process, President Mayfield made his bold moves against the roster.
Immediate drug tests to anyone contracted, failure to comply without a guaranteed contract was grounds for termination. Several failed, Felix Red being one of them and after being presented with random drug testing, walked out and hasn’t been seen since.
“That was part of our agreement. Anyone that shows up on live television will have to submit a random drug test within 60 days of the event. Eddie never minded that in any of his negotiations, but when he’s seeing all types of suits only willing to make deals with creative control contractual agreements…” Sullivan smiled, “Like I said, I’m not a bad guy. As long as you follow some simple rules for my business, I will let you run the show.”
“So, you’re not going to be on the shows?” I make sure to emphasize the right word, with a wry smile to make Sullivan give me a respected nod.
“I’ve been on the show, but I’m not here to entertain anybody. I’ve got a business to grow, I don’t need to bump into Rich Garfield on Eddie Mayfield’s account. Craig split the office space for a reason and I’m pretty sure if I cross over into West Wing territory I’m not in good enough physical shape to handle it.”
“How much will you interact with Eddie Mayfield?” I ask the question, trying to pry any emotion or tell that Quentin may provide to his perceived role in NFW’s operations.
“I will interact with Eddie only as a representative of ESEN, I don’t even plan on attending many shows. Maybe five a year, I still have my family and I still have SLICE.” Sullivan smiles as I laugh, shaking my head at his newest production on what some American fans dub affectionately “Friday Night Hello Kitty Catfights!”
I ask Quentin with a few more redirections on his information of New Frontier Wrestling’s future and I find that’s he’s genuinely not sure. He expects a streamlined product, a more efficient structure, but you can’t change who you are.”
“Listen, maybe ten years ago I was willing to sit at a bar in Baltimore with five other people and be crazy enough to be part of NFW forever. It was me, Craig, Wildstar, an intern named Jimmy and the person you should be talking to about the future of NFW. She might be the only one left.”
“Who?” I ask after trying to stretch my brain for an answer…
“She took the notes back then, I imagine after her new promotion she’s finally not doing that…” Sullivan smiles and reaches into his desk, pulling out business card. “Here, I think she just interofficed me just to give her own little warning to me,” Sullivan flips the card onto the table. “I’m getting veiled threats in an office and people are expecting me to order hits against 265 pound freaks of nature.”
I look at the card.
Fiona Love, Executive Producer and Vice-President of Marketing.
I blink a couple of times in shock.
“That’s who sent me my Crash 50 tickets. I thought she was just a Production Assistant.”
Quentin laughs, “Well, yeah…she was the only one that could write down notes as fast as Craig Miles thought. Until recently, I didn’t understand that either until I started dealing with her during production meetings.”
Link:
http://nfw.fwrestling.com/
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