I should know better… I really should. I know that I am not going to win an internet pissing contest with anyone, as I simply don’t have the time to reply to every response, comment, and every poorly spelled zinger. Particularly given that I am not involved in any social media: no Twitter, no Facebook, no Pintrest, whatever. But I just can’t let this one go.

Kevin Matthews’ recent Twitter meltdown on Bill DeMott is so far off base that I’m not sure where to begin. I could try to look at the big picture, which is a sad one: some guy who was released from his WWE developmental contract more than 6 years ago is still blaming someone else for his failures. Still airing his dirty laundry. Still sour grapes. How long will it take before he moves on and decides that it’s all just ‘water under the bridge’? This issue may be better suited for a therapist, so I’ll leave it alone.

I can not, however, look beyond some of the nonsense being put forth in his rant. Five or six years ago I wrote a response to a similar Kevin rant, and in my response I detailed what our training sessions were like. I’m sure someone will repost it or provide a link to it. Rather than touch upon all those topics again, I’ll address some new items:

1) Khali: “WWE hired Khali solely 2 feud with Taker.they needed him 2learn how to work. I made him run miles. They were pissed. TrueStory” Actually, it is not even close to a true story. Bill never once made Khali run. I know this because I was Khali’s training partner/handler/chauffeur/crash test dummy for about 6 months at the time of his signing, and I was present for every training session (as was Drew Hankinsen). Bill did put the big guy through some agility drills in an attempt to make him less lumbering and plodding, but these were limited to light footwork sessions. No running. Ever.
2) The issue of Bill ‘hurting’ people. Bill, as a trainer, asks you to perform certain moves and/or drills in the ring. If you get hurt while attempting these moves, that is certainly not Bill’s fault. If you were too tired to perform the move safely, then you should be in better shape. If you were too injured to get into the ring in the first place, then you should have spoken up before putting yourself at risk. There were always people sitting our practice due to injury, so there was never any pressure to ‘work hurt’. Take responsibility for your actions, and don’t blame someone else for your injuries.
3) The infamous 6 year old picture you saw fit to post. While I don’t recall that particular training session (it may have taken place after I left), I do know that Friday training sessions were often called ‘Let’s Make a Deal Fridays. After tough sessions earlier in the week, Bill would often entertain offers from the boys for an ‘alternative’ to a traditional practice. One week someone suggested that we all run from the training center to the McDonogh, GA town square and back (a 4 mile run. Ryan ‘Ryback’ Reeves, of all people, finished first just ahead of me). Another week someone came up with the brilliant idea of splitting the wrestlers up into teams and having us push a truck around the training center. These Friday sessions where often a welcome break from the bump-oriented sessions that we usually went through. They were tough, but fun and light hearted too. One Friday I can remember someone singling me out to lead the warm up session of practice while wearing only my underwear. I’m still pretty scarred from this episode, as I was forced to stand in front of the DSW roster, including several very attractive divas, wearing only white briefs(clean, no skids) , with my decidedly European (read: small) genitals barely covered by thin white cotton. Thankfully nobody got a photograph of this episode, as it would surely be used against Bill and his unfair training methods. The reason I mention this story is not so that you can envision me wearing tighty whities, but so that you can understand that this sort of thing happened and it was all in good fun. After a tough week of practice, I was happy to trade the extra bumps and drills for a few laughs and a little embarrassment. And what’s more: the option to say ‘no’ was always on the table.
4) And lastly, Kevin’s ‘offer’ to have a match with Bill: “My word is gold. WHEN @billdemott gets fired from WWE which should be soon he has a personal invite from me to do me vs him live at PWS.” Great idea- let’s settle our issue in a fake wrestling match!!! Maybe you can both work ‘strong style’! Kevin, I’ll do you one better: I’ll be at the NAGA New England Grappling Championships on January 26th in Warwick, RI. Come on up and sign up in my division (Men’s expert 225lbs & up). I’ll even pay your $100 registration fee. Hopefully you have used the 6 years since your last training session with Bill to heal up, so if you aren’t hurt I would love to see you on the mat (and choke you).

Merry Christmas!

CHIKARA (PA)
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