Not a lot to say except there is a huge hole where my wrestling family and schedule used to be, as CWF Mid-Atlantic has closed the Mid-Atlantic Sportatorium and the CWF Dojo & Training School as well as canceling all remaining events for 2019.
I convinced myself it was simply a business decision after nearly 20 years with CWF and the sudden shut down a day before the second-biggest event of the calendar year. I knew about it maybe 40 minutes before the announcements hit the internet Friday, but I had no clue just how much of the company was to be gutted on what I will always remember as Black Friday.
I don't have any "new" information and the silence from friends and co-workers is deafening beyond the "I'm numb" comments. Am I bitter? No, not really, I almost walked away from the sport a couple of years ago, my last exit was orchestrated and ready to go, but circumstances changed and wrestling events became fun again, much like when I first became involved.
The reality of it all set in Sunday morning, after sleeping in and realizing I had no photos to edit, no websites to update, no HTML to wrestle with and could enjoy football. Except I didn't. I had it on all day but barely paid attention to what was happening in the game. Background noise to the single drip of water I sometimes imagine hearing (yes, imagine, because I have tinnitus very bad in both ears from years with the bands). OK. Maybe I am a little bitter.
Memories will likely be my final "Insiders Soapbox", but that could take years to author. So many stories deserve to be told, and so many deserve to die in the dustbin of history. The biggest personal loss is the interaction with hundreds of young competitors, trainees, tech staff and support staff that I enjoyed above all else. Don't have much to say beyond that right now. I've probably said too much.
