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As you know 2023 was a great year. It's always a great year here on Duke Club's wrestling and one of the main reasons why is because the folks that check in and come back and and talk about their progress and things going on in the world. You folks love it and you're able to to watch their journey and and and really be with them, be fans of them. And that's pretty cool. That's that's one of the best parts about this show.
And certainly no one is as beloved and no one is is as welcome or any more welcome, I should say, than our guest this week, the man himself, The world's greatest play thing sticks. What's going on? This sticks. What's going on, buddy? At least you can get it right. It's the world's most famous play thing. That's right. Coming at you live large and in charge, right here on the Duke Loves Wrestling podcast. First show of the new year. Welcome back. And you're.
Welcome second show of the New Year. Whatever doesn't count if it wasn't me. Sticks, Listen, I'm glad you're here because we ended 2023 with all kinds of controversy. Your friends, your buddies there that, your your brethren down there in Florida. The never ending saga, The biggest ridiculous issue in all
of pro wrestling. Literally everyone talking about it. Generation Championship Wrestling, in my opinion, the real GCW other than Georgia Championship Wrestling. You guys got a lot of problems down there and there's been a whole lot of mess. Gomez, he, he's pissed at me and and you know, Gomez I'm sorry, but I we got to take a break from you and and hear from other people. I've. I've been on the record about that. That's the way it is. But he's pissed and good for
him. But you being somebody who is actually on the mic and you've been in the company throughout and you've been with the company, you kind of seen everything. What the hell is going on Styx? Like, legit. What is going on with all of this mess bro? Listen man, I got to be real careful. As per the Board of Directors, I signed a non disclosure agreement. There's not much I can really say, OK. So we can find a way. Here's here's my issue with that. Here's my issue with that.
Your guy who's come on the show throughout the years and of course this, I'm not going to say anything to put you in a bad spot but I'm not a fool. I know what ND as are and I and I I know you know what generally can be saying and what cannot be said. So. So let me ask you this way. Are you surprised that Gomez was removed from the company? Just out of respect for the company and respect for myself, I'm I'm going to stay away from this. It's better for me not to say
anything, brother. You could board this show, you know, why are you here this week if you're not going to talk about the thing that everybody wants to talk about? It's kind of weird. You think this is the only thing going on in my life? You think you think GCW is the only thing going on in my life? That's that's presumptuous of you brother. And and honestly but I I just told you I signed a non disclosure agreement. What what part of that don't you understand?
We're we're we're friends. Yeah dude. But this is a podcast and people hear this and I don't know if you're in a position to pay my legal fees should I get sued. OK. All right. That's fine. I mean, so, So what, what are we going to talk about this go around here, Styx, because I literally brought you on the show to talk about what the Hell's going on down there in Florida. Can you can you talk about Florida at all or? Yeah, there's plenty going on in Florida.
It doesn't all revolve around the GCW. But I will say as the voice of GCW, you'll be pleasantly surprised with what we got coming up as far as our shows, our quality of entertainment. But other other than that, the backstage drama, the the ballyhoo, the noise, I I've got nothing to say about that. Well, I got plenty to say about it. People are definitely going to be paying attention to this, this chocolate fest or whatever the hell it is you guys got coming up, because what's going
to happen? I mean, that's what. You should come out and see on February 17th come. I really should. Because everyone's in my inbox talking about it. I got people in China hitting me up about it and it's look, I I want to make sure I'm careful because I did promise Michael Elray that I I would stop saying
Florida's a mess. So let me just real quick the fact that you let me pull back the curtain a little bit, ladies and gentlemen, Duke bumped me for Michael Elray and let me just say something about the greatest manager of all time. If you never leave your house and you only work for two companies, you can be the greatest manager of all time.
But if you're like me and you travel to Alabama and you travel to Georgia, and you travel all over Florida, and you travel to South Carolina, you're the greatest everywhere. So I don't know what Michael Elray is smoking, drinking or inhaling, but I don't see him anywhere I go, that's for sure. Well, that that's not fair. First of all, I I think Michael Elray is not such a bad guy. Sure, yeah.
No, 'cause he didn't disparage you live on your show, OK, Right, 'cause we you don't remember all the things he said about me when he was on your show? I. I remember the first time. Yeah, he definitely had some things to say about you running. His mouth about me like he knew me, like he's been at my dinner table. OK, Styx, I don't know where this this serious attitude is coming from, this go around but. Well, I mean, I come on your show, I said.
I had some things to promote that didn't have anything to do with GCW. You ambushed me with a gotcha question, I tell you. Hey, man, I can't talk about that. You pressed me? Then you bring up Michael Elray like he's some hot piece of shit and he well, never mind. 'Cause I don't, I don't need you having problems with him. That guy already talked about slapping people and stuff like that, and I don't want any kind of issues there. Next thing you know, I'm.
I'm in the legal mess I got, including the company that you work for, putting me in their memo, whatever the hell that was. Geez, I almost swore. Look, I'm not going to say Florida's a mess, but Florida's complicated, OK? That's that's the word I. Was used, Man, it's the Wild West. We do what we want. Florida's complicated. OK, well, look, let's let's move on from being this tension.
I'm not used to you having this kind of tension with me is, you know, we usually have a good time Mystics. So. So what are you up to? You know, of course we got GCW in that chocolate fest where, you know, it'd be interesting to see what happens with with the world title or whatever the hell they're talking about there.
What else do you have going on? Well, this coming weekend, this Saturday at the Murray Hill Baptist Church, we've got the Love Alive charity presents, the Duval Brawl put on of course, by Elijah Burke, and the Love Alive Charity is the charity here in in Jacksonville that helps the less fortunate, the homeless
population. We help feed and clothe them, and Elijah Brooke puts on a a wrestling show twice a year to help raise those funds to to provide much needed support for the homeless community in Jacksonville, So I'm very excited about that. It'll be at the Murray Hill Baptist Church this coming Saturday and the following week in Jacksonville as well. USWUSWA presents the Don Curtis Memorial Cup at the Armory on Normandy Blvd. So I'll be at those shows back-to-back.
It's going to be great. Couple weeks here in North Florida for some great, great wrestling and the Duval Brawl always brings out some big stars from N.W.A, from AW, some former WWE star is going to be there as well. So come on out and support a good cause and I will be the voice of both shows. That's cool. That's cool. So you you got a busy schedule in 2024, which is always great to hear. And then hopefully the following Friday, we've got the press conference for River City Wrestling Con.
Oh yes, yes, of course. River City Wrestling Con, which is exciting. So are are you going to be at the next River City Wrestling Con 'cause? You know I have been told I will be there, yes. OK, so this is official. We're we're breaking news here. Yeah, we will. I don't exactly know what my role will be, but I have been asked back, which I'm very excited about. I love River City Wrestling.
River City Wrestling Con is quick, quickly becoming one of the best wrestling conventions, dare I say in the country, not just the southeast, but it's going to be great. This year it's going to be at the World Golf Village in Saint Augustine. So the venue has changed, but the show hopefully remains the same. Now, did the venue change because you and August Artois almost burned down the last venue or or you know, just I'm just asking. Maybe, but I heard that.
They were. I heard that they were closing that particular venue, I bet. They are after what you guys did. So I don't I don't know if that was directly involved with me but you know that the World Golf Village is a is a world class facility. There's gonna there's a great hotel right there. You've got Bill Murray's Caddyshack. The bars is right there as well. So it's a really, really cool spot and it's going to be a really cool two days in June.
Believe it's the 8th and 9th or 7th and 8th and if if you're in Florida you're definitely want to go you're you're definitely going to want to be there. Jeez, you got me flustered bro. I can't even say words. Yeah. I mean look man, I, and I'm not I'm not throwing this one out. We're going to keep this as is because I I want people to hear this. For the record, this is a new sticks in 20. You know new year new you. So new sticks in 2024, a lot more serious a lot more guarded.
And it's interesting. I don't. I don't know what's going on in life that has driven you to the point where you're you're treating me like I'm some kind of, you know? It's it's not. It's not. Well, OK, so you're a journalist by nature, right? Your job is to get the dirt. Your job is to dig. Your job is to push. But when I tell you I can't, I just can't. It's not 'cause I don't like you. It's not 'cause I don't want you to have the scoop, brother. But I can't. You're.
I'm not going to let you cost me money because you want to hear some juicy details. Fair enough. Fair enough. That's fair. When it's time to hear, you'll hear. Trust me. Well, and that's the other thing. I will hope so.
I hope so because you guys down in Florida just like the folks down in Texas, just like the folks in China you've utilized, Duke loves wrestling as a place historically where we're the 1st to know what the hell is going on and everybody is, is, is absolutely wondering what the hell is going on down there. There's no question about it. So yeah, I I definitely want to know what's happening next and and what's happening currently and what's going to happen in the future for sure.
Especially for somebody like yourself, because you're not physically in the ring, but you are in a position where you're you see everything and I'm sure you hear everything. So if anyone you know can give a good perspective, it certainly sticks. I think this year specifically for me has been the end of last year and the beginning of this year is is more about focus than anything else. I I really want to reach a new apex. You know I'm, I'm back on on the road as far as like traveling.
Like I said I just got back from South Carolina. I just got back from Alabama. I'm working on getting booked in Chicago. I'm trying to, you know, go as far as I can and that takes tremendous obsession. I think this is one of those things. It's a passion pursuit, right? But you have to be obsessed if you want to be great and I want to be great and and that's that's really where I'm at. You see it on my Instagram, on my gym photos, I'm in better shape than I was six months ago.
I'm pushing myself harder. I'm working harder. I'm doing more. I'm, I'm trying to go further. So all those things considered, it puts you in a different mindset. You can't just go along to get along, can't just be happy to be there. And and one of the things I've learned about this business or I guess entertainment in general, is you kind of have to be an
asshole to get over. Not in the sense of like, being mean or rude, but you have to be able to stand your ground and draw a line in the sand and say, no, I'm not going to take that shit. I'm not going to. This is not where I see myself. This is not my plateau. This is not my ceiling, you know, And I have a lot of goals for myself that I see myself reaching this year and I'm not
going to stop until I get there. Well, for everybody listening, since you know Sticks is hitting the road, if they want to reach out to you and and bring you in, you know what's the best way folks can get in touch with? You Well so Facebook is Ken Sticks Ray Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok is All sticks Man 92ST IX, Man 92 Sticks 92@gmail.com all those great wonderful ways. And then if you have my number, if you're lucky enough to have it, send me a text, give me a call and we'll do business.
If the money's right, I'm going, you know, and that's really where I'm at. I think this is the year for a lot of people to to stand up and and make noise. And then that's where I'm at. My brothers, my sisters, it is your man the Duke host of the Duke Loves Wrestling Podcast, and I want you to do me a favor. I want you to go to www.strictlyfortheculture.ca. Strictly for the culture is one of the hottest brands in sports and entertainment today. Come on, you've seen the T-shirts.
You've seen the hoodies on folks like Rodney Mack, the Reverend Ron Hunt, Jeremy Prophet, MLW World Champion, Alex Kane, Mr. PWI 500, J Bougie, even your man the Duke and a lot of other podcasters and influencers. So I'll say once again, www.strictlyfortheculture.ca. Do it for the love, do it for the respect, do it for the honor. But most of all, do it strictly for the culture. So next time, be kind to yourselves and be kind to
others. Take it away, Tony Shivani, this is Tony Shivani and we're definitely out of time on Duke Love wrestling.