After 4 years of a lot of fun and drama, it will soon be time to hang em up!
While we never reached the popularity that I had envisioned, I can say I had a great time, and certainly met some very smart and insightful people.
The real world beckons, and humans sometimes have the unique capacity to know when it's "time".
For me, this is certain.
My reasons are varied, but the biggest reasons are time, and people's perception of our love of this.
Knowing the crazed world we live in, I always feel that judgement and consquences lie right around the corner, by those who do not study, or attempt to understand what drives us to enjoy such activities.
At the end of Episode 5, I will be done with story based writing completely.
I had thought about doing "extras" matches on the side, but I'm afraid I just don't have the desire, the time, or the compunction for additional risk, in a very much uncharted territory.
I am very happy to see that guys like Nate, Bulldawg, and Conner have stepped up to the plate in big league fashion.
It would be great to see old time favorites like Starr, Nigel, Gomur, Luis, Rossi, Chris, Jan, Hacksaw, and any others I'm forgetting, step back into the fold once more.
It would certainly be encouraging if some new people stepped up to the plate, and tried their hand.
On a side note, I truly hope that Starr and Eddie sometime reconcile their differences.
Both have a need to control, and I don't think it will serve them in their latter years.
This is a very small audience, and I feel it's being split between two sites.
I realize, profoundly, that there is better production and energy in collaboration, rather than competition.
That's just an opinion from one person, and as I have my opinion, most certainly, you have your own as well.
Of course, after Episode 5, all of my girls will be in your hands, in the EFW, and the AFW.
What will become of Degeneration Bitch?
What will happen with "GPS"?
Who will be the "real" Huntress?
Will the "Sluts" be a force in the AFW?
Will Bobbi Billiard return to glory?
These questions lie in your hands, and though I will most likely fall silent, I will be watching from time to time. :)
Thanks again to everyone, thank you Eddie for giving me the opportunity, and it's been a fun block of my life.
First off, even though I haven't been around writing as long as others, it'll be sad to see you go. I've always enjoyed the matches you've provided in the FWF/EFW, and even with your wacky Russo plot twists, you've always made things entertaining.
Secondly, as a newbie to the site, I've appreciated all the help you've provided with ideas/critiques, etc. Even if we haven't always seen eye to eye on characters and plotlines, you've really helped me develop a style, and hey....we all need critics. It's great having someone you can bounce ideas off of, and get a feel for what others think, since we all think the match we write is the greatest one on the site.
I for one hope you stick around in some capacity. Even if it's an occasional bonus match, or a Squared Circle commentary, you as much as anyone know we writers like the feedback. And at least stay around in the forums, because even with your warped love/hate relationship with some of the girls....it's at least entertaining. And god knows we need someone to keep Emperor Ed in check lol.
Thanks for helping get the site off the ground. We'll do our best to make your girls still have the EZJ style....well most of them anyways ;) Good luck in all you do. And we know there's still a few suprises left in ya.
(Geez, will you check out the ego on this guy! "Me, me, me!")
EZJ, I'm not gonna get all misty eyed right now and do it again post-Ep.5. That's like giving you two birthday parties... or maybe retirement parties is a more apt description. Needless to say, when you hang 'em up, the EFW will be missing a very familiar and entertaining element. You've had your fingerprints in who knows how many episodes dating back to the FWF! Actually, I would know the exact number, and I'll play historian and find out closer to Ep.5.
But you're not done yet and, like everyone else, I'm gonna sit back and savor your story arcs for the remaining two episodes. And then we can wax poetic on your storied career!
EZJ....shock...utter shock....that was my first reaction. I'm in the same boat as Rock...a newbie to the site. However, your encouragement played a big role in me jumping right in and trying to do a good job in writing. I've read MANY of your matches and learned A LOT!!! I hope you leaving will not be a permenant thing....it is/will be a HUGE loss to the EFW. Life happens will you try to make other plans. I greatly look forward to read your matches in Ep. 5. Thanks again for all your help and support.
While there is no shock here (he has retired before folks), there is deep sadness. EZJ has been one of the tentpoles for the FWF and more recently the EFW and the AFW. While his storylines may be a bit Russo-ish and not everybody's cup of tea, his talent is undeniable and outstanding.
As one of the other veteran writers, I will personally miss him as our styles have complemented each other so well; kinda like ying and yang. I feeel like I'm not only losing a fellow writer but a partner as well. Also, having had the opportunity to actually talk with him on a personal level, he is a surprisingly thoughtful and insightful person (just dont start in on his Cubbies!)
I look forward to your remaining work these last few months. From this old warhorse, you will be missed greatly. Good luck!
With that said, I'm not writing a damn thing, until Ed gets my Tylene vs Bianca match up, which has been sitting in his mailbox forever, and the introduction to my Bobbi saga.
Am I hard to please, oh man, WORSE than a woman! You betcha!
Hey EZJ, this tank hasn't chimed in yet & he is the INSIDER.
From my perspective, we have a history that goes back a few years. I remember enjoying the site & I wanted to start contributing in my own way so I started writing reviews.
When I wrote my first one I figured it was good (not to sound arrogant) but I was also nervous about how it would be received. I was happy to hear how well recieved it was by you, as well as STARR, Eddie and Nigel. You guys made me feel like I was part of the inside group, pun intended.
I know you've mentioned to me before how you would like to leave because, as you say, life was calling and you had certainly helped pave the way for our very niche group. Yet you were willing to stick it out indefinitely without a given that you would feel comfortable handing off the mantle.
Now that we have seen the incarnation of the EFW and the emergence of Nate, Bulldawg, Chris, Vagal and others that I may be missing (sorry), and along with Eddie's occasional foray into match writing...
Anyway, what I'm saying is that it appears that there seems to be enough good writers now that are more than capable of handling the load and, hopefully maybe even a couple now to come.
EZJ, you're an excellent writer and you have valiently stuck around to help make this work. I, on behalf of everyone I have mentioned here, sincerely appreciate all you have done to make this an enjoyable site for us.
I know it's frustrating that we live in a society that is ignorant in understanding that we enjoy this. There is no harm, no foul. This certainly does not reflect our perception of reality, yet it's like we have to curtail our enjoyment of this type of thing to the masses, like we have to keep it a secret. There are certainly many worse things that go on out there that our almost more accepted, for lack of a better word. Anyway, I digress. We are fans of fitness/bodybuilding. We are fans of pro wrestling (& certainly not everything that goes on the WWE anymore.) Simple as that. (Just wait 'til the time is right where I go off on another tangent about the state of women's wrestling.)
EZJ, thanks for all you've done, from accepting me in the FWF, to helping the new writers to sticking it out to help make this work. I hope you do stick around in some capacity, even if it's just on the Forum and maybe to even write the occsional celebrity writers match. I think that might be an itch that doesn't completely go away. But whatever you do, you deserve all the best.
BTW, I'm a frustrated Dodgers fan. At least you guys had a look at going to a World Series. Since 1988, I have had very little to cheer about either. Maybe we, not you, can get A-Rod though.
