MITCHELL'S TAKE MITCHELL: Kayfabe Commentaries Owner Disputes My Characterization of Iron Sheik Roast DVD Jan 3, 2009 - 2:27:08 PM

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On the 12/29/08 Bruce Mitchell Audio Show I made the following comments during a discussion with Wade Keller about the movie, The Wrestler:

"Sean Radican and Derek Burgan loved that roast of the Iron Sheik. The Iron Sheik, what's happened to him, he fits into this category with Mickey Rourke's character. I hate how he's exploited. I hate how this damaged guy, who's damaged in so many ways, and he's out front about his drug use. People laugh at him and thinks that's funny, they think that's a good thing. The incident with Scott Hall, how that's exploited for people's entertainment, I'm not watching that thing. I hate how that's used. Those guys exploit themselves now, too, instead of cleaning up or trying to get healthier. "Oh, isn't that great, oh, they're just having a good time." Going out there and being a freak, a drug freak for people who don't give a damn about you, its "entertainment", the contempt back and forth. I really don't like that. "

Sean Oliver of Kayfabe Commentaries responded to these comments in my zone in the Torch VIP Forum with the following:

Recently Bruce Mitchell made some rather uneducated, disparaging remarks concerning our latest DVD release here at Kayfabe Commentaries, entitled "Ring Roasts I: A Comedic Tribute to The Iron Sheik." Mitchell's diatribe, made during a podcast, were not content-based reviews. Actually they couldn't be as Mitchell admits during the rant, that he's never even seen the program.

Bruce Mitchell: I wasn't reviewing the DVD. I was expressing my disgust at the basic concept of the DVD itself - the exploitation of the volatile nature of a damaged drug addict to make a buck or get a callous laugh. That I haven't seen the DVD is beside that point.

My public response concerning these comments comes not as a defense against a tepid review. I welcome well-shaped critiques of our work. Aside from Kayfabe Commentaries, I have been active in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years on both sides of the camera. I don't fear criticism. And the brave team at Kayfabe Commentaries fears no one, much less Internet criticism.

However these comments need addressing for a few reasons. Mitchell suggests that our company and our DVD release "exploits" Kozrow Vaziri's known struggle with drugs and alcohol. Mitchell also throws Scott Hall's name into the mix as having been exploited by Kayfabe Commentaries. All of this, mind you, from someone who never saw the DVD.

BCM:Did Kayfabe Commentaries primarily film and market this project because of The Iron Sheik's in-ring career, one whose highlights came a quarter of a century ago, or because of the entertainment value of likely crackpot rants from a damaged drug addict? The answer is obvious.

Firstly, the show was a comedy roast. It was comedians and contemporaries of The Sheik's performing the roast tradition that has long been a staple of the entertainment world. As far as I know, none of the paid performers were intoxicated, nor were any weaknesses they might have in this area, "exploited." I know there are releases in the wrestling DVD market where The Iron Sheik is ordering cocaine on camera and dropping his pants. The Iron Sheik was the honoree of the roast. He's not bombed. He's not acting in any way inappropriately.

BCM:While it's that reputation that Kayfabe Commentaries exploits in marketing this project, I applaud their self-control in not showing footage of the Iron Sheik ordering cocaine on camera or dropping his pants on their DVD.

Very slowly.

But didn't Sheik slap Brian Blair in the face when he offered to shake his hand during the roast? I don't remember Dean Martin ever doing that. Aren't pictures of that incident used to sell the DVD on your company's site? Was it a work meant to exploit Sheik's infamous, likely drug-fueled comments about Blair, or is that what Kayfabe Commentaries characterizes as The Iron Sheik "not acting in any way inappropriately?"

Of course, this could not be reported because Mitchell never saw the DVD.

Secondly, Scott Hall was uninvited. He crashed the roast and hurled insults to the stage repeatedly, then finally charged the stage and attacked a comic. It made the wrestling news. I didn't ask for it to happen and wish it hadn't. But it did. I edited it out of the actual roast, as I felt it had no business within the credits of an entertainment show. We did include it on the special features disc as an addendum to the program.

Of course, the fact that this incident was presented in a factual, non-sensational documentary fashion could not be reported because Bruce Mitchell did not see the DVD.

BCM: You mean, "The Controversy – Everyone has heard of the vitriolic disruption of the evening's event. Now, you'll see the entire incident, including reactions after the event. Judge for yourself," as your company hypes it on the DVD cover and the Kayfabe Commentaries website? You market the incident to make a buck, because you think it makes the DVD more saleable, then try to have it both ways by editing it out of the actual roast - only to include it as a special feature, complete with "factual, non-sensational documentary fashion" commentary. It's a difference that makes no difference. As the man who called The Iron Sheik's most famous match would say, "Give me a break."

Where was your security when Scott Hall crashed the roast? What about the hired comedian's tasteless comment about Owen Hart's death that rightfully enraged his friend Scott Hall, even if he acted inappropriately? Those are part of your company's responsibilities in helping put together this project.

By the way, is Kayfabe Commentaries paying Scott Hall for his "Special Features" appearance on the DVD, or is he being exploited without compensation? Oh wait, you wrote, "none of the paid performers were intoxicated," (are you sure?) so I guess that answers that question.

Lastly, Mitchell's assertions, however irresponsible and uneducated, attack Kayfabe Commentaries at our very core. Our reputation in this business in two short years has been impeccable. From the talent we employ, to the vendors we do business with, to the amazing reviews that we are humbled to receive time and time again, we are lauded for our professionalism and creativity in a business that is sometimes accepting of very low acceptable standards. Even our wildest, most untamed series "YouShoot" is carefully crafted to achieve maximum entertainment and unpredictability while still preserving the dignity of the talent that participate as our guests.

Yes, you should actually believe there is a pro wrestling production company that strives to maximize entertainment value for fans and protect our talent. So as an owner of a company that has always strived to uplift the wrestling market beyond the sometimes low standard of acceptable practice I am disappointed. I am disappointed when an irresponsible individual's actions further demote the business to that low standard by committing the egregious amateur journalist's error of publicly waxing philosophic about something they never saw and know nothing about. All for the prize of self aggrandizement I suppose.

And once again, I cringe and shield my ears from the cacophonous "It's wrestling, what do you expect?" Me, the team at Kayfabe Commentaries, and all of our fans and customers know the answer to that question.

"More."

Thank you for listening.

Sean Oliver
Kayfabe Commentaries LLC

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