LadySports ::: WRESTLING DIARY OF TARA THE REF

Since my interview with LadySports in late 2007, I have had more than my fair share of trouble. The last several months of my career have been particularly tumultuous. I would like to share my personal thoughts on these events by putting out my wrestling diary. I hope that everyone enjoys it.

10-13-08
Well, it has finally happened. I knew at some point someone would come gunning for my position as Commissioner. I've been threatened with just about everything under the sun during nearly two years at the job. Johnny " Balla Ball" Williams is another looking to try me, along with his new buddy Sick Case and their " hired help" Steel Johnson. They have watched and even participated in my previous confrontations (and eventual triumphs) against everyone from Alex Morrow to G-Spot to Famous INK.

My history with Sick Case is long and complicated. In the second match I ever officiated Sick Case completely destroyed his partner after they were eliminated from a three-team contest. Shortly after that Sick Case supposedly turned to the good, but that didn't stop him from going off at anyone that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. When he didn't get a pinfall he thought he should have during a tag match in early 2005, he Thunder Fire bombed me in the middle of the ring on a VERY cold night. That was my first run-in with the Doctor of Stiffology and it was one I remembered for a long time. I had to take several months off later in 2005 to heal up.

After my return in 2006, I was the official for a match between him and Michael Nothing at Rio Mania IV. Michael Nothing forced him to pass out to his excruciating Devil Lock, but I didn't see Sick Case's foot on the ropes. It was a mistake and I admit to it. Every official makes mistakes. Few though end up taking two slaps and a Thunder Fire bomb for their mistakes. I had a black eye and a fat lip for a week. Later in the night Sick Case apologized to me and that was supposedly the end of it, for the time being.

Sick Case later helped me out against The Colombian Firecracker and Alex Morrow, along with Raz Ryno and G-Spot. When G and Raz turned on me, Sick Case assisted me in getting my revenge on Raz. I should have thought for a couple of minutes and figured out that the one truly benefiting from my taking out Raz in that match was Sick Case himself, who went on to defeat Raz to win the TWF Heavyweight Title. I was too dense to see it, but Sick Case used me as assiduously as Raz had.

Sick Case was injured two months later defending the title against Scorpion and was forced to forfeit the title to me in November of 2007. Sick Case was out until making a surprise return earlier this year at Rio Mania VI, breaking up a #1 Contender's match between his Mega Powers cohorts Vortex and Anxiety. He was furious at them for going after " his" title. He then demanded I add him to the main event title match. I refused and offered him a three-way #1 Contender's match the next month against his former partners. He had to accept it, but he didn't take it well. He slapped me silly and gave me an outrageous Border Toss from the stage into the ring. (There are several videos of this infamous incident. Check out www. youtube. com/tracywrestlingfed for one place to see it)

Sick Case teamed up with Johnny " Balla Ball" Williams, a manager with a notorious reputation for taking credit for his client's success and also with Steel Johnson, a returning member of the roster. They formed an alliance and their sights were set on making life hell for the other former Mega Powers and for me. I gave Sick Case more than one opportunity to win the Heavyweight title again, but he wasn't able to pull it off. Instead of returning to the drawing board to figure out a new strategy, he decided to stack the deck in his favor.

What would be better for someone that wanted a title shot they haven't earned then to have the ear of the person doing the booking? I knew it was a set-up, but I took the bait anyway. Johnny accused me of myriad sins against the TWF, mostly of not kissing up enough to him and his friends, and eventually out popped the suggestion that he could do a better job. He proposed a match between his representative, Sick Case, and a representative of my choice. The winner would be the new Commissioner. How could I respond any other way? I never backed down to Morrow and only backed down to G-Spot because my life was literally at stake. I know there is a good chance that this could be the end of my Commissionership, but even if it is I will be able to leave the office with my head held high knowing I accomplished a great deal and never ran away from a challenge. I'm sure plenty of people would love to get their hands on Sick Case, and the added incentive of keeping Johnny out of the office will only help.

11-02-08
Another break-through for TWF today! I have just arranged that TWF will begin running shows at the Red Shield Community Center in Modesto beginning on December 6th. I just hope that when we get to Modesto I will still be running things.

11-17-08
In my worst nightmares I couldn't have predicted what happened tonight. I chose Anthrax, Sick Case's former best friend and tag partner, as my representative. The match was hard-fought and very close. Anthrax placed Sick Case on a makeshift table and climbed to the top rope. He then pointed at me, helped me up, and I dropped a leg on that back-stabbing s.o.b. It felt SO good. Later in the match Anthrax was able to put Sick Case through another table. I was on top of the world. My elation went away when Anthrax was unable to get the three-count and Steel began to interfere. While Steel distracted Referee Marty, Johnny Williams entered the ring and hit the Tainted Package (Canadian Destroyer) on Anthrax and placed Sick Case on top of him for the win. I was heartbroken, but it got so much worse. Due to my " interference" in the match, Johnny fired me. I then was choke slammed by Steel and again had my head driven into the canvas by Sick Case.

I spent two years as one of the most successful Commissioners in TWF history. Now my entire career is at an end. I didn't put my job on the line, but I should have known that Johnny, once in a position of power, would abuse it. All ready drunk with power, he later attempted to strip Scorpion of the Television Title for no better reason than Scorpion winning was " too predictable." I dodged being fired for the entire time G-Spot was Commissioner so I thought I was safe. I guess I should be proud that I have recruited and trained a Zebra squad strong enough that I'm not the only competent official anymore, but it eliminated my job security. I can no longer say, " Who are you going to have referee if I'm not here?" I am confident that my proteges Robert and Marty can handle whatever is thrown at them in terms of matches, but I'm worried that with a petty tyrant running things and me gone they will have no one to advocate for them. I'm worried for the better portion of the roster on that level, but I know that they will defeat Johnny as they have defeated others before him. (Amusingly enough, the most famous case of this happening was after G-Spot fired Sick Case and the entire roster revolted on his behalf)

I have no intentions of abandoning TWF. I have been and always will be a TWF fan. For the first time since Rio Mania I, I get to experience what it is like to be in the audience cheering on my friends and booing my enemies. Bad Company has not heard the last of me, even if all I can do is go after them from the crowd.

12-07-08
I made it down to the first Modesto show riding with a group of fans. (Thank you Bob and Sindee) The crowd was larger than expected, as hot as TWF has ever had and rabid for everything that was happening. Bad Company lost the opening contest to Vortex and Carnie Craig. Something of an inauspicious start for the new Commissioner and his boys. The Jake had me help him out by throwing a few chops at Lockjaw during their Streetfight. I thought Alex Morrow was going to have an aneurysm. Too bad they didn't help; Lockjaw scored the biggest win he has had to date. Famous INK tried to throw some attitude my way as well, but got shut up in a big way in the main event when they and the champ, Ekstazy, lost to Anthrax, Scorpion and Ron Rufio. Johnny was sweating bullets when G-Spot showed up and instead of just one former Commissioner in the audience, he got two. We all went back to a motel and indulged in notorious TWF " drazery" in honor of our first road trip. (And my 29th birthday) I shared a drink with my former ally and enemy G, whom I hadn't seen since his retirement match back in July. While raising a glass I told him I thought that, in spite of everything he had done, he was a superior Commissioner to Johnny. He laughed as I toasted him. It was the best I have felt since I was fired.

12-13-08
I went down to the Colonial for Violent Night with my Mom and took a seat in the front row. She didn't know why I wanted to be there after being fired, but I wasn't giving up on TWF that easily. Little did I know that a good portion of the roster didn't intend to give up that easily either. During the opening " Dick's Dugout" segment, when Dickie P was bragging about his boy Ekstazy, they were interrupted by Ekstazy's opponent for the night Anthrax. Anthrax informed everyone he was refusing to wrestle unless I was re-hired. The ENTIRE face locker room and the whole official squad joined him. Ekstazy and Pierceall were furious about their time being stepped on, but no one was angrier than Johnny himself was. He entered the ring, flanked by his Bad Company cohorts. He said they could all leave as far as he was concerned. Jake replied that they would immediately form the TARA Wrestling Federation. Johnny's back was in a corner and he was forced to re-hire me, a moment that for me almost equaled being elected Commissioner in terms of sheer happiness. The crowd chanted my name as Anthrax and Scorpion lifted me up on their shoulders. I was able to take my place backstage, put back on the stripes and get in the ring once again. It would have been a perfect night if not for two incidents. Scorpion, whom Johnny had made #1 in the Sac-Town Rumble for the Television Title, lasted to the end and dropped Sick Case over the top rope. Referee Dan was in the process of calling for the bell when Johnny stopped him and said Sick Case was not eliminated, throwing out the legitimate result. Not suprisingly, moments later Sick Case re-entered the ring, tossed over Scorpion and was awarded the TV title. Even G-Spot didn't pull such obvious stunts for his friends. The roster showed him tonight that he can't push too hard or we WILL push back. The sadder news of the night was the announcement from my dear friend Vortex that, due to an enlarged heart, he would have to retire at the age of 25. I wrote a tribute to him on my blog at www. blog. myspace. com/taratheref.

The bottom line though is that I am back in my position as Senior Official of TWF. This is the title I had always dreamed of holding, never thinking I would ever be Commissioner, and I am honored to continue to serve TWF in they way I have for 6 years. Will I ever get in the ring again as a competitor? That isn't out of the question as TWF builds up its female roster. Would I again serve as Commissioner? That is a more loaded question. If it is the only way to save us all from Johnny Williams or similar scum, I would do it in a heartbeat. Being Commissioner was the hardest job I have ever had and it took its toll on me physically and mentally. Taking on that mantle again would be a sacrifice, something I didn't fully understand when I accepted the nomination to run back in 2006. The Commissioner can never know if their friends are really their friends or are just using them. Johnny will eventually learn that lesson. I just hope I'm there when it happens.

1-17-09
Johnny isn't making too many allies as Commissioner. Fortunately, that isn't my problem any more. More relevant is the fact that my legacy is beginning to show, although not necessarily the way I thought it would. In my 6 years in TWF (My anniversary is this month) there has never been more than one other woman on the roster, until recently. Now there are five and more are likely to come. Other young women just as passionate about the " sweet science" have joined Crystal and me in the TWF women's locker room. " Downtown" Whitley Brown has joined the A-Team, not surprising seeing as she is a cousin to both Rob Banks and Jacc Movez. Layne Taylor has aligned with the MMA inspired Knockout Kings. Outrageously enough the young woman trainee reputed to have the most promise, Missy Rose has joined up with Alex Morrow and the " talent" he has brought from the " indy circuit" to form Morrow's Mercenaries, a faction devoted to remaking TWF in a much more generic image. Women finally feel that they have a place in TWF and that is a huge step, whether I agree with all of the new girl's choices or not. We have a " divas" photo shoot scheduled for the end of the month. This puts me in a bit of a quandary. I have always been " all business" and never thought of myself as a " diva." To me, a diva is a top flight female opera singer. I have prided myself on being a feminist as long as I've known the word (Since I was 7) and participating in a photo shoot emphasizing my looks feels like it may be wrong. I have thought about it though and believe that the idea that I have to cover up who I am and downplay my looks is equally sexist. I have nothing left to prove in terms of credibility. The " boys" play up their looks to sell the product so why shouldn't I? My qualm aside, I am very proud to have helped pave the way for more women to come in and take part in what I believe to be " The Greatest Show on Earth," the Total Wrestling Federation.

I would like to thank everyone; fans, roster, editors and of course Shiai, for their support during my tenure as Commissioner and for believing that a female referee had what it took to run an entire promotion in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling. It has been the time of my life and the support of the wrestling community has meant the world to me.

Thank you all.
Tara Jones
Former Commissioner and Senior Official of the Total Wrestling Federation

myspace.com/taratheref

EDITOR'S NOTE: The grapevine has it that events may just come to a head at TWF's "Rio Mania" show on March 21st. Follow the build-up to TWF's biggest show of the year at myspace.com/twfmyspace!

Photos by Erin of TWF - courtesy of Tara