Ellering's perspective on the conversation.
An extensive interview with Rachael Ellering was pushed out by Monte & The Pharaoh. Among the topics they delved into was AEW/ROH talent who are not booked for television and not taking independent dates.
She spoke about the criticism of some talents for not taking on more dates if they're not scheduled for TV. She stated that fans' hearts are in the right place when they bring that up. Ellering added that if they ask to work an indie show and get hurt, they're putting themselves in a rough spot.
Ellering also said the quality of the show is important as far as the ring and other protective measures.
“I myself feel like in the last year or two, I’ve lost a step working so infrequently, and being under contract, that’s such a tricky thing because technically, we can take independent bookings. You have to get them approved. They can’t clash with any shows or travel that you have as a contracted talent. But then there’s also that risk of if you do that and you get hurt on the independent show, you’ve really put yourself in a corner, right? And so it’s such a challenge and like you said, it’s hard to find good, reputable, safe schools that have a good ring, good people to train with that have good intentions.
And I know that’s a big hold-up for a lot of us AEW, Ring of Honor talent… Again, back to fan comments online but, all the time, people, ‘Well, if they’re upset they’re not booked on TV, go work a bunch of indie shows,’ and it’s like, yes, the principle of that is right. Your heart is in the right place I suppose (Ellering laughed). But it’s definitely not as easy as just, well, let me just go get on a couple of local shows where the board’s broken in the middle of a ring and the ropes are really wobbly and there’s no mats outside of the ring, it’s not clean. You’re working with someone who’s a month into training that only knows how to do a tackle and so, there’s a lot that goes into, okay, I’ll work this show, I know who I’m working with. It’s a promoter I trust that I can work with and I’ll be safe and taken care of because a lot of places, that’s not the situation, right? A lot of wrestling schools, that’s not the situation. You’re not always in there with someone who should even be training, like considering themselves a trainer, and so, you have to really pick and choose your spots as they say and try to get the reps in when you can, try to improve on the things you can control.”
Ellering is featured on ROH on HonorClub. The nine-year veteran last wrestled on the May 15th episode of the program.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Monte & The Pharaoh with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.
