Hello everyone, my name is Robbie. For a while now, I've dealt with various kinds of people. Most notably this year, people who exploit EAW for their own sexual purposes, but this isn't one of those times. This is a different time with a different kind of problematic person. One who takes what we do here far too serious, either because they can't handle losing, think they're being conspired against, feel entitled, or a mix of all of the above and more. These people tend to essentially harass those who run EAW, insult us and make demands of us. This is not a good thing to do. We do our very best to make this a fair place that you can enjoy, but unfortunately some don't see it that way. If you don't, that's fine, but here's how you go about it:

DO go to your writer or perhaps even DEDEDE or I or even Brian, and tell them you're frustrated and it can be easily talked out and we can clarify why, because most of the time, it's simply that you were just got outpromoed and beaten in a fair match that was judged by your writer. It's basically the only reason it would happen, and if you feel your writer misjudged the promos for the match, I'm sorry you feel that way, but it happens. You'll have other opportunities in the future, and you should not let it get to you. If you work hard, good things will come, that's all there is to it. We're not trying to make you look bad, and we're not trying to screw you over. We are simply doing the best we can. We are not professionals here, and this is not a real company. This is a hobby, so remember that. You're supposed to have fun here despite how hard I know you guys work. However,

DON'T do this



Need I say more?

TLA has been fired from EAW, in case you're wondering. Maybe he'll get another chance in the future, maybe he won't. This is the second time he's been fired for his shitty attitude, and this is just one of various different times where he's shown how shitty his attitude is and harassed a Board member for one reason or another. It's extremely inappropriate and disrespectful, and it won't be tolerated. If you ever happen to feel the way TLA feels here, I suggest you either refrain from speaking at all or just literally quit while you're ahead before you too are fired. 

Do be respectful.

Don't be TLA.

For the record too, this is something thats been ongoing for years throughout various writers. We haven’t openly put his business out there, but this kind of thing happened after just about every major loss. If you alienate yourself with just about every writer you have and down talk them disrespectfully when they’re donating their time to write your shit and actually do it well, then maybe those writers arent the problem, maybe you’re the problem.

Okay, as most of the current and previous members of the board have in EAW, I've been a writer/owner in the past for other places and a writer off and on for EAW. I understand both sides to the equation pretty well I would think. While it's incredibly frustrating to not be utilized in a way that you would like, you cannot do THIS. I've voiced my frustration about things in EAW for me several times, hopefully in as respectful a way as I could manage given a situation. You can't just flat out disrespect writers like this. Not ever. It's an insult to them and the people in the fed who go about their business without ever batting an eye about doing whatever job or not getting a push that they or others around them felt they deserved. There's a right way and wrong way to go about addressing concerns and this is damn sure the WRONG way. 

Despite everything that we had go on in terms of writing matches for the women's division back in the day, I do consider TLA a friend and hope that he may get one more chance to prove he has his head on straight and have some fun here, but for now....

Free TLA

Oop.

Yikes. I'm sure we all feel frustrated at some point in E-Fedding, but like Robbie said, this is a hobby...writing for a fictional company based on scripted wrestling. I get feeling creatively stilted, but you gotta take your losses and shit and use them to your creative advantage. TLA came across as a laid back, funny dude in the chat. Sad to see him take this too seriously and blow up.

aww not tla

I was eating a taco platter when I read this. So sad.

Its really a damn shame because he and I had a small and short talk about his frustrations yesterday. Granted, I had no idea how quickly it escalated and seeing the time stamp on that screen shot, that took place after our talk. Having worked with him in the past in AWL, to the point we had a bad blood type of relationship, to the point where I was in charge and he was a head writer, as much as I understood why people had issues with TLA, I have seen he is a person that was capable of learning and adapting. Yes, he is very hot blooded and brutally honest from time to time, but that was a certain aspect of him that I respected about him and took his opinion into consideration. In the end, despite what was said and done with me, I really wanted people to give TLA a chance, because it took me a while to give him one, and in the end, it boiled into him acting the way he feels he has to say something in the worse fashion possible. I do agree, the way he made "demands" was unprofessional and has only further hurt his reputation. But for me, TLA has always been a guy that had a bad reputation from associating with the wrong people or from his behavior when he started out, and I truly felt 2 things. One, TLA was absolutely at this best behavior in EAW so far, and Two, EAW has been the place that has truly given TLA a chance to really show his worth. Like to the point where I felt EAW was treating him better than anywhere else.

I guess what I'm trying to say, TLA has that mentality where no matter where he went, his reputation will determine how he will be used, and as hard as he tries to step away from that, I get why the paranoia is there. Like you look at that rant, its not just being angry, it's pure paranoia when I don't agree Jamie isn't trying or doesn't deserve where he is right now, and I believe in the past, TLA was kind of upset Eclipse got absolute control of Empire when TLA was a part of the Empire writing team when Kendra was in charge. I mean, he shouldn't had taken that decision too personally, because I would say that was more Kendra's fault than his, but the paranoia, to me would had started there if the board did not trust TLA, a person that cared so much for the division and worked hard to make it stand out, wasn't even considered to write or even co-write. Once again, I get if the goal was to move away from anything Kendra ever did to reformat Empire completely. The other point being, this call probably was a part of TLA's current frustration.

But alas, at the end of the day, this is a hobby first, and it sucked to see TLA snap like that, and perhaps time away is best for him. Like its horrible to see him put so much into changing and trying to be as chill as possible and be a part of the community to revert to what people use to always think of him. Rude, petty, and inconsiderate, but as I said, the time I've worked with him, he isn't really like that for the most part. He's "passionate" and well, sometimes, it can go a little too far, via that screen shot. I truly wished TLA and I had more time to talk about this situation before it blew up like this. And I really do hope he can return in the future and not take for granted how far he has come. I genuinely believe EAW has treated him in the most fairest way possible and this is probably the farthest I've ever seen his character gone. But this event will be a setback for him, and should he return, he'll have to start from the bottom up and earn the trust of people again. But a chance is a chance and this time would be a good time for him to reflect on if its worth doing it again and learning from his mistakes. 

Once again, this is a damn shame. I get it from TLA's standpoint as well as the writers and boards. I understand the frustration with not being happy with how someone is booked. I understand how hard it is to make decisions as a writer knowing not everyone will be happy with it. But at the end of the day, you make do with what you get and as always, it's ok to be upset from time to time, but the hardest thing to accept for most people is that not everyone is special. No one should really think so highly of themselves because a lot of the time, it will backfire on them. Everyone is expendable and someone can and could take your place, but being patient and constantly improving and being consistent is how you will earn your place, and that is the best way to feel you got somewhere anywhere. Don't be the guy complaining and demanding a position, because it becomes a case where "you're only the champ so you'll shut up and stop complaining," and that's a stupid way to earn anything anywhere. It's not a real accomplishment. It's not satisfying. 

Everyone should take this as a learning experience. Not just TLA, but everyone in general. I'll probably continue to be the guy that would like to see TLA be a world champ, only because to me, that would shed this whole image he has that people can't trust him to not mess it up. It would had been an amazing moment for him when it happens, and I'll hold on to that. The times I've won a world title in any efed, it stands for something. It stood for the fact that the people in charge had faith in me to do something meaningful with it. It wasn't just something you put down on you list of accomplishments, it meant you could be trusted. I took great pride in this, and it always made me sad when people don't follow-up on this or understand the real impact of it. And looking at Jamie, Pizza Boy, Nico, Aria, and Jay, not one of those guys would you question their reign because they are in fact good and reliable.

Damn ...

I like TLA, and I could understand his frustrations, but I don't condone that way of expressing them.  Hopefully he'll get another shot because I think that he's generally been a positive member of this community.  Sometimes people take games too seriously, and I highly doubt that TLA is the only person guilty of that.

This is weird but I've noticed, in both real life and in this case, that making ultimatums with your boss doesn't work out too well.

I don't know why you all are acting like he killed someone lol. People have gotten fired for far worse than TLA and I'm pretty sure he has gotten fired for having a poor attitude before and he was brought back and I don't see this as any different. People have spoiled stuff and was "fired" and still came back, other guys did some fucked up shit and was let back in at some point. As long as they didn't do what Cy has done or any sexual predators we had or still have that hasn't been exposed yet, then more than likely TLA will be back. From my experience of observing EAW for the past few years, people always end up coming back at some point. I feel for TLA because I have been in the same position as him where I was super upset and fed up with where I was at on the card and eventually I just said whatever and not for real care that much like I use to so I wouldn't get myself emotionally and mentally worked up over something that doesn't mean shit in the long run. No offense to those who put a lot of hard work to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone but like Moongoose, Ken and other people have said before and even on the promo page this is all fake and this is just a creative outlet for people to use to escape from whatever troubles them in the real world.

Nobody is acting like he's on the same level as Eclipse n whatnot but nobody is beating around the bush when it comes to this. Everyone gets frustrated at one point or another regarding their place on the card but nobody goes to these lengths. Nobody shits on their writers and the board at large time and time again when something doesn't go their way and nobody certainly tries to bully their writer into giving them what they want. I've been aware of this stuff since January and barely a month has gone by without some new whinge popping up.

TLA will be back eventually, people have indeed been fired and returned after worse but he was never going to learn that the way he carried on isn't acceptable if there weren't any repercussions.

Edit: Won't make a new post but TLA had no right to be upset or frustrated by his position. He was pushed as the top face on Voltage, one of the top faces in EAW overall, loss only 3 times this current season (complained after each one) and only lost 4 times beforehand. He got victories over guys like Lars and Keelan when he was outpromoed. He was entitled; he expected to be World Champion by now regardless of promos or anything else.

The idea that he was mistreated, poorly portrayed, poorly booked etc is ridiculous but only goes to show how delusional the bloke is.

I think it's an over-exaggeration to suggest this is even remotely on par with the Eclipse, Cailin and whoever else events that have transpired this year. In saying that, it is understandable that TLA got frustrated with how he has been portrayed on the shows and by the results over the last few months, but he went about it the worst way possible. There are better ways to deal with this kind of frustration than to essentially have a hissy fit and try to strong arm the writers into giving you what you want. Him being fired was the right call to make. FD was suspended because he brought a shitty attitude to a live show at the wrong time, but he realised he fucked up, apologized and took his suspension on the chin. TLA can do the same until he is ready to come back and hopefully is in a better frame of mind when he/if he does.

If people don't use this as an example going forward, I don't know what will. If you're really having frustrations about your positions, go to your writers or the board. But don't come at us sideways like this. The board (aside Senn, he's a legacy manufacturer and writes Friday Night Sennasty) are very reasonable people. We're trying our best to make everyone's efforts and hard work worth it in the end. I know personally as a writer of the past, I was willing to work with my roster as much as I could. I just suggest that people stop letting e-feds consume them as a whole. You'll look back one day at this in the future and see how none of this will affect you if you didn't let it. The amount of reigns, accolades, whatever, none of it will matter going forward with your actual lives. This is a hobby not an actual job.

Moongoose McQueen wrote:

I was eating a taco platter when I read this. So sad.

I'm not going to say anything about this situation since everything has pretty much been said but I just want to ask

Who the fuck starts a statement like this?