The Beat Down

Up next for TNA: AGAINST ALL ODDS on FEBRUARY 14th!

 Beatdown Manifesto

The Beatdown was conceived and made into reality by Chris Kelly and Ryan Dearbone. The sole mission was and is to give wrestling fans a forum to let their voices be heard while also providing insights from wrestling fans that may not be reflected by standard media outlets and/or major wrestling organizations. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by any wrestling promotion.

Ryan and I knew there was a void, specifically in Bowling Green, KY, for fans to have a place to talk about and debate wrestling topics. We faced a lot of skepticism and apathetic adversity in getting the radio show launched initially, but WBGN Program Director Norm Haney was gracious enough to give us a shot. The Beatdown was launched on June 29, 2008. We are doing everything in our power to make sure the radio show and the website are as accommodating to you, the wrestling fan, as they possibly can be, and we're constantly looking to improve. We want to get bigger and better and we want to take all of you along for the ride with us! We've got some exciting plans for the show: we want to expand to two hours weekly (DONE! -CK), we want to start a TV version of The Beatdown, and we have many other ideas still in the planning stages. Bowling Green is about to get very interesting for wrestling fans and we're gonna be right in the middle of it! The Beatdown is a textbook definition of a "labor of love" for myself and Ryan. We're not getting paid to do the show (except for the occasional meal Buffalo Wild Wings throws our way -- Thanks guys!!), but it's never been about the money for us.

However, radio is a business. The calls to the show and the crowds showing up at Buffalo Wild Wings for WWE PPVs and hits and comments posted on the website are much appreciated, but we also need show sponsors. This is where you, the fan/listener, can really help us keep things rolling smoothly. Think about where you shop for wrestling-related items (DVDs, magazines, T-shirts, posters, etc.) and let those retail outlets know where you go to listen to the best wrestling talk radio show on the planet and where they need to advertise to bring more wrestling and sports fans through their doors. We all know how loyal and passionate wrestling fans are and any business would be more than happy to add those individuals to their customer base.

Radio is a great medium (in my opinion the best, especially for local advertising), but the best advertising ever is not bought or built by a marketing agency. It's word of mouth and you can help The Beatdown by simply talking to people about the show.

You know who your friends are that are also wrestling fans. Make sure they know about the show. Even if they're just casual fans, let 'em know we're there when they're ready to "layeth the beateth down." If you're at a store looking through the wrestling DVDS or mags, and you notice a fellow wrestling fan doing the same, take a second to turn them on to The Beatdown. If you're walking around campus or town or sitting in class and you notice someone with a WWE or TNA t-shirt on, let them know we're on Sunday nights at 9 pm on 1340 WBGN, or drop the web addy on 'em. Just a few seconds for you could mean several new listeners for us. And if each new listener you bring in brings in another, we can build this thing into what we all want it to be: a proud and legitimate source of info and discussion for all wrestling fans worldwide.

That also means thinking beyond Bowling Green! Do you have a friend or family member who loves wrestling? We are on the web and streaming live so let them know they can listen live and check out the website to add comments/questions. We're always open to suggestions for making the show bigger and better, so let us know what you think.

Ryan and I have got the ball rollin' but this is just as much your show as it is ours. Take ownership and take pride in it and let's see how huge this thing can get. Let's make the big boys sit up and take notice. We can't and don't want to do it without you, so getcha boots on and get in the ring with The Beatdown!!! There's plenty of room for everybody! Except Big Reg! Just kidding!

On behalf of my partner-in-crime Ryan, HUGE THANKS to everyone who has already donated time and effort to help make The Beatdown a success!!!

Chris Kelly