Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Monday, March 13, 2006 at 3:38 AM EST

The following was transcribed by Betsy Byrd of www.wrestlingweekly.com:

ECWA Promoter Jim Kettner Talks to Wrestling Weekly about the upcoming ECWA Super 8 Tournament, what he looks for in contenders and much more:::

The March 9th edition of Wrestling Weekly included an exclusive interview with veteran wrestler, trainer, and promoter Jim Kettner, who is most noted for his 39-year tenure as wrestling promoter for the Newark, Delaware-based East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) and its annual Super 8 Tournaments.

Jim admits that being in the business for as long as he has "went by pretty quick." He says he's seen tremendous changes in the business in those years. Les asked Jim about the origins of the tournaments which have been going on for 10 of those years. He admits that "it wasn't my idea." The story behind the successful tournaments was ECWA was offered a free half hour television segment 10 years ago and not wanting to pass up a golden opportunity, Jim decided they needed to crown a TV Champ. At the suggestion of some of the guys working there at the time-Billy Kidman and Ace Diamond included-he reluctantly decided to host a tournament to determine the winner.

What began as a one time endeavor resulted in ECWA getting lots of "good press" so they continued doing it year after year. Jim is proud that the tournament has become so coveted among indy wrestlers. What started out as a regional thing is now officially international this year with the inclusion of the first Japanese wrestler, Milano Collection A.T.

Jim takes booking the tournaments seriously and joked that he already has the next one planned before the current year's tournament is already over. He looks for many things when booking the tournament including whether the wrestlers all stylistically mesh with each other. He studies many tapes throughout the year that come "from all over the world now," according to Jim. He says he primarily looks for "old school boots and trunks kind of guy(s)" and says if he gets a tape with a guy in t-shirt and jeans and no build, he moves onto the next tape.

Jim said he loves that the tournaments help guys break out in addition to offering them an opportunity to network. The tournament this year contains a cross section of wrestlers and will showcase the talents of Charlie Haas, Milano Collection A.T., Danny Daniels, Andre Lyonz, Bryan Logan, Josh Daniels, Scott Lost and Davey Richards.

Jim said the debut of Charlie Haas at the tournament is bittersweet because this is Charlie's third year attempt at getting in. The first year he was supposed to debut with his brother, Russ, who passed away in 2001. The second time Charlie was saddled with an injury. Jim knows that this year's tournament is "important to him."

This year's tournament is dedicated to Jim's nephew, Jeffrey Peterson. Jeffrey was a wrestler and former Super 8 competitor who died of cancer in 2002. The 10th Annual Super 8 Tournament is April 8 at the Boys and Girls Club of Newark in Newark, Delaware. For more about the tournament and ECWA, check out www.ecwaprowrestling.com.