Launched just a few years ago, Chicago-based promotion RESISTANCE Pro Wrestling quickly garnered attention from virtually every facet of the industry. To be sure, the involvement of acclaimed musician Billy Corgan in the fledgling endeavor evoked quite a bit of intrigue from fans and industry insiders alike in the early stages of R-Pro's development. But in the years that followed, the men and women of R-Pro have carefully and steadily built a hard-earned reputation as a showcase for professional wrestling excellence, offering a proving ground for some of the best talents in today's independent scene, including Harry Smith, Kevin Steen, Melanie Cruise, Colt Cabana, Cheerleader Melissa and many others.
Earlier this year, cable channel AMC—home to celebrated television series like Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead—announced they are developing a reality show that will chronicle the inner workings and real-life backstage drama behind the curtain at RESISTANCE Pro. R-Pro Co-owner Gabriel Baron shared some candid thoughts with WrestlingINC.com regarding the past, present and future of the promotion as they embark on they attempt to grow their regional fan base into an international television audience.
Since RESISTANCE Pro's inaugural "Black Friday" show back in late 2011, you've built a dedicated fan base for you live shows in the Chicago area while carefully cultivating a sustained buzz on the Internet. How has the fan response to your product—both at live events and throughout cyberspace—transformed R-Pro from a regional promotion to a company that's ready for an international television audience?
It's all about heart. The fans who come to our live shows can attest to that. Jacques, Billy, and myself have stressed from day one that R-Pro is a family. That family is not only our talent, office, and staff but our fans as well. We know so many of our fans personally because they care as much about our product as we do. Whether it's because a certain character, storyline, or our POP (Positive Outreach Program) has touched them, they aren't afraid to tell us about it. It's not people taking to message boards or social media to voice approval or dissatisfaction something we are doing, it's them coming up to us at our live shows (or us coming up to them) and making real, personal contact. Our roster and staff know that the fans are what "keep the ball rolling" in this business, so we treat them as valued guests in our "home". It is our honor to be given the chance to entertain them and we let them know that. If we are able to show that appreciation to a nationwide or international audience, hopefully others will start to do the same.
The Chicago scene, as well as the Midwest itself, is replete with independent wrestling promotions, from fly-by-night outfits that garner audiences of 10 to 20 fans a night to time-tested organizations that can pull in hundreds of fans per show. What made Resistance Pro stand out from the veritable "alphabet soup" of indy companies waiting in line for a big break?
When we first decided to take this journey together, the three of us said that interesting characters and unique storylines are what is lacking in wrestling nowadays. There are literally hundreds of world-class athletes on the independent scene who can do more moves than you or I could name, but if you aren't emotionally invested, who cares? Someone can do a bunch of crazy flips and seem unfazed? While that's amazing, they should be working for Ringling Brothers, not R-Pro. Fans want people and situations they can identify with and live vicariously through, not emotionless acrobats in physical exhibitions. That's what we offer in comparison to our competition and helps us stand out from the pack.
Read more at http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0524/576351/indy-inc-resistance-pro-co-owner-gabriel-baron-discusses/#QIStGsj8rc93lmFu.99
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