More About Me

Since the, "About Me" section of this blog is limited to a specific amount of characters, I decided to write a post that discusses more about what I have done in the pro-wrestling industry, beginning with when I first started in it and leading up to now.

Technically, I started back in the 1990s, contributing to, "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" and then, "Pro Wrestling Torch". In 1997, I contributed to The Official Website of the NWO. That same year, I briefly published my own newsletter, "The Wrestling Express".

In 1998, I taught myself how to design websites, and served as a consultant for various independent promotions. That next year, I worked as a website designer/maintainer for Dylan Summers (Necro Butcher) who was running the Texas-based Power Pro Wrestling Federation, and later was involved with Texas Outlaw Promotions.

During the period of 2000-2002, I was involved in many different projects at once. I was working as a website designer/publicist for talent, contributing to WCW.com, writing columns for independent promotions and the website of former WCW star The Stro, and writing for a variety of pro-wrestling media sites (including WrestlingObserver.com and PWTorch.com). In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews.

In 2004, I started working for the Michigan-based Ultimate Championship Wrestling as a publicist/columnist. They were an affiliate of American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling, and I soon became the publicist/columnist of the main governing body of AWA as well. During my time working for UCW, I played a major role in bringing in new talent, due to over the years my having had come into contact with many talents being underused and going unnoticed in the industry. Also, attendance increased by a significant amount.

In 2005, I started doing a column for 3PW. With DVDs sold nationwide, they had the potential to become much bigger than they already were at the time, and were very open to my ideas. I pushed for many changes behind-the-scenes. I had encouraged management to improve the production quality of their DVDs, which led to them dealing with a different production company. 3PW management had planned on waiting for its fan base to increase before getting TV for 3PW. I explained how getting TV for 3PW is what would increase its fan base, and I was then given the green light to find networks that were interested. Two networks were very interested, and I encouraged 3PW management to meet with them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the owner of the company instead opted to shut 3PW down, due to losing interest. Working for 3PW put me in connection with the UK-based 1PW, who I worked as a columnist for.

After 3PW shut down, I began working as a publicist for independent promotions, including CHIKARA. I also worked as a columnist for CZW. Interestingly though, it was 2006 at this point yet I was still most recognized for the work that I had done for 3PW and AWA/UCW.

In 2007 I started working as a columnist for XCW, a promotion that was seen nationally on MAVTV, had a national DVD deal, and also had PPV events. Working for a promotion of national status was my biggest achievement at that point, and two years later I reached a bigger achievement- Big Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along with working for them as a columnist and an Administrator for their Facebook page, I helped bring Big Japan Pro-Wrestling together with Combat Zone Wrestling to form a working relationship after a previous working relationship between the two promotions had fallen apart. This new working relationship led to Big Japan Pro-Wrestling having its first event in the United States.

In October 2009 I assisted publicity & promotions company MGM Management with the HULKAMANIA- Let the Battle Begin tour by distributing their press release to pro-wrestling news sites that are popular with Australian fans, and conducting an interview with Solofa Fatu Jr. (better known as, "Rikishi"). Also, in 2012 I wrote a number of columns for Women Superstars United.

In May 2018 I did social media for Great North Wrestling.

In April and May 2021, I did blogging and social media for Kyushu Pro Wrestling. During that time, the promotion gained 220 new subscribers and 52,746 new views on its official YouTube channel.

Recently, I have done blogging and social media for Yanagase Pro Wrestling. Since the time I began writing for them, Yanagase Pro Wrestling has their anniversary events at a venue where they have had 300 fans. All previous Yanagase Pro Wrestling events took place at a 50-seat venue.

I have also recently written for the China-based Middle Kingdom Wrestling in a Publicist capacity. My work is an essential piece in the multilingual activation, with it being adapted to traditional Chinese for readers in China. I am the first native English writer who has written for a Chinese wrestling organization in history.

In 2019 I began writing for Michinoku Pro Wrestling, in charge of international wrestling. Since the time that I began writing for them, Michinoku Pro stopped choosing Shin-Kiba 1st Ring for its Tokyo events and began focusing on the much larger Korakuen Hall for its Tokyo appearances. The Korakuen Hall is known as a place where many historical moments in the Japanese pro-wrestling scene have occurred. It's to Japan what Madison Square Garden is to the pro-wrestling scene in the United States. Michinoku Pro had a sellout, standing-room-only event on December 13, 2019 at the Korakuen Hall. The event had an attendance of 1,890. That was the highest reported attendance at the Korakuen Hall to date for a pro-wrestling event since April 2015.

I am open to new writing opportunities, from event previews & results reports to wrestler spotlights & social media. I offer sponsored content and an international audience. This blog is now included in Google News, which has over 11 million visits every day, giving your product the opportunity to be promoted in front of millions. Check out my samples and see how I can take your brand to the next level:
https://harold-williams.com/2012/05/samples-of-my-work.html


info@harold-williams.com

Google has created a knowledge panel about me and my work: https://g.co/kgs/x4pMxp1

If you run a small wrestling promotion or wrestling news website and are looking to take your content to the next level in an affordable way- I am offering affordable rates starting at $110 / ¥16,000 per blog post/article.

I graduated from university with a major in Business and a minor in Computer Applications, which makes me an asset not only as a writer but in a business and technological capacity as well.

I am also a Technical Writer specializing in AI, VR, AR, NFTs, 5G, Web3, and the metaverse in the context of wrestling-and a subject matter expert in the business side of Japan's MMA scene and other sports.

Former ECW Champion To Take Part In Free Yanagase Pro Wrestling Event

Check out my Yanagase Pro Wrestling event preview on The Deck:

https://thedeck.news/former-ecw-champion-to-take-part-in-free-yanagase-pro-wrestling-event/

[The Deck] Michinoku Pro 11/16/24 Yahaba Town Event! A New Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion to Be Crowned!

Check out my Michinoku Pro event preview on The Deck:

https://thedeck.news/michinoku-pro-11-16-24-yahaba-town-event-a-new-tohoku-junior-heavyweight-champion-to-be-crowned/

[The Deck] The Rock’s Cryptic Message: What Will He Do in His WWE Return?

Check out my piece on The Deck about The Rock:

https://thedeck.news/the-rocks-cryptic-message-what-will-he-do-in-his-wwe-return/

Successful Tech Integrations in Professional Wrestling

Professional wrestling has been at the forefront of technological innovation, embracing new tools and platforms to enhance the fan experience and streamline operations. There are many notable examples of successful tech integrations in the industry.

WWE has been a pioneer in Virtual Reality (VR) experiences. In 2018, the company began a partnership with NextVR, a virtual reality distribution technology company that specializes in broadcasting live events in virtual reality. For free, members of the WWE Universe were able to watch a WWE channel within the NextVR app and see WWE action as if they were ringside at the event.



Promotions have leveraged social media platforms to interact with fans in real-time, fostering a sense of community. Wrestlers have done the same, particularly via Twitch. The wrestlers include Kenny Omega, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Dakota Kai, and Michin.

Many promotions have used live streaming platforms to stream matches and events, reaching a wider audience. Yanagase Pro Wrestling broadcasts shows on TwitCasting, a livestreaming service based in Japan that has over 33 million registered users worldwide. Michinoku Pro joined WRESTLE UNIVERSE this March, and before then, the wrestling company was using general-purpose streaming platform YouTube to stream, "Michinoku Pro Wrestling LIVE". World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana has its own live streaming service, Diana Live. Meanwhile, the Singapore independent wrestling scene also uses streaming to introduce its top stars. After a five-year hiatus, WOS Wrestling made its return last month, and content from the event will be made available online for fans both inside and outside of the UK. And in January 2025, WWE Raw will become exclusive to Netflix, plus WWE also utilizes Peacock as an exclusive streaming partner and partnered with Abema in Japan with the partnership involving WWE making its live content available exclusively via a streaming service. Also, WWE has created "WWE Speed", a program that is streamed exclusively via X.

Interactive fan engagement apps have been created, such as WWE SuperCard, WWE 2K, WWE Immortals, and AEW: Rise to the Top. These apps offer a variety of features, from collectible card games to role-playing experiences. Not only do they entertain fans and enhance fan engagement, but these apps also foster community building, generate revenue, and provide valuable data for marketing and product development.



Wrestling promotions have embraced e-commerce to sell merchandise directly to fans (via WWE Shop, Shop AEW, and many more), offering a convenient and global shopping experience. Some of them have experimented with the integration of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to create unique digital collectibles for fans.

These are just a few examples of how technology has been successfully integrated into professional wrestling. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the future, with technology playing an increasingly important role. From virtual reality experiences and social media engagement to live streaming and interactive apps, these innovations are transforming the way fans experience and interact with the industry. As technology advances further, we can expect to see even more exciting and innovative applications that will continue to enhance the wrestling experience for fans around the world.

The Ethical Implications of AI in Wrestling

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized numerous industries, and the world of professional wrestling is no exception, as AI rapidly becomes an essential part of the industry. It offers new tools for fan engagement and training- by analyzing vast amounts of data, AI can personalize fan experiences, and optimize wrestler performance. However, the integration of AI also raises significant ethical concerns that must be carefully considered.

One of the primary ethical implications of AI in wrestling is the potential for privacy violations. AI systems often require very large amounts of data to function effectively. This data can include personal information about wrestlers, such as their health records, training routines, and even their personal lives. If this data is mishandled or falls into the wrong hands, it could have serious outcomes for the wrestlers involved.

Another ethical concern is the potential for AI to displace human jobs within the wrestling industry. As AI technology becomes more advanced, it is possible that it could automate tasks traditionally performed by human workers, such as simulating matches for training or fan engagement, managing social media accounts, predicting ticket sales, doing commentary, creating match ideas, writing storylines, booking matches, or even creating wrestling characters. This could lead to job losses and economic hardship for those working in the industry. And on a side note, AI could never truly replace writers, bookers, and producers. Relying on AI could lead to predictable matches and spots, causing fans to become bored and dissatisfied with the product. While AI can be a valuable tool, it is important to understand that human creativity and intuition remain essential for creating compelling storylines and engaging fans. Human writers can craft complex storylines that resonate with audiences, while human bookers can create interesting characters that fans connect with.

It should also be noted that wrestlers bring their own unique styles, charisma, and athleticism to the ring, which cannot be duplicated by AI. Wrestling is about athleticism, but it's also about showmanship, storytelling, human connection, action, and drama. AI can crunch numbers and generate algorithms better than people, but it can't replicate the chemistry of two professional wrestlers who are at the top of their games as they make magic in the ring, the impressive way that a talented performer quickly recovers from a botched spot, or the true emotion displayed when a wrestler wins a championship. AI is able to assist with tasks like analyzing data, but it cannot replicate the human touch that makes wrestling as special as it is.

AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on. If that data is biased, then the AI system will also be biased. This could lead to unfair treatment of wrestlers based on factors such as race, gender, or other demographic characteristics. For example, an AI system trained on historical wrestling data that is dominated by wrestlers of a specific race and gender may be more likely to favor wrestlers of that race and gender in future simulations. Also, AI bias can pose significant risks in the industry. For example, facial recognition systems may misidentify people of color, hiring algorithms can be biased against women, and language models can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. In wrestling, an AI system trained on a dataset of wrestlers predominantly of a specific race and gender may be more likely to generate character ideas that conform to those stereotypes. These examples illustrate the importance of ensuring that AI systems are developed and used in a fair and unbiased manner. Wrestling companies can reduce AI bias by ensuring diverse training data, conducting regular audits, being transparent about AI use, maintaining human oversight, and developing ethical guidelines. These strategies can help ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly in the industry.

The ethical implications of AI in wrestling are complex and complicated. While AI offers many potential benefits to the industry, it is necessary to approach its integration with caution and consideration. By addressing these ethical concerns in advance, the wrestling industry can ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits both fans and wrestlers alike.

As the use of AI in wrestling continues to grow, it is mandatory that the industry engages in open and honest discussions about the ethical implications of this technology. By doing so, we can help to guarantee that AI is used responsibly and for the advancement of the industry. Wrestling organizations can prioritize ethical considerations in their AI initiatives by conducting ethical impact assessments, involving stakeholders, and staying informed about AI developments. This approach can help ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits the industry and avoids negative consequences.

While focusing on the ethical concerns, it's important to acknowledge the potential benefits of AI in wrestling. It offers numerous potential benefits to the industry, including improved wrestler safety, enhanced fan engagement, and streamlined operations. For example, AI can analyze match data to identify potential risks and injuries, and it can personalize fan experiences by recommending matches or events based on their preferences. Additionally, AI can automate tasks such as ticket sales and merchandise management, freeing up human resources for other tasks. By leveraging AI, wrestling organizations can increase efficiency, enhance wrestler safety, and improve the overall fan experience. However, the collection and use of fan data to personalize experiences can raise privacy concerns. Fans may not be aware of the extent of data being collected about them or how it is being used. There is a risk of data sharing and data breaches, which could lead to the exposure of sensitive fan information. To lessen these risks, wrestling organizations should be clear about their data collection practices, obtain definite consent from fans, and implement powerful security measures to protect fan data.

As AI is used in wrestling long-term, the implications could be across the board, with notable changes in the nature of the industry and altered fan-wrestler relationships. For example, excessive reliance on AI could lead to a decline in creativity and unpredictability, while AI could shift the focus of wrestling away from in-ring action and storytelling. Also, while AI could create more personalized fan experiences, it might also limit exposure to different perspectives. New forms of fan-wrestler interaction could happen because of AI, but privacy and authenticity concerns may arise.

The psychological impact of AI on wrestling can be noteworthy for both wrestlers and fans. For wrestlers, AI-powered analytics and simulations could create increased pressure to perform, leading to anxiety and burnout. Additionally, AI-generated content may lead to a loss of individuality and raise ethical concerns regarding the use of AI to make decisions about a wrestler's career or compensation. For fans, AI-generated content may be less able to evoke emotional responses and could lead them to stop caring about the product. Ethical concerns also arise regarding the use of AI to collect and analyze fan data.

It is important to carefully consider psychological implications and potential long-term effects, then proactively address any negative consequences to make sure that AI is used in a way that benefits both fans and wrestlers, as well as take steps to alleviate any undesirable results that could still happen. This is why a regulatory framework is essential to govern the use of AI in wrestling and ensure that ethical standards are met. Such a framework could include creating oversight bodies, implementing enforcement mechanisms, and encouraging international cooperation. By doing so, the wrestling industry can create a more predictable and ethical environment for the use of AI, protecting the interests of fans, wrestlers, and other stakeholders.

Along with potential negatives of long-term use of AI in wrestling it could also lead the creation of new forms of wrestling entertainment, such as interactive experiences or virtual reality simulations. This could result in a new diversification of the industry and attract new audiences.

AI can also have a meaningful impact on the business side of wrestling in the industry's current form. For example, AI can be used to dynamically adjust ticket prices and optimize merchandise sales. By using AI, wrestling organizations can improve their business operations, increase revenue, and better meet the needs of their fans.

AI can play a valuable role in talent development in wrestling as well. By analyzing performance data and identifying potential risks, AI can help organizations improve their talent development processes, and ensure that wrestlers have the resources and support they need to succeed.

[Michinoku Pro] Ticket Information for Michinoku Pro's 11/16/24 event in Yahaba Town!

Join Michinoku Pro on November 16th (6:00 PM start time) at Yahaba Town Citizens General Gymnasium in Yahaba Town, Iwate! You can read a preview of the event here.

Tickets are available at Lawson, Ticket Pia, e +, and via Michinoku Pro Wrestling Telephone Reservation- 019 (687) 2431.