TIM SHIPLEY GOES AWOL?

ALBANY, NY – The afternoon after getting shafted by perennial schemer Steven Caldera at Global Championship Wrestling’s NC-17 pay-per-view in Dallas, TX, Just Wrestling owner and booker Tim Shipley has missed several engagements and the offices at Just’s Albany HQ are in a state of mild panic. Shipley, who was expected to be named as GCW Commissioner last night but was instead sent from the ring as Garbage Bag Johnny was his shock replacement, was scheduled for a conference call with Jody Monroe and several important investors at midday but his absence meant the discussion had to be postponed. He subsequently no-showed a reconciliatory lunch organised by Caldera with GBJ and former GCW Commissioner Christian Zenith, and is reported to have checked out of his Dallas hotel room two days early.

With the face of Just Wrestling’s whereabouts unknown, Monroe – who will be running her second tour with the forthcoming March Madness! – is struggling to keep a lid on the negative publicity that has spiralled around the Albany-based promotion ever since Shipley’s dalliance with GCW began. Although the UK tour was largely a success, several roster members brought shame and ridicule on the company with their conduct outside the ring, not least Steve Harrison’s bizarre attempt to purchase Portsmouth Football Club. Furthermore, Aaron Nothings was largely slammed for his dismal performances up until the last day of the tour, while Monroe received hefty criticism for her booking when The Back Alley Brawler won Lethal Lottery II – a tag team tournament – without a partner. It looks certain that Just will struggle to attract the star names that up to now have been its calling card for the March Madness! tour, set to begin two Mondays from now.