[The Big Shill]

"The Promise" Antonio Thomas is back home after completing 3 successful tours for All-Japan Pro Wrestling starting in June and culminating with AJPW's August 31st's pay per view show at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo. Thomas' Japanese debut was considered a success and he looks forward to returning All Japan in the near future.

Thomas makes his return to the New England scene this weekend - not in the ring, but on television.

Thomas, who is also a former WWE star, is featured on the New England Sports Network's reality series Sox Appeal this Sunday at 9:30 PM EST. Sox Appeal is a dating show with a Boston Red Sox twist. One dater has three dates to choose from. The dates all take place at Fenway Park during Boston Red Sox games. Will Antonio connect or strike out? Will he make it to third base, or even go all the way? Find out this Sunday at 9:30 PM EST on NECW's Sox Appeal!

[GrayGhost]

Great to welcome back Mr Thomas from his successful Japan tour, but who would ever wanna have a "date" at Fenway Pahk or any other ballpark for that matter. I could see it now. u r walking your date to the overpriced concession stand, and BAM.. a SCREEEEEEEAMING line drive foul, clocks your date on the head. She is ok, but as she gets up all she cares about is. Jacoby Ellsbury hit me in the head. wooooo. Text time. Im sooooo in love.

[Joshua B]

Antonio on Sox Appeal is AWESOME! Thanks for passing this along Sheldon.

[FlairFanatic]

I believe this is a repeat... If i recall he was on it last year. I could be wrong.

What a waste of going to a ball game when they dont even watch the game. This show might as well be at the local bar and tap.

[Rachel5831]

he was supposed to be on it last year, and i never saw it, so maybe he's airing it now.

it may be a "waste"...but you get free grandstand seats(at a table) to fenway park. why the hell not?!

[FlairFanatic]

Rachel5831 wrote:

he was supposed to be on it last year, and i never saw it, so maybe he's airing it now. it may be a "waste"...but you get free grandstand seats(at a table) to fenway park. why the hell not?!

Because the people never end up watching the game. One guy and 3 different girls to try and "get to know"? Yeh, they will REALLY be watching the game. Id wear a Rays jersey to the date.

[GrayGhost]

FlairFanatic wrote:

Rachel5831 wrote: he was supposed to be on it last year, and i never saw it, so maybe he's airing it now. it may be a "waste"...but you get free grandstand seats(at a table) to fenway park. why the hell not?! Because the people never end up watching the game. One guy and 3 different girls to try and "get to know"? Yeh, they will REALLY be watching the game. Id wear a Rays jersey to the date.

Yeah, go have the date at a bar or something.

Wear a Rays Jersey to Fenway? Well, a Yankees Jersey, you'd get harassed, maybe physically attacked..

Despite the Rays being good this year, a Rays Jersey may elicit shock and laughter, haha.

[Joshua B]

I would easily forgo watching the game if I had the opportunity to spend time with three hot chicks.

[Bcairo]

Congrats to Antonio... However ANYTHING involving the Boston Red Sox is a sure LOSER!

-BC

[BubbaJ]

Yay for cheap heat!

[Bcairo]

My hatred for the Sox is FAR beyond cheap heat.

-BC

[Tauron Nox]

Bcairo wrote:

My hatred for the Sox is FAR beyond cheap heat. -BC

You lost money on them, didn't you?

[maddogms]

Cairo, how's the neck and back doing?

FYI: Brian Cairo is a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. I'd be a hater too if I had such horrible favorite teams.

[Tauron Nox]

maddogms wrote:

Cairo, how's the neck and back doing? FYI: Brian Cairo is a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. I'd be a hater too if I had such horrible favorite teams.

At least the Cubs have the "Lovable Loser" thing working for them.

[Joshua B]

I watched this but forgot to comment here.

Surprisingly, the guy who should have been the best talker and gotten the most airtime turned out to be the most insecure and sheepish guy of the three. His date was a really hot chick with a wicked Boston accent and equally hot sisters. Her whole family was there watching everything go down. She's a girl that I think most of us would at least put a little effort into. Antonio was too self-conscious about trying to be a gentleman. He never let her see his real personality. That's my view anyway. Then he asked her if he would be her type. Kind of an inopportune question when he hadn't done or said anything that impressed her. Needless to say he wasn't chosen.

This is a guy I'm really impressed with on NECW TV, so I'm not badmouthing him. He just wasn't up to par on this show.

[FRW Fall Guy]

Joshua B wrote:

I watched this but forgot to comment here. Surprisingly, the guy who should have been the best talker and gotten the most airtime turned out to be the most insecure and sheepish guy of the three. His date was a really hot chick with a wicked Boston accent and equally hot sisters. Her whole family was there watching everything go down. She's a girl that I think most of us would at least put a little effort into. Antonio was too self-conscious about trying to be a gentleman. He never let her see his real personality. That's my view anyway. Then he asked her if he would be her type. Kind of an inopportune question when he hadn't done or said anything that impressed her. Needless to say he wasn't chosen. This is a guy I'm really impressed with on NECW TV, so I'm not badmouthing him. He just wasn't up to par on this show.

He wasn't trying to be a gentleman. He is a gentleman.

I will give you a rare bit of insight into a wrestler's personality. I have never met anyone who will go so far out of his way to be so respectful to my wife and children when working on my shows. If he swears at all, he usually stops, looks around to make sure no one who "shouldn't" hear it is around and looks embarrassed doing it. When on a show, he works as hard as anyone on the show, no matter who it's with our how many or few fans are in attendance-often when an "ex WWE" star could get away with tanking it or mailing it in. He watches the matches and of his free will gives constructive criticism and praise where deserved. Shit, he even sticks around to break down the ring!

Out of anyone who's ever gotten any success in this area, no one deserves it more than Thomas. In nearly 20 years, no one-I repeat no one-has worked as hard while at the same time going to such great lengths to not step on other people's toes.

On top of that, he's extremely talented. I remember well this nervous, well mannered shy kid, built like a Greek God, approaching me at Good Times in Sommerville for NECW. It was like his third or fourth match and he wanted to know what I wanted to do. I went over a bunch of stuff with him-almost none of which we did because I wanted to see how he'd react if I changed things up on him. He just hung right in there...no slop, no fumbling. Yeah, I was leading it but he just stayed right with me. I still have an article written in a local weekly paper, saying the match exemplified the best aspects of NECW. That's high praise for a kid still in his first matches-especially one stuck in the ring with my clumsy ass.

I'm glad for his recent success in Japan. I hope he gets another shot at success in America as well, as I can think of no one more deserving of it.

[Joshua B]

Great insight into Antonio! I appreciate you sharing this. Though now you've got me curious about something. You mention you wrestled Antonio. What is your name, or stage name?

Geez, I sure hope you didn't think my commentary about Antonio's lackluster Sox Appeal performance was a shot at his character or talent!

[GrayGhost]

Antonio has always been a very classy person, who Im very pleased to call one of my "friends in the business". I recall when he did the interview with me for the hammer, he asked me if it was good enough, etc, after he sent it. Simply a classy guy, who as Mav said, is EXTREMELY talented in the ring also. I wish him the best, and look forward to seeing him (and u too Wild..haha ) at T3WP in W Spfld next month, in some top end matches.

[FRW Fall Guy]

Joshua B wrote:

Great insight into Antonio! I appreciate you sharing this. Though now you've got me curious about something. You mention you wrestled Antonio. What is your name, or stage name? Geez, I sure hope you didn't think my commentary about Antonio's lackluster Sox Appeal performance was a shot at his character or talent!

Maverick Wild, aka Scott C. Despres. Sorry, I thought it was pretty common knowledge around here that I posted under both names and I've been logged in at work under the FRW Fall Guy name for several days now. I registered the other name to post FRW stuff in some odd homage to kayfaybe, but since I'm forgetful as all hell I often forget to switch between names. I should probably just do away with the FRW Fall Guy thing.

[MWS1980]

Joshua B wrote:

I would easily forgo watching the game if I had the opportunity to spend time with three hot chicks.

arent you married?