The Initial Vision and Rocky Collaboration Path
Brian Shaw's motivation for bringing arm wrestling to the Shaw Classic was to "give back to the athletes, to give back to the fans and to give back to the sport". This aligns with his long-standing philosophy in strongman: "by the athletes for the athletes". His initial idea was to host a few larger matches at the Shaw Classic, collaborating with East vs. West to promote their brand and introduce new fans to arm wrestling. However, after "hours and hours of conversation," this collaboration "fell flat" and seemed unlikely to happen. Brian Shaw then decided to proceed independently with their super match event, initially named "the strongest arm on earth".
Unexpected Partnership and Behind-the-Scenes Frustration
A surprising turn of events occurred just two days before East vs. West 18 in Chicago. Brian Shaw was informed that East vs. West’s planned Baku event was not going to proceed due to venue issues, and they were actively seeking a new location. This led to renewed conversations about a collaboration, aiming to expand the Shaw Classic event with bigger matches as a partnership.
Based on this agreement, Brian Shaw made a significant personal commitment, booking a late-night flight to Chicago at his own expense to be present for a major announcement. However, upon landing, he was told the Baku event was "potentially back on," causing considerable frustration given the business agreement already made. Despite this, the announcement was made on stage before the Hermes and Leavonne match at East vs. West 18, confirming that East vs. West 19 would be a collaborative event with the Shaw Classic on August 15th. Brian Shaw admitted he "did not realize a lot of the things that were going on behind the scenes in the arm wrestling world" until later, including reports that many "East athletes" would not come, leading to much turmoil.
Event Structure and Exciting Matches
Despite the challenges, Brian Shaw affirmed his commitment, stating, "I'm not going to back down from a challenge" and is focused on making the event the best it can be. The event will feature two main components:
- Tournament: A tournament will be held during the day on Friday at the Shaw Classic Expo, with Corey Miller now directing it.
- Super Matches: There will be a total of ten super matches.
- Five "Strongest Arm on Earth" super matches were already planned and announced prior to the collaboration.
- East vs. West has brought in five different matches.
A highly anticipated match that has generated significant discussion is Devon Larratt versus Vitali Laletin. This match was initially slated for Baku before potentially moving to the Shaw Classic. Brian Shaw has engaged in "a lot of conversation behind the scenes" with key figures like Robert Baxter, Engin Terzi, and the athletes themselves (Levan, Ermes, Vitali, Devon). He shared positive conversations with Vitali’s manager and Robert Baxter, indicating "some potential" for Vitali to attend if he can secure his visa, though this is not a guarantee. Another exciting match mentioned is Alex Kurdecha facing Devon Larratt on the left hand. Brian Shaw acknowledges comments about some matches not being "East vs West caliber," clarifying this is because those are the original "Strongest Arm on Earth" matches featuring non-East vs. West athletes.
Enhanced Fan Experience: Venue, Live Stream, and Commentary
Brian Shaw has addressed fan concerns regarding the event experience:
- Venue: The event will be held in the Blue Arena in Leland, Colorado, which offers "stadium seating" in a "bowl" layout. This means all seats will be elevated, providing "a great line of sight" without obstruction for an excellent in-arena experience.
- Live Stream: Addressing past frustrations with other arm wrestling live streams, Brian Shaw confirmed that his team is running the live stream production. It will utilize the "top-level production" employed for last year's "Strongest Man on Earth" event. Extensive planning meetings have been held to ensure the "best quality" stream, including replays and clear audio and video. He specifically asks fans who have been frustrated previously to "please give this one a try".
- Commentary: The commentators will be Neil Pickup and Coach Ray Liepins, with a professional host mainly alongside Neil. Brian Shaw stated he has "really really put my foot down about a lot of these things," implying changes were made based on fan feedback about unwanted commentators.
Professionalism and Commitment to Athletes
The event’s organization, including referees and rulesets, has been a major focus of multiple meetings. Brian Shaw guarantees that the event will be "as professional as we possibly can make it". He assures that there will be no "big rule changes" and that "athletes are going to be treated with respect in every single facet of this event" and "treated fairly".
Brian Shaw expresses genuine excitement, despite admitting the endeavor has been "much much more than I thought I was jumping into". He highlights the "great great great athletes characters coming into this," promising an entertaining and awesome viewing experience. He strongly encourages fans to support the event by attending in person or watching the live stream, as this support helps to "give back more to the sport give back more to the athletes". He concludes by asking viewers to consider his track record in strongman regarding his integrity and intentions, vowing to work as hard as possible behind the scenes to make the event "absolutely incredible" and to keep the sport of arm wrestling "together and moving forward". A link for tickets, live stream access, and match details will be provided.
Comments
Delete Comment