There is no other industry on Earth where this would be tolerated other than in wrestling. Business deals, contracts, partnerships and even friendships are all created through physical dominance and resilience inside the squared circle.

Even as a referee I find it harder and harder to control these goings on, even with the power that our chairman, The Vagrant has bestowed upon myself and my good friend and fellow official, Brett. We are becoming increasingly overwhelmed with backstabbings, contract tearings, and conflicts of interest, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to officiate a match these days.

However, I must admit I don't want to appear like the proverbial "cry baby", because when I started out in ECW, I knew the risks involved. You may recall that six months ago I launched a statement on ecwperth.com that I would find it hard to call the title match at Redemption, down the line, simply because of the ruthlesness and unethical behaviour of Davis Storm. Yet I should have known then what I know now: If you are refereeing an ECW match, you should know the risks!

It comes with the job. When you throw on that black and white striped shirt, you are not just the official, you are the target. Make one decision that a wrestler does not like, and they will want your head. This is where the politics comes in. You see in this day and age of rules, regulations and guidelines, there are certain elements protecting us. We can automatically dq a match when we see fit, we can ask for authorisation for the suspension of a wrestler, and we can even defend ourselves by us referees calling on eachother.

At this point in time, things are looking much more different from six months ago. I no longer have a problem with Davis Storm. Although we have not really talked much since my last comments on this website, I know that we have an unspoken respect for eachother. He knows the rules, and I must say that I am deeply proud of the actions he took at Hell or High Water last week.

Yes like any other business, the politics are amountable in ECW. Thank God for guys like The Vagrant, who is watching everyones back and on another note, I hope he recovers soon.

ECW can and will become a huge success, not just because of you fans who are the best in the world, but because of the way it is run. We not only strive for perfection in wrestling and entertainment, we want you fans happy all the time, 24/7.

And as a referee, that perfection also comes in my job, making sure that matches are called right down the middle. And let me say it is becoming an easier task. For myself, Hell or High Water is the best event yet as far as being a referee goes. Even for entertainment value, I know that you fans deserved every high spot, every power move, every single moment of high quality action that was thrown at you.

As I always say to my colleagues here at ECW, we are in the Golden Age of our expansion, and this is the time that we should be performing at an extremely high quality, and we are!

Six months ago, for me the major threat was Davis Storm becoming more powerful and eventually winning the title. Right now I have no idea why I felt that way, but it has happened and all is not so bad...a new threat has dawned now and it is looking extremely bad, especially after HOHW!

THE UPRISING! The very heart of Politics in ECW is within these three indivduals who have formed a very powerful team. To me, Azazel was always going to have a bad attitude in and out of the ring. He seemed the very arrogant type, the ones who wouldn't take no for an answer, and who wouldn't give you a "yes" if your life depended on it. He was extremely cocky and rude since day one.

Xerious Blade, one member who I believed would change for the better, especially after The Vagrant taught him a lesson at Redemption. However he became only worse and decided to use his friends as a way to combat and eventually take over our beloved organisation.

This finally brings me to Mikey. What a waste of pure talent and athleticism. This guy was going to be one of the best in ECW. And now he is just The Uprisings' show pony. They are obviously using him for their own political gain and conquest of ECW. Mikey, you were a great wrestler, now you are a great wrestler trapped inside an evil and volatile machine. The machine we call, The Uprising.

It hurts me. Not only because we have worked so hard for ECW. It is also because, like myself, others may lose their jobs in the wake of this team and their ambition of conquest. I don't want ECW to wither and die under the poison of The Uprising. And it's not like I'm getting much help either. I wanted to form an Uprising Task Force a month ago to get rid of the problem...no one has gotten back to me. I just hope that ECW knows what it is doing, this problem won't go away on its own.

Well until the next time, this has been referee Simon Cage with the first edition of, Politics of the Ring!