Bill Apter has an eye for talent in the professional wrestling business.
Bill Apter recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his role as one of the featured panelists for the inaugural SportsKeeda Wrestling Awards.
Apter joined Sportskeeda as a writer and content creator after his longtime home, 1Wrestling.com closed due to the untimely passing of Bob Ryder in 2020. Apter has presented many awards to wrestlers over the years through his work with various magazines including Pro Wrestling Illustrated, and was asked what he looks for when choosing a nominee for a year-end award in the wrestling business.
“What do I look for? Someone that captured the essence of the business and was able to transfer that out to the fans, the public. Somebody special, somebody that really meant something to the fans. If you go back to the days when I presented them on TBS and Jim Crockett Promotions, there were always these great people like Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, Arn [Anderson] and Tully [Blanchard], Hulk Hogan, Sting. These people brought something so special to give the fans the ultimate in pro wrestling and entertainment. So, when I present someone with an award, I want to present it to them because even though the fans may have voted for that person, I want to give them recognition from the magazines that I’ve worked for — and the fans — for being special and making everybody feel special.”
While he spoke primarily about the year in review for 2021, Apter was asked who has impressed him so far in 2022. Just three months into the new year, he said that Roman Reigns still has a lot more to offer fans on the men’s side of things, while he said that Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. is the women’s wrestler that has made a big impression this year so far.
“Roman Reigns. I don’t think that Roman Reigns has fully grown into what he’s going to be yet. I think his persona, his excellent ring skills are getting better and better each time, and there’s something a lot of people don’t think about, but he’s so intent on the whole — even though people don’t think of him from that Samoan Dynasty, he loves to bring that [attitude] with him, so to say. Not physically, but in terms of people knowing where he came from, so I think there’s a lot more to come from Roman Reigns,” Apter said. “Britt Baker, I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her yet either. We’re on the way.”
Vote for the complete list of categories in the SportsKeeda Wrestling Awards at this link.
