THE GZW2k1 COLISEUM - ATLANTA, GEORGIA

The following is taken from an edition of Hotwire Magazine, written by Billy Dowling-Reid.

Tucked away deep within America's Bible Belt, Atlanta is a city so world famous for its strip clubs, to ignore them would be like ignoring casinos in Las Vegas. In fact, even Atlanta lawmakers begrudgingly admit that the revenue from the city's adult entertainment industry is invaluable. On Sundays, one can't even purchase alcohol in an Atlantan store, yet you can recieve a lap dance any day of the week. Yes, as Atlanta continues to be caught in a power struggle between old Southern virtues and its desire to be recognized as an international city, strip clubs and the like continue to grow, seemingly unfazed by the shaky economy. And the religious hellfire.

And as all the politics raged on, a certain GroundZero Wrestling 2K1 was allowed to build itself up quietly in the background, without much in the way of a disturbance from any forgein party. From it's base right in the centre of Atlanta, GZW2K1 simply grew... and grew... and grew into the massive multimedia corporation that it is today. And that base I mentioned? You'd know it as The GZW2K1 Coliseum - so much more than just a wrestling arena. Let's have a look around that base, yes? Let's begin our tour of one of wrestling's most notable landmarks! Admission is merely the price of this magazine.

Name: The GZW2K1 Coliseum
Owner: Logan Corzair

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Construction: 17th Dec 1975 - 23rd Feb 1978
Height: 120ft
Length: 300ft x 500ft

Ground Area: 15, 000ft (squared)

Structure Value: $37, 000, 000

There have been many stories and rumours about the Coliseum's beginnings. Debates have raged on wrestling internet forms all across the world, but allow us now here at HotWire Magazine to set the record straight. The original structure - located to the extreme west of Atlanta's Edgewood Avenue - was built two decades before GZW2K1 was even born. Surprised? Back then in the late seventies, it was intended as the Hong Kong Wrestling Federation's American base of operations. This was The Coliseum's original use for it's first fifteen to twenty years of life. It was but a smallish, unspectacular sports venue which Logan Corzair would rent out to local basketball and hockey leagues whenever HKWF weren't touring the States. There was little else inside the building other than some offices, dingy dressing rooms and a 3000 compacity arena. But then things changed...

The Extreme Wrestling Order (a company which would later surrender all its rights to GroundZero Enterprises), was in the winter of it's life. Much of the EWO's talent was leaving the company due to arguments amongst the powers-that-be. Seeing a golden chance to muscle in on American territory, Logan Corzair - with the help of one Tate "Troublesome" Edmonson, amongst others - saw fit to take their gamble. GroundZero Wrestling 2K1 was born. The Coliseum became it's home in late 2000, before the promotion had even put on it's first show. The building was now called The GZW2K1 Coliseum!

But the company was now in a state of panic. A large rebuilding project was under way - an extremely ambitious attempt to transform the Coliseum from it's dingy, original state of the seventies and transform it into a grand, futuristic business and entertainment complex fit for the new millenium. The company went into debt as building costs mounted, but it would all be worth it in the end. The finished result - just in time for GZW2K1's first televised show - was what looked like almost an entirely new building. There were extensions, new wings added and the entire place looked better than being as good as new. And that's the brief story of the building, but what is actually inside it?

There are two main entrances into the Coliseum: staff and pubic. The staff entrance is the larger and more spectacular of the two, located right at the front of the building in the form of a massive glass door. The public entrance is to the west of the building, somewhat less spectacular and yet functionable.

The Coliseum is split into five sprawling sections. Billy Dowling-Reid's life is so empty at the moment that he actually drew a basic diagram of the building, but the HotWire office scanner isn't working so he clearly wasted his time. Anyway, the largest section of the building is the wrestling arena itself; the Coliseum, if you will. It boasts a 60, 000 capacity and is one of the most advanced indoor arenas in the world.

Then there is the second section: an almost endless labrynth of backstage corridors and dressing rooms. This large area of twists and tuns in strictly for staff only. Road agents, wrestlers and medics alike gather in this section and it's known for being a hive of activity during live events. The third section consists mainly of offices: GZW2K1's financial and business sector, of sorts. It's a boring place where Norman Nochums hangs out; even Clancy McClean can be seen there every once in a while. Despite not having much appeal to the average fan, this part of the Coliseum is very important indeed, and it goes without saying that no company can survive without office workers.

The fourth section is actually underground and split into two seperate sections itself: staff car park and basement. These areas are both highly protected at all times, the car park for obvious reasons and the basement area because it contains all of the Coliseum's power supplies. No mere member of the public has ever entered this place, but the rumours of Phillip Tytan's dungeon being located down here are completely false. And finally, the fifth section? This is for the public. It's one of the larger areas of the building and contains everything from merchandise stores to cafes and even a full-sized Ground Zero Global museum.

The Coliseum interior can only be described as 'grand'. The main reception displays white marble staircases and portraits of some of Combined Championship Wrestling's most notorious figures... not to mention a fountain beside the reception desk. It's more akin to a five star hotel than a sports arena at times, Logan Corzair obviously sparing no expense when it came to the rebuilding process at the beginning of the millenium. Only the finest of mateirals were used and the place still looks as good as new to this day.

The museum is the most recent addition to the building, and was the scene of a recent Chris Cairns 'Lord of the Coliseum' promo. Seen by some as the building's second biggest attraction (the actual arena being the first, of course), the museum is a must-see for all hardcore wrestling fans. It contains everything from rare autographs to blood-soaked attires; event programmes to rare figurines. Yes, all this and more really make The GZW2K1 Coliseum and building to treasure.

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE ARENA - HONG KONG

Home to the HKWF, and a complete contrast to the modern high-tech GZW2k1 Coliseum, much like the product it houses. With brutal matches, fierce competitors and fiercer fans, it has a well earned reputation of being one of the most dangerous wrestling venues in the world. Many walk in... none walk out.

GZW2K1 TOWERS

A 200-room state of the art hotel located a few steps from the Coliseum. This building is home to many GZW employees and wrestlers but is open to the public. Many aspiring fans wait in the lobby hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstar. It is also home to Blue Monday, a resturant owned by Ring of Honor Icon Striker "Hades" Fiery who frequently greets diners.

GZW2K1 TROUBLE TRAX

For those who want to follow in the steps of their favourite GZW2K1 superstars, this is where it all begins. Under the watchful eye of former World Heavyweight Champion Tonya Glory, hopefulls train to become the future Icons of the company. Current superstars frequently visit to help out with training and to brush up on the basics

DESERT STORM INDUSTRIES

A GZW sponsored wrestling training facility located in Glendale, Arizona. Owned and run by Sean "Magic" Fiery. More and more wrestlers are coming from the western area of the country, so DSI offers them top quality training in order to make it to the "big time". But not without hard work, detirmination, and a desire for the sport. This isn't just a place to come to learn to kick someone's ass. You have to have a passion for the sport and be winning to sacrifice things in life in order to gain the reality that this sport offers.