As I look at the calendar, I notice a couple very noteworthy events, so without any further ado...
Happy birthday to my brother, Shawn, as he turns 43. Shawn is the person most instrumental in getting me "hooked" on pro wrestling, as it was he who brought those Inside Wrestling & The Wrestler magazines home from school when I was 8 years old, and the fascination grew....and still hasn't ended. While we have certainly have had our share of ups & downs all these years,we are golden now, & having the chance to eat lunch with him & my wonderful sister in law, Cherie this week was one of those little things you take for granted when you're younger, but enjoy much more when you're older.
July 14 may be just another day for most of you, but in the world of professional wrestling, it is a pretty significant date, for on July 14,1984, the widely popular "World Championship Wrestling" television program on WTBS (TBS) switch affiliations, so to speak, from the Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) "wing" of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to World Wrestling Federation (WWF aka WWE).
The NWA, from 1948-1982, was a conglomerate of regional wrestling promoters that essentially "controlled" the wrestling business- being on the outs with the Alliance could affect a wrestlers ability to make a living, or could & would put a considerable squeeze on an "outlaw" promoter,making it difficult to secure top talent, quality venues,etc.
But by 1982, the Alliance was floundering, largely due to the incredible gains of the cable television business. You see, one time of day, every one of these promoters had virtually an "exclusive" on their region- they controlled what was on tv and when- so, if you wanted to watch wrestling matches, you had to watch theirs- plain & simple. There was no competition- you came to their events, or you went to no events. And if a "outlaw" came to town & got hot, the NWA members would send in talent from all over the country, to help their fellow member "win the war", so to speak.
Once cable started really penetrating most of the country, the local promoters started to struggle financially, due to the fact that most of their "own" weren't perceived by the younger newer fans as "superstars"- at least not the likes of a Tommy "Wildfire" Rich, probably wrestling's first superstar of the "Cable Era".
1984 was,with very little question, the most important year in the modern history of pro wrestling, due largely to the WWE machine & the moves Vince McMahon made that brought his organization to the very forefront of the mat game.
A little backstory : The NWA Georgia outfit was owned by a combination of Jim Barnett, Ole Anderson , & The Brisco Brothers, Jack & Jerry,& a few very small stakes partners ( 3% or less, mainly "town promoters) Barnett in particular was a lavish spender, & the GCW group was in financial trouble, despite doing huge business in more northern cities like Baltimore,Md ,Columbus & Cleveland,Ohio, Chrlestown,WV & Detroit. Enter Ole Anderson.
Ole was hired to be General Manager of GCW, & was given a minority stake in an outfit that he had both headlined & booked, on and off, since the mid 1970s. Ole's role included fixing the bottom line, which, due largely to Barnett's high cost lifestyle- limos,jets,fancy hotels,etc. was out of control.
Sometime in the middle of 1983, Ole fired Barnett. Now, Barnett couldn't be removed from ownership,mind you; but he could be removed from the day to day operations of GCW- and he was. Barnett, having spent his entire adult life in the wrestling business, reached out to Vince J McMahon, also known as "Vince SR". SR brought Barnett on board, although the day to day operations had already been taken over by Vince K McMahon, the same Vince we all know & love.
Meanwhile, back in Georgia, profits were not considerably stronger without the weight of Barnett's expensive tastes; there were other considerations, such as a much more shoestring talent base than fans were accustomed, & the heavy expenses of renting buildings such as The Omni in Atlanta, which was a costly venue, & a difficult one to fill given the talent at the time.
(Many trace the initial struggles of the GCW group to the closing of the old Atlanta City Auditorium, a 5,000 seater that cost only a few hundred dollars per night to rent. The Omni, a much more modern facility, held closer to 18,000, & as such, cost them much more)
The Brisco Brothers were not particularly happy with the lack of profit out of GCW, & approached Barnett with an idea: McMahon was starting to make his move, & the Brothers talked to Barnett about selling GCW to VKM. That sale included the very popular Saturday & Sunday night TBS tv shows, both showing at 6:05 pm.
VKM already had secured the USA Network as an exclusive, & was looking to grab every brass ring he could. But the TBS deal would also have to be okay'ed by the President of TBS himself, Ted Turner. However, this wasn't as big an issue as it could have been, since Barnett had been doing business with Turner for well over a decade, and the two were friends.
Now, I don't know the exact figures, but WWF purchased GCW, all its stock,& time slots, then immediately shut the entire outfit down, known only to The Briscos & Jim Barnett; Ole Anderson & a minority partner was completely left out of the loop- as in, The other three, alongside the other minority partners, had enough stock to sell without being blocked- not that Ole didn't try.
(A famous story from the time has Ole showing up for tv as scheduled, only to find the late Gorilla Monsoon & VKM in the TBS studio. VKM took Anderson aside & told him he should come to work for him, as in WWF. Ole, ever the diplomat, reportedly uttered the following phrase: "F--- you, Vince...AND your wife".)
When Freddie Miller, the late GCW "sidekick" announcer, introduced Vince at the top of the show on July 14,1984, TBS was flodded with phone calls & letters, asking where Gordon Solie ( legendary lead announcer) was, and why they were replaced. The support, particularly from the south, was so strong that Ted Turner gave a tv slot to the new Georgia group, Championship Wrestling from Georgia ( obviously, a spin on the old name) headed up by Ole Anderson.
The time slot was not strong ( 705 am Saturdays) but irregardless, it infuriated VKM, & it set the wheels into motion for bad blood between the McMahon & Turner camps for the next 17 years. VKM refused, after initially agreeing to do so, to record the matches for the show at the TBS studios, which was a condition Turner made on his end of deal; Instead, VKM just sent in tapes from all his other shows, slightly reformatted.
Turner then cut a deal with Cowboy Bill Watts, promoter of Mid South Wrestling. In a move largely done to embarass the McMahon camp, Turner cut a deal for a short run of Mid South tv shows, which, even outside of the usual wrestling time slot on TBS, slaughtered WWF in the ratings.
Watts & Turner were slated to into business together on what would end up becoming the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) but......
In under a year, WWE sold the TBS timeslot to Jim Crockett Promotions, which was initially just a member of the NWA, then later, during the expansion, became the NWA. Watts was the odd man out, & tried to expand on his own, but without the Turner financial backing, was about to go belly up, when the Crockett/ NWA ended up purchasing UWF from Watts, which ultimately, due to cost, spelled their doom.
However, Ted Turner once again came to the rescue, purchasing the NWA from The Crockett Family in late 1988, preserving a traditional strong ratings grabber, & renamed it World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which had previously just been the name of the tv show, not the promotion.
For a period of time, 1997-1998,WCW, led by a wrestling resurgence, fueled in no small part by a reborn Hulk Hogan, actually dominated WWE in every aspect of the business-PPV, live ticket revenue,merchandising, etc, until overspending & bad ideas ruin their show to the point of audience apathy & virtual bankruptcy.
The tradition ended in March 2001, when Time Warner purchased all of Turners tv networks, & the wrestling shows, which had long been preserved due to its strong ratings, were cancelled & the assets of the company sold- to Vince McMahon.
Until next time...
SSS
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Before I start, I want to alert you that it is entirely possible I'm talking about you. I don't believe in personal attacks, name calling, etc. I will not call you out by name, largely due to the fact that I don't believe anyone should do so, if you are not willing to allow a rebuttal- and since I'm not gonna offer anyone a rebuttal, I will keep names to myself- if it hits a nerve, it'll be because you KNOW I'm speaking about you specifically.
When I started in wrestling, all the way back in 1992, a few very important things about how this business operated were hammered into my head. One very notable thing was that every promoter offers you an opportunity, & if you want the phone to ring, so to speak, you have to make the most out those opportunities.
Making the most out of your opportunities is not strictly how you perform in the ring- that helps, but it isn't the most important thing. Listen, there are hundreds if not thousands of guys who are willing to do this, for largely little to no money, because they want to be there & will do anything it takes to be there.
Personally, I got into this not because I had any expectation to be a star ( glad that part played out as expected) or to get rich ( ditto) but because I had a love for this & wanted to be as good as I could, work as much as was feasible ( I already had a baby at home, & still needed to work my full time job) & earn the respect of the promoters & the boys with whom I shared locker rooms.
I made my share of mistakes, not only in the ring , but out of it: but if I made a commitment to a promoter, a man who was offering me an opportunity, I went to that town, no matter what type of day I had or what was going on in my life.
I found that, no matter my real life issues, that going to the shows & getting in the ring was like therapy- it was the only place on earth that nothing else mattered. I could forget that I was Shane Heimberger, father/parent/tax payer/slave to the grind, & just be Shane Shadows, wrestler.
I turned down bigger money offers from promoters to fulfill the dates I already commited to; I went when I could have worked overtime at my regular job, guaranteeing me much more money than I would make working Anytown,USA.
My second night in the business, I had to ride in the UHaul that the ring was being carried in, with my tag team partner, & a driver the promoter hired; and before we got in the truck, my trainer,Neil Superior, told us in no uncertain terms that we were not to discuss anything that might "smarten up" the driver. Try doing that for 10 roundtrip hours- my partner & I couldn't even talk about the only thing that bounded us- we barely knew each other.
It might seem really, really dumb to anyone who wasn't familiar with the culture, OUR culture, the wrestling culture...but to guys who didn't have the benefit of having 14 different promotions in their area or a choice, it was the way things were: someone else will take that spot if we don't....or we will never be back if we complain about the situations we invariably found ourselves in.
I would sometimes take a shot 200 miles away from home, then get offered one 45 miles from home- and I drove the 200 miles, because that was my first obligation and, in my mind, my ONLY obligation.
Looking back at almost 20 years of doing this, mostly weekends, & never as my full time living ( although I have made it into a profitable part time job) I can recall cancelling only one shot ( when I was convinced the guy wasn't going to pay anyway- and other friends who did go work that show confirmed my belief) & one family matter that forced me to leave the building before my match.
So imagine my consternation when I book young, green wrestlers for my events, decent guys in life best to my knowledge, who don't bother to make their agreed upon appearances. Not only do they not come, they never bother to call you, to apologize, to explain- NOTHING.
On top of that, you have guys who weeks after the fact contact you, asking if theres a open spot on the next card, ignoring the fact that he never bothered to pay enough respect to tell you why he didn't make the last one?! Then, after an intervention of sorts thru another talent, you offer him a SECOND shot, and he AGAIN doesn't show up, calls you to explain, ETC?!
Or how about a guy who you put over huge at one show, advertise for a month in the follow up cards main event, & then doesn't show up for said main event..again, with no call or courtesy to explain that there was a reason?
I'm not a total asshole ( opinions may vary here) & I realize that things do occur- life is hard, things happen- but seriously? Who raised you people? And furthermore, You don't deserve to be in my business, because you don't even UNDERSTAND my business. I'm not talking about how smart you are to it- you may be smarter or better than I- but at least I know enough & have enough respect for the business & other peoples offers of opportunity that I don't disregard it like refuse.
Sadly, if you're reading this, you will probably find some type of way to bury me or my promotion, we didn't pay enough, we didn't use you right, etc instead of facing the facts; Moreover, you likely won't lose any sleep over it, because there are 10 other promoters willing to use you, so why do you need lil ol SSS? But your lack of respect for my offers to do what you say you love, are disgusteing & disgraceful. I didn't call- you did. So, if you had no intention of coming, why did you bother?
And you're entitled to that opinion- you can think what you want about me, because I know that, whether I was the best worker on the card or the worst, I still showed up & honored my commitments. Can you say the same?
Until next time...
SSS
When I started in wrestling, all the way back in 1992, a few very important things about how this business operated were hammered into my head. One very notable thing was that every promoter offers you an opportunity, & if you want the phone to ring, so to speak, you have to make the most out those opportunities.
Making the most out of your opportunities is not strictly how you perform in the ring- that helps, but it isn't the most important thing. Listen, there are hundreds if not thousands of guys who are willing to do this, for largely little to no money, because they want to be there & will do anything it takes to be there.
Personally, I got into this not because I had any expectation to be a star ( glad that part played out as expected) or to get rich ( ditto) but because I had a love for this & wanted to be as good as I could, work as much as was feasible ( I already had a baby at home, & still needed to work my full time job) & earn the respect of the promoters & the boys with whom I shared locker rooms.
I made my share of mistakes, not only in the ring , but out of it: but if I made a commitment to a promoter, a man who was offering me an opportunity, I went to that town, no matter what type of day I had or what was going on in my life.
I found that, no matter my real life issues, that going to the shows & getting in the ring was like therapy- it was the only place on earth that nothing else mattered. I could forget that I was Shane Heimberger, father/parent/tax payer/slave to the grind, & just be Shane Shadows, wrestler.
I turned down bigger money offers from promoters to fulfill the dates I already commited to; I went when I could have worked overtime at my regular job, guaranteeing me much more money than I would make working Anytown,USA.
My second night in the business, I had to ride in the UHaul that the ring was being carried in, with my tag team partner, & a driver the promoter hired; and before we got in the truck, my trainer,Neil Superior, told us in no uncertain terms that we were not to discuss anything that might "smarten up" the driver. Try doing that for 10 roundtrip hours- my partner & I couldn't even talk about the only thing that bounded us- we barely knew each other.
It might seem really, really dumb to anyone who wasn't familiar with the culture, OUR culture, the wrestling culture...but to guys who didn't have the benefit of having 14 different promotions in their area or a choice, it was the way things were: someone else will take that spot if we don't....or we will never be back if we complain about the situations we invariably found ourselves in.
I would sometimes take a shot 200 miles away from home, then get offered one 45 miles from home- and I drove the 200 miles, because that was my first obligation and, in my mind, my ONLY obligation.
Looking back at almost 20 years of doing this, mostly weekends, & never as my full time living ( although I have made it into a profitable part time job) I can recall cancelling only one shot ( when I was convinced the guy wasn't going to pay anyway- and other friends who did go work that show confirmed my belief) & one family matter that forced me to leave the building before my match.
So imagine my consternation when I book young, green wrestlers for my events, decent guys in life best to my knowledge, who don't bother to make their agreed upon appearances. Not only do they not come, they never bother to call you, to apologize, to explain- NOTHING.
On top of that, you have guys who weeks after the fact contact you, asking if theres a open spot on the next card, ignoring the fact that he never bothered to pay enough respect to tell you why he didn't make the last one?! Then, after an intervention of sorts thru another talent, you offer him a SECOND shot, and he AGAIN doesn't show up, calls you to explain, ETC?!
Or how about a guy who you put over huge at one show, advertise for a month in the follow up cards main event, & then doesn't show up for said main event..again, with no call or courtesy to explain that there was a reason?
I'm not a total asshole ( opinions may vary here) & I realize that things do occur- life is hard, things happen- but seriously? Who raised you people? And furthermore, You don't deserve to be in my business, because you don't even UNDERSTAND my business. I'm not talking about how smart you are to it- you may be smarter or better than I- but at least I know enough & have enough respect for the business & other peoples offers of opportunity that I don't disregard it like refuse.
Sadly, if you're reading this, you will probably find some type of way to bury me or my promotion, we didn't pay enough, we didn't use you right, etc instead of facing the facts; Moreover, you likely won't lose any sleep over it, because there are 10 other promoters willing to use you, so why do you need lil ol SSS? But your lack of respect for my offers to do what you say you love, are disgusteing & disgraceful. I didn't call- you did. So, if you had no intention of coming, why did you bother?
And you're entitled to that opinion- you can think what you want about me, because I know that, whether I was the best worker on the card or the worst, I still showed up & honored my commitments. Can you say the same?
Until next time...
SSS
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
As both wrestlers & wrestling fans around the world continue to buzz this afternoon about CM Punk's "shoot" on RAW last night, I offer the question: WHAT IF....CM Punk stays, & John Cena becomes a heel?
Cena turning heel has been a subject broached by many, largely due to the reactions he gets on Tv & PPV. While Cena is huge source of merchandising income, due to his rabid popularity with kids, the PPV audience, is largely compromised of 25-40 year old males, to which he does not appeal.
Momentum is a huge thing in any form of entertainment, & wrestling even moreso- how many times has WWe failed to capitalize these past few years on a performer who had tremendous momentum? If you said alot, you would be understating it.
Failing to capitalize of such momentum, due to their own stubborness & narrow view of what a "top guy" should be, has cost the WWE millions in revenue these last several years ( something that Punk essentially pointed out last night)
but lets pretend for a moment that the next several weeks are done similiarly ( but not exactly) like the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997- shows filled with Punk asserting his beliefs, while interviewers are asking questions of Cena, similiar to how celebs & politicians are hounded? How about an interview with Vince himself, with a photo of him & Cena posing together....at the gym together....fishing together...you get the point.
Cena would ultimately have to face the accusations front & center, "half heartedly" trying to convince us ( actually, his usual promo style would probably do fine- and if at all possible, " overscript" the overscripting- in other words, take the lame material provided for him, & amp it up, so it becomes obvious that hes trying "too hard" to convince us he isn't a puppet or kiss ass.
Most likely, the direction is already set- but imagine this: during the end of their upcoming bout, Cena wen tfor the FU- but Punk's foot nails the referee. Cena goes to help the ref, but Punk hits the GTS- still no ref. Punk helps the ref this time, Cena hits his move again,but Punk kicks out,and on the kick out, Cena lands on the ref.
The groggy ref is helped away, and the match continues....and a new ref is sent. During the ensuing chaos, where agents & officials are ringside, someone very important remains- Vince McMahon. Punk once again hits the GTS, but McMahon hits the ring, in an attempt to protect his "Boy"...Punk pops Vince, but Cena, groggy & obviously beaten, gets handed a weapon- by none other than Triple H.
Cena retains the title, while flanked by the men who represent his current boss & his future boss- VKM & Triple H.
Punk leaves as he siad he would, but ideally, the fans would create a huge stir, demanding his return, & his just due return match with Cena for the title- at Summerslam!
What you think? Throw the ideas ot here folks!
SSS
A second ref is ordered down to the ring- not by Vince, but
Cena turning heel has been a subject broached by many, largely due to the reactions he gets on Tv & PPV. While Cena is huge source of merchandising income, due to his rabid popularity with kids, the PPV audience, is largely compromised of 25-40 year old males, to which he does not appeal.
Momentum is a huge thing in any form of entertainment, & wrestling even moreso- how many times has WWe failed to capitalize these past few years on a performer who had tremendous momentum? If you said alot, you would be understating it.
Failing to capitalize of such momentum, due to their own stubborness & narrow view of what a "top guy" should be, has cost the WWE millions in revenue these last several years ( something that Punk essentially pointed out last night)
but lets pretend for a moment that the next several weeks are done similiarly ( but not exactly) like the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997- shows filled with Punk asserting his beliefs, while interviewers are asking questions of Cena, similiar to how celebs & politicians are hounded? How about an interview with Vince himself, with a photo of him & Cena posing together....at the gym together....fishing together...you get the point.
Cena would ultimately have to face the accusations front & center, "half heartedly" trying to convince us ( actually, his usual promo style would probably do fine- and if at all possible, " overscript" the overscripting- in other words, take the lame material provided for him, & amp it up, so it becomes obvious that hes trying "too hard" to convince us he isn't a puppet or kiss ass.
Most likely, the direction is already set- but imagine this: during the end of their upcoming bout, Cena wen tfor the FU- but Punk's foot nails the referee. Cena goes to help the ref, but Punk hits the GTS- still no ref. Punk helps the ref this time, Cena hits his move again,but Punk kicks out,and on the kick out, Cena lands on the ref.
The groggy ref is helped away, and the match continues....and a new ref is sent. During the ensuing chaos, where agents & officials are ringside, someone very important remains- Vince McMahon. Punk once again hits the GTS, but McMahon hits the ring, in an attempt to protect his "Boy"...Punk pops Vince, but Cena, groggy & obviously beaten, gets handed a weapon- by none other than Triple H.
Cena retains the title, while flanked by the men who represent his current boss & his future boss- VKM & Triple H.
Punk leaves as he siad he would, but ideally, the fans would create a huge stir, demanding his return, & his just due return match with Cena for the title- at Summerslam!
What you think? Throw the ideas ot here folks!
SSS
A second ref is ordered down to the ring- not by Vince, but
I started my tuesday morning pretty much like I do every week- I got breakfast,came to work, & read the report from last nights RAW ( since I havent watched in nearly a month)....and the report was strong.
CM Punk, weeks away from leaving the WWE, cuts what was probably the best promo anyone has done on any national tv wrestling show in a decade, making references to A variety of people & subjects, all under the "he's shooting" & "this isnt supposed to happen" motto.
Punk has reportedly been unhappy for some time, & the intention, at least a few weeks ago, was for him to leave when his contract was due, which is in fact next month.
I have mixed feelings about the entire "shoot" interview style- all too often, they have nothing to do with business, & usually involve some red assed former WWE/TNA talent who takes a big shit on his former employer, talking about how underutilized he was, etc etc etc, all to get a crowd pop from the "hardcore" fans that are "smart" to how wrestling works.
These interviews usually take place in front a small but rabid crowd of so called "smart marks" who usually think they know & understand the wrestling business far more than they actually do...these particular fans, admittedly a very devout bunch, also usually delude themselves into thinking that every guy who they think is great should be on top in the big promotions, usually overlooking their lack of stature,charisma, or promo skills- things that are kinda important when your working for a promotion thats fanbase spreads the globe.
Worse yet, alot of these niche promotions will set up angles where they intentionally " go against the script", with the guys "shooting" while the promoter & his assistants run down the aisle screaming "they're shooting! they're shooting" like a bunch of petrified teenagers.
In reality, these fans, supposedly "smarter" than the alleged backwoods, toothless, redneck , & dumb fanbase of WWE,TNA, Etc fall victim more easily than the aforementioned- but in their own perverse way, they still think they don't- much like in days of past, when "maybe the undercard was fake, but that main event sure wasn't" mentality ruled the roost.
By the way, I'm not knocking anyone who "believes" what they are watching- thats the biggest element thats missing in wrestling now- and the more people believe, the more they pay, react, etc- which is what this business is built upon- I just take certain exception when a small group of fans looked down on the broader base of fans...while generally understanding it about the same, if not less.
The Punk promo, while obviously inside, & over the head of many, if not most, of the fans, does what angles & promos like these are supposed to do: create a stir, get people talking, & bring them back in.
Now, make no mistake: this interview was fully endorsed by Vince McMahon- but, thru the delivery & references, its designed to make you think its real ( and every indication is most of these are Punk's true feelings) & make you believe its really possible not only for Punk to win the title, but leave & never return-& taking the top prize with him as well.
Many of you may be aware that Punk did this exact angle when he left Ring Of Honor (ROH) right before he signed with WWE- and for that crowd, it worked quite well- he won the title on his last night...allegedly never to return. However, he did return, lost the title, & went on to have a great run in WWE.
Wouldn't it be a huge breathe of fresh air if WWE played this out similiarly- with Punk winning the title? Can you imagine the exciting possibilities of spending the next 6 weeks, leading up to Summerslam, with WWE & Cena trying to woo Punk back for one last match? Its enough to make a booker salivate, & probably enough to bring some disenfranchised fans back into the fold. Would it work for you?
Until next time...
SSS
CM Punk, weeks away from leaving the WWE, cuts what was probably the best promo anyone has done on any national tv wrestling show in a decade, making references to A variety of people & subjects, all under the "he's shooting" & "this isnt supposed to happen" motto.
Punk has reportedly been unhappy for some time, & the intention, at least a few weeks ago, was for him to leave when his contract was due, which is in fact next month.
I have mixed feelings about the entire "shoot" interview style- all too often, they have nothing to do with business, & usually involve some red assed former WWE/TNA talent who takes a big shit on his former employer, talking about how underutilized he was, etc etc etc, all to get a crowd pop from the "hardcore" fans that are "smart" to how wrestling works.
These interviews usually take place in front a small but rabid crowd of so called "smart marks" who usually think they know & understand the wrestling business far more than they actually do...these particular fans, admittedly a very devout bunch, also usually delude themselves into thinking that every guy who they think is great should be on top in the big promotions, usually overlooking their lack of stature,charisma, or promo skills- things that are kinda important when your working for a promotion thats fanbase spreads the globe.
Worse yet, alot of these niche promotions will set up angles where they intentionally " go against the script", with the guys "shooting" while the promoter & his assistants run down the aisle screaming "they're shooting! they're shooting" like a bunch of petrified teenagers.
In reality, these fans, supposedly "smarter" than the alleged backwoods, toothless, redneck , & dumb fanbase of WWE,TNA, Etc fall victim more easily than the aforementioned- but in their own perverse way, they still think they don't- much like in days of past, when "maybe the undercard was fake, but that main event sure wasn't" mentality ruled the roost.
By the way, I'm not knocking anyone who "believes" what they are watching- thats the biggest element thats missing in wrestling now- and the more people believe, the more they pay, react, etc- which is what this business is built upon- I just take certain exception when a small group of fans looked down on the broader base of fans...while generally understanding it about the same, if not less.
The Punk promo, while obviously inside, & over the head of many, if not most, of the fans, does what angles & promos like these are supposed to do: create a stir, get people talking, & bring them back in.
Now, make no mistake: this interview was fully endorsed by Vince McMahon- but, thru the delivery & references, its designed to make you think its real ( and every indication is most of these are Punk's true feelings) & make you believe its really possible not only for Punk to win the title, but leave & never return-& taking the top prize with him as well.
Many of you may be aware that Punk did this exact angle when he left Ring Of Honor (ROH) right before he signed with WWE- and for that crowd, it worked quite well- he won the title on his last night...allegedly never to return. However, he did return, lost the title, & went on to have a great run in WWE.
Wouldn't it be a huge breathe of fresh air if WWE played this out similiarly- with Punk winning the title? Can you imagine the exciting possibilities of spending the next 6 weeks, leading up to Summerslam, with WWE & Cena trying to woo Punk back for one last match? Its enough to make a booker salivate, & probably enough to bring some disenfranchised fans back into the fold. Would it work for you?
Until next time...
SSS
Monday, June 27, 2011
When I was growing up, one of the more fasinating aspects of pro wrestling was tag team wrestling- I was always drawn to it, & I would dare say that I enjoyed tag team matches more than singles matches.
There was a point in time, from 1983-1990, that every promotion had 6-8,sometimes even more, tag teams on its roster, most of which had been together for several years, traveling together,staying together, switching offices together. In a very real sense, the duos were "married"- and ultimately, like many real marriages, they broke up in a spectacular fashion, with their "dirty laundry" aired out for the consumption of the viewing public.
Traditional tag team matches ( known in some circles as "Australian Tag Team " matches) is puportedly the brainchild of one Joseph "Toots" Mondt, an early 20th century wrestler who became a vital cog in the wheel that is professional wrestling. Mondt, an idea man, developed many of the essential concepts that remain in wrestling to this day, which in his time, meant that everything that was done during a match should create excitement ( highspots, double Dq's, & gimmick finishes and gimmick matches) as opposed to the slow,out of date plodding style of the early 20th century.
The idea was simple: if 2 wrestlers going at it excited you, just imagine how much excitement 4 wrestlers in the same match would create? Of course, 4 men tags eventually brought us 6 man tag matches, then 8 mans, 10 ,etc. How many of you remember the first WWE Survivor Series, when 5 TAG TEAMS faced 5 Tag Teams ? Thats right, a 20 man tag team bout!
Some of the biggest stars ever in the history of this business cut their teeth so to speak in tag teams- it helped them develop, helped them learn important aspects of working- and in some cases, it helped protect them & cover their limitations.
This is a variant of pro wrestling that almost literally has no limits; you can do them so many ways, for almost any occasion.
However, I'm sorry to say, the art form, for a variety of reasons, is dying. There are several obvious reasons, largely promoter (VKM) indifference, but lets cut thru the chase here: the young guys are not taught the art properly.
I'm not talking about guys being able to put together 2-3 complicated double team moves- while that does help, thats a lesser important element than the simple fact that, to make a tag team match work, two things must take place: 1) one guy on the Babyface team has to be willing to sacrifice himself to make his partner look strong, & 2) the heel team has to be exceptionally underhanded, and do so without getting"caught" by the referee.
In tag teams, you just can't be in the match for yourself; you have to be mindful of your partner as well, keeping both in the mix. Thats the part that makes creating quality tag teams so difficult- the mentality that you can only look out for yourself, & that you are the only one that matters.
Creating the idea that one member of the team is willing to sacrifice himself for the "greater good" was best evidenced by none other than Ole & Gene Anderson, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, one of the dominant tag teams of the 1970s.
The Andersons were a menacing pair, mean, ornery & nasty to the bone. They made clear their only intentions were to be the top tag team in wrestling- which meant they were after the NWA World Tag Team titles, which they held numerous times over the period of 1970-1981.
Both were bruisers, but Ole was the talker- historically,a better heel promo you will have a hard time finding. One particular interview, during a series of matches vs the tandem of Paul Jones & Wahoo McDaniel, illustrated the "all for one" motto. During the finishing sequence of one particular match, a clip was shown where Ole grabbed Jones by the head, and rammed Jones' head into Genes, knocking Gene unconcious to the floor- it also knocked Jones out, allowing Ole to score the pinfall to regain their title belts.
Ole referred to it as the "Supreme Sacrifice"; Ole, with Gene by his side, explained that they expected the other to, if necessary, sacrifice the other, if it meant obtaining their goals of victory & championship glory- and they suceeded.
I couldn't imagine anyone contemporary tag teams doing such a spot, much less such an interview....it may have been a different time, but the principle remains the same: the team comes first, not the individual.
Until next time...
SSS
There was a point in time, from 1983-1990, that every promotion had 6-8,sometimes even more, tag teams on its roster, most of which had been together for several years, traveling together,staying together, switching offices together. In a very real sense, the duos were "married"- and ultimately, like many real marriages, they broke up in a spectacular fashion, with their "dirty laundry" aired out for the consumption of the viewing public.
Traditional tag team matches ( known in some circles as "Australian Tag Team " matches) is puportedly the brainchild of one Joseph "Toots" Mondt, an early 20th century wrestler who became a vital cog in the wheel that is professional wrestling. Mondt, an idea man, developed many of the essential concepts that remain in wrestling to this day, which in his time, meant that everything that was done during a match should create excitement ( highspots, double Dq's, & gimmick finishes and gimmick matches) as opposed to the slow,out of date plodding style of the early 20th century.
The idea was simple: if 2 wrestlers going at it excited you, just imagine how much excitement 4 wrestlers in the same match would create? Of course, 4 men tags eventually brought us 6 man tag matches, then 8 mans, 10 ,etc. How many of you remember the first WWE Survivor Series, when 5 TAG TEAMS faced 5 Tag Teams ? Thats right, a 20 man tag team bout!
Some of the biggest stars ever in the history of this business cut their teeth so to speak in tag teams- it helped them develop, helped them learn important aspects of working- and in some cases, it helped protect them & cover their limitations.
This is a variant of pro wrestling that almost literally has no limits; you can do them so many ways, for almost any occasion.
However, I'm sorry to say, the art form, for a variety of reasons, is dying. There are several obvious reasons, largely promoter (VKM) indifference, but lets cut thru the chase here: the young guys are not taught the art properly.
I'm not talking about guys being able to put together 2-3 complicated double team moves- while that does help, thats a lesser important element than the simple fact that, to make a tag team match work, two things must take place: 1) one guy on the Babyface team has to be willing to sacrifice himself to make his partner look strong, & 2) the heel team has to be exceptionally underhanded, and do so without getting"caught" by the referee.
In tag teams, you just can't be in the match for yourself; you have to be mindful of your partner as well, keeping both in the mix. Thats the part that makes creating quality tag teams so difficult- the mentality that you can only look out for yourself, & that you are the only one that matters.
Creating the idea that one member of the team is willing to sacrifice himself for the "greater good" was best evidenced by none other than Ole & Gene Anderson, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, one of the dominant tag teams of the 1970s.
The Andersons were a menacing pair, mean, ornery & nasty to the bone. They made clear their only intentions were to be the top tag team in wrestling- which meant they were after the NWA World Tag Team titles, which they held numerous times over the period of 1970-1981.
Both were bruisers, but Ole was the talker- historically,a better heel promo you will have a hard time finding. One particular interview, during a series of matches vs the tandem of Paul Jones & Wahoo McDaniel, illustrated the "all for one" motto. During the finishing sequence of one particular match, a clip was shown where Ole grabbed Jones by the head, and rammed Jones' head into Genes, knocking Gene unconcious to the floor- it also knocked Jones out, allowing Ole to score the pinfall to regain their title belts.
Ole referred to it as the "Supreme Sacrifice"; Ole, with Gene by his side, explained that they expected the other to, if necessary, sacrifice the other, if it meant obtaining their goals of victory & championship glory- and they suceeded.
I couldn't imagine anyone contemporary tag teams doing such a spot, much less such an interview....it may have been a different time, but the principle remains the same: the team comes first, not the individual.
Until next time...
SSS
Thursday, June 16, 2011
TNA had a ppv this past sunday...WWE has one this sunday...I haven't watched either of their programs in weeks...Didn't watch the former, safe bet that I won't be watching the latter.
I got to thinking a few minutes ago that some of you might be interested in how to "build an angle" that draws people into the building; now, keep in mind, that drawing money for an independent wrestling outfit is far different than a major national company to do so- That in mind, I want to revisit a angle that played out in CPW during 2007-2008: Leslie Leatherman vs. myself, Sexy Shane Shadows.
What we had here, for wrestling fans of the Keyser-Romney-Moorefield, Wv were two totally opposite wrestlers: LL was a big powerful brute, akin the the "old school" brawlers of yesteryear. Myself, while not small by any means, comparatively smaller, but the face of the franchise, if you will, in this case the perrenial crowd favorite, a real throwback babyface that tried to represent the people on every occasion.
We had a backstory: LL won the CPW title from me when he worked over my injured knee ( courtesy of a match with WWE Hall of Famer Greg "The Hammer" Valentine earlier in the day) &, during an ill advised bodyslam attempt, the knee buckled and ended my championship reign.
At this point, LL had held the CPW for over a year, but recently lost to Jake Davis, his former partner in The Highwaymen tag team. A year long build up to their break up lead to a series of matches that were known in the area for their brutality & lack of control...referees were injured in consecutive return bouts. Enter SSS.
I was "Appointed" special guest referee for what was slated to be the final bout in the series-special referees, when used properly, can & usually do lead to the next programs....and this time, we were gonna create two new top programs for CPW- Jake Davis vs. Griffen, the big monster, & SSS vs. LL.
After my officiating lead to Davis successfully defending the title, a series of events unfolded which lead to the four aforementioned competitors in a "Anything Goes" tag team match, Texas Tornado style, which meant their would be no tags required & all weapons were allowed.
This was a particularly tough match, which ended when LL gave me not one, not two, but THREE piledrivers on a metal chair, causing me to get carried away on a stretcher & potentially ending my wrestling days.
I sat out the following event, which was to be a Four Way match for the title with the three aforementioned; I didn't even make an appearance, & the local fans were told that I was likely finished- they had seen the last of me, of which Leatherman gloated.
WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Booogie Woogie Man" Valiant made an appearance at the following show, not to wrestle, not the referee, but to talk about what had happened to me & why it was so close to his heart.
See, Valiant explained to the CPW fans, that when he was a younger man, wrestling out west, he used this particular piledriver & permenantly injured another wrestler, and he had lived in regret with it ever since. Not only that, SSS was a close friend , & he wanted the chance to tell LL how he felt.
Leatherman enetered the ring, full of the type of pride only a man that hunts for thrills can have; cocky,boastful, proud of his achievements. LL then told Boogie that, as a child, he was a big admirere of His, but...that he wasn't a child anymore & that, unless Jim wanted hurt, perhaps he should mind his own business....Valiant basically told everyone that he "said his peace" & tried to walk away...until Leatherman tried to assault him, to which Boogie responded with several haymakers that brought the crowd to its feet, until LL cut him off & went for the killing blow: the piledriver.
As LL got the Hall of Famer in position for the dreaded move, the same move that severely injured SSS two months before, a collective sound of horror hit the room..then, unexpectedly, & wearing street clothes, SSS hit the ring, saving Valiant, & we traded punches to each others head that can still be felt to this day.
The locker rooms emptied, referees were thrown across the hardwood floors, but this thing was not yet over- and as I told the crowd in Keyser that night, it had only just begun.
I thought Valiant was a key aspect to getting this over as a serious issue: known for being joival & comical in all his appearances, Valiant's low tone conveyed what serious business this issue was: he told us, convincingly, that the piledriver used to be banned in 18 states. He wasn't there to play this night.
Part Two coming soon...
Until next time
SSS
I got to thinking a few minutes ago that some of you might be interested in how to "build an angle" that draws people into the building; now, keep in mind, that drawing money for an independent wrestling outfit is far different than a major national company to do so- That in mind, I want to revisit a angle that played out in CPW during 2007-2008: Leslie Leatherman vs. myself, Sexy Shane Shadows.
What we had here, for wrestling fans of the Keyser-Romney-Moorefield, Wv were two totally opposite wrestlers: LL was a big powerful brute, akin the the "old school" brawlers of yesteryear. Myself, while not small by any means, comparatively smaller, but the face of the franchise, if you will, in this case the perrenial crowd favorite, a real throwback babyface that tried to represent the people on every occasion.
We had a backstory: LL won the CPW title from me when he worked over my injured knee ( courtesy of a match with WWE Hall of Famer Greg "The Hammer" Valentine earlier in the day) &, during an ill advised bodyslam attempt, the knee buckled and ended my championship reign.
At this point, LL had held the CPW for over a year, but recently lost to Jake Davis, his former partner in The Highwaymen tag team. A year long build up to their break up lead to a series of matches that were known in the area for their brutality & lack of control...referees were injured in consecutive return bouts. Enter SSS.
I was "Appointed" special guest referee for what was slated to be the final bout in the series-special referees, when used properly, can & usually do lead to the next programs....and this time, we were gonna create two new top programs for CPW- Jake Davis vs. Griffen, the big monster, & SSS vs. LL.
After my officiating lead to Davis successfully defending the title, a series of events unfolded which lead to the four aforementioned competitors in a "Anything Goes" tag team match, Texas Tornado style, which meant their would be no tags required & all weapons were allowed.
This was a particularly tough match, which ended when LL gave me not one, not two, but THREE piledrivers on a metal chair, causing me to get carried away on a stretcher & potentially ending my wrestling days.
I sat out the following event, which was to be a Four Way match for the title with the three aforementioned; I didn't even make an appearance, & the local fans were told that I was likely finished- they had seen the last of me, of which Leatherman gloated.
WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Booogie Woogie Man" Valiant made an appearance at the following show, not to wrestle, not the referee, but to talk about what had happened to me & why it was so close to his heart.
See, Valiant explained to the CPW fans, that when he was a younger man, wrestling out west, he used this particular piledriver & permenantly injured another wrestler, and he had lived in regret with it ever since. Not only that, SSS was a close friend , & he wanted the chance to tell LL how he felt.
Leatherman enetered the ring, full of the type of pride only a man that hunts for thrills can have; cocky,boastful, proud of his achievements. LL then told Boogie that, as a child, he was a big admirere of His, but...that he wasn't a child anymore & that, unless Jim wanted hurt, perhaps he should mind his own business....Valiant basically told everyone that he "said his peace" & tried to walk away...until Leatherman tried to assault him, to which Boogie responded with several haymakers that brought the crowd to its feet, until LL cut him off & went for the killing blow: the piledriver.
As LL got the Hall of Famer in position for the dreaded move, the same move that severely injured SSS two months before, a collective sound of horror hit the room..then, unexpectedly, & wearing street clothes, SSS hit the ring, saving Valiant, & we traded punches to each others head that can still be felt to this day.
The locker rooms emptied, referees were thrown across the hardwood floors, but this thing was not yet over- and as I told the crowd in Keyser that night, it had only just begun.
I thought Valiant was a key aspect to getting this over as a serious issue: known for being joival & comical in all his appearances, Valiant's low tone conveyed what serious business this issue was: he told us, convincingly, that the piledriver used to be banned in 18 states. He wasn't there to play this night.
Part Two coming soon...
Until next time
SSS
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Did the right guy win Tough Enough last night?
Tough Enough, of course, is the WWE sponsored reality show, where contestants of varying degrees of wrestling skill, charisma & personality vie for the opportunity to win a WWE contract.
I watched every episode, and it became pretty obvious about 4 weeks ago that Andy Leavine, this seasons winner, was being groomed for the spot...and why? Well, because he's a legit 6'5, that why.
In terms of overall talent, ring performance & personality, runner up Luke Robinson was far & away the better choice- however, they most likely saved Luke Robinson's future career by not giving him the nod.
RObinson is the kind of personality that people instantly hate- and I don't think its a work at all. By putting Robinson in the developmental program, where they can help him mature & hopefully make him understand the unwritten codes of wrestling, they may be guaranteeing him a healthy career.
Leavine, on the other hand, will get numerous opportunities, regardless of his overall lack of charisma, due to his size. When all else fails, you can bet the house Vince McMahon will choose the big guy over the smaller guy ( Robinson is 6'0) regardless of potential & quality of performance.
I wouldn't go so far as to say Leavine was an unworthy winner, but based on the grading scale they claimed to be following, he wasn't a slam dunk choice.
*********************************************
Tough Enough's finale lead into RAW last night, which provided us a 20 minute segment that proved my theory that there just isn't very much heart & soul in todays professional wrestling.
Of course, I used the term "Professional wrestling", however the powers that be, aka Vince Mcmahon, prefere the term "sports entertainment", which I guess means that they use wrestling matches as a background for stupid skits, over written material, & lame jokes.
This is such a broken record- I truly don't like to criticize everything that goes on, but seriously.....R
Truth seceding from WWE? Was this an idea for a n angle, or just some silly piece designed to make this months top challenger for the WWE title less credible than he already was? If that was the goal, then by God, they finally accomplished something.
*************************************************************
Two different times over the weekend, the topic of a few shows I did for the Semi legendary Savoldi wrestling family was brought up, so, since theres only so many times one can write about WWE & TNA's bad tv shows, I offer you this "gem", coming to you directly from 1993....
First, a little background: The Savoldis were a family of small statured, loud talking Italians that promoted wrestling in various smaller towns in the Northeast, later Florida, and even later were involved in the IWA booking office in Puerto Rico.
Angelo Savoldi was a veteran wrestler who, while the WWF was principally owned by Vincent J McMahon ( father of Vince K McMahon) was a minority owner ( 2-5%) of the office.
After VKM bought out all the partners in his fathers organization ( Savoldi,Gorilla Monsoon, Phil Zacko, Arnold Skaaland ) S
Tough Enough, of course, is the WWE sponsored reality show, where contestants of varying degrees of wrestling skill, charisma & personality vie for the opportunity to win a WWE contract.
I watched every episode, and it became pretty obvious about 4 weeks ago that Andy Leavine, this seasons winner, was being groomed for the spot...and why? Well, because he's a legit 6'5, that why.
In terms of overall talent, ring performance & personality, runner up Luke Robinson was far & away the better choice- however, they most likely saved Luke Robinson's future career by not giving him the nod.
RObinson is the kind of personality that people instantly hate- and I don't think its a work at all. By putting Robinson in the developmental program, where they can help him mature & hopefully make him understand the unwritten codes of wrestling, they may be guaranteeing him a healthy career.
Leavine, on the other hand, will get numerous opportunities, regardless of his overall lack of charisma, due to his size. When all else fails, you can bet the house Vince McMahon will choose the big guy over the smaller guy ( Robinson is 6'0) regardless of potential & quality of performance.
I wouldn't go so far as to say Leavine was an unworthy winner, but based on the grading scale they claimed to be following, he wasn't a slam dunk choice.
*********************************************
Tough Enough's finale lead into RAW last night, which provided us a 20 minute segment that proved my theory that there just isn't very much heart & soul in todays professional wrestling.
Of course, I used the term "Professional wrestling", however the powers that be, aka Vince Mcmahon, prefere the term "sports entertainment", which I guess means that they use wrestling matches as a background for stupid skits, over written material, & lame jokes.
This is such a broken record- I truly don't like to criticize everything that goes on, but seriously.....R
Truth seceding from WWE? Was this an idea for a n angle, or just some silly piece designed to make this months top challenger for the WWE title less credible than he already was? If that was the goal, then by God, they finally accomplished something.
*************************************************************
Two different times over the weekend, the topic of a few shows I did for the Semi legendary Savoldi wrestling family was brought up, so, since theres only so many times one can write about WWE & TNA's bad tv shows, I offer you this "gem", coming to you directly from 1993....
First, a little background: The Savoldis were a family of small statured, loud talking Italians that promoted wrestling in various smaller towns in the Northeast, later Florida, and even later were involved in the IWA booking office in Puerto Rico.
Angelo Savoldi was a veteran wrestler who, while the WWF was principally owned by Vincent J McMahon ( father of Vince K McMahon) was a minority owner ( 2-5%) of the office.
After VKM bought out all the partners in his fathers organization ( Savoldi,Gorilla Monsoon, Phil Zacko, Arnold Skaaland ) S
Monday, May 30, 2011
Happy Memorial Day to each and every one of my 10 readers...and beyond! :)
No matter your political affiliation, your beliefs, etc, I sincerely hope that we can all agree that we live in the best country in the world, & pay tribute to those whom have fought to keep us free...
************************************************************
Had alot of fun yesterday, as CPW kicked off its summer season with a good card at the Big Bear Lake Camplands in Bruceton Mills,Wv.... I'd like to thank the 100 plus fans who help make it a exciting afternoon for us all.
TNA has recently "revamped" their name,logo, & slogan, and as time wears on, the name "TNA" will gradually disappear, replaced by the term "IMPACT" ( the name of their tv show) & using their new mantra- "wrestling matters".
While I yet to see the videos clips featuring wrestling greats like Ric Flair & Mick Foley speaking at length on the new dogma, I can't help but think I concur with their statements- however....
Slogans do not have to be 100% true, but it definitely helps if there is at least some strain of truth in the advertising- yet, during a 2 hour broadcast this past Thursday, a whopping total of 22 minutes of actual wrestling (matters) action made the cut in a 2 hour broadcast.
TNA's biggest problem is that their are two heads running two different aspects of their business- tv shows & live events- and the two sides don't bother to coordinate with the other.
Example- Often at the live events, wrestlers who have been cast as heels on tv work as babyfaces, and vice versa. The reported mindset about this is laughable- most of the wrestlers cast as heels are former WWE names that people come out to see live, so therefore, you should cast them as such.
With PPV buyrates a a all time pathetic level ( under 20,000 buys average, which puts them in the range of pre taped MONSTER JAM type PPVS) you would think that someone, ANYONE would understand this simple principle: if TNA itself doesnt care enough to keep things cohesive, why the hell would the paying customer?
TNA can tell me that "wrestling matters", but what are they doing the back up these claims? By continuing to have 20 minute long skits where Hulk Hogan,Eric Bishoff, & (fill in blank of name of this months PPV main eventer) talking about insider stuff that has NEVER drawn money? Following Orlando Jordan around while he tries on dresses?
Wrestling does matter- as anyone who has had the good fortune to watch the greats like Bruno Sammartino, Terry & Dory Funk, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Etc can attest. IF you care about something, it matters.
Enter Vince Russo, the "head writer" for TNA-a man with a proven track record of having no understanding,comprehension or respect for the work of the aforementioned greats ( or countless unmentioned others) how in the hell can a guy like this help reshape your companies image & help it reinforce its new mantra?
Keep in mind that the biggest issue with TNA, by its own admission (by the pure fact they are changing a name they established over the last 9 years) is the way it is perceived by wrestling fans-those same fans that have been turned away & turned off by years of bad "writing", ideas, angles, & gimmick match overkill- all of which, by the way, was put together by Vince Russo.
Heres a piece of advice that I have given about a dozen different upstart area independent promotions, & I think its appropriate to pass this along to TNA, as the venture out into a new brand name & new slogan....and its so simple,no one has bothered to follow the advice.
LIVE BY YOUR PHILOPSOPHY- if wrestling truly matters, and you want the public to take your new hook, try this: have the wrestlers wrestle. Not all just matches-obviously, interviews & personalities sell as well- but spend the next 6 months putting on the best matches at your disposal.
I once heard a story about one big time wrestling booker going to another former booker under his employ, asking how to get the struggling territory off its ass- and the advice was "put your best against the best". Put a little spin on it, use good finishes ( not necessarily the most creative finishes) & bring people back in. And then, keep them coming in.
Pick your players- figure out who has the best chance of drawing the money, if hes positoned properly, and put him with the guy who is gonna bring out his best.
Creativity is the single most overrated aspect of booking wrestling- yet, its the one thing everyone wants to do- come up with the most clever ideas to attempt to move things forward...and they doesnt usually work.
After those 6 months of rebranding & rebuilding an fan base tired of being insulted by the stupidity, you throw them - drumroll please- an angle. Not just any angle, or some lame brained dipshit idea that you picked up by watching an episode of JACKASS, something very basic, easy to understand, & easy for the paying fan to get behind.
(Tv Pitchman voice) And watch how the audience grows! Higher ratings! Better PPV buyrates! Stronger house show attendence! Actual merchandise revenue!
Wrestling DOES matter- but only if the guys in control MAKE it matter!
Until next time...
SSS
No matter your political affiliation, your beliefs, etc, I sincerely hope that we can all agree that we live in the best country in the world, & pay tribute to those whom have fought to keep us free...
************************************************************
Had alot of fun yesterday, as CPW kicked off its summer season with a good card at the Big Bear Lake Camplands in Bruceton Mills,Wv.... I'd like to thank the 100 plus fans who help make it a exciting afternoon for us all.
TNA has recently "revamped" their name,logo, & slogan, and as time wears on, the name "TNA" will gradually disappear, replaced by the term "IMPACT" ( the name of their tv show) & using their new mantra- "wrestling matters".
While I yet to see the videos clips featuring wrestling greats like Ric Flair & Mick Foley speaking at length on the new dogma, I can't help but think I concur with their statements- however....
Slogans do not have to be 100% true, but it definitely helps if there is at least some strain of truth in the advertising- yet, during a 2 hour broadcast this past Thursday, a whopping total of 22 minutes of actual wrestling (matters) action made the cut in a 2 hour broadcast.
TNA's biggest problem is that their are two heads running two different aspects of their business- tv shows & live events- and the two sides don't bother to coordinate with the other.
Example- Often at the live events, wrestlers who have been cast as heels on tv work as babyfaces, and vice versa. The reported mindset about this is laughable- most of the wrestlers cast as heels are former WWE names that people come out to see live, so therefore, you should cast them as such.
With PPV buyrates a a all time pathetic level ( under 20,000 buys average, which puts them in the range of pre taped MONSTER JAM type PPVS) you would think that someone, ANYONE would understand this simple principle: if TNA itself doesnt care enough to keep things cohesive, why the hell would the paying customer?
TNA can tell me that "wrestling matters", but what are they doing the back up these claims? By continuing to have 20 minute long skits where Hulk Hogan,Eric Bishoff, & (fill in blank of name of this months PPV main eventer) talking about insider stuff that has NEVER drawn money? Following Orlando Jordan around while he tries on dresses?
Wrestling does matter- as anyone who has had the good fortune to watch the greats like Bruno Sammartino, Terry & Dory Funk, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Etc can attest. IF you care about something, it matters.
Enter Vince Russo, the "head writer" for TNA-a man with a proven track record of having no understanding,comprehension or respect for the work of the aforementioned greats ( or countless unmentioned others) how in the hell can a guy like this help reshape your companies image & help it reinforce its new mantra?
Keep in mind that the biggest issue with TNA, by its own admission (by the pure fact they are changing a name they established over the last 9 years) is the way it is perceived by wrestling fans-those same fans that have been turned away & turned off by years of bad "writing", ideas, angles, & gimmick match overkill- all of which, by the way, was put together by Vince Russo.
Heres a piece of advice that I have given about a dozen different upstart area independent promotions, & I think its appropriate to pass this along to TNA, as the venture out into a new brand name & new slogan....and its so simple,no one has bothered to follow the advice.
LIVE BY YOUR PHILOPSOPHY- if wrestling truly matters, and you want the public to take your new hook, try this: have the wrestlers wrestle. Not all just matches-obviously, interviews & personalities sell as well- but spend the next 6 months putting on the best matches at your disposal.
I once heard a story about one big time wrestling booker going to another former booker under his employ, asking how to get the struggling territory off its ass- and the advice was "put your best against the best". Put a little spin on it, use good finishes ( not necessarily the most creative finishes) & bring people back in. And then, keep them coming in.
Pick your players- figure out who has the best chance of drawing the money, if hes positoned properly, and put him with the guy who is gonna bring out his best.
Creativity is the single most overrated aspect of booking wrestling- yet, its the one thing everyone wants to do- come up with the most clever ideas to attempt to move things forward...and they doesnt usually work.
After those 6 months of rebranding & rebuilding an fan base tired of being insulted by the stupidity, you throw them - drumroll please- an angle. Not just any angle, or some lame brained dipshit idea that you picked up by watching an episode of JACKASS, something very basic, easy to understand, & easy for the paying fan to get behind.
(Tv Pitchman voice) And watch how the audience grows! Higher ratings! Better PPV buyrates! Stronger house show attendence! Actual merchandise revenue!
Wrestling DOES matter- but only if the guys in control MAKE it matter!
Until next time...
SSS
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
I stand corrected...while I did not actually watch RAW last night, I have read that WWE paid tribute to Randy Savage last night on their weekly broadcast, which I did not expect, as I mentioned yesterday.
My brother did a nice blog about Savage at http://www.thoughtsofrs.blogspot.com/
I will be wrestling this sunday in Bruceton Mills,Wv at the Big Bear Lake Camplands as CPW kicks off its summer season at Noon....and on Sunday, June 5 at the KOA Campground in Harpers Ferry,Wv for the NWL with a 2pm belltime. If you're in the area, I hope you stop by...I always have pictures for sale...:)
*****************************************************************
Reading my brothers blog earlier, & thinking so much about about the late Macho Man in recent days, has got me thinking about intensity, both on promos( interviews) & in the ring, and how important they are in the presentation of wrestling.
I will openly admit that, one of the things that turns me off so strongly to RAW & TNA tv ( as opposed to Smackdown, which isn't quite as bad) is the long, drawn out promos where :
A) nobody says anything important
B) babyfaces make jokes about the heels
C) heels mock babyface weaknesses,instead of telling lies
Let me explain: heels, by their very nature, are supposed to be dishonest,sneaky, & cowardly. However, when The Miz, for example, points out that John Cena, for example, only has three moves, what does he accomplish? Well, he accomplishes two things- 1) hes not a liar & 2) Miz must not be much himself, if John Cena, with only 3 moves, can defeat him. Make sense?
I have a core belief that I use when I explain actions & reactions to wrestlers: people, generally speaking, are not inherently bad, nor do they always have the worst intentions. This is a valuable tool for me, as someone who promotes/books wrestling matches & angles, to help a heel understand that what he does is not as important in most cases than why.
As an example, if a heel has brass knucks or a chain in his boot, why wouldnt he just pull it out right away and use it, as opposed to waiting until he's at a disadvantage in the match? Because, deep down, he wants to win the right way- but ultimately, he isnt good enough.
In my opinion, a heel isnt a heel if he is outright telling you the truth about his advesary, no matter how good the delivery or the mannerisms.
The heels of old were an eclectic mishmash of different characters-some were mean, some where deranged, some were pretty boys,others wore flowered tights, more than a few were rallying against America- but they largely had one thing in common: they acted like asses, & told alot of lies.
In Mick Foley's first book ,"Have a Nice Day", he referenced a conversation he had with Michael "P.S" Hayes, of Fabulous Freebird ( and current head "writer" for Smackdown) fame, and Hayes pointed out that, in every case, the heel needs to be justified in his actions- which, I think, ties in with my belief that very few people commit heinous or reprehensible acts against others without self provocation.
The acts of a heel are brought on by his frustration,desperation, or insecurity-and theres no better reference point to this the legendary Larry Zbyszko vs. Bruno Sammartino feud of 1980.
For those unfamiliar with this story ( the younger readers get a pass,unless you're one of my kids lol; if you been watching for more than 20 years, shame on you :) Larry was the protege of the great Bruno,and although having had a decent amount of success in his career ( tag team champion), Larry felt stalled, and voiced this opinion in interviews on WWF tv shows.
Zbyszko felt that the only possible way he could break away from the long shadow of Sammartino was to wrestle, and ultimately, defeat him- this, he felt, was the only way. So the challenge was made for the match, and match that Bruno flatly refused.
Larry persisted- mind you, not in the kind of way that was insulting to his mentor,his idol, his hero- but in a matter of fact, almost desperate, "I need this more than anything" way. Back then, things like this didnt happen 5 times per week on tv- it was a rarity ( and was almost always a big boon to box office)
Bruno finally agreed, but only under the conditions that he would only wrestle "defensively"-in other words, because of his relationship to Larry Z, he didn't want to hurt him ( I liked the subtlety of this aspect) & that it would be a "exhibition"- not a full blown "contest". In other words, Bruno wasn't playing to win; however Larry was.
The tv match, in and of itself, completes painting a picture outlined by weeks of tv: Larry, try as he might, cannot get the advantage on Bruno; at one point, Bruno actually secures the bearhug, one of his patented moves, only to release Larry, much to Z's consternation; Larrys intensity grows, while Bruno remains relaxed to a certain degree- he absolutely wasn't trying to show Larry up.
During a hammerlock reversal, Bruno spins Larry out through the ropes to the arena floor- in an effort to show it wasnt intentional, Sammartino hold the ropes open for Larry to return; the water has finally boiled over for Zbyszko at at this point and, while Bruno is still holding the ropes, he nails him with a knee & a punch, then, as the ref admonishes him, he jumps outside and grabs a wooden chair. After disposing of the ref, Larry cracks his mentor with the chair , then again, & a third time as Bruno, as the magazine said at the time "drowned in a pool of blood".
Now that I've told the story, let make sure the point is clear: Larry Zbyszko did not intend to hurt, nor injure Bruno Sammartino-initially. He thought he could outwrestle the legend, and it didnt work; not only did it not work, it was the biggest error he made in his career-and he knew it. In his mind, when everything else failed, when his attempts to to it the right way failed, He made the decision to ambush,sucker, & maim his idol.
His justification is simple:" I will beat Bruno. I'm better than Bruno, and I will do ANYTHING to become bigger than Bruno. Bruno has held me back- its my turn!" Therefore, everything he did was okay, in his mind- and if the fans don't understand,screw them,too. All of these things, of course, are outright lies. But believing them to be truths are what made the actions justifiable.
This famous feud, after many bloody matches, finally culminated at Shea Stadium in New York ( former home of the Mets) where, without the benefit of national tv exposure, big budget tv commercials, or pay per view capability, drew in excess of 36,000 fans to the building that August afternoon, for a net live gate of almost $450,000. In 1980. Anyone want to prorate to current value?
Compare that to the weekly break ups, turns, & insincere interviews of today, with international tv exposure,big budget advertising, & pay per view, where an average of 200,000 WORLDWIDE witnessed....what? A memorable spectacule? A match for the ages? Something to be remember for 30 plus years? It happens, but ALOT less frequently.
In their minds, heels aren't necessarily heels- they are rightous babyfaces, sometimes perhaps, fighting a battle only they understand.
Until next time
SSS
My brother did a nice blog about Savage at http://www.thoughtsofrs.blogspot.com/
I will be wrestling this sunday in Bruceton Mills,Wv at the Big Bear Lake Camplands as CPW kicks off its summer season at Noon....and on Sunday, June 5 at the KOA Campground in Harpers Ferry,Wv for the NWL with a 2pm belltime. If you're in the area, I hope you stop by...I always have pictures for sale...:)
*****************************************************************
Reading my brothers blog earlier, & thinking so much about about the late Macho Man in recent days, has got me thinking about intensity, both on promos( interviews) & in the ring, and how important they are in the presentation of wrestling.
I will openly admit that, one of the things that turns me off so strongly to RAW & TNA tv ( as opposed to Smackdown, which isn't quite as bad) is the long, drawn out promos where :
A) nobody says anything important
B) babyfaces make jokes about the heels
C) heels mock babyface weaknesses,instead of telling lies
Let me explain: heels, by their very nature, are supposed to be dishonest,sneaky, & cowardly. However, when The Miz, for example, points out that John Cena, for example, only has three moves, what does he accomplish? Well, he accomplishes two things- 1) hes not a liar & 2) Miz must not be much himself, if John Cena, with only 3 moves, can defeat him. Make sense?
I have a core belief that I use when I explain actions & reactions to wrestlers: people, generally speaking, are not inherently bad, nor do they always have the worst intentions. This is a valuable tool for me, as someone who promotes/books wrestling matches & angles, to help a heel understand that what he does is not as important in most cases than why.
As an example, if a heel has brass knucks or a chain in his boot, why wouldnt he just pull it out right away and use it, as opposed to waiting until he's at a disadvantage in the match? Because, deep down, he wants to win the right way- but ultimately, he isnt good enough.
In my opinion, a heel isnt a heel if he is outright telling you the truth about his advesary, no matter how good the delivery or the mannerisms.
The heels of old were an eclectic mishmash of different characters-some were mean, some where deranged, some were pretty boys,others wore flowered tights, more than a few were rallying against America- but they largely had one thing in common: they acted like asses, & told alot of lies.
In Mick Foley's first book ,"Have a Nice Day", he referenced a conversation he had with Michael "P.S" Hayes, of Fabulous Freebird ( and current head "writer" for Smackdown) fame, and Hayes pointed out that, in every case, the heel needs to be justified in his actions- which, I think, ties in with my belief that very few people commit heinous or reprehensible acts against others without self provocation.
The acts of a heel are brought on by his frustration,desperation, or insecurity-and theres no better reference point to this the legendary Larry Zbyszko vs. Bruno Sammartino feud of 1980.
For those unfamiliar with this story ( the younger readers get a pass,unless you're one of my kids lol; if you been watching for more than 20 years, shame on you :) Larry was the protege of the great Bruno,and although having had a decent amount of success in his career ( tag team champion), Larry felt stalled, and voiced this opinion in interviews on WWF tv shows.
Zbyszko felt that the only possible way he could break away from the long shadow of Sammartino was to wrestle, and ultimately, defeat him- this, he felt, was the only way. So the challenge was made for the match, and match that Bruno flatly refused.
Larry persisted- mind you, not in the kind of way that was insulting to his mentor,his idol, his hero- but in a matter of fact, almost desperate, "I need this more than anything" way. Back then, things like this didnt happen 5 times per week on tv- it was a rarity ( and was almost always a big boon to box office)
Bruno finally agreed, but only under the conditions that he would only wrestle "defensively"-in other words, because of his relationship to Larry Z, he didn't want to hurt him ( I liked the subtlety of this aspect) & that it would be a "exhibition"- not a full blown "contest". In other words, Bruno wasn't playing to win; however Larry was.
The tv match, in and of itself, completes painting a picture outlined by weeks of tv: Larry, try as he might, cannot get the advantage on Bruno; at one point, Bruno actually secures the bearhug, one of his patented moves, only to release Larry, much to Z's consternation; Larrys intensity grows, while Bruno remains relaxed to a certain degree- he absolutely wasn't trying to show Larry up.
During a hammerlock reversal, Bruno spins Larry out through the ropes to the arena floor- in an effort to show it wasnt intentional, Sammartino hold the ropes open for Larry to return; the water has finally boiled over for Zbyszko at at this point and, while Bruno is still holding the ropes, he nails him with a knee & a punch, then, as the ref admonishes him, he jumps outside and grabs a wooden chair. After disposing of the ref, Larry cracks his mentor with the chair , then again, & a third time as Bruno, as the magazine said at the time "drowned in a pool of blood".
Now that I've told the story, let make sure the point is clear: Larry Zbyszko did not intend to hurt, nor injure Bruno Sammartino-initially. He thought he could outwrestle the legend, and it didnt work; not only did it not work, it was the biggest error he made in his career-and he knew it. In his mind, when everything else failed, when his attempts to to it the right way failed, He made the decision to ambush,sucker, & maim his idol.
His justification is simple:" I will beat Bruno. I'm better than Bruno, and I will do ANYTHING to become bigger than Bruno. Bruno has held me back- its my turn!" Therefore, everything he did was okay, in his mind- and if the fans don't understand,screw them,too. All of these things, of course, are outright lies. But believing them to be truths are what made the actions justifiable.
This famous feud, after many bloody matches, finally culminated at Shea Stadium in New York ( former home of the Mets) where, without the benefit of national tv exposure, big budget tv commercials, or pay per view capability, drew in excess of 36,000 fans to the building that August afternoon, for a net live gate of almost $450,000. In 1980. Anyone want to prorate to current value?
Compare that to the weekly break ups, turns, & insincere interviews of today, with international tv exposure,big budget advertising, & pay per view, where an average of 200,000 WORLDWIDE witnessed....what? A memorable spectacule? A match for the ages? Something to be remember for 30 plus years? It happens, but ALOT less frequently.
In their minds, heels aren't necessarily heels- they are rightous babyfaces, sometimes perhaps, fighting a battle only they understand.
Until next time
SSS
Monday, May 23, 2011
Back from a tragic weekend....no other way to put it.
For those hoping & waiting for a fitting tribute to Randy Poffo tonight, I implore you to not hold your breath.
For reasons that have been fodder on the internet for years, Vince McMahon & Randy had been on bad terms dating back to the mid 1990's, with no apparent end in sight.
The rash of deaths in wrestling, and the scrutiny of the McMahons over them, have prevented even momentary acknowledge over the past several years...I doubt they break form that edict tonight.
I would be proud to follow up on this tomorrow should WWE catch me off guard, by the way....
*****************************************
I'd like to spend a little time this blog discussing the fundemental purpose of a wrestling match: Winning.
Clearly by now, it has been put ( pounded?) into our, the wrestling fan, psyche that the wins & losses do not matter- for this is entertainment,folks!- but I think one of the things most easily forgotten is that most of us were aware of that, anyway, and by taking away the importance of winning & losing in the make up of wrestling matches, it has :
A) drove away a huge part of the fan base
B) made it much more difficult for talent to "get over"
and
C) made us not a pseudo sport watched by sports fans, but a pseudo pseudo sport with no meaning,purpose,or direction
In previous generations, much care was taken to elevate an upcoming talent & protect the veteran talent....and while WWE continues to do the latter, they have completely forgot how to due the former.
The idea that putting a "time limit" on a bout hampers ones perception of the bout is, at best, puzzling and at worst, preposterous. Every sporting event- with the exception of baseball- has a time limit in which a winner needs to be determined.
I noticed about 20 years ago that all WWE bouts stopped being scheduled for "1 fall, or a (20/30/1hour etc) "time limit to being "scheduled for 1 fall". I think this took a great deal of the drama out of bouts, particularly ones where a major championship was on the line.
Then of course, theres the total devaluing of the titles. Imagine for a few minutes that everyone who played in the NFL,MLB,NBA,etc were playing without any GOAL whatsoever. None. Literally doing it to see who wins and then, completely ignoring the victory? Sound unlikely? Improbable? Yes.
So why is WWE so obsessed with telling us none of this matters? More to the point, from looking at what the titles mean, whos over with the crowd, whos popping PPV buys- how they have succeeded!
They were never REAL titles- but they were symbolic of the goals of everyone- to achieve the level of the "best" in their field. Now, the titles are passed around like joints at a REGGAE SUNSPLASH event, given to guys as a gold watch or trinket. And it means nothing...NOTHING.
Honestly, just to use an example, does anyone out there truly hold EDGE in great reverence because he was an 11 time WWE champion? He was champion 11 times in a 4 year period, which doesn't hold up in my vision of wrestling, where anyone who was of upper tier caliber didn't lose their hold on the "most prestigious trophy in the sport" at least 10 times within the span of 1,460 days.
Compare that to the reverence & great respect I have for Harley Race, whom held the NWA title 8 times from 1973-1983; or Bruno Sammartino,who held the WWWF title CONSECUTIVELY from May 1963- January 1971, then again from December 1973-April 1977.
The titles of wrestling should be treated within the confines of wrestling as the ultimate prize- just like an pro football player covets the Lombardi Trophy, baseballers strive to win the World Series,etc.
I'm not endorsing turning back the clock to such runs, but to truly believe someone is the best, they should not get beaten every 30,60,90 days for that acclaim. Just my opinion.
Without the fundemental hope & work for achievement, what are we fighting for? and moreover, why the hell should we watch if theres no menaing?
Until next time...
SSS
For those hoping & waiting for a fitting tribute to Randy Poffo tonight, I implore you to not hold your breath.
For reasons that have been fodder on the internet for years, Vince McMahon & Randy had been on bad terms dating back to the mid 1990's, with no apparent end in sight.
The rash of deaths in wrestling, and the scrutiny of the McMahons over them, have prevented even momentary acknowledge over the past several years...I doubt they break form that edict tonight.
I would be proud to follow up on this tomorrow should WWE catch me off guard, by the way....
*****************************************
I'd like to spend a little time this blog discussing the fundemental purpose of a wrestling match: Winning.
Clearly by now, it has been put ( pounded?) into our, the wrestling fan, psyche that the wins & losses do not matter- for this is entertainment,folks!- but I think one of the things most easily forgotten is that most of us were aware of that, anyway, and by taking away the importance of winning & losing in the make up of wrestling matches, it has :
A) drove away a huge part of the fan base
B) made it much more difficult for talent to "get over"
and
C) made us not a pseudo sport watched by sports fans, but a pseudo pseudo sport with no meaning,purpose,or direction
In previous generations, much care was taken to elevate an upcoming talent & protect the veteran talent....and while WWE continues to do the latter, they have completely forgot how to due the former.
The idea that putting a "time limit" on a bout hampers ones perception of the bout is, at best, puzzling and at worst, preposterous. Every sporting event- with the exception of baseball- has a time limit in which a winner needs to be determined.
I noticed about 20 years ago that all WWE bouts stopped being scheduled for "1 fall, or a (20/30/1hour etc) "time limit to being "scheduled for 1 fall". I think this took a great deal of the drama out of bouts, particularly ones where a major championship was on the line.
Then of course, theres the total devaluing of the titles. Imagine for a few minutes that everyone who played in the NFL,MLB,NBA,etc were playing without any GOAL whatsoever. None. Literally doing it to see who wins and then, completely ignoring the victory? Sound unlikely? Improbable? Yes.
So why is WWE so obsessed with telling us none of this matters? More to the point, from looking at what the titles mean, whos over with the crowd, whos popping PPV buys- how they have succeeded!
They were never REAL titles- but they were symbolic of the goals of everyone- to achieve the level of the "best" in their field. Now, the titles are passed around like joints at a REGGAE SUNSPLASH event, given to guys as a gold watch or trinket. And it means nothing...NOTHING.
Honestly, just to use an example, does anyone out there truly hold EDGE in great reverence because he was an 11 time WWE champion? He was champion 11 times in a 4 year period, which doesn't hold up in my vision of wrestling, where anyone who was of upper tier caliber didn't lose their hold on the "most prestigious trophy in the sport" at least 10 times within the span of 1,460 days.
Compare that to the reverence & great respect I have for Harley Race, whom held the NWA title 8 times from 1973-1983; or Bruno Sammartino,who held the WWWF title CONSECUTIVELY from May 1963- January 1971, then again from December 1973-April 1977.
The titles of wrestling should be treated within the confines of wrestling as the ultimate prize- just like an pro football player covets the Lombardi Trophy, baseballers strive to win the World Series,etc.
I'm not endorsing turning back the clock to such runs, but to truly believe someone is the best, they should not get beaten every 30,60,90 days for that acclaim. Just my opinion.
Without the fundemental hope & work for achievement, what are we fighting for? and moreover, why the hell should we watch if theres no menaing?
Until next time...
SSS
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Its still hard to believe.
The news that former multi time World Champion Randy "Macho Man" Savage was killed yesterday in Tampa,Fla was one of those moments where the chills ran down your spine- there's just no other way to describe it.
I at first thought maybe it just one of those ridiculous rumores that started on the internet by people who are so bored they create things to circulate, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
I don't believe for a second that by writing a blog I can due a mans life or career justice, and even if I could, I am not mentally prepared to do so. Not yet, if ever.
I know its customary when someone passes away that, in many cases, we trumpet their achievements as being more significant than they truly were.
In Savage's case, however, I don't know that would be necessary. I have long believed Randy to be the single most underrated wrestler when it comes to historical signifcance- in life, the man never recieved nearly the accolades his accomplishments merited.
Just 3 days ago, I watched the legendary Wrestlemania 3 bout between he & Ricky Steamboat- it had been a few years, & I wanted my son to see the brilliance of their work. 24 years later, this bout holds up- a testament to both mens ability to create & tell a story that was truly timeless.
Another classic that in many ways I admire even more than the Steamboat bout was the classic Ultimate Warrior bout from Wrestlemania 7- in that case, Savage had no great talent to work with & create- he was a one man show in making it one of the early Wrestlemana classics.
Besides Steamboat & Warrior, there were classics with Hulk Hogan, in the best booked year plus angle ever done, another great angle with Ric Flair, which saw him win the WWF title a second time; an intense rivalry with Jake Roberts; and on and on.
The words like "legend" & "icon" get thrown around pretty liberally these days, but make no mistake: the pro wrestling world lost both yesterday.
Until next time..
SSS
The news that former multi time World Champion Randy "Macho Man" Savage was killed yesterday in Tampa,Fla was one of those moments where the chills ran down your spine- there's just no other way to describe it.
I at first thought maybe it just one of those ridiculous rumores that started on the internet by people who are so bored they create things to circulate, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
I don't believe for a second that by writing a blog I can due a mans life or career justice, and even if I could, I am not mentally prepared to do so. Not yet, if ever.
I know its customary when someone passes away that, in many cases, we trumpet their achievements as being more significant than they truly were.
In Savage's case, however, I don't know that would be necessary. I have long believed Randy to be the single most underrated wrestler when it comes to historical signifcance- in life, the man never recieved nearly the accolades his accomplishments merited.
Just 3 days ago, I watched the legendary Wrestlemania 3 bout between he & Ricky Steamboat- it had been a few years, & I wanted my son to see the brilliance of their work. 24 years later, this bout holds up- a testament to both mens ability to create & tell a story that was truly timeless.
Another classic that in many ways I admire even more than the Steamboat bout was the classic Ultimate Warrior bout from Wrestlemania 7- in that case, Savage had no great talent to work with & create- he was a one man show in making it one of the early Wrestlemana classics.
Besides Steamboat & Warrior, there were classics with Hulk Hogan, in the best booked year plus angle ever done, another great angle with Ric Flair, which saw him win the WWF title a second time; an intense rivalry with Jake Roberts; and on and on.
The words like "legend" & "icon" get thrown around pretty liberally these days, but make no mistake: the pro wrestling world lost both yesterday.
Until next time..
SSS
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday was one of the most surreal days of my professional life, as I witnessed first no less than 6 managers at my place of work terminated, in a scene that resembled a mob/horror movie...in my entire life, I'm pretty positive that I will never witness such a hatcheting again.
To all my former colleagues, I wish you the absolute best in all your future endeavors, and hope to see you down the line.
***************************************
Over the weekend in Nashville,Tn, in front of a reported crowd of 800 plus spectators, one of the...no, scratch that, THE best in ring tag team feud in the history of pro wrestling was one again recreated when The Midnight Express, the Dennis Condrey/Bobby Eaton version, took on the Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson, The Rock N Roll Express.
The story of these rivalry of these two teams starts in Bill Watts' old Mid South (later UWF) territory in 1984. Watts territory was in a bit of a slump, so he arranged for fellow promtional gurus Jerry Jarrett ( father of Jeff) & Jerry Lawler to come to the territory to get their opinions on how to turn the tide, so to speak.
After suggesting that Mid South wrestling crowds were too male oriented ( the actual terms used will be overlooked here, due to some younger females reading) a talent swap was arranged between the two promotions, that changed both, one for the much,much better.
The Rock N Rolls,at that time amazingly enough, were the number 2 babyface tag team in the Jarrett/Lawler promotion, behind Stan Lane & Steve Keirn, The Fabulous Ones ( Lane, of course, plays a part in this rivalry on down the line) RNR were created in large part, due to the strong business the Fabs did ( particularly in Louisville, a weekly town) to send a good tag team to the "spot show" towns of the circuit- your Cookeville,Tns, etc- the high school gym type towns.
Compromised of Robert Gibson, a solid young babyface whom had received some notoriety as the tag partner of his older brother, Ricky Gibson, & second generation star Ricky Morton, son of area wrestler/referee Paul Morton, the two became a excellent combination with a flair for the dramatic comeback & exciting double team moves.
Morton, in particular, increased the teams appeal with the use of his tremendous selling skills; nobody, with the exception of Ricky Steamboat, was ever as effective as Morton in registering his pain, his agony, & his suffering; in addition, he was, at the time, very young looking, although he was nearly 30 years old.
In the trade, Mid South also received super bumper Bobby Eaton, a natural from the time he first stepped into the ring at 15 years old; Veteran area star Dennis Condrey, who had several successful runs in Tennessee as a partner of Phil Hickerson ( a surprisingly mobile 300 pounder) & as Georgia Heavyweight Champion in 1980. Watts also was impressed by the raw skill & talent of a young manager named Jim Cornette, at the time less than 2 years into his career, & the number 2 manager in Memphis, under Jimmy Hart.
Surprisingly, despite having worked the same circuits at the same time for years, Eaton & Condrey never teamed up until late 1983, when Watts told them they would be a tag team, with Cornette as their mouthpiece.
Under the direction of Watts' new booker,Superstar Bill Dundee (also part of the trade) the two teams were both on a collision course, and with newer,younger, & more female friendly wrestlers, Mid South did its all time record business in 1984, with a a whole new audience introduced to the areas exciting brand of wrestling.
In the territory days, everyone had a shelf life, and both teams moved on- Rock N Roll to the lucrative & expanding Mid Atlantic (Crockett/NWA/later WCW) & Midnights detouring briefly to World Class, before joining their natural rivals in the NWA.
RNR absolutely exploded in 1985, upending The russian tandem of Ivan & Nikita Koloff in a feud that preceeded Part two of their classic feud with Cornette's men. The two teams had matches from January-September of 1986, exchanging the NWA World tag titles were likely the best tag teams bouts ever seen anywhere, and got over huge in the Carolinas in particular, traditionally a great tag team area.
After the big run of 1986, 1987 brought changes- Dennis Condrey, due to reasons still to this day somewhat unexplained, quit the team & disappeared from wrestling for 6 months, leaving a huge void to fill in not only the team, but the Crockett organization.
Enter Stan Lane- 4 years earlier, as part of the aforementioned Fabulous Ones, Lane was part the most popular tag team in the country. The Fabs traveled extensively, having worked in Mid South & AWA most notably, but were finishing up their days as a team in Florida, when Keirn decided to retire ( this didnt end up being a permanent retirement) Thinking his days in the ring were likely over, Lane got a surprise phone call from Dusty Rhodes, Crockett's booker, to join Eaton & Cornette as the third member of The Midnight Express.
Lane brought a different in ring style to the team, in some ways flashier; in addition, Stan Lane was a much better looking man than the rugged,worn looking Condrey- a career babyface for the most part, Lane had that certain pretty boy type of look that lent itself to being a heel- and another tremendous combination was born.
When people ask me what the best match I ever witness in person would be, I break it into two catagories: best singles & best tag team- and my answer has not changed in 24 years: The match I witnessed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md July 2,1987, as part of the Great American Bash Tour between the RNRs & the Lane/Eaton combo was by far the best I ever had the pleasure of watching firsthand. And based on the reaction, 18,00 others in the building felt the same way- a dynamic bout.
( I have an appreviated for tv version of this match which was broadcast on UWF tv that summer, and its one of the jewels of my collection- nothing like knowing you were there when such magic took place)
The duos had quite a few matches from 1987-1990, all excellent ( and different, as opposed to todays patternized style of matches) when the Midnight team split up, with Cornette & Lane leaving WCW...but has been recreated throughout the south on independents since 2003. Some times its Eaton/Lane, but largely its the Eaton /Condrey combo facing the older yet still brilliant RNR.
It makes me feel good to know, even after all these years, these guys can still get together & get it done- reportedly,after their match saturday night in Nashville, the entire crowd gave the four, all 50 plus years old, a standing ovation.
And Vince thinks old time "rasslin" doesn't work anymore....I guess that proves even a "genius" can be wrong.
Until next time...
SSS
To all my former colleagues, I wish you the absolute best in all your future endeavors, and hope to see you down the line.
***************************************
Over the weekend in Nashville,Tn, in front of a reported crowd of 800 plus spectators, one of the...no, scratch that, THE best in ring tag team feud in the history of pro wrestling was one again recreated when The Midnight Express, the Dennis Condrey/Bobby Eaton version, took on the Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson, The Rock N Roll Express.
The story of these rivalry of these two teams starts in Bill Watts' old Mid South (later UWF) territory in 1984. Watts territory was in a bit of a slump, so he arranged for fellow promtional gurus Jerry Jarrett ( father of Jeff) & Jerry Lawler to come to the territory to get their opinions on how to turn the tide, so to speak.
After suggesting that Mid South wrestling crowds were too male oriented ( the actual terms used will be overlooked here, due to some younger females reading) a talent swap was arranged between the two promotions, that changed both, one for the much,much better.
The Rock N Rolls,at that time amazingly enough, were the number 2 babyface tag team in the Jarrett/Lawler promotion, behind Stan Lane & Steve Keirn, The Fabulous Ones ( Lane, of course, plays a part in this rivalry on down the line) RNR were created in large part, due to the strong business the Fabs did ( particularly in Louisville, a weekly town) to send a good tag team to the "spot show" towns of the circuit- your Cookeville,Tns, etc- the high school gym type towns.
Compromised of Robert Gibson, a solid young babyface whom had received some notoriety as the tag partner of his older brother, Ricky Gibson, & second generation star Ricky Morton, son of area wrestler/referee Paul Morton, the two became a excellent combination with a flair for the dramatic comeback & exciting double team moves.
Morton, in particular, increased the teams appeal with the use of his tremendous selling skills; nobody, with the exception of Ricky Steamboat, was ever as effective as Morton in registering his pain, his agony, & his suffering; in addition, he was, at the time, very young looking, although he was nearly 30 years old.
In the trade, Mid South also received super bumper Bobby Eaton, a natural from the time he first stepped into the ring at 15 years old; Veteran area star Dennis Condrey, who had several successful runs in Tennessee as a partner of Phil Hickerson ( a surprisingly mobile 300 pounder) & as Georgia Heavyweight Champion in 1980. Watts also was impressed by the raw skill & talent of a young manager named Jim Cornette, at the time less than 2 years into his career, & the number 2 manager in Memphis, under Jimmy Hart.
Surprisingly, despite having worked the same circuits at the same time for years, Eaton & Condrey never teamed up until late 1983, when Watts told them they would be a tag team, with Cornette as their mouthpiece.
Under the direction of Watts' new booker,Superstar Bill Dundee (also part of the trade) the two teams were both on a collision course, and with newer,younger, & more female friendly wrestlers, Mid South did its all time record business in 1984, with a a whole new audience introduced to the areas exciting brand of wrestling.
In the territory days, everyone had a shelf life, and both teams moved on- Rock N Roll to the lucrative & expanding Mid Atlantic (Crockett/NWA/later WCW) & Midnights detouring briefly to World Class, before joining their natural rivals in the NWA.
RNR absolutely exploded in 1985, upending The russian tandem of Ivan & Nikita Koloff in a feud that preceeded Part two of their classic feud with Cornette's men. The two teams had matches from January-September of 1986, exchanging the NWA World tag titles were likely the best tag teams bouts ever seen anywhere, and got over huge in the Carolinas in particular, traditionally a great tag team area.
After the big run of 1986, 1987 brought changes- Dennis Condrey, due to reasons still to this day somewhat unexplained, quit the team & disappeared from wrestling for 6 months, leaving a huge void to fill in not only the team, but the Crockett organization.
Enter Stan Lane- 4 years earlier, as part of the aforementioned Fabulous Ones, Lane was part the most popular tag team in the country. The Fabs traveled extensively, having worked in Mid South & AWA most notably, but were finishing up their days as a team in Florida, when Keirn decided to retire ( this didnt end up being a permanent retirement) Thinking his days in the ring were likely over, Lane got a surprise phone call from Dusty Rhodes, Crockett's booker, to join Eaton & Cornette as the third member of The Midnight Express.
Lane brought a different in ring style to the team, in some ways flashier; in addition, Stan Lane was a much better looking man than the rugged,worn looking Condrey- a career babyface for the most part, Lane had that certain pretty boy type of look that lent itself to being a heel- and another tremendous combination was born.
When people ask me what the best match I ever witness in person would be, I break it into two catagories: best singles & best tag team- and my answer has not changed in 24 years: The match I witnessed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md July 2,1987, as part of the Great American Bash Tour between the RNRs & the Lane/Eaton combo was by far the best I ever had the pleasure of watching firsthand. And based on the reaction, 18,00 others in the building felt the same way- a dynamic bout.
( I have an appreviated for tv version of this match which was broadcast on UWF tv that summer, and its one of the jewels of my collection- nothing like knowing you were there when such magic took place)
The duos had quite a few matches from 1987-1990, all excellent ( and different, as opposed to todays patternized style of matches) when the Midnight team split up, with Cornette & Lane leaving WCW...but has been recreated throughout the south on independents since 2003. Some times its Eaton/Lane, but largely its the Eaton /Condrey combo facing the older yet still brilliant RNR.
It makes me feel good to know, even after all these years, these guys can still get together & get it done- reportedly,after their match saturday night in Nashville, the entire crowd gave the four, all 50 plus years old, a standing ovation.
And Vince thinks old time "rasslin" doesn't work anymore....I guess that proves even a "genius" can be wrong.
Until next time...
SSS
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Welcome to the final blog of the week- I have stayed quite busy this week with this, and I'm having a great time sharing my opinions & viewpoints, and hearing yours as well.
I remember a time when pro wrestling sparked alot of interesting conversation points, amongst those of us who truly watched & studied this fascinating business. Alot of that spirit has been lost, due in large part to the destruction of the"territorial system" by WWE, and the overwrought nature of the "script writing" by WWE, TNA, & before that, WCW.
I've long had conflicting feelings about the destruction of WCW- previously NWA ( Jim Crocket Promotions) the lone rival, on a national basis, to Vince McMahon's total domination of the wrestling business ( which, according to Vince, is a business he's no longer in...oh ok)
In the mid-late 1980's, The NWA/WCW brand of wrestling was generally considered a grittier, less glamourous alternative to the flashy, cartoony WWF, featuring top in ring talents & generally, feuds that revolved around a title or personal issue.
Even after the turner takeover ( Nov 1988) although talent was switching sides rapidly ( Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard most notably) the action remained exciting, despite the fact that backstage & business issues were in a state of turmoil.
1989 represented the official "fresh start" of WCW, as Dusty Rhodes was removed from power as the "booker" & replaced by a Committee headed by George Scott.
If you are unfamiliar with the name George Scott, you may not be alone amongst contemporary wrestling fans,but whether you're aware or not, you are definitely familiar with alot of the talent he discovered or molded into national, and international wrestling superstars.
A native of Hamilton,Ontario, George Scott cut his teeth wrestling all over Canada & the United States, under the monniker , The Great Scott. Later, alongside younger brother Sandy, as The Flying Scott Brothers, they blazed a trail across Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, & made a significant mark in The Carolinas & Texas,amongst other stops.
In the early 1970s, the Crockett Family wrestling empire was thrown for a loop when Jim Crockett Sr died somewhat suddenly from a heart attack. The man earmarked to take over the operation was Mr. John Ringley, the husband of Frances Crockett, Big Jim's daughter.
However, Ringley got caught with his hands in the honeypot, so to speak, when it was discovered he was bedding a stewardess, while Frances was,obviously, none the wiser. Until, of course, Ringley got sloppy & got figured out.
This left the family operation to Jim Jr, a good "bottom line" guy (at least then) but, by his own admission, not a wrestling guru and certainly, not a "booker"- and crowds dwindled in this aspect of an important family business. Contrary to much belief, The Crocketts were not exclusively wrestling promoters- they ran an entire stable of entertainment entities thru the mid atlantic, including the Harlem Globetrotters; Big Jim also initially made a considerable fortune by selling "steam wells", which are used in virtually every restaurant in the world to keep hot foods hot.
Enter George Scott- winding down his in ring career, Scott had established a good reputation as a booker by working for Fritz Von Erich in Texas, which was by no means a dream job, given that the Dallas booking office, at that time, before the fragmentation that would happen within a few years, booked out talent to five separate offices, and had 5 separate tv shows....wow.
Scott first two significant "signings" ( which wasn't a term then; everyone worked on handshake deals) were Native American & former NFL standout Chief Wahoo McDaniel, & the super tough, hard as nails johnny Valentine.
Valentine & Wahoo were put on a collision course, but as was common in those days, it wasn't an immediate program; the two had considerable history together, in particular headlining, along with Fritz von Erich & The Spoiler, the very Texas circuit that Scott had just handled so expertly the prior 3 plus years.
The initial reaction to Johnny Valentine was not an overwhelming success- being known as a "tag team territory", Mid Atlantic had its certain set pattern of how both tv & live events were presented- it was nothing for there to be 6-8 tag teams headlining the huge circuit at a given time- so the "reeducation" process for the long time area fans was a painful one. It was literally a case of tearing it down to rebuild it properly.
Ultimately,though,Valentine & Wahoo paid dividends- as did a young preliminary wrestler Scott brought to the area, on Wahoo's recommendation, by the name of Ric Flair. I'm pretty sure most of you would be familiar with his body of work.
Scott was also the first booker to give a impressive young babyface from Tampa by the name of Rick Blood, who had already changed his name to Rick Steamboat.,his first chance to shine as a star.
After his time working for the Crocketts had passed (1981) he would make a few stops before landing in the WWF during its first national expansion, and staying until a series of differences between he & a cash cow by the name of Hulk Hogan ended his tenure in 1986.
It was in 1989 that, with Scott as booker, that Ric Flair & Rick Steamboat reignited one of the greatest,if not the greatest, in ring rivalries in modern wrestling history, with a series of bouts that set the bar for what true hard hitting, intense, & captivating pro wrestling is all about.
I witnessed onee these classics in person in March 1989 at the Capital Centre in Landover,Md, and I'm thankful that someone had the guts the record this epic on a camcorder- a copy of which I have in my personal collection.
George's 1989 run was proof positive that you must evolve to stay successful, as his ideas about television & live events were not up to the then modern standard- nonetheless, he remains a important,and forgotten, figure in the success of both the Crockett & McMahon promotional wheels.
Until next time....
SSS
I remember a time when pro wrestling sparked alot of interesting conversation points, amongst those of us who truly watched & studied this fascinating business. Alot of that spirit has been lost, due in large part to the destruction of the"territorial system" by WWE, and the overwrought nature of the "script writing" by WWE, TNA, & before that, WCW.
I've long had conflicting feelings about the destruction of WCW- previously NWA ( Jim Crocket Promotions) the lone rival, on a national basis, to Vince McMahon's total domination of the wrestling business ( which, according to Vince, is a business he's no longer in...oh ok)
In the mid-late 1980's, The NWA/WCW brand of wrestling was generally considered a grittier, less glamourous alternative to the flashy, cartoony WWF, featuring top in ring talents & generally, feuds that revolved around a title or personal issue.
Even after the turner takeover ( Nov 1988) although talent was switching sides rapidly ( Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard most notably) the action remained exciting, despite the fact that backstage & business issues were in a state of turmoil.
1989 represented the official "fresh start" of WCW, as Dusty Rhodes was removed from power as the "booker" & replaced by a Committee headed by George Scott.
If you are unfamiliar with the name George Scott, you may not be alone amongst contemporary wrestling fans,but whether you're aware or not, you are definitely familiar with alot of the talent he discovered or molded into national, and international wrestling superstars.
A native of Hamilton,Ontario, George Scott cut his teeth wrestling all over Canada & the United States, under the monniker , The Great Scott. Later, alongside younger brother Sandy, as The Flying Scott Brothers, they blazed a trail across Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, & made a significant mark in The Carolinas & Texas,amongst other stops.
In the early 1970s, the Crockett Family wrestling empire was thrown for a loop when Jim Crockett Sr died somewhat suddenly from a heart attack. The man earmarked to take over the operation was Mr. John Ringley, the husband of Frances Crockett, Big Jim's daughter.
However, Ringley got caught with his hands in the honeypot, so to speak, when it was discovered he was bedding a stewardess, while Frances was,obviously, none the wiser. Until, of course, Ringley got sloppy & got figured out.
This left the family operation to Jim Jr, a good "bottom line" guy (at least then) but, by his own admission, not a wrestling guru and certainly, not a "booker"- and crowds dwindled in this aspect of an important family business. Contrary to much belief, The Crocketts were not exclusively wrestling promoters- they ran an entire stable of entertainment entities thru the mid atlantic, including the Harlem Globetrotters; Big Jim also initially made a considerable fortune by selling "steam wells", which are used in virtually every restaurant in the world to keep hot foods hot.
Enter George Scott- winding down his in ring career, Scott had established a good reputation as a booker by working for Fritz Von Erich in Texas, which was by no means a dream job, given that the Dallas booking office, at that time, before the fragmentation that would happen within a few years, booked out talent to five separate offices, and had 5 separate tv shows....wow.
Scott first two significant "signings" ( which wasn't a term then; everyone worked on handshake deals) were Native American & former NFL standout Chief Wahoo McDaniel, & the super tough, hard as nails johnny Valentine.
Valentine & Wahoo were put on a collision course, but as was common in those days, it wasn't an immediate program; the two had considerable history together, in particular headlining, along with Fritz von Erich & The Spoiler, the very Texas circuit that Scott had just handled so expertly the prior 3 plus years.
The initial reaction to Johnny Valentine was not an overwhelming success- being known as a "tag team territory", Mid Atlantic had its certain set pattern of how both tv & live events were presented- it was nothing for there to be 6-8 tag teams headlining the huge circuit at a given time- so the "reeducation" process for the long time area fans was a painful one. It was literally a case of tearing it down to rebuild it properly.
Ultimately,though,Valentine & Wahoo paid dividends- as did a young preliminary wrestler Scott brought to the area, on Wahoo's recommendation, by the name of Ric Flair. I'm pretty sure most of you would be familiar with his body of work.
Scott was also the first booker to give a impressive young babyface from Tampa by the name of Rick Blood, who had already changed his name to Rick Steamboat.,his first chance to shine as a star.
After his time working for the Crocketts had passed (1981) he would make a few stops before landing in the WWF during its first national expansion, and staying until a series of differences between he & a cash cow by the name of Hulk Hogan ended his tenure in 1986.
It was in 1989 that, with Scott as booker, that Ric Flair & Rick Steamboat reignited one of the greatest,if not the greatest, in ring rivalries in modern wrestling history, with a series of bouts that set the bar for what true hard hitting, intense, & captivating pro wrestling is all about.
I witnessed onee these classics in person in March 1989 at the Capital Centre in Landover,Md, and I'm thankful that someone had the guts the record this epic on a camcorder- a copy of which I have in my personal collection.
George's 1989 run was proof positive that you must evolve to stay successful, as his ideas about television & live events were not up to the then modern standard- nonetheless, he remains a important,and forgotten, figure in the success of both the Crockett & McMahon promotional wheels.
Until next time....
SSS
Friday, May 13, 2011
Apologies to all- somehow,someway, yesterdays new blog disappeared. I know that Blogger had some technical issues that required them to "temporarily" remove all posts from yesterday on...I hope it gets put back up, because I thought the material was pretty good, all humility aside.
I like the idea of this blog being a forum for people who have a passion for pro wrestling to discuss it intelligently, without the fear of silly reprisals & pointless name calling-something I mentioned in yesterdays disappearing blog, but bears repeating to those of you who didn't get the chance to read it- intelligent opinions are always welcome, but people hiding behind aliases calling names & stirring shit really don't fit here- and so far, we have seen none of that here.
I know its gets mentioned alot about the "old days" of wrestling, when their were multiple different promotions, featuring a wide variety of talent, matches & angles........and alot of them were great, some good, & some well, just downright sad or awful.
Every promotion, at one time or another, has hit the wall in terms of its talent,its booker, its tv, or a combination of any or all the above.
From ages 8-13, I grew up in an area that, due to limited cable penetration, featured exclusively WWF tv shows. Now, my brother & I were very aware of the other "areas" (as they were called in the magazines we purchased religiously every month).
Things changed starting in 1985, when AWA hit the airwaves on ESPN, a cable network we actually had where I lived. This was before every piece of significant talent left,and the AWA,while a little more mat based than WWF, was still quite fun to watch.
But the world opened in 1987- my brother got married,moved into Hagerstown, which had far better cable system-were I could finally really watch the stars of the NWA on a regular basis,notonly from TBS, but from the syndicated shows that were one nightly on Home Team Sports, a small regional sports station that morphed in MASN, which now covers both the Baltimore Orioles & Washington Nationals.
This also added the remaining UWF tv network ( which NWA had purchased, but they still did separate tv shows, at least thru the end of 1987) PLUS a variety of smaller "outlaw" type promotions that had shows on upstart cable networks- for example,TEMPO network carried ICW & NWF out New Jersey.
But the one show I looked forward to all week long was a syndicated program that featured look ins 7 highlights from the "areas" that I didn't get the benefit of seeing weekly- Pro Wrestling This Week, starring Joe Pedicino & theDean of Wrestling Announcers, Mr. Gordon Solie.
The show was done "magazine style", with Pedicino & Solie recapping the events that took place in a particular part of the country. Part of what made it exciting was,knowing that different guys whom work elsewhere moving to other places, which back then, silly as it sounds, created a certain buzz around the small promotion.
now, they did talk about the happenings in WWF, AWA, & NWA from the previous week, but I already knew what was up there: I tuned into see what was cooking in Memphis, Jerry Blackwell's Southern Championship Wrestling, Wild West Wrestling out of Dallas, and, of course, the somewhat infamous Central States Wrestling out of Kansas City.
It didn't truly occur to me, having grown up in the territorial system that was not quite yet totally destroyed, that I was watching minor league talent- it was quite normal still back then for guys to move around; however, I wasn't completely stupid- I knew who the top groups were :)
I did, however, noticed the appreciable difference in tv production quality while looking in at the PWTW clips from around the country- and to this day, no clip summed up the difference in production quality from WWF,NWA , & AWA quite like the clip I'm about to detail.
I recall a "special look" at a "Gigantic Battle Royale" having taken place the previous week in the Central States area, where the final three competitors were "Hustler" Rip Rogers, Ox "Master of The Heart Punch" Ox Baker, & Earthquake Ferris.
First of all, I think the ring was about 10x10- I don't think I've ever seen a ring so small before or since- and the overhead lights provided the total of the lighting, which was quite minimal; but the finish of the match has stuck with me ever since.
Ox was somehow eliminated, which left only Rip Rogers & Ferris, a 400 pounder who had worked for the AWA the previous summer. Ox was distracting Ferris, which led to Rogers flipped the big man over the top rope....and he literally disappeared. I'm not kidding, its was as if the Hustler was standing on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle, and he sidestepped Earthquake & Earthquake fell into it.
Ironically , I don't think Earthquake Ferris ever did work anywhere else after that fateful night in Kansas City...I wonder..???
You have a small promotion to ell? Share it...
Until next time...
SSS
I like the idea of this blog being a forum for people who have a passion for pro wrestling to discuss it intelligently, without the fear of silly reprisals & pointless name calling-something I mentioned in yesterdays disappearing blog, but bears repeating to those of you who didn't get the chance to read it- intelligent opinions are always welcome, but people hiding behind aliases calling names & stirring shit really don't fit here- and so far, we have seen none of that here.
I know its gets mentioned alot about the "old days" of wrestling, when their were multiple different promotions, featuring a wide variety of talent, matches & angles........and alot of them were great, some good, & some well, just downright sad or awful.
Every promotion, at one time or another, has hit the wall in terms of its talent,its booker, its tv, or a combination of any or all the above.
From ages 8-13, I grew up in an area that, due to limited cable penetration, featured exclusively WWF tv shows. Now, my brother & I were very aware of the other "areas" (as they were called in the magazines we purchased religiously every month).
Things changed starting in 1985, when AWA hit the airwaves on ESPN, a cable network we actually had where I lived. This was before every piece of significant talent left,and the AWA,while a little more mat based than WWF, was still quite fun to watch.
But the world opened in 1987- my brother got married,moved into Hagerstown, which had far better cable system-were I could finally really watch the stars of the NWA on a regular basis,notonly from TBS, but from the syndicated shows that were one nightly on Home Team Sports, a small regional sports station that morphed in MASN, which now covers both the Baltimore Orioles & Washington Nationals.
This also added the remaining UWF tv network ( which NWA had purchased, but they still did separate tv shows, at least thru the end of 1987) PLUS a variety of smaller "outlaw" type promotions that had shows on upstart cable networks- for example,TEMPO network carried ICW & NWF out New Jersey.
But the one show I looked forward to all week long was a syndicated program that featured look ins 7 highlights from the "areas" that I didn't get the benefit of seeing weekly- Pro Wrestling This Week, starring Joe Pedicino & theDean of Wrestling Announcers, Mr. Gordon Solie.
The show was done "magazine style", with Pedicino & Solie recapping the events that took place in a particular part of the country. Part of what made it exciting was,knowing that different guys whom work elsewhere moving to other places, which back then, silly as it sounds, created a certain buzz around the small promotion.
now, they did talk about the happenings in WWF, AWA, & NWA from the previous week, but I already knew what was up there: I tuned into see what was cooking in Memphis, Jerry Blackwell's Southern Championship Wrestling, Wild West Wrestling out of Dallas, and, of course, the somewhat infamous Central States Wrestling out of Kansas City.
It didn't truly occur to me, having grown up in the territorial system that was not quite yet totally destroyed, that I was watching minor league talent- it was quite normal still back then for guys to move around; however, I wasn't completely stupid- I knew who the top groups were :)
I did, however, noticed the appreciable difference in tv production quality while looking in at the PWTW clips from around the country- and to this day, no clip summed up the difference in production quality from WWF,NWA , & AWA quite like the clip I'm about to detail.
I recall a "special look" at a "Gigantic Battle Royale" having taken place the previous week in the Central States area, where the final three competitors were "Hustler" Rip Rogers, Ox "Master of The Heart Punch" Ox Baker, & Earthquake Ferris.
First of all, I think the ring was about 10x10- I don't think I've ever seen a ring so small before or since- and the overhead lights provided the total of the lighting, which was quite minimal; but the finish of the match has stuck with me ever since.
Ox was somehow eliminated, which left only Rip Rogers & Ferris, a 400 pounder who had worked for the AWA the previous summer. Ox was distracting Ferris, which led to Rogers flipped the big man over the top rope....and he literally disappeared. I'm not kidding, its was as if the Hustler was standing on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle, and he sidestepped Earthquake & Earthquake fell into it.
Ironically , I don't think Earthquake Ferris ever did work anywhere else after that fateful night in Kansas City...I wonder..???
You have a small promotion to ell? Share it...
Until next time...
SSS
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I would like to start todays blog by thanking those who not only read, but intelligently respond to the material within, through facebook posts & comments listed on this page.
I have never made a claim to being the smartest guy in the wrestling game & I have always enjoyed a spirited debate- I do,however, have a real distaste for the type of guys who hide behind aliases & call names and make pointless, pathetic criticisms ( Hey, u suck!)
If you're aren't willing to speak your peace & stand your ground, and just want to have a pointless pissing match, this is probably the wrong place for you anyway- but luckily, none of you have dipped so low...and I hope it stays that way.
*********************
I got to thinking this morning about the role of the babyface in the overall presentation of professional wrestling, & I believe I have come to a conclusion why there are so few true babyfaces these days: no one wants to be likeable, or HOW to be likeable.
I take this back to my earliest days in wrestling, when we were all learning the ropes & getting our ideas together on who we were & who we wanted to be- and I don't recall one of us wanting to be a "good guy" in the ring. We all wanted to be the mean, vicious badass that took no crap from anyone-which, ultimately, is a babyface role, anyway- see how little we knew? :)
The reason is kinda simple, if you think about it: It is very,very hard to make people like you in almost every situation- its kind of an impossible task, is it not? Of course-but the traditional wrestling babyface has had to constantly be the type to "pull the girl off the train track" type who is selflless, non ego driven , & heroic. Now, amongst us, who the hell can pull that off on a daily basis?
The much easier route in wrestling, of course, is to play the part of villian- or heel- which requires less time focused on being likeable. However, too many guys walk out, sneer, yell at the fans to "shut up", and overreact- which oftentimes doesn't lend itself to credibility- and it sure doesn't mean you know what you're doing out there in the ring.
I have always felt that each role should have certain traits, and that both require significant effort. But being a babyface is much,much harder than being a heel.
In a not so far away land ( actually, it was mostly right here in the USA) in a time not so long ago ( 30-50 years) EVERYONE started out as a babyface. EVERYONE. And I believe there were reasons for this- and the main reason may surprise you, but if you look at it logically, it makes perfect sense.
This may come as a shock to alot of you younger wrestlers reading this, based on how the layout of matches takes place today, but not so long ago, the HEEL dictated the entire match- the "high spots", the "false comebacks" etc. ALL OF IT. Every moment of every match was called by the Bad Guy- and why? The two answers blend together.
How can you be expected to call or dictate an entire wrestling match, start to finish, if you are totally new to the profession? Now, just for clarity, these were not totally one sided squash type matches, where the heel dominated, dominated, & then dominated- before he won; these were the back & forth battles of your youth, dynamic & exciting.
So, when you were young & new, the heel was your mentor- he told you when to comeback, what to come back with, how long it would last & when to do it again. Every night, in towns from Ass Crack,Arkansas to New York's Madison Square Garden, a veteran was nursing a greenhorn through a match- and I'm willing to bet, 99 times out of 99.5, the heel was rugged old craftmaster and his opponent, a fresh faced newcomer.
I think to those days, in comparision to alot of the "give & take" or " I gotta get my cool moves in" mindset of today, & wonder if our lack of passion for the matches has waned due to the content, or the layout of the presentation.
Until next time....
SSS
I have never made a claim to being the smartest guy in the wrestling game & I have always enjoyed a spirited debate- I do,however, have a real distaste for the type of guys who hide behind aliases & call names and make pointless, pathetic criticisms ( Hey, u suck!)
If you're aren't willing to speak your peace & stand your ground, and just want to have a pointless pissing match, this is probably the wrong place for you anyway- but luckily, none of you have dipped so low...and I hope it stays that way.
*********************
I got to thinking this morning about the role of the babyface in the overall presentation of professional wrestling, & I believe I have come to a conclusion why there are so few true babyfaces these days: no one wants to be likeable, or HOW to be likeable.
I take this back to my earliest days in wrestling, when we were all learning the ropes & getting our ideas together on who we were & who we wanted to be- and I don't recall one of us wanting to be a "good guy" in the ring. We all wanted to be the mean, vicious badass that took no crap from anyone-which, ultimately, is a babyface role, anyway- see how little we knew? :)
The reason is kinda simple, if you think about it: It is very,very hard to make people like you in almost every situation- its kind of an impossible task, is it not? Of course-but the traditional wrestling babyface has had to constantly be the type to "pull the girl off the train track" type who is selflless, non ego driven , & heroic. Now, amongst us, who the hell can pull that off on a daily basis?
The much easier route in wrestling, of course, is to play the part of villian- or heel- which requires less time focused on being likeable. However, too many guys walk out, sneer, yell at the fans to "shut up", and overreact- which oftentimes doesn't lend itself to credibility- and it sure doesn't mean you know what you're doing out there in the ring.
I have always felt that each role should have certain traits, and that both require significant effort. But being a babyface is much,much harder than being a heel.
In a not so far away land ( actually, it was mostly right here in the USA) in a time not so long ago ( 30-50 years) EVERYONE started out as a babyface. EVERYONE. And I believe there were reasons for this- and the main reason may surprise you, but if you look at it logically, it makes perfect sense.
This may come as a shock to alot of you younger wrestlers reading this, based on how the layout of matches takes place today, but not so long ago, the HEEL dictated the entire match- the "high spots", the "false comebacks" etc. ALL OF IT. Every moment of every match was called by the Bad Guy- and why? The two answers blend together.
How can you be expected to call or dictate an entire wrestling match, start to finish, if you are totally new to the profession? Now, just for clarity, these were not totally one sided squash type matches, where the heel dominated, dominated, & then dominated- before he won; these were the back & forth battles of your youth, dynamic & exciting.
So, when you were young & new, the heel was your mentor- he told you when to comeback, what to come back with, how long it would last & when to do it again. Every night, in towns from Ass Crack,Arkansas to New York's Madison Square Garden, a veteran was nursing a greenhorn through a match- and I'm willing to bet, 99 times out of 99.5, the heel was rugged old craftmaster and his opponent, a fresh faced newcomer.
I think to those days, in comparision to alot of the "give & take" or " I gotta get my cool moves in" mindset of today, & wonder if our lack of passion for the matches has waned due to the content, or the layout of the presentation.
Until next time....
SSS
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I hope everyone has enjoyed the last few blogs....I know sometimes maybe I come across as a know it all or a bitter, angry, aging wrestler/booker/promoter who doesn't understand how the entire business has "evolved"- and I could see how someone could make those observations.
One thing everyone who knows me understands is that I love Pro Wrestling- I have since I was a kid, and continue to do so. Much like a loved one, there will be moments that you dislike or disagree with, but you learn to learn how to work thru them, because it means that much to you. When it doesn't matter, you walked away from it.
I wouldn't yet catagorize myself as a "disenfranchised" wrestling fan- I still watch, although not with the regularity of the past. I love watching live matches- the house shows- because, while the direction of the tv shows is largely adhered to, you largely have nothing but action- and given that most of the tv direction these days leaves alot to be desired, action is the only remaining aspect of pro wrestling to enjoy.
And the athletes are top notch- I take a look at some of the talent on WWE & TNA tv & enjoy their athleticism- I just wish that there was more storytelling involved. The moves are beautiful- but sometimes theres so many of them, its hard to follow or get behind one wrestler or another-because lost in all the spectacularness is the fact that alot of these guys aren't showing me their likeable (or dislikable) personality traits.
I shared this opinion awhile back with a young guy who wrestles for me & I'm quite found of- I told him to try to cut back on moves & focus on telling a story- painting a picture, if you will- that expresses the difference between a "babyface" and a "heel" , in addition to a"simulated fight" & a "real fight".
The frequent quote I used with guys is this, depending on the situation: "If you were in a bar & someone hit on your wife, what would you do? Would you throw a hard punch, or would you jump up on the bar, do a flip, & then hit the guy?" That, to me, represents the difference between a "simulated match" and a "real match".
Obviously, I realize they are all "simulated" situations- but I feel that by removing the basics of real life confrontations from the equation, what you find is the skelton of true conflict, but without the guts, the things that truly make up the heart & soul of conflict- real true feelings & emotions.
Make no mistake, feelings & emotions control each & every one of us- and those feelings & emotions are the things that pro wrestling are supposed to use- to get you to spend your hard earned dollar to watch how the conflict plays out.
Example: One of the tried & true wrestling "angles" is the "you stole my girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/hubby" angle...but after you watching this unfold on tv, if they have done it properly, if you care about the participants involved, how should the match play out? Certainly, this situation doesn't call for alot of spectacular high flying and dangerous moves- it calls for a hard punches, kicks, & maybe a little bloodshed.
Why? Does this require an aswer? Because this how it usually ends up in real life- and the closer you play it to real life, the more money you draw....And the more money you draw, the better.
Honestly, theres only a certain percentage of people who want to watch the match for the match....the rest of the fans need to be drawn in by the events that set up the match- and those events dictate whether you are willing to spend $49.95 to watch it all take place.
Usually, the matches between two guys will happen in a similiar way every time- a patternized way of working that sets up for crowd pops- everyone has their trademark stuff- but really, do you pay to see it every time? Very few do- and why? Because wrestling is an "impulse buy" for most- its how the bookers & writers play on your gut, your mind, and your heart....to make you act on that impulse.
And based on the levels of interest, ppv buys and so forth, the business hasn't been doing a very good job of converting watchers of free tv shows into paying customers of the product.
Until next time....
SSS
One thing everyone who knows me understands is that I love Pro Wrestling- I have since I was a kid, and continue to do so. Much like a loved one, there will be moments that you dislike or disagree with, but you learn to learn how to work thru them, because it means that much to you. When it doesn't matter, you walked away from it.
I wouldn't yet catagorize myself as a "disenfranchised" wrestling fan- I still watch, although not with the regularity of the past. I love watching live matches- the house shows- because, while the direction of the tv shows is largely adhered to, you largely have nothing but action- and given that most of the tv direction these days leaves alot to be desired, action is the only remaining aspect of pro wrestling to enjoy.
And the athletes are top notch- I take a look at some of the talent on WWE & TNA tv & enjoy their athleticism- I just wish that there was more storytelling involved. The moves are beautiful- but sometimes theres so many of them, its hard to follow or get behind one wrestler or another-because lost in all the spectacularness is the fact that alot of these guys aren't showing me their likeable (or dislikable) personality traits.
I shared this opinion awhile back with a young guy who wrestles for me & I'm quite found of- I told him to try to cut back on moves & focus on telling a story- painting a picture, if you will- that expresses the difference between a "babyface" and a "heel" , in addition to a"simulated fight" & a "real fight".
The frequent quote I used with guys is this, depending on the situation: "If you were in a bar & someone hit on your wife, what would you do? Would you throw a hard punch, or would you jump up on the bar, do a flip, & then hit the guy?" That, to me, represents the difference between a "simulated match" and a "real match".
Obviously, I realize they are all "simulated" situations- but I feel that by removing the basics of real life confrontations from the equation, what you find is the skelton of true conflict, but without the guts, the things that truly make up the heart & soul of conflict- real true feelings & emotions.
Make no mistake, feelings & emotions control each & every one of us- and those feelings & emotions are the things that pro wrestling are supposed to use- to get you to spend your hard earned dollar to watch how the conflict plays out.
Example: One of the tried & true wrestling "angles" is the "you stole my girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/hubby" angle...but after you watching this unfold on tv, if they have done it properly, if you care about the participants involved, how should the match play out? Certainly, this situation doesn't call for alot of spectacular high flying and dangerous moves- it calls for a hard punches, kicks, & maybe a little bloodshed.
Why? Does this require an aswer? Because this how it usually ends up in real life- and the closer you play it to real life, the more money you draw....And the more money you draw, the better.
Honestly, theres only a certain percentage of people who want to watch the match for the match....the rest of the fans need to be drawn in by the events that set up the match- and those events dictate whether you are willing to spend $49.95 to watch it all take place.
Usually, the matches between two guys will happen in a similiar way every time- a patternized way of working that sets up for crowd pops- everyone has their trademark stuff- but really, do you pay to see it every time? Very few do- and why? Because wrestling is an "impulse buy" for most- its how the bookers & writers play on your gut, your mind, and your heart....to make you act on that impulse.
And based on the levels of interest, ppv buys and so forth, the business hasn't been doing a very good job of converting watchers of free tv shows into paying customers of the product.
Until next time....
SSS
Monday, May 9, 2011
"THE BOOKERS BRAIN"- APRIL 1997
I' m gonna try something different- I've spent the last two posts critizing others, and I wanna due something that is less bitter & negative- so here's the idea: I recall an event that I either promoted or booked ( arranged the matches, for you less wrestling savvy readers) & try to provide insight into why I did what- and in many cases, I will critique my past performances based on current day thinking.
I call this "The Bookers Brain"- and we will start with the very first event in the history of Championship Pro Wrestling. OFF WE GO.....
April 19,1997, Berkeley County Fairgrounds,Martinsburg,Wv: I recall it as a chilly night, which was made no better by the fact that we had to dress in one building & wrestle in another. I has assembled what I thought was a pretty solid assortment of talent after my separation from the NWL (update: that relationship was patched up, permanently I hope, 3 years ago) My biggest concern was allievated when friends from Baltimore arrived with the scheduled main event talent, as then future WWE Hall of Famers Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Tito Santana were slated to headline my first ever event.
The opening bout that night was a three tag team bout featuring the combination of Adrian Hall & Twiggy Ramirez facing The Blood Angels (Diablos Macabre & Lucifer Grimm) vs. The New Wave (Bobby Davison &???) with only one team, The New Wave, considered "babyfaces/good guys" The action was fast and furious, and if I recall correctly, The Blood Angels won the "historic" first match in CPW history.
**In retrospect, I think the New Wave team should have won the bout....theres a school of thought that putting the heels over in the opener gets people riled up, and in those days I was a subscriber to that philosophy; 14 years later, I totally disagree. Its better for people to start off the night happy.
Christian York, then just a young guy getting his start, faced CueBall Carmichael in the second bout of the card. York put on a fine exhibition before losing the fall to the older more experienced Carmichael.
**I think I got this right, except for the fact that the heels won the opener...the right guy won the match, but it was in the wrong spot...the bad guys have now won two in a row....is the crowd weary? Have we given them enough to keep them happy?
Combat Kid ( who later morphed into Gino Samartino) vs. Mr Wrestling 3 is next- this match is largely a set up for the next match, as Wrestling 3 (babyface) wins the match, but is assaulted by Mohammed Kane, the reigning Southeastern Heavyweight Champion. After a bit of a beatdown, 3 is saved by Martinsburg's own Bobby Keller, who returns home tonight to challenge for the title!
**In the beginning, I thought that no one would buy into the credibility of CPW having titles of its own yet- so I used the Southeastern Heavyweight Championship instead. I still believe I did the right thing- I hate when promotions start off with all these belts, when most know better than to believe it.
Keller had the fans fired up as he challenged Kane to defend the title "right now" instead of "later" ( an easy pop every time) Kane,a 300 lb African American man, was the perfect champion in Martinsburg that night, defending his title against one of their own- and after about 10 minutes of action, thru the mistake by Kane's manager, future CPW co promoter Spike Callahan, Keller won the title!
**I think this entire segment worked perfectly...I can honestly say their isn't anything I would change about it, even 14 years later..the crowd went apeshit, we were off & running. This probably made up for my earlier in the evening booking snafus.
After a intermission, which I'm sure wasnt brief ( I always run intermission long, a CPW staple) we came back with a Battle Royale, won by Wrestling 3.
**overkill- totally unnecessary match- I came from a place that did battle royales every card, and I continued that trend- but not for long- I don't believe CPW did another one for over a year.
Shane Shadows vs. Julio Sanchez (later Julio Dinero) w/ manager Doc Hollywood- fresh off a multi year run as a heel for NWL, I hit the ground running as a babyface, taking on my former tag partner Julio, managed by Doc, who also jumped from the "other side" just 2 days before the show.
We went back & forth, with me trying to play super babyface before I really knew how...I did know I wanted to do a return match with Julio,so he got Dq'ed. I then stole a Dusty Rhodes idea and pinned DOC instead.
**a real mistake here-being that Doc stayed as the manager of all my rivals for the next year plus, pinning him was like biting my nose off to spite my face- we should have saved that for down the line, instead of an easy pop. Lesson learned.
Valentine vs. Santana finished off the night, in their classic style, with Valentine thinking he got the 3 count, but the ref off, & Tito hitting the schoolboy for the win.
**easiest thing all night- send them home happy. Good match. Good beats Bad. Enough said.
Overall, I think it was pretty good. Clearly,mistakes were made, but nothing that killed return business. A solid start to a run that continues to this day, although less often.
Where you there? Do you remember? Drop me a line....give me your thoughts!
I hope you enjoyed "The Bookers Brain" ...so until next time....
SSS
I call this "The Bookers Brain"- and we will start with the very first event in the history of Championship Pro Wrestling. OFF WE GO.....
April 19,1997, Berkeley County Fairgrounds,Martinsburg,Wv: I recall it as a chilly night, which was made no better by the fact that we had to dress in one building & wrestle in another. I has assembled what I thought was a pretty solid assortment of talent after my separation from the NWL (update: that relationship was patched up, permanently I hope, 3 years ago) My biggest concern was allievated when friends from Baltimore arrived with the scheduled main event talent, as then future WWE Hall of Famers Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Tito Santana were slated to headline my first ever event.
The opening bout that night was a three tag team bout featuring the combination of Adrian Hall & Twiggy Ramirez facing The Blood Angels (Diablos Macabre & Lucifer Grimm) vs. The New Wave (Bobby Davison &???) with only one team, The New Wave, considered "babyfaces/good guys" The action was fast and furious, and if I recall correctly, The Blood Angels won the "historic" first match in CPW history.
**In retrospect, I think the New Wave team should have won the bout....theres a school of thought that putting the heels over in the opener gets people riled up, and in those days I was a subscriber to that philosophy; 14 years later, I totally disagree. Its better for people to start off the night happy.
Christian York, then just a young guy getting his start, faced CueBall Carmichael in the second bout of the card. York put on a fine exhibition before losing the fall to the older more experienced Carmichael.
**I think I got this right, except for the fact that the heels won the opener...the right guy won the match, but it was in the wrong spot...the bad guys have now won two in a row....is the crowd weary? Have we given them enough to keep them happy?
Combat Kid ( who later morphed into Gino Samartino) vs. Mr Wrestling 3 is next- this match is largely a set up for the next match, as Wrestling 3 (babyface) wins the match, but is assaulted by Mohammed Kane, the reigning Southeastern Heavyweight Champion. After a bit of a beatdown, 3 is saved by Martinsburg's own Bobby Keller, who returns home tonight to challenge for the title!
**In the beginning, I thought that no one would buy into the credibility of CPW having titles of its own yet- so I used the Southeastern Heavyweight Championship instead. I still believe I did the right thing- I hate when promotions start off with all these belts, when most know better than to believe it.
Keller had the fans fired up as he challenged Kane to defend the title "right now" instead of "later" ( an easy pop every time) Kane,a 300 lb African American man, was the perfect champion in Martinsburg that night, defending his title against one of their own- and after about 10 minutes of action, thru the mistake by Kane's manager, future CPW co promoter Spike Callahan, Keller won the title!
**I think this entire segment worked perfectly...I can honestly say their isn't anything I would change about it, even 14 years later..the crowd went apeshit, we were off & running. This probably made up for my earlier in the evening booking snafus.
After a intermission, which I'm sure wasnt brief ( I always run intermission long, a CPW staple) we came back with a Battle Royale, won by Wrestling 3.
**overkill- totally unnecessary match- I came from a place that did battle royales every card, and I continued that trend- but not for long- I don't believe CPW did another one for over a year.
Shane Shadows vs. Julio Sanchez (later Julio Dinero) w/ manager Doc Hollywood- fresh off a multi year run as a heel for NWL, I hit the ground running as a babyface, taking on my former tag partner Julio, managed by Doc, who also jumped from the "other side" just 2 days before the show.
We went back & forth, with me trying to play super babyface before I really knew how...I did know I wanted to do a return match with Julio,so he got Dq'ed. I then stole a Dusty Rhodes idea and pinned DOC instead.
**a real mistake here-being that Doc stayed as the manager of all my rivals for the next year plus, pinning him was like biting my nose off to spite my face- we should have saved that for down the line, instead of an easy pop. Lesson learned.
Valentine vs. Santana finished off the night, in their classic style, with Valentine thinking he got the 3 count, but the ref off, & Tito hitting the schoolboy for the win.
**easiest thing all night- send them home happy. Good match. Good beats Bad. Enough said.
Overall, I think it was pretty good. Clearly,mistakes were made, but nothing that killed return business. A solid start to a run that continues to this day, although less often.
Where you there? Do you remember? Drop me a line....give me your thoughts!
I hope you enjoyed "The Bookers Brain" ...so until next time....
SSS
I hope everyone of you had a great weekend, and to all the mothers, I hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day!
I spent my Saturday night the same way I have spent so many over the last 18 years, in a small town way way WAY out in the middle of nowhere, in a small gym, armory or fire hall, wrestling in front of people usually so starved for entertainment they would take action on a fight between two local drunk bums- and in alot of cases, said bums would provide a more entertaining overall spectacle.
One thing I've noticed over the years is that while the number of actual wrestling promotions has grown considerably, the amount of actual wrestling TALENT has shrunk to an almost non existent level. Now, I was surrounded with a lot of familiar faces this weekend, but it doesnt change the fact that, as time wears on, it becomes more & more obvious to me why, with only certain exceptions, WWE & TNA will not look at most independent talent with any degree of seriousness.
Why, you ask, would WWE &TNA not be interested in wrestlers who have at least a level of experience? Well, I think I have a few answers, & alot of you reading this may not care for them, but they are, in my opinion, the truth serum so many of you need.
The thing, first & foremost, is that WWE & TNA are not interested in taking the time to try to "unteach" bad habits. Lets face it, if you been wrestling any period of time over 3 months, you should know how to properly apply the following holds :
1) collar & elbow lock up
2) standing headlock
3) overhand wristlock
4) hammerlock
5) armbar
Now, beyond that rudimentary level, is the next step up the rung of basic wrestling 101, which is the following:
1) hiptoss
2) armdrag
3) bodyslam
4) standing vertical suplex
Straight away, WWE & TNA will look at an athlete with no experience before someone who does, and the aforementioned moves & holds provide the entire reason: Why try to reteach some hardheaded indy guy who cant take the slightest of criticisms, when they can take a total greenhorn & show him the right way? Answer: they won't.
Another big critique is that they hire people who have "no passion" instead of the "hard working warriors" of the independent scene....shall we examine this criticism? Because, once again, you will not like the answers, which is a big reason why so many of you won't improve: You can't handle the truth!
If you are all so hard working & passionate about what you do, why in the hell don't you know to properly applying the most basic moves in the profession?? Usually, it has something to do with your lack of commitment to anything other than your gimmick, such as it is, & how to put yourself over...but in reality, your just exposing how little respect you truly have for the profession of the people you think of as heroes.
I was told years ago that theres no substitute for knowing how to actually wrestle-and if you know how, you can wrestle anywhere with anyone and have a good, entertaining match. Unfortunately, we are getting to the point that isnt so true anymore, because of the lack of guys who can do so.
There used to be a time of day that you could go almost anywhere & have a decent match with anyone, because most guys at least understood the basics, and you could build around that. These days, everyone is trying to do the most complicated stuff, without knowing the easy stuff- its akin to trying to put a roof on a house before you even bothered to build the foundation. And guess what? it NEVER works- at least not to the people who pad to see it, that is-all 30 of them, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Wrestling is an art- part athletics, part performance-and sadly, many of the guys I come across now in these aforementioned armories,gyms,& fire halls- don't posess either the ability or the desire to learn to do it correctly.
Not everyone on the independent scene is terrible,obviously, but the ones that are remain the biggest reason why the overall scene is degraded as second rate.
So for all the wrestling school drop outs who moved on,because you refused to learn & got booked somewhere, most likely by someone who walked the same path as you, I offer these words: please, please PLEASE do either of the following: learn the basics or please, go back out into the crowd- we need less of you in locker rooms, and more of you in the seats.
Just one mans opinion-I'm wide open to your thoughts,critiques & viewpoints. But lets keep it at a classy level- name calling & trash talking is for cowards & talk shows.
SSS
I spent my Saturday night the same way I have spent so many over the last 18 years, in a small town way way WAY out in the middle of nowhere, in a small gym, armory or fire hall, wrestling in front of people usually so starved for entertainment they would take action on a fight between two local drunk bums- and in alot of cases, said bums would provide a more entertaining overall spectacle.
One thing I've noticed over the years is that while the number of actual wrestling promotions has grown considerably, the amount of actual wrestling TALENT has shrunk to an almost non existent level. Now, I was surrounded with a lot of familiar faces this weekend, but it doesnt change the fact that, as time wears on, it becomes more & more obvious to me why, with only certain exceptions, WWE & TNA will not look at most independent talent with any degree of seriousness.
Why, you ask, would WWE &TNA not be interested in wrestlers who have at least a level of experience? Well, I think I have a few answers, & alot of you reading this may not care for them, but they are, in my opinion, the truth serum so many of you need.
The thing, first & foremost, is that WWE & TNA are not interested in taking the time to try to "unteach" bad habits. Lets face it, if you been wrestling any period of time over 3 months, you should know how to properly apply the following holds :
1) collar & elbow lock up
2) standing headlock
3) overhand wristlock
4) hammerlock
5) armbar
Now, beyond that rudimentary level, is the next step up the rung of basic wrestling 101, which is the following:
1) hiptoss
2) armdrag
3) bodyslam
4) standing vertical suplex
Straight away, WWE & TNA will look at an athlete with no experience before someone who does, and the aforementioned moves & holds provide the entire reason: Why try to reteach some hardheaded indy guy who cant take the slightest of criticisms, when they can take a total greenhorn & show him the right way? Answer: they won't.
Another big critique is that they hire people who have "no passion" instead of the "hard working warriors" of the independent scene....shall we examine this criticism? Because, once again, you will not like the answers, which is a big reason why so many of you won't improve: You can't handle the truth!
If you are all so hard working & passionate about what you do, why in the hell don't you know to properly applying the most basic moves in the profession?? Usually, it has something to do with your lack of commitment to anything other than your gimmick, such as it is, & how to put yourself over...but in reality, your just exposing how little respect you truly have for the profession of the people you think of as heroes.
I was told years ago that theres no substitute for knowing how to actually wrestle-and if you know how, you can wrestle anywhere with anyone and have a good, entertaining match. Unfortunately, we are getting to the point that isnt so true anymore, because of the lack of guys who can do so.
There used to be a time of day that you could go almost anywhere & have a decent match with anyone, because most guys at least understood the basics, and you could build around that. These days, everyone is trying to do the most complicated stuff, without knowing the easy stuff- its akin to trying to put a roof on a house before you even bothered to build the foundation. And guess what? it NEVER works- at least not to the people who pad to see it, that is-all 30 of them, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Wrestling is an art- part athletics, part performance-and sadly, many of the guys I come across now in these aforementioned armories,gyms,& fire halls- don't posess either the ability or the desire to learn to do it correctly.
Not everyone on the independent scene is terrible,obviously, but the ones that are remain the biggest reason why the overall scene is degraded as second rate.
So for all the wrestling school drop outs who moved on,because you refused to learn & got booked somewhere, most likely by someone who walked the same path as you, I offer these words: please, please PLEASE do either of the following: learn the basics or please, go back out into the crowd- we need less of you in locker rooms, and more of you in the seats.
Just one mans opinion-I'm wide open to your thoughts,critiques & viewpoints. But lets keep it at a classy level- name calling & trash talking is for cowards & talk shows.
SSS
Friday, May 6, 2011
Welcome back....I have had several requests recently to start blogging again, and, largely due to a limited things to write about, I hadn't- that and of course the business of life...But I do however have something one my mind today, and I would like to thank my brother, Shawn, and his blog (thoughtsofrs.blogspot.com) for the inspiration.
Shawn blogged today about the resignation of Maryland Head Basketball Coach Gary Williams, and that his style of coaching perhaps being a thing of the past- the type of coach who doesn't coddle, yells alot, & demands performance.
I can relate to this, but in a different way- I suffer through much frustration in watching the new, up and coming wrestlers, & how they take a similiar attitude in regards to learning how to do things in the wrestling ring.
I don't want to come across as one of those "it was better in my day" type of guys, because in many ways, it really wasn't better- but in alot of ways, it truly was.
I remember my first training sessions with my mentor, the late Neil Superior- I had alot of drive, but the pieces werent quite in place yet for me to become a decent worker, & while he wasnt beligerent, Neil made no bones about the mistakes & how to correct them. And I listened- intently- to EVERY word he said.
I would stay past my own personal training time to watch others- whether they be more or less advanced than I- because I wanted to learn EVERYTHING possible.
I also sought out the advice of the older veterans that happened by the school, watched them work, & asked them to watch my matches and provide an honest critque of what I was doing.
Once I started actually working in front of crowds, I did as I was told- I was in no position to challenge the knowledge of those whom had did this for years before I, so I did many things that I wasn't thrilled with- I did mixed tags with midgets, fought a 45 year old woman, wrestled in cowboy boots & a suit in 95 degree weather, etc etc etc.
You may ask "WHY did you do all this stuff?" The answer is simple- I wanted to be in the professional wrestling business- it was honestly the only thing I ever wanted to do-and I wanted to have every possible experience that would help me to be better.
Therefore, I have never ever ask a wrestler on a card I promoted to do something I hadn't done- becuase if it makes the card better, its all worth it.
Fast forward to the "new generation"- alot of them a great group of athletes, far superior than myself & many of my contemporaries- great bodies, good looks, & in alot of cases, a completely lost group that refuses to learn.
Most the younger guys want to be coddled & treated like they are prodigys- an almost "diva" like existance where if you try to help them, they turn away from you like you have halitosis, and search for someone who will kiss their asses.
And if they don't like your methods (like trying to make them do things right) they will leave , go somewhere else, then claim that "they weren't using me right there"- ignoring the fact that if they were doing things right, you would have no choice but use them right
I've been critized for making trainees types set the ring, move chairs, hang posters, etc before they got into the ring- and alot of guys would rather go play somewhere with guys at their own skill level & act like big shots than work somewhere where there may be a few guys who can help them get better. Go figure.
I leave you with this final thought: is it more important to Think you are good, or to work hard and actually be good?
Until next time..whenever that may be....
SSS
Shawn blogged today about the resignation of Maryland Head Basketball Coach Gary Williams, and that his style of coaching perhaps being a thing of the past- the type of coach who doesn't coddle, yells alot, & demands performance.
I can relate to this, but in a different way- I suffer through much frustration in watching the new, up and coming wrestlers, & how they take a similiar attitude in regards to learning how to do things in the wrestling ring.
I don't want to come across as one of those "it was better in my day" type of guys, because in many ways, it really wasn't better- but in alot of ways, it truly was.
I remember my first training sessions with my mentor, the late Neil Superior- I had alot of drive, but the pieces werent quite in place yet for me to become a decent worker, & while he wasnt beligerent, Neil made no bones about the mistakes & how to correct them. And I listened- intently- to EVERY word he said.
I would stay past my own personal training time to watch others- whether they be more or less advanced than I- because I wanted to learn EVERYTHING possible.
I also sought out the advice of the older veterans that happened by the school, watched them work, & asked them to watch my matches and provide an honest critque of what I was doing.
Once I started actually working in front of crowds, I did as I was told- I was in no position to challenge the knowledge of those whom had did this for years before I, so I did many things that I wasn't thrilled with- I did mixed tags with midgets, fought a 45 year old woman, wrestled in cowboy boots & a suit in 95 degree weather, etc etc etc.
You may ask "WHY did you do all this stuff?" The answer is simple- I wanted to be in the professional wrestling business- it was honestly the only thing I ever wanted to do-and I wanted to have every possible experience that would help me to be better.
Therefore, I have never ever ask a wrestler on a card I promoted to do something I hadn't done- becuase if it makes the card better, its all worth it.
Fast forward to the "new generation"- alot of them a great group of athletes, far superior than myself & many of my contemporaries- great bodies, good looks, & in alot of cases, a completely lost group that refuses to learn.
Most the younger guys want to be coddled & treated like they are prodigys- an almost "diva" like existance where if you try to help them, they turn away from you like you have halitosis, and search for someone who will kiss their asses.
And if they don't like your methods (like trying to make them do things right) they will leave , go somewhere else, then claim that "they weren't using me right there"- ignoring the fact that if they were doing things right, you would have no choice but use them right
I've been critized for making trainees types set the ring, move chairs, hang posters, etc before they got into the ring- and alot of guys would rather go play somewhere with guys at their own skill level & act like big shots than work somewhere where there may be a few guys who can help them get better. Go figure.
I leave you with this final thought: is it more important to Think you are good, or to work hard and actually be good?
Until next time..whenever that may be....
SSS
Friday, February 11, 2011
Things have been pretty slow- bad weather cancelled my January 29 match in Keyser,Wv....I hate winter!
I will be quite busy, however, on Saturday, March 5, as I will be wrestling TWICE that evening: CPW in Romney,Wv @ the Romney Middle School, & IPE at the Hedgesville Fire Dept in Hedgesville,Wv-I hope to see you all at at least one of these exciting events.
I have been blogging less lately, largely due to a lack of access to the internet- they have blocked off a wide variety of websites at work, blogspot being one of them-which I find preposturous.
I realize most of you do not have the ability to access such things from your work, but, in my primary job, I sell cars. Cars salesmen, during the winter, have ALOT of down time. There are only so many hours a day you can spend attempting to get your previous clients to trade in the car they bought 6 months ago for a newer,updated model...thats where prime internet access comes in handy.
The very notion that I'd rather spend my whole day on the computer,yammering away about whatever to whomever, instead of earning my living, is ridiculous. Yet, to listen to members of management talk, thats precisely what I & others would prefer to do!
Note to employer: as "generous" as it is that you pay me $7.25 per hour for 40 hours (that I of course have to pay back out of my commissions at the end of every month) I am, in fact, unable to sustain my own standard of living, and provide adequately for my children, on that cool $1100 per month.
Thus, I need to sell- so, that being said, are you REALLY that arrogant to believe the money I'm spotted is sufficient?? And, if so, what color is the sky in YOUR world???
******************************************
My brother,Shawn, the author of the entertaining blog "Thoughts of RS",wrote a piece yesterday on former Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Monzon, & his claim that monzon was the greatest middleweight champion of all time.
Monzon was prior to my time, but I've heard this topic from my brother since I was 12, but in my opinion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler was the greatest middleweight champion ever- and not just because he was my favorite fighter,either.
I don't know if the opposition Hagler faced was inferior or superior to the competition of Monzon, I'm basing this on the sheer domination of the opposition- bonus points go for Hagler participating in the most exciting boxing bout i had ever witnessed, his legendary showdown with Thomas "Hitman" Hearns ( who was amongst my brothers favorite fighters)
I still maintain that Hagler truly defeated Sugar Ray Leonard in what turned out to be the final fight of Marvelous' career- Sugar Ray was truly an all time great, but, as watching the tape years later showed, every round of the fight went something like this: 1) Hagler scores convincingly 2) Leonard runs 3) in the last 10 seconds,Leonard steps in & flurries, which somehow convinced 2 of the 3 judges that night that he was "dictating & controlling" the pace of the fight. Bulls**t!
I lost a fair amount of interest in boxing after Hagler's controversial loss- not all, but alot, to the point that today, I probably couldn't name 10 active fighters, If they weren't active 20 years ago, which is much more common now than back then.
Until next time.....
SSS
I will be quite busy, however, on Saturday, March 5, as I will be wrestling TWICE that evening: CPW in Romney,Wv @ the Romney Middle School, & IPE at the Hedgesville Fire Dept in Hedgesville,Wv-I hope to see you all at at least one of these exciting events.
I have been blogging less lately, largely due to a lack of access to the internet- they have blocked off a wide variety of websites at work, blogspot being one of them-which I find preposturous.
I realize most of you do not have the ability to access such things from your work, but, in my primary job, I sell cars. Cars salesmen, during the winter, have ALOT of down time. There are only so many hours a day you can spend attempting to get your previous clients to trade in the car they bought 6 months ago for a newer,updated model...thats where prime internet access comes in handy.
The very notion that I'd rather spend my whole day on the computer,yammering away about whatever to whomever, instead of earning my living, is ridiculous. Yet, to listen to members of management talk, thats precisely what I & others would prefer to do!
Note to employer: as "generous" as it is that you pay me $7.25 per hour for 40 hours (that I of course have to pay back out of my commissions at the end of every month) I am, in fact, unable to sustain my own standard of living, and provide adequately for my children, on that cool $1100 per month.
Thus, I need to sell- so, that being said, are you REALLY that arrogant to believe the money I'm spotted is sufficient?? And, if so, what color is the sky in YOUR world???
******************************************
My brother,Shawn, the author of the entertaining blog "Thoughts of RS",wrote a piece yesterday on former Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Monzon, & his claim that monzon was the greatest middleweight champion of all time.
Monzon was prior to my time, but I've heard this topic from my brother since I was 12, but in my opinion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler was the greatest middleweight champion ever- and not just because he was my favorite fighter,either.
I don't know if the opposition Hagler faced was inferior or superior to the competition of Monzon, I'm basing this on the sheer domination of the opposition- bonus points go for Hagler participating in the most exciting boxing bout i had ever witnessed, his legendary showdown with Thomas "Hitman" Hearns ( who was amongst my brothers favorite fighters)
I still maintain that Hagler truly defeated Sugar Ray Leonard in what turned out to be the final fight of Marvelous' career- Sugar Ray was truly an all time great, but, as watching the tape years later showed, every round of the fight went something like this: 1) Hagler scores convincingly 2) Leonard runs 3) in the last 10 seconds,Leonard steps in & flurries, which somehow convinced 2 of the 3 judges that night that he was "dictating & controlling" the pace of the fight. Bulls**t!
I lost a fair amount of interest in boxing after Hagler's controversial loss- not all, but alot, to the point that today, I probably couldn't name 10 active fighters, If they weren't active 20 years ago, which is much more common now than back then.
Until next time.....
SSS
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