Matter of Opinion... 'Reporters' & I Want My Wrestling

September 29th, 2004

I tend to visit some wrestling sites from time to time, to check out what is being ‘reported’. A lot of the time, I just read ‘news’, such as what happened at a particular show, etc.

One thing I frown on is people breaking kayfabe. Equally bad, or even worse, is when people write about this business and they have no clue. They have never stepped foot inside a ring or have never been heavily involved in the business, yet they feel they have the intelligence to put down the business or its athletes.

Sure, everyone is entitled to their opinion, hence the name of this particular portion of this site, but if you are going to say that “this should be done this way and that should have been done that way”, then you need to know this business because it’s not as simple as it seems. I hear and read people knocking WWE every week, yet they have no idea what it takes to put on a show and the logistics of an event. (Helping out backstage at an indy show does not make you the Einstein of wrestling). One particular article I just read exemplifies my last statement. In a September 28th article from the Chicago Tribune, a Tribune writer had an article about Windy City Pro Wrestling. WCPW is a small indy promotion in Chicago that seems to be very popular among the locals, but here are two statements made in the same article….

"Vince McMahon and those guys, they're just out to get paid," said Richardson, 34, a bear-sized man who also wrestles. "With these guys, they have to work hard every time they step into a ring.

"They've got to show the people they can actually do what the marquee says--wrestle."

Then, just a few paragraphs later, about their biggest fan, he writes…….

“She attends most of the matches, posts photos to a Web site and even enters bikini contests run by the group.”

What a contradiction. The writer talks about how WWE does not offer wrestling anymore, just a more seedy product. Yet, he goes on to mention that this WCPW has bikini contests. Is that not the same as what WWE is doing? Of course it is!

Also, to say that, "Vince McMahon and those guys, they're just out to get paid," is ridiculous. Tell that to the guys who leave the arena banged up and can barely get out of bed in the morning. Sure, Vince is a business man, but don’t tell me that there is no promoter out there who doesn’t care about getting paid, otherwise, what would be the point of being in business? Triple H, I’m sure he enjoys getting paid, but he does so only because of his passion for the business and for how good at it he really is. Tell that to Eddie Guerrero who has had countless injuries, Kurt Angle who has had his clocked knocked senseless, giving him a concussion and still continuing his match. Steve Austin, who suffered a broken neck. These are just some of the countless injuries suffered weekly, even daily, by these guys who give their all each time out.

Moving on….

While I do not agree with the amount of airtime females who cannot wrestle get on a wrestling program, I feel it is hypocritical of the above mentioned writer to bash WWE about it, yet put over a much smaller company that does the same thing. Even with UPW, I never pitch ideas containing females going out and ripping each others clothes off. To me, there is no place for that on a wrestling show. I know of a few adult stores where I can go and pick up that material.

I do agree with one thing in the article, people prefer wrestling. I believe if we had more match containing compelling storylines with entertaining and pure wrestlers, the business would be at a higher level. All you have to do is look back at the days of Hogan when the then WWF was at its greatest. Hogan, while not a great wrestler, was entertaining. Eye catching promos and interesting storylines made the then WWF a show to watch. Ah, how I miss Saturday Nights Main Event.

Then move onto the Austin and Rock era. There were no Diva contests or scantily clad women in their storylines, yet the ratings they brought in for WWE – not to mention the revenue – was unbelievable. These guys went out every week, offering their strong promos, pure talent and they also helped in dominating the business and in the destruction of WCW.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place in pro wrestling for females. Look at Victoria, Molly Holly and Trish Stratus, for example. These three have offered great matches and Trish is also a great valet to have. Bra and Panties and Diva contests, keep them for the Playboy channel. I want to see pure wrestling. Triple H vs. Benoit peeks my interest more than seeing 6 chicks in a ring half naked. I want to see wrestling, give me my wrestling!