True workers, not wrestlers, workers know that our jobs are to generate a response. We want people to react to what we present to them. What reaction is the most important. Do we want to make them laugh, cry, cuss. Which reaction do we want, do we need for wrestling to prosper? The answer.. Suspension of disbelief!
Whether you make someone laugh out loud, cry from joy or a church lady cuss like a sailor they all have one thing in common, suspension of disbelief. It is getting harder and harder in today’s wrestling to create this. However it can be done; It can be done with great storytelling and less a few bad habits wrestling has picked up.
Creating suspension of disbelief in wrestling has obstacles that other forms don’t have. Wrestling is based in reality or at least it is suppose to be. So when a wrestler does a move that is obviously impossible and lets face it, ridiculous then you take a step away from reality. I’ve gotten more out of a well placed right hand then some flashy move that didn’t make any sense.
No one can deny the power of wrestling and television. As great as this combo is, it has its own problems. I would much rather watch wrestling on television than a television show about wrestling. Understand? When two people are having a private conversation backstage and act oblivious to the camera 9 inches away, for me, it takes away from my suspension of disbelief.
Great suspension of disbelief moments like HBK vs Undertaker, Double A retirement speech, Horsemen breaking Dusty’s arm,
Eddie Gilbert running over Jerry Lawler with a car were all based in reality.
The people want to believe but we have to want them to believe to. We can’t take the easy road just because we can. We have to roll up our sleeves and do the work. Come up with creative, realistic ways to tell the stories rather than relying on a feather light opponent or an invisible camera man, I promise.
I usually don’t even pay attention to the “kayfabe board” on rasslin riot but someone directed my attention to the conversation thats been going on. What’s wrong with the business? Now that’s a loaded question if I ever heard one. Ask any wrestler what’s wrong with the business and if you get less than 10 answers I’d be surprised. Maybe I can help narrow down this topic a little.
Everyone and I mean everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The problem with not just wrestling but life is that people think that’s all they have to have is an opinion. Forming an opinion is easy, for instance.. just watch. My opinion, if you hate the business so much then get off your ass and do something about it. All the problems that have been shined on can’t be fixed from behind a computer screen or on the other side of a smart phone. I challenge you to get down in the trenches with guys like myself, Jon Michael, Christian Jacobs, Eric Wayne, Alan Steele, Austin Lane, Pokerface and handful of others that are working together to change it from the inside out.
You can either sit in the stands and talk about what should have, could have happen but until you lace’em up and contribute to the better of the business than your opinion isn’t worth the shit on the fan. All you are doing is contributing to the symptom and not the solution. Lets say 5 years from now, we correct half the things that have been talked about (and that’s being very optimistic). Then who is going to take credit for it. The crew or the coach potato? The bitching, moaning and complaining, those things alone doesn’t help put an ass in the seat, your company on television or a contract in someone’s hand. So ask yourself, what are you trying to accomplish?
Wrestling is my first love, I think we all know that. However for a period in time, basketball was just as much as a passion for me. Thinking back on it now I always liked basketball, I remember being 5-6 years old and going outside at my Grandma’s on my father’s side and playing for hours on end, not making a single shot. It really wasn’t until I was in 6th grade that I really started to fall in love with the game. Just like everything else in my life, wrestling always seem to creep in somehow.
“The Trendsetter” Jon Michael and I have known each other for years. We are talking since elementary school. I am a few years older than he but we were on the basketball team together in junior high and high school. Sometimes its hard to bullshit someone that knew you when you were a pimple faced little kid. You can’t over exaggerate stories from school because we have each other there to keep us honest. The story I’m fixing to tell is 100% true and not at all exaggerated.
I approach things I love the same. So the same went for basketball, I was usually the first one there and the last one to leave. One late afternoon after school, Jon Michael and I were playing a game of one on one. I can’t remember who was winning, probably me. The bleachers were pushed back and the ball bounced and landed on top of them. So Jon went upstairs to climb over the rail to the top of the bleachers to retrieve it. As the future trendsetter was perched 15 feet at least above me, we made eye contact. We were both thinking the exact same thing and said “DO IT!”. Jon Michael soared through the air and delivered the best Macho Man double axe handle in the history of Dyer County High School. I took a full fledge bump on the hardwood as Jon crashed behind me. It was awesome until our assistant basketball coach, Coach Starks came up to us and said “What the fuck are you guys doing?” To which without hesitation Jon Michael replied “Macho Man Double Axe Handle“. I couldn’t keep a straight face and Coach just walked away in disgust.
In my opinion, if you don’t have a story like that, you should reconsider being a wrestler. Because you have to love it, live it and be fanatical about it. Kevin Nash in a promo on TNA just said after “X” amount of surgeries I’m in the this business because I love it. That’s a valid point, the guys who don’t love it, get what they can out of it and leave. Like The Ultimate Warrior. So remember great art comes from a true love and passion for what you are doing. There are plenty of people who can draw but only one Michelangelo. There are plenty of wrestlers but only one Ric Flair, I promise.
See the Golden Boy Greg Anthony wrestle this Saturday at All American Pro Wrestling.
All American Pro Wrestling comes to Carterville, IL. at the Carterville High School on Saturday, September 18th. Bell Time is 7pm.
Heath Hatton challenges “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich for the AAPW Heavyweight Title.
Ax Allwardt & “Homicidal” Steven Davis defend the AAPW tag team titles against “Trendsetter” Jon Michael & Stan Lee
Edmund “Livewire” McGuire V. “The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony
“Bad Boy” Chris Thomas V. “Thee” Brandon Espinosa
The Money Makin’ Jam Boys will be in action plus many more!
Helloooo wrestling fans as the great Bill Kersten would say. I am thrilled that today we are celebrating our 1,000 post here at Missouri Wrestling Revival. Throughout the past two and half years you have been able to come to MWR site to check out upcoming shows, interviews and stories of the top stars of not only the Midwest but around the world.
MWR started out simple enough from one of my best friends Josh Ray who had the dream to bring attention to wrestling in the Midwest. He worked hard to get the site going and along with myself and Kari Williams the site was off and running.
Thankfully we had a good friend Peter Hahn whos sister Rachel, is a wonderful graphic artist that came up with the logo that has became the face of MWR.
I have been so busy getting ready for school, preparing for my sons school year and other projects that I have yet to unveil some great new logo’s from our good friends at Awesome bomb radio so no time is better than the start of a new thousand. Adult MWR fans take a chance to check out the Awesome Bomb Radio for some wild and crazy interviews with some of the top wrestlers in the game today.
Everyone at MWR has worked hard to be respectful and polite to each promotion, wrestler and fans that we have gone across.
I have a strong belief that to be successful that no one can do it alone. In the history of MWR there have been some wonderful supporters of the site that is vital to MWR’S place in wrestling today. I am going to attempt to thank everyone that has made MWR possible. At every promotion we have worked with there has been not only promoter, wrestlers but also referees, ring announcer, security, video crew and fans that I have nothing but love and respect for. Several have become close friends, while others I have not seen in a long time, though time has past by and we may have not seen each other this post is still for you.
1) The Fans: I hope that you have found MWR a place that you come to enjoy. You are the most important piece to the puzzle to making a show a success. At times we are very busy at a show but I want you to know that I thank you for clicking on the site and we are always excited to get to meet you. Your support for the hard working men and women of the sport keeps the hope alive for pro wrestlers to live their dream. If you have not checked out a local show near you I urge you to check out a promotion soon.
We have made many Friends thanks to the MWR site. Drew and Gary are two great guys that I met at local shows, they knew us from the work we do thanks to MWR. During the Wrestling Legends on tour the three of us got to pose with some of the top wrestling stars ever in the sport. These are just two of the many fans that we are proud to call our friends.
2) The Promoters: These guys are judged, hated and sometimes forgotten. It takes a special person to risk there money and spend their time to run a show. The cold hard fact is that it is a LOT of work to be one and at times luck to be successful in this profession. Without them doing the ground work a show never gets off the ground. They have opened their doors to us and I hope they know we have been honored to try our best to get the word out about the dates of their show.
3) The Wrestlers, managers and referees: Call it a sport or call it entertainment, one can not deny that it takes true talent to make a show a success..
During the years I have been all around the Midwest checking out shows in the big cities and the small towns and I can say that I have no doubt that there is no athletes that cares more for their fans that the wrestlers.
We have been at a few shows that have had less than 30 people, that did not stop the wrestlers from going out there and giving it their all, then took the time to come meet the fans.
I watched time and time where they have took that extra moment to talk, pose for pictures and sign autographs to the kids of all ages and thanking them for their hard earn money to watch them do what they love.
There have been many shows where the wrestlers have donated their time and skills with no pay to support a fundraiser for a local family or school.
No matter what state we are in, or the three letters of the promotions every wrestles have the same goal and that is to entertain you with the best of their abilities.
This past weekend I was in Lincoln Illinois for the Arts and Balloon Festival where the a huge crowd witness some exciting wrestling action. One of the many talented wrestlers in the Midwest today, Knight Wagner asked if he could do a promo commemorating the moment that so many fans had a chance to see what wrestling was like in our area.
I was honored by the kind words that he said in the promo for our website in hopes that you the fans will check us out to find out where you can see the next wrestling show in your area. I want to share with you the words of Knight Wagner.
To be honest there have been many such compliments given to the MWR family from many many wrestlers that understand that this site is built for the fans, the promoters and wrestlers themselves.
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It has been a pleasure to work each and every one of you. I have seen some of the craziest, weirdest and breathtaking matches ever in the past two plus years at MWR. The love that you have for wrestling is only equaled by the desire to give the fans their money’s worth. MWR could not be as successful or fun without your cooperation
4) Dubray Tallman: The old saying is behind every successful man is a good women. Thankfully I have Dubray to help support me while we drive the six hours roundtrip for many shows. There is no group of friends that live close enough that we can ride with to make the trip faster or cheaper. In less than a year and half we have made over eighty shows in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. At times the site takes away from what we can do elsewhere or together as it takes time to write and edit everything. Prior to the show Dubray works on one of the most popular articles that we have Dubi meets the fans. Often Dubi Meets the Fans is the among the top post for weeks on end . Dubray I love you.
5) Josh and Sara Ray: The founder of MWR is also one of my best friends. Josh has a great mind and love for the business. If only the two of us lived closer no telling how much more successful MWR would be. They don’t get much better than Josh and Sara
6) Kari Williams: MWR’S number one writer, you have read Kari’s articles from the inception of the site. Young and talented there is no doubt that you will find Kari’s work in a much bigger forum one day. Dubray and I always are thrilled to see Kari and her mother Joan.
7) Matt Murphy: Matt is one of the most underrated wrestling minds today. He has always been willing to give his advice and assistance for the site. In fact I didn’t take his advice early on and paid for it. Lesson learned, listen to Matt Murphy. Seriously Matt was kind enough to have his book showcased here at MWR in a weekly article that many MWR fans loved. If you missed it, there is a link at the top of the page that you can go to do catch up. MWR fans if you have read this article or book PLEASE take the time to review it on Amazon.com here.
8) Greg Anthony – Anthony brings to the site, a fan that is talented enough to excel in the sport today as a wrestler. I am never bored and often surprised to what he has to say in the MWR favorite the Golden Circle. As with Murphy if you have missed any of his articles I urge you take a look at the top of the page and enjoy.
9) Patrick Brandmeyer– As much as I love local professional wrestling, the truth is at times it can be nearly impossible to find out information on the past as well as the current history of the business. I often look to my good friend Patrick Brandmeyer for the what, how and why in the St Louis wrestling market and beyond. If a promotion wants a good source of advertisement then most defiantly contact Brandmeyer to make his way to your show.
10) ST Louis Wrestling Community and the Nose Bleed seats- Many people think that the man known as the Crimefighter and his website the ST Louis Wrestling Community are a competitor of the MWR website. The truth is that I have always enjoyed working with Crimfighter and his colleagues from the Nose Bleed SeatsChris Lee and MOAV5706. I often use the site and their advice for articles that you read here. They have had some great podcast and they are the number one source for all your wrestling in Central Illinois. Check them out here.
11) MWR T-shirts– Nothing brings a smile to my face than seeing a fan or wrestler wear a MWR Shirt. In the four states that we cover we have given away or sold 100’s of our shirts to wonderful people such as yourself. We started out with free drawings during intermission to a lucky fan.
Fans like this wonderful women has been thrilled to catch a MWR T-Shirt from a Midwest Superstar (Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogsraat)
Then one day at PWP I was taken photos when Murder Militia’s #1 Brett Young came to the ring wearing an MWR shirt . That kicked a light bulb in my head, why don’t we have a wrestler wear to ring and unlike the greedy Young who kept his shirt, we have them throw it to a lucky fan. This promotion has been more than a success and I would like to thank all the wrestlers who have worn the shirt in the past in this promotion. The fans I feel have had a lot of fun in catching them . Most recently one fan told me that her daughter was so impressed with catching the t-shirt and having her picture taken with the wrestler(Jimmy Karryt) that she has that picture of her and him as the background picture on their computer. You can not purchase moments as special as that.
Words can not describe how important my friend Nick Ridenour has been this year in working with us to have quality and affordable t-shirts with the small budget we have.
12) MWR Top Draws – A very popular feature at MWR is the art work from MWR’S Dartallion Allen JR. Allen brings to life your favorite stars in a cartoon style. Mwr fans look in the very near future a chance to vote for who you think Allen Jr should draw in the MWR Classic Wrestler Top Draw. Till then take the time to click above to see one of Midwest brightest artist today.
13) MWR Trading Cards– This is my new passion and a set that I take great pride in. A worthy collectable for the fans of MWR, the set features the stars of the Midwest and around the world that we have all come to love or hate. We started off with the MWR award winners for 2008 and 2009, card number one was the 2008 MWR Tag team of the year the Northstar Express Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz with Pnut, the three who is awesome in promos looked just as good in a trading card.
“The Future” Donovan Ruddick takes the time to pose with young fans that had purchased his MWR Trading Card prior to him autographing the collectable that fans have been clamoring for the past few months.
Since then we have added a who’s who of stars in the Midwest including three people that I am forever grateful who brought worldwide recognition to the set, site and other wrestlers of the series and they are international stars MsChif, Davey Richards and Ring of Honor World Champion Tyler Black.
A big thank you goes out to Alyssa Major for her amazing talent on these cards.
As of press time we have announced Nineteen trading cards and each and every individual brings their own flair and worth to your collection. Look for many other superstars of the ring to grace their presence in the set. In fact I am so excited to name them that I need to stop writing about it.
For a look at these card check out our checklist at the number one site for wrestling trading cards Wrestlingtradingcards.comhere.
14) MWR Photographers– People that know me, know that I love photos of wrestling. Often I will go to a website and see results from a show but never know what that person looks like. At MWR you get a chance to put a name with a face in an exciting fashion
I am blessed to be able to have some of the great photographers in the Midwest at MWR that allow us to use their work and expensive equipment for the site. A very underrated aspect to the scene is a photographer, these hard working professionals are able to capture that moment when your favorite wrestler goes for that high risk move, or the final moment when a wrestler wins the championship. With pictures you capture history.
Mike Van Hoogstraat, Gary Giaffoglione, Bill Smith and Scott Fieldstein are regulars with MWR who donate the pictures for you the fans to enjoy. I love all of these guys for their contribution and friendship.
15) Absolute Wrestling Radio: Amazingly when I wrote this article for 1,000 post I had somehow forgotten to recognize the AWR family. It’s not that they were not worthy or I hadn’t thought of them its just that I thought I had them done. Make no mistake about it that AWR was very crucial to MWR inception to the wrestling world. Based out of St Louis AWR has been a place where fans can listen and call in to talk about the WWE, TNA , local wrestling and MMA.
Mark Bland Matt Kreuger and Andy Echle have been a lot of fun throughout the time that I have known them and have created some of the most memorable moments in MWR history. They have always done a wonderful job getting the word of MWR out to the masses. We look forward to all of your hard wok and friendship.
Promotions
In the past two and half years MWR has covered and worked with each of these promotions in one form or another. I don’t want to thank anyone in particular because of the fear of forgetting anyone. Once again there are many great people that are in each of these promotions who have made a positive impact for the MWR site.
3XWrestling
All American Pro Wrestling
All American Wrestling
Central States Wrestling
Great American Wrestling
High Voltage Wrestling
IWA-Mid-South
Independent Hardcore Wrestling
IWA Productions
Lethal Wrestling Alliance
New Midwest Wrestling
New Breed Wrestling Alliance
NWA Supreme Wrestling
NWA Dynamo Pro Wrestling
Metro East Championship Wrestling
Metro Pro Wrestling
MMWA-SICW
Pro Wrestling Epic
Pro Wrestling Next
Pro Wrestling Phoenix
Pro Wrestling Next
Rampage Championship Wrestling
World League Wrestling
I hope that you check out these promotions live in the very near future.
Thank you MWR Fans and we hope to celebrate 1,500 soon. Till then look for all the exciting developments and happenings in the world of Pro Wrestling in the near future at MWR.
Sincerely,
Brian Kelley
Owner/ Editor of Missouri Wrestling Revival
My good friend Josh Ray and I spoke recently about the celebration of the MWR 1,000 POST. He stated that he had an article he would like to share with you so we started MWR post 1 with Josh Ray so it is only fitting that we end 1,000 with my good friend Josh.
By Josh Ray
Even though I left Missouri Wrestling Revival in the talented hands of Brian Kelley and Kari Williams a year ago to pursue other pro wrestling opportunities, as founder of this website/community I am extremely attached to any of MWR‘s successes and failures. It doesn’t matter whether the ideas came from my own mind or the mind of a friend, because once it is implemented by the site, it becomes part of the family.
As family, career, and life in general have siphoned time from one of my passions, most of my Midwest pro wrestling knowledge comes in spurts from MWR. It is a great site that has helped in more ways than it will ever get credit for, and that is due to a combined effort from contributors to MWR, promoters, wrestlers, behind-the-scenes staff, and of course fans! When Brian and I chatted last week and he informed me that the 1000th post was fast approaching, I wanted to get involved.
A lot is said of a wrestler’s desire and love of the business. Sometimes paid in hot dogs and other time not paid at all, these men and women travel at great physical, emotional, and financial expense because they love to entertain and they strive to improve. Unfortunately, there are other pieces of this puzzle that often go overlooked. These overlooked pieces are evident in those train wrecks that inevitably occur. Great wrestlers can make a great match, but those that work in supporting roles (the overlooked pieces I am referring to) are what make an entire event a success. In fact, those working in these supporting roles can make or break everything from the attendance to the safety at the show.
Those in these supporting roles include the promoter himself/herself, the booker, the referee, ring announcer, managers/valets, sound man/woman, camera crew, photographer, security, bloggers/journalists, and other volunteers. These men and women are no less a part of the wrestling business than the wrestlers themselves, but they often do what they do with little or no fanfare. There is no World Wrestling Entertainment developmental program for most of these roles, and many serving in these capacities are expected to do the work for free to pay their dues and to be a part of the show.
Even WWE legend Shawn Michaels acknowledged many of the great supporting members of WWE during his retirement speech on the March 29, 2010 edition of Monday Night RAW:
This is really gonna sound strange to you guys, but there’s a whole lot of people in those big ‘ol trucks out back, there are these guys here holding the camera, Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and of course the greatest announcer of all time Jim Ross… but I want to thank all you guys. You guys always made me look better than I ever really was and I so appreciate that.
I want to follow in those great footsteps in this, the 1000th post on Missouri Wrestling Revival, by naming my own MWR “Supporting Roles” All-Star Team. This is by no means definitive and is solely based on my opinion with some input from trusted friends.
Supporting Roles All-Star 1st Team
Booker – Matt Murphy
I have talked with Matt numerous times and know his credentials. This would be the guy to go to in order to get the matches lined up… and the first guy I would talk to to straighten out any backstage issues.
Referees –
Brandon Schmidt
Eric Davis
Both men work hard and want to continue learning. You’d be hard pressed to find two more competent officials to ref a show.
Ring Announcer –
KL Snow
The man with the green socks has a great voice for ring announcing and is one of the nicest men you’ll meet in and out of the ring. He no longer operates in the area, but is worth the money to bring in.
Video –
Skylar Pierce
This guy shoots and edits wrestling video on a regular basis and continues to improve. Watch 3XW’s Outside the Ring on Youtube to see the progression of his video work.
Camera – Jenny Bessman 3XW’s video team under the guidance of Skylar Pierce is my logical choice, with Jenny getting the by name selection, but without excluding the video talents of Sean Wilkerson. These guys keep the 3XW machine moving in the right direction by continuing their line of DVDs and providing footage for the 3XW web show Outside the Ring.
Security –Brandon “Bubba” Wacholtz
When I put together the MWR show for November 2009, “Bubba” was my first choice for security. Very professional in a security capacity and anyone that says otherwise has probably deserved being removed from a show.
Backstage Photographer –
Michael R. Van Hoogstraat
Many of the great Midwest wrestler photos from backstage that you see on this site and across the Internet come from this man!
Ringside Photographer –
Gary Giaffoglione
You feel right there in the middle of the action when Gary is at the helm.
Mouthpiece –
Magic Man
I extended the offer to Magic Man a long time ago… whenever I have a video camera he is always welcome to jump in front of it.
Mouthpiece –
Chad Mylan
Quite honestly, I mark for very few things in this world… but I mark for Chad Mylan. I am a Mylanite.
Booster –
Chuck Maddox
A genuinely nice guy with a love for professional wrestling that many do not come close to matching. Chuck is the guy you’d want to work with on any marketing plan or budget.
Journalist/Blogger –
Kari Williams
The resident workhorse at MWR has a career beyond this site that is right around the corner. I am very proud to have met her and often go to her for writing advice.
That is all I have for this, the 1000th post on Missouri Wrestling Revival. Remember, if its worth supporting then support it. If not then run the other way and something better will eventually come along!
3 -Time WWE Tag Team Champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
We were all hit with a bombshell yesterday. Lance Cade has passed away. I’ld first like send my sympathies to his friends and family that dealing with tough time first hand. I just met Trevor Murdoch a fews months back and can only imagine how he feels about this tragedy. Over the last decade, us as a wrestling community have had more than our fair share of death. This one seems to hit really close to home for me. Lance was 29 years old, the same as am I. Lance and I made our debuts not far from each other. I pretty much saw his entire career. Just because they say “only the good die young”, doesn’t make it right.
We had just started working a regular basis and we went to a Memphis Championship Wrestling show at a fair somewhere and that was the first time I had seen Lance live. He was tagging with Tracy Smothers as the team TNT(Tennessee-N-Texas). Long blonde hair, slender frame but still a big guy. Reminding me, and everyone else, of Barry Windham. MCW’s television once featured a blood bath between Lance and William Regal, a match I went out of my way to see.
The whole Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy bunch that came out in ’99 had very high hopes. Lance, Spanky and Brian Danielson have all had much success. Of the three, I always found myself wanting to see more of Lance. I wanted him to be in something he could really sink his teeth in to and give us that memorable moment that would live forever and catipult Lance into a bigger role. I got my wish when he pinned Shawn Michaels live on Monday Night Raw in a tag match. Soon after though he was released for a mistake he made outside of the ring.
Another name added to list of “too soon” in pro wrestling. Lance will be missed, in the ring by his fans and at home by his friends and family. Everyone take time to remember the important things in life. Which changes from person to person. Whatever makes us better, happy people can only be a good thing. I think the world was a better, happier place with Lance in it and it saddens me that we never got the opportunity to meet or maybe even lock horns in the squared circle. I promise.
Today’s wrestlers aren’t afraid of being paralyzed,the long term effects of steroids or a half a dozen other reasonable things to be afraid of. The most terrifying thing for a pro wrestler in this era is the number 30. Or more specifically the age 30. The general consensus is that once you’ve hit the magic number, you’ve missed the boat. You may get good opportunities to work good shows but a dream of being a WWE contracted wrestler is over. Is this fact or merely a bitter fiction that has made its bed in our world.
I did some heavy research for this article. I asked the question of several veterans who use to work the territories. Were they afraid of 30 or some other magical number? it wasn’t that they were afraid of 30 but aware of it. If someone hadn’t become a star or had gotten a good as they were going to by the time they hit 30 they usually started making alternative plans for the future. The big difference between then and now is that it was their decision. Plus with several profitable companies and bookers, if one promoter didn’t see anything in you, whose to say the next one wouldn’t.
When Vince started offering contracts to guys like to build a national WWF. He didn’t hire guys 18-20 years old. He hired guys that were seasoned, guys that he knew he could be in relativly any situation and they could perform because this wouldn’t be their first rodeo. And it made for a great product, were from top to bottom you had genuine workers. Guys that were working together to make money. Now everyone wasn’t a Randy Savage or Ricky Steamboat but everyone played their role perfectly.
Now it isn’t to say that WWE has never and will never hire someone over the age of 30. Because they have, most notably guys like The Boogyman and Rico, who were in their late 30s even 40s when hired. The ratio to twenty-somethings vs thirty-plus is a one sided margin for sure. So what is “being in your prime” in pro wrestling now?
Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker
You look at Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, two guys in their 40s who went and had probably the greatest match in Wrestlemania History. Neither man could have had that match when they were 25. Because they hadn’t had the 1000s of matches prior to learn from.
I personally know for a fact that if WWE would have hired me when I was 20 years old, I would have screwed it up in some way. Because I was stupid like all 20 year olds. Its like any sport, you draft someone directly out of high school and you have to deal with a maturing process. You draft a college senior and 4 year starter then,for the most part, you take that maturing process out of the equation. I personally would rather hire someone who is a great worker at 33, that could work for 10 more years than someone who is gonna be just “ok” for 20. But I promise I don’t know everything.
Chemistry, to most people, is the science of matter. How molecules, atoms, etc react and interact with each other. In wrestling its pretty much the same thing except there is no science to it. In chemistry if you take part “A” and mix it with part “B” then it creates part “C”. In Wrestling if you take part “A” and mix it with part “B” sometimes you get part “C” but sometimes you get shit!
You never know, for sure, who is going to mesh well with who. Just because you have two great workers doesn’t mean you have a for sure 5 Star match(Rating system is a trademark of RRO News and Brian Tramel and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of RRO). Same goes for two not so great workers. I’ve seen two guys that really didn’t have much going for them but for some reason they gelled really well together. It’s a crap shoot; it’s the world letting us know that there are no guarantees in life.
Prime example, I saw Shawn Michaels vs. Mr.Perfect! How could that possibly be bad? They just didn’t get in a good groove and Shawn even mentions it in his book. Motley Cruz is a guy that I have a lot of respect for inside the ring. When I was TLCW champion we got a chance to work one another for the first time in a long time. We had high expectations but when we got to the match we both were waiting for the other to call the match or take the lead and it ended up being a very bland match.
Maybe wrestling isn’t as complex as advance chemistry but it isn’t kindergarten stuff either. There really isn’t a substitute for good chemistry in wrestling. Rock/Austin, Flair/Sting… the list goes on and on. Because it’s not the moves that we remember but the feeling we get from those who have immeasurable chemistry. So don’t watch for that forgettable high spot but rather that unforgettable feeling this business can produce on any given night.
A lot of the boys are working harder than ever to be in the kind of shape that might land them a contract. A word most of them use a lot is “genetics”. Some say they can’t get those John Morrison abs or work, work, work but can’t seem to add the muscle they want or need. Like BT, and most of the boys in the business, we are first and foremost fans. And as a fan if you give me a choice between a 275 pound meathead that can’t tell me who Lou Thesz is or someone less physically gifted but can work circles around 99.9%. Then give me the worker.
I’m not saying that we should all be fat slobs and not try to be in the best athletic shape we can be in. I’m saying overlooking people’s ability in any sport or entertainment because they don’t meet a specific visual criterion is not good business. Every wrestler seems to be under the same microscope as women in the entertainment industry. If you have a women with every musically talent in the world but if she’s 300 pounds then all of sudden she’s not suitable for the industry. As it goes for wrestling in this day and age.
Eric Embry was 5’10, around 225. He didn’t have the physique of an Ultimate Warrior or Lex Luger. Even though I haven’t had the pleasure of working with any of these men, if you told me I to pick one of these men to work for 6 months straight… give me Embry any day. Of course that’s purely from a working perspective. I’d probably earn more money with Warrior but also some concussions.
My theory has changed a lot in the last year or so. I see some guys getting on the gas, so they can be as big as humanely possible. They want to be COMESTICALLY in the greatest shape of their lives. They aren’t working out to acheive a size, shape or health that will make them better workers. The steroid issue has fizzled out some but is still a touchy subject. I’ve never took steroids, obviously, but I have been tempted. I’ld love to wrestle a match when I’m 70, like Thesz. By that time the next oldest person in the business would be like 28. On the bright side it might be my grandson.
As many of you are probably like me and are lifelong wrestling fans, I have seen a lot of matches. Now finding matches to watch now is relatively easy now with youtube and some of the other outlets out there. However before the internet I traded tapes to see the early days of ECW because I had heard so much about it but hadn’t seen it. I’ve been asked so many times what’s my favorite match? Well, that would be next to impossible. There are so many great matches that I watch over and over like HBK vs Bret in the original Iron Man match, Bobby Eaton vs Arn Anderson for the WCW TV Title, Terry Gordy vs Steve Williams for the UWF Title, Four outstanding matches from The Great American Bash ’88, HBK vs HHH for World Title on RAW from San Antonio. But there are only two matches I credit with really cementing the fact I wanted to be a pro wrestler, so if you want to blame someone blame them.
RIC FLAIR VS RICKY STEAMBOAT 2/3 FALLS FOR THE NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 2, 1989
Its no secret who my favorite wrestler of all time is, Ric Flair but Steamboat isn’t running far behind. I was 7 years old when I waited on pins and needles for the much anticipated 2 out of 3 falls match at Clash of the Champions VI. When the day finally come, I was not disappointed. I sat there in awe for this almost hour classic. I had said for years that I wanted to be a wrestler but after watching this match I KNEW I had to become a wrestler. That’s how I looked at the match with a 7 year olds eyes now I look at it as just a masterpiece of work. This was work not choreography, the ability to go out there and create a great match on the fly, in the ring. Even though the following match between these two in Nashville is considered the best of their series with a fast paced 20 minute up and down match it was that 2/3 falls that really hooked me.
Now the other match is pretty much a 180 from the Flair/Steamboat classic just mentioned. Its important for a whole different reason.
THE UNDERTAKER VS MANKIND: HELL IN A CELL
KING OF THE RING 1998
Everyone knows the match, everyone knows the bumps, everyone knows how important this one match is to the career of Mick Foley. Well, its important to mine as well. I had just turned 17 about 3 weeks before and I was seriously considering when I turned 18 to take the leap and try to make my way in pro wrestling. I sat at a friends house as we watched the King of the Ring pay per view. I don’t think anyone knew what we would all witness that night.
When Undertaker threw Mankind off the cell crashing down through the announcers table, everyone I was watching with stood up in complete amazement. The match was over but what an ending or so we thought until Foley came off the stretcher and climbed once again to the top of the cage. Only this time he wasn’t thrown off but choke slammed through to the “unforgiving” mat. Once again, we all stood up in amazement. Just when I thought I had run the gambit of emotion for a match, out come the tacks! We all stood up, yet again. When Taker tombstoned Foley for the 1,2,3.. we had witnessed the single greatest effort in wrestling history and we stood one last time for a living room, pay per view party standing ovation.
Now, yes this match made me want to be a pro wrestler. But no that doesn’t mean I wanted to be hurled off a 20 foot structure breaking several bones on the way down or slammed through said structure giving me a concussion and few less teeth. What it did was make me realize that if I wanted to be a wrestler than I would care no less about it than Mick Foley. It made me realize that the fictional Mankind may have loved pain but very real Mick Foley loved pro wrestling, pro wrestling fans and that’s why he did what he did. I would give no less, because I promise that’s what wrestling deserves and when “The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony makes a promise its as good as gold.
By Greg Anthony Straight from rasslinriotonline.com
Triumph & Tragedy or vica versa are always apart of life. In the movie “Any Given Sunday” Al Pacino gives a speech about life being “a game of inches”. Now I’m not a “football person” but this speech, this dialogue is one of my favorites because it may be a football metaphor but its universal feeling. The margin between triumph & tragedy is measured in inches. Even beyond that is how these two words have a complete opposite meaning when they are reversed to Tragedy & Triumph.
Wrestling not unlike a sport, or an entertainment or life for that matter has had its share of both triumph and tragedy. One that first jumps to my mind is The Von Erich Family. An entire family of successful wrestlers. With father, Fritz, leading the way World Class soared to heights we all dream of and at the forefront of World Class were Fritz’s sons. That’s the triumph but tragedy saw all The Von Erich boys with the exception of David pass away. Some with drugs, some with suicide but all with tragedy.
As I’ve mentioned several times, I grew up watching mostly the NWA. I remember a wrestler that every women wanted and every man wanted to be. He was cool and was setting the wrestling world on fire. He was Magnum TA! He was a guy that was being groomed to be a World Champion. But atlas it wasn’t to be, a tragic car wreck cut Magnum down in his prime, ending his career and leaving him with paralyzed left arm. We saw Magnum in an announcers role and I’ve seen pictures of him at independent shows in his area but I always think to myself what would have happened with Magnum TA the World Heavyweight Champion?
Unfortunately Triumph then Tragedy is more memorable sometimes. I could write an entire book about guys like Jake Roberts, Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, Dynamite Kid and several others that have ended tragically. What about tragedy then triumph? What about Zach Gowen? Childhood cancer that left him with only one leg and he goes on to work for WWE and even in the top program with Vince McMahon himself. What about Charlie Haas? Charlie lost his brother, Russ while both were working in WWE’s developmental territory as a tag team. Charlie could have easily given up or quit but he stuck with it and became a tag champion with Shelton Benjamin as a tribute to his brother.
Every life has triumph. Every life has tragedy. No matter in which order they occur those are guarantees in life. I guess it really boils down to what defines you. Its it your tragedies or is it you triumphs?
Look for more of The Golden Circle with Greg Anthony at MWR in the future.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 