When you read the title to this blog, there’s an obvious emphasis on BAD. It’s in all caps for a reason. Because professional wrestling, no matter what show you watch, is BAD. It’s VERY BAD. But I’m trying to think back a few years… has it always been this bad? Or do I just remember things being cooler because I was younger?
I mean, take a look at every wrestling product out there. I’m mainly speaking about the ones that I’ve seen on television – but keep in mind, the indies are just as bad, really. Whether it’s TNA, WWE, Memphis Wrestling – whatever. They’re all struggling to put a product out there that’s different, unique and interesting. We’re getting the same old stuff that we’ve always gotten… but to my memory, I never remember it being THIS BAD.
Since I started wrestling, I never have watched it the same. I like a wrestler, now, based on if I’ve met him and how I interacted with him. I don’t base it on just what he does in the ring. I mean, guys get gimmicks that suck – not because they chose it – but because they were told to do it. Ringmaster, for example, sucked. But Stone Cold Steve Austin was great. Get my point? So, I’ve learned to look at the business and their shows a little differently than when I was just watching at home. Maybe a few of you can help me out here – but how long has it been since wrestling was interesting?
Christian Cage came back to WWE, this week. Err… came back to ECW? Huh? Are you serious? Kurt Angle turns on Sting… again? Booker T is a “Legend’s Champion”? Jack Swagger is a World Heavyweight Champion? I mean, I’m just lost. I don’t know what to think about any of this. And the clear answer to me could be the fact that I don’t watch wrestling anymore. I may skim over some of the news on the web… but I do not watch it anymore. I couldn’t tell you the last time I watched ECW or Smackdown! I can’t tell you the last time I’ve watched a full episode of RAW. TNA – I never have watched a full show.
What do I watch? I’d rather watch VH-1. Mondays I watch “I Love Money”. Tuesdays I watch whatever’s new on MTV. Thursdays I watch “Sober House”. Saturday mornings I’m at the gym or shopping. I have found better things to do than watch wrestling. And there’s a reason for it – I have no interest in the product.
Am I jaded? Or do you agree?
You know, I’ve thought about this a lot lately while fast forwarding through Raw on my tivo on Wednesday. I also stopped watching Smackdown, ECW, and tna all together. I really think getting into the biz help kill my interest in the current product. Why? Because the finishes are all predictable. You see whats coming from a mile away because you worked the same finish just 2 nights earlier. Growing up probably had a lot to do with it too. When we were kids you love Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ultimate Warrier,
Comment by Maxx — February 14, 2009 @ 5:00 am
You know, I’ve thought about this a lot lately while fast forwarding through Raw on my tivo on Wednesday. I also stopped watching Smackdown, ECW, and tna all together. I really think getting into the biz help kill my interest in the current product. Why? Because the finishes are all predictable. You see whats coming from a mile away because you worked the same finish just 2 nights earlier. Growing up probably had a lot to do with it too. When we were kids you love Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels….etc. So it didn’t matter what they were doing or who they were running an angle with. You would just be happy to see them. Think back to old WWF. If they were to book a guy that came out with a red Mohawk and called himself a rooster next week on RAW, would you roll your eyes? You would SCREAM at your tv if there was a guy in a Turkey suit called the Gobbledy Gooker! Or what about a guy that was supposed to be a trashman but wrestled on the side? You’d never believe it now! As a kid you never questioned those things. Of coarse you never really believed any of those characters were real, but it didn’t bother you because it was wrestling. I watch old WCW tapes now from the early 90’s and see all kinds of botched moves that I never noticed when I was a kid. I would always rationalize that a fight never went in perfect time everytime and sometimes the wrestlers get off balanced. The adult me says, holy crap that guy just botched that!
So was the booking any better back then? No, we’ve just heard the story before.
If nothing else I have said makes since this will. 1: Wrestling is for kids!(just like baseball, football, and all other sports are called a kids game) Wrestling is a kid’s game. and 2:You always remember the past as being better than it actually was.
Comment by Maxx — February 14, 2009 @ 5:14 am
The problem is not a simple thing.
You have guys, locally and nationally, claiming to be a professional wrestler, that don’t know a wrist lock from a wrist watch. On top of that, wrestling managers have faded into obscurity. These are the guys who handled the mic work for guys who gave horrible interviews on their own. There is nobody out there creating the excitement of the old days. The majority of today’s matches are 5 minute bottle rockets…ooh…ahh. The old mat wars took the time to tell a story
and built excitement, even if it took two out of three falls. There are some out there that can still tell a story, like HBK. Even Jim Ross is lamenting the lack of main eventers among Professional Wrestling now days. It is a sad situation.
Comment by kingsjester — February 14, 2009 @ 6:36 pm