Old School Wrestling vs. "Sports Entertainment"

It seems the message board here at IntenseArena.com is constantly embroiled in a "war" between fans of the Southwest Ohio based Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA), and southern Indiana's Independent Wrestling Association (IWA Mid-South). The HWA product, which almost everyone would agree is much more "old school," is constantly attacked by IWA fans, who are used to seeing blood, barbwire, and brutality. Similarly, the HWA fans bash IWA for it's Hardcore reputation, and it's "lack of regard" for the tradition of wrestling. It's a "war" that will never have a winner. It makes for a good debate, and points can be argued endlessly, but the fact remains both companies have a place in the business, and both are obviously profitable and popular; otherwise they would no longer be running shows.

Since I work for the "competition" in Cincinnati, my views will be biased to a certain degree on the subject. I try to steer clear of the promotional bashing that goes on here, because no matter my opinion, it will be considered slanted because of my affiliations. That said, I have been to quite a few HWA shows (although none too recently). I have also made my way to a few IWA shows, as recently as August of this year. The two promotions are near polar opposites. On a personal level, I do prefer the IWA product to that of the HWA, for the most part. I could live without the extreme brutality of some of the IWA matches, but that's a personal taste too; there are a lot of fans who come just to see that. On the flip side, workers like Suicide Kid, Paul E. Smooth, Colt Cabana, and so forth are a true pleasure to watch in the ring. They may not all be 250 pounds with big muscles and pretty tights, but you know they are giving it their best everytime they enter the ring. Kid is a tremendous talent in my opinion, and if he had an extra 20 pounds on him he might be the type of guy the WWF or WCW would sign today. Still, he has enough natural ability and talent that sooner or later he'll be noticed, despite his lack of size. But I digress, back to the original point now, old school wrestling vs. sports entertainment.

A major complaint about wrestlers today is that they are "high spots artists" or some have "no psychology." I'll be the first one to agree, Rob Van Dam is a high spot artist. However, he's an entertaining high spot artist. His matches with Jerry Lynn from 1999 were some of the best matches of the year in my opinion, because Lynn was able to make RVD wrestle, and not just go from high spot to high spot. But, just because I enjoy a good wrestling match doesn't mean I don't see the value in a match involving a lot of high spots. The "Tables, Ladders, and Chairs" match from SummerSlam surely made many old school fans cringe, but it was nonetheless an entertaining and exciting match. There are a group of fans out there, a rather large group in fact, that could honestly give a damn if a wrestler is selling a leg injury or not; they just want action. Professional wrestling, as we all know, is not a sport in the true sense of the term. It's not a "sport" now, nor has it ever been one; wrestling was a work in the 1950s, just like it's a work in the year 2000. Yes, the competitors are tremendous athletes, perhaps even better than those in any other sport, but unlike their counterparts on the field or on the court, wrestler's know who's going to win before the battle even begins. So what does that make the spectacle we love? The hybrid term "sports entertainment" seems to fit pretty well, if you ask me.

Like any business, the goal in the wrestling business is to make money. The promoter, or backer, or owner, or whatever of any promotion ultimately wants to make money on his or her product. Unfortunately, being a great wrestler does not automatically make you the best in the business. Wrestling today, just like back in the "old days" is much more perception than it is reality. For example, back in the 1950s, Gorgeous George was the biggest draw in wrestling. Was he the best worker? No, not really. He wasn't bad (for his time), but there were dozens of guys at or above his ability level. What made Gorgeous George a draw was his persona, the entertainment aspect of his character. If anyone would like to see wrestling the way it was back in the 50's, be my guest. I'll take my top rope moves, chair shots, and so forth while you enjoy a match filled with headlocks, weak looking punches, and suplex's as finishers. For a more modern example of style over substance, look at the WWF. Chris Benoit, arguably the best pure wrestler in the world, is not the champion of the promotion. In fact, until his alliance with Shane McMahon began in late June, Benoit was barely getting much response from the crowd at all. The thing holding back Benoit is his lack of natural charisma and the ability to cut a strong interview on the mic. He may be the best wrestler in the world, but that didn't mean jack to the fans until he started regularly pummeling the Rock and was aligned with Shane McMahon. On the flip side, you have the Rock. He's a middle of the road grappler at best; but his natural charisma and ability to cut a promo have made him the number one draw in wrestling today. Ask 10 fans at Monday Night RAW who they'd rather meet, The Rock or Benoit, and nine of them will probably say the Rock. He's entertaining beyond the scope of headlocks, takedowns, ring psychology, and workrate. The Rock is the epitome of pro wrestling/sports entertainment. Sure, there are a lot of people out there who dislike the Rock. The so-called smart fans dislike him, which of course they are entitled to. However, even the most ardent Rock hater must admit he is the number one man in wrestling today (with the possible exception of Steve Austin at this point). Which brings me back to this point: The Rock, not unlike hardcore wrestling, or tables, or highspots, has a place in the business. Sure, the Rock may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there are millions and millions (pun intended) of people out there who watch wrestling and go to live events just for the Rock. Obviously, there are a lot of people who go to IWA shows, for example, to see blood and thumbtacks. A lot of people go to HWA shows to see old school wrestling. Are any of these things necessarily bad? No, of course not.

Don't get me wrong here; I'd much rather watch Chris Benoit wrestle for 10 minutes than see Triple H talk for 10 minutes. But, at the same time, I can see the value in Triple H cutting a promo, and I realize that there are a lot of people who find the interviews in wrestling every bit as (if not more) entertaining than the in ring action. Similarly, I'd much rather watch Suicide Kid battle Chuck E. Smooth for 15 minutes in a solid techinal/high flying match, than watch Ian Rotten and Corp. Robinson hit each other with weapons and gig each other for 15 minutes. But, there are a lot of people who enjoy the ultra-hardcore, so who am I to say they're wrong?

There are certain people, and without naming names I think everyone knows who I'm talking about, that like to complain about how the industry has changed over the years, and how eventually it will go back to solid mat wrestling. "Luchadores are a fad." "Hardcore wrestling is a fad." I beg to differ. Fads in wrestling are goofy personas like Duke "The Dumpster" Drose, T.L. Hopper, and The Goon. Anyone still using ridiculous gimmicks like this should be ashamed. Another fad that has passed us by is the 280+ pound muscle bound wrestler fad. You don't see too man talentless big men in the sport anymore; the upper echelon of stars are mostly in the 250 pound (and under) range. If anyone would like to go back to watching wrestling in the days where Hercules, the Warlord, Barbarian, or One Man Gang were considered top stars, once again be my guest. I'll take my Hardy Boys, Essa Rios, and TAKA Michinoku anyday. Hardcore wrestling is not a "fad." Hardcore wrestling, in some form, has been around for decades. There will always be the market out there for blood and guts and inhuman pain as a spectator sport. Last time I checked, lucha style wrestling wasn't a fad either; it's been popular for years.

In any event, my point boils down to this: Professional wrestling in many ways is not unlike a variety show or circus, with a little something for everyone. If you don't like the Rock, or long interviews, or hardcore "garbage" wrestling, that's your choice; just be prepared to deal with the fact you are quite possibly in the minority, and therefore might have to put up with the "negatives." If you prefer Mitsuharu Misawa, 30 minute matches, and lot's of good workrate, good for you; just don't expect to see only those things. The line between "good and bad" and "right and wrong" in wrestling is not only blurred when it comes to characters in the ring, but when it comes to promoting the product in general. The business is just that, a business, and as such in order to stay become successful (or maintain success) it must constantly evolve with the times. Some things will change for the better, some perhaps for the worse; it's the nature of the beast.