I think a lot of indy wrestlers are just like those crash test dummies except...
- indy wrestlers are real people
- Indy wrestlers don't need engineers. They crash themselves
One more important difference between crash test dummies and indy wrestlers is that people generally learn something when test dummies crash. Some indy wrestlers don't seem to learn a thing no matter how many times they crash... if they even realize they are in effect crashing their career before it even gets to the approach ramp of the World Wrestling Entertainment Expressway.
If "the dream" is to make it to the WWE (or TNA or ROH) doesn't that 'dream' actually entail WRESTLING there as a superstar? I mean, it must, right? Five years... ten... more? Performing on the big stage all the incredible things you're showing indy fans right now. Probably a LOT more, right? In your dream I mean.
Well... WAKE UP!
You ain't gonna gonna get anywhere near that dream, or be in a position to take advantage of an opportunity to do so down the road if you plow yourself into the ditch in front of 30 fans at an indy show in Upper Buttsniff.
And again at the next show
And the next
And the next
And... well, you get the picture.
Or do you?
Look at it this way... You only have one body with a given set of growth parameters determined by your genes. No matter how you develop that body (or tweak it with additives) it still has a finite number of bumps you can inflict upon it before it shuts down and leaves you not just in a world of hurt but practically (or permanently) IMMOBILE in a world of hurt.
And by the way, if you've been in the business for five years or less and you think you know what a world of hurt is, you don't. Not a clue.
But, if you're one of the indy pro wrestlers I'm referring to as a crash test dummy then you WILL find out soon enough (Assuming you don't kill yourself first.)
Think about what you're doing!
I mean, REALLY think about it.
In front of 30 - 130 people are ALL those bumps necessary, ALL those high risk moves essential? Seriously. ARE they?
(Hint: The answer is NO!)
~~~**~~~
Final thought for today:-
Thinking MOVES make a match is pure Pro Wrestling BS... and I don't mean Brain Salad
I'm Gordon Gustav
And you're not.
I think a large problem has to do with a lot of said workers grew up watching the Attitude Era. They grew up during the era of excessive hardcore, excessive dick/fart jokes and excessive bumping/high spots. I'm sure a few people who read that will admit that the TLC matches between the Hardys, Dudleys and E&C were their favourites as a teenager.
ReplyDeleteSo what they think will get over and make them a star is hurting themselves and over bumping. It also doesn't help that guys like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels made careers out of bumping and people notice that instead of their ungodly endurance and conditioning.
But where does the blame go? The wrestlers who do the excessive bumps, the trainers who clearly never worked that non-psychology out of their heads or the bookers who put them on when they know it's going to hurt the overall quality of their cards?
I think there is one thing that Gustav missed here.
ReplyDeleteThe serious ones that WANT to make it to the bigger stage get this and don't do unnecessary risks.
The ones literally killing themselves in front of 30 people are just "Playing Wrestler". This is all they want to do, and just want to tell their friends they are a Pro Wrestler like they see on TV.
Working a great match isn't about endless death deying high spots - it is about making a connection with the audience. That is something missed with a lot of the guys who "Play Wrestler".
Amen. Now the question is how many will get the message and finally smarten up. The biggest marks of all are the ones you just described. At least the ones in the seats aren't killing themselves.
ReplyDelete