I had intended to write this up last week, but time has really been getting away from me lately, and I apologize for that. But I’m here now, aren’t you all thrilled? OK, don’t answer that. Moving on, I have two things I want to touch on today, one that has been discussed a lot, but I need to air my feelings anyway. The other, well, you’ll just have to read on.
Joey Styles – did I ever expect to think of him as being my hero? No way! Even though I know that the little tirade he did on Raw was not a surprise to Vince, et al, he finally got a chance to tell it like it is, and thank God for that. I am so happy that he walked off of Raw and not because I don’t like him, I do, very much. But his fate was doomed from the start when he had to replace “Good Old” JR.
Styles was brought in to bring some younger blood and a different prospective to the show. The problem was, it wasn’t necessary. First off, three announcers are just not needed, period. The fans had not had enough of Ross, and while there were those few that thought it was a good idea, the majority did not. So here was poor Joey, just trying to do his job the best way he knew how. And that way happens to be very good. As he reminded us, he single-handedly announced the ECW matches, live, and on the fly. That hasn’t happened before or since, and it takes a very special person to be able to even attempt that.
So what does McMahon do? Stifles the announcing skills of Styles, telling him to be more like JR. Hello! You fired him, remember? So let’s bring someone in with an entirely different way of calling matches and then tell him to change his style to be more like the man he kicked off the show. Does that make ANY sense to anybody?
I understand McMahon referring to wrestling as sports entertainment. By doing so it gave him a way to legitimize this ‘sport’ that had pre-determined winners and losers and hopefully would allow this profession to no longer be looked at as fake. Anyone who has attended a live event, or even seen a match on television would know that the word ‘fake’ doesn’t come close to the physicality of wrestling. (One wrestler I spoke with this weekend took a pretty good pounding and said he was already sore – how will he feel in the morning? Another man was exhausted after arriving in L.A. that day, wrestling that night, and catching a flight at midnight to work again the next day.)
But I completely agree with Styles when he says that it is a disservice to the athletes to not acknowledge the wrestling moves as legitimate. To think of wrestling only as ‘entertainment’ is an insult to them was well.
Joey will now move to ECW, and if Vince can keep his nose out of things and let Paul Heyman work his magic and Styles go back to announcing as only he can, things will be pretty good. But can McMahon do that? I fear that is a big ‘if’, for this control freak doesn’t like anything that is not his idea, and that seriously interferes with creativity. Be that as it may, I look forward to seeing what happens.
OK, here is some open advice to wrestlers: respect those fans that pay to come and see you. Listen, if someone is being loud, rude and obnoxious I understand, and frankly like to see, those people put in their place. These men are working their asses off and I don’t believe that just because you put up money you have the right to be disruptive. Maybe I appreciate the work they do too much, I don’t know.
This past weekend I went to another Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show. I have attended many now, and really enjoy them. A couple of things happened this time. One was fun for me, the other, not so much. After one of the matches a couple of the wrestlers stopped and were talking to me. This brought attention to me, and, since I get embarrassed really easily, by the time they left I was doing my usual blush thing that I so hate. But I have to admit it was fun. I had spoken to one of them after a show in the past and he is a very nice guy. I’d never met the other, but both are really good looking guys and hey, I’m not dead here!
During the last match of the evening they were picking names out to see whom the fourth tag team would be. One of the wrestlers took the microphone and directed some not so flattering things to the three of us who had attended. OK, so bad taste maybe, but really, no harm, no foul. But after the match, when he won, one of my friends said something that he didn’t like. I guess he can dish it out but can’t take it. As he was leaving, he looked at her and kicked a chair into her leg. Dumb move, son.
What surprised me the most here was that we have never had any interaction with this wrestler. We had never busted his chops about anything. He is a strong talent, and I have enjoyed watching him work – he really does a good job. Speaking only for myself, I really felt blind-sided here.
As you have most certainly noticed, I have neglected to name names. I don’t intend to. I will continue to go to these shows, as will my friends. PWG does a fabulous job. I have sung their praises before and will again. I have interviewed a couple of their wrestlers and hope to speak with many more of these very talented athletes. We have all found the wrestlers to be very friendly, well, I guess I have to now say that ALMOST everyone has been more than friendly.
I’ve changed my mind about naming names. Christopher Daniels, Chris Sabin, Disco Machine, Human Tornado, Scorpio Sky, Kevin Steen, TJ Perkins – thank you for your courtesy.
Be safe and God Bless,
Barb.
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