Long time no see! What's it been? A week? Well, hopefully this summer, I will be able to keep up this level of activity from your once dormant columnist who peered his head every two weeks, and with the topics I have in mind, maybe I can get one out every 2 days or so! Anyway, today I have a column that will just give you more insight into the business that we all love and watch as much as we can, but we can't start without my, and certainly your, favorite tradition: "The Nonsense Thoughts!"
You know, it's a shame that the trend that has plagued NWA for years is rearing its ugly head again. First, it started with the WWWF looking to expand and make a name with it, so they branched off. Next came WCW. Yes, they became the biggest and best branch of NWA in the day, and what did they do with that? Did they stay loyal? Hell no, they broke away first chance they got! Then what followed? Eastern Championship Wrestling soon became the flagship of the struggling corporation, but low and behold, they followed suit with WCW in hopes of making it big. Now, we see the exact same thing happening with TNA. Don't believe they will break off? Look at it this way: they aren't advertising nwatna.com anymore, but rather tnawrestling.com. They are calling their belts the TNA belts, not the NWA belts. They refer to their shows, product, merchandise, etc. as TNA, not NWA. If that isn't a smelling salt to the fact that they are leaving their home, I don't know what is! Personally, the trend is set, and my opinion on this doesn't matter as it is already set in stone by my standards, so what am I doing? I'm looking to the future! Who will be the next to carry the flame? Wildside? Hammerlock? Personally, I'd like to see NWA-VA take it so that my skills as an announcer can take off nationally...and also get made fun of nationally when I stumble through words. But I digress...
Smackdown is screwed, people. Honestly, I think JBL is good and deserved to win the belt, but do I agree with it? No! I am one person out of millions who think JBL is a cancer to Smackdown, so obviously I'm the minority. All this does is show us that Vince does not listen to us nor does he pay attention to ratings. If they thought the ratings were low before, just wait. This title change blows for two reasons:
1. JBL's title reign that should be a glorious time for him will end up costing the company money and he will get all the blame when all he did was wrestle.
2. Smackdown will permanently turn away millions of fans who probably won't come back knowing Vince will do this again.
But hey, it could be worse; we could have someone like Triple H on Smackdown...
I want to share a little known fact with you about Triple H, but don't worry; I won't drag it on and on and on and on...anyway...
First note: As a booker taught me, the second to last match on the card is referred to as the "Co-Main Event."
Second note: When the joint PPVs start to occur, I split the PPVs into Raw/Smackdown side so while a match may be three from the main event, it is only one from the Raw main event.
Fully Loaded 1999 - Co-Main Event
Summerslam 1999 - Main Event
Unforgiven 1999 - Main Event
No Mercy 1999 - Main Event
Survivor Series 1999 - Main Event
Armageddon 1999 - Main Event
Royal Rumble 2000 - Main Event
No Way Out 2000 - Main Event
Wrestlemania 2000 - Main Event
Backlash 2000 - Main Event
Judgment Day 2000 - Main Event
King Of The Ring 2000 - Main Event
Fully Loaded 2000 - Co-Main Event
Summerslam 2000 - Main Event
Unforgiven 2000 - Co-Main Event
No Mercy 2000 - Co-Main Event
Survivor Series 2000 - Main Event
Armageddon 2000 - Main Event
Royal Rumble 2001 - Main Event
No Way Out 2001 - 1st time out of the main/co-main event match
Wrestlemania X-Seven - Co-Main Event
Backlash 2001 - Main Event
Judgment Day 2001 - 2nd time out of the main/co-main event match
King Of The Ring 2001 - Vengeance 2001 - Missed due to injury
Royal Rumble 2002 - Co-Main Event
No Way Out 2002 - Co-Main Event
Wrestlemania X8 - Main Event
Backlash 2002 - Main Event
Judgment Day 2002 - Co-Main Event
King Of The Ring 2002 - Main Event
Vengeance 2002 - Missed due to injury
Summerslam 2002 - Co-Main Event
Unforgiven 2002 - Raw Main Event
No Mercy 2002 - Raw Main Event
Survivor Series 2002 - Raw/Overall Main Event
Armageddon - Raw/Overall Main Event
Royal Rumble 2003 - Raw Main Event
No Way Out 2003 - Raw Co-Main Event
Wrestlemania XIX - Raw Co-Main Event
Backlash 2003 - Raw Co-Main Event
Judgment Day 2003 - Raw Main Event
Bad Blood 2003 - Main Event
Summerslam 2003 - Raw/Overall Main Event
Unforgiven 2003 - Main Event
Survivor Series 2003 - Raw/Overall Main Event
Armageddon 2003 - Main Event
Royal Rumble 2004 - Raw/Overall Main Event
Wrestlemania XX - Raw/Overall Main Event
Backlash 2004 - Main Event
Bad Blood 2004 - Main Event
Vengeance 2004 - Main Event
Ok I lied...I did drag it on. So sue me!
Anyway, that's it for those "Nonsense Thoughts" and that last one was really full of it...nonsense to say. So now it's time to grace your eyes with my main point...if you are still awake that is. Nevertheless, here we go!
So why did I become a columnist? Hobby? Well, it started that way, but then I realized it could be a stepping stone. Why else do you think I write at 30 sites? Ambition? Drive? Success? Sure, but I always thought it would help me nail a job with a wrestling promotion, and you know what? It has. And because of this, I have got an insight into the business that few have never had before.
Note: Some of the following info may be altered or omitted in an attempt to keep K5/kayfabe.
My first insight came in August 2003. I was a young ‘un in my terms. I had about three months experience as a columnist, and a month as a webmaster, but I used that pull to get me backstage passes at a wrestling promotion's next show where I would interview, report, and do the whole journalist thing.
I got there with my girlfriend who was there to take pictures for me, and what do I see? I see six guys sitting around laughing it up and having a good time. I look to my right and see two guys working out their match. I look to the other site and see another guy giving advice to a younger one. I see the business at work. I see what I love, what you love, and the world I sought out. Man, did I love it! Did I stay long in there? No, I was introduced and quickly left, and while I waited for the show to begin, hat happened? It started to rain. The ring quickly got drenched, and all the wrestlers backstage had about 1 hour to quickly re-do the match so that their high spots wouldn't turn into botched spots due to the rain and slip factor. What followed next? They still came out, and they still put on good matches. Did they slip? Sure. They fell when they weren't supposed to. They hurt themselves. And what did I see when I went backstage after the show of slipping? People hurt, bleeding, bruised, and tired, but doing what? Laughing about their matches, getting Christmas faces as they get feedback, thanking God for a good match, and even more. Does this sum up what I love? People who have to change their plans at the last minute only to still get hurt and yet not even care because they entertained a couple dozen people? You damn right it is.
But is this it?
Obviously not...
On June 10th, I attended a "practice/acclimation" of a promotion to help me with my announcing job that would come on the 19th. What do I see when I get there? Is there a big building? State of the art equipment? No! It's a room no wider than the room I am currently in and just 3 feet higher. In here, a ring was in the back surrounded by quotes and words of encouragement on the wall for wrestlers to look at. To my right, pictures of past students and famous wrestlers featuring Lelani Kei and members of Demolition decorated the wall in a fashion that had me, the naïve, struggling journalist, awing over. I sat down and saw three people, two of whom were wrestlers, another who is "involved" with a wrestler. After semi-introducing myself in my shy nature around people I don't know, I sat down and listened to them talk. I heard them talk gossip about wrestlers, and heard their real life tribulations. I heard how the female wrestler screamed at the top of her lungs when she heard her name on the radio in an ad for the next show and about how her little boy scares off others by telling them his mother is a professional wrestler. At this point, I'm thinking to myself: "My god, this group is just like me. I have picked the right path." But of course, this isn't the only reason why I believed. As I got there, all the wrestlers in training gathered around and started to run. As I listened to the teachers (the 2 wrestlers), I learned they all run together in case one gets hurt and they can help him/her. Wow! What a group! In a world where most will leave you for dead, people will slow down or hurry up their pace to hang with the group in order to keep safety and friendship. Like I said before, this is the world I sought out, but this is not what I expected. In comparison, I expected somewhat of a mediocre drink, but instead, I got what quenched my thirst more than anything else before. Obviously, I was on cloud nine at this point and in about 10 minutes of being there, I had a newfound respect and love for the business. When they get back, what do I see? Joking, laughing, horsing around, friendship, friendliness, and more. Within the first minute of everyone getting back, I had already shaken everyone's hand and introduced myself. Yet again, in a world that will barely acknowledge your existence, these people do, and as soon as they see you.
So what else gave me a newfound love? Let's see:
The time and consideration each person put in to their match even though it was only viewed by the students, teachers, promoter, and 2 random people.
The automatic constructive criticism given after each match. Did I hear "Yea, that sucked!" or "It was cool?" If you think yes, just hit the back button. Of course not! All I heard was claims about how much they have improved, or how it was good, but this could make it better and more. What a group to be involved with! Why can't my colleagues be like that?
The dedication each wrestler had. After one match, I heard one wrestler say that the ring was a little weird, and immediately, all students and teachers were working on the ring to find the problem. I am talking about within five seconds, it was downright amazing.
The last reason? Did anyone care that they were in a small shack that made the loudest noise as the rain fell? Did anyone care that the ring was old and rusted? Did anyone care if they got hurt? Did anyone care that there wasn't much to lift or exercise on? And finally, did they care to hear that their first jobs might not be until weeks after paying dues by helping set up shows? Hell no! All were simply ecstatic just to be there and practice their trade with many of their same love and just get a chance to experience the life we all grew up fawning over.
This is the world I love people. This is the business I love.
And at the risk of dragging this column on any longer, I have one more experience to cite.
June 19th, my first announcing job. I get to the event and go backstage, and the question of the column, what happens? Same thing at the training session...I was shy and intimidated. But what did I find?
I encountered a guy who could have flicked me 10 feet in the air with a single tap from his huge boot yet decided rather to sit near me and answer my naïve questions and befriend me. Did I ever meet someone so nice before? No. Don't get me wrong, all wrestlers are nice, but in a room of people who didn't know you or barely remembered your name, this man was king. His wife was there as his manager and also their son, and what did I observe even more? A giant who walked out to the crowd as a monstrous heel being like a saint and angel to his son, and even more, to a teenager he never met before. After seeing him change his demeanor so much from backstage to the ring and learning about the tribulations he went through to compete in front of a couple hundred people, my respect for this man can never be expressed by mortal words and thoughts.
But of course, that's not all! I saw the hijinks of forty year olds with twenty year olds, and even some real ribs. I couldn't go one place without seeing people go through their match to simply perfect it.
Then came the event. I sat down and even though I froze at the mic more than once, it was incredible. Even my mess ups like calling a Rear Chin Lock a Rear Naked Choke didn't matter; I was having the time of my life. Even more, I saw someone like David Flair come in, and what did I see backstage? An ego? A superiority complex? No, just one of the guys and someone who fit in more than I would expect. Following the show, instead of seeing tired and battered bodies complaining about their matches, I saw little faces so excited about the feedback and critiques that they rivaled the faces of twelve year olds on Christmas! When you find people who are happy to get critiques after competing in 100+ degree weather and can find time to even laugh about a screw up that could have been deadly, that is when you know you found the place of gods.
This is the world of pro wrestling. This is the business. This is the world I sought out. Do I have any regrets? Qualms? No, sir. I thank god every day for the position I have and if I can quote Maya Angelou:
"I believe you can only be great at something you love."
This is why we see so many greats on any given day, and the reason I found such success in my job.
And for a last thought, my love for wrestling is still growing, so tune in to watch the talent grow as well.
Damn, that was a different column, huh? Usually, I'm just bitching about WWE and how they need to do this and that, but this was a little different. I hope you liked it as I think this was one of my best columns in a long time. Hope you enjoyed it guys, but just remember, it's not over! Yes, we still have the final stretch to go!
First up, let's get the QOTC out of the way. I got a lot of feedback about the quote from last week, and about 75 people asked me to do another Jerry Lawler quote, and since I am a man of the people (mostly because without you I wouldn't have a job), you're going to get it!
Jerry Lawler: Sunny didn't make a fool out of Phineas...God beat her to that.
Now for this column's MOTC, I would like to pick a match that I would love to see a rematch of soon for the World Heavyweight Title. This is a match that had so much psychology, emotion, and raw hatred that it bears repeating. This week's MOTC is:
Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit, Best 2 out of 3 falls, Summerslam 2000
By the way, a lot of new readers have been asking me what the hell QOTC and MOTC mean, so here goes:
MOTC: Match Of The Column
QOTC: Quote Of The Column
Any more questions? No? Good, let's move on.
Yes, it's cheap plug time, but hopefully, I can scale it down today so you can read it quick! Mike Steele's and my site is still open and for those of you who don't know, it is a mostly columns site that also features cartoons, games, reviews, and interviews. At this writing, we have about 55 columnists, 4 reviewers, 3 interviewers, and are currently looking for game makers and cartoonists to help us out. Of course, we also have forums and polls so you can voice your opinion on anything, which is they main point of the site. The Wrestling Voice is the voice of the public, however varied it may be. Well, to sweeten the deal even more, we are accepting applications for any job 24-7! If you think you can be a columnist, reviewer, game maker, cartoonist, or something else, just fill out an application at this address (http://thewrestlingvoice.com/application.shtml) or you can find out more about us by e-mailing jobs@thewrestlingvoice.com.
The Wrestling Voice - The premier site for wrestling games, cartoons, interviews, reviews, and, of course, columns.
Keep tuning in here to find a couple more columns soon from me. Coming up are these topics in this order as well:
The Diva State
Tag Team Split
2nd Annual Nonsense Vengeance
Thanks for tuning in guys, and I hope you enjoyed it a lot. If you have questions, concerns, etc, just contact with me in the information listed below. Thanks again, and this is Dougie Nunny from "Column O' Nonsense" signing off and hoping I dropped your IQ lower than rating this Smackdown will get after showcasing our new WWE Champion.
AIM - Dougie Nunny
E-mail - dougienunny@thewrestlingvoice.com
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