Welcome to another edition of Kay’s Korner.
In this particular column, I’ll be discussing different aspects of the wrestling world of yesterday versus today. I grew up watching the NWA, which eventually became the now deceased WCW. I also watched the WWE, formerly known as the WWWF and then later known, as the WWF.
In the years that have passed, the one thing that has really stuck out in my mind is how different wrestling is now compared to then. The biggest change has been in the wrestling itself. The days of telling the story in the ring are all but gone. (Though I have to admit, I’ve noticed a twinge of ‘old-school’ back in the wrestling ring the last few weeks.) The high-flying moves seem to be the way of the wrestling world. While I understand, to a certain extent, why wrestling has gone this way, I don’t necessarily like it.
Years ago, I can remember watching the NWA on Saturday mornings with Davy Crockett and Bob Caudle. It still brings a smile to my face just thinking about those Saturday mornings watching wrestling with my dad and grandfather. At our house, it was a family tradition and wrestling was family oriented to a certain extent.
Compared to the wrestling of today, wrestling was very family oriented back then. There weren’t any racy girls in taboo outfits. There weren’t any crotch chops. There weren’t any blatant sexual innuendos. When I was growing up, wrestling was a family show. It was a show that you could take your entire family too, not spend a whole lot of money doing it, and have a great time.
Wrestling back then was also a simple concept. The story lines and feuds were, in my opinion, some of the greatest of all times. Who can remember when Ric Flair turned on Blackjack Mulligan after being best friends and reeking havoc in the NWA as a tag team? Who can remember the feud between Magnum TA and Tully Blanchard? Who can remember the feud between Wahoo McDaniel and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine? I can and I remember it all very vividly, sometimes as if it just happened yesterday.
Why? Why can I remember those feuds so well? It is really a very simple concept. I remember them because the feuds were lengthy in their progression. Feuds in the wrestling business back then last for years at a time. The wrestling companies took their time making the story lines keep your attention. The fact that the feuds now are so short is one of the many changes that have occurred in the wrestling world that I do not like.
The reason I don’t like the way the story lines are now is because they are being done without imagination. They are also being done so quickly that there really isn’t any time to sink your teeth into it as you could years ago. There are some feuds that have played out a little bit longer than most but to be honest; the next pay per view plays out most of the feuds when there is so much story left to tell.
It saddens me in a lot of ways to see wrestling this way. The longevity of wrestling always centered on the ability to keep the viewers coming back week after week. Sadly, as the weeks go by, the ratings stay the same or go down. It is rather obvious that wrestling is losing its appeal to its viewers. Why is that?
It’s actually very simple. Vince McMahon, in his infinite wisdom (note the sarcasm), has been very adamant about the fact that it’s not ‘wrestling’ any more; it is ‘sports entertainment’. While I will admit that he has done more for wrestling that the biggest majority of promoters out there, he has also done the most damage to it as well.
I’ve noticed the last few months that there is almost a soap opera feel to the stories now. It is really sad to see wrestling come to this. Gone are the days of telling the story in the ring. It has now been replaced with marriages, pregnancies, and other meaningless 'entertainment' that doesn’t belong in the wrestling world. (I am a firm believer in if it is not working, change it. This is something that desperately needs to be changed and soon, if the ratings are any indication of what the fans want.)
The story lines are stale and without substance. The feuds of yesterday are long gone. The wrestlers are different now, as is the style of wrestling. Why can’t the ‘powers that be’ see this? They do; they just choose to ignore it. They, in their infinite wisdom, think that they know what is best for us. It’s really sad to see it come to this because the sad truth is they are hearing what they want to hear. They are listening to the ‘yes’ people of the business, who only want to be on the boss’s good side. The ‘no’ people in the wrestling world, who offer an opinion that isn’t what they want to hear (Paul Heyman), are told to take their ball and go home.
It really breaks my heart to know that the sport that I’ve loved my entire life has been turned into a chaotic mess. I shake my head at times wishing they would go back to long feuds. However, that simple concept doesn’t exist in this world of wrestling any more. It is frustrating to be a fan of wrestling at this time.
I imagine the wrestlers are not happy with the concept either. Most of the wrestlers of today do have an ‘old school’ mentality due to the ones who trained them. Sadly, the ‘old school’ traditions are ignored which, is like a slap in the face to the ‘old school’ wrestlers that gave their blood, sweat, and tears to the business.
In retrospect, I think the glory days of wrestling have come and gone. I would like to hold onto my dream that wrestling will return to its roots and heritage. I long for the day that I can watch wrestling and shake my head in agreement with them instead of shaking my head negatively over lost opportunities and story lines.
Until next time, take care. All feedback can be sent to lilwrestlegrl@yahoo.com
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