The Intricate Spectrum: Expanding Horizons
Do you ever feel bored with WWE? Do you feel disillusioned by TNA? Well in that case, I suggest expanding your horizons. How about taking a step outside that box? [Confused look] "Whatever do you mean, Matt," you may ask. It's simple! It's time to find you some new exciting professional wrestling. Don't let little irrelevant things like borders and oceans stop you from finding exciting wrestling; just expand your mind and you will find many a treat on offer all over the world.
This Public Service Announcement was kindly brought to you by the kind folks of The Intricate Spectrum, Inc.
I still see those confused looks, so I plan to elaborate. Wrestling is such a vast and thriving world of both sports and entertainment that it should be impossible to get bored, but it does happen. This is usually caused by fans becoming bored or tired of the main products on offer. How can you enjoy the vast tastes of the world if you're yet to get past fish & chips on the menu? How about trying something extravagant? You may just find something that will blow your mind. I remember being trapped inside that very same box once, not knowing anything past the WWF and WCW. My first deep dive into the wrestling world came around 1996 when I hired out Eastern Championship Wrestling's home video release Hostile City Showdown 1994 which, in all honesty, I didn't quite understand the first time I saw it. This could have been partly because I was only 9 years old, but I knew it was different. From this point on, I began hiring out more ECW tapes based mainly on the power of knowing Mick Foley and The Funks, yet I was oblivious to the rest of these guys but I was also enthralled by the extra violent nature of the show compared to the WWF and WCW so I was hooked. I began watching as much ECW as I could, hiring videos whenever possible because this was the only way I could obtain the shows as I knew of no traders at the time. The local video store had a very limited amount wrestling in general and I used to swoop like a falcon whenever I saw something new, but it was still just the three North American companies.
A Trip Through My Mind
Although I had found the alternative in the form of ECW, wrestling was still becoming stale and boring to me. There are only so many times you can see a guy go through a table, although ECW did provide some great wrestling as well. I was still bored for whatever reason. It was around this time that WWF and WCW were both taken of Australian TV and I was essentially starved of anything concerning wrestling. Around this time, I began using a little thing called the internet and this opened my eyes to yet another new world; I started watching things like All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling, which featured familiar faces but a whole different style that blew my mind. To me, wrestling is so vast and so unique that there is no other sport in the world that causes so much debate, anger, and hostility. Wrestling is essentially a performing art and just like any other form of performance, there are only so many times you can see them same act. Wrestling is the same yet wrestling fans have the luxury of so many styles and variations of the art we call professional wrestling if you just expand your mind.
The Self Help Guide To Finding New Wrestling
- Research different promotions and what made them popular or what makes them popular. In doing so, keep an open mind to the cultural background that the promotion works in.
- Talk to people on forums. Don't be intimidated and think you will come of as a 'mark' because the terms smark and mark in my estimation are just jargon for elitists who like to feel special.
- Take a look a Dave Meltzer's 5 Star match rating list (click here to view it) as a starting point for finding some new stuff.
- Read people's greatest match's lists; they're opinion, but may help you find something you really enjoy.
- Be open minded without being dictated to.
It's all a matter of knowing where to look. There are various websites that sell wrestling videos and DVDs. A personal favorite of mine is High Spots. There are also various websites and forums were you can find wrestling matches. I know what you're asking, "But Matt, what do I look for?" That is a valid and good question.
Let's Take A Look At The Menu
Puroresu
Has strong lineage and respect in Japan. Puro took off in Japan in around 1951 with the introduction of Japan's first big star Rikidozan, who is considered the grandfather of Puro. What sets Puro apart from its counter-parts is the structure of how it works; it's displayed in a more realistic competitive manner. Japanese Wrestling is also well known for being extremely stiff. Interviews are conducted like they're in other sports. Wrestlers don't rely on catchphrases, ranting, and raving; they take a more clam approach and speak normally.
Suggested Flavors
New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)
All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)
Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH)
All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (Zenjo)
Pro Wrestling ZERO1-Max (ZERO 1)
Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF)
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW)
Dragon Gate
Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Lucha Libre
Lucha Libre is a Spanish term which means Free-Style Fighting. Lucha Libre has an amazing cultural following in Mexico that dates back to the 1930's and has gone on to become part of Mexican culture and tradition. Mexican wrestler's have a tendency to be smaller then wrestlers from North America so rather then using power moves, Mexican wrestling generally consists of a rapid succession of holes and moves mixed with gymnastic like high flying moves, which would be later adopted by North American and Japanese promotions. Mexican wrestlers are known as Luchadores. A defining feature of Mexican wrestling is the flashy outfits and masks. In the beginning, they were used to distinguish wrestlers, but would later become more colorful and meaningful often portraying animals and gods. Virtually all Mexican wrestlers begin their career wearing a mask.
Suggested Flavors
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
British/European Wrestling
Wrestling in Europe had been extremely popular during the fifties and sixties selling out arenas on a weekly basis. British wrestling tends to be more technically sound and uses a lot more amateur style mat work. British wrestling took a rather large up swing with the introduction of World Of Sport which was a mainstay on British Television from 1960-1985.
Suggested Flavors
World Of Sport
1 Pro Wrestling
British Championship Wrestling
With these guidelines and suggestions, you may just find a whole new world that is often unexplored and you may stumble upon something that is just right for you, just like I did.
Wrestling is a glorious and flourishing world. Wrestling is something you can be immersed in and can go from just sitting down and watching the weekly wrasslin' shows to a hobby to a passion and an overall great experience. It's just a simple thing; if you want to learn to swim, jump into the water.
If you would like further information contact me via e-mail or instant messenger, you can find it all on my profile page at The Wrestling Voice which you can view by clicking here.
Your Friend,
Matthew James
Copyright © 2005; TheWrestlingVoice.com & Douglas Nunnally.
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer & Privacy Statement
| What Did You Think About WWE Backlash 2008? |
|
|