AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
Despite $50 million of McMahon money being spent, a neutered Y7 wrestling product featuring Fuzzy Bunny vs. Sammy Squirrel type events…. despite trying to buy off Connecticut fans with a first time ever “an Appreciation Day” show…. and despite trying to paint the media as evil, biased, and misguided through their “Stand Up for Lin…er, WWE” campaign…Linda McMahon was not elected Senator of Connecticut.
No one’s suggesting that tonight’s RAW will go back in program style back to the Attitude Era. Before anyone says the neutering of WWE’s TV and PPV product is really because of Mattel and not the campaign…
Bullcrap…
Advertisers would run ads for their product or service on live prime-time human sacrifices if they thought potential buyers would see what they’re selling. They did it when the WWE “Attitude” style product ran…because people watched it; despite what the Parents Television Council tried to say to the contrary.
That argument notwithstanding, I sincerely hope Vince McMahon realizes one thing: it didn’t work.
It didn’t elect his wife Senator. More importantly, it isn’t keeping his TV audience. It definitely isn’t keeping his PPV numbers, which only stay near the same levels of buys due to international expansion, and nearly the same revenue level…only due to higher prices for his PPVs.
Something clearly needs to change in WWE’s product to interest fans again. A John Cena heel turn at Survivor Series isn’t going to do it….anyone remember how well that Steve Austin heel turn went? Getting too violent isn’t going to change it, as too many eyes are on that aspect of programming in the post-Chris Benoit murder-suicide world, a world where the effects of concussions are becoing all too well known. But a change in the product to SOMETHING different, with more entertaining storylines that grab the viewer, make him and her want to watch this week, see what’s on next week…and cough up money for an upcoming PPV….that change HAS to happen.
On to more constructive things beside stating the obvious…
Toys for Tots and holiday events scheduled thus far…with some notable new ones, especially for Philadelphia area wrestling fans.
For the sixth straight year, Roger Artigiani and The Arena staff in Philadelphia, together with Combat Zone Wrestling will continue their tradition of working together with other local independent wrestling promotions and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.
Beginning the Toys for Tots independent wrestling effort this year at the Bingo Hall for the holidays will be CHIKARA Pro Wrestling, who runs the Arena on Sunday, November 21 with a 4:00 pm belltime. Announced thus far are: Eddie Kingston vs. Homicide, Colin and Jimmy Olsen vs. The UnStable, Frightmare vs. Johnny Gargano, Ultramantis Black vs. Ares, Soldier Ant vs. Pink Ant, and Sara DelRay/Daizee Haze vs. Icarus/ChuckTaylor vs. ? vs ?. For ticket information, go to CHIKARA Pro Wrestling’s ticket website.
Then, both halves of the December 11, 2010 “Super Saturday” doubleheader will have Toys for Toys collections at the Arena’s front door for fans attending both shows. Jersey All Pro Wrestling will hold its show at 4:00 pm with a feature match of Japanese legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. Mike Quackenbush; following by the eleventh annual CZW Cage of Death show at approximately 8:00 pm. For the last six years, The Arena, its management, Combat Zone Wrestling have done Toys for Tots collections. Now, this year Jersey All Pro Wrestling fans will be able to join in that effort and make “Super Saturday” a truly special day by helping area children to have a Christmas. To order tickets for Cage of Death, go to Combat Zone Wrestling’s ticket website and Jersey All Pro Wrestling’s website at JAPW.net.
Tri State Wrestling Alliance will be collecting food donations at their November 20 Voorhees, NJ show for the Food Bank of South Jersey. For ticket information, go to Tri-State Wrestling’s website.
Delaware’s Dynamite Championship Wrestling is doing its yearly Toys For Tots show on December 11th. Location to be announced. For information, go to the DCW website.
The California-based Empire Wrestling Federation will hold their annual Christmas Toy Drive show on Friday, December 10 in Covina, CA at the Covina Knights of Columbus Hall with a 8:00 pm belltime.
The Boston’s Super MegaFest sports/entertainment autograph event, will be held on November 20 and 21 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel in Framingham, MA with wrestling stars Awesome Kong, Joey Styles, Tony Atlas, Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, Howard Finkel, former WWF Champion Bob Backlund, as well as dozens of stars from movie, , TV and horror classics. The event will feature a Toys for Tots collection and donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For information, go to their website
Wrestlestuff Inc. presents The Ohio Wrestling Alliance on November 19th at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds. Matches shceduled: OWA Heavyweight Title match with “Old School” Lou Marconi v. Satan with Disciple of Darkness, Andy Chene with Dr. Jerry Graham, Jr. vs. Bobo Brazil, Jr., “Nightmare” Jimmie Lee v. “Vicious” Vic The Bruiser. Tickets are eavailable by calling 567-356-5001, or at Ohio Wrestling Alliance. The OWA is partnering with Heartbeat of Lima in an effort to fund their Diaper Drive. Everyone who brings a bag of diapers to the show will be registered to win an MMA replica title belt valued at $600. Tickets are $5 at the door with a diaper donation.
The New England-based Showcase Pro Wrestling will be doing two events for Toys for Tots on December 3 in Woonsocket, RI and December 4 in Attleboro, MA. For information, go to Showcase Pro Wrestling
AIWF All Star Wrestling presents “Night for The Kids III” on Saturday, December 11 at the National Guard Armory, Lexington, NC. For information, go to AIWF All Star Wrestling’s website.
The Milwaukee-based Brew City Wrestling will be doing a food drive as part of its December 10th show at its home base of West Allis, WI with the Hunger Task Force of Greater Milwaukee. For information, go to Brew City Wrestling’s website.
Please send me any scheduled Holiday related charity events, whether collections of canned food, Toys for Tots toy collections or other charity benefits. Anyone promoting (or who sees notices of such a show), please send them to to bobmagee1@hotmail.com so I can plug them in this column and on PWBTS.com. Until next time…
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