By: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Ousta! Welcome back to the only WrestleView column covering topics both nowhere yet everywhere at once. If you are new to the column you are probably going to hate us for the first couple weeks, but then you are going to hit a point where you say ?oh wait a minute, I think he gets it?. Don?t worry, that’s exactly how it is designed to be. This column is all about gut reactions and traveling thoughts. As the great Andy Kaufman once said: ?I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut, or get angry from the gut?.
First of all, my apologies for not getting this column out until the weekend, but I didn?t have internet access and as such I could not send it in. Also, that is why I?m omitting the regular news, ratings, results, etc., as I could not pull them off the computer. Instead I wanted to share something that was on my mind that I wouldn?t need the internet to write. Ironically, it ended up being the internet itself which became my topic.
Ladies and (mostly) gentlemen, I?m at an impasse. It’s becoming harder and harder for me to do what I do each week. This isn?t to say that there is a lack of topics, news, matches etc., because trust me they are there in copious amounts. My problem is that regardless of WHAT the stories are, I feel more and more of the same way regarding the issues themselves. I?m quickly tiring of the fact that I seem to be one of the sole voices of optimism in the internet wrestling community. It’s as though unless you comment on something as being negative, you ?don?t understand?.
I?m sorry that I don?t have the wealth a knowledge that others do regarding the history of wrestling and its evolvement from the day the naked Greeks started going at each other, but quite frankly I?ve always considered that one of my strong points. I?ve chosen to use first hand sources to get my information and formulate my opinions. Instead of reading analysis I?ve always preferred actually watching the product or watching/listening to interviews. Especially thanks to companies such as RF Video, Highspots, and others, there is a wealth of shoot interviews that reveal quite a bit regarding this crazy world of wrestling.
I have long espoused the belief that if you enjoy wrestling, then don?t let others try and convince you of otherwise. I have been preaching the value of sitting down and watching the PPV and deciding for yourself whether or not it was enjoyable. My take is actually quite simple. If you watch something and enjoy it, then it was a good match. It seems that people turn more and more to places like the internet hoping to find others to quantify the product. DON?T!
Now obviously I?m not saying you should not use the internet wrestling community to its full. You should, if you didn?t I wouldn?t have a job (seriously this economy sucks, so keep visiting and reading). What I am asking is that you don?t copy what I say, or others say, to decide YOUR opinions. If you look past the front page of news sites you will often find a vibrant forum community. WrestleView has a fantastic forum that throws ideas around on a daily basis. You can use these to express your personal beliefs and perhaps find that you aren?t as alone as you might think.
People just take the whole business way too seriously. I don?t know how to break this to you, but Professional Wrestling is fake. No but seriously, the entire concept of the sport is a farce. The outcomes are predetermined and based around lies meant to entertain the viewers as storylines. Some people just need to lighten up. Nothing is real!
I?m sick and tired of listening and reading the multitudes who rail against the product on the daily basis. Personally, I go all around the web to gather news and read commentary and some of the stuff is beyond irritating to read. One website in particular doesn?t even list TNA in their headlines, they always refer to the company as ?WCW Thunder?. That’s exactly what grinds against my nerves. I?m not Mr. Optimism, but how can you possibly hope to enjoy something if you won?t give it a chance?
When I was working my summer job I was constantly bombarded by people complaining on a daily basis. It wasn?t the best job in the entire world, but I worked in an amusement park. Seriously, if you can?t find something even quirky fun about handing out prizes and playing games all day then you amaze me. I quickly learned that if you went in thinking the day would suck, it probably would. But if you could walk in with at least an open mind, you might get a laugh or two.
Those guys WANT wrestling to fail. They grasp at every opportunity, however slight, to point out its flaws. They?ve built themselves up with reputations of besmirching the business, so where would they get their entertaining attack bits if wrestling was great? Not every site is careful in selecting news and making sure their facts are correct before posting them. They?ll jump on every piece of gossip and trash that someone makes up for the chance of damaging the business. WrestleView’s professionalism in that manner is one of the things that make it great, that and of course that they have me (couldn?t resist).
Somebody actually said that the only reason they watched a PPV that they ?knew would suck? is because they ?had? to in order to write about it. No, you didn?t! There are so many news stories, shows, and issues each and every week to write about that you DON?T have to watch a given company or show. He’s glad they haven?t perfected the technology that would allow me to reach through the computer screen and punch him in the face, because if they had he wouldn?t be watching ANY shows for awhile. Honestly the worst thing you could do is to watch the show when you think it will suck. Hey, news flash if you think it will fail, it probably will in your eyes. Save unsuspecting readers the time they would waste on your narcissistic semantics and instead if you are compelled to write, find something in wrestling to write about that you do enjoy!
This is not to suggest that people should not point out what’s wrong with the product, negativity IS necessary. But when you haven?t written a positive word in a year regarding the product, maybe it’s time to find another product to pick up as a hobby. Just a suggestion.
For that’s the problem that I have been dealing with more and more as of late. I feel as though I am the only one actually enjoying the product. This has been building in me for several months, but fortunately I know this is not true. I know this because of the e-mails I get each week from readers thanking me for my optimism and being a beacon of truth when they can?t find it in other places.
I?m leaving you with this abridged column with a simple message pleading for you to embark on the personal quest for knowledge and beliefs (did I say simple message?). The wealth of resources available for the pro wrestling fan in 2009 is quite frankly absurd. If you are curious, you can pretty much find anything you need. Question everything, and decide for yourself. As bizarre as it may seem for me to say this, I implore you to doubt everything I say, and to question every belief that I have. It is debate that will inspire both you and I to grow and improve.
I?ll be back next week with a more orthodox column, but take my words to heart. It?ll be more fun for all of us if you do!
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