Log

That's becoming more prevalent in all wrestling. I hate it, too. Maybe it's just me, but now that we're seeing more of what WWE wants from wrestlers via NXT and all of the performance center stuff you can watch on youtube, etc., I feel like more up-and-coming wrestlers are trying to fit that mold. They're not developing their character naturally, they're trying to fit themselves into what they think WWE wants. It's not just pro wrestling. Athletes from as early as high school try to talk like pros in boring, meaningless soundbites. Sports anchors all try to sound like ESPN anchors from the minute they're out of broadcast school. I guess its a by-product of there being fewer and fewer options due to all of the media conglomeration that's happening. Better try to be what the big company wants to up your chances of success. I just feel like it's sucking the personality out of these things.

Why would you try to convince her otherwise? Kayfabe, yo!

I agree. For a story to work, the beats of it need to be meaningful. Without selling, the beats of a match are not as meaningful. Selling not just in the ring, either. Selling has to happen in promos, stipulations, etc. If those sorts of things aren't "sold" as a big deal, they don't matter, just like not selling a leg makes the work done on it during a match not matter.

I think that wrestling on any level needs to simply focus on storytelling. That's it. It can be shootstyle, spotty, hardcore, WWE, AEW, whatever, but they need to tell a story. It doesn't have to be a complicated story, it just needs to make sense. I really think that if more promotions broke it down to that, they'd be better off. That's what hooks people. If the in-ring is lacking, a compelling story can still draw you in. If the in-ring is awesome, a compelling story can make it the most memorable thing ever. Everything you look back on fondly in wrestling has involved a solid story. Whether it's the Mega-Powers exploding or the Kikuchi and Kobashi/Can-Ams match, it's had a story. Not to go all Tyrion in the last episode of Game of Thrones, but people are drawn to stories. Doesn't matter age, race, gender, anything. Everyone loves a good story. So, just do that.

Has anyone told Vince that no one watches shows live anymore? People are going to catch AEW and NXT on demand or on their dvr or whatever. You really don't have to choose one over the other. It's never been easier to watch both. Also, if AEW is at least enough of a success to stay in business and offer good pay to wrestlers, it'll be a win for wrestling. In my opinion, they don't have to go out there and be WCW and actually beat WWE in the ratings. They just need to stay alive and not turn into a joke like TNA/Impact. Offer workers a place where they can still be paid well AND they can get some creative satisfaction? That'll change the landscape of pro wrestling more than a ratings win will.

This! I would be so happy if I never had to see a damn evil authority figure in pro wrestling again. It's so played out and tired. Hell, it was tired 10+ years ago. That's one thing NXT does well. Regal is more the tough but fair authority figure. They need to go back to a more neutral leader.

Thanks, homie!

My sentiments exactly. I don't know how a rational wrestling fan can be happy with what WWE has put out the last few years. I don't mean in-ring action. There's been a ton of great stuff there. I just mean in terms of storytelling and presentation. I hope AEW succeeds for a couple reasons: 1) More good wrestling for me to watch for free and 2) Hopefully, an improvement to Vince's product. Wrestling, in general, needs a kick in the pants, IMO. I've said here before, I feel that the presentation of wrestling has gotten really stale. Everyone has a heel authority figure. Everyone has a Titantron-type screen on their entranceway. Commentators sound the same. Every wrestler has a designated pose they have to hit on their entrance. Now, unfortunately, AEW is falling into a couple of these things already. I hope they can find some actual unique ways to present themselves. Let's get a shakeup already! C'mon!

I want to check out some Jacob Fatu. Any recommendations of matches to start with?

Gargano/Cole in a two-hour ironman match! The big question is, does Mauro make it to USA?

While I know he did a lot of good/great stuff in TNA, I’d say AJ Styles in New Japan. AJ has never been outright bad, but he got saddled with some really poor storylines that had (IMO) taken the shine off him a bit. In NJ, he got to remind people how good he is.

Fuck. Now I really want them to sign Prince Nana.

Exculgent? Indcessive? Indulgecessive?

I was thinking about Zach Galifianakis' "Between to Ferns" as a template on how to book Cassidy. The first few episodes, the guests seemed to thing he was going to ask them normal talk show questions and were surprised by him insulting them. Then, Ben Stiller came on, and he had seen how Galifianakis treated guests, and he went after him right away. Have Cassidy leave a couple opponents dumbfounded for a few weeks to introduce him. Then, have someone face him, but they're ready for his schtick. They jump him to start and don't let him fuck around with them. Then you go from there with the stuff FMKK suggested.

Shut the company down. They had a nice run, time to pack it in.

I’m going to be the old man yelling at a cloud here, but: A professional wrestler should not be responding to “reviews” of their matches. He should be talking about how he’s going to get revenge for the loss/win back his championship/hurt the opponent who wronged him. Fuck this “putting on a great show” bullshit.

Wait. Is Dave saying that Roman’s not a big star because no one “popped” in the movie theater for his Samoan Drop?

I cannot tell you how much I love this post.

Uh, I don't think we use "banged" in the same way.

I didn't appreciate it at the time, but I now consider myself lucky to have seen Harley at the old Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. It was a WWF show, but still, it was The King on his home turf.

Yes, but can he convincingly look shocked that a move he has never won a match with only got a two-count?

Lol! There's a great history of attempted murder in pro wrestling. Hell, I think Roman's been on the receiving end four or five times in his relatively short career. How many dudes got run down by a car in Memphis over the years? I'm gonna sound like a broken record, but I wouldn't have had such a problem with the segment without the over-production. First off, when have we ever seen a backstage interview where the interviewer is in the staging area and the talent is announced as they were walking toward them? Never. At most, they're usually standing just off screen. Ok, I do have a background in television, so bear with my, uh, fantasy production booking. This should all be done with one camera. Start on the interview. She's getting set, says something like, "Ok. Here's Roman. You rolling?" You here the camera guy say yeah. He's still on the interviewer. She's fixing her hair, etc. Then she suddenly looks toward where Roman's walking, yells, "Oh my god! Look out!" The camera swings over and catches the rigging just as it falls on Roman, then runs over and keeps rolling as everyone runs over to help. That's how it would actually happen in that kind of situation. Lends it a little more "realness" even if it is a ridiculous situation (which it definitely is, Gordi!). There's a good rule of thumb with anything creative, which I consider production choices to be: don't do something just because you can. I trained videographers and editors for over 10 years. With enough time and the right technology, almost anything is possible. That doesn't mean you should always do it.

I just saw Roman’s accident. Fucking Christ. Just as we’re talking about over producing shit, this thing airs. I counted at least four cameras used to shoot that. Probably five or six, really. Why the fuck is there a camera mounted on the rigging that fell on him? How are they able to cut to it with no notice that it’s going to happen? Good production happens when you don’t notice it. I definitely notice this crap.

Gross.

This is totally correct. They are waaaaay over-produced. The worst thing to me is when they have a "spontaneous" segment. Like some of those backstage Braun things with the ambulance and semi truck. One on of them (don't remember which), there were cameras INSIDE the vehicle. That takes you right out of the moment and screams in your face that it's a planned stunt. One camera, struggling to catch up with Strowman, then capturing him tipping the ambulance or whatever would be so much better.