Before I delve into my own perspective on the present state of pro wrestling, let me first post the thoughts I received from “Big” Andy Mac via email just a few minutes ago.
In addition, don’t forget to tune into The Wrestle Radio Reunion Special this Saturday, October 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time) on WHRW Binghamton 90.5 FM. All you have to do to listen from anywhere in the world is log onto www.whrw.org and click on the “Listen Live” button. Andy Mac and I will both be on the air, along with a panel of our fellow wrestling friends and fanatics, and it promises to be a fun time. If time permits, we may field some phone calls at (607) 777-2137, so make sure you have your opinions readily available! Click here for more information.
Okay, so what is the state of pro wrestling? and how exactly does one examine three wrestling organizations of interest?
Here’s what Andy Mac had to say on the subject:
I am actually going to take a little time and do a little compare and contrast of the state of wrestling today. I am going to separately compare RAW and Smackdown. After that I will compare the WWE as a whole to arguably the number 2 and 3 feds in the country at this time: NWA:TNA and RoH (Ring of Honor).
[To compare] RAW vs. Smackdown, I will use 4 basic criteria to determine which in my opinion is better: Match Quality; Repetitiveness; McMahonitude; and Hype/Storylines.
Here goes nothing:
Match Quality:
RAW: With the exception of Chris Jericho, RVD, Lance Storm, Christian and the occasional gem from the likes of Booker T, HBK, Orton or Ric Flair … the wrestling on RAW simply sucks a big one.
[Editor’s note: See La Resistance, Jonathan Coachman, Mark Henry, Maven (sorry, he just does not do it for me, on the microphone or otherwise), and so on and so forth]
Smackdown: With the exception of Taker’s spottiness, Big Show’s gastrointestinal fits, the Bashams (who are still green) and the aging APA, Smackdown presents fine wrestling night in and night out.
[Editor’s note: See Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Tajiri, and so on and so forth.]
Advantage: Smackdown
Repetitiveness:
RAW: Two words and a letter: Fuck Triple H. I am so sick of him, I hope he gets VD from Steph cheating on him.
[Editor’s Note: VD stands for venereal disease, which is what Stephanie could have gotten from cavorting with every pro wrestler on the roster since adolescence.]
Smackdown: The main event picture has remained the same for most of the year, but Brock and Kurt put on consistent three and a half star matches or better. Brock vs. Taker is a repeat but that is the only match that we have seen before on the upcoming No Mercy PPV.
Advantage: Smackdown
McMahonitude:
RAW: A little Shane with a side of Linda, not so annoying.
Smackdown: OVERLOAD
Advantage: RAW
Hype and storylines:
RAW: Other than the Triple H threshold, nothing cohesive is going on at any given moment on RAW. The main event last week, Christian vs. RVD – which had history and involved two great workers – was mentioned once and then given ten minutes. This match involved the number two belt on the show and two workers that had a past to build upon … C’mon, it’s not rocket science.
Smackdown: The main event is the focus of every show. Feuds are being started, continued or ended every week, and the writers are committed to heel and face turns that for the most part make sense.
Advantage: Smackdown
Winner: No surprise … Smackdown
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WWE vs. TNA vs. RoH
Criteria: Match Quality; Storylines; and Production Values
Match Quality:
WWE: See Raw and Smackdown comparisons above.
NWA:TNA: The X-division is a thing of beauty and occasionally there is a good match outside of that, such as the tag team cage match or a lot of AJ Style’s work; otherwise, the product is still very sloppy.
RoH: With the exception of the “a-bit-too-often” garbage match, meaning a spot fest with weapons and blood, I have never seen better wrestling.
Winner: RoH, second: WWE, third: TNA
Storylines:
WWE: Inconsistent all over the place, but there are the occasional diamonds in the rough that make for compelling television.
[Editor’s Note: As an example of a compelling storyline, see the Brock Lesnar-Paul Heyman saga, among others.]
NWA:TNA: TNA is weak due to the fact that while there are some things going on that can be promising (e.g., Styles, Raven and the X Division), Russo is a complete idiot.
RoH: It is difficult with semi-monthly shows, but the website gives history of the big matches and the promos exclusive to the videos tell a lot.
Winner: Tie between WWE and RoH, third: NWA:TNA
Production Values:
No need for debate here, as WWE is still hands down the best at promotional production packages.
[Andy Mac’s Side Note: Ticketmaster’s number 7 hot ticket last week was WWE, of course for WrestleMania XX sales but at number 9 was Ring of Honor, who sell at most 1200 tickets for an event.]
Overall winner: I have to give the edge to RoH. My only hope is that it doesn’t get too big for its proverbial britches and lose viable venues because it can’t appease its growing fan base. If you have not yet seen it and RoH comes anywhere near you, by all means buy tickets.
-“Big” Andy Mac
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In the above commentary, “Big” Andy Mac makes a very good case in each of his arguments. I do agree with him for the most part, especially as it pertains to Smackdown having the current advantage over Raw. We all know why this is the case, and even though Triple H is surrounded by big names, his detrimental effect on the Raw product is just insurmountable at this point.
If you think about it, the Triple H Threshold – that is, the point at which a wrestler can no longer be elevated due to backstage politicking and innate jealousy on the part of those business casual main eventers who aren’t as good as they once were so they hold on for dear life by marrying the boss’ daughter to remain atop the WWE food chain – has reached a ludicrous point on Raw. For me, personally, it’s to the point that when I see RVD win the Intercontinental belt I suspect that he won not because the writers thought he was deserving and that this will be a stepping stone to the World Championship but instead he won it because they wanted to appease pissed off fans that are sick of seeing RVD – and Booker T and Chris Jericho and
Even when Triple H finally dropped the belt, the cynicism in me had become so deeply rooted that I am not thinking that he is graciously stepping aside to give someone else a chance to lead the Raw brand. I feel like Triple H truly believes that Goldberg is a mere placeholder for him so that he can go off and get married and f*ck Stephanie up the ass during their honeymoon without having to worry about getting f*cked from behind himself – albeit proverbially – from a bevy of better and more entertaining Raw brand superstars.
Instead of fighting over the IC belt, imagine guys like Christian, RVD, Randy Orton and Jericho all vying for the World Heavyweight belt instead. This would give Raw something that it hasn’t had in a long time: fresh talent to work with that produce feuds and storylines of significance to increasingly knowledgeable fans.
Frankly, I am sick of past WCW and WWE storylines being reintroduced and cloaked under “new” circumstances that all equate to the same old bullshit that has been going on since Triple H took over the brunt of main event airtime on Raw.
The insertion of big names on the Raw roster can no longer cover up WWE’s fallibility, and right now is the perfect time for NWA:TNA to make a bold move like signing Hogan and putting on a Sunday PPV. Right now is the perfect time for RoH to hit the ground running and produce a solid independent product that slowly but steadily grows and harnesses its fan base.
Right now is the perfect time for the state of pro wrestling to undergo a true power shift that would undoubtedly be welcome by angered and/or estranged WWE fans the question is, can the little guys stick it out against big bad Vince?
If one of the two alternatives can manage to catch a few lucky breaks, there just might be a revolution.
That’s all for now PEACE.
-Chris Biscuiti
Chris Biscuiti also writes for moodspins, and has his own little site, too.
