“Not having a wrestling background puts you instantly out of touch with wrestling fans, because unless you do a lot of research, and fast, you have no idea what they want. So it all ties in with start up promotions here in the UK. On the positive side the majority of our promoters do have a wrestling background. They have set up rings, tried their hand at wrestling or done their research as to the viability of a show. Having a grounding in the business before you take on your first show is so important because wrestling has its own etiquette, its own culture, and believe me if you handle things wrong not only will you upset the fans, but you will upset your proposed stable of wresters.”
– Scott Future, Future-Shock #6: Wrestling101.com
The above statement that I made from Future Shock #6 might be one of the gems in my writing so far. Let me re-iterate that I love wrestling, and this column, which will shortly move from the subject of wrestling promoters, is an analysis of what I have learned from blood, sweat and tears devoted to the wrestling industry. Wrestlers come and go, and promoters come and go. The characteristics I have talked about in previous columns such as age, experience, background and professionalism can be reversed on wrestlers. The basics are the same.
“Character”
What separates the “stayers” from the “who were they?” is character.
The most important quality to have is character because if you have respect, or if you can earn respect, half of your work is done. If you’re someone who doesn’t quit, and is willing to try and try again, who can stop you from succeeding in the end? If you lack in the experience stakes, or if you are still young, having character will draw the right people to you.
“There is only one success: to be able to spend your life in your own way, and not to give others absurd maddening claims upon it.”
-Christopher Darlington Morley (1890-1957)
When Vince McMahon and wife pioneered the sports entertainment business they did so on the basis that it was a huge risk, but a risk that could pay off. They must have had a few barriers to overcome when they booked the Boston Gardens for a wrestling show, as many had said it was ill advised. They went ahead and sold out the Boston Garden, all 16,000 seats. They showed resolution of character, and faith. Nothing changes in wrestling: Faith is still a prerequisite of being either a promoter or a wrestler.
Vince McMahon is a man of character, a man who doesn’t know how to quit. Paul Heyman pioneered ECW, and the direction wrestling would take from ECW, in a bingo hall. Sometimes the strangest ideas work, but they work because the captain had direction. A never say die attitude that said “no matter what anyone else thinks, I’m going to make this work… and… if I fail, I’ll get it right next time”.
Nowadays promoters have to undergo even more grilling before they get to prove their worth. Internet forums have provided a route for the educated, and the less than educated, to shout their idea’s from a far, proclaiming that X promotion will fail and Y promotion will succeed. If promoters were to read every post on the Internet they would likely get very paranoid. To prove my point I can already think of several promoters who take in the Internet and become paranoid.
So, you may say, “Why are you writing on the internet?” Well, first of all I do know a shred about what I’m talking about and second, if you read this column regularly you will know that I don’t take pot shots at individual promoters or wrestlers. I’m certainly not anti-internet, far from it, but I do have the sense to see that it has been a thorn in the side of many promoters. Much as the Internet provides an avenue for free advertising, it also creates an unfiltered area for every Tom, Dick and Barry to throw verbal tomatoes at said promoter. So, here in the 90’s, having the character and the faith to succeed is as important today as it ever was.
More next time and thanks for the feedback.
Scott Future