It seems in our postmodern world that the only way to exist is to be famous, everyone wants to get onto the telly these days, from reality TV to Pop Idol. Even WWE have their own tough enough series where each week they give a little more of the business away.
It is the same with every wrestler, I don’t think there is a guy or girl who hasn’t dreamt of being a household name. I also believe that every promotion wants to be the one to break it into the mainstream and bring back the glory days of World of Sport.
Along comes the wrestling channel and everyone gets excited about the media coverage that could be afforded to them, only to realise that for nearly a year now, the only British company to get a show is FWA. I am not going to criticise TWC, they are a business and they’re all about making a profit, so ask yourself why they should invest in small promotions?
The answer is they won’t, I have the feeling that a lot of the promotions out there feel that they are good enough for television when clearly they aren’t. That’s not a criticism of them or their talent at all, it is just that sometimes people are so involved and so close to a project that they can’t see the flaws that are glaringly obvious to other people.
Some would say that using a tried and tested formula, also known as mimicking another more successful promotion, is the way forward. However, if the idea is to use this formula for UK television, you need to make sure that you are the first there, or you will find that a label of trying to be X promotion befalls the company. If you don’t care about that, or there is a market for it, does that matter?
Some believe that a central organisation would be critical to joining forces and making a supercard show that could go to television, but who decides? With the amount of arguing that involves rival promotions, do you really think they would let each other decide their own fates? Nah, me neither.
I can hear you thinking it, so what is the answer? Well I don’t have all the answers; I only know what I would do if I ever owned a promotion, which could be right or wrong, I would have to find out myself.
I only know a few little tricks so far from what I have learned off experienced promoters. Firstly when it comes to advertising a show, nobody cares who you are; you may have that wonderful promotion name, but all people care about really is wrestling.
Blackball the troublemaking or glory seeking talent out there, and yes, there are plenty who would sell their Gran for a place on a show, and it’s better if everyone is concentrating on the show rather than listening to someone’s petty vendetta.
I think I would also pay some trusted aides to help me not worry so much about things going wrong, leaving it to them to sort out, but then again, how many promoters can leave anything to anyone?
I think the point is that if the quality of the show is honestly good enough for TV, and I mean everything from quality talent, production, fireworks, wrestlers wearing proper wrestling attire, etc, then it is probably good enough for TV.
But to be honest, you are always at the mercy of a TV producer’s whims anyway!
The one thing most will forget about is the lazy factor, will people still pay £10 to see you if they can just watch you on the telly? Or will the TV company compensate you for your loss of custom?
Finally, who is going to take seriously a TV wrestling show with no audience?
Well that’s it for me, make sure you read some of the other great stuff that comes from Adam and Scott, and keep looking at the newsboard run by Goldy.
Just want to say a quick “hi” to Ace Anderson, who I met last Sunday in Malvern… whataguy!
Keep safe,
Saracen