Everyone has some sort of ambition in life, be it their profession, the type of girl or guy they want to marry when they grow up, learning to play an instrument or even just to get their work done so they can go out for a pint with their mates. I have discovered through talking with other wrestlers that ambition is great, but wrestling works on many levels and I would like to share with you what I have discovered.
First of all I would like to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition, without the ambition to do or succeed in something you will get nowhere. In fact just having the ambition to become a wrestler has nobility to it, but it doesn’t beget the work it takes to get there. There is a difference between ambition and achieving it, how you go about fulfilling your ambition is entirely up to you.
Many have the ambition to be in the WWE, to be that wrestler that everyone loves or hates, that is an ambition to be admired, but I don’t share it. Why? Well, I am a “right here right now” sort of person, I keep my ambitions short, in essence I know that I am no where near fit or experienced enough to get into the WWE. My ambition at the moment is to be the type of wrestler that every other wrestler in the UK would love to fight. If, while I was doing it, WWE came along and offered me a contract, I most certainly would not say no.
I have discovered that wrestling is multifaceted, the easiest level to get into is right here, the Internet, and this is one of the public faces of UK wrestling. However, underneath that there are layers and layers of people involved in wrestling, names that you will probably have never heard of, names that have been in the business for years. With that in context, there are a hell of a lot of people I need to convince that I am the man that they want to wrestle anytime, anyplace.
You may have realised by now, that my ambition has become a pretty big thing to fulfil. To a lot of wrestlers, these columns I write won’t mean a thing to them, they are, in effect a wrestler sharing, albeit without giving the game away, his thoughts and learning journey throughout his career, to people who are interested. For those who think that because I write this I am trying to ‘make it’ in the scene, as far as I am concerned I know that I’m going to have to work a little harder than a column a week to reach my ambition.
There are a lot of people in wrestling who prefer a more personal touch when it comes to dealing with people, and quite rightly so. A phone call is a lot more personal than an email, and talking to someone directly is even better. I always think if someone can look you in the eye and tell you to your face that they think you need to improve, then you are more likely going to try and improve because they’ve taken the time out to tell it to you and not hide behind the relative anonymity of an Internet handle. When people who’ve been in the business for decades come up to you and give you advice on how they think you can improve your character and gimmick, it also adds a personal touch, that they are talking to you and not just another wrestler. It also shows they’ve recognised you as a wrestler and that is something no one can take away from you.
When one discovers how big the UK scene really is, it is pretty humbling and humble is the key word, to the UK scene, I am just another wrestler who has to prove himself, and to prove myself I have to be humble and not get above my station. You may be holding the belt to your local company, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to walk into anyone else’s company and think you are the champion there.
I have always been of the opinion that, when working independently, I take every table scrap and small morsel thrown to me. I am not ‘too good’ for anything and I have found that this opinion has earned me respect, it also gets me work. It is the only real way to get your name thrown about. I started wrestling with a run in; I worked 3 hours of preparation for the show with about a minute of exposure and I appreciated it. I will do rumbles and be the first man thrown out, I’ve turned up to the show originally doing a singles match, to find that someone has changed their mind and I am part of a three man tag without complaint. I will do anything to prove to people that I can work for them and be a part of making their show a success. That is what I am prepared to do in my ambition to become a wrestler everyone wants to fight. It also affords you in the privileged position of making new friends and acquaintances.
The one pet peeve of most wrestlers tell me about is someone coming in, shooting their mouth off, sticking their opinion in where it isn’t wanted, then putting on a show that puts themselves across as great. This is the person who wants to work for as many big names as possible, just to stick it on their own web site and bask in their own glory and to be honest, I am beginning to share this opinion. I know what some people are going to say; I stick my opinion in by writing these columns, but the difference is you don’t have to read them. The two critical things are, I was asked to write these columns and what I say here can never affect the success of a show.
In the hidden facets of the UK scene, word of mouth is by far the strongest method of communication. Your reputation always precedes you, if you are the type who does mouth off in the locker room, other wrestlers are going to know about it. If you work hard, do your best but are a little green, wrestlers will know about it and will probably help you to improve, by giving you advice or working with you. If you turn down an offer of work because you want better, that is going to get round too and you will find work opportunities will dry up quicker than saliva in a cracker eating competition.
So despite ambition, I have discovered that the important thing is how you go about achieving it. There are a lot of mistakes to be made, the wrestling world is littered with funny stories about wrestlers who did what, be it good or bad. To the UK scene, just because you do well in your little corner of it does not pay to think that anyone else gives a damn about you, you have no right to a match, you have to start from green at every promotion you work for, prove yourself and earn respect.
To sum it all up, ambition in wrestling is worth something, it will give you that nerve to cheekily ask someone for a spot on a show, but it shouldn’t be an excuse to have an “attitude”, gaining the wrong sort of reputation in wrestling. It isn’t a question of what you can get out of wrestling, it is a question of what can you bring in, you are there to help it grow and not to feed off it. A piece of Gold around your waist should never be as important as gaining the respect of your peers.
This week will see Scott Future talk about MMA training and how utilising it in Pro Wrestling gains a unique advantage. Plus Goldy will be with you on Saturday for the UK Scene weekly. I personally would like to say, keep your opinions coming on the UK scene, a lot of my tenets reflect the discussions there at the time and I do like to keep with the current topic of discussion.
Without trying to sound arrogant (I know I do to some people), if there is anything you would like me to explore in the UK scene, any questions, comments or criticisms don’t be afraid to email me at saracen@wrestling101.com, I’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, buy that ticket, take your seat and let the UK scene entertain you.
Saracen