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/wrestling /guests /Frank |
| Guest Columns | Josh Frank |
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THE STATE OF WRESTLING I am sad to report that wrestling is dead. What's that you say? Where do those 10 plus hours of nationally televised shows come from, or what are they being replaced by if wrestling is dead? They're being replaced by sports entertainment. What's that you ask? Well, combining the definition of sports and entertainment, "sports entertainment" is an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition that amuses and draws audiences. So technically, what we are watching is the definition of sports entertainment. But it is also the definition of sport, as it is a physical exertion that amuses and draws audiences. It is also entertainment, as it is obviously quite amusing and fun to watch. But which one is it primarily? My take is entertainment, as the talking which makes up the primary basis of the show is not physical exertion, and it is not competition as it is predetermined results. So where has the wrestling gone? Both of the "Big Two" organizations have wrestling involved in their names, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. Yet they don't fill the majority of the on-air time with wrestling. On this past Monday's "WCW Monday Nitro Live", 40:24 of a total 178:00 minutes of on-air time (including commercials) took place. That is approximately twenty-two percent of the total time as wrestling, with the rest filled by skits or talking. On Monday's "Raw is War" program, there was 33:53 minutes of wrestling out of 125:00 of total on-air time. This comes out to about twenty-seven percent of on-air time filled by wrestling. What else are the problems? Well, Nitro wasn't as big an offender as Raw in my next complaint department, but there are very few matches that end cleanly, without a run-in to throw the match in someone's favor or cause disqualification and no contests. Nitro had six clean matches, three with run-ins affecting the pinfall or submission, and two resulting in disqualification or no contests. That's not too bad in this day and age of sports entertainment. However, Raw was the leading offender I have seen in awhile in this department. Four matches ended cleanly, three of which were of the tag team variety and one which was a pure comedy match, another four were resulting in disqualification and another ending in a pinfall caused by interference. This is a sad commentary on the state of wrestling as a whole. So what do I think of this sports entertainment? Personally, I'll admit I enjoy the promos and sketches, as I consistently mark out for Chris Jericho in the WWF and Bill Goldberg in WCW (when he's not filming movies of course). But I also mark out for great long matches, like the Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit match from Nitro a few weeks back, or even the twelve minute Survivor Series rules match on Smackdown! this week. I think there can be a happy medium for all fans, where we get an eight minute match that does amaze us with its athletic maneuvers and still progress stories and characters. What's the solution? Nitro, with its three hours of programming, is the perfect opportunity to combine both types of "wrestling." Vince Russo, head WCW creative control, has said that he wants Nitro cut to two hours to allow for less filler material. And he defines filler material as a great match between Hart and Benoit. A great match between Benoit and Dean Malenko, in a special gimmicky match (steel cage), got less than five minutes. Yet Kevin Nash's imitation of Vince McMahon, the rival owner and promoter, got over fifteen total minutes. The times should be reversed for that, as I think a German Suplex from Benoit into the cage and other great sports is enough to entertain any person for fifteen minutes. Raw can move to this format too, but its two hour allows for shorter matches to progress stories. On a whole, wrestling is dead. Sports entertainment is alive and well, but wrestling is dead. Personally, I'll still watch and write about it. I find myself entertained, though not always in the way the writers hope. I guess as long as I keep watching, they don't care whether I'm making fun of Degeneration X and their stupidity or amazed at something which they crafted. Once again, feedback is always welcome at josh-frank@erols.com. And please, feel free to criticize me as well as applaud. And send the rest of the authors mail too, they work hard and don't get paid for this. Josh Frank freelance Mail the Author |
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