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/wrestling /guests /Root |
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/wrestling /guests /Root |
| Guest Columns | Jerry Root |
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THE MAT POTATO So, just when you thought it was safe to read Slash again, up pops the old potato. It's rather funny how things work out. After my last (first) column, I got an e-mail that pretty much said "hey, you can't live in the past", and I know that. It doesn't stop me from missing the wrestling of my youth. Then I bought this weeks TV Guide, and they had a rather interesting article on soap operas. (No, I don't watch any soaps other than the WWF and WCW occasionally). The point the author made struck home as the same points that were made about the daily soaps could apply to the wrestling business we all know and love so much. The first point brought out is the tendency to move away from the established, mature audience to the younger generation. This is done in a variety of ways. On the soaps, the stories are more about young people, and less about the older generations and their problems. It's shifted to beautiful people having problems with other beautiful people. In the wrestling biz, it seems that more attention is being paid to what is perceived as the younger perspective. (In fact, I read an article that made reference to the WWF's pre-pubescent male target audience.) When I was young, wrestling was predominantly aimed at the adult audience. Not so much for the violence, or what have you, it was simply perceived as another sport. Most professional wrestlers had started in school, worked up the amateur ranks, done their time in the indies, gotten the living daylights beaten out of them by veterans, and learned their craft. Those that had the in-ring charisma to move up, did so. Those who didn't get over, well they vanished. Today, it's all about "personality". How many times have I read where so-and-so "has great ring skills, but sucks on the stick"? The focus has shifted away from in-ring talent to who can create the most heat, who can sell the most merchandise, and above all, who can make the most money for the company. Bookers aren't concerned with the product any more. In fact, the in-ring antics are a mere backdrop to the story lines. We have moved on from being a sport to being a spectacle. Which brings me to the other point that the TV Guide article brought out. They questioned whether some of the older, established stars, would even be let in the door should they be starting out today. Would the fans be behind some of the greatest names from the past today, if they were just starting out? Would Bruno Sammartino be greeted with "needs help on the mic" comments? Would Ed "Strangler" Lewis be relegated to the lower mid-card because he couldn't work the stick? Would Lou Thesz even be put on the card? And what about 20 years from now? What standards will we be setting for our entertainment then? Food for thought. Jerry Root freelance Mail the Author |
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