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A young man overheard me conversing about the passing of both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett on the same day and asked “Does that really have an effect on you?” Hell yes it had an effect on me and millions of others.
I had a Farrah poster in my bachelor pad as it was an in thing, and like every other red blooded American male I would loved to have been Lee Majors (her husband at the time). But more importantly I was extremely impressed and touched by the recent biography that aired on TV chronicling her battle with cancer. She refused to hold anything back to preserve her image as a sexy lady. All the raw details were laid on the line, and you had to be impressed with her openness and courage. I was truly touched because she and partner Ryan O’Neal were not able to be married before her passing.
Michael Jackson, quite simply one of the greatest entertainers I have ever seen, and I have seen a few. I became a fan the first time I saw The Jackson Five on the old Ed Sullivan Show and little Mike did his version of James Brown dance moves. Jackson was the complete performer. He could sing, dance, and had the charisma to connect with his audience (those trying to be wrestlers take note the word is c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e).
Both these people were icons, and for very different reasons they will be talked about and chronicled in pop history for years to come. I believe like many it ate away at a little of my history when hearing the news.
This Saturday is not only the Birthday of our nation but also my 49th yes, 49th anniversary in the crazy business of professional wrestling (but I realize not nearly as important). My first match if I haven’t mentioned it for a while was July 4, 1960 in Blue Hills, Maine against Cowboy Ronnie Hill. My second match was the same night in a tag partnered by Joe “Red” Sasso facing Hill and Bull Montana. It never crossed me mind that I still might be involved almost a half century later.
Through all the ups and downs, changes for better and for worse, positives and negatives I still, sometimes surprisingly have a passion and love for this industry. I made an analogy to Rich Tate the other night on the weekly talk show about music that back in the fifties I loved Rhythm & Blues but the top 40 stations wouldn’t play the Black artists, and instead they gave us the watered down version by inept white singers and it just wasn’t the same, so I listened to the Black stations to get the true feel for the R & B sound. The more I thought about that comparison the more I realized that too much of what the wrestling business offered today is the watered down version of the art of professional wrestling, with a touch of the art all too seldom. However I can’t change the dial and find the true art a hundred percent of the time…But I refuse to give up hope, and I’m still passionate about the biz I have devoted my entire adult life to. Got my fingers crossed in hopes of seeing fifty years and still being able to teach the art of something that has dominated my life so many years?
I was asked about Edge and Chris Jericho winning the tag team championships this past Sunday night. You can’t question the fact that these two might make up the strongest tandem in recent memory, but then you also have to ask why put the titles on two of the most over performers in this company and in the industry?
The only thing I can imagine making sense is this will point WWE toward rebuilding the tag division, and using two of their strongest heels will elevate whomever works with them, and make the belts more important then they have been in a very long time.
Let’s be honest and realize that titles are changed and thrown around so much currently that they have been rendered almost meaningless. In my opinion the ROH singles title has more steam then any other because of the way it has been featured to build its importance. Given time, I have no doubt that Chris and Edge could both make the belts more important as well as the division, but neither of these guys needs a belt to get over at this point in their career, and right now I believe that the main use of same is to spotlight and feature a talent you are trying to elevate. It would be a wise step for the company to rebuild the importance of tag teams, but I just don’t see it in the cards.
With several of the new faces on ECW coming from Florida Championship Wrestling this is the chance for that brand to be the very next step in the developmental process. But for that to really be of value two things have to happen or not happen as it were. First instead of harnessing this new faces with some writers idea of who they should be, the smart move would be to find out just how well they can perfect them own personalities and mature as performers. If they are saddled with excess baggage at the start it only makes their growth much more difficult. Second they need to be brought along slowly in the ring in terms of not being cannon fodder for the veterans on the brand, but not being pushed to the moon when they aren’t mentally ready for that either.
I honestly believe that they can create fan interest in these kids by allowing then to struggle, and grow as part of the story lines they are involved with. Fans of pro sports get interested in watching rookies develop and struggle through a maturing process to reach their full potential. There is a fine line here, and it will take the in the trenches experienced minds of the legends behind the scenes to tell the less experienced people concocting the storylines exactly how to walk that line. Simply, you can’t know if you haven’t been there. All this would be of value in evaluating the talent and deciding on their direction for the future; but is there really a chance it will happen?
Hats off to Jericho and Rey Rey for stealing the show at the Bash.
Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
Les and Harley Race form Elite Pro Wrestling Training along with the principles left by former staff members Ricky Steamboat and Dr. Tom Prichard. For information on the company go to www.epwt.com . To book an EPWT seminar, training camp, or trainer contact Les at les@epwt.com .
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout & Instructional Guide” by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at your local bookstore or the PWInsider SuperStore.
The annual Harley Race/ Pro Wrestling Noah training camp is set for September 28th thru October 2nd at Harley’s school in Eldon. MO. This year’s special guest is Ric Flair. You can sign up now. For details go to www.harleyrace.com .
Join Les and host Rich Tate every Wednesday night with special guests on “Peach State Pandemonium” at 9: PM EST by clicking on www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com .
