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It’s another in the “Guest Booker” series put out by Shawn and crew and before I go any further let me once again state that the entire set from this series should be mandatory for anyone involved in the business of pro wrestling, and if you own the set you should watch them over and over as there is just too much sound logic and common sense professional wrestling knowledge to grasp in one or two viewings.
My buddy “Corney” in his own unique style does a great job of laying out this angle in fine detail and when you are finished watching you will want the clock to go backward and see this invasion done his way and enjoy every minute of it. Also for those of you who are truly into doing the business right please absorb his views on just the proper way the wrestling business should be operated.
Don’t forget that also in this series are discs done by Kevin Sullivan, Gary Hart, and JJ Dillon to name a few. As a learning tool these are some of the most important discs a future wrestler, booker, promoter can spend their money on, and Jimmy as always is also his entertaining self with some stories to go with the booking.
I first heard it about five years ago at a gathering in Las Vegas when Terry Funk mentioned that UFC was the major competition for WWE, not TNA, and part of his reasoning was that MMA as the UFC presented it was professional wrestling as it was promoted in the early 1960’s. Then as the plots, characters, and skits became goofier, and more outrageous Harley Race said at some point we would be calling it sports cartoons instead of sports entertainment.
“The Experts” decided that these naysayers from my generation were bitter and jealous for some reason, any reason that made them wrong. Then the past couple of years the age bracket for the people complaining that the industry was getting too far away from its roots became much younger. “The Experts” decided these folks weren’t bitter; they just didn’t have a clue as to what they were talking about.
I’ve been singing the same old song in this column for quite sometime that the development of young talent needed to be expanded and put more in the hands of those who actually had a clue about scouting, training, and deciding who and how fast they moved up the ladder. Domestic buy rates are down, along with house show attendance. The storylines are recycled it seems every other week, and bad comedy is used with little success to cover the lack of experience and or talent that some performers have, and more people are complaining about what the overall product has become as it takes on the look of a variety show crossbred with “Saturday Nite Live” (I just saw the old restaurant skit from the 70’s if you remember Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! With Ackroyd & Belushi in a modified version).
Many actual serious and talented veteran performers question the product in private, but in the past week a couple of high profile legitimate experts have questioned the breed. Jim Ross mentioned in a blog that they need to quite trying to reinvent the wheel and just use some basic pro wrestling logic (my phrasing not his) and God bless him; Chris Jericho came out and asked who was going to mind the store when the current crop of veterans decided to hang up their tights? A great couple of observations and questions which quite frankly no one either has the answer for or just ignores the only answers that qualify.
There are good young athletes in the business, but it takes several years and the experience of working with seasoned and talented veterans to become a factor, and before the decision can be made if you will be a headliner. I don’t care that the television matches for the lions share are laid out step by step in the locker room. To be a leader in the ring you must be able to shift gears at a moments notice, and be able to create and change direction if necessary, and the only way to acquire that talent is to practice it over and over with people that have the skills and can teach you.
It can’t be read in a book, or downloaded off the internet, nor can a script writer factor it in while creating a segment, in fact the chances are the script writer may not even know what the hell we are discussing here, and why should they? The teaching we are talking about here needs to start at the beginning at the entry level independents as they did back in the day, and if that’s old school so be it, as it is also intelligent and good business, and how the current top performers (I an talking about the ones that can lead and work) got to where they are the best.
OK, that’s my logic for this week; now everyone put their head back in the sand Ostrich style, and we will pretend we don’t see you.
Last week’s TNA was more solid then it has been in quite a while, but still needs to can some of the wit, and dwell more on trying to get the viewers involved with storylines and the performers involved. Taz was also solid as the new color man, but I would in some logical way separate him from the MEM and Joe and let him just call it down the middle from the eyes of a former veteran wrestler with an analyst's slant which isn’t being done on anyone’s program.
“Summerslam” in the books, and most reports said it was solid, with the Hardy/Punk match as the highlight of the pay per view which is no surprise.
Bryan Danielson signing with WWE for the second time is the talk of the industry. I have my fingers and toes crossed hoping they actually use him in a position which will spotlight his strengths. I believe that Bryan has the tools to be all the things I mentioned a young break out star should be earlier in this column. Danielson is just a bit bland personality wise (but please don’t ruin the wrestler by hanging some goofy gimmick around his neck) and I would get him a tan. These are the only two things I would tweak.
I along with the fans of ROH will miss having him lock up with the likes of Nigel, Richards, Noah’s crew and wrestlers of that level, but there is the opportunity for great matches in WWE with Jericho, Michaels, Finely, Regal, and Punk to name a few. I would love to see him and Jamie Noble get it on.
One final comment before wrapping this up. I listened to “The Mikes” Raw recap this week, and want to thank Mike Epsenhart for his rant about those not listening to the veterans of this industry. Mike I totally agree, and I owe you lunch.
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 detail on the company go to www.epwt.com . To book an EPWT seminar, 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 favorite bookstore, or PW Insider Super Store.
This year’s Harley Race/Pro Wrestling Noah will be September 28th thru October 2nd at Harley’s school in Eldon, MO. This year’s special guest is Ric Flair. Space is limited so for information go to www.harleyrace.com.
Join Les and Host Rich Tate every Wednesday night at 9: PM EST with their special guests for “Peach State Pandemonium” by clicking on
