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http://www.1wrestling.com/columns/vivalalucha/default.asp?B1=View+Column&articleid=11833

DAVID WEBBER LOOKS AT WRESTLING'S FAMINE   
    
2/24/2004 1:38:00 PM  
    
 Ken Anderson, Austin Aries and Shawn Davari are moving to Louisville,
KY. The three most promising names on the independent circuit of the
Midwest are going South. In Louisville, they'll be centrally located:
two hours from Nashville, four to Memphis, five to Atlanta, two to
Chicago, three to Milwaukee…
They're moving because the Midwest has dried up. The South, out East,
the West coast - that's where the action is.

Much like the great famines of the 1980's in places like Ethiopia,
professional wrestling is drying up. Oh, there are still independents
around. But because of lackluster houses or, more probably, inept
promoters, the talent that gave this region hope of rebuilding into a
"territory" has up and left. And who can blame them?

Two years ago, CM Punk was the hottest thing in the Midwest. Any
top-notch independent show featured him and Colt Cabana. Two years
later, they have both moved further to the East. Punk finds more
promising work, and has an easier time flying out, from Boston.

There was a time not too long ago when every area of the US had
independents striving and, in some cases, thriving. Not only were
there the WWF and WCW to shoot for, but ECW and SMW as well. Now,
there are burgeoning promotions like TNA, ROH and World-1. But to make
it in any one of the above, you need to be somewhere that has cheaper,
more cost effective airfare. You have to be at a major hub. (Speaking
just for the Twin Cities, Northwest Airlines is our major carrier and
is quite costly). To drive more than three or four hours each way just
doesn't cut it any more, as you exclude yourself from additional
bookings for the weekend unless you're willing to drive without sleep
which could increase your risk of injury. Not to mention the fact that
they need somewhere to hone their ability in the sport to be
attractive in the first place.

Speaking for myself, I have been told on more than one occasion that
there is interest in bringing me in (yes, Russo, people DO still want
to see managers). Promoters are of the impression that I'm somewhere
other than the Twin Cities. Once they find out, the cost of airfare
becomes the major factor in things not working out. And because my
wife makes far more money than I do and my son has roots here, I'm not
just going to pick up and move if there's no guarantee for the future
just to pick up some "supplemental" weekend cash.

So the Midwest (and I'm sure other places) has become a "desert."
There is a significant drought going on and mass exiles as wrestlers
move toward either a mirage or a true tropical haven.

At one point, it didn't make much of a difference where a wrestler
was. They could be used as "enhancement" talent whenever the WWF or
WCW came into town and pick up a few more precious dollars and
experience than they did working in front of ten people. Now, a savvy
wrestler will follow the WWE around the region, hoping to get a dark
match in an effort to be seen. Little do they realize, without the
fanfare of having a name on the indy scene, no one in power with the
WWE will be looking. And many wrestlers on the indy level are naďve in
that they believe they're good enough that the WWE will happen to hear
of them and want to sign them to a contract. They don't understand
that they need to sacrifice their lives and work extraordinarily hard
to get an opportunity. And move to somewhere where the WWE might
actually see them.

Am I waiting for Michael Jackson to save us? Am I waiting for tons of
wrestling superstars to converge and record a hit record, bringing our
plight all humanity?

I don't think it's going to happen. Especially when Michael Jackson
can't even save himself.

It's just another example of how this business runs in such a cyclical
nature that there are times when one must consider if it can go on at
all. MLW shut its doors two weeks ago. A promotion with great promise,
offering fans something unique and special. The cost of bringing in
talent surely must've been a factor.

The argument can be made that if you bring in one or two top names,
you might break even (or even profit) at the gate. But without quality
talent for the rest of the card, the show in its entirety comes across
as pathetic and you won't see a return in numbers at your next show.

The fact of the matter is that, like many other areas, too many
horseshit promoters have squabbled amongst themselves and burned out
the potential fans…and venues.

Yes, independent wrestling is like a third world country – one that is
suffering from the changes around it. Unless a world power steps in to
help (WWE=America in this case), there will be no more wrestling at
the grass roots level in this and perhaps many other regions.

Save the wrestling world? Feed the wrestling children? Is anyone out
there?

SEND WATER!

dwebber1wrestling{at}yahoo.com


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