|
|
|
|
|
Submitted by Degenerate on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 11:25 AM EST
Ha! You didn't think you'd ever find me here, huh? That's right, say hello to Lords Of Pain's brand new main page columnist, Degenerate! After fifty columns, I got the vaunted call-up from the Columns Forum to the hallowed halls of the Lords Of Pain main page (Sorry for lying to you guys in the Forum). Now I'm able to entertain the masses in an even larger stage. I'm glad to have this chance, and I hope you all become my new faithful readers every time I appear. For those who haven't read any of my columns yet, nor have the slightest idea of who I am, here's some background info for you. I hail from the beautiful and sunny island of Puerto Rico, 26 years old, full-time software developer and geek extraordinaire. I've been a wrestling fan ever since I can remember, thanks to my older brother. While my mind is 90% full of WWE history, I do try to get my fill of other past and present organizations. Other than that, there isn't much else you all need to know, other than the fact that I can write one mean wrestling column from time to time. That's what I plan to do from here on out, so keep a lookout for me every other Tuesday. One thing you'll most likely notice about my writing is that it's a bit different than what most of you people read from other great LOP writers like DaveyBoy and Boss Foxx . My main purpose when writing a new column is try to put something fresh on the table, some topic you all probably don't put too much thought to. While talking about current events is fine, you'll see that I go back in time a lot, and write about things that aren't about what's happening now. You'll probably need a bit getting used to my writing, but I promise, stick with me and I'll be good with everyone. Well, that should suffice for an intro, don't you think? Let's get this party started! Note: This section deals with what's currently going on in the world of professional wrestling. I try to keep this short and sweet, since you'll probably read a thousand other opinions about the same topics. No use in boring you early on. * This past Sunday's show, Judgment Day, came and went by without absolutely any memorable moments at all. From the short matches - can you even call them wrestling matches? - to the bland match-ups that actually took place, I think it's safe to say that this show wasn't worth the 40 bucks some of you pay for it. You can blame the matches for the apparent failure, but I also blame something else: the fact that all Pay-Per-Views now feature superstars from all three brands. Some matches (and wrestlers themselves) could've easily been substituted by more capable performers. I'm sure a tag team match with London and Kendrick against Deuce and Domino would've done much better than the Hardys vs. them cowboys. Even a nice match for the Cruiserweight Championship between Chavo Guerrero and Jimmy Wang Yang could've filled up the time much better. I still think that this decision for the Pay-Per-Views will not help improve those former single-brand shows. But that's just me, and hopefully I'm wrong, for my sanity. * I really wished that there was a disclaimer before last night's Raw program, stating that the show would be replaced by the "Bobby Lashley Variety Hour" instead. Yeah, I dig Lashley as much as the next guy, but really, centering the entire show on him? Isn't that what ECW is for on Tuesday nights? Still, I admit that most of the matches that took place were decent. Even Viscera did a good job... Or maybe I was about to fall asleep, I don't know yet. In any case, I'm not too keen on giving someone almost an hour of multiple skits and matches in a two-hour show. It's not like there's a ton of talent, even the mid-carders, that can be showcased for a little while. With all these damn injuries, I'm sure they'll need some reinforcements soon. * WHAT?!? It's can't be... Scotty 2 Hotty is unemployed? That can't be happening! I swear it has to be one of the signs that the Apocalypse is coming soon! For some reason, this move surprised the hell out of me. I really don't know why Scotty was around for the past six years, but he just seemed like someone who would be with the company until the end of time. Too bad. Now, if Funaki is dropped too, then I'll be seriously convinced that the end of the world is near. The other firings weren't that shocking. I thought that 2 Cold Scorpio / Flash Funk wasn't even with the company to begin with, and that chick from OVW or wherever was just a total stranger. I'm sure they're not the only ones to be fired in this run, so don't be surprised if some other wrestlers are shown the door soon. In the meantime, I'll just join Morpheus from Monday Night Countdown fame and mourn the tragic loss of Ariel, the only real reason I tried my hardest to watch ECW on a weekly basis. * Take your most capable performer who needs surgery, make him insanely popular during a period when he should've really gotten his body healed, and what do you get? A broken-down wrestler when you need him the most. Shawn Michaels should've gotten his knee surgery when he needed it initially last summer. I'm no doctor, but I'm sure that not fixing the knee as soon as possible made it much worse at this time. Now, after a string of injuries to the entire WWE roster, when HBK's talents could've been used to the max, he needs to get the surgery pronto. It's been a while since so many injuries have been had in almost the same time. I think some years back there were many wrestlers out with neck surgeries at almost the same time-frame. It's all happening again. The only good thing that can happen now is that someone steps up their game and grabs one of those new empty spots. There's no Triple H, no HBK and no Undertaker keeping them from getting there. * The word on the Internet is that Montel Vontavious Porter's recent surge in the ring is due to Chris Benoit's willingness to take an unproven rookie and help him in all ways possible. If this is true, then I think Chris Benoit should be given a huge bonus check for doing that. I don't think that too many wrestlers on their way out take the time to do this, for whatever reason. I wish these types of pairings were obligatory, and that every old vet who's still able to work well in the ring takes some green kid and puts him over. I mean, look at how much MVP has grown inside the ring in the past three months. It sure is working, in my eyes. Imagine if Lex Luger had a Chris Benoit to mold him and help him up... Better yet, don't think about it. Note: This is my main section. If you're going to read any section of my column, this should be the one. Have you ever wanted something really bad, that you would give anything to achieve the dream? It could be anything, like being in a rock band and waiting for a record label to give you a recording contract, or a collegiate football player waiting for a call from an NFL team on draft day. Hell, it can even be a Puerto Rican column writer from some forum around the tubes known as the Internet, just waiting to get a message from the webmaster of the best wrestling website around, saying that he could write his columns for thousands to read. I'm sure that professional wrestlers from the Indy scene have those exact same dreams. They need to have them to achieve what they set out to do. I know that no one in their right mind will submit themselves to the pain that a professional wrestler has to endure on a daily basis. No one would want to risk permanent injury for a meager amount of cash, traveling hundreds of miles on beat-up cars to the middle of nowhere, without really wanting to make it to the so-called big leagues of their profession. However, there are so many few people who actually get there, that it's tough to stay focused and motivated for the task. I know I wouldn't last much in this business. That's why I'm relegated to column writing. In a world where everyone wants instant gratification, there aren't a whole lot of people who want to risk everything for a couple of years, just to see if there's a slight window of opportunity to get in one of the big promotions, and get the fame, fortune and respect they want. When shows or segments like Tough Enough or the Diva Search come along, I can't help but feel sorry for those who have been in the business for five, even ten years, who will get left behind in the dust by some inexperienced person off the street who most likely only wants to be seen on TV rather than achieve a lifelong career in professional wrestling. That inexperienced person will also most likely earn more money in their first year with the WWE than the average independent wrestler has made in their entire careers. It's not fair, but it happens. I personally like the "old school" approach in the wrestling business. I think that to get your spot, you need to earn it. And not only earn it, but prove that you want it more than anything else. It should be that way with everything in life. That way, and only that way, you will learn to appreciate things more. In turn, that will make you work harder and get better. How can you expect someone coming in through the back door to actually train after they're in? I'm sure their train of thought is "I'm already in the WWE, why should I train?" I hope none of the previous Tough Enough winners thought that way, although it's been proven with some Diva Search participants already. Still, I know that for a select few, they'll punch in the time necessary to get to where they want to be. Those people will be more prepared, overall, than anyone else getting their foot in the door. If I were a promoter, I'd risk my money on someone who will prove to be reliable in the long haul than your next Mr. Flash-In-The-Pan. Most of the time, all that's needed is just time. As long as they work hard, train right, stay out of trouble, and have the desire to keep on doing what they're doing when there's always the chance that it could end at any moment, it'll happen. They'll probably get some tryouts, some scouts will come look at their progress, but they still have to wait. Then the day comes. After years of sacrificing virtually everything in their life, they finally get the call to come on up. Soon thereafter, the money comes in, and, if they're lucky and blessed, the inevitable fame rolls in as well. They'll be well-respected by their peers, and even the future generation will look up to them. In a few moments, all those years of busting their ass in high school gyms and Indian reservations seemed worth it. They've made it to the big time, and with their destiny fulfilled, life can be lived happily every after. Well... not quite. You see, getting called up is obviously the realization of a dream. In many case, it's a dream that has been with them since they were little boys. But just because they got to where they want to be doesn't mean life is going to be a bowl of cherries from there on out. On the contrary. Once they get there, they're going to have to work even harder. Yep, all those years of blood, sweat and tears means they'll need to shed even more blood, more sweat, and more tears just to stay where they're at. If they're one of those people who worked hard, then this can be viewed as a challenge. No biggie. But time and time again, it's proved to be a detriment to some who just aren't prepared for the culture shock. One of the biggest shocks a wrestler probably gets when joining the WWE is the travel schedule. I don't know the full extent of the travel needed in the company, but from what I've read, it's definitely not for everyone. Including house shows, there are about three to four different cities to go to each week to wrestle. Then you add in those promotional activities, like promoting an upcoming show in some random city, or shilling their own wares, and *poof*, the rest of the week is gone just like that. The next day, they get to start all over again. It's not easy. I'm guessing that's the reason why John Cena has been champion so long and earning some major cash in the process, while a more capable performer (read: better wrestler) in Brock Lesnar is training for some obscure MMA match and surely missing part of those massive paychecks he used to get. Let's say the wrestler actually likes the traveling part of the deal. He's single, no girlfriend, has all the free time to take in the sights of the world. Does that mean his professional wrestling career in the WWE will be all rosy forever? Hell no. One of the juiciest topics in wrestling, possibly ever, is the politics that happen each and every single day behind the curtain. We've all heard the stories of guys like Hogan and Triple H, who supposedly run the place with an iron fist, holding down everyone but their buddies. Whether it's true or not, I can't tell. But I'm sure that the politics do exist, as in any workplace. And sometimes they can be outright evil. I tell you, even if a wrestler wants to be squeaky-clean and avoid any mess, it's simply unavoidable. If they want to get ahead, they'll need to get their hands dirty every once in a while. I doubt that many people got far without getting involved in the daily politics of the business. I'm sure guys like Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero didn't kiss ass to have their respective championship runs. But for every Benoit or Guerrero, there are guys like JBL or Triple H who are notorious for their supposed backstage power. Now I don't know how much ass-kissing is needed to get ahead in the wrestling business, but I'm sure it's a whole lot. Sadly, it's like this anywhere, even in an office job. If you're not ready to play ball, you'll be played yourself. After a wrestler gets used to the business end of the organization, and all the back-stabbing that apparently occurs from what I hear, do you think he's in the clear from here on out? Maybe. But there's still a slew of other problems that can get to them. Some wrestlers need to drastically alter what brought them to the big dance, their entire wrestling style. I'm sure many cruiserweights aren't too fond of being told to tone down their risky maneuvers. And I'm sure that the rigors of traveling and politicking help take up drinking or doping habits just to please their peers. Not that everyone does it, but this has happened more than once. Those long road trips alone aren't pleasant at all. My point of all this is that even though getting called up to the WWE (or any other large, prominent wrestling organization) should be the best thing to happen to a wrestler's life, it sure as hell isn't easy. I found it difficult to believe that some of these guys who seemed to have it all just leave without remorse. But with the recent news about wrestlers leaving thousands, even millions, of dollars behind because of these - and other - issues, along with the reasons of their departures, I seem to have a better grasp at what they really go through when they get to the top. Getting there is the easy part. Just imagine how tough it is to stay there. Note: This is just a random thoughts section. I don't necessarily talk about wrestling here. One week I may talk about some sweet columns written in the Columns Forums; The next week I can talk about which CD I'm currently listening to. I'm just a fun, sporadic dude like that. This column is pretty tied in with my previous column, which speaks about these same issues in a first-person point of view. If you have a few minutes to spare, you should go read it sometime. I'm not the first one to get called up from the Columns Forum this month, and I probably won't be the last. There are a lot of talented writers in the Columns Forum who are certainly the next batch of writers here at LordsOfPain.net. I'll still swing by the ol' stomping grounds from time to time, and will select those columns that I enjoyed the most. If you still want some more wrestling content, you better check these out: aisce in Your Hole #7: The Great Khali By aisce You think that there's no one in the world who can explain the reason why The Great Khali is on television, gracing our fabled wrestling rings? Well, aisce gave his thoughts on the matter, and they're pretty damn good. Viva La Lucha: American Dream By Zuma A Mexican living the true American Dream, Zuma writes about those before him who lived the American Dream (including - surprise! - the American Dream Dusty Rhodes!), and who should continue the tradition. On the Couch XXVII - Lemons and Sour Patch Kids By Leviathan How do we know which hot-shot wrestler will strive, and which will just shrivel and disappear in a few years? The resident psychiatrist Leviathan will prescribe his picks. Too all my Columns Forum peeps, sorry I can't mention you all. You know how much I think of the place, and I'll try to help you all as much as I can. Just know that I'll be selecting a couple of columns every time I'm here, so make 'em good for those who are coming to visit. For the rest of you all, the Columns Forum is the place to be if you want to write about your favorite wrestling matches, promotions and superstars. It's really not that difficult if you put your mind to it. Who knows, maybe you'll be replacing me in the future. But not now, because I'm only getting started here, and things are bound to get better. That wraps up the inaugural Struggle For Power on LordsOfPain.net. I hope you all enjoyed this column, and come back next time for more. If you want to talk about this column, or anything wrestling-related, or just plain anything, feel free to send a message my way at dennmart@gmail.com. You'll be guaranteed a response every time. Till next time, Degenerate ***DIRECT LINK*** Hot Shots of ROH's Lacey! Must See Gallery!!
|
|