Pinfalls by Brandon Finch

I could talk about a lot of things going on in wrestling right now. There's the walk out by Austin and the hiring of Vince Russo. You also have the pay per view debut of NWA Total Non Stop Action this month. Instead, I'd like to write about the wrestling industry as a whole. There have been peaks and valleys in this business and it appears that wrestling is heading further into Death Valley. Is it the product? Is wrestling better or worst now?

It really depends on your perspective. At the time of Hulk Hogan, Mr. T and Roddy Piper many wrestling purists thought the rock and roll flash would never last. Around 96 the unspeakable happened and WCW was the number one promotion. Then came WWF Attitude. Three big eras in wrestling, but has it been so long that we've forgotten about the dark times? Has it really been so long ago since Duke Drosse, T.L. Hopper, the Black Scorpion and Bash at the Beach exploding boat vignettes? Right now in 2002 is it going to be considered the "dark times?"

I would have to say right now things look pretty grim if you're a wrestling fan. There is basically just one major product. It's not like the WWE is doing great in the ratings and people are flocking to house shows. It just happens to be the only brand going. Cable companies don't want to sign on any of the "other" promotions because if WWE can't get ratings how are they meant to with what would be considered an inferior product. Syndication used to be the answer, but television stations can make more money off of dating shows and infomercials.

So what is the answer? What will be the "next" step in the wrestling business? Is it something no one has thought of yet? I mean in the early eighties did anyone see the introduction of rock music, cartoon-like characters and pre packaged wrestling cards to be the answer? Did anyone see live wrestling on Mondays in the late 90's and breaking Kayfabe to be the all mighty savior? Styles and the look of wrestling has changed, but the basic packaging seems to remain the same. The way things are done has definitely changed. Promotions like the WWE no longer have to look at other promotions for talent. They don't even have to scout the wrestling schools. They just set up a game show on MTV and wait six weeks for the next superstar.

Wrestling may not be as popular as it once was, but the talent involved seems to be. The days of Hulk Hogan in Suburban Commando are gone. Guys like the Rock and Goldberg have squashed that curse as easily as they would their opponent at the big pay per view. Hollywood has found the perfect movie star in the form of the wrestler. They are good at interviews they already have a fan base. Could that be the next evolution of wrestling? Instead of the weekly programing feuds are based on upcoming movie releases. Forget Wrestlemania the grudge match in April will be the Rock in "Helldorodo" v. Diamond Dallas Page in "Ready to Rumble 2" for box office supremacy!

What I would like to see is a return of not one promotion, but two or three. I'm not talking about each one being a huge multi media machine. I'm talking about each promotion giving me an alternative. Each promotion is wrestling and they each have a certain feel to it. Each promotion has their own wrestlers that can only be seen on that particular show.

Remember way back when the NWA had Ric Flair, the Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes and Lex Luger. World Class Wrestling had the Von Erichs, the Freebirds and Iceman King Parsons. Promotions like XWF and the WWA are worried about getting the top ex WCW and WWE wrestlers to put butts in seats. These promotions want everything now and aren't trying to build an audience. The last time this truly worked was with ECW. In fact I don't think a promotion has ever matched the brand loyalty of that promotion!

There are those that are trying to change the way things are done, but it seems more for materialistic gain. Jeff and Jerry Jarrett's promotion is wanting you to pay $10 NOW! They aren't building that long term fan base. To give credit where it's due the XWF has tried a grass roots campaign with their house shows, but they can't get a television deal. The only promotion I see trying to do something completely different is RF Video and their RING OF HONOR shows. The promotion has it's own set of rules and is trying to tell the stories inside the ring...a throwback to yesteryear that and I think they're on to something.

Well, I guess I asked a question and didn't really have a definitive answer. I don't have a crystal ball. I think changes are going fast and furious. Some of them are exciting and make me glad I'm a wrestling fan, while others make me cringe at the thought of wrestling heading in a certain direction.

BRANDON FINCH AKA BFINCH8628