When anything becomes mainstream it is almost an automatic that it eventually becomes watered down. When Nirvana hit the scene and changed rock music forever we were exposed to some really great, raw, awe inspiring music. By the same token we were also exposed to vomit educing garage bands that thought flannel was their only way to rock n roll history. The phenomenon of pro wrestling in the late 90s gave us a edgy, anti-hero wrestling that with all the stars in perfect alignment began a new era of pro wrestling. The downside to this revolutionary era combined with the internet was the complete lack or preparation and talent for incoming wrestlers. So that is were we are today a business where wrestlers fall into one of three categories: The Good, The Bad or The Ugly.
In today's wrestling when you're good, you're very good. The creativity that these guys put into their matches and their characters is sometimes astonishing. They truly love the history of our business. I say that because I am and will always be foremost a wrestling fan. Before CM Punk was WWE bound I heard him cut a promo right before a match with Samoa Joe in his hometown, Chicago, IL, that gave me goosebumps. The emotion, the passion, the story it was all there. Wrestling is about standing alone, you can do the same moves, have the same name but if you have "it".. then you are going to stand apart from anyone else. Its just not guys like CM Punk, there are guys all over the country that make me feel that when I watch them work. Makes me proud to be apart of the business. These are The Good!
Now for the bad. The bad are the unprepared. The guys that love the business but have no reliable guidance. They don't have a firm grasp on psychology. Its not that they can't learn the things that would make them successful or at least a viable part of the business, its they don't have a mentor that can lead the way. They may be able to perform any moves with crisp precision but its not how many moves you know, it knowing when to use them and if they fit you and your gimmick.
Then there are the ugly! The ones that absolutely have no business in the business. They don't get it, they don't want to get it and they never will. Ironically these are also usually the ones who pronounce as loud as they can to anyone and everyone that will lesson that they are a "pro wrestler"! Making it even harder for "The Good" to gain respect from a casual fan.
Maybe its time for all of us to look in the mirror. Look with an honest eye and determine which category we fall in to. Are we the good? Are we the bad? Or are we the ugly that stains the very business we claim to love? I promise if we do that then maybe the next article will be The Golden Circle:The Great and when "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony makes a promise it's as good as gold.
----Greg Anthony is a regular on the local area circuit. He won RRO Booker of the Year 2008 and is listed in the top 5 of the RRO Top 10 2008. Greg is currently working as booker of NEW and can be seen tagging with legend Bobby Eaton and Brian Thompson as “Midnight Gold”.
