The Wrestling Bard 04.18.09: Coffee Break III
Posted by Aaron Hubbard on 04.18.2009
Discuss topics such as elitism, Christopher Daniels, the draft, and timeless classics. Plus, Tiger Mask vs. The Dynamite Kid! You can't skip that!
So yeah, it's another one of those columns. I've decided to do this bi-monthly instead of every month, because it gives me a little more time to think about topics for discussion. For those of you who have missed the other two, this is where I pick a few topics, give my opinion on them, and then ask YOU for your opinions. I think an important part of the Internet Wrestling Community is the community part. Sometimes it's better to just sit down for a bit and discuss wrestling in a no-pressure setting. Chris Lansdell recently had a conversation with Ryan Byers, Michael Bauer, and Mathew Sforcina, while Geoff Eubanks has been doing something similar for a while.
So anyway, let's quit the small talk. Grab a cup of coffee and let's go.
Topic 1: Recently, a writer named Jeffrey Harris has caused quite a stir by claiming two things. 1) KENTA vs. Davey Richards was a better match than Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels. 2) KENTA is the best wrestler in the world, and Taker and HBK don't deserve to lace his boots. This has caused elitists on both sides to voice their opinions. What is your opinion on wrestling elitism?
My Opinion: First off, Harris has every right to his opinion. Having not seen KENTA vs. Richards (I do plan to), I have no opinion on the match. It may very well have been better than Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. And as far as KENTA being the best "wrestler", a strong case can be made that he is the very best worker in the business right now. Of course, the 28 year old kid with less than half of the experience of Taker or HBK will probably never compete in front of 70,000 fans, but that discredit his talent. KENTA is a workhorse, pure and simple. However, I must say that he doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same class as Taker or Shawn. He's a kid. He's got at least a decade to go. If he is still competing at a level equal to or greater than what he has been recently when he turns 40, then he can be in that class.
However, this is not the main topic. The topic is elitism. In this case, elitism is defined as the belief that some people or things are inherently superior to others and deserve preeminence, preferential treatment, or higher rewards because of their superiority. Some synonyms would be exclusivity, selectiveness, and snobbery. In laymen's terms, it simply means, "this is better than that because". I'm not talking about star ratings and what not. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 21 is undeniably better than most of their matches. What I'm talking about is people who show exclusivity to certain kinds of wrestling.
You have your WWE Elitists, who claim that because WWE is the biggest company in the world, ONLY WWE is worth anything, regardless of the quality of other wrestling. You have people who claim that the Japanese puroresu is the best. Strong style and junior heavyweight wrestling is supposedly better than the WWE style. Others are Indy Elitists who claim that EVERYTHING is better than WWE, ignoring the talents and the beauty of WWE's dramatic style, in favor of "workrate" and "wrestling" over sports entertainment. And of course, we are prone to ethnocentrism. People in Canda prefer Canadian wrestlers, Mexicans prefer the lucha style, Japanese prefer puro, the English prefer the Lancashire style. To an extent, ethnic pride and pride in the style of wrestling of your people is fine, but when you hold it above everything else, that that's elitism.
As a fan, I have my own personal preferences. I was a wrestler in middle school and high school, so I have an affinity for "technical" wrestling. I like submission wrestling, catch wrestling, and even MMA holds. I also grew up with WWE and I enjoy the drama and the slower pacing of the "American" style. I PREFER that style to the "OMG workrate" of ROH, or the dance-like lucha, or the King's Road style of All Japan and NOAH, or the hardcore/garbage wrestling of ECW. However, as a reviewer, I believe it is my duty to be as objective as possible and to not show bias. I have learned to appreciate these styles and recognize when they are done well. Sports entertainment encompasses much more than just "wrestling", and a **** technical match is just as good as a **** lucha match or a **** hardcore match. I may prefer the technical style, but that doesn't make it any better (or worse) than any other style.
Elitism is your prerogative, but I feel that it is my duty to avoid it as much as possible as a columnist and reviewer. I may have my personal bias and preferences, but I call them just that. I don't say "something is better", I say that "I like this better". Fair enough?
Topic 2: Christopher Daniels has returned to his "Fallen Angel" persona in TNA. Will he be the "savior" of the company?
My Opinion: I'm a huge fan of Christopher Daniels, and especially the "Fallen Angel" character. I think he's a fantastic wrestler, good promo man, and a true professional. I'm thrilled to see him back in a marquee position. So I have nothing bad to say about Daniels.
However, this guy will not save TNA. Daniels is a great talent. He can get a good match out of anyone. He can be funny, and he can be serious. Put him in the opening match and he'll set the tone for the evening. Put him in the middle of the card and he may steal the show. Put him in a main event and your show will end on a high note. But he is NOT the "it" guy for TNA. The "it" guys are AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, and too a lesser extent Kurt Angle. Daniels is a lot like Shawn Michaels. He's a veteran and a great worker, and everyone respects him. But if he wasn't there, it wouldn't affect business that much.
Does Daniels deserve a TNA title run for all of his hard work and loyal service? Yes. Will putting the belt on him bring TNA's ratings into the 2.0's? Unlikely. Will Daniels be the guy that carries TNA into the future? No. He may be good enough to have the Ric Flair/Shawn Michaels level of respect from fans and other wrestlers, but he will not transcend the industry like Hogan, Austin, or the Rock.
Topic 3: The Draft took place this week. RAW has a ton of star power, Smackdown! has a ton of talent, and ECW is filled with young talent and veterans. Your thoughts?
My Opinion: First of all, I LOVE how the supplemental draft happened. While I don't think Vince books his company to "screw the IWC", I believe he was messing with us with the order of the supplemental draft. Let's face it: the draft took place from noon to three on Wednesday. Kids would have been in school during that time, and when they got back, they just saw that tag teams had changed brands. Only the IWC would have cared enough to sit down as Vince moved the teams one at a time, in a pattern designed to make us think that he was splitting every tag team. In the end, only Jesse and Festus were split up. And ECW now has the making for Hart Foundation 2.0 (TJ Wilson, DH Smith & Natalya), so no harm, no foul. Overall, the IWC uproar of the "end of tag team wrestling" was much adieu about nothing. Sometimes, it's nice to see Vince toy with the IWC like a cat playing with a mouse.
Now, let's look at things. RAW's main event scene is very heavy on star power, much like it was last draft. RAW has John Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Batista, and The Big Show. Just below that are MVP, Matt Hardy, Ken Kennedy, The Colons, Chavo Guerrero, The Miz, and Kofi Kingston. Several of these guys have talent, but it certainly isn't the best "pure" assortment of wrestlers. However, all of these guys have some name value or star potential. All is good.
Smackdown! "lost" Triple H, but ultimately, that just means that it has lost it's glass ceiling. HHH is past his prime in the ring, while Smackdown! standard The Undertaker, who is more talented than the Game and has less of an ego, remains to keep the star power. Jeff Hardy is also a huge star that is popular with the kids and is arguably now the top star of the brand. Edge remains as a top level heel and another workhorse. And speaking of workhorses, Smackdown! is now full of them. Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, John Morrison, and Shelton Benjamin are all great workers. The big guys, Umaga, Khali, Knox, and Kane, are far from the worst. Smackdown lost Big Show and Kozlov and keeps these four. Not bad.
ECW is hardest to gauge. It lost arguably it's hottest act in Mizorrison, but kept stars such as Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger. Christian, Tommy Dreamer and Finlay remain as veteran forces, and Helms may finally get a chance to succeed. DJ Gabriel, Ezekial Jackson, DH Smith, Tyson Kid and Paul Burchill will get the chance to improve. Kozlov and Henry won't light the world on fire, but they wouldn't on any other brand either. Overall, I think the draft went very well. For the IWC, Smackdown! is likely the "go to" place for wrestling.
Topic 4: Which match/matches from the 1980's do you feel will stand the test of time as classic matches?
My Opinion: Obviously this is the most subjective category. My first pick would be the "Holy Trinity" of wrestling, that being Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair's classics at Chi-Town Rumble, Clash of the Champions VI, and Wrestle War. Ric Flair's matches with Terry Funk, both the "I Quit" Match and the match at GAB '89, will likely also stand the test of time. Steamboat also had a classic with Randy Savage at Wrestlemania III that will be remembered. And I may get flack for this, but Hogan and Andre from the same show is pretty timeless. Hogan's match with Randy Savage at Wrestlemania V will probably also have a long lifespan. Flair's Clash of the Champions match with Sting will likely have a good lifespan as well.
Outside of America, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu had an outstanding contest when Tenryu beat Tsuruta for All Japan's triple crown. And of course, the seven match series from the Dynamite Kid and Tiger Mask will probably live forever. And because I love you guys…
Mike Chin, who is almost as important as his columns!
Like any of those columns? Do you like THIS one? Why don't you bookmark them? Or heck, go ahead and make 411 your homepage so you have easy access to all these great columns. And mine.
That's all for this week. Have fun voicing your opinions and I'll read them. See you next week.
What a load of self-serving garbage. Hubbard, you are one of the most pompous, pretentious mark bitches on this entire site. Your life outside of wrestling must be non-existant for you to give so much of your time and thought to drugged-up men pretending to fight each other. You might as well go away and kill yourself, you worthless little zealot parasite.
Posted By: Guest#2854 (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Aaron, your "this is better" vs. "I like this better." point was great. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 11:48 AM
While I don't want you to die like the first poster, your writing style sucks and your choices for matches are boring. At least you were at school and didn't think the tag champs were getting split up, MARK
Posted By: You suck dude (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Yep, I think you You-Tubed the best of the 80s right there. I doubt the technology would allow it but you could upload all 6 or 7 of the Dynamite/Tiger Mask matches and no one would complain. Ground-breaking stuff in that series.
However, a big SHAME ON YOU for not even mentioning Tully/Magnum as one of the best of the 80s. In fact, a good number of people think that is THE match of the decade. I just watched it again a few days ago and I have to agree. It has some of the best work, in one of the most personal blood feuds, on one of the biggest stages of the decade. It has to be number one.
Posted By: The REAL MP (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Great column Mr. Hubbard well said. Your article really hit home with me, because in my 20+ yrs of watching wrestling I've found my self being in every of the "elitist" categories you've described.
Posted By: Rory Breaker (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 12:58 PM
This column was utterly boring and didn't really seem to be about anything, other than the author answering his own questions in a very bland and uninteresting way. I won't bother to read this trash again.
Posted By: Guest#0430 (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 01:42 PM
The point about Michaels being respected but not having much influence on the company is arguable. While the Japanese and Mexicans have had their own high flying styles, the Ramon-Michaels ladder match had been pointed to by todays cruserweights and high flyers as being their inspiration. This has led to EC/Hardys, TNA X division, and the spotfests of the indies.
Sure, he didn't invent the ladder match. But without Michaels on nationally available TV doing it, the ladder match would have taken much longer to become known and popular. And foreign styles can be interesting, but beyond afficianados it doesn't really catch on.
Now marrying your boss's daughter to get ahead? Been done since the beginning of history. Keeping the title in the family? Brought down or been a drag to promotions before.
Posted By: Guest#2161 (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 01:58 PM
"Only the IWC would have cared enough to sit down as Vince moved the teams one at a time, in a pattern designed to make us think that he was splitting every tag team."
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This comment is absolutely ridiculous. Do you honestly believe Vince McMahon has the time to "toy" with the so-called "IWC", even if he wanted to?
McMahon may be paranoid about storyline leaks and so on (and rightly so, its good business sense to try and prevent spoilers coming out), but if you honestly think he gives a fuck about what people say on the internet then you are clearly a fucking mark moron whose opinions mean jack shit.
The guy runs runs a massive publicly traded company that employs over 500 people (EXCLUDING wrestlers) and in 2008 had revenue of over $500 million - but no, I'm sure the prospect of making some basement dwelling wannabee smart-mark nerds like you think a few (already meaningless) tag teams got split up for a few hours was really high on his agenda!!!
Fans like you are the worst, because you're both sad and self-absorbed enough to write about wrestling for free (for a website that will accept pretty much anybody who can spell to be a writer), and think that makes you some kind of genuine wrestling journalist. You think that your opinion means something and that the wrestlers don't see you as nothing more than a snivelling piece of shit.
The fact that you actually understand fuck all about the business and the company itself just makes your epic failure of a life even more obvious.
Posted By: Guest#1389 (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Hey man, if you don't like it, then don't read it. Hell when you click on the page, and comment, you increase the hit number.
As for Guest#2854- you read his column- what does that make you.
And Guest#1389- I will repeat my point, because frankly I think you need it- if you don't like a writer, why read his stuff?
Personally I enjoy the column, I think it is fun, and, why do I watch wrestling? As an escape for a couple of hours a week, yeah it is fake, and predetermined, but I enjoy the matches and storylines.
I think the IWC- mocks itself because they think they know better than professionals.
Face it- you once loved wrestling, and now you are trying to bring it down a notch so you can feel better about yourself. That makes you pathetic.
Posted By: Jake (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Hey man, if you don't like it, then don't read it. Hell when you click on the page, and comment, you increase the hit number.
As for Guest#2854- you read his column- what does that make you.
And Guest#1389- I will repeat my point, because frankly I think you need it- if you don't like a writer, why read his stuff?
Personally I enjoy the column, I think it is fun, and, why do I watch wrestling? As an escape for a couple of hours a week, yeah it is fake, and predetermined, but I enjoy the matches and storylines.
I think the IWC- mocks itself because they think they know better than professionals.
Face it- you once loved wrestling, and now you are trying to bring it down a notch so you can feel better about yourself. That makes you pathetic.
Posted By: Jake (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 04:46 PM
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I wanted to agree with you, but unfortunately you were just too much of a whiny crybaby internet faggot douchebag. Fuck Off and Die.
Posted By: Guest#9038 (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 07:53 PM
1. I think elitism manifests from a fear of the unknown. People don't like to believe that the thing that they believe in is second-best. One-eyed WWE followers don't want to believe that better wrestling can be found elsewhere (which it can, in ROH). ROHbots want to believe that they are watching the best and hardest hitting wrestling (though Puro fans would undoubtedly disagree). Fans of Puro think that strong style makes matches, which is where the *slightly* more logical booking of WWE and ROH comes back into the fray.
It's all a matter of opinion, and MY opinion is that elitism shouldn't exist in wrestling: fans of wrestling should be making it their business to check out what each and every promotion has to offer; they don't have to like it, just be aware of what's out there.
2. I think, like AJ and Joe, that Daniels is an amazing wrestler but has been let down by TNA's tendency to push ex-WCW and WWE talent. TNA had years to build their company on the backs of those three men but for whatever reason they decided to go with the KING OF DA MOUNTAIN for far too long; TNA looked forwards to future acquisitions when they should have been looking INWARDS at guys they already had.
Despite his talent, you can only really see Daniels as a tremendous talent that got his break in the right company at the wrong time.
3. It might not be Vince directly, but *someone* within WWE Creative knows how to troll the IWC.
As for the Draft, well, my opinion is that it was far too predictable and too many talented individuals are going to be lost in midcard hell on RAW (see: MVP, Matt Hardy, Ken Kennedy et al). Hopefully Smackdown will more closer to the glory days of 'The Six' (2002/3), while ECW will keep being a developmental show (which I have no problem with).
4. Obviously the Flair v Steamboat trilogy, which you already mentioned. To be honest I haven't really troubled myself with watching wrestling any further back than the early 90's as I find I get bored too easily of the 80's style.
Posted By: AngryTas (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Very nice column, Mr. Hubbard. My only problem is that you need to take in account that 90% of the kids you thought were at school were actually at home on spring break. I know both my little brothers were watching the supplementary draft like hawks on Wednesday, and they;re both in junior high. but yeah, vince was fucking with us, and i love it.
Other than that, awesome column, as usual. you're one of my favorite writers on this site.
Posted By: Jordan (Guest) on April 18, 2009 at 10:48 PM
HBK/Angle >>>> KENTA/Richards, HBK/Taker
Its true! Its damn true!
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on April 19, 2009 at 05:59 AM
I've noticed that quite a few writers on this site have suddenly all taken up the opinion that Vince McMahon and the WWE care about what the IWC say and have been deliberately swerving us.
I gotta agree with Guest #1389 on this one - how deluded do you have to be to think Vince cares at all what insignificant marks like Aaron Hubbard think? Newsflash - you are NOTHING.
It should be no suprise really that Hubbard thinks this though. Chris Lansdell (another writer on this site, similiar to Aaron in that he's another meaningless mark hack) has been coming out with garbage like this for months now, and since Aaron worships Lansdell and secretly longs to have his dick stuffed in his mouth, he'll do anything to impress his butt-buddy.
Posted By: Guest#0483 (Guest) on April 19, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Hey guys, please don't be mean to me just because my writing absolutely sucks ass!!
I don't want to be a pathetic little mark parasite with no social life, I just can't help it, I'm so pathetic!! Please don't hate me because I'm a confused religious bigot!
The only thing that keeps me going and prevents me from slitting my own wrists is the thought that my butt-buddy Chris Lansdell still loves me. I love you too Chris :) Will you fuck me whilst wearing that sexy Chris Benoit mask tonight?
Posted By: Aaron Hubbard. (Registered) on April 19, 2009 at 09:24 AM
I'm feeling a lot of hate in this column, and to be honest, I don't know why...
Write your own column if this doesn't suffice
Nice work Hubbard
Posted By: Freeman (Guest) on April 20, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Lol. Aaron, I always suspected you were a faggot, I never thought I'd see you come out and admit it though!!
Posted By: Mina (Guest) on April 20, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Capt. Smooth and I agree more and more.
Wrestling is like most entertainment, it is in the eye of the beholder and usually there is something good for everyone. For instance I can't stand women's wrestling but I know others do, so I have learned through the years to amend my viewpoint and just accept that wrestling is attempting to be on the total show (not just the show to please ME) and taken my piss breaks or refreshment gatherings when it is on. On the flipside, I really like technical matches - others don't. We just can't please everyone at the same time.
As far as what is better or worse - who knows and who cares. If Jeffrey Harris wants to make that claim then it truly is self motivated and bias. Aren't all of our opinions bias anyway? For instance I like the UT/HBK match but since my build to the match was tainted, the match itself just didn't captivate me. I actually preferred the 3-way dance with Cena/Edge/Show over the UT/HBK match.
Doesn't make my opinion correct and it doesn't make it wrong. I just makes it mine.
Sidenote - The haters are really in full force this month on the site. Aaron - You keep doing what you do well and ignore those who just want to spout to spout. Your value to the team is measured in hits and pleasing the boss (Sir Larrold). Do that right and you will please the masses as well.
Posted By: thegunisgood (Guest) on April 20, 2009 at 10:25 AM
