Truth B Told 01.08.09: A Little TOO Independent

Posted by Bayani Domingo on 01.08.2009

Remember when 2008 was supposed to be the “Indy Scene Renaissance”? Yeah, neither do I. Why 2009 might be more famine and less feast.

A SoCal Independent Wrestling institution, Alternative Wrestling Show, prepares to close their doors permanently this week after some extenuating circumstances have conspired to keep the company from continuing to put on shows while managing to even break even. AWS was the brainchild and dream of a man known as "Bart" to everyone around the Southern California scene and helped to not only launch the careers of a handful of wrestlers who are now better known through PWG and even RoH. AWS also provided a forum for wrestlers to fine tune their craft and steadily improve to the point where some of them went on to star in some of the various Indy companies around the country. I wish Bart Kapitzke nothing but the best in his "feature endeavors" and hope that AWS somehow manages to rise from the ashes like a phoenix, because like many wrestling fans in the Los Angeles area I have enjoyed the hard work and effort put forth by both Bart and the wrestlers of AWS. The question is: Is this a tragedy or a foreshadowing?

It seems like more than a few members of the 411 staff are putting the single biggest fed in SoCal, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, in the "Dead Pool". PWG had a difficult last few months of '08 and rolling into '09 they don't even have two of their biggest stars in tow for the opening show. PWG has played a big part in the careers of a lot of the biggest talents on the Indy scene as well as some current WWE and TNA talents as well as being the 2nd biggest Indy fed in the US. Is it plausible that this is merely a bump in the road for PWG and a temporary set back that they can overcome throughout the year? Sure it is. But it is possible that even PWG will run into money, booking, and organizational problems that will cause them to permanently close their doors before the year is out? Yes it is, but that really is part of the legacy of PWG, the "G" doesn't stand for "Guarantee". Although if you've ever seen a Joey Ryan match you might think it stands for "Gonorrhea", he's a filthy…filthy boy. PWG has had their history of problems in the past which is well documented, however they've managed to last almost 6 years now and that is through not only the will of the company but also the support of the fans.

California has always been a popular wrestling territories due to their ties with Lucha Libre down in Mexico as well as being an extremely populous area. The WWE runs multiple shows in LA and Anaheim when they tour and there are literally a dozen small feds running in California at any given weekend. While "over saturation" might be to blame here for why the Indy show gates are down around the area it also doesn't help that the level of talent has also taken a bit of a hit as SoCal is producing some solid, but not spectacular local wrestlers in the past few years. In the end, smaller companies that rely on localized attendance and the occasional "Big Name" (at least by SoCal standards) in order to sell tickets begin to lose money and close down, PWG has to start looking for new ways to bring in more cash (perhaps the Big Vision DVD distribution deal can be expanded) in order to supplement their sagging attendance. By that of course I mean the NON-COMPED attendees. While there are plenty of things conspiring against PWG and Indy wrestling in general (the economy, unemployment, rising cost of travel, competition for bookings,…the French) there really is one magic band-aid that could make everything better…just go to the damn shows and spend some coin to get in. If we don't look out for the Indies, who will?

I made a prediction last week in "Buy or Sell" that I thought there would be at least two significant closures on the Indy wrestling scene: IWA:Mid-South and CZW. While I'm not hoping that these companies go under, the fact is that there is a good chance that one or both of these companies will end up having to pack their bags this year. The economic situation in the country coupled with what seems to be a lack of fan support on the Indy scene is a real cause for concern. There seems to be almost across the board reports of smaller and smaller crowds at some of the more prominent Indy feds. This year we've seen a lot of turmoil in pretty much every company of note and it doesn't look as if the rebound we were all hoping for in '09 is a sure thing. It seems to get harder and harder to produce good young talent on the Indy scene without them either getting hurt due to their hectic schedules or being wooed away by the "e", "T", or Japan. If you think about all of the real "breakout candidates" this year it is a fairly sparse group.

There is also a question of whether Indy fans are more fickle than the fans of the WWE or TNA in that they are willing to stop watching and paying for shows once a company's schedule becomes more sporadic or if their usual talent becomes harder and harder to book as competition for their services increase both domestically and across the border or overseas. Then again it seems like this "wrestling recession" has hit everyone from CMLL to All Japan. The stock prices of the "e" has plummeted, but by comparison that is a relative ripple in the stream of a world wide company like that. TNA has been hit even harder as they aren't able to expand nearly as fast or successfully as they had hoped due to the lack of interest in paying for their product now and the obvious indifference to tuning in on Thursday nights as they still haven't broken through to even the mid 1's on their ratings. What's sadder is that we're talking about FREE TV for most people where they don't even have to spend a single dime more than they already are for cable. You can't blame the switch to digital on that.

We were looking towards the Indy scene as a viable alternative to the "e" and "T" last year and while some of us still enjoy the various products available, it seems like the popularity of Indy wrestling hasn't really caught on. Those hoping a blond and puffy Mickey Rourke will help get it done might be in for a real disappointment. While you have companies like RoH and CHIKARA which seem to be moving along pretty well, they both have to be at least a little disappointing considering that neither company has made major strides last year as expected. CHIKARA is still playing to crowds of as little as 75 people some nights and RoH's venture into the PPV arena has not gone well at all. In fact the "ceiling" for Indy feds now seem to be a lot lower than we thought last year. To the point where just "breaking even" or putting on regular shows seems to sometimes be out of reach. It's a shame because even if you don't like Indy wrestling, you have to respect the Indy scene. Without the Indies, the WWE would have a hell of a time trying to fill up their roster unless they started hiring interpreters full-time or added a "RAW DivO Search" contest. I just don't want to see the lingerie contest. JT might though.

When you look at the WWE there are very few guys on the roster who haven't spent at least a little time on the Indy scene prior to being signed to a developmental deal. Sure guys like John Morrison or The Miz managed to get gigs off reality TV shows like "Tough Enough" or Matt Morgan in TNA, however every other major star in the company had to pay their dues on the Indy scene (or in Mexico) prior to getting their big break with the WWE…or WCW. Even guys like Cena, Batista, Undertaker, HBK, and HHH spent time on the Indy scene early in their career before becoming champions. Sure there are the exceptions like your Kurt Angles, Brock Lesnars, and Bobby Lashleys, who seem to be recruited almost instantly from the time they express an interest in transitioning from "amateur" to "pro", that is the exception and not the rule. Besides, you would think that the "e" would have learned their lesson from those three…I mean, what other "All-American" would they be trying to apply the same formula too?

The AWA is long gone, Heartland Wrestling Association has been on and off life support and hiatus time and time again, OVW is struggling to survive without the support of the WWE, and even the NWA is trying to regain just a modicum of success and popularity that they enjoyed in their heyday. It is just plain tough to be an Indy fed now a day and there just doesn't seem to be the kind of fan support that it takes to allow one to really strive towards real financial security. Indy feds basically live and die by their gate at shows and their DVD sales. Indy feds don't have the kind of varied streams of revenue that a WWE or TNA have. The "e" can simply scrape together some old matches from the library of companies they bought posthumously and string together some interviews from retired wrestlers looking for a few bucks and all of a sudden they have a half a dozen new DVDs to sell. T-shirts, video games, movies, energy drinks, tooth paste, neon glow in the dark condoms, pretty much any and everything that you can slap John Cena or Jeff Hardy's face on and the "e" can make at least a modest profit on it. While you get the glitz, glamour, and gloss of the WWE that seems to turn wrestling into a full entertainment experience it's because of the tidy profits that the WWE sees as part of their global marketing system. Most Indy feds don't even have a marketing reach past 9 blocks farther than their venue. I guess that's why the NWA and RoH are now putting so much effort into trying to find a TV deal. Because even though getting your product on the ol' boob tube isn't a guarantee of success and prosperity *ahemTNA* at least it's an opportunity, because I think we've seen what a small wrestling company can do with great talent and very little publicity. At this point I bet you Cary Silkin would donkey punch his mother for a 1.1. Finding additional streams of revenue are going to be vital for companies like RoH and PWG to survive because it seems like wrestling's popularity takes a dip pretty much every year. We can't just keep having the companies fight over bigger slices of the same pie, you have to figure a way how to "expand the pie". A Lita joke for old time sake seems appropriate here, doesn't it?

The bright side of this is that this now becomes "Darwinism" at it's finest and now only the strong truly will survive. That means that as some companies fold, others will then get a chance to more regularly book the talent they want as a result of lessened competition. Of course that isn't any consolation for the wrestlers themselves. It also doesn't help that only wrestling fans in the large wrestling hotbeds will now have the opportunity to see young talent before they make it to the "Bigs". As much as we may laugh at the high school gym shows that have 25 people sitting around a tattered ring, there is a place in wrestling for just that. The guys who are wrestling for free and sweeping up after the show and setting up the chairs before it or those backyarders may just turn out to be your next WWE champion.

The Truth

The Indies are in trouble, no doubt, and we can't save them all. However we might just be able to save a few, I know I'm going to do my part and there are a handful of you will, but you know, the industry at this point can only support so many companies. We used to believe that the Indies were in for a rebirth, but at this point if we can just hope for consistency and status quo. Even the "e" can't seem to keep a good developmental territory up and running for long as they have been through more "farm systems" in the past 5 years than John Cena has been through theme music. Seeing a company like AWS shut down has been a real wake up call for me since it's one of those small companies that I rarely went to, yet always assumed it would be there if I got the urge. They provided an affordable form of entertainment that a whole family could enjoy, gave opportunities to wrestlers who might never have wrestled in front of more than their training partners otherwise, and was just a fun little way to kill a few hours and give some folks something to look forward to on the weekend. What's more, they were happy just to keep existing like that, on the edge of relevancy, but right in the middle of fun.

Coming Up Short

So I'm confused about what they are doing with Kelly Kelly now. Originally she was Mike Knox's chick, then she decided to dump him for CM Punk, then she starts making googly eyes over The Miz before leaving for RAW. Once on RAW she has been seen backstage flirting with John Cena and Batista and NOW Kelly Kelly has admitted to giving up the Booty Booty to Randy Randy…I mean…Randy Orton. Sorry, that sometimes happens. I'm confused why they are trying to make her one of the top 2 female "faces" in the company while continuing to make her look like a total "Ho Bag". I guess it's now cool and popular to be slutty…wait…actually it is. They seem to be putting a lot of time and effort into trying to train her to look like a legitimate wrestling threat and giving her a lot of ring and face time, but the "e" has a history of jumping from one Diva to the next and leaving the old "Projects" in their wake. They tried to turn both Candice, Maria, Michelle McCool and now Kelly Kelly and Maryse into legit divas the way they did with Trish Stratus, only Trish really was "lightening in a bottle". Okay, a bottle of peroxide, but a bottle none the less. I realize that at one point Trish Stratus was getting boned by the boss and eventually was stripping down to her panties and barking like a dog in the ring, but one would hope that the "e" doesn't feel the need to "skank-ify" all their women wrestlers before trying to make them a "role model" to all the little girl fans in the "WWE Universe". Not that I'm a "prude" mind you, but at least don't come up short giving the kids a female role model worth rooting for. Sexist as it sounds, it wouldn't hurt to let the top female "face" on a nightly basis, stop appearing as if she's also giving out the top female "head" as well.

6 Degrees of…



So the latest rumors I read is that Ryan "Trapped in a CLOSET" Seacrest is dating the 2007 Playboy Playmate of The Year Sara Jean Underwood. Seriously? The guy who has more estrogen than the entire Knockouts division gets a piece of tail this epic? Amazing. If you've ever heard his radio show in LA I've often thought that he isn't as much of a "closet case" as he is a woman trapped in a very tiny man's body…but now he's a woman trapped in a man's body who gets to be in a much finer woman's body. Now to link Ms. Underwood I figured that I would include another woman who was part of another…shall we say, "questionable" relationship with a man that had gender issues of his own.



Marlena or Terri Runnels to some of you. This was one Pretty Mean Sister. I bet you she'd have plenty to tell Sara about catching your man trying on your dainty under things.

Whatchu talkin' bout readers?

Matt Hardy should feud with the poor midcarder (MVP) they don't know what to do with - throw him on ECW and let them shine. Matt v MVP over the ecw title to rekindle their feud over the US title would be cool as their feud was pretty cool and the blowoff wasn't prolonged enough. It could be rekindled like how Austin v Rock over IC title then a few yrs later Austin v Rock over the WWF title.

ROH has a better chance at being WWE's competition than TNA because ROH has their booking priorities right, they just need a better marketing department/budget.

Posted By: cool

The Matt Hardy/MVP feud was pretty good and if they are actually planning to turn MVP Heel and possibly then perhaps there is a chance. The thing is that it looks as if they are going to make Jack Swagger the next in line to challenge Hardy and use Finlay and Mark Henry the stepping stones for this feud. Let's not get too excited over RoH yet as a change from Gabe to Pearce has been met with as much resistance as it has praise. RoH's problem is that they really don't feel like a "Big Time" Fed and for as good as the wrestling is and as good as the in-ring work and dedication of the wrestlers are, they still are missing that extra something that makes everyone on the roster look like they belong on my television screen. The wrestling is good, but some of the storylines just stink on ice right now.

Asian. Asian, Asian, Asian.

Asian.

Can we look forward to a TBT about the visibility of pro wrestling in China, then?

Posted By: Talwar

I wonder if this is Top Gun's Asiaphile cousin? It would be interesting to see what kind of impact wrestling has had on China and I WILL be in one of the biggest two cities in China (Shanghai) in terms of capitalism and business, but something tells me that while I'm getting wined and dined on these visits to manufacturers that slipping in a phrase like, "Your plant looks very well managed and organized and your current quality system is one of the most stringent I have seen in this company…soooo….you think TNA will ever become a viable competitor to the WWE?" during a dinner meeting might be a bit awkward. Then again I've kind of wondered if I order a "Chicken Salad" if it will automatically come with Mandarin oranges and crispy noodles, if there is a fire drill at the plant while I'm there will everyone just run around and sit in different cubicles, and if any massage I get while in the "Orient" is assumed to be an "Oriental" massage? I hear companies take perspective clients to get "massages" all the time after dinner. All I know is when anyone asks if I want "extras", I'm asking for 2.

Black chick!! Holy Christ, that broad is incredible

More black chicks please! Represent for the brotha man, Bayani

Posted By: Monty

You know, I don't make it a usual thing, but…February is coming up and you shouldn't be surprised if I use it to take an opportunity to feature some more pure milk Chocolate on TBT.

That Asian chick ain't Asian... she wins though

Posted By: beans

I had this same discussion with my girl before about whether Indians are considered Asians or not. From my perspective the whole country is over crowded, a majority live in poverty, they are a cheap source of outsourced labor for US companies, and they are generally good at math and take a lot of engineering jobs…sounds pretty Asian to me.

6 Degrees Results

We better get some submissions this week fellas.

Left Overs…

Is no one else worried about this storyline ending in a Kelly Kelly and Kane romance? You realize what her name becomes if she actually marries the guy right? It's a nice day of a White (power) Wedding.

I'm predicting that the two Legacy cast-offs, Sim Snuka and Manu, will band together and form a tag team. My suggestion is the "Mild Samoans", because between them they make about 1 star. If they can add Umaga and Samoa Joe you can call them the "Spicy Samoans".

John Cena is preparing his own stable in order to battle the crew Randy Orton is putting together. The new stable will include Cryme Tyme, William Regal, and the Iron Sheik and will be called: "Hustle, Royalty, and Respakt". That's one way to keep Randy humble.

Mr. Kennedy is beginning his promotional tour for his new movie: Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia. To think that Kennedy got this role by happenstance after the original first choice turned down the role. Waking you up in the morning…then killing your ass!!

What is the Great Khali going to do with nude pictures of Vickie Guerrero? First it was Mae Young and now it's Vickie Guerrero? It's like Khali is systematically working down to finally just fucking a real life Sharpei. At this point he might as well just soak his hands in water for an hour and masturbate…it's pretty much the same effect.

Christian is coming back as the mystery assailant that tried to run over Stone Cold Steve Austin, there by giving The Rock an easy pass on keeping his WWE Championship, but while stalking Jeff Hardy's wife he reveals himself in the ring as trying to wake up the "Deadman" and ends up losing a singles match to her in the process all because he was trying to fool Batista into jumping to Smackdown to use his World Title shot he won in the Royal Rumble. Wait…is that right? Shit. Someone get me a copy of "WWE's guide to Continuity and Angle Recycling".

It looks like Kizarny is already in the "Dog House" in the "e" although no specifics have been given. It shouldn't come to any surprise as Kizarny has been in the "Dog House" several times in the past…mainly sharing it with This Man.

The Great Booty Debate 2009

Considering next week the GBD09 might take a week off I'm leaving you with two favorites of mine I stumbled across while trying to find suitable pictures for this week's contest that weren't marred by nudity. I'm glad it took me only 3 hours to do so…although sometimes the "failing" is more rewarding than the "succeeding".

Random Asian Bitch Lookin' Good Pic of the Week



Sena Ayanami: I hope this Sena does suck.

Random Latina Bitch Lookin' Good Pic of the Week



Eve: If this is only the "Eve"…I can't wait for the actual day.

Recently Team 3D won the IWGP Tag Ttiles at a New Japan show at the Tokyo Dome, which now means they have held more belts than any other tag team in history. That probably wouldn't be the case except neither of them can seem to keep the belts they currently have clasped for very long before it implodes and sends the buckle flying 45 feet across the room.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles were won by the Motor City Machine Guns at the same show via the "Made in Detroit". Which I'm being told is about 14 cars a day now.

I was pretty surprised in reading that Rhyno actually has another TNA World Heavyweight Title match at the upcoming PPV. I know this is all a set-up in furthering the MEM vs Frontline storyline, but who is going to buy Rhyno as being the TNA champion…again? The guy couldn't "draw" a dime for the company if they gave him a set of crayons and a stencil.

I don't know if I believe this or not, but Small is reporting that Kurt Angle is now dating Rhaka Khan. So I guess that would make a chocolate "piece" wrapped in (Olympic) gold?

Pimpin' In High Places

New writers, old writers, returning writers on new columns, the 411 line-up has more changes in 2009 than a PWG card:

R's…4 of them in fact

3x Threat

411 2008 Awards

HH

Shorty

The Top 5

Unless there is a miracle next week and I find a magic internet connection and free moment to come up with a little something it looks like you kids are on your own for finding your soft porn and wrestling jokes. I'm off to China this weekend and God willing they'll actually let me back in the country. Then again I think it's pretty clear that I'm not a Chinese citizen trying to sneak their way out of the country. If I wasn't an American than my English would be a h ell of a lot better than this. Well you kids be good next week and here's a big "Take it Easy" from your buddy B…in Japanese that is….or at least I think so…I don't speak Japanese sign language.



Till then, the Truth will set you free.

-B