BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) POLITICS
There is a whole layer of politics in wrestling that people don’t even understand. We hear about it on the WWE and TNA level, but even the shittiest of independent promotions have this problem. There might be more people in the locker room than the crowd, but there is going to be drama. There always is. There is always another local promotion or five that want to tear you down and put their mediocre show in your place. Then within your own locker room, it’s like high school with different cliques and statuses. There is nepotism galore in wrestling. Show me a independent wrestling valet and I’ll show you the wrestler she’s going out with. When she’s magically not around anymore, it’s because they broke up. Space isn’t THAT limited in independent wrestling. It’s not that hard to break into. This makes it easier for shady people in the business to pick off the naïve and wide-eyed passion players.
(THREE) JAPANESE DEATH MATCHES
I don ‘t have to say too much about this one. If you don’t watch wrestling enough to know what a Japanese Death Match then you probably shouldn’t look it up. We’re talking spider webs made of barbed wire, POOLS OF PIRANHA, light bulbs, fire, broken glass, and even explosives. It’s sick, barbaric, and will make you feel bad about the world.
(TWO) A DELUSIONAL LIFE WASTED
If you “make it” then you’re good. If you have a balanced life where you have what makes you happy then you’re good. By that I mean if you have a family, a career, hobbies, and just a reason to wake up then you’re good. The sad thing is there are those who use independent wrestling as that thing the cling onto. There are delusional people out there who think they’re still going to get signed or hit it big in wrestling. You’ll see the guys in local indies who act like top shit, when you’re approaching their 40’s while being out of shape and with no other prospects in life. It’s like the movie “The Wrestler”, but way more pathetic and less glorious. If you’re living in a sleeping room and your main focus is the one or two local wrestling shows a month then you’re not living a fulfilling life. On the flip side, there are those who hate on the weekend warriors. There is no winning here. Even those who have a balance life outside of wrestling and do it for the love then I see no harm in that. As long as that person is performing within the limitations they create for themselves I’m good. Basically, if you’re out of shape and wearing sweat pants you shouldn’t be champion. You should get in as good as shape as you can and present people with a presentable product. It’s just a balance.
(ONE) INJURIES/DEATH
Well, obviously. People can say it’s “fake” all day, every day, but the problem here is people still get injured, crippled, and sadly even die because of professional wrestling. The lifestyle is notoriously bad. It’s the life of a Rockstar meets the life of a NFL player who has to play a game 3 times a week all year long… no off season, no time off to record a new album, and no recognition. That’s just part of the job as a full-time first tier performer. This gets guys beat up badly, it gets their hooked on drugs, and it just destroys people more often than not.
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