Posted by Scott Hensley
on 10/2/2009, 7:01 pm
So obviously with a title like this, it rattles some people and I just want to say that I'm not trying to target anyone specifically or hurt anyone's feelings. I ask that anyone else replying with opinions on this topic be respectful and professional in your responses.
Nashville was once a hotbed for wrestling and was sending people to the WWE, WCW, certainly TNA, and other places but it seems that wrestling in Nashville isn't what it used to be. A lot of people would say that about all pro wrestling but I don't see it that way. I travel all over from Ohio to Florida to shows and I want to share why the wrestling in Nashville isn't as highly regarded anymore.
To start, there are three main promotions running in Nashville right now and I have no ties to any of them nor do I prefer one over the other.(I consider SAW, USWO/ATL, and NWA Main Event to be the main 3)
So what is wrong with the wrestling in Nashville?
Look at the three main wrestling promotions in the USA: WWE, TNA, and a distant third ROH. What makes them successful in some way? It's professionalism. It's what they do, how they do it, and the people who do it.
These companies employ people who look the part, act the part, and for the most part are held to a high standard. World class athletes. Guys that can slam 500lbs men, guys that have incredible physiques, and guys that can work fast hard-hitting matches that are fun and interesting to watch.
Compare that to many Nashville workers: some great guys and some guys who are tougher than nails but how many guys in Nashville have a look that they could get in a WWE ring and not look extremely out of shape compared to their competition. The work on most Nashville shows is slow and very old school, even making workers who are able to work fast and hard-hitting to work a watered down style of what they're capable of. Old school southern wrestling incorporates some of the best ring psychology and story-telling anywhere in wrestling but it also fails to really capture new fans if the action looks like it is from the 1980's and people in the crowd feel like they could do exactly what they're seeing, and possibly better. It's important to make the action mean something but people also want to be impressed with what they are seeing, which involves seeing larger than life personas, great physiques, and great action. Wrestling has lost popularity, especially indy wrestling and it really has to do with just not being impressed with anything on some shows.
Why isn't it impressive anymore? -
I think it's a cycle of things 1) Less than impressive Promotion 2) Less than impressive Money 3) Less than impressive ring work.
1) Poll a hundred random people in Nashville and see how many can name ONE Nashville Wrestling show. I'm guessing the number would be 5 or less. If you think more than that know about the current shows then I will STRONGLY disagree with you. Wrestling just isn't the popular thing it was ten years ago. Promoters fail to get the word out and so people fail to find out about shows to possibly get reinterested in something that so many people have loved. Promoters have to make sure that people can easily see the WHO? WHAT? WHERE? and WHEN? on everything. Websites should be easy to navigate, updated, and contain lots of information on the talent and organization. SAW and NWA Main Event both have professional websites and they both plug these. USWO/ATL's website that I found probably isn't their new one... I'm hoping( http://bellsouthpwp2.net/s/l/slyoledog/index.htm ) It also takes putting up banners, putting out radio advertisements, commercials, billboards, magazines, and whatever other ways it takes to reach existing local wrestling fans and create new ones.
2) People are AMAZED when it comes to what most wrestlers accept as pay. Most promotions aren't drawing enough to pay workers what they are worth. Some still go in the hole every week to pay guys but that's just not good business. Some places seem to think that tv time is payment enough and while it is great, it doesn't pay the bills. Guys are leaving work early and traveling hours to put their bodies on the line for beans and promoters that aren't making any money just really can't afford to pay them what they're worth or what it takes for them to buy gas to make it to the show even. It's a no-win for everybody. Sponsorships and backers with deep pockets are the only ways to survive for indy wrestling companies right now that not enough people know about to come to the shows and show support.
3) Top talent requires top pay. If an area isn't paying then a lot of top talent won't come into it. The top talent that does work feels under appreciated and I don't want to say that top talent in Nashville doesn't give it their all but a hot crowd and good payday goes a lonnnng way. If guys could come out to a packed house(which I know DOES happen in Nashville occassionally) and know that they are getting paid enough to cover their gas, time, and effort then I think guys would feel better about trying more impressive stuff in the ring that they may not be willing to do for nothing in front of forty people.
I'm sure some of this stuff seems like it is meant to offend and I really don't mean it to. I love professional wrestling and have my own likes and dislikes when it comes to it. I want to see wrestling succeed and for people to fall back into love with something that everyone who is reading this either loves and works VERY hard at or just has a love for. I know I've really pointed at more problems and generalized a lot of them, without really giving any real solutions. Most of what I said is opinion and I'm sure I'm not completely correct. There are dozens of guys that are TOP talent that work Nashville and I say THANK YOU to them as well as Thank You to each and every promoter who does put their time and money into trying to produce a great wrestling show every week or however often they do run.
Like I said, please try to keep it respectful. What do and don't you like about Nashville Wrestling?
