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Can you remember the way you felt when you first got into wrestling? Some of you were kids, I’m sure, and your life probably revolved around the relatively innocent “sport†that was professional wrestling. Babyface and heel roles were pretty clearly defined, and the most outrageous thing you’d see was Jake Roberts draping Damian over a fallen opponent after a match. Then years passed, and maybe you became more interested in behind-the-scenes information, as it became available on the Net. The Attitude Era was upon us, and all of a sudden very little was taboo, the New World Order was all the rage, and Austin vs. McMahon was raking in the cash and changing the face of professional wrestling. But all good things come to an end, and so did this period.
Years later, the wrestling scene is nothing like what it was almost a decade ago. WWE is really the only major player in town (debatable, I know), and it seems that everything that can be done in the business already has. And do you know what sticks out to me the most when I think of the current state of wrestling- specifically WWE? It’s comments like the one made by Johnny Nitro about Animal not being able to partner with Hawk because “his partner’s dead.†It’s comments like Randy Orton saying that “Eddie Guerrero is in hell.†And it’s comments like Matt Striker’s the other night on ECW on Sci-Fi where he callously referred to the untimely death of crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, as if he was simply another WWE character who he could conceivably be in a feud with. Those are the comments that, in a way, define the current state of pro wrestling. And do you know what they reek of? Desperation. And it’s sad.
WWE (or Vince) has developed a sickening fascination with taking the real-life deaths of several former wrestlers (and even non-wrestlers) and trivializing them on a show that often showcases (but is not limited to): bra and panties matches, wet t-shirt contests, and of course, a Kiss My Ass Club. And I’m not entirely sure if this is done as a way to come across as “cutting edge†or if it is simply a very cheap way of getting heels heat and possibly attracting media attention. There’s an old expression that “there is no such thing as bad press.†But, as I’ve said before, WWE may be single-handedly disproving this theory.
What is off about this whole equation is that WWE can also show that they have a heart. Always willing to perform for and offer free tickets to the US troops, WWE should certainly be commended for their continued recognition of the bravery that our soldiers exhibit. But at the same time, they practically cancel out this good deed by the disrespect they show for human life when they reference the coldness of Bob Denver’s corpse within days of his death. There is a way to be opportunistic and have it work in your favor. This is just opportunistic and stupid.
WWE is clearly compensating for the lack of imagination on their programming when they feel the need to bring the deceased Eddie Guerrero (or his name, anyway) into WWE storylines again. It’s gotten to the point where I am half-expecting Rey and Chavo being booked to wrestle in the graveyard where Eddie is buried in a “Tombstone Terror†match. But I better not give Vince any ideas.
The bottom line is that booking rape, sexual harassment, and child custody angles is one thing (it’s still ludicrous, but it’s one thing). But when you bring up real-life deaths on your show, and you not only don’t pay respect to them but you MOCK them, the only thing you are doing is alienating your fans and creeping them out in the process. Although, coming from someone who once pitched the idea of having himself be the father of his daughter’s child, I guess I can’t expect much! Either way, it is extremely offensive, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t offend easy. Congratulations, WWE, just when I thought I couldn’t be offended, you pulled it off.
Generally, WWE is bone dry out of ideas. So they’ve resorted to either recycling old ones (the frequent arresting of the babyface, McMahon as the main event, etc.) or trying to use shock value to their utmost advantage. But what they need to realize is that saying controversial things on the air is easy. Anybody can do that. But creative writing? That’ll bring you more revenue. And I think once they realize this, we could very well be heading into another one of wrestling’s “boom†periods. But until then, I have a feeling that if you’re a celebrity, or even if you’re a deadly disease or a cultural epidemic, you may find yourself on a WWE program. Check your local listings, and watch out.
