The Ivy League: View From Without
By Poison Ivy
11:21 PM on 3/07/2002


Merritt wanted me to write a non- CSWA specific column for the wrestling web geeks out there.

The CSWA is running on schedule for the first time in forever, my mother just died, and I finally figured out my heart, and Merritt wants me to write a non- CSWA specific column?

I work for two wrestling companies. The CSWA and the Fans Wrestling Organization. And I'll be honest with you, with the exception of the scant few times a friend has asked me to take a look at a promo or a match from a company other than these two.... I'm a professional wrestling ignoramus. I simply don't have the time to look at everything presented, so all I can do is try and keep my head above water when it comes to the major stories.

But no, Merritt wanted me to write a non- CSWA specific column. One that could be read and understood by most anyone who came across it. The trouble with this, is that there are so many different wrestling promotions, so many different points of view, there's really nothing I can say that'll change the world, or even make it take a second look. People tend to believe the things they read that support their own points of view and ignore the rest of the world.

Research, research, research. When you don't know about something, you look it up.

But I've gotta tell you folks.... I did a once- over of the professional wrestling world of 2002.... and I'm insanely worried about the future of this sport. I can remember a time when the biggest problem a newcomer to the wrestling world had to face was whether his (or her) path would lead to the CSWA, the AAWC, or the UWA. Add Northwest, to a lesser degree, but that was pretty much it. Everyone feuded with everyone, true, but it was all business until the infamous pooping. Hornet and GUNS became superstars in the CSWA and the AAWC in spite of their reputations, not because of them. Mike Randalls never played the political game, which only made him bigger than he was.

Nowadays, everyone seems to be an armchair booker. There are columns upon columns upon columns written by people who have never been major players in this business. People who WILL never be major players in this business. Hell, some of the harshest critics of the current sport of wrestling aren't even IN the business, And of course, they all know how to 'save' the business from itself. They all know how to 'save' wrestling from the people on top, who are coincidentally the people accused of killing it. These are the people who both create the concept of a glass ceiling and criticize people at random for maintaining it. These are the people who call for people to get the call based on who has a cool T-shirt, who can cuss the most in their promos, or who can make the most references to drugs in thirty seconds. Based on who's friends with whom. Based on what someone has done in another promotion, not realizing that it doesn't matter what a wrestler did in the fWo, he's gotta prove himself to the 21Wrestling crowd. That it doesn't matter what a wrestler did in the CSWA, he's gotta prove himself to the NFW crowd. That it doesn't matter how many people on some BS internet message board think Generic Wrestler 'A' should be on top of the GXW or the Asylum, for no reason other than the fact that he has a colorful banner in his signature.

They don't mention one of the biggest alleged egos in this business, Hornet, putting Evan Aho over at the CSWA's signature event of the year.

They don't mention the way the Boston Strangler constantly uses his status as a main event player to give a talanted newcomer that extra little 'something' to help him on his way.

They can't see how the 'overrated' Graphic Violence has a unique and unmatched love for the business.

No, most of the people whose opinions hold any amount of weight are content to verbalize everything that's wrong with the business. Most of the people whose opinions are followed are too big of a mark for themselves and their 'reputation' in the sport to give a damn about the accuracy of their reports. No, as long as a catchy go- home line gets noticed, as long as they get people to visit their websites or call their hotlines.... who gives a crap, right? Go ahead and open your own promotion. As long as people talk about you for more than twenty seconds, who cares if you pull a group of the boys into your locker room, get them to believe in the project, and walk out on them for 'something different'?

Forget 'em. And shame on them.

I give a crap. I care. This business has provided me with a second family. This business has provided me with memories to last a lifetime. This business has seen more good than bad come down the pike, and I take it just a little personally to see someone who has no connection to it bring it down.

You'd think these Internet Wrestling Personalities would have the decency to know what they're talking about, right?

This is Ivy too.