WWE RAW Results (05/12/08) Jim Ross welcomes us to the Joe Louis Arena as we go into the show with the lights out in the arena. The lights come back on and William Regal is in the ring...
One of the best things about being a wrestling fan are those times when you can look back at your favorite moments, gimmicks, and matches, and just mark out all over again. I mean, who doesn’t like going back and watching things like Undertaker’s epic return Wrestlemania 20, The Rock and Chris Jericho’s back and fourth mic battles, Shawn Michaels versus Bret Hart in the famous Iron Man, or hell, watching Hogan’s famous 1996 heel turn and the formation of the nWo. It’s the moments like these that make us wrestling fans, and in turn, allow us to enjoy them for years to come.
It’s always great to relive nostalgic moments and get all excited again. But is this really a good thing? Does it truly make you a wrestling fan to constantly live in the past, so to speak? Well, I’m going to have to say no, and I’ll tell you why.
To begin, let’s look at an example that exemplifies my point. We all remember the infamous Chris Jericho “Save Us.222” videos of the late months of last year, right? Well, when Jericho finally made his long awaited return, it was met with criticism from right and left. People claimed it wasn’t epic enough, poorly executed, and some even knocked his new look. Now on its own, I typically agreed; while I did enjoy his promo, there were some things I would have done differently.
However, it wasn’t people criticizing the return that annoyed me, but the ones who constantly compared it to his debut that made me mad.
That’s right. What was the real argument behind all of this criticism? Well for many, it was the fact that Jericho’s return was nothing like his debut and therefore it sucked. Well of course it wouldn’t be like his debut! This is kind of thinking that bothers me. We’re so obsessed with our “mark outs” of the past, that we totally forget what happens in the present. If we keep comparing wresting now as to when we were marks, then we’re doomed to never like it again. This thinking clouds our judgment, and just makes us the typical “smark” who can’t enjoy anything anymore.
To use the Jericho example again, some people were so obsessed with his debut they couldn’t think straight. That’s the problem. If there was an actual argument presented as to why the return sucked, then maybe they would have brought things up like the fact there’s a huge difference between 1999 and 2007. For one, wrestling was so hot in 1999 that no wrong could be done. Plus, there were two dominant companies and Jericho’s arrival in WWE was a big deal. Second, interrupting a run of the mill Randy Orton promo is not even close to interrupting a dynamic Rock promo! What do you think will get the better reaction? And finally, let’s not forget the difference between a DEBUT and a RETURN. I tend to think your debut would be considered just a bit more important than a return after an established run.
Do you see those arguments? Well I saw none of them during the weeks following Jericho’s return. All I saw was people mocking the return because it couldn’t live up to the debut. The bottom line is that wrestling fans need to get out of the past. Now, of course I love watching older wrestling. I have matches upon matches on my computer and on DVD of my mark years that I enjoy over and over. Honestly, who doesn’t like to go back and watch some of these classics? However it’s important not to lose sight of the good we have today. Instead of hating a John Cena promo, why don’t you accept the fact that if you were a mark today, you’d probably love him?
Many wrestling fans that are in the “post-mark” phase just don’t get it. They don’t see why they don’t enjoy wrestling as much as they used to. The fact of the matter is that WWE markets their product to the MARK. WWE is ultimately a business and the best way to make money is by trying to hook the people who are most likely going to order the PPVs, buy t-shirts, and go to the live events. And who are those people? The marks of course, and the majority of them are children or young teens. If they think what they are watching is real, then they will buy into it. For example, who else would believe that Jericho was actually “fired” from WWE in 2005 than the marks? They’re the ones that shill out the most money.
Sure “us guys” in the post-mark phase still purchase things WWE related, but not in the droves that the real mark fans do. The important thing to realize is that in five to ten years, the marks of today will be the internet and “smark” fans of the future. And just as we salivate over our favorite Rock-Austin moments from years ago, these future “smarks” may be trying relive the John Cena era. I’ve always maintained that wrestling as a kid or a mark is the best time to like it. The kids today know John Cena, and that’s all they know. In time, they will be nostalgic for him because he was their favorite during the mark years. I don’t care how terrible you may think he is. The fact is that you always love the first wrestler you marked out for, and the era in which he wrestled.
The bottom line here is that nothing will ever compete with what initially hooked you on wrestling, and that’s a fact. The sooner we come to accept that, the better. Honestly though, I think there is a lot to be said for the fans, like myself, who continue to watch wrestling even after they find out that Santa isn’t real. It’s a true testament to their desire to enjoy their hobbies. But if all you want out of wrestling is to see a re-hash of what you saw as a child, then stop watching it. It will never be the same, even if the very stars and storylines you loved as a child are cloned and redone today. If all you want is to go back and watch the past, that’s fine, but please don’t complain about the present. Yes, we know it’s different. But you, the fan, are also different. You’re older, and hopefully more educated both in life and in the sport. Everything will be different, and that’s a fact.
All in all, it’s totally fine to trash the product of today and go back watch the classics. Being a columnist, that’s one of my primary functions. But please don’t use the reasoning that it’s worse now than it was when you were younger. That excuse is old, tired and merits nothing. When you’re a mark, wrestling is great, and what you truly miss is being one, not the stars you liked then. Even if the product was better “back in the day,” when all is said and done, perception IS reality. What we perceive as marks is much different of the reality of today, and that’s the main point here.
*** Thanks for reading! If you have any feedback, I’ll be glad to chat with you:
Email: timothywronka@yahoo.com AIM: TimW14
Enjoy WrestleMania everyone! I’ll be there live, so look for me in the crowd!
Until next time, this has been From the Eye of the Dragon…
