If you can tell where that quote is from, I'll be highly impressed! (It's from a television show.) As I write this, this is the last week before SHIMMER weekend. A precious time that comes twice a year where female wrestling fans congregate in the town known as Berwyn, Illinois; a small town of around 54,000, quiet, not too far away from the larger Chicago. A town that has (hopefully) come to accept the band of people that come from locations all over the world to see the very best in wrestling over a weekend. Perhaps, one might equate it to the pilgrimage all Muslims are required to make once in their life, a journey to the holy city of Mecca called the Hajj. Berwyn is our Mecca, and at least once in your life (if you are a SHIMMER fan), you must make at least one journey. Be warned, however - once you go, you will find yourself coming back as much as time and finances allow.
Through SHIMMER, I discovered other places that support and nuture female wrestling such as Women Superstars Uncensored, nCw Femme Fatales, Pro-Wrestling, EVE, Anarchy Championship Wrestling and others. However, maybe it is because it was the first promotion I found, or perhaps it is because it is the only one (so far) I have attended live, but SHIMMER remains my favourite promotion. There are several reasons for this, other than the ones I listed.
Although only running two shows (four DVD volume tapings) a year, the shows are so tightly packed with talent that every match is superb. Sure, there's the occasional match that isn't five stars, but I can honestly say I have never seen a bad match. Neither have I seen a 3 minute match, nor have I seen a match filled with botches to the point where it is painful to watch. The cards are stacked with women who either have years of experience, or women who may not have a lot of experience under their belts but they seize the opportunity to showcase what they have learned so far, and to learn from the veterans that are at the shows. In short - every woman is at SHIMMER or SPARKLE because they truly want to be there. They have trained, worked hard, compiled their work and sent it in hoping to get a shot. On the shows I have seen in person, no one phones it in.
In SHIMMER, you have dream matches that Dave Prazak puts together. The cards are always tightly held secrets, minus one or two announced beforehand, so the crowd is kept guessing until the music hits. I like that. I want to be surprised, to let the anticipation build until the big reveal. It's one of the best parts about the shows. Dave knows the matches we want to see. He's one of the bookers who listens to the fans and does what he can to deliver. Which, I daresay, he's done a fantastic job in the years that SHIMMER has been operating. He's brought together names that have never competed before anywhere else in the world. Each time he has made enough money off ticket and DVD sales to continue to bring in international talent. Yet he doesn't overlook talent that trains and works hard in the United States either. In SHIMMER we have the best of both worlds. So far, it's been a "Who's Who" of names. This time, not only do we get (in addition to the established names) the return of the Knight Dynasty (Saraya & Britani Knight) and four out of the five previous Joshis (Ayumi Kurihara, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Ayako Hamada & Tomoka Nakagawa), but we also get recent SHIMMER academy graduate Veda Scott, west coast competitor Davina Rose, as well as Japanese sensations Kana, Hailey Hatred and Yumi Okha. Dave has said there are still more names to come...
Where else are you going to find a show like this? It literally makes a fan salivate at the endless possibilities of who might face who.
One criticism I have heard about SHIMMER is the lack of storylines. However, I think if you make this comment you either haven't followed SHIMMER closely or you are taking a superficial look at it. For instance, a few of the previous storylines were:
-The Portia Perez/Allison Danger feud that elevated Portia into a first class heel after she re-injured Danger's clavicle, then threatened her when Allison was pregnant.
-The Serena Deeb/Sara Del Rey feud that elevated Serena into main event status. Del Rey never thought Serena deserved to be at the top, but Serena proved her wrong.
-Daffney turning on her protege, Rachel Summerlyn and making her life hell until the "I Quit" match on Volume 36.
The most recent, still on-going storyline, is of course the SHIMMER Champion Madison Eagles slow descent into madness. If you have followed events since May 2nd, 2009, then you saw the genesis of this storyline. Now her obsessive, Gollum-like need to keep hold of the SHIMMER title is one of the most fascinating storylines the promotion has. Tied into this is Cheerleader Melissa's quest to work her way back into title contention. Madison is a great actress and I think we've only begun to see how far this particular rabbit hole goes.
So there are plenty of storylines if you have followed along. Make no mistake, however, there is more of a focus on bringing together people for matches that you would not see anywhere else. Given the fact that the roster keeps growing, more people come from around the world to attend the shows (with no prior knowledge of matches that will happen), and DVD sales are healthy I daresay it's a formula that has proven its success. SHIMMER has grown by leaps and bounds since it's first show on November 6th, 2005. It is the first all-female promotion and its success has paved the way for other all-female promotions to start up. It has proven there is a market for female wrestling.
This will be my third trip to Berwyn and I can honestly say I cannot wait. If you are attending, come say hello! See you there!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
I am Woman...
I recently finished reading this book by Eve Ensler, the same woman who wrote "The Vagina Monologues." It's called "I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World." It's mainly geared towards teenage girls (although it was in the women's studies section of the bookstore), but almost every page has a few words or a section that feels like it speaks directly to me. It feels like what I would have said when I was a teenager, or what I've found myself saying in the past few years.
Even now in this day and age, girls are pressured into conforming to what society/their family/culture wants. Never mind what we feel or what we would like or how we would like to grow. We are forced to stifle the voice within us until it either fades away or grows louder and louder until it explodes into life.
Women are powerful creatures. We are told we are not, we are held down, forced down, humiliated, beaten, bruised, cut, mutilated, until we are nothing more than what others want us to be. Our wings are clipped so we cannot fly. Our voices are stifled until they are lost or drowned out. Our clitorises are cut so we do not realise the pleasure we can feel. Our bodies are not our own. So many girls around the world grow up, thinking they are nothing more than animals, less than human. And a lot of them will never know the truth.
We are powerful. Strong. Beautiful. Graceful.
We are determined. Bold. Creative. Idealistic.
We can change the world.
For so long I didn't know myself. Who I was, or what I was capable of. But I'm learning. Now, I know better. I am comfortable in my skin, as a person but also as a woman. I know the truths that society and culture doesn't want me to know. I am feeling my power and starting to exercise it. I am expanding my boundaries that the fear my mother ingrained in me kept me confined to. Once I was a shadow, but now I have substance.
This is my manifesto.
I am Woman.
I am powerful. Strong. Beautiful. Graceful.
I am determined. Bold. Creative. Idealistic.
I can change the world.
I want to learn more.
I have a brain thirsty for knowledge and a curiosity that cannot be contained.
I want to feel sensations I've never felt before.
I am a sexual creature and this isn't something to be ashamed or hidden.
It is a fact, and a part of myself I have too long denied.
It is something to be celebrated on my own terms. With the person I choose.
My sexuality is mine to control. No one else's.
I am a sensual creature.
I love to be held, stroked, caressed.
I am not ashamed of this. It is part of myself.
I have brains and beauty. Both make me who and what I am.
My clothing is my own to select. If I want to wear a short skirt, I will.
For my sake. Not yours.
I have shapely legs, a cute face, thick brown hair and a good sized bust.
I am short but perfectly proportioned for my size.
My body is mine to show and celebrate.
For my sake. Not yours.
When I am happy, I will laugh.
When I am sad, I will cry.
When I am angry, I will scream.
When I am excited, I will cheer.
My emotions are strong, uncontrollable by anyone but myself.
I am passionate.
I am loving.
I am tender.
I am sweet.
I am furious.
I am focused.
I am loyal.
I am opinionated.
I am stubborn.
I am intelligent.
I am supportive.
I am an emotional creature.
I can move mountains.
I can change the world.
And so can you. I believe in you. Believe in yourself.
Even now in this day and age, girls are pressured into conforming to what society/their family/culture wants. Never mind what we feel or what we would like or how we would like to grow. We are forced to stifle the voice within us until it either fades away or grows louder and louder until it explodes into life.
Women are powerful creatures. We are told we are not, we are held down, forced down, humiliated, beaten, bruised, cut, mutilated, until we are nothing more than what others want us to be. Our wings are clipped so we cannot fly. Our voices are stifled until they are lost or drowned out. Our clitorises are cut so we do not realise the pleasure we can feel. Our bodies are not our own. So many girls around the world grow up, thinking they are nothing more than animals, less than human. And a lot of them will never know the truth.
We are powerful. Strong. Beautiful. Graceful.
We are determined. Bold. Creative. Idealistic.
We can change the world.
For so long I didn't know myself. Who I was, or what I was capable of. But I'm learning. Now, I know better. I am comfortable in my skin, as a person but also as a woman. I know the truths that society and culture doesn't want me to know. I am feeling my power and starting to exercise it. I am expanding my boundaries that the fear my mother ingrained in me kept me confined to. Once I was a shadow, but now I have substance.
This is my manifesto.
I am Woman.
I am powerful. Strong. Beautiful. Graceful.
I am determined. Bold. Creative. Idealistic.
I can change the world.
I want to learn more.
I have a brain thirsty for knowledge and a curiosity that cannot be contained.
I want to feel sensations I've never felt before.
I am a sexual creature and this isn't something to be ashamed or hidden.
It is a fact, and a part of myself I have too long denied.
It is something to be celebrated on my own terms. With the person I choose.
My sexuality is mine to control. No one else's.
I am a sensual creature.
I love to be held, stroked, caressed.
I am not ashamed of this. It is part of myself.
I have brains and beauty. Both make me who and what I am.
My clothing is my own to select. If I want to wear a short skirt, I will.
For my sake. Not yours.
I have shapely legs, a cute face, thick brown hair and a good sized bust.
I am short but perfectly proportioned for my size.
My body is mine to show and celebrate.
For my sake. Not yours.
When I am happy, I will laugh.
When I am sad, I will cry.
When I am angry, I will scream.
When I am excited, I will cheer.
My emotions are strong, uncontrollable by anyone but myself.
I am passionate.
I am loving.
I am tender.
I am sweet.
I am furious.
I am focused.
I am loyal.
I am opinionated.
I am stubborn.
I am intelligent.
I am supportive.
I am an emotional creature.
I can move mountains.
I can change the world.
And so can you. I believe in you. Believe in yourself.
Monday, September 12, 2011
September 11th, 2011
Yes, I know it's not the 11th anymore. I meant to write this earlier but I've had a headache for most of the day so I'm just now getting around to it.
If you were in America this past week up through Sunday, you've been saturated with 9/11 coverage. Hell, I'd be willing to wager you saw plenty of coverage even if you lived outside the country. A ten year anniversary, for any monumental occasion, is significant and you knew that all the networks would go all out. I DVRed a lot of programs and the memorial service, and have watched a bit, and from what I can tell, it all looked very tastefully done (the services in NYC, the Pentagon & Shanksville, PA), none of it garish or overblown. The two waterfalls where the Towers stood are simple, yet lovely, with all the names engraved. I'm not sure how it will look completely once it's all done, but I think it'll be a peaceful spot in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
If anything, there was too much saturation, too much programming. I think every previous 9/11 program that had ever been done in the past 10 years ("102 Minutes that Changed America", "The Man Who Predicted 9/11", etc.) was shown at one point, plus the new programs that had been done by various networks. All tasteful, with some new stories and information, but maybe just a bit too much. Even for someone like myself (who, on the day it happened came home and recorded the news nonstop, filling up 3 video tapes of coverage over the week) who studies and absorbs historical events as they happen, I had to shut it off a couple of times. I felt drained and considering I was already down, it was sapping my emotions to the point where I felt zombie-like. I had to turn it off.
After a shower, a snack and some aspirin (whenever fall and spring come along, my allergies act up and I get headaches a lot), I started feeling introspective. They say that everyone who was of an age to know and understand what was happening on that day has changed. Certainly, the country itself has changed, but so have it's people. I started pondering what changed in me and my life on that day and afterwards.
The major thing was that my eyes were signficantly opened and more aware of the world at large. Sure, I'd had an interest in history and current events, but 9/11 led me to start learning much, much more. My library increased (although it took a few more years for my interest in American history to kick start), but most importantly I took an active interest in politics. Being that I was still fresh out of school and my parents (specifically my mom) were Republicans, my path led me into Conservative Republicanism. I saw Democrats and Liberals as weak people, I read and owned all of Ann Coulters books, most of the coverage that I recorded was Fox News, and I listened to Rush Limbaugh whenever I could. In 2004, I campaigned for President Bush and a local Congresswoman, Anne Northup. When our troops went into Afghanistan, I watched the coverage avidly and when Bush said there were WMDs in Iraq, I believed him and supported the war.
I always had to be plugged into the news. At work I would have the radio on, at home even if I was in another room, there was always a tv on with one of the 24 hour news channels on. I was, and still am, a news junkie. I want to know. This curiousity, this need to know, was always a characteristic of mine, but if anything it increased after 9/11. Heck, half of the Twitter accounts I follow are news, American and world-wide.
I'm happy to say that in 2005 and after, my political views changed to become more Progressive/Democratic. Now, I'm sorta ashamed for how gung-ho I was and trusting, but you live and learn from your past. What matters is that I became more involved and aware of the world beyond my little circle. That can only be a good thing.
The other major thing I learned from 9/11, the other major way it changed me, was to realise just how suddenly your life can end. The people on the planes, they were going about their business. Whether for business or pleasure, they innocently got on a plane, like hundreds of thousands of people do everyday in every country, never suspecting what was going to happen. The people at the Trade Center and the Pentagon did what they always did - they went to work. It was just another Tuesday for these folks. They never realised that for some of them, their lives would come to an end.
That's a damn sobering thing to dwell on. Its actually bringing tears to my eyes to type this as I think about what they must have thought and felt before the end came. The main thing is they were living their lives; it was just another day for them. They had no idea they would be a part of history. They had no idea they would never see their loved ones again. Some managed a last call, to get a last message out, but many didn't.
It makes you realise how fragile life is, and how uncertain it can be. That's a powerful realisation. And it can apply everywhere, everyday. None of us are promised tomorrow. There's always the possibility that you may not wake up tomorrow; that the car you're driving or riding in may crash; that the bank you're making a stop at might be robbed and shot up. These scenarios happen every day - this sounds really fatalistic, but 9/11 drove home the fact that each minute or day may be our last.
It was after 9/11 that I started telling my family that I loved them whenever I hung up the phone or left the house. It's such a simple thing, yet before that day I didn't think anything of ending the conversation with a simple "Bye". But that changed - my mom, my dad, my sister, my grandmother, I started telling them, "I love you" before ending any conversation on the phone or leaving the house, whether it be to go to work or just up the street. It didn't matter. Now it's become routine, but that doesn't mean I don't mean it. I still mean it.
Everytime I tell someone I love them, I mean it with all my heart and soul. Because I realise I may not get the chance to tell them later. Even if I'm not in a good mood, or I'm upset with the person, I still say it. I've been mad at mom before I've left for work, yet I've still looked at her and said, "I love you." Because I mean it. Moods are temporary. Tempers flare, but love is a constant, steady, enduring thing to me. It runs deeper than any temporary roadbump. And usually by the time I'm at work and I'm calmer, I wind up calling mom and apologising for my part in the argument.
My love runs deeper than any argument, any mood shift, any flareup.
That is one thing I wish everyone would learn, from 9/11, or anything - don't waste a moment. If you love someone, tell them! If you're sorry, apologise! Dying with regrets is a horrible thing, and I'm sure many of the folks that died in that day died with regrets in their hearts. 9/11 taught me how precious life is and a few months later, my family learned the same lesson in a hard way.
In late March 2002, my mom's mom (we called her Nannie) who lived with us (and had called us with regular updates on 9/11 since we weren't by a tv), had a seizure. The doctors ran tests and discovered she had a brain tumour from cancer that had gotten there via her lymphnodes and had originated in her lungs. They said that she could have as much as 6 months but that wasn't likely at all.
She died on May 3rd, in the very room I'm sitting in. 5 - 6 weeks. Those were the hardest weeks, on all of us, but mostly on mom. She insisted on caring for her. The Hosparus people came in for the last few weeks, God bless them, but mom did the bulk of the work. She stopped talking on Wednesday - her last words were to me. She wanted me to stay home and read to her, but I had to go to work. She died on Friday, struggling for breath - in '96, she had had heart surgery, quadruple bypass. In the end, her heart was the only thing that kept her alive, even after everything had shut down. She was gasping for breath, even after we had all told her it was okay to go. I remember I was in my room, and I thought I would go in and read to her when I heard my mom go into Nannie's room and I heard her gasp.
It was too late. I'm crying typing this, it's still very raw to talk about. But I have a few regrets with Nannie, mostly the fact I didn't spend enough time with her. I read to her once, maybe twice, but it was so hard to deal with, I didn't do it nearly enough.
Maybe I sound like a hypocrite, saying to not have any regrets while I have a few, but I learned the hard way with Nannie, and again with Andrew. On 9/11, when I got home from work, Nannie was there to greet me. The first thing I did when I walked in the door was hug her and tell her I loved her. I am glad I did - I didn't know we would lose her 8 months later. But at least I told her. Everyday. Right up to the end.
Those are the two major ways September 11th, 2001 changed me. I could write more about that day and all the heroes, but I feel drained again. My face is streaked with tears because I haven't talked about Nannie in a long time and I hadn't thought about her death in a while. Not deeply, and not with that connection she had to 9/11. I'll carry my regrets with me for the rest of my life - but I'm doing my best to take the lessons I've learned from 9/11, her death and Andrew's death and apply them. Sometimes I fail, but I'm learning.
That's what life is. As long as you live, you learn. You hope, you love, you dream. You live.
Where were you on that day? What have you learned from it? I'd like to know if you are willing to share.
If you were in America this past week up through Sunday, you've been saturated with 9/11 coverage. Hell, I'd be willing to wager you saw plenty of coverage even if you lived outside the country. A ten year anniversary, for any monumental occasion, is significant and you knew that all the networks would go all out. I DVRed a lot of programs and the memorial service, and have watched a bit, and from what I can tell, it all looked very tastefully done (the services in NYC, the Pentagon & Shanksville, PA), none of it garish or overblown. The two waterfalls where the Towers stood are simple, yet lovely, with all the names engraved. I'm not sure how it will look completely once it's all done, but I think it'll be a peaceful spot in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
If anything, there was too much saturation, too much programming. I think every previous 9/11 program that had ever been done in the past 10 years ("102 Minutes that Changed America", "The Man Who Predicted 9/11", etc.) was shown at one point, plus the new programs that had been done by various networks. All tasteful, with some new stories and information, but maybe just a bit too much. Even for someone like myself (who, on the day it happened came home and recorded the news nonstop, filling up 3 video tapes of coverage over the week) who studies and absorbs historical events as they happen, I had to shut it off a couple of times. I felt drained and considering I was already down, it was sapping my emotions to the point where I felt zombie-like. I had to turn it off.
After a shower, a snack and some aspirin (whenever fall and spring come along, my allergies act up and I get headaches a lot), I started feeling introspective. They say that everyone who was of an age to know and understand what was happening on that day has changed. Certainly, the country itself has changed, but so have it's people. I started pondering what changed in me and my life on that day and afterwards.
The major thing was that my eyes were signficantly opened and more aware of the world at large. Sure, I'd had an interest in history and current events, but 9/11 led me to start learning much, much more. My library increased (although it took a few more years for my interest in American history to kick start), but most importantly I took an active interest in politics. Being that I was still fresh out of school and my parents (specifically my mom) were Republicans, my path led me into Conservative Republicanism. I saw Democrats and Liberals as weak people, I read and owned all of Ann Coulters books, most of the coverage that I recorded was Fox News, and I listened to Rush Limbaugh whenever I could. In 2004, I campaigned for President Bush and a local Congresswoman, Anne Northup. When our troops went into Afghanistan, I watched the coverage avidly and when Bush said there were WMDs in Iraq, I believed him and supported the war.
I always had to be plugged into the news. At work I would have the radio on, at home even if I was in another room, there was always a tv on with one of the 24 hour news channels on. I was, and still am, a news junkie. I want to know. This curiousity, this need to know, was always a characteristic of mine, but if anything it increased after 9/11. Heck, half of the Twitter accounts I follow are news, American and world-wide.
I'm happy to say that in 2005 and after, my political views changed to become more Progressive/Democratic. Now, I'm sorta ashamed for how gung-ho I was and trusting, but you live and learn from your past. What matters is that I became more involved and aware of the world beyond my little circle. That can only be a good thing.
The other major thing I learned from 9/11, the other major way it changed me, was to realise just how suddenly your life can end. The people on the planes, they were going about their business. Whether for business or pleasure, they innocently got on a plane, like hundreds of thousands of people do everyday in every country, never suspecting what was going to happen. The people at the Trade Center and the Pentagon did what they always did - they went to work. It was just another Tuesday for these folks. They never realised that for some of them, their lives would come to an end.
That's a damn sobering thing to dwell on. Its actually bringing tears to my eyes to type this as I think about what they must have thought and felt before the end came. The main thing is they were living their lives; it was just another day for them. They had no idea they would be a part of history. They had no idea they would never see their loved ones again. Some managed a last call, to get a last message out, but many didn't.
It makes you realise how fragile life is, and how uncertain it can be. That's a powerful realisation. And it can apply everywhere, everyday. None of us are promised tomorrow. There's always the possibility that you may not wake up tomorrow; that the car you're driving or riding in may crash; that the bank you're making a stop at might be robbed and shot up. These scenarios happen every day - this sounds really fatalistic, but 9/11 drove home the fact that each minute or day may be our last.
It was after 9/11 that I started telling my family that I loved them whenever I hung up the phone or left the house. It's such a simple thing, yet before that day I didn't think anything of ending the conversation with a simple "Bye". But that changed - my mom, my dad, my sister, my grandmother, I started telling them, "I love you" before ending any conversation on the phone or leaving the house, whether it be to go to work or just up the street. It didn't matter. Now it's become routine, but that doesn't mean I don't mean it. I still mean it.
Everytime I tell someone I love them, I mean it with all my heart and soul. Because I realise I may not get the chance to tell them later. Even if I'm not in a good mood, or I'm upset with the person, I still say it. I've been mad at mom before I've left for work, yet I've still looked at her and said, "I love you." Because I mean it. Moods are temporary. Tempers flare, but love is a constant, steady, enduring thing to me. It runs deeper than any temporary roadbump. And usually by the time I'm at work and I'm calmer, I wind up calling mom and apologising for my part in the argument.
My love runs deeper than any argument, any mood shift, any flareup.
That is one thing I wish everyone would learn, from 9/11, or anything - don't waste a moment. If you love someone, tell them! If you're sorry, apologise! Dying with regrets is a horrible thing, and I'm sure many of the folks that died in that day died with regrets in their hearts. 9/11 taught me how precious life is and a few months later, my family learned the same lesson in a hard way.
In late March 2002, my mom's mom (we called her Nannie) who lived with us (and had called us with regular updates on 9/11 since we weren't by a tv), had a seizure. The doctors ran tests and discovered she had a brain tumour from cancer that had gotten there via her lymphnodes and had originated in her lungs. They said that she could have as much as 6 months but that wasn't likely at all.
She died on May 3rd, in the very room I'm sitting in. 5 - 6 weeks. Those were the hardest weeks, on all of us, but mostly on mom. She insisted on caring for her. The Hosparus people came in for the last few weeks, God bless them, but mom did the bulk of the work. She stopped talking on Wednesday - her last words were to me. She wanted me to stay home and read to her, but I had to go to work. She died on Friday, struggling for breath - in '96, she had had heart surgery, quadruple bypass. In the end, her heart was the only thing that kept her alive, even after everything had shut down. She was gasping for breath, even after we had all told her it was okay to go. I remember I was in my room, and I thought I would go in and read to her when I heard my mom go into Nannie's room and I heard her gasp.
It was too late. I'm crying typing this, it's still very raw to talk about. But I have a few regrets with Nannie, mostly the fact I didn't spend enough time with her. I read to her once, maybe twice, but it was so hard to deal with, I didn't do it nearly enough.
Maybe I sound like a hypocrite, saying to not have any regrets while I have a few, but I learned the hard way with Nannie, and again with Andrew. On 9/11, when I got home from work, Nannie was there to greet me. The first thing I did when I walked in the door was hug her and tell her I loved her. I am glad I did - I didn't know we would lose her 8 months later. But at least I told her. Everyday. Right up to the end.
Those are the two major ways September 11th, 2001 changed me. I could write more about that day and all the heroes, but I feel drained again. My face is streaked with tears because I haven't talked about Nannie in a long time and I hadn't thought about her death in a while. Not deeply, and not with that connection she had to 9/11. I'll carry my regrets with me for the rest of my life - but I'm doing my best to take the lessons I've learned from 9/11, her death and Andrew's death and apply them. Sometimes I fail, but I'm learning.
That's what life is. As long as you live, you learn. You hope, you love, you dream. You live.
Where were you on that day? What have you learned from it? I'd like to know if you are willing to share.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Story lines in Wrestling
Being in Louisville, I keep up with Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). They've got a decent sized women's division and a friend of mine works for it. I thought it was alright - until this past week, when they decided to go with a pregnancy story line.
I fucking hate pregnancy story lines in wrestling. Fucking. Hate. Them. There are a few things/issues I believe shouldn't be made into angles in wrestling, and here's the list:
1) Pregnancy
2) Rape
3) Death
Short list, right? You're probably wondering why I still watch WWE since they've done all 3. Trust me, I wasn't thrilled when they did and largely tuned them out until it was over, which is probably what I'll do with OVW considering I'm still irritated at how short Izzabelle Smothers' title run was.
There's a line that wrestling walks, trying to be as real as possible while still being fixed. And that's fine, sometimes that line is walked just right, but I believe there's a ton of other issues to have story lines around, and its scraping the bottom of the barrel to resort to one of those three.
Pregnancy - unless the woman is actually pregnant, she'll end up having a miscarriage or aborting the child. Because how else are you going to do this? Have her walk around with a fake stomach for 9 months then produce a child that isn't hers to parade around in front of television cameras? What mother is going to go for that, allowing their kid to be made out to be someone else's and put on tv?
Having a miscarriage can be a very tramatic event for a woman. You may say there's no difference between having it be in a storyline and having it be in a movie/tv show. I say wrestling, due to it's trying to be as real as possible, shouldn't go in that direction. Yes I realise we're not talking about a high class thing here, but miscarriages and abortion are subjects that, in my opinion, don't do anything to further breaking the stereotypes of women in wrestling. Pregnancy overall doesn't have a place in wrestling.
Rape - The only one I can think of is when Lita "slept" with Kane to protect Matt, and since it wasn't her choice, this constitutes rape in my view.
Rape is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman. The effects stay with her for the rest of her life, no matter how well she seems to work through it. It's a devastating event and putting it in a wrestling story line just trivializes it. It's trivialised enough in real life, but making it an angle is sleezy and wrong. Nothing positive can come out of it. Absolutely nothing.
Death - Eddie Guerrero's death and the resulting storyline. Do I need to say anything else? I doubt it. Death isn't something to be trivialised either.
I'm more ranting than anything but I think there are some things that shouldn't be brought down to the level of a wrestling story line. No matter how 'real' wrestling feels, it's still a scripted event. Maybe I'm being silly by wanting standards in professional wrestling, but hey, it's not like I have any influence. I'm just a fan. So whatever I don't agree with, I won't support. Which means no OVW for a while.
I fucking hate pregnancy story lines in wrestling. Fucking. Hate. Them. There are a few things/issues I believe shouldn't be made into angles in wrestling, and here's the list:
1) Pregnancy
2) Rape
3) Death
Short list, right? You're probably wondering why I still watch WWE since they've done all 3. Trust me, I wasn't thrilled when they did and largely tuned them out until it was over, which is probably what I'll do with OVW considering I'm still irritated at how short Izzabelle Smothers' title run was.
There's a line that wrestling walks, trying to be as real as possible while still being fixed. And that's fine, sometimes that line is walked just right, but I believe there's a ton of other issues to have story lines around, and its scraping the bottom of the barrel to resort to one of those three.
Pregnancy - unless the woman is actually pregnant, she'll end up having a miscarriage or aborting the child. Because how else are you going to do this? Have her walk around with a fake stomach for 9 months then produce a child that isn't hers to parade around in front of television cameras? What mother is going to go for that, allowing their kid to be made out to be someone else's and put on tv?
Having a miscarriage can be a very tramatic event for a woman. You may say there's no difference between having it be in a storyline and having it be in a movie/tv show. I say wrestling, due to it's trying to be as real as possible, shouldn't go in that direction. Yes I realise we're not talking about a high class thing here, but miscarriages and abortion are subjects that, in my opinion, don't do anything to further breaking the stereotypes of women in wrestling. Pregnancy overall doesn't have a place in wrestling.
Rape - The only one I can think of is when Lita "slept" with Kane to protect Matt, and since it wasn't her choice, this constitutes rape in my view.
Rape is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman. The effects stay with her for the rest of her life, no matter how well she seems to work through it. It's a devastating event and putting it in a wrestling story line just trivializes it. It's trivialised enough in real life, but making it an angle is sleezy and wrong. Nothing positive can come out of it. Absolutely nothing.
Death - Eddie Guerrero's death and the resulting storyline. Do I need to say anything else? I doubt it. Death isn't something to be trivialised either.
I'm more ranting than anything but I think there are some things that shouldn't be brought down to the level of a wrestling story line. No matter how 'real' wrestling feels, it's still a scripted event. Maybe I'm being silly by wanting standards in professional wrestling, but hey, it's not like I have any influence. I'm just a fan. So whatever I don't agree with, I won't support. Which means no OVW for a while.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Frustrations: Movies & Wrestling.
I have a few things to get rid of. Trival matters, but I've got to get rid of them.
I severely loathe when movies kill off characters just to add to the body count, or to "tie up loose ends." (Oh and there will be SPOILERS for a few films in this. You've been warned.) I watched two movies over the weekend, "2012" (which I'd seen a few months ago but didn't get to see the ending) and "Piranha" (which was in theaters as a 3D film). I like horror films and disaster films (such as "2012", "Deep Impact", etc.) are a guilty pleasure of mine. However, in both you have a cluster of people that you sorta get to know, and either get attached to or utterly despise. "Piranha" had both. It featured the protagonist, his family, the girl he liked and 3 people a part of a rip off of the "Girls Gone Wild" thing. The guy who was the owner and two girls, one of which we meet early on, a nice red head who actually is friendly and likeable. She's more than just a pair of tits, she's got a personality. The other, a blonde, is there only as piranha food and masturbation fodder.
So you get down to the last 30 minutes of the film and the two kids and the redhead had to shimmy across a rope from one boat to another to get to safety. The water underneath is infested with piranhas. Of course, they leap up, snag the redhead and eventually she gets freaked out enough that she falls into the water and is eaten. TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. But it's like the writers thought, "Hey, we're getting down to the end and we need to wrap this up. We can't kill off the mom, the kids, the protagnoist or his crush - lets kill the redhead!" So even though there'd been far enough gore to satisfy folks, she was the next to last kill. And there was no reason! She was a perfectly likable girl with a personality and a good heart it seemed, so it wasn't as though anyone was rooting for her to die (unlike the asshole owner of the company).
Same thing in "2012", there's a core group of folks who make it into the ark. The mom, dad (who're divorced), mom's boyfriend, 2 kids, a family of 4 Tibetians, and lastly a nice Russian girl who'd been another Russian man's girlfriend but he left her behind (long story). Anyways they all make it into the ark but because the door can't close all the way, water starts flooding in and water tight walls start closing off the compartments. They all get separated - in the first is the Tibetian family, the mom, dad and brother. In the middle is the Russian girl who gets her dog and the little sister to safety in the third compartment. She's trapped by herself. Mind, water is flooding into the first and middle compartments equally.
What happens? The family in the first compartment is saved when the dad gets the door to close and the compartment walls open back up. The nice Russian girl in the middle compartment? DROWNS. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BOTH FLOODING EQUALLY. Now this girl really had no reason to die, she could've been a foster mom to the Russian man's kids after he dies getting them onto the ark (again, long story). And the death makes no sense since water should've been coming into both compartments at an equal rate! Her death was stupid and senseless, another one that fits into the catagory of "Killing to even things out."
There's a lot of deaths that fall into this catagory. It's as if the writers have to get in every last kill they can, every last death, even if it means only having one or two people out of the group left alive at the end. Nevermind it would be more satisfying to have a few more survive.
Like in Freddy vs. Jason. The last two kills are Linderman and Kia (who's African-American - never a good thing in horror films..), who sorta have a connection between each other. Or they start to before Linderman, then Kia dies. They could've survived along with Lori and Will but noooo...bigger the body count, the better apparently. Which, normally I agree with, but when you get a connection with people you know aren't going to survive, it's a huge let down. When shit started going down, I knew Kia and Linderman wouldn't make it. It's the nature of horror films.
Doesn't make it easier or less frustrating though.
Which leads to my second frustration - wrestling. I've been a fan for 12 years now, since 1999. Started with the WWF, now I'm more of a fan of independent companies yet I still watch WWE. I keep an eye on it because there's still a few people I support, every once in awhile there's good matches, and there are only 3 women I really support. Beth Phoenix, Nattie Neidhart and AJ. And right now there's a program going on that is pitting Beth & Nattie versus everyone else for the most part. They're calling themselves the "Divas of Doom" and claim they're tired of the models. Over this past weekend, there was a whole lot of nonsense that happened online with an article and some of the Divas overreacting. Some people are saying that this should all be put on television and made part of the storyline. Let me make this really clear...
NONE. OF. THIS. MATTERS. You dig? Number one, it happened ONLINE. On twitter, which your basic wrestling watcher doesn't follow, and on wwe.com which doesn't get near the hits or the attention it did back in the attitude era where everyone and their mother had a website. Do you think the average person, who tunes in to see Cena or Orton actually knows or cares what's going on on Twitter? Take Zack Ryder, for instance. He has a very popular youtube show every week and has tried to get himself over, thinking it'll translate into something he can do on television. But he barely gets a crowd response. Sure there's always those few who follow his twitter and YT show who cheer, but otherwise? No. So for the Divas, who have for years been a filler segment or the victim of people that were pushed yet killed the crowd or the victim of stupid storylines, how much less attention does that translate into? You try putting any of this shit on television and you'll only confuse people who weren't paying attention, or bore the crowds - or both. Basically it boils down to this - if it doesn't happen on tv, it doesn't happen at all.
Number two - trying to get yourself over online does not translate into a tv push. Take Zack Ryder again. Sure he's on SD and has a bit of attention but it's nowhere near what people thought he would get. WWE does not like people trying to get over on their own. Vince is a jealous asshole with a very narrow focus. If you aren't Cena/Punk/HHH/Orton or one of those upper tier people, he DOES NOT CARE. Look at the Tag Team Division. Been dead for a few years now. You know it's dead when teams that are just thrown together have the belts - who remembered Otunga and McGillicutty had the straps until Kofi & Evan won them? They haven't had a "cruiserweight" division for years since Hornswoggle had the belt then it disappeared. Their IC title (supposed to be the number two belt, underneath the big one) has been on people that didn't deserve to carry Piper or Bret Hart's jock strap. Let alone hold a so-called prestigous title like the Intercontinental Championship. And the US title? Pfff. They only brought it back for the brand split. And their WWE/World Heavyweight Championship title mix has been stale for years. The only surprises were Christian holding the WHC to begin with and CM Punk 'leaving' with the WWE title.
(Edit - I wrote this before Raw on 9/5. Tonight Zack Ryder had a video package featuring clips from his YT stuff, was teamed with a WWF HOF and actually won a match with Lawler {against Otunga & McGillicutty, but still}, then had a cameo backstage with Cena. So I'm amending my example. If Zack's 'push', if it is a push, goes nowhere and next week he's nowhere to be found, then my point still stands and it's another indication of Vince jacking off the small percentage of internet fans who like Ryder & want him to succeed. And my point still stands.
HOWEVER...if his push continues, then it's worse: it's a case of double standards. Because some of the women have tried to get things going for themselves on the internet and hope it'll translate to TV time. If Ryder gets pushed while the women get punished, then it's sexism and my point will still stand, due to Vince not giving a shit still about the women. I felt in the face of what happened tonight I should amend this blog.)
So in the face of all that, I'll ask again - with the narrow focus Vince has, why on God's green earth would he care about the women? HE. DOES. NOT. CARE. And I'll wager dollars to donuts that the Bellas get punished for overreacting (because for God's sake, if you're going to react, do it in character. Don't drag your MOM or your BROTHER into it). Why? Because Brie brought up 3 people who left or were fired by the company, 3 people that are not in WWE's good graces. Melina & Gail Kim tried to get over using twitter and other online medias and look what happened to them.
No matter what articles are written in support of Beth & Nattie, no matter the calls for change, no matter what the wrestlers themselves think - it does not matter. When all this is over, things will go back to normal. Kelly will go over both of them to face the next model-turned-wrestler. They will hire more useless women like Ariane who have no history, no prior knowledge and no prior training, and put them in FCW where they'll continue to learn how to incorrectly run the ropes and do other things the wrong way. Only to put them on tv in 2 minute matches and pray to God they don't injure themselves.
People, WWE isn't going to hire Sara Del Rey, Mercedes Martinez, Jessicka Havok or anyone else with actual, solid skills. Not unless the women are willing to radically change their appearances to fit the Diva Standard (TM). Look at Tenille. She's decent in the ring but she didn't have a prayer until she changed her hair colour and got breast implants. Gone are the days of Alundra Blayze, Bull Nakano, Luna Vachon, Aja Kong, Wendy Richter and Sherri Martel. GONE. Now you have to have the looks. Not the talent. I get so tired of people asking why WWE doesn't hire such and such. BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOOK THE WAY VINCE WANTS THEM TO LOOK! Is it that hard of a concept to figure out???
If you like these women, if you prefer skill over looks, then for fuck's sake, support independent promotions that feature these women!!! It isn't hard! Buy the DVDs, buy their t-shirts, go to the shows when you can! Send them messages of support! With all the social media there is nowadays, it isn't hard to get in touch with the women you admire. Don't send them messages asking why they don't go to WWE or TNA - do you realise how many times they've gotten that question? Sometimes, just sometimes, it's their own choice to NOT go. Like MsChif, she said flat out when talking to Stew & Lee that she didn't want to change the character that she'd crafted over the years. She didn't want to compromise herself - and I'll wager there's a lot of other women that don't want to compromise their characters, their values or theirselves to fit a Diva Standard (TM).
Would it be great to see your favourites every week? Sure - and you can if you buy their DVDs and pop them in and see them at their best instead of seeing them maybe once a week in a watered down form. And make no mistake, they would water down even the best, to fit them into the 2 - 3 minutes the Divas nowadays get. Divas fit in a box. THIS WILL NOT CHANGE.
Support the women who give you the wrestling you want. You want Divas? Watch WWE. You want Knockouts? Watch TNA. You want more female wrestling? Watch independents. It's that simple. Whatever floats your boat.
And while I'm at it, this shit with wrestling fandoms is fucking ridiculous. One fan thinks they're better because they watch WWE. One fan thinks they're better because they watch Joshi. One fan thinks everyone else is stupid for not watching TNA. One site thinks they're the best because they cover everything equally, one site thinks they're the best because they cover only independents, one site boasts "We're the greatest" because of the interviews they get.
If I may quote Holden from "Chasing Amy"..."AW COME ON, ITS ALL A BUNCH OF HORSE SHIT!"
What, watching one promotion, prefering one promotion over another makes you a BETTER fan, a better person?? Your shit stinks just like everyone else's my friend. While I fly my indy flag proudly, I don't look down on anyone else for watching WWE or TNA. (Although I hate TNA's management for what they did to Daffney, and how they continue to run their company, I don't look down on folks who watch it still.)
Why? Because I still watch WWE. It's what got me into wrestling. And there's still a few people I support and like to watch. And although I would love for things to change, I'm realistic enough to know that they won't. At least, not until Vince is dead or something. So I save my money to support promotions that satisfy me as a fan and as a woman. And I watch YT clips of WWE or the program itself if I feel like it.
Just because you watch only independent wrestling doesn't make you better than me or anyone else. Just because you watch only WWE or TNA doesn't make you better than me or anyone else.
And these sites that say "We're the best!" - are you out to promote yourselves or the women & men who need all the exposure and support they can get? If you're out to promote yourselves, then at least be honest about your goals. Don't brag then say, oh it's all about the people/the business. No, it's about YOU. Most of us don't get paid for writing/contributing to websites, we do it because we love the business, we want to make it better, we want to repay it somehow for the years of great memories it's given us, and we want to support the hard working women and men who don't get enough money or exposure that they deserve.
If people like what we do, then that's great. They'll say so. But it'll be THEM saying that we're good, we won't say it ourselves. Confidence in your work is key, but bragging isn't.
And as long as what we do benefits the women & men that actually wrestle and bust their asses for our entertainment, that is the ONLY thing that matters. If any wrestling website that covers independent promotions exposes it to one new fan, shows them that there's more out there than what's on tv, then the work is worth it. If it causes one new fan to shell out the money for a DVD from SHIMMER, WSU, nCw FF, ACW, EVE, PWWA, then the work is worth it.
But belittling people just because they have a personal preference as to what they watch? That helps nothing and no one. It just makes you look like a douchebag. And wrestling has enough of those. That is abundantly clear.
I severely loathe when movies kill off characters just to add to the body count, or to "tie up loose ends." (Oh and there will be SPOILERS for a few films in this. You've been warned.) I watched two movies over the weekend, "2012" (which I'd seen a few months ago but didn't get to see the ending) and "Piranha" (which was in theaters as a 3D film). I like horror films and disaster films (such as "2012", "Deep Impact", etc.) are a guilty pleasure of mine. However, in both you have a cluster of people that you sorta get to know, and either get attached to or utterly despise. "Piranha" had both. It featured the protagonist, his family, the girl he liked and 3 people a part of a rip off of the "Girls Gone Wild" thing. The guy who was the owner and two girls, one of which we meet early on, a nice red head who actually is friendly and likeable. She's more than just a pair of tits, she's got a personality. The other, a blonde, is there only as piranha food and masturbation fodder.
So you get down to the last 30 minutes of the film and the two kids and the redhead had to shimmy across a rope from one boat to another to get to safety. The water underneath is infested with piranhas. Of course, they leap up, snag the redhead and eventually she gets freaked out enough that she falls into the water and is eaten. TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. But it's like the writers thought, "Hey, we're getting down to the end and we need to wrap this up. We can't kill off the mom, the kids, the protagnoist or his crush - lets kill the redhead!" So even though there'd been far enough gore to satisfy folks, she was the next to last kill. And there was no reason! She was a perfectly likable girl with a personality and a good heart it seemed, so it wasn't as though anyone was rooting for her to die (unlike the asshole owner of the company).
Same thing in "2012", there's a core group of folks who make it into the ark. The mom, dad (who're divorced), mom's boyfriend, 2 kids, a family of 4 Tibetians, and lastly a nice Russian girl who'd been another Russian man's girlfriend but he left her behind (long story). Anyways they all make it into the ark but because the door can't close all the way, water starts flooding in and water tight walls start closing off the compartments. They all get separated - in the first is the Tibetian family, the mom, dad and brother. In the middle is the Russian girl who gets her dog and the little sister to safety in the third compartment. She's trapped by herself. Mind, water is flooding into the first and middle compartments equally.
What happens? The family in the first compartment is saved when the dad gets the door to close and the compartment walls open back up. The nice Russian girl in the middle compartment? DROWNS. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BOTH FLOODING EQUALLY. Now this girl really had no reason to die, she could've been a foster mom to the Russian man's kids after he dies getting them onto the ark (again, long story). And the death makes no sense since water should've been coming into both compartments at an equal rate! Her death was stupid and senseless, another one that fits into the catagory of "Killing to even things out."
There's a lot of deaths that fall into this catagory. It's as if the writers have to get in every last kill they can, every last death, even if it means only having one or two people out of the group left alive at the end. Nevermind it would be more satisfying to have a few more survive.
Like in Freddy vs. Jason. The last two kills are Linderman and Kia (who's African-American - never a good thing in horror films..), who sorta have a connection between each other. Or they start to before Linderman, then Kia dies. They could've survived along with Lori and Will but noooo...bigger the body count, the better apparently. Which, normally I agree with, but when you get a connection with people you know aren't going to survive, it's a huge let down. When shit started going down, I knew Kia and Linderman wouldn't make it. It's the nature of horror films.
Doesn't make it easier or less frustrating though.
Which leads to my second frustration - wrestling. I've been a fan for 12 years now, since 1999. Started with the WWF, now I'm more of a fan of independent companies yet I still watch WWE. I keep an eye on it because there's still a few people I support, every once in awhile there's good matches, and there are only 3 women I really support. Beth Phoenix, Nattie Neidhart and AJ. And right now there's a program going on that is pitting Beth & Nattie versus everyone else for the most part. They're calling themselves the "Divas of Doom" and claim they're tired of the models. Over this past weekend, there was a whole lot of nonsense that happened online with an article and some of the Divas overreacting. Some people are saying that this should all be put on television and made part of the storyline. Let me make this really clear...
NONE. OF. THIS. MATTERS. You dig? Number one, it happened ONLINE. On twitter, which your basic wrestling watcher doesn't follow, and on wwe.com which doesn't get near the hits or the attention it did back in the attitude era where everyone and their mother had a website. Do you think the average person, who tunes in to see Cena or Orton actually knows or cares what's going on on Twitter? Take Zack Ryder, for instance. He has a very popular youtube show every week and has tried to get himself over, thinking it'll translate into something he can do on television. But he barely gets a crowd response. Sure there's always those few who follow his twitter and YT show who cheer, but otherwise? No. So for the Divas, who have for years been a filler segment or the victim of people that were pushed yet killed the crowd or the victim of stupid storylines, how much less attention does that translate into? You try putting any of this shit on television and you'll only confuse people who weren't paying attention, or bore the crowds - or both. Basically it boils down to this - if it doesn't happen on tv, it doesn't happen at all.
Number two - trying to get yourself over online does not translate into a tv push. Take Zack Ryder again. Sure he's on SD and has a bit of attention but it's nowhere near what people thought he would get. WWE does not like people trying to get over on their own. Vince is a jealous asshole with a very narrow focus. If you aren't Cena/Punk/HHH/Orton or one of those upper tier people, he DOES NOT CARE. Look at the Tag Team Division. Been dead for a few years now. You know it's dead when teams that are just thrown together have the belts - who remembered Otunga and McGillicutty had the straps until Kofi & Evan won them? They haven't had a "cruiserweight" division for years since Hornswoggle had the belt then it disappeared. Their IC title (supposed to be the number two belt, underneath the big one) has been on people that didn't deserve to carry Piper or Bret Hart's jock strap. Let alone hold a so-called prestigous title like the Intercontinental Championship. And the US title? Pfff. They only brought it back for the brand split. And their WWE/World Heavyweight Championship title mix has been stale for years. The only surprises were Christian holding the WHC to begin with and CM Punk 'leaving' with the WWE title.
(Edit - I wrote this before Raw on 9/5. Tonight Zack Ryder had a video package featuring clips from his YT stuff, was teamed with a WWF HOF and actually won a match with Lawler {against Otunga & McGillicutty, but still}, then had a cameo backstage with Cena. So I'm amending my example. If Zack's 'push', if it is a push, goes nowhere and next week he's nowhere to be found, then my point still stands and it's another indication of Vince jacking off the small percentage of internet fans who like Ryder & want him to succeed. And my point still stands.
HOWEVER...if his push continues, then it's worse: it's a case of double standards. Because some of the women have tried to get things going for themselves on the internet and hope it'll translate to TV time. If Ryder gets pushed while the women get punished, then it's sexism and my point will still stand, due to Vince not giving a shit still about the women. I felt in the face of what happened tonight I should amend this blog.)
So in the face of all that, I'll ask again - with the narrow focus Vince has, why on God's green earth would he care about the women? HE. DOES. NOT. CARE. And I'll wager dollars to donuts that the Bellas get punished for overreacting (because for God's sake, if you're going to react, do it in character. Don't drag your MOM or your BROTHER into it). Why? Because Brie brought up 3 people who left or were fired by the company, 3 people that are not in WWE's good graces. Melina & Gail Kim tried to get over using twitter and other online medias and look what happened to them.
No matter what articles are written in support of Beth & Nattie, no matter the calls for change, no matter what the wrestlers themselves think - it does not matter. When all this is over, things will go back to normal. Kelly will go over both of them to face the next model-turned-wrestler. They will hire more useless women like Ariane who have no history, no prior knowledge and no prior training, and put them in FCW where they'll continue to learn how to incorrectly run the ropes and do other things the wrong way. Only to put them on tv in 2 minute matches and pray to God they don't injure themselves.
People, WWE isn't going to hire Sara Del Rey, Mercedes Martinez, Jessicka Havok or anyone else with actual, solid skills. Not unless the women are willing to radically change their appearances to fit the Diva Standard (TM). Look at Tenille. She's decent in the ring but she didn't have a prayer until she changed her hair colour and got breast implants. Gone are the days of Alundra Blayze, Bull Nakano, Luna Vachon, Aja Kong, Wendy Richter and Sherri Martel. GONE. Now you have to have the looks. Not the talent. I get so tired of people asking why WWE doesn't hire such and such. BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOOK THE WAY VINCE WANTS THEM TO LOOK! Is it that hard of a concept to figure out???
If you like these women, if you prefer skill over looks, then for fuck's sake, support independent promotions that feature these women!!! It isn't hard! Buy the DVDs, buy their t-shirts, go to the shows when you can! Send them messages of support! With all the social media there is nowadays, it isn't hard to get in touch with the women you admire. Don't send them messages asking why they don't go to WWE or TNA - do you realise how many times they've gotten that question? Sometimes, just sometimes, it's their own choice to NOT go. Like MsChif, she said flat out when talking to Stew & Lee that she didn't want to change the character that she'd crafted over the years. She didn't want to compromise herself - and I'll wager there's a lot of other women that don't want to compromise their characters, their values or theirselves to fit a Diva Standard (TM).
Would it be great to see your favourites every week? Sure - and you can if you buy their DVDs and pop them in and see them at their best instead of seeing them maybe once a week in a watered down form. And make no mistake, they would water down even the best, to fit them into the 2 - 3 minutes the Divas nowadays get. Divas fit in a box. THIS WILL NOT CHANGE.
Support the women who give you the wrestling you want. You want Divas? Watch WWE. You want Knockouts? Watch TNA. You want more female wrestling? Watch independents. It's that simple. Whatever floats your boat.
And while I'm at it, this shit with wrestling fandoms is fucking ridiculous. One fan thinks they're better because they watch WWE. One fan thinks they're better because they watch Joshi. One fan thinks everyone else is stupid for not watching TNA. One site thinks they're the best because they cover everything equally, one site thinks they're the best because they cover only independents, one site boasts "We're the greatest" because of the interviews they get.
If I may quote Holden from "Chasing Amy"..."AW COME ON, ITS ALL A BUNCH OF HORSE SHIT!"
What, watching one promotion, prefering one promotion over another makes you a BETTER fan, a better person?? Your shit stinks just like everyone else's my friend. While I fly my indy flag proudly, I don't look down on anyone else for watching WWE or TNA. (Although I hate TNA's management for what they did to Daffney, and how they continue to run their company, I don't look down on folks who watch it still.)
Why? Because I still watch WWE. It's what got me into wrestling. And there's still a few people I support and like to watch. And although I would love for things to change, I'm realistic enough to know that they won't. At least, not until Vince is dead or something. So I save my money to support promotions that satisfy me as a fan and as a woman. And I watch YT clips of WWE or the program itself if I feel like it.
Just because you watch only independent wrestling doesn't make you better than me or anyone else. Just because you watch only WWE or TNA doesn't make you better than me or anyone else.
And these sites that say "We're the best!" - are you out to promote yourselves or the women & men who need all the exposure and support they can get? If you're out to promote yourselves, then at least be honest about your goals. Don't brag then say, oh it's all about the people/the business. No, it's about YOU. Most of us don't get paid for writing/contributing to websites, we do it because we love the business, we want to make it better, we want to repay it somehow for the years of great memories it's given us, and we want to support the hard working women and men who don't get enough money or exposure that they deserve.
If people like what we do, then that's great. They'll say so. But it'll be THEM saying that we're good, we won't say it ourselves. Confidence in your work is key, but bragging isn't.
And as long as what we do benefits the women & men that actually wrestle and bust their asses for our entertainment, that is the ONLY thing that matters. If any wrestling website that covers independent promotions exposes it to one new fan, shows them that there's more out there than what's on tv, then the work is worth it. If it causes one new fan to shell out the money for a DVD from SHIMMER, WSU, nCw FF, ACW, EVE, PWWA, then the work is worth it.
But belittling people just because they have a personal preference as to what they watch? That helps nothing and no one. It just makes you look like a douchebag. And wrestling has enough of those. That is abundantly clear.
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