2011 Pro Wrestling Thread

Wow. I get the attraction that guys have to wrestling but it really has to be one of the worst professions in the country. Especially for the rank and file.

 

WWE pays for flights, but not for car rentals (unless it's in the wrestler's contract), hotels, or food (except for catering at TV/PPV shows).

The flights are, unless it's in the contract, usually in coach, and plenty of times are red-eyes to be the cheapest.

That list is the downside guarantee plus merch and bonuses, which means that if no one shows up at the shows or buys the PPVs, they're guaranteed that amount. They can earn more if business does better, or if their character really takes off, which means, it's up to Vince to decide if they earn more money.

They have to get their own health insurance, which is expensive, although the WWE will pay for surgeries and stuff like that if they get hurt on their watch. There's been recent controversy with TNA, where they haven't been paying for surgeries, or paying for them, and taking part of their checks back for repayment.

Yeah, being a wrestler sucks in many ways. Foley said in one of his books that he would discourage anyone with a family from getting into the business, and only if they already have a college degree. As much as it sucks to be an NFL player, at least there, they have a union that allegedly helps them out, and they get their injuries taken care of. In wrestling, especially in the minor leagues, you don't work, you don't get paid.

 

When I was an SID at a mid-major, we took the early, EARLY morning flights because they were the cheapest. Several times we were flying out, we saw wrestlers who had worked in our town the previous night also flying out on the cheap flights.

 

Many years ago, the wife and I went to an out of town wedding and booked a cheap hotel. the three rooms closest to us were full of wwe (wwf at the time) guys. there were probably eight or nine of them in the three rooms.

 

Mystery: I think that's the reason why some will watch Flair, viewing with the knowledge that the his next time in the ring could be his last in much the same, lurid way some watch NASCAR. I'm sure there are those that would hope it's on a ppv, since if it happened at an Impact taping, the chances of it getting out on YouTube are greatly reduced.

Impact would probably pick up at least one viewer (me) the second they squashed the stupid ass Eric Young vignettes, which are about as funny as an IRS audit. Whoever Young has compromising photos on that allows him to still get quality air time had better hope said photos were worth it (we're probably looking at you, Vince Russo).

 

BTW, now the news is out that Flair is considering legal action because the story mentions his heart condition...

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/241150-ric-flair-threatening-legal-action-against-claim-made-in-article

...which may be kind of tough to pull off since he admitted in his autobiography seven years ago that he has the condition.

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/241158-ric-flair-previously-admitted-to-having-alcoholic-cardiomyopathy

 

I was an Eric Young fan before the crazy schtick (he was the leader of World Elite when I started watching TNA). I say squash the vignettes, too, but at least give him another chance at being a normal wrestler; it's been a while, but I don't remember him being all that bad.

 

EY is a decent performer and decent in the ring, but TNA has done their best to kill him. He's like the smaller version of Samoa Joe, a guy who could have been the top guy for the company for a few years if booked correctly. Instead, Joe jobbed to Sting and kept losing the title in retarded ways, and now, I have no idea what he's up to.

 

Joe is basically doing his best to sabotage the Bound For Glory series, a months-long tournament with a points system to determine the No. 1 contender for the world title. Honestly, he rarely, if ever, gets in the ring on TV anymore.

 

Yeah, Flair's pretty much proving the story's point about not being too smart in his decision-making. I'd imagine any lawsuit wouldn't get past the discovery phase.

 

Anyone read where Sin Cara was sent home from tapings last week? He screwed up so much, they had to tape the match twice. They even took the character from him, apparently, bringing up a guy from FCW to take his place.

 

There was a "new" Sin Cara because the real Sin Cara was on suspension. Last week's taping had the real Sin Cara back.