By John McMullen
Philadelphia, PA (The Phan) - Pro wrestling is one of the most interesting subjects I've ever covered. A fusion of entertainment and sports, the industry rarely gets the mainstream media coverage it deserves.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the "worked" aspect of the industry. Most sports editors dismiss it since it's not real athletic competition while most entertainment editors look the other way because it resembles a sporting event.
Larry Matysik, an invaluable bridge between pro wrestling's territorial days and its current incarnation, takes a hard look at the industry in his third book on the subject, "Drawing Heat the Hard Way" (ECW Press; $19.95).
A former television announcer and office worker for legendary St. Louis promoter Sam Muchnick, Matysik also toiled for World Wrestling Entertainment chairman Vince McMahon from the start of the company's national expansion in 1984 through 1993. Before McMahon, Muchnick, the long-time National Wrestling Alliance President, was arguably the most powerful man in wrestling as the owner of the St. Louis Wrestling Club.
Matysik opens his latest book by dissecting the ludicrous real vs. fake argument that has been around since the turn of the 20th century. "Worked" is the proper term for wrestling and always has been. Yes, the outcomes are all predetermined but the injuries are often real. In fact, every football player or mixed martial artist I've talked too that has given the "fake industry" a shot comes back with the same story, pro wrestling is way tougher on the body.
"There's a lot going on in wrestling and a little mystery is part of the package," Matysik said in a phone interview this week. "We had more of a sports mentality in St. Louis. Of course, everything was worked but when you got to the main event with people like [Lou] Thesz, [Gene] Kiniski and Harley [Race], there was always a certain aura of 'This guy is real and this [The NWA championship] is important."
Matysik isn't shy when discussing the underbelly of the industry. He expertly tackles things like the rampant steroid abuse and the wrestlers laughable classification as independent contractors, but also points out the infectious enthusiasm well-booked wrestling can generate among its fans.
McMahon, an amateur bodybuilder for years, is often vilified for fostering a system that places too much emphasis on bloated, chemically induced physiques. But, the author notes that steroids were a staple in wrestling long before McMahon, noting that former star Ken Patera "made no bones about the fact that he had taken steroids" as far back as 1972 in preparation for weightlifting competition the Olympic Games.
Of course, McMahon is no saint and Matysik references a conversation between John "Big John Studd" Minton and the WWE boss prior to a 1984 TV taping at the Kiel Auditorium in which McMahon encouraged the 6-foot-10, 325-pound monster to get bigger so he could match up better with Andre "The Giant" Rousimoff. Studd bulked up for what was a highly successful program but lost in the long run, succumbing to Hodgkins Disease on March 20, 1995 at age 47.
In today's wrestling world, things change with McMahon's mood. A brilliant businessman, McMahon is running more of a marketing company than a wrestling company, according to Matysik.
In the late '90s when consumers seemed to get off on the anti-hero, McMahon pushed the foul-mouthed Steve Austin and the incredibly charismatic Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Now, with a weak economy to deal with and a wife who is running for the United States Senate, McMahon has gone back to a more PG environment.
Matysik explains that McMahon's dominance of the industry allows him to shape the face of pro wrestling as he sees fit.
"He considers himself a television producer more than a wrestling promoter," Matysik said. "It certainly has been good for his bank account but it can be frustrating for fans who love the genre."
Despite a number of potholes along the way including the abhorrent Chris Beniot murder-suicide story, Matysik, 62, remains a fan of the industry but worries about the future of the business with an ever-shrinking talent base to draw from. He notes that the NWA, under Muchnick's guidance, would donate thousands of dollars to help fund amateur wrestling, including the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team.
Former pro wrestling stars like Jack Brisco, Bob Backlund, Steve Williams and Bob Roop all came from the amateur ranks. Now, the top-tier amateurs have their eyes set on MMA.
"The main event talent is still there right now but I don't see the next generation," Matysik said. "The depth is not there. In St. Louis, we are able to bring in the best. There might have been 30 territories and three or four great workers in each. Now it's the same guys over and over."
To order "Drawing Heat the Hard Way," visit ecwpress.com by banging the link.
No comments:
Post a Comment