Professional Wrestling - the Lost Artform

[Russ]

I'd love to claim this as my own but it was writen by one of my fellow wrestlers, Jonathan James, reproduced with permission.

Professional Wrestling – The Lost Artform

During the holiday season I took my girlfriend to see Swan Lake on Ice by the Imperial Ice Stars and I marvelled. I marvelled at the fantastic arena, amazing production and the talented performers who attempted to portray the classic Swan Lake story whilst not actually being able to use words to convey exactly what was happening. Being an entertainer myself, I could appreciate what went into making this magical event happen.

I then imagined how different it would all be if the same event was conducted as a wrestling event. When one of the male skaters dropped one of the female skaters accidentally, the crowd that night were quite rightly concerned for her well being. At a wrestling event, the crowed would have been busy chanting, “You screwed up! You screwed up!” When the impressive sword fight occurred and the bad guy was stabbed with the sword, the crowd were on the edge of their seat. If it was a wrestling crowd, the conversations would have been about how, “he didn’t really stab him.” Welcome to the backwards world of professional wrestling, the most unfairly stigmatised performance art in Britain.

I’ve been involved in the world of Professional Wrestling for coming on two years now which is virtually no time at all, however, in that short space of time I’ve had some wonderful experiences, travelling to England and Ireland along with performing in front of Welsh fans in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Abertillery. This has been able to give me an eye into the business to experience what I love to term “wrestlophobia” first hand. And I’ll give you an example.

Celtic Wrestling is looking to set up a new training school in Cardiff so I came up with the idea of trying to obtain funding. I’m not only committed to giving what I can for Welsh Wrestling now but for future generations too. First thing I did was contact the Sports Council for Wales. They weren’t interested on the basis that they would only fund schemes that meant people could end up competing at events like the Olympics. Which I can understand. I then contacted the Arts Council for Wales. The conversation was hilarious. First off she said we should be speaking to the Sports Council. I explained their opinion and as we are entertainment, we should be covered under the Arts Council.

She explained that entertainment had nothing to do with performance art. I asked, “well aren’t music, dance and acting all forms of both performance art and entertainment?” That stumped her. However, it did little to change anything. They wouldn’t even allow me to send in evidence of why wrestling is performance art. They just weren’t interested. They were totally and inexplicably “wrestlophobic.”

Refusing to be defeated, I contacted a Welsh Assembly member who on the website stated she had interests in both Performance Art and Sports. I didn’t really expect a response, however, she did e-mail back saying she had no idea how to advise me and that she’d make enquiries. Sadly that’s as far as things went. I’d like to think she wasn’t overcome with “wrestleophobia” after all she is a busy woman and I thank her for making more effort then most.
Once you’ve read the above you can appreciate what we’re up against. One of my ex-girlfriends moved to Liverpool to sit a degree in Dancing. Where’s the degree in professional wrestling? That’s right, one doesn’t exist. I hope other people in the entertainment business appreciate what they have!

Despite what the Arts Council for Wales thinks, wrestling is such a complex artform. We have to perform to the levels of a dancer, act like an…actor and even music is highly important. If you’ve ever watched wrestling then when you see a wrestler come out he/she will have his/her own music that you instantly relate to and there are times when the hair on the back of your neck can stand up when you hear the music of your hero coming to save the day. I know because I’ve experienced it. And that’s why I love wrestling. And that’s why I love being a wrestler.

Thing is, despite all of the problems facing wrestling, fans in Wales and indeed the UK have probably never had it so good. British Wrestlers are getting so good that they are applying their trade over in Northern America. Paul Birchill, Steven Regal and others are working for the WWE, little Spud is showing what he’s got in TNA and closer to home, Celtic Wrestling stars Matt Vaughn and Steven Garter have just flown off to Canada to train with ex-WWE star Lance Storm with Chris Petherwick and Rebecca James soon to follow. Caiman and Tyler Browne are also representing us in Irish Promotion “Irish Whiplash Wrestling.”

In Wales there are four different promotions all providing top class entertainment. Of course I’d rather see you at a Celtic Wrestling show but then I am hugely biased! At Celtic we have group of hardworking individuals of varying ages who go out on virtually a weekly basis to entertain the general public, all you have to do is turn up and appreciate what’s on offer. Don’t look at it with the attitude that, “this isn’t real” because if you think like that then I’ve got news for you. King Kong was a computer generate graphic, there are no Pirates in the Caribbean and Pauline Fowler is an actress who isn’t really dead. Get my point? And don’t tell me it doesn’t hurt, I’m covered in bruises head to toe on a weekly basis.

Oh and one more thing that any self respecting wrestler should tell you. Don’t try this at home

[bopdude]

You wrestle

[TheDaddy]

Don't try what at home, writing about whether wrestling is sport or art, alright then I won't

[Russ]

Originally Posted by bopdude

You wrestle

Yep

[danielf]

How many people are involved in professional wrestling in Wales then (and what crowds do they atract)?

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Don't try what at home, writing about whether wrestling is sport or art, alright then I won't

LOL, mind you, I can see where the writer draws his inspiration from, I mean, wrestling, swan lake ( ballet ) get my drift..............

[danielf]

Originally Posted by bopdude

LOL, mind you, I can see where the writer draws his inspiration from, I mean, wrestling, swan lake ( ballet ) get my drift..............

Basically, men in tights?

[Jules]

As a side note I passed a shop on Tuesday that sold wrestling masks and I was tempted to buy our very own Russ one

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by bopdude

You wrestle

Originally Posted by Russ B

Yep

Pics???? leotard or trunks

---------- Post added at 16:09 ---------- Previous post was at 16:09 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

Basically, men in tights?

Did I say that

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Yep

not actual wrestling, he does the scripted jumping on people good guy / bad guy type. Professional wrestling = amateur acting more like.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by danielf

How many people are involved in professional wrestling in Wales then (and what crowds do they atract)?

Each promotion will have about 20 guys on the roster, you have the booker and his 'idea men', ring rats and people who do the music.

I've performed in front of crowds of 300+, also as low as 30 or 40 - it depends on how well publicised the show is and the quality of the product.

---------- Post added at 17:11 ---------- Previous post was at 17:09 ----------

Originally Posted by bopdude

Pics???? leotard or trunks

Trunks - basically they're very similar to cycling shorts, depending on my character they're blue or black. I'll try and find a video clip for you.

[Ramrod]

So what about this, this, this, and this.

You need lots of skill but it would appear that the outcomes are predetermined and therefore it's fake.....

---------- Post added at 16:12 ---------- Previous post was at 16:12 ----------

Originally Posted by handyman

not actual wrestling, he does the scripted jumping on people good guy / bad guy type. Professional wrestling = amateur acting more like.

Exactly!

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Each promotion will have about 20 guys on the roster, you have the booker and his 'idea men', ring rats and people who do the music.

I've performed in front of crowds of 300+, also as low as 30 or 40 - it depends on how well publicised the show is and the quality of the product.

And how many promotions are there? (I'm just trying to figure out how popular the thing is, re. the funding issue)

[TheDaddy]

Did you start of as a ring rat then or were you thrown in at the deep end, of the top rope naturally

[punky]

Kudos to the guy for stating its entertainment and not a sport