HAMMER TYME # 12

First off, my last article drew some heat. I am sorry those who do not write here seem to have so much negative things to say. If you are so strong then write a column here and shoot off your mouth. Anyone can criticize but unless you are doing it respect those who do. The other flaw in the journalism business is a source’s creditable. Things change often beyond our knowledge or after a story goes to press. At the time, information may well have been true or believed to be. Regardless of the fact, these negative people seem to be in a minority if over 200 people read this column. If it were bad, the count would be nothing. Heat after all is what the wrestling business is all about. If I make you talk about it and you take time to comment then obviously you have taken time to read a part and that’s the goal here. So with that said on with this week’s Hammer Tyme.

POW! SOK! WHAM! No not the old 1960’s Bat Man TV show but it does make an interesting point and lead me to the topic of this week’s column. Fighting, who decides how much damage, punch, or move does and when enough is enough? How does Batman or Stone Cold know when to quit? Who tells or how does Joker or Vince know not to get up? Does it depend on selling the move? OK let us assume it is based on selling. If I fight Hulk Hogan and he, body slams me then next show I meet Big Show and he does the same move here comes the problem. If I sell it the same it will look unconvincing, if I make one better then the other I am building characters and bragging rights. Obviously one is stronger right. Not all Wrestlers are created equal. What? I thought the constitution says all men are created equal. I understand Diva’s being weaker because of them being the fairer sex. DUCK! Beth Phoenix or another Diva may contest that comment. Therefore, Wrestlers are men right, then why aren’t they equal. Well several factors enter into that question and answer. First being the obvious, if Jamie Noble punches me at his hardest and gets lucky he might make it sting or even slightly bruise. If Big Show punches me its lights out and I am unconscious. Body mass in this case is the factor. (Sorry for playing Mr. Wizard).

Now Batista and lets say the game HHH both are near the same size hit me how is this sold. Batista has Muscle, which means power, Power equals damage. I get hit by the animal that I am hurting. Now HHH is not as Muscular but throws more punches that hit and damage adds up. If you ever played Dungeons and Dragons, you know it often takes several shots before an enemy falls. Unless you roll a 20 for critical damage, you are screwed. Critical damage does find its place in Wrestling but it is very rare, just like in DVD. Ever see one punch send someone to the mat. That is an example of critical hit as other wise if it was a consistent one hit KO then Don King or Oscar Dela Hoya would be calling.

Ok here is a tough one just to challenge those who think they have it down. Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Jamie Noble equal size, meaning equal damage right? WRONG! Here is another factor training and conditioning. When I wrestled in JR and SR High School, you people in your own weight class. Bigger had no place, since we are the same size, so the focus was on being better. Mastering the moves, making them your own. It should be natural as scratching your head. In addition, some are better then others. Finally, luck has a lot to do with it. There is always hope for that critical shot. David dropped the mighty Goliath, Hulk body slammed and pinned Andre the Giant so anything is possible. It is referred to as upset and makes for excitement, expect the unexpected. If it were predictable who would watch. Look at the Lakers or the Patriots, these teams won multiple titles but don’t when every single time. A great coach said “On any given day any team can beat any team”. In addition, we are all familiar with having an off night. Maybe our dog died or we had a fight with a co-worker or spouse. We might be sick or just not feeling it. We go through the motions to get our check and go home. To be larger then life on a daily basis is tough. I won’t lie to you, the secret or key I believe is in finding motivation. No matter how bad Rocky V was, a line sticks out. “Seeing you doing so well give me the motivation to go on”. For me I found motivation in the kids. There smiles and hugs, autograph signing and poising for a picture or two. Those often where now more valuable then the check.

I think the fans help dictate whose punch or slam does the most damage. If a move gets a big, “POP”, it sells better then no POP or little POP. We also expect certain things. The Undertakers Tombstone will take just about anyone out and no matter how hard Ray Mysterio would try; he will never slam Big Show.

They say variety is the spice of life. We like our Wrestling like our salsa or Mexican food. Hot and Spicy.

Here is an example that may explain things or lead the debate. Triple H hits Randy Orton once in the head with a chair and he falls to the ground. Triple H has to hit Umaga several times to get him off his feet. This says Umaga is tougher to knock down. However, here is where it breaks down. Big Show takes a chair shot, staggers, breaks down. Big Show takes a chair shot, staggers and hits again, nothing before third shot he punches the chair. No theory except gravity is fool proof. It is also worth nothing that we tend to over analyze everything. We have an answer for everything. We don’t accept things we can’t explain. Innocence is lost in today’s world. We don’t believe in Santa Claus yet we accept that the Rock drops the people’s elbow on someone that they will be stunned. I even had a trainer drop his elbow into my chest and it wasn’t the end of the world. So what makes it different? Execution, size, force or dumb luck? Do we really need an answer?

Also taking a look back things change. If it was as simple as knowing what holds do maximum damage there is no challenge, we would all be maxed out and even. Remember I wrote about Hogan vs. Stone Cold the draw was not acceptable and would not make money. Since its all about the money. The draw is seldom seen. Ironic since the goal is to draw ticket sales but anyway No one says we are simple people. We don’t seem to accept simple.

It’s rare to see someone walk to the ring with no music, lights, fireworks or more then their pop. Give us the shattering of glass or the music and the machine gun fireworks and the explosion for the animal. When I came in, the transition was being made for simple to flashy. I never really had music or even graphics, heck I got Kodak pictures, No video or DVD. I wish I had but I will rely on memory and story telling to keep things fresh in my mind. Things were simple as a way to control cost and spending. Back then, it was expensive to do more then color lights and Pyrotechnics required a special permit, approximately $1,000 now at $70 a seat it cut into the profit quicker than an RKO.

So what does this all mean? We have different reactions to the same move, making the loudest POP possible, making entrances more elaborate. Pushing the envelope by tossing someone 30ft into a pile of cables and power boxes or choke slammed thru a spotlight. The answer is simple the goal is to produce the best possible show. Draw as large crowd as possible. Make one more dollar then the last show. AAfter all, it is all about the money. The demands are more from the best stars to the best shows. The more spent the more made at least we hope so. Unfortunately, it did not work for WCW or AWA. However, it has proven useful and successful for TNA and WWE. The small promotions suffer. The small house shows that try to make money while giving the fans value for the money. Independents have to respect and appreciate fans. They make or break the business. It would be interesting to see Donald Trump take one and turn it into a thriving success. However, I doubt he would invest in a few hundred-dollar ventures when he can do billion dollar deals.

In looking back, I find both equally fun. I am partial to simple because that’s what I was comfortable with and did the most. The now is all about hype. The field has changed and there is one last factor. A young pup is obviously going to do more damage then an old lion. That doesn’t mean an old person has lost their punch. George Forman is noted for one punch knocking someone out at his 50’s, so there are many variables but one common goal. Give the people a good show. Leave them wanting more, never say never and remember one more match. Till next time.