As silly as it may sound in a sport that's built upon a lie, it's crucial for any wrestling company to have the trust of its fans in order to succeed. It's like with any other business -- customers want to feel assured that they're getting their money's worth. That's why nobody goes to see Jack Black movies anymore. Truth be told, the murky waters in which pro wrestling finds itself regarding what's real and what's not make navigation a bit more difficult -- after all, where do you draw the line when everyone knows Undertaker and Kane aren't really brothers, Vince McMahon doesn't really want to fire Steve Austin, and Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels don't really hate each other? Wait... There are a few guidelines that can offer some insight. First of all, it's better not to make up a lie so ridiculously stupid that it boggles the rational mind. Secondly, it's safer to avoid lies that might morally offend your audience. Finally -- and most importantly -- it's never a good idea to run with a lie that hurts business. Join me on a trip through history as we look at lies intentionally perpetrated by WCW which broke all three rules of thumb. It is where the big boys play, after all.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
