5 Worst Wrestling Promotions You May Not Have Heard Of
Cheaper than a $2 steak.
WWE tends to invite criticism with some ease.
The company has a literally written mandate which states that its stars cannot talk their way to popularity. Everything has to be scripted. Every babyface has to recite the same lame jokes - and even if that wasn't the case, Stephanie McMahon would still be there, undermining the very talents she is there to promote (!) with her detached put downs and self-obsessed, withering body language.
In-ring action, arguably, is at its peak - but we have reached peak in-ring action. There is far too much of it. Last night's episode of WWE 205 Live saw Jack Gallagher emerge victorious from a stunning Fatal 5-Way match to cement himself as number one contender to Neville's Cruiserweight Title - but by the time his hand was raised aloft, WWE had already presented five hours of wrestling. The week was just two days old.
As easy as it is to bemoan the state of WWE - and there are at least 23 dedicated lists in that - some perspective is needed. At its best, it is an incredibly-produced promotion boasting absorbing storylines and unmissable moments.
Things, demonstrably, could be far, far worse...
5. Wrestlicious
Jonathan Vargas lived the dream of every Extreme Warfare-playing wrestling fan when he won a $35 million on Powerball lottery jackpot in 2008 and used the proceeds to fund his very own wrestling promotion.
Unfortunately for everybody else, his vision of pro wrestling was that of Jerry Lawler's distilled oxytocin, circa 1998.
Vargas evidently was the one guy who didn't pop to the bathroom during the very worst of WWE's pre-Four Horsewomen era. His company, Wrestlicious, which drafted in Jimmy Hart for a depressing latter payday, was grim and lowbrow late-night public access nightmare fuel. To underscore its standing as joke, canned laughter played over the risible comedy segments between matches. The scummy layer was underscored by an appearance from the execrable Brian Knobbs, who gave side-splitting answers to trivia questions on such segments as "Are You Smarter Than A Male Wrestler?" Apparently, 1776 did not mark the official beginning of the United States' nationhood, but rather its first ever beer-drinking contest. Lol.
The wrestling itself wasn't entirely appalling (at least when Lacey Von Erich wasn't applying the gentle massage that was her family's famous claw hold), but the presentation was tawdry in the extreme.