10 Ways World Class Championship Wrestling Changed The Business

5. Technical Innovations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA2HrbK1CBE If there's one thing that captures a wrestling fan's attention, it's a break from tradition. Until director Mickey Grant came along, WCCW was like most wrestling shows of the time: lots of wide shots, the occasional medium shot, and old-fashioned, stand-up interviews. Grant turned the show €“ and wrestling €“ into a weekly action flick. Grant convinced Fritz to invest in a multi-camera setup, including handheld cameras that could get tighter shots. For the first time, cameramen could shoot from the apron, or even inside the ring, getting every painful-looking detail. Grant, a natural filmmaker, paid attention to sound as well, using professional microphones that allowed the viewers at home to hear every slam, slap, and insult. Grant even introduced instant replay to the sport, as well as Rocky-style training montages, personality profiles, and vignettes. WCCW included these technical innovations in their advertising, letting the audience know that this was not an their father's wrestling show. It was everything you see and hear on Monday Night Raw now, but done on a Texas-style budget.