The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE’s New Monopoly
Everything is modified in accordance with WWE’s practises, either through arrogant control or sponsor-friendly safety guidelines. We might soon apply that maxim to all of professional wrestling, at least until the next Phoenix movement —which, reminder, the last one took over a decade and half to fully gestate.
And, when it did, it terrified WWE into this response. They will have far more money and reach to thwart the next movement, if in fact one materialises.
This is the worst-case scenario—but not unthinkable. Per the latest Wrestling Observer, upon reaching agreements with ICW and PROGRESS, WWE inserted clauses that will allow them, unchallenged, to purchase both companies and shut them down to avoid any competition. These agreements are not mutually beneficial, nor are they beneficial to the talent, nor the health of the art.
They are beneficial only to WWE. If the parallels between now and 2001 are not clear, they should be.
We’re not just talking moves. Moves are almost incidental to the best in-ring stories. But the broad way in which WWE tells stories is as rigid as many of those—like Baron Corbin—tasked with the pen.
Zack Sabre, Jr. flourishes on the worldwide circuit because his submission-based approach is a sort of anti-theatre aimed at the purists. He doesn’t strive to entertain, but to hurt—but is so good at it that entertainment is a byproduct. He doesn’t tell S T O R I E S.
Does Tomohiro Ishii, if he goes to WWE, take not stiff forearm shot after stiff forearm shot to convey his unyielding fighting spirit, or does he, like they all do in the end, get put into a rest hold by Baron “F*cking” Corbin? Omega has redefined pro wrestling with unreal feats of stamina and athleticism over several, seminal 40 minute plus matches. He won’t redefine sports entertainment.
Nobody ever does.
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