The True Story Behind The WORST Wrestling Show In History

George Steele
Heroes Of Wrestling

Promoted by human last-round quiz answer Bill Stone, he had no access to the premier in-ring talent of the day. This is grim as f*ck, but then, so was the show: he only had access to the ancient and the damned, and he built a celebration of yesteryear around them accordingly. Only the innovative sensation that was 2 Cold Scorpio and his opponent didn't fit in, but his prime had also deserted him. Only, his prime had deserted him just a few years prior. Virtually everybody else booked on that show was an arthritic relic from the 1980s.

You may have heard of its legend. You might wish to compare it to something like The Room, or BJ Snowden's 'In Canada' - a so-bad-it's-good cultural artefact with a certain, idiosyncratic charm - and watch it, just the once, as a rite of passage, to see just how bad it actually is. Heroes Of Wrestling, however, is not remotely endearing. It is a dingy, depressing hellscape, the site of a controversial public breakdown, worked across the board by out of shape and or troubled old men.

The show started with a histrionic and fairly optimistic video package, in which it was claimed that we were finally set for the resolution of so many longstanding pro wrestling rivalries. They had to sell the show, obviously. This rank carny sell-job was the least offensive part of it.

The production bordered on the harrowing. For what was pitched as an echo of patriotic '80s glamour, the whole thing was absolutely drenched in darkness. Barely lit, the black ring ropes and black ring curtains created an aesthetic not unlike that of an NXT TakeOver. The wrestling was antithetical to the brilliance that has unfolded on that stage, though Greg Valentine didn't pull a "Can't believe he kicked out!" face while looking despondently at his hands, so the show earns an extra quarter star in hindsight.

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!