Anything on a pole sucks. Whether its a pinata, a paddle, a nightstick or a bottle of Viagra, pole matches have been the bane of the wrestling fan's existence since they rose to popularity at the height of the Vince Russo administration. Sure, they had been around before Russo became a prominent figure in the industry and they will likely be around long after he is gone but for a span of about four years, he was the godfather of the awesomely bad stipulation bout. To be fair, the rise of the ladder match did him no favor. Fans became so used to seeing young stars deliver death-defying maneuvers off of eight, 10, and 20-foot ladders that the idea of two guys fighting to climb the turnbuckles and retrieve an object from a pole was largely unappealing. The fact that said objects became increasingly ludicrous did not help matters. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pxnx_billy-kidman-vs-shane-douglas-viagr_sport By the time "Judy Bagwell on a Pole" came to fruition, the reputation of the match type was irreparably damaged. Sure, it still pops up from time-to-time but is routinely met with groans by fans who understand that a good pole match is like a great Nickelback concert: they just don't exist.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
