Internet!
Superstar Style — JD Michaels
JD Michaels has something to say to all the online hyper-gripers!
While there are many aspects of professional wrestling that could be considered “bullshit,” the topic I’m going to cover is typical internet show writeups. Although your casual wrestling fan doesn’t follow a lot of what’s on the internet other than sites like wwe.com, some of you need to realize that obviously myself and countless others would like to be on TV regularly. However, until that happens, aside from live shows, our only other method of potential mass exposure is… the internet.
But for me, when that bell rings, I couldn’t care less what internet writer is in the house… it could even be Meltzer. At the end of the day, I’m working with my opponent and we are working for those people who plunked down money to see the show. I feel it’s total bullshit when ONE person writes up a biased review based off his and ONLY his opinion like he is a qualified journalist (and god knows his legit qualifications) and for that weekend, myself and others who drove hours to get to the show, took our bumps and paid our dues are subject to read reviews that make you feel like “jeez, I shoulda just stayed home,” and other fans who don’t live anywhere near that show or couldn’t make it are subject to the review as an answer to their question of, “How did the show go?”
I write this as a nerve was struck when I arrived home (after a 5.5 hour drive) back from Watkins Glen, NY — site of the NWA Upstate show I worked on Saturday night. I worked TNA’s Sonjay Dutt. I had a few emails from people giving me links to show reviews and although I had several emails, they only added up to 2 links. One link said the show was a lot fun, very entertaining and that me vs Sonjay was match of the night. The other review basically said the whole show was lame and the matches were blah. The review also stated how my match vs Sonjay was nothing special, but at the same time, it was one of Sonjay’s better matches and I apparently went out of my way to continue having ‘HBK Mannerisms.’
Since I was one half of the match, who better to give a review than me? I’d be the first person to tell you if the match sucked or was nothing special because you can lie in writing, but when you play the match back, the camera doesn’t lie. My match was pretty good (and I think I’ve had enough matches over the last 6 years and change to know what’s good and what isn’t). I had never worked with Sonjay before, and fairly or unfairly he has been labeled/booked as a ’spotfest wrestler.’ Our match was not a spotfest (and no, it wasn’t because of the crowd size either). Instead, we had a match that had psychology and told a pretty nice little story for 2 guys that had no history or storyline going into the match. We had consistant crowd heat thoughout the match. We got bigger pops at all the key points in the match including the biggest pop of the match - the finish.
I must also apologize as well. HBK might go down as the greatest bumper and seller of all time. Apparently my mannerisms strongly resemble his bumping and selling. I fail to see the negativity in that fact since… he might go down as the greatest bumper and seller of all time. However, every match review of mine, someone throws it in there as a backhanded compliment as if it is supposed to be a bad thing? Keep in mind, just about every single wrestler that actually gives a shit, takes/borrows from someone great that came before them and applies it to their craft (ie Benoit/Dynamite, HBK &HHH/Flair… need I go on?) [Editor’s note: Even the great Ric Flair borrowed from the original “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and Jackie Fargo.]
Back to the match. As far as I am concerned (and based off the fans reactions), I’d have to say we did our jobs. I was able to watch most of the other matches (AND for all you greenhorns out there who know it all and don’t need to learn anything, that is what you’re supposed to do after you’re done). I saw pretty steady crowd enthusiasm. So it’s a shame when ONE guy who has standards so high that if he shoved them up his ass, he’d be a foot taller, writes up not only my match, but the whole show a few shades off being a total waste of time. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you don’t speak for the majority, don’t piss on our efforts to the majority.
All I have to say to guys like you is: if you’re writing like you can do it better, talk isn’t just cheap, its free… so by all means get in the ring and please show me and every other guy who busts his ass, how it’s supposed to be done. Then and only then will have a little credibilty to write an opinionated show review in my eyes.
Controversy never looked this good!
– JD Michaels
(5/14/07)
Posted with the permission of JD Michaels. Not to be re-posted without the permission of JD Michaels!
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