Great Article on ROH-MLW

[tpww7 0]

Ray A. Kroc, the man who went down in history as McDonald's first chairman, must have been pretty shocked the first time he heard that Burger King, Roy Rogers, Chick Fil-A or Wendy's were getting into the fast food business. He probably thought that he had cornered the market, and that people wouldn't clamor for the Whopper or the Classic as much as they loved the Big Mac. However, much to the credit of the proprietors of the competition, they didn't open their stores inside McDonald's every single day, and have McDonald's employees selling Big Macs and Whoppers at he same time.

 

Major League Wrestling's attempt at using a significant portion of Ring of Honor's major name talent, as well as talent "blacklisted" by the organization, is curious. Even still, MLW billing their "new" ideal of wrestling as "athletic and hard-hitting" is pretty humorous. MLW running the same venues as ROH while doing the first two things is downright predatory and insidious. For another apt comparison, it's as if a husband builds a home by hand, using his own money. He then moves himself, and his wife and children into said home, and begins to live there peaceably. Suddenly, without warning, some other guy shows up at the door unannounced, claiming to be married to the wife also, and claims custody of the children as well, and takes up residence in a home that he did not build.

 

For those of you out there who feel that anyone angry at the situation is pouting like a petulant child, and that Ring of Honor deserves competition, I say to you that they are likely to get it in a year or two or so, as California upstart Pro Wrestling Guerilla has really impressed me with a sound marketing plan, and using a preponderance of west coast talents in addition to the established ROH stalwarts like Samoa Joe, Colt Cabana, AJ Styles and CM Punk. Or, even further, let's discuss Combat Zone Wrestling, an organization that I have shook a mighty angry fist at in this column before, but, one that still makes a name for itself by marketing a different brand of wrestling, as well as creating pure wrestling stars of its own for the most part, such as B-Boy, Sonjay Dutt, the Backseat Boyz and Jimmy Rave. In addendum, they also use stars from the IWA-Mid South Wrestling organization, including Chris Hero, creating an entertaining mix of different talent. As well, they also use ROH mainstays Homicide, Dan Maff, Deranged and Azrael (Special K's Angel Dust) in such vastly different ways than ROH would ever imagine, at least enforcing a difference in their product from the competition's.

 

Down to everything but shaking hands and the All Japan, "Royal Road" era inspired ring, MLW has rechristened themselves as a cheap grade Ring of Honor rip-off, instead of being the cheap grade ECW rip-off they were prior to that. The things that defined ECW and define ROH as unique and special are that these organizations took great effort to dare to be different. Both ECW and ROH spat defiantly in the face at what mainstream promoters felt pro wrestling had become, and re-evolved it using elements of classic wrestling excitement. You can't re-evolve and evolution. That's a 360 degree turn, which means that at the end of the day, you end up right back where you started again. And, given that independent wrestling fans in the year 2003 aren't so gullible anymore, I find it extremely hard to believe that they're going to buy this crap as legitimate.

 

When I initially found out that MLW was reopening, I was pretty excited. In fact, I went as far as to let Court Bauer know that I would be more than glad to write about his shows, and offer some assistance. Over the past year, I've done this for many other promoters, and, given that all I saw on the release was that it looked like the entire west coast (sans Joey Ryan and Super Dragon) were invading the east coast, I was pretty geeked. Even seeing Teddy Hart's name didn't really tick me off, as, he's ten dimes short of a dollar, but, he's a mega talented guy. However, I neglected to notice the main event offering for January 9th in Philadelphia. Low-Ki v. Homicide. Wow. In ROH's backyard, Court Bauer is going to run a main event that ROH unsuccessfully attempted to run for a myriad of reasons that made a certain respected, world renowned junior heavyweight in my eyes look uncompromising and unprofessional. Immediately, I felt pretty silly for contacting him, and honestly wished I never had.

 

To run a show using almost the exact same talent as another promoter, in that promoter's backyard, and running a main event that the other promoter unsuccessfully tried to run under dubious circumstances is, in my eyes, one of the few truly despicable acts left in wrestling. I agree that ROH needs competition. But, when a promoter goes out and usurps someone else's hard work and brainpower for their own financial gain, that's just bush league. Heck, as much as I think that Teddy Hart needs his head examined, putting him, or Michael Modest, or B-Boy, or Chris Hero, or Sonjay Dutt, or Dustin Rhodes, or Sabu or Abdullah the Butcher, or Josh Deeley, or Dana Dameson, or ANYBODY who is not a completely recognizable main event name from Ring of Honor in the main event would have gone far to differentiate MLW from ROH. However, by putting that match as a main event in the Philadelphia National Guard Armory only 13 days after the Great Muta and Satoshi Kojima are running around in there for ROH is absurd. It makes Court Bauer look like a legitimate Rob Black, using not even B, but C level shock and awe tactics to promote a wrestling show.

 

When MLW ran Florida, I had NO problem with them using ROH talent. Florida is a completely different market, and ROH has never been there. And, even though they had national TV, it didn't penetrate enough of the nation in my opinion to adversely effect anyone else using much of the same talent anywhere else. Just wanted to add a disclaimer.

 

OK. So I know that ROH is the best wrestling organization in the world right now. Hands down. And, I even know that it may be the one organization that many promoters look at and just marvel at just how smoothly run and professional thing are there. Even further, they look at the exponentially growing crowds, and see the money in what they believe the ideal of ROH is. They see 5 star workrate, and fans popping. They see guys busting their a**, and fans popping. So, a guy like Court Bauer comes along, and just transplants all of that and slaps a liberal coating of hot lime green paint on it. No. That's creatively stifling bulls**t plain and simple.

 

The only angle that ever drew any money in the history of MLW was what appeared to be, to this well tuned in observer, Steve Corino's childhood dream of kicking the dog stuffing out of Terry Funk. Due to the vitriol and real appearance of anger from Corino and his cohorts, it may have represented the last time that Terry Funk will be a consistent main event draw for a wrestling company. This angle was outstanding, but the emotion, by the end, fizzled out, as MLW couldn't attract any new fans. I wonder why. The last company Terry Funk consistently drew main event money for...ECW...but MLW isn't ECW anymore...right. Okay then.

 

So now, if I were to be a betting man, I'd say that Teddy Hart and his Hart Foundation 2003 cronies will likely not want to shake the hands of their opponents, and will, about 3 months in, state that they want to recreate MLW in their image. They'll bring down Nattie Neidhart to play the role of Simply Luscious, and the three ways between Low-Ki, Homicide and Ted Hart will commence. Of course, at some point TJ Wilson and Harry Smith need to win the tag straps, and yadda yadda yadda.

 

Apologies for the rant, but the larger point to be made here is that Ring of Honor needs competition, but that MLW is going about providing it in the totally wrong way. Before anyone states that MLW is doing nothing wrong, and that there are no blocks on using buildings or talent, let me make a point. The greatest era of competition in wrestling were the "Monday Night Wars" that lasted for seven years between the WWF and WCW. What made them exciting was that there was equal talent of equal skill on each show, and that it was the talent busting their rear end that made the shows interesting. MLW and ROH using the same talent is a battle of bookers and promoters. And, to be honest, I'll take Gabe Saplosky, with Jim Cornette working in the company and having his two cents to say, along with Rob Feinstein (who has some responsibility to shoulder as it was the tapes that a company bearing his initials has sold that I point to leading to the "puro heavy" workrate driven style that's all the rage right now), over Kevin Kelly, Court Bauer and his crew any day of the week. And, in the final point of this paragraph, let me state that the wresling community has gotten to be a pretty geeky and infantile place to be when we're getting into our bunkers for a battle of people's capacity to write on a piece of paper.

 

In all reality, Court Bauer made a great point when, in a statement released to 1wrestling.com's Michael K. Johnson II, he loosely said that MLW running was a great thing because it gave the boys more chances to make a paycheck. As a fan of indy wrestling, I'm all for Steve Corino adding to Colby's savings account so that he can get a great college education. Steve Corino entertains me to no end, and, because he does so, I honestly wish him nothing but the best. If he makes another paycheck, he deserves it.

 

However, there are literally hundreds of really talented wrestlers out there right now, and many of you reading my article can probably name all the ones that I forget. Even better, because ROH wants to stay around for a few years apparently, they can't all get booked by the organization. Why Court Bauer hasn't realized that indy wrestling fans love ROH, but love WRESTLING much, much more than that is beyond my comprehension.

 

In final, I urge everyone who believes in individuality, freedom of thought, good common sense and logic to not attend MLW. I'm drawing a line in the sand right now. Support ROH. Please. Even more so, don't just support ROH, support, CZW, IWA Mid-South, NWA Florida (for whom Steve Corino is booked on April 10th --sorry Court!), Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, NWA Wildside and the Heartland Wrestling Association, just to name a few. And, if you want some quality independent workers in your area, and you don't think you have them already, contact Court and tell him to bring "ROH" to your town. It'll save RF and company a few dollars. And, as a fan of the real ROH, I'd appreciate that. Originality and excellence can co-exist peacefully in wrestling. In school, being a copycat got you kicked out of class...being a copycat in wrestling should at least get you kicked out of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Ohio.

 

The darkest hour is just before dawn.

 

For any questions, comments or feedback, please contact me at [email protected], or AIM me at MarcusKDowling. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[JustJoe2k5 0]

A.J. Styles, Low Ki, Bryan Danielson, Homicide, Steve Corino, and everyone else are not Ring of Honor's talent. You can say that Ring of Honor did the very same thing and stole talent from Jersey All Pro Wrestling, U.S.A. Pro Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, East Coast Wrestling Association, and All Pro Wrestling.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

this is what i don't get, how can an indy wrestler belong to any one promotion? I don't see how a new company, or an old one in a new location, can "Steal" talent when said talent isn't exclusive to anywhere!

[JustJoe2k5 0]

Let's hate MLW for booking talent they know will draw in the Northeast. Why can't he use unknown talent and draw double-digit crowds.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

no that's not what I'm saying. I'm argueing the idea of "stealing" indy talent. MLW can do whatever they want if they think it would draw.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

I read the article earlier today and I thought it was one of the most ignorant things I've ever read.

 

Not only do I not agree with Mr. Dowling, but I implore everybody who disagrees with him to do something about it and send him feedback voicing your disagreement. I can't believe the guy would tell anyone to NOT support an indy wrestling promotion, and as an avid fan of the industry, I take offense to that.

 

The counter examples that I could give for his criticizing MLW for using "ROH talent" in "ROH land" are PLENTY. I could go on and on. Hell, ROH took all of JAPW's talent and shoved it all into Special K. AT LEAST MLW is using "ROH talent" in main event storylines, unlike what ROH is doing with the JAPW guys.

 

There is no such thing as "ROH talent." ROH, under this guy's asinine logic, stole Homicide, Special K, and many others from JAPW just because they were regular JAPW workers. Indy wrestling is a FREE BUSINESS. You can go where you want. The reason that Court is using such guys is because they're talented. That's why ROH has them. ROH has talent. And MLW wants talent. The only "ROH guys" that MLW has is Punk, Ki, Homicide, AmDrag, and who else? Anyone? Corino, Hart, etc. are not regular ROH guys.

 

In all honesty, I really don't want to even rebut this column. I read it and it was so outlandish that it gets to the point where there's no point in even rebutting it, and that's where I've gotten. It's so ridiculous, there's just no point in giving it the time of day.

 

Heck, as much as I think that Teddy Hart needs his head examined, putting him, or Michael Modest, or B-Boy, or Chris Hero, or Sonjay Dutt, or Dustin Rhodes, or Sabu or Abdullah the Butcher, or Josh Deeley, or Dana Dameson, or ANYBODY who is not a completely recognizable main event name from Ring of Honor in the main event would have gone far to differentiate MLW from ROH.

 

This is one sentence I agree with. And it's the ONLY sentence I agree with.

[bob_barron 0]

Marcus is a really cool guy but I disagree with him here. He's a major ROH shill though so it's not surprising

[Guest Rob Naylor]

I posted this over at the ROH site...where I now try to stay away from based on lack of actual wrestling talk and lots of childish posts and BS...but here is my thoughts on the situation...some agree with Marcus..others (like Boycotting...which I won't do) I totally disagree with...

 

**Imagine how ROH must feel....

They had a full-proof business plan stemming from late 2001 on what they wanted to do with ROH...

They built from the bottom up by utilizing talent that they had seen on the several indy groups they taped shows at and formulated a vision on how to effectively execute a promotion that would be unique to all others around it. They did that.

They had to get talent over both by booking them in matches that exploited strengths and that would work to get both winners and losers of bouts over...They did that..

Had to take a chance on using unseen talent in new areas to see how people would take to them or take talent and exploit it through new gimmicks or promos or in some cases, devise a different kind of match to get them over...(ie Carnage Crew, Ring Crew Express, Special K, Julius Smokes, Punk and Cabana...etc) They did that.

Then they had to make sure that every show had something standout on it....and every show they've done save perhaps Final Battle 2002 and WrestleRave to me is a MUST SEE....So they did that too.

 

Obviously they have to be pissed that MLW would come in and

 

- book buildings that ROH took and established as places that could draw fans with the talent they used.

- book talent that ROH got over to the point that attendance went up from 400 fans to SRO and hitting 800 to 1000 by the end of 2003.

- use Video of the week on their site...much like the old clip of the week seen on this site...

- do a takeoff of locker room scoops, which ROH has used effectively to promote shows and keep fans talking...

- book talent that it was either well known that ROH either...didn't want to use anymore, fell out of favor with or just couldn't afford to bring in....

 

So yeah, I understand any ROH fan or workers frustration with MLW's new direction...

For me it will be mighty frustrating to skip the 1/9 show, but I'm strongly considering it. Again, hopefully this will all just be able to further exploit ROH for being as good as it is at the end of the day...but it is a shame that originality has gone the way of Johnny Cash in MLW occasionally it seems.

 

 

***Then I added this when the question was rightfully posed about ROH picking and choosing to do matches that have been done effectively elsewhere...

 

ROH is angry and frustrated not because of simply the booking of most of the same talent and matches...but because if one is close enought to the situation, it is an obvious COMPLETE carbon copy of most of ROH's promoting concepts.

ROH was really the first to pick and choose from all the indies to give fans that one supershow to exploit the best of different indies...

 

- It was the ECWA show with Daniels vs. Ki without OOH LA LA...

- It was the JAPW show with Cide and Xavier minus JT Jobber or Ric Blade

- It was that USA Pro type of environment with a FOCUS and no ticket sellers matches or 120 people booked...

 

- It was taking the best WRESTLERS from the Midwest and leaving the Drunken Death match out that way...

 

It really just got things right and the wrestlers executed and the shows were strong. It all works together and the fans were the winners.

They still will be and MLW isn't being criticized for not putting on good shows (though they've been known to use the same ROH talent and book them in meaningless 5 minute tv matches)...but for how they went about "Relaunching" their shows.

But C'mon...like if ROH never booked Jack Evans (my favorite wrestler right now) or TJ Wilson...MLW would have....no way...

MLW takes the path of least resistence in promoting shows....ROH certainly rode nobodies coattails...did they benefit from seeing talent and selecting to use it...yes...but they outpromoted all other groups with storylines and smart booking also...

 

Again...these are just my opinions...

I'm not sure if I can stay away from checking out Ki vs. Cide or Jack Evans working on the 9th show in Philly...not to mention the Habana Pitbulls...but I just wish Court would have been a little bit more original in his relaunch....

 

Just my two cents...

 

Rob Naylor (hopes there will be room for both ROH and MLW for the fans and the workers..but totally understands ROH's frustration here...)

[bob_barron 0]

I liked Wrestlerave a lot Rob.

 

Homicide v. Acid is awesome and top to bottom it's a great show. The crowd was hot all night and nothing sucks.

 

I can understand ROH being a bit upset but they just have to accept and deal with competition. The only reason I'm pissed about the MLW thing is I won't be there to see it

[Guest Rob Naylor]

WrestleRave's headline match was a nice exhibition of insane spots, but that is about it....I enjoyed Huss vs. Whitmer vs. Tnoy vs. Shelley as well...I just didn't think that show had that ONE or TWO must see bouts as other ROH shows...simply a matter of opinion...

 

I think ROH realizes and copes with competition...and always have...but this latest turn was pretty ridiculous...

As long as Court doesn't start booking all his shows opposite ROH I'm not complaining...but I certainly see the logic over ROH being upset over the way Court is PROMOTING..not so much the actual talent relations argument, just the SCOOPS, Clip of the week, booking established buildings that they no can draw now based on ROH's successes....

MLW is making a smart business move for sure...but at the same time, they have all of the originality of a Kiss cover band IMO.

 

Rob Naylor (still excited to see how Ted Hart and Jack Evans will be used)

[bob_barron 0]

WrestleRave's headline match was a nice exhibition of insane spots, but that is about it....I enjoyed Huss vs. Whitmer vs. Tnoy vs. Shelley as well...I just didn't think that show had that ONE or TWO must see bouts as other ROH shows...simply a matter of opinion...

 

You don't think seeing Dunn and Marcos win for the first time is must see?

 

I see your point- I loved the 4-way, the title match and the main event. I thought AJ v. Sabin and Raven/Daniels v. SCS was a bit of a letdown.

 

I think ROH realizes and copes with competition...and always have...but this latest turn was pretty ridiculous...

As long as Court doesn't start booking all his shows opposite ROH I'm not complaining...but I certainly see the logic over ROH being upset over the way Court is PROMOTING..not so much the actual talent relations argument, just the SCOOPS, Clip of the week, booking established buildings that they no can draw now based on ROH's successes....

MLW is making a smart business move for sure...but at the same time, they have all of the originality of a Kiss cover band IMO.

 

I think going to Philly is pretty stupid- they're just going to burn everyone out like they did in 2002 with the Philly wars. The West Coast seems to only have PWG and I think they would do well there even though airfare would be a bitch.

 

I can understand them being a bit miffed- (the website stuff is stupid) but what promotion hasn't lifted stuff from another one?

 

I just think calling for a boycott is a tad silly since you'd be hurting a lot of the wrestlers who work ROH.

 

still excited to see how Ted Hart and Jack Evans will be used

 

I know Jack is cool with everyone but isn't everyone going to want to beat the holy fuck out of Teddy the first chance they see him

[Guest OSIcon]

I thought the article was pretty good. I didn't really come away from it with the point that "MLW using 'ROH wrestlers' is bad" as so many people here did. There were a lot of points in the artcile besides that. Honestly, I didn't even think that was in the top 5 of points he was trying to make.

 

What it comes down to for me is that MLW is enterting into a territory that ROH and many other indies already run. They are headlining with Low Ki vs. Homicide despite the fact that one is a midcarder in MLW and the other hasn't debut yet. The choice of that match to headline seems to have simply been made since that is a big match in the Northeast (do in big part to ROH) and a match that people are wanting to see (since ROH had it announced but it didnt happen). They are running the same venues as ROH. They are even the "style" that you will see at an MLW show in a similiar way that ROH markets itself.

 

It is just so obvious that they are moving in on a place, style, and philosophy that ROH has established and trying to capitalize on it. Their business model has no originality or anything to differ them from ROH. What ROH did has worked in the northeast, so now MLW is going to do the same things to try to succeed. That blatant riding of coattails is what gets to me. That's what I took away from the article too. It is not "using ROH wrestlers" because obviously wrestlers can work anywhere they want. It is using all that ROH has established in the northeast over the past two years because MLW sees that it works there.

 

Like what Dowling wrote in the article, 3PW and CZW both use wrestlers that ROH uses. So do a lot of other feds in the northeast. The difference is, they use them in their own way. MLW on the otherhand takes two wrestlers they have never used/pushed hard and put them in the main event based off of the fact that it was an ROH match that never took place, so they can capitalize on it. It is less about using wrestlers that ROH uses and more about blatantly using what ROH has established to their own advantage.

 

3PW and CZW aren't particulary my cup of tea, but I do like and respect how they offer something different. You could go to a 3PW show and see a lot of veterans on one show for the nostalgia feel. You can go to CZW and see some hardcore wrestling. You can go to ROH and see a show heavily focused on wrestling of all different styles. You can go to MLW.....and see the same thing you saw at ROH. It goes beyond using the same wrestlers. It is using the same way of marketing the promotion right down to running the same arenas that ROH has already "established".

 

You are really missing the boat saying that he is "ignorant" for his rant on using "ROH Talent." If you read everything he said, he clearly pointed out that many indy feds use the same talents (of course). But it is the way that MLW is using them where the problem comes. Instead of pushing the headliners they have previousy establised, they are putting two guys in their main event because it is a main even that will "draw" in Philly. That is dumb.

 

I would like to see MLW move into the Northeast and establish them as something different from something already avaliable in the area. They are not doing that at all. A boycott maybe silly, but I know that I personally am not going to spend any money or time on seeing a show that is very similar to what I could see at an ROH show. One of the reasons people didn't watch WCW during their downfall was becuase they were trying to do the "WWF Attitude" stuff. Why watch the imitator when you can watch the original?

[Guest OSIcon]

MLW is making a smart business move for sure...but at the same time, they have all of the originality of a Kiss cover band IMO.

 

I question how good of a business decision it is. Does one area need two promotions that are promoted VERY similiar?

 

A better decision would be to use ROH's philosphy on promoting and using it in an area that doesn't get ROH. Instead, all they are doing is over-saturating a market. Not everyone is going to be able to invest in two similiar promotions in the area. If anything, it may end up hurting ROH's business a little while not helping MLW's a w hole lot.

[bob_barron 0]

Well didnt they technically try that in Florida and end up losing money?

 

I still say tapping into the West Coast would be a good move and even though I honestly don't know all that much about the area.

 

Are any MLW shows worth buying btw?

[Guest Rob Naylor]

I just think calling for a boycott is a tad silly since you'd be hurting a lot of the wrestlers who work ROH.

 

 

 

I know Jack is cool with everyone but isn't everyone going to want to beat the holy fuck out of Teddy the first chance they see him

Yeah...

 

I am a wrestling fan first...I wouldn't boycott any company unless something too sick as in Bulbs...leeches...sick matches...were going on...I just wouldn't go...but I'd never just boycott a company...that is silly...

I don't believe ROH is asking fans to do that...I know that they are not actually....They've been kind of quiet on the whole thing actually and just commented that they agreed with some of the points made.

It will be good for wrestlers, I agree...

And if Evans can get flights in from Seattle and split costs between groups or the Habana Pitbulls ect..that would benefit everyone involved.

 

 

Yeah, Ted is nuts...but Jack shouldn't worry...I think the main reason Ted is working MLW with Corino and Punk and others on that show is simply because he is bringing Harry, TJ, Jack and possibly Pete Wilson in with him for backup if needed...as he is one unpopular guy right now...

Great shit stirrer...but about as disrespectful and unprofessional as they come.

Jack Evans is breaking out though for sure...He is the best of Blitzkrieg, Venom Black and Sasuke combined...) I'm sending him some Billy Robinson, so hopefully by the end of the year he'll be the total package!

[Guest OSIcon]

Well didnt they technically try that in Florida and end up losing money?

 

Their way of promoting in Florida seemed a lot more ECW-ish in nature than an ROH copy. Plus their flight expenses were ridiculous and there only way of making money was on live ticket sales (since all matches could be seen for free on TV and their tape-selling department was run very poorly). That's why they were losing money.

 

The answer to losing money is not to move into an already crowded territory and copy a promotion already running there.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

Why does any promotion have the right to tell another one how to use talent?

[Guest OSIcon]

Why does any promotion have the right to tell another one how to use talent?

 

They don't and nobody is really saying that.

 

All that is being said is that MLW is ridiing off of what ROH has already established instead of paving their own path. Can they do it? Sure. That doesn't necesarily mean it is the good or best thing to do though...

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I think MLW should try and run in North and South Carolina. I think I remember OMEGA drawing good, and that was before Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Christian York, and Joey Matthews became stars. So a promotion with already well-known wrestlers should do good.

[DCMaximo 0]

Are any MLW shows worth buying btw?

 

Reload is certainly worth a look in my eyes. Kojima vs Lynn, Daniels/Togo/Hidaka vs SAT/Quiet Storm, La Parka vs Shocker and Fuego (Red) vs Super Crazy are all good to great matches. Hell, even the Sabu match vs Taiyo Kea is decent