The internet wrestling landscape

[Guest Maurizio C... Version 2]

Isn't it funny how the old generation (80s fans like me>) went from buying kayfabed mags at the local newsstands to reading the 'net to having just a bunch of no-good sites to get information on?

 

These days I rarely spend much time on the 'net. I'm a Torch subscriber and just get my news and general tidbits there.

 

I go for news on the Torch and Observer websites. Interesting shit and articles on this very site and surf somewehere in search of good pieces.

 

I remember '99/'00 where you could use this plain system to surf the 'net, at least the one I used:

 

News and good event coverage - Torch, Meltzer, 1bob

Pieces and articles - Rantsylvania, IGN, Wrestleline

Funny shit and general crappy content - xwrestling, scoopthis.

 

today I hardly enjoy it. TheSmarks is still a good site and the unofficial home of the smarks, but you gotta admit that "lazarus rant" times are over in favor to Hyatte/Scotsman "I don't give a fuck let's talk about cunt, porn and lesbians" type of writing. Hey, i'm all for a good lugh once in a while. I read xwrestling and still read LW, but I do so accepting the guys there (at least 90%) just write for fun and don't pretend to become the next Bruce Mitchell. Burkholde and Bower are the true greats of this damn site. The se 2 write good pieces and don't act like complete fools just to get hits.

 

On the other hand, and this is ot an attack of any sorts, I don't get what all the fuss is about Scotsman. He's just another Hyatte and I've yet to see him write e decent piece. I can understand Keith is busy with his book but he, at least, was a good writer and no one can deny it.

 

That's my view.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Dude, our paths are similar yet different.

I bought the Apter mags back in the day and thought  i was the shit! Too bad the info I was receiving was two months out of date.

 

In '99, I came across the Internet scene and realized there were a bunch of people who worshipped Steamboat and Benoit like me and Hated Hogan and Nash.

 

I to have to search hard for decent news but have given up on the dirtsheets. I subscribed to both shortly, but within a week, the news is all over the net and I'm not paying ridiculous prices anymore.

 

I agree with your assessment of current internet writers. Actually, even though the Rick is a rube there are some pretty good articles from other writers over at Online Onslaught.com. I too, hope for the day when SK can give us the long awaited NWO rant and put the dinosaur resurgence into perspective.

[Guest Maurizio C... Version 2]

hey, I'm not saying there ain't quality writers out there, just that the main sites opt for quantity over quality, like Hyatte and Scotsman. I've got nothing against Scotsman, he's a funny guy, but for the past weeks I've just read a bunch of "news" column and that's it. The fact that the site isn't like 1bob and it's relatively free (you pay the 'net connection, eheh) shouldn't b put as "like it or leave it". If someone loves his job he'll do the best even if it's for free. I personally volunteer for the red cross and go take sick people, aids rotten freaks and general oddities... but I do it for free. Why? because if I'va gotta do something I'll do it at my best.

 

I think internet wrestling fell when the ultimate jerk of them all, Hyatte, vanished leaving 411 a trailer park.

 

Today it's not like you can say "oh well, TS and 411 sucks, I can still read WL". Today it's TS or nothing. Yes, one can choose to read meltzer and keller and get half the story because they gotta sell their newsletters, but there really ain't no choosing.

 

I love this site, it's just that with the miscellaneous archives (I CAN'T find the damn Keith's archives!) and poor quality pieces  it's really hard to stay shut.

 

How I envision the perfect wrestling website? go take a look at the old WL where they got interviews with meltzer, Piper, Vampiro, Sting, Russo or the old Rantsylvania.

 

better yet, NWWWO. No pics, no forum, no shit, just columns and pretty damn good pieces by Shannon and company.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Eh. Shannon is one writer (if he could be called that) that I don't miss.

 

I agree 100% that there are no perfect sites anymore. Hell, when I started visiting the web, I went to Wrestleline first. From there, I branched out to Rantsylvania, nWWWO, etc.

 

You're right though, there are not alot of options but good opinion pieces can be found. It just takes longer to find them.

[Guest Loss4Words]

I really didn't like Wrestleline because I thought it was too dumbed down. It is a great place to start out, but they pandered to the WWF too much and seemed afraid to really get down and dirty for fear that they might offend a wrestler or company. I think it's good to feel a certain sense of responsibility for what you write, but you should also feel the need to state your opinion and not worry about the repercussions. If you do it responsibly, I don't see the problem.

 

That said, I have had trouble motivating myself to write a column lately because everything seems to have been done to death. I think this is now doubly obvious since wrestling is entering an era where the old wrestlers are coming back and taking over again. Like salami and eggs, Hulk Hogan never really goes away.

 

Anyway, the 'Net scene is probably a little stale, but mainly because most of the good writers have been overexposed and were so excited when they first started writing that they got all of their opinions out and now they are left with nothing to say. I'm trying to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to me.

 

You did make some good points. I hope someone pops up with a fresh perspective sometime and when that person does show up, I hope everyone notices them and gives credit where its due. Until the wrestling business does something exciting and daring and unpredictable and until a new writer pops on the scene and breaks new ground, this is just how it's going to be. But I really think that's ok, since the established writers aren't necessarily burnt out, just plateaued until they peak again.

 

That's all.

[Guest dreamer420]

The problem is that guys get hired on these wrestling websites, and then spend their time writing about what they think is funny (which it is not) instead of wrestling.  They come up with lame crap and their wrestling news is more like them making fun of people who are in the news.  Look at 411wrestling.com or the Scotmans for perfect examples.

[Guest J*ingus]

What people forget is that at one time, Hyatte was the next Bruce Mitchell with his And Another Thing columns.  And his Wrap-Up recaps were at one time funny.  But at some point he got burned out, or lazy, or something, because he took to overusing the shitty jokes and insulting his audience all the time, and it eventually got to be too much.  

 

I bought some Apter mags... once... and then never again.  I thought they were pretty worthless, even back in my mark days.  I discovered Scoops in late '99, and pretty much stuck to that site until it closed (whatever happened to Al Isaacs and whoever did their PPV previews, anyway?).  Then I drifted for a while, discovering Meltzer and Keller, writing my own columns at ProWrestlingColumns.com, until I finally bumped into 411 and by association The Smarks, where I feel like I'm home again.