Were you ever outside a bar at closing time when a big guy who had obviously had too much to drink starts to verbally abuse a hotdog vendor, just to try to get over with his buddies? Did you ever see the "cool" kid in school poke fun at one of the loners just because it would get a laugh from his pals and make himself look like a tough guy? I've never been a fan of bullies and in any environment, I think they need to be held accountable.
In the wrestling environment, I have seen a number of bullies over the years. With very few exceptions, I have always made my opinions known -- even when it resulted in myself becoming the target of the verbal or physical assault. I don't think that makes me special -- but I can sleep with a clear conscience knowing that I didn't sit idly by.
Between the ropes, as wrestlers we put our bodies through some incredible abuse, all in the interest of ensuring that the ticket buyers get their money's worth. Make no mistake about it - every body slam, hiptoss, and arm drag (even when NOT thrown backwards like Steven Styles) takes its toll on the body. Even the grappling moves -- you only have about a half inch between uncomfortable and the breaking point. Add a little adrenaline to that mix, and you have a dangerous environment at hand.
To perform at one's peak, and to best deliver to the fans, there is a lot of trust involved. Trust that your opponent has been schooled adequately in both the delivery and receipt of moves and holds. But also, trust that the guy across the ring from you regards your safety as highly as their own and respects that after you finish this match, tomorrow night means another town and another match. If they hurt you tonight, you can't perform tomorrow = no pay. They've fucked you out of a payday -- now pay your rent with your pocket lint. Get real!
There is an additional consideration here. For guys coming up in our business, most credible trainers will send them to the ring for their earliest matches with the simple advice: "Keep your ears open, and your mouth shut." Simply, this means that as one starts their career, there is still a lot to learn. It might take a young wrestler five or six years (depending on their schedule) to master the art of wrestling. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn, pay your dues (take your lumps), and never talk back.
On Saturday night in Edmonton, I witnessed one of the most disgusting displays in recent years when a wrestler took advantage of his position in the ring and took blatant liberties with his inexperienced foe -- beating him beyond the point of villainous aggression. During a tag team match, the pairing of BIG JESS and BORIS THE BRUISER elected to show what tough guys they were at the expense of a kid with six matches to his credit. At the end of this fifteen minute match, this kid was repeatedly chopped to the point of raising "purple" blood and breaking the skin, concussed, and still they didn't let up.
The newcomer, to his credit, took his lumps - not knowing better. Perhaps he looked at the assault as a hazing to welcome him into the Edmonton wrestling scene. Even foggy-eyed after the match in the locker room, he still had nothing negative to say about the match or his opponents. Kid, you are a credit to the business. Keep your chin up, we're not all assholes like BIG JESS and BORIS THE BRUISER.
Now, I certainly recognize that in the ego-driven environment of professional wrestling, we have welcomed a lot of cocky rookies who, by virtue of completing their education at a wrestling school, came into the locker room and strutted around as if they were only one match away from a WWE contract. Yes, I agree that those guys need to be humbled in order to help them develop properly. But that's not the case here. I have had the chance to travel with this young guy and watch some of his early matches -- a more humble, determined student of the wrestling game, you'll never find.
I must admit that I was particularly disturbed by these actions as I have known Jess since his first match. In fact, I was on the card on February 23, 2003 when he wrestled his first match. As I recall, even though this kid had never had a match in his life, I treated him with the same respect that I extended to wrestlers in the locker room with more than a decade more experience. He was welcomed into the fold like a peer. I guarantee that Jess did not receive this same type of welcome to the business from Steve Rivers, who he opposed in his first match.
In 2004, I extended a hand to Jess and helped him to get booked on the west coast and lined him up with a place to stay while wrestling in B.C. From this guy, I expected much more. I find it disgusting that this guy decided to take advantage of a newcomer to make himself look like a tough guy, and I would welcome him, though he is 100 pounds heavier than I, to step in the ring with myself if he wants to show how tough he is. Let's see if you can get away with the same behaviour.
We have enough challenges in this business -- the rise of mixed martial arts is taking fans away, the over-saturation of WWE on television has skewed the view of many about what professional wrestling is, and the mainstream media refuses to give us coverage on the sports pages. We take enough abuse without taking liverties with each other. Obviously, someone lacks an understanding about what "professional" wrestling is all about.
Jess and Boris, I think you guys are an embarassment to the business. I look forward to hearing that someone has collected a receipt on behalf of this kid down the road.
Vance Nevada