Vance Nevada Articles

Vance Nevada is one of Canada's most respected and outspoken veterans; as well as a noted Canadian wrestling historian. We here at OWIE are pleased to host Vance's articles on pro wrestling. They are a wealth of data and information for wrestlers and fans alike.

WRESTLING IN THE CANADIAN WEST NOW AVAILABLE!! This book features: Profiles on more than 100 promotions over the past century Championship histories Statistical rankings for wrestlers and tag teams “A Day in Canadian Wrestling History” trivia Road stories from the wrestlers themselves, including J.J. Dillon, Kerry Brown, Paul Diamond, Tony Condello, Dean Higuchi, Johnny Devine, Steve Corino, and more!! Features on women’s and midget wrestling A directory of the top drawing wrestling events of all time in western Canada Tons of photos … and much, much more!! Click the photo to order.

Vance Nevada is bad for the business! - by Vance Nevada
Nevada's follow-up to his Olympic Scandal article and some of the negative feedback he received as a result of what he said

Home Sweet Home - by Vance Nevada
Regardless how great or how poor a tour is, at the end of a long stretch (like five weeks in my case), few things are as reassuring as seeing the lights of your home town.

It IS All About Balance - by Vance Nevada
Remember the cheesy Molson EX commercials a few years ago? A couple dudes pop in on their buddy to let him know that life is all about balance -- there's a time for gettin' it on, and then there's time to have a few beers with your pals. As cheesy as this message was, I think it holds very true.

IS THERE NO HONOR? - by Vance Nevada
In professional wrestling at the independent level, we're not dealing in guaranteed contracts and incentive-laden profit sharing deals. Nope. By and large business is done on handshake agreements and as such, a man's word is his currency. How successful someone becomes lies largely with their demonstrated commitment to proving true to their word.

Professional Wrestling is NOT For Everyone! - by Vance Nevada
After sixteen years in the wrestling game, I have forgotten the names of most of the folks that I met during the first years of my career. Certainly, there were those who significantly influenced me in some way or another, but there are a lot of faces that have blurred into the background. It's not that I have a bad memory, it's simply that there are a lot of guys and gals that get into this business and simply don't last. The numbers of guys that dropped out in their first year -- after discovering that wrestling wasn't for them -- has diminished greatly over the past few years. We have let our guard down, have been less selective, and we have allowed garbage to creep into the business.

Taking Liberties - by Vance Nevada
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.

New to the Olympics: Professional Wrestling!! - by Vance Nevada
There is an Olympic buzz in Canada with the Winter Games coming in 2010, and it got me thinking. Is there a better event for consideration in the Olympics than professional wrestling? Now I am sure that there are a number of you who are already reaching for your mouse to hit the delete button, but bear with me here ... I think you might find that this argument has some merit.

Making Me a Believer! - by Vance Nevada
On the road and at the matches, I frequently take the opportunity to catch as many matches as I can from behind the curtain, and celebrate the successes of my peers. There are a lot of great wrestlers plying their trade in Canadian wrestling rings right now. This weekend I saw some great stuff from Alex North, The Mauler, Gurv Sihra, and got my first introduction to Gama Singh Jr. -- these guys were all great, and renewed my enthusiasm for this business. But every now and then, I get the chance to experience an inspired performance that leaves me a little in awe. Such was my experience in Vernon, BC on Saturday night.

"Pro Wrestling Is Inappropriate!!" - by Vance Nevada
Few things aggravate me more than hearing someone judge what independent wrestlers do inside the ring without ever having seen us perform. We have seen this a lot in the media and from folks who aren't wrestling fans who broadcast their pre-conceived biases about the wrestling industry. The public, and those of us in the industry are expected to accept these as a given. I dare say that this stereo-typing wouldn't fly in any other environment.

War ... what is it good for? - by Vance Nevada
"Territorial war" describes a number of conflicts that have occured in the history of the wrestling business when rival interests have sought to establish their product as the peak of the market in any given region. Is this concept even relevant any more? The business has changed a great deal over the past twenty years.

My First Taste - by Vance Nevada
Do you remember the first live wrestling event that you ever saw? Where you sat? Who was on the card? I would bet that there are a number of diehards out there that can remember that event so vividly that it has stayed with them after years of wrestling matches on TV and in arenas. Nothing can replace the first time that you saw wrestling from the ringside seats. For me, it was an independent card when I was ten years old.

Ode to a Wrestling Education - by Vance Nevada
The school of hard knocks ... quite literally. However, as someone that pursued a dream in the wrestling business directly out of high school, I believe that this business has provided me an education that many college graduates wish they could have. Come to think of it, most of the important lessons that I have carried with me in life weren't picked up in school, they came from the wrestling business.

LOOK AT MY BELT! - by Vance Nevada
As I think back over my time in the business, I can think of a lot of discussions and heated debates, or just plain ridiculousness about belts in various companies that I have worked for. I read something earlier this morning which reminded me of this topic. Today's rant is going to delve a little more "inside" than most of the stuff I have written publicly so far, so to those who are more "old school" than me ... I apologize in advance. I just don't know a better means of getting this message out to the masses.

Your Mom Was Right - by Vance Nevada
Canadian pro wrestling veteran Vance Nevada talks about how the simple act of applauding those around you for doing the right things can go a long way to improving the state of the business and your place in it.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others ... - by Vance Nevada
... one of these things just doesn't belong! Imagine for a moment that you are in the bathroom in your home fresh out of the shower and while you're standing there, towel in hand, you are interrupted by someone that you have never met before who just charges to use the washroom. Nothing sinister like you might see on a prime time TV drama, just answering nature's call ... would that still trouble you?

Remembering 'Thank You' - by Vance Nevada
The lost custom of gratitude and respect - It might seem silly that in a business environment, an adult might have to remind another adult of basic common courtesy. However, I find increasingly that there are many 'superstars' in the wrestling business who seem to strut around with a sense of entitlement, often forgetting those that helped them out along the way. Sometimes, acknowledging that assistance is as simple as remembering to say "thank you".

Do You Know Me? - by Vance Nevada
I'm sure at one point in life, you have heard someone say: "It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know." I've often thought that the folks that say that, use it as an excuse for their own inability to achieve success. Chalk it up to powers beyond ones control ... yep, I'm great, but I'm not known in the right circles, so it's no use. That's not to say that it is an entirely inaccurate concept. I think as that relates to the wrestling business, some people might see that there is some relevance to that. Take a look at the current crop of WWE superstars with familiar last names and a lot of folks will readily assume that nepotism is at work. But what does that mean for the rest of us in this business? Is there hope?

Competence Rooted in Character - by Vance Nevada
I didn't hit the computer this morning as I had the opportunity to listen to a speaker today that -- although speaking from a different perspective -- touched on topics that are near and dear to me. This morning, I attended a recruiting presentation for a local University and the President of the school talked about the importance of not only competetence, but also character. It reminded me of something that I have said to promoters on a number of occasions ...

Actions Speak Louder Than Words - by Vance Nevada
I think we all can identify someone in our lives (maybe its ourselves), whose actions dont seem to agree with their words. I'm not talking about the relfexive non-verbal communication that indicates someone is lying, but rather -- when they make a public declaration that they're going one direction, but their actions convey something else entirely.

Are You Ready...? - by Vance Nevada
When I was a kid in grade school, there was another fellow in my school who had this t-shirt featuring a hobo with a bag on the end of a stick that read "When the recession comes, I'm ready." I didn't know what that meant, and it wasn't really relevant to me but it certainly is now. And OH BOY, am I ready ... and excited!

Would Hockey Survive Exposure? - by Vance Nevada
Based on some of the feedback that I have received over the past week, I think that there are many people who might perceive that I am anti-NHL hockey. For many, they have never been challenged before about the validity of their sports entertainment of choice, and I can understand how that might rattle someone (I felt the same way at eight years old when people started to show me the inconsistencies in wrestling). I think today will be the last time that I will talk about hockey ... not because I am re-thinking what I believe to be true, but I don't think that professional hockey would survive if it were exposed. Hockey isn't as solid as pro wrestling.

This Week in Western Canadian Wrestling History (Feb 01-07) - by Vance Nevada
With more than 17,000 live events in the past century plus, and thousands of wrestlers appearing in this part of the world, it's no surprise that there is a TON of notable events in Canadian wrestling. Here's a sampling for the week of February 1-7th, a week in western Canadian wrestling history

Is It Really That Far Fetched? - by Vance Nevada
A follow up on the declaration that professional hockey might be "fake"

GRUDGE MATCH: Pro Wrestling vs. The Mainstream Media - by Vance Nevada
The mainstream media’s grudge match with professional wrestling spans almost right from the sport’s introduction to North America more than a century ago. The fact is, debunking the myth of professional wrestling as always been en vogue and to poke fun at the industry really doesn’t have a reporter hanging out there on a limb to secure buy in. I would venture to say that to attack professional wrestling does not demonstrate any journalistic talent.

What Do We Share? - by Vance Nevada
The independent wrestling scene, for all of the conflicts and politics involved, is still a pretty small (albeit dysfunctional) family. From inside, we are each focused on our own projects and career paths – and from that perspective, even some of the smallest decisions seem to carry a much heavier significance. But from the outside looking in, most casual fans and sportswriters see us all as one big group – “minor league” wrestlers.

Who Drives The Bus? - by Vance Nevada
I don't know that there is a day that goes by that I don't think about how to make money in the wrestling business -- but more importantly, what needs to be in place to help elevate wrestling's status. I have thought about this a great deal over the weekend, especially after some of the strongly worded e-mails I have received in relation to my thoughts on professional hockey. It made me start to wonder - if professional wrestling was given the same media coverage as hockey, would the business see a rebound in Canada?

Hockey is Fake! - by Vance Nevada
True, this may be the most un-Canadian statement that I have ever made publicly, but that doesn't make it any less true. I know that a lot of hockey fans around the world will come out swinging on this issue, but I feel it my duty to tell you that hockey isn't real. Yes, my friends, hockey is a work.

"Nevada, what's your problem?" - by Vance Nevada
Yesterday, someone got in touch with me to caution me about the tone of my columns. "You should be careful", they said. "You wouldn't want to offend anyone." I wouldn't? Seriously? I respectfully disagree with that assessment. I think that this business and some of the folks representing themselves as professionals need a hard kick in the ass -- and if that means someone is gonna take some heat for doing that, I graciously accept.

Taking Risks ... At What Cost? - by Vance Nevada
I am frequently stunned to see the risks that guys are taking in this business on the independent level for the sake of "fame". Increasingly guys are taking risks that far outweigh the reward and despite the repeated warnings from "grizzled" guys like myself, they continue to work at a break neck pace (pun fully intended).

What's Your Plan? - by Vance Nevada
Nevada's guide to planning career goals in the wrestling business and steps wrestlers can take to achieve them

If You Can't Say Something Nice ... - by Vance Nevada
Given the challenges of wrestling on the independents, it is very easy for one to get drawn into the negativity that seems to linger on this scene. I have always told my peers and the folks that I have trained with to always try to keep seeking the positives. It's easy to identify and bitch about what is WRONG with the business. It can sometimes be much more challenging to focus on the bright side.

What if I said: “You’re a fucking idiot!”? - by Vance Nevada
Now hold on … I didn’t say you’re a fucking idiot (today), but consider that I did. How would you respond to that? Would your reaction be to retaliate and hit me with a grade school “I’m rubber, you’re glue …” offensive? Maybe you would want a little more clarification. It’s another possibility that you might dismiss the statement entirely.
Today, I would like to address the topic of constructive criticism in relation to professional wrestling. Let’s make this as broad as possible – I’m not just talking about direct feedback on your in-ring performance bell to bell – let’s examine this from the time you wake up in the morning representing yourself as a professional wrestler.

What Have YOU Done - by Vance Nevada
It is easy to sit back and be critical of what others have or haven’t done in support of the business. It is easy to suggest that the significance of some folks that share locker rooms with us is minimal and that the business would be better served if they simply ceased to exist. However, I would suggest that the vast majority of the guys taking bookings on the independents simply aren’t pulling their own weight. Do you sit among that group?

You GOTTA Appreciate Your Talent! - by Vance Nevada
Nevada supplies a handbook for dealing with talent that should be required reading for every indy promoter in the business

Rasslin' 101: Respect Your Clientele - by Vance Nevada
I think that one of the biggest struggles faced by the independent wrestling business today is that the front line folks, the wrestlers themselves, have lost their focus. They don't know the foundation of their business. Without this understanding, it is no wonder that we so much rampant bullshit in the wrestling industry today.

Do You Remember ... Breaking Into Your Business? - by Vance Nevada
Frequently I hear and see things in the business that make me re-consider what I think I know about the wrestling business -- an industry that I have been a part of for more than fifteen years. In fact, I'm very close to a point where I have spent almost half of my life in the business. Sometimes the things I see are confusing ... sometimes they make me laugh out loud ... and sometimes, they just piss me right the hell off.

THE WRESTLER: An Accurate Portrayal, But Misunderstood By Most - by Vance Nevada
Respected Canadian veteran wrestler Vance Nevada examines Darren Aronofsky's film The Wrestler and gives his thoughts on the film's potrayal of the business

The Wrestling BUSINESS: Take a Look at the Big Picture! by Vance Nevada
Vance Nevada looks at the numerous costs involved with running shows and suggests all wrestlers should be aware of what promoters deal with.

The wrestling business: Are you thinking about your product? - by Vance Nevada
I'm a little fired up today! I'm troubled with some of the things that I see in this business and perhaps more disturbed by things that I see online.

Smart Guy, Huh? - by Vance Nevada
I think that we can all agree that there is a big difference between the heart and the brain. No doubt, they are each critical, and it is important to take care of each ... but they're different, and they're important in their own way - but they're separate, both in function and geography. In the same regard, there is a significant separation between the people who have a passion for the wrestling business (heart) and those that think that they're smarter than the business (brain). What's the point of all this, you might wonder.

Hmm... How About The Truth - by Vance Nevada
Perhaps its the carny roots that wrestling will never be able to shake, but this business has always attracted con men who lie about their training, experience, and professional affiliation to work themselves into spots and it makes me sick. This business has enough trouble establishing credibility in a media market which recognizes only two classes of wrestling: The WWE and everything else.

Professionalism In Wrestling - by Vance Nevada
This is a topic that I think about a great deal. As I travel from show to show, spend time in different locker rooms with new crews, the level of professionalism among the folks in the business is always one thing that stands out for me. Especially when you are at an event where from the locker room, you don't have a good vantage point to watch the guys in the ring, you find yourself making judgments of talent based on their conduct and professionalism in the locker room.
There are a lot of schools that focus on the in-ring exchanges and physical conditioning required for someone to step in the ring. Without question, this is vital to one's success in this business. Some trainers/schools do this incredibly well and are producing some amazing athletes, but I would suggest that very few trainers focus on the mental and social aspects of our business that are so important. I could go on for pages and pages about this, but here are a few things that jump out at me: