Thursday, 28 February 2019

RE-POST: Why Do We Need to Import Talent? (Originally Written in 2001)

In this instalment of The Two Sheds Review, I will be doing two things;
1. Flogging a dead horse.
2. Biting the hands that feed me.
Things will become apparent to you all soon enough.

Today, in the many newsletters I write for, I saw a news item about a British wrestling event. In October, NWA UK Hammerlock and the FWA will be co-promoting a show in Coventry.

Strange that I saw this in several newsletters, I thought. News of a couple of British indy promotions putting on a show in what is an American run newsletter. When I had tried to pass on news of the WAW event, no one seemed interested.

Then it became obvious why this news story was being reported seemingly everywhere - North American stars such as Rob Van Dam, Steve Corino and Juvi Guerrera were scheduled to take part in this event, Wrestle-express, dubbed the Wrestlemania of British wrestling. From what I could tell, there were several more American wrestlers named, as well as a few British ones.

And this is what saddens me. My American paymasters showed little-to-no interest in helping me promote the World Association of Wrestling event this past Saturday. Only a few relented because I nagged them to publish the stuff. And yet they were willing to publish an article about this event.

What also saddens me is this - this NWA/FWA show will probably get a full house because of the appeal of the American stars. I admit, I like watching the likes of RVD and Corino. RVD is one of my current favourites.

WAW, on the other hand, had mainly home-grown talent. The only two overseas wrestlers involved were Tiger Steele and P.N. News. And they still managed to sell out the arena, through promotion in the local newspapers, on television and via their website.

It seems that British wrestling is only reported on some of the newsletters I work for for two reasons - if big American stars are involved, or if a British wrestler is threatening to kill his Canadian ex-wife.

I'm sure the NWA/FWA show will be a good one. It will probably even get national coverage over here. It's just sad to me that they are having to bring over these American stars to get the big crowds they want. Surely there's enough talent in this country to fill an entire card. I could run off a few names here, but I won't.

I just look forward to the day where an American indy-fed will promote a show with mainly British talent! We can still dream!

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