Column – I Want to Remember Chris Benoit – Nikita Allanov

OJ Simpson is widely accepted as a murderer. While he was not found guilty in a court of law for killing his estranged wife and a waiter, he was found liable by a civil court. In fact, Simpson now sits in a Nevada jail for an unrelated crime, in which he attempted to steal sports memorabilia at gun point.

Simpson, to a whole generation of people, is simply a punchline to a variety of jokes about a guy killing a couple people. To many people my age, they remember Simpson as the actor and sports commentator who killed a couple people. To people a generation earlier, Simpson is the former Buffalo Bill and USC Heisman Trophy winner who killed a couple people.

Regardless, you would be hard pressed to find someone in the United States and Canada who does not know who OJ Simpson is.

Fifteen years after he killed two people (allegedly), Simpson has a notoriety and fame that is equal to what he had before the double murder in California that he has been found responsible for in a civil court. No one ever pretended Simpson wasn’t a great football player. They didn’t stop showing “Roots” or “the Towering Inferno” or any “Naked Gun” movies because the Juice is a notorious murderer, even if he was not convicted. ESPN still mentions him on SportsCenter when he is relevant to something (such as rushing records, or perhaps the Heisman Trophy) and he is still featured on ESPN Classics in old game footage, and even as a commentator on things like “Superteams:Tug of War”.

So why is it that one of the best wrestlers to ever grace the squared circle is a taboo subject? Why is it that Chris Benoit cannot be celebrated as a great professional grappler that just so happened to murder a couple people, but OJ Simpson can be recognized as an all-time great in his sport?

I am not here to argue that the Benoit Family murder-suicide was not Benoit’s fault, or anything like that. All I am saying is that Chris Benoit was perhaps the best wrestler of his generation, and his body of work should be examined and debated and talked about, rather than swept under the rug as if he never existed.

While there is not debate that Benoit was a murderer, there is also no debate as to what kind of wrestler Benoit was. Benoit was a main event wrestler in every major US wrestling promotion, in Mexico, in Europe, and in Japan. Benoit was a “wrestler’s wrestler” – a true mat technician who not only wowed fans with his matches, but also his peers.

The fact of the matter is this – Benoit, upon an autopsy, was found to have severe brain damage. The damage was done from years upon years of punishment to his head while wrestling. The psychological effects of abusing bodybuilding drugs since adolescence so that he could have a body similar to that of his idol, the Dynamite Kid, also contributed to the Benoit familicide.

Why did Benoit continue to punish his body for years with taking risks in the ring and by injecting harmful drugs into his body? He did it to be the best wrestler in the world. He did it to make his idol, the Dynamite Kid, proud. He gave his body to wrestling. In the end, he sacrificed his life and his body for professional wrestling.

In one way, Benoit should be celebrated. No, of course he shouldn’t be celebrated for killing his family. That would be ridiculous. However, why does our society celebrate athletes like Kobe Bryant, who dedicated his life to basketball at a young age, reached the pinnacle of his profession, and also committed an unforgivable crime? Why is it that mentioning Benoit the athlete is taboo, but in Bryant’s case, it is taboo to mention the rape?

When I was debating becoming a professional wrestler, and when I was training, one of my favorite wrestlers to watch was Benoit. I could write pages and pages on why, but the short version of the story is that he was very good at what he did. Benoit was that good in the ring because he sacrificed like few others would. He sacrificed his body, his mind, his health, his sex drive, and many other things average people take for granted – for the business. If I were a young basketball player, is the game of Kobe not one I should emulate? Shouldn’t young people emulate the work ethic and sacrifices that successful people make?

As a society we emulate people like Richard Pryor and give him credit for changing comedy, yet downplay that he was an addict and an abuser. Generations of kids grew up emulating athletes who were arrested for drugs or violence. Roman Polanski has been given numerous awards for him film-making, even though for years he has lived in exile to avoid facing pedophilia charges. One of the most popular shows on television features an abusive whore-mongering addict named Charlie Sheen. Michael Vick killed numerous dogs for fun, yet is on the football field every week.

Even in wrestling, there are examples of a double standard.

“Superfly” Jimmy Snuka once killed a woman in a drug fueled rampage in a hotel in Allentown, PA while an employee of the WWF/WWE. Not only that, but charges were never even pressed against Snuka for the killing. In fact, he got off scott free for the killing in large part due to Vince McMahon portraying Snuka as a “mindless savage” who “didn’t know any better” to the authorities. Yet, Snuka still appears on WWE broadcasts. His name is not taboo. Snuka’s existence is still acknowledged.

So, why is what Chris Benoit did in the final days of his life so much worse than what others have done? Why isn’t the example he set used as a tool to teach? If years of abusing his body in such a manner led to his family’s annihilation, why are his life choices not highlighted and drawn attention to, in an effort to prevent another incident in the future? Why is it that we can separate personal shortcomings from the body of work of individuals like Simpson, Pryor, Snuka, Bryant, Polanski, and Sheen, but cannot separate Benoit’s ring work from his family life?

The reasons that the WWE have for not mentioning Benoit are many, but when taken in context, are designed more to keep up with the company’s public image than anything else. Benoit being a taboo subject is a public relations move. In addition, the Benoit and Eddy Guerrero deaths shed light on many of the business practices of the WWE, which is something that McMahon might be angry about. Maybe by erasing Benoit from the “WWE Universe”, McMahon is also hoping to erase the bad press Benoit’s death gave his company.

My fear is that in a decade, no one will realize just how good Chris Benoit was in the ring. People are allowed to remember Ernest Hemingway for the books he wrote, not for his mental problems and suicide. After his death, Michael Jackson was celebrated for his music, not for being a child rapist. Why is it that we cannot celebrate Benoit for being one of the all time greats in the squared circle?

To read more about Nikita Allanov, or to leave feedback on this column, check out his official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/nikitaallanov.

Column – Paying to Play – Nikita Allanov

Recently a subject came up in a conversation with some friends of mine within the wrestling business, and only days later I saw it pop up in a conversation online amongst a group of wrestlers. So, since I have some thoughts on the matter, I thought it would make a good subject for a column. So here goes.

One of the guys that I trained to wrestle recently was accepted into a “tryout camp” for World Wrestling Entertainment. Upon his acceptance, he tweeted his news. Shortly after that a series of congratulatory remarks were posted in response, followed up by the inevitable derogatory comments. Soon the thread degenerated into another individual attending the same camp telling the guy he was wasting his time, while another individual told him he was wasting his money. Soon everyone started bickering back and forth, and my protege finally said he was doing this to follow his dream, and didn’t really care what they thought.

The thing that caught my eye about the whole conversation was the fact that the individuals in the conversation were bickering about wasting money to attend a tryout, and how much the camps cost, and so forth. I found it quite odd that one guy who was accepted to the camp was ripping on another guy for going to the same exact camp. But, what intrigued me more was that these guys were essentially paying for the right to go on a job interview.

This is part of the problem with professional wrestling. Not just at the top level, but at all levels. I have been racking my brain, and I cannot think of one single profession where you have to pay to try-out, or to be considered for a position. McDonald’s does not have an application fee. The NBA doesn’t charge individuals to tryout. I am unfamiliar with any casting directors who charge actors to audition. I am unfamiliar with any bands who have had to pay to play. Look at the thousands upon thousands of people that attend American Idol auditions – do these people have to pay?

So, why then in professional wrestling, is it common practice and readily accepted that you have to pay for a tryout? I honestly cannot fathom any reason how this became an accepted practice, or why it still occurs, but it is mind blowing. Sure, actors might have agents they have to pay to get their foot in the door for auditions, or an athlete might depend upon an agent or a coach to get them camp invitations and such, but it seems inconceivable to me that a guy in training camp trying to earn a roster spot with the New York Yankees would have to pay a fee to attend. Can you imagine if you were looking through the want-ads in the paper, trying to find a job to put food on the table for your family, and it cost $1000 to apply for a job?

I understand why the hosts of these tryout camps do this – because it makes them money. But, does it not kill the credibility that these camps are of any use?

Recently the Cincinnati Reds (my favorite pro sports team!) won a bidding war to sign heralded left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman – a Cuban defector who was on the free agent market. Chapman had a number of professional teams bidding for his services, even though he has never thrown a pitch in the Major Leagues. After he defected to the Netherlands last year during the World Baseball Classic, Chapman hired an agent to help him secure a deal to play in the major leagues. While I am certain that the agent is getting paid via commission for his services, I never heard anything in any news reports regarding Chapman having to pay a tryout fee to the Reds, Angels, Yankees, or Major League Baseball as a whole, to be scouted.

I do not understand how professional wrestling organizations can do this, and get away with it. There is a difference between charging someone to attend a camp as a way to be coached – that happens at many levels. Corporations often pay for their employees to attend training seminars. Individuals often pay to take classes to stay competitive in their fields. Even at the youth sports levels, there are camps that athletes can attend to improve their skills.

No, there is a distinct difference between having a wrestling camp where you evaluate talent, to perhaps be signed to contracts by your organization, and having a training camp designed to teach. If these camps that are advertised as a chance to be scouted by the WWE are in fact just training camps, then it is very misleading to say that the WWE will be there to evaluate talent.

The fact of the matter is, there are a limited number of jobs in professional wrestling, and there is an overabundance of people wanting those jobs of all skill levels. While you can argue the merits of who WWE/TNA/ROH sign to contracts, the fact is that wrestling is one of the few fields where worthless hacks that have no business being in the business to begin with, can stay in it for years if they have enough money to be of use to someone. There are no agents that sign prospects and get them the things they need to get to the next level. Why? WWE does not negotiate with agents. Why? Because it is easier to give someone an unfair contract if they do not have anyone to negotiate for them. Think of it this way: Professional wrestlers have to pay their own travel expenses. Players in the National Football League do not. Plus, there are 1664 players under contract in the NFL – not counting practice squad or injured reserve players. How many guys are under contract to the WWE at one time? 100, maybe? NFL players sign exclusive contracts for one league/team – why are they not considered independent contractors? But, wrestlers will put up with that, and even pay someone for the opportunity to be scouted, because they want to be a wrestler that bad. It is as nonsensical as you can possibly imagine.

The truth of the matter is this – the best way to get work in professional wrestling is through who you know. Word of mouth and references mean more than anything. While camps like these can certainly help you get your name out there, the truth of the matter is if the WWE is interested in signing you, they are going to approach you about working for them. Only in professional wrestling are you required to spend your own money to show how deep your desire is. I guess Vince McMahon has issues with making money off of “superstars” who do not sacrifice their pocketbooks to show how badly they want to be a star. Pumping steroids into your veins, sacrificing in the gym and the ring, and giving up any kind of normal social life isn’t enough.

The wrestling business is full of shady carny “businessmen” – and none are more shady and carny than the ones at the top. Until wrestlers smarten up and clean up this business and quit letting ourselves be taken advantage of, no one will think twice about having to pay for an audition to the “WWE Universe”.

To read more about Nikita Allanov, or to leave feedback on this column, check out his official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/nikitaallanov.

UWA: The Unstoppable Insider Report – 2/01/09

I am the “Unstoppable Insider” Luther Cliff here with the final Insider Report before “Fallout”…

As reported on uwawrestling.com, Cody Hawk has signed on with the UWA and will be participating at the big “Fallout” event just days away on Feb. 7th. Hawk’s debut coincides with the mysterious purchase of 49% of controlling shares of the UWA…is The Indy Icon Frank Hughes new business partner?!

If the business partner isn’t Cody Hawk, who else is on the list of suspects? Well, many names have been thrown around here at uwawrestling.com with the only answer certain being that we will all have to be at Fallout on Feb 7th @ Sports of All Sorts to find out!

Jason Kimera told me on an exclusive phone interview yesterday that “Everyone says the ladder match is the most dangerous, unpredictable match in all of wrestling. Well, the most dangerous match for Andre Heart to be in is ANY match against me, and it’s not unpredictable, I’m walking out the first ever Unstoppable Champion!” The ever confident Kimera will find if his prediction holds true this Saturday.

Super Bowl fever has hit everyone in the country, including the UWA…my prediction…The Arizona Cardinals will be winning their first Super Bowl!

UWA owner Frank Hughes is refusing to comment on who he thinks his new business partner is…maybe he knows more than he is letting on?

Multiple sources have told me that UWA Tag-Team Championships may be right around the corner…

Don’t forget Fallout this Saturday! Until next time…

Source: Luther Cliff/UWA

UWA: The Unstoppable Insider Report

This is the Unstoppable Insider with the inaugural Insider Report. There is ALOT to cover in the world of Unstoppable Wrestling going into New Years Redemption so here we go:

- It has been confirmed by UWA President Frank Hughes that Jason Kimera’s attorney has indeed contacted the head office in regards to his client not participating in the No DQ match on January 10th at New Years Resolution. These requests have been denied; and the match is set No DQ for Andre Heart and Kimera.

“If Jason Kimera does not honor the contract for New Years Redemption on January 10th he will be terminated from the UWA.” -Frank Hughes, UWA President

- Speaking of wrestlers contacting the head office, Deja Vu is lobbying to get a match signed against Ben Kimera on January 10th following the fallout from Christmas Collision!

- Wildman Rogers isn’t making any friends among the UWA staff stemming from his recent mistreatment of Security team member Robbie Raines. With Robbie’s extensive background in the mixed martial arts world, Wildman should possibly tread softly…

- Rumor has it that the UWA February show may be VERY unlucky…

- UWA President Frank Hughes has reportedly been shopping the Unstoppable product to several local TV stations, trying to acquire a timeslot.

- The Tri-County Strangler has been officially signed to participate in the upcoming “Golden Challenge Battle Royal”. He, along with several other yet unnamed superstars will be fighting for a spot in the match to declare the first Unstoppable Champion!

- UWA MC Bo Cephus has assured the entire staff here at uwawrestling.com that he has a very special guest lined up for a live interview at New Year’s Redemption!

- Don’t forget to check back here and at www.uwawrestling.com in the coming weeks leading into New Year’s Redemption for all the latest Insider information from me, The Unstoppable Insider!

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