A Handle on Things

When I created this blog, I decided it would be a place for an "insider's look." It would be views from "marks," "mega-fans," or whatever term others choose to utilize. Now, I admit I am not an "insider" in the sense that I have never worked for any wrestling promotion or been backstage at any wrestling event. However, I am what insiders would consider a "mark." While that term isn't always endearing, to me it means I have a decent handle on the business. I understand shoot vs. kayfabe vs. "you f***ed up!" I understand The Undertaker isn't his real name. I understand the word "fake" is mis-applied to wrestling by non-fans. However, most of all, I understand the weight of backstage politicking.

Way back in the months before Scott Hall mysteriously appeared on WCW television, proclaiming that if WCW wanted a war, they'd gotten one, there was a little incident in New York that became known as "The MSG Incident." It proved to many that "the Kliq" had a lot of influence up north. Shawn Michaels, Triple H (then not even yet dating Stephanie McMahon), Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman, and PJ "Justin Credible" Polaco were in Vince McMahon's...ear. However, it also proved that they weren't above punishment.

I won't get into the happenings of "the Incident," but the result was: Triple H stuck in a cheesy feud with Henry Godwinn instead of rising to the top, winning King of the Ring, and becoming the next main eventer. Steve Austin got that opportunity and the rest is history. It made fans who were aware of the situation realize that kayfabe still had some validity to McMahon. By bringing their real life friendship out infront of the fans during a show, "the Kliq" had broken a cardinal rule - do not break kayfabe, and don't talk about it. You're a character working a show until the show is over.

Backstage politics is a major thing that can make or break a career. Skill, appearance, manners, and knowledge of wrestling history don't matter when you do something that violates the oft unwritten rules of backstage conduct. WWE's "wrestler's court" is known to be serious business. Guys like The Undertaker, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Triple H, and Bob "Hardcore" Holly have held unofficial positions as veterans in the past, taking younger stars to task for varius offenses. Working too stiff or too showy, being deadweight, not pulling punches, or ribbing a veteran have all been tagged as punishable offenses in "wrestler's court." In some cases, the punishment has been handed out in the ring, in the form of a stiff shot or a tongue-lashing on live TV.

While order, common sense, and rules do have a place in every line of work, wrestlers often find ways to use their wrestling ability or their intimidating size to get their point across and execute a "sentence." Imagine being a rookie and hiding Big Show's gym bag in the women's locker room. Now, imagine the consequences when he finds out you did it! Even if he's very fond of you as a person and thinks you've got potential as a wrestler, it's just not something you risk doing. It could cost you, and you would not want to deal with the penalties.

So, the weight of backstage politics is clearly a heavy one, and one not to be messed around with.