PWTORCH.COM
VIP SIGN-UP JUMP TO VIP
CONTACT US VISIT MMA TORCH




Select Next Article by Category



WE ARE A PROUD UGO AFFILIATE SINCE 1999

 




Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Support Our Sponsor: PWI!

===========================

CHECK OUT OUR AFFILIATE WRESTLING NEWS SITE - THE FASTEST GROWING PRO WRESTLING SITE IN 2008! (click on logo)

prowrestling.NET




Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: Mayweather vs Big Show was a giant slap in the face to pro wrestling
Mar 31, 2008 - 7:27:10 PM


Email This Article- Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

| subscribe to this feed

Editor's Note: At PWTorch.com we strive for our content whenever possible and practical to be original and unique (i .e. not published on other sites), therefore Guest Editorials submitted to PWTorch. com should be submitted only to PWTorch. com. If you submit a Guest Editorial for consideration, please state at the top of your editorial that you submitted it only to PWTorch. com. For more details on submitting Guest Editorials, check out a detailed submissions guide following today's Guest Editorial below.

GUEST EDITORIAL
By David Miller, PWTorch.com Reader

  
Vince McMahon has no pride in his product. This was never more certain than it was last night when Floyd "Money" Mayweather defeated Big Show at WrestleMania. I watched the PPV with a group of friends. We are all independent pro wrestlers who gave our hearts and souls just the previous night to put on the most realistic, entertaining wrestling show we possibly could. We take great pride in what we do. It's hard to keep that pride when a guy who is not a wrestler and has never had any formal training steps into a pro wrestling ring on the biggest event of the year and defeats one of the sport's top players.
 
Never mind that Mayweather is a great athlete and a premiere boxer. Tiger Woods can't jump into a hod rod and win the Daytona 500. If he did, how foolish would Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Jimmy Johnson look? LeBron James can't step in as quarterback for the Colts and win the Superbowl. Brock Lesnar, predominantly known as a pro wrestler, trained for months for his first UFC fight and lost because he was obviously out of his element. 
 
BigShow140.jpg
The Big Show [artist Cory Gould (c) PWTorch]
Okay, we all know that the match was set up, that it wasn't a real fight. But did Vince McMahon ever consider the fact that the people who bought tickets to WrestleMania might actually be wrestling fans and that they just might want to see a wrestler win? Did anyone notice that Big Show was being heartily cheered when he was thrashing Mayweather? McMahon has a history of punking out his own wrestlers to outsiders who have no business in a wrestling ring. William Shatner embarrassed Jerry Lawler. Lawrence Taylor beat Bam Bam Bigelow.  Mike Tyson spanked Shawn Michaels. And just last night, Snoop Dogg clotheslined Santino Marella. Like Snoop can even spell the word "clothesline."
 
What had been a fun-filled, exciting night for a group of young independent wrestlers who also happen to be huge wrestling fans quickly turned sour when, yet again, our beloved sport had just gotten punked out. Not by Floyd Mayweather, but by Vince McMahon and WWE. Why does Vince treat his own product like a "bastard stepchild"?  Is he so ashamed that he's involved in wrestling that he'd rather have his troupe referred to as "superstars" or "sports entertainers"? Would it be so outrageous if a wrestler actually defeated an actor, rapper, basketball player, race car driver, or boxer in a wrestling match? Geez, what a novel idea!

In one of the most infamous worked-shoots in history, Jerry Lawler defended the integrity of professional wrestling when Hollywood actor Andy Kaufman made fun of the sport and its fans. Lawler had enough respect for his profession to give the fans what they wanted and deserved by hospitalizing Kaufman. Kaufman, realizing he had no business in wrestling, allowed Lawler to beat and humiliate him. He knew it would be good for business and, besides, he was honored just to be involved in wrestling. It's really too bad that Mayweather couldn't show that same respect and humility. But then again, if Vince McMahon has no respect for his business or it's fans, why should Mayweather?

You are invited to submit a "Torch Guest Editorial" for possible publishing on this site in future days. For submission guidelines and the current email, click here.

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA, ROH
visit our co-affiliate: JASON POWELL'S PROWRESTLING.NET

REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM

PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

| subscribe to this feed

Guest Editorials
Latest Articles by Category
EDITORIAL: The latest TNA PPV is probably a prime example of why I don't buy their PPVs
EDITORIAL: John Cena Needs to Turn Heel - A.S.A.P.
WWE Raw Reax #2: "Why wasn't Triple H a little upset for McMahon throwing Flair out the building?"
EDITORIAL: Why One Million Dollars Won't Fix the Endemic Problems with Raw
EDITORIAL: K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid!
EDITORIAL: Scrap the Raw General Manager role, which has become a stale lazy plot device
EDITORIAL: Watching Hogan's personal failings is fascinating, but it shouldn't be sport
EDITORIAL: The Unprotected Chairshot: Is it that bad? (w/Keller's Reax)
EDITORIAL: I'm sick and tired of people bashing Hulk Hogan
EDITORIAL: Why Raw helped the characters of Regal, Kennedy, and Orton, but fell just short for ECW wrestlers
EDITORIAL: Space-Time Continuum Spoiler Alert: Scott Steiner Solves for Pi. Off-air Notes From a Fictional, Future Impact!
EDITORIAL: Could new King of the Ring William Regal become WWE's breakout star in 2008?

(c) 1999-2008 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.

Latest Free Podcasts
PWTorch Free Podcast
FREE PODCAST: Excerpt of "The Audio Experience" with Dusty & Eric (07-17-08)
FREE PWTORCH PODCAST: TNA Victory Road PPV Audio Roundtable with Keller, Mitchell, McNeill
FREE PODCAST: UFC PPV Analysis (Rampage vs. Forrest) in-depth with MMATorch's Shawn Ennis and John Taylor
FREE PODCAST: PWTorch editor Wade Keller's in-depth reaction to the June 30 Raw, Punk's win, New Faces Pushed
FREE PODCAST: Keller and Mitchell analyze the monumental WWE Draft on Monday (6-25-08)
FREE PODCAST: Daily Keller Hotline with in-depth analysis and reaction to Raw (6-16-08)


PWTORCH READER POLL

JBL attempting to crush John Cena with a car at the end of Raw was...
A totally off the charts great idea!
A cool idea, depending on the follow-up.
Eh. Just one of those over-the-top WWE angles.
Bad idea. Groan inducing, actually.
One of the worst finishes to Raw ever.
  


VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS

UPCOMING EVENTS LISTING

Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
TORCH NEWS TICKER 7/23: WWE going PG, Zbyszko critiques TNA, Morgan on WWE vs. TNA, Tuesday news
TORCH NEWS TICKER 7/20: Bash PPV preview, CW prez upsets critics, Punk interview, title belt process detailed
New Volunteer Contributors Wanted: Apply this week to be part of PWTorch.com!
WWE News
Interview Highlights: Ted DiBiase talks about his book, business philosophy, trainers, JBL comparisons, Ultimate Warrior
7/15 WWE in Charlotte, N.C.: Complete Smackdown taping report including tag partners facing off
Ratings News: ECW ratings hold steady, headlined with the Hardys, up against Major League Baseball All-Star Game (w/Keller's Analysis)
TNA News
7/15 TNA Impact tapings in Orlando, Fla.: Victory Road follow-up, Cornette addresses Booker-Joe controversy
TNA Impact Ratings: Final Impact before Victory Road draws strong final 30 minute rating for final PPV hype (w/Keller Analysis)
Interview Highlights: Booker T discusses his time in TNA, Sunday's PPV main event, retirement thoughts, more
ROH News
ROH News: Lance Storm interview on working with ROH wrestlers and injuries in pro wrestling
ROH News: ROH to continue on PPV, Lance Storm returns to ROH, KOCH DVD update
Torch Indy Weekend Report: Balls vs. Abyss, Lynn, Strong & Evans in PWG, Danny Havoc in CZW
Other News
Torch Indy Weekend Report: Bagwell, Murdock, Dave Taylor, Mahoney, Vito
Interview Highlights: Jesse Ventura announces whether he will run for Senate this year on CNN's Larry King Live tonight (w/Keller Analysis)
Torch Indy Weekend Report: Black over Lynn in AAW, Castagnoli, Delirious in Chikara, Basham, ODB
PPV Reports
KELLER'S WWE GREAT AMERICAN BASH PPV REPORT 7/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
RADICAN'S BLOG OF CONSCIENCE: WWE Great American Bash 7/20
CALDWELL'S WWE GREAT AMERICAN BASH REPORT 7/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
TV Reports
CALDWELL'S ECW TV REPORT 7/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 7/21: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show
CALDWELL'S WWE RAW REPORT 7/21: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live USA Network broadcast
Arena Reports
7/19 TNA in Monroe: Machismo vs. Dutt, Petey vs. Kaz, LAX vs. Guns, Styles vs. Angle, Tomko vs. Christian
7/14 WWE Smackdown in Ashville, N.C.: Michelle McCool & Cherry vs. Victoria & Maryse, Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, Khali vs. Bourne
7/15 TNA Impact tapings in Orlando, Fla.: Victory Road follow-up, Cornette addresses Booker-Joe controversy
MMA / UFC Coverage
Torch MMA Rankings, California's MMA Rules, Vera Makes Claim, Victor Belford, Machida, UFC PPV
Torch coverage of Rampage Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin, plus Brandon Vera Exclusive Interview, more!
UFC News: Dana White reveals major announcement regarding UFC - full story and analysis
KELLER'S TAKE
KELLER: An overhaul is in order for Raw before ratings drop further - several specific suggestions
KELLER: McMahon Returns for That? Nothing Funnier than a DUI! Let Me Shift So You Can Hit Me!
A KELLER SHORT: Should Mr. Kennedy be a babyface; coffee shop eavesdropping
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MITCHELL'S MEMO: A Prayer For The Business - Michaels delivers profound message during Jericho promo
A MITCHELL SHORT: More Important Info Regarding The WWE McMahon Million Dollar Giveaway
MITCHELL: TNA's Grass Roots Approach To House Shows
MCNEILL'S TAKE
Move To The Music: McNEILL previews WWE's Great American Bash!
Fans' Revenge: McNEILL previews TNA Victory Road!
Paul, I Can't Feel My Legs: McNEILL previews Night of Champions!
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CORNER CUBE WEDNESDAY 7/23 - ECW, where have you been all my life?
CORNER CUBE MONDAY 7/21 - Understanding WWE's method to the Cena-JBL madness
CORNER CUBE THURSDAY 7/17 - "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" review: Most-important movie you'll see this year
RADICAN'S TAKE
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/23: McGuinness & Jericho setting standard for heels in 2008
DEJ's Kevin: Covering Pro Wrestling Ohio - The Ladder Match for the Heirloom Swords Part I
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/21: The man who talks poopy and defies fire can’t escape the windshield of doom!
The Specialists
Smackdown Storylines and Feuds - Triple H helps Edge ruin his own wedding, plus a full rundown of the other feuds
7/21 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Opening, Jericho, PPV Follow Up, Santino and Beth
Nostalgia Review: WWF Wrestlefest 1988: Hogan vs. Andre in a Cage; Brown vs. Hart; Rude vs. Roberts; Ultimate Warrior vs. Heenan
Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: The latest TNA PPV is probably a prime example of why I don't buy their PPVs
EDITORIAL: John Cena Needs to Turn Heel - A.S.A.P.
WWE Raw Reax #2: "Why wasn't Triple H a little upset for McMahon throwing Flair out the building?"
Torch Feedback
WWE ECW Reax #1: "Wow, I can't remember the last time I was happy and entertained by ECW."
WWE Raw Reax #2: "For the first time since the Monday Night War era, the WWE is successfully creating unpredictable television on a weekly basis."
WWE Raw Reax #1: "Jericho is easily the most interesting heel either TNA or WWE have had in a long time."
Ask the Editor
Ask the Editor: Wouldn't incorporating MMA-style holds into pro wrestling matches just be trying to be something it's not?
ASK THE EDITOR: Have the Michaels-Batista promos crossed a line with use of insider terms, references to "jobs"?
ASK THE EDITOR: Why do wrestlers in WWE refer to wrestling as "the business" and not "the sport"?
DVDs - VGames - Books
WEEKEND DVD SPOTLIGHT: SHIMMER Vol. 18 (Kong-Busic,Del Rey-MsChif)
RADICAN: Al Snow discusses his wrestling career, philosophy, time in OVW, and more in new interview
DVD Review: ROH "Glory By Honor VI, N2" with Kenta vs. Misawa, 110307
Torch Flashbacks
KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (7-17-08): Cena attacks Taker, plus Benoit, Angle, Eddie, Rhyno, Lesnar, Zach Gowen, Sable
FREE - PWTORCH NEWSLETTER BACK ISSUE (PDF Format): Foley Torch Talk, Kane mess, Cornette compliments, Bret on Montreal
KELLER'S TNA REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (7-16-03): Russo vs. D-Lo main events show, plus Raven, Sabin, Jarrett, Justin, Kaz, Sting
VIP Exclusive Features
VIP East Coast Audio Debut: Travis & Bardre ECW Post-Show Wrap-Up (25 min.)
DEJ Audio Experience: Bash Rundown, Raw Fallout, Sandman Problems, McCarthy, Ryder/Hawkins (80 min.)
7/14 WWF Raw Audio Analysis: Caldwell & Penick discuss Raw, Santino-Beth, Jericho's Greatness (44 min.)
Torch Trivia
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about The Great American Bash?
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about wrestling's vehicular assaults?
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about multiple-man matches?
Torch Instant Polls
POLL: JBL attempting to crush John Cena with a car at the end of Raw was or was not a good idea?
PWTORCH POLL: Who was the MVP of the June 30 episode of WWE Raw? Punk? Batista? Edge? Ross? Jericho?...
POLL: Which person's career was likely hurt the most by being drafted?
PWTorch Free Podcast
FREE PODCAST: Excerpt of "The Audio Experience" with Dusty & Eric (07-17-08)
FREE PWTORCH PODCAST: TNA Victory Road PPV Audio Roundtable with Keller, Mitchell, McNeill
FREE PODCAST: UFC PPV Analysis (Rampage vs. Forrest) in-depth with MMATorch's Shawn Ennis and John Taylor
Annual Obituaries
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 1999 - Muchnick, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Renegade...
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2000 - Solie, Albright, Duncum, Tsuruta, Blue Demon, Al Costello
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart