RADICAN'S TAKE RADICAN: Response to reader reax to Ladder War at ROH's Man Up PPV Jan 19, 2008 - 9:11:36 AM

CLICK FOR BIO

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

|

In response to John Cudo’s reader reax:

“Radican gave this match Five Stars, which is a high and rare rating for a match and puts it in contention for Match of the Year. However, if this match featured the type of dangerous chairshots and violence that is (rightfully) being condemned by viewers, readers, and many in the wrestling business, then why is it being rewarded and not penalized? I believe that a responsible review of this would not reward the behavior, rather punish it. “Hopefully a match like this never takes place again…” and “five stars” does seem mutually exclusive for a match review. If this match were indeed close to five stars with this level of violence, then a responsible review would deduct from it’s rating….not add to it.”

I don’t think this is a black and white issue. I’ll start with the match itself. The match was incredible and deserving of a five star rating. It was the best ladder match I’ve ever seen. It also ended one of the best feuds of the year that began all the way back in February. The feud featured two teams in a highly competitive rivalry over the ROH World Tag Team Titles and the Ladder War was the perfect ending to the feud between the Briscoes and Steen & Generico.

“Many wrestlers rightfully strive to be the best and reach notoriety for their skills and match quality. What message does this send to them? Where is the line? If the match is really close to greatness, does that stiff chairshot make it five stars? Is it okay just this once? Those questionable choices are not available in most sports and reviews like this make the acceptable level of violence a moving target that is impossible to gage.”

”Just to clarify, the stiff chairshots were not the problem in this match. Plastic chairs were used. That’s a big difference from steel chairs, but if you had mentioned the numerous high-risk chances both teams took during the Ladder War, I’m right there with you. I think part of the problem is that the rating system for matches is flawed. After the Benoit family tragedy, the star rating system needs to be reexamined. I think there needs to be provisions made for matches of this genre.

It’s really tough to grade a Ladder match or a hardcore match, because some of the risks are simply not worth the reward. I don’t think it’s up to the reviewers to send a message to the wrestlers by giving their matches lower ratings if they are too risky. I believe it’s up to those in power in each wrestling promotion to make the appropriate changes to ensure the health and safety of the wrestlers on their roster.

I think as a reviewer, it is my responsibility to mention that I’d rather not see these types of matches take place, as the entertainment value the Ladder War delivered wasn’t worth the risks taken by the four men involved in the match. As I stated before, part of the problem is the flaws in the star rating system that don’t account for matches of this type. The other part of the problem is the promoters willing to put matches of this type on despite the high-risk involved.

I think WWE has really toned down on this high-risk stuff. ROH has taken steps recently to protect wrestlers with head injuries. The thing that disturbs me the most is turning on TNA and seeing Abyss take several unprotected chairshot to the head on Impact. That is just a true sign of ignorance from a wrestling promotion.

“If you as a fan have true interest to clean up the unneeded violence, serious health issues, and tragic losses in the wrestling world, a good start would be to reject this dangerous behavior, not to embrace it.”

Like I said in my review of the match, I never want to see anything like the Ladder War ever again. I truly meant what I wrote. There are safer ways to produce matches of this genre and wrestling promoters need to ensure that the wrestlers participating in those matches work within a set of guidelines that enables the wrestlers to still put on an entertaining match while at the same time avoiding the unnecessary high-risk maneuvers during the course of the match.

I never want to see a wrestler lifted upside down and put through a ladder on a bridge again. I never want to see a wrestler take an unprotected chair shot to the back or front of the head again. I could go on and on about what I don’t want to see, but I feel it’s most important that wrestling promoters educate themselves about the dangers of blunt head trauma.

Wrestlers also need to change their attitudes. I’ve heard many wrestlers talk about being tough and gutting it out after sustaining injuries to the head. That kind of talk needs to end. Wrestling is a dangerous sport to begin with, but it doesn’t need to be recklessly violent to be entertaining.

Everyone needs to adapt to the lessons learned from the Benoit tragedy in 2007. Columnists need to find a way to better rate the matches from this genre. Promoters need to avoid putting their talent in high-risk situations. There’s always a safer way to entertain wrestling fans than by putting on a lengthy spectacle match that features needlessly reckless risks. I hope everyone adapts in 2008.

Email Sean Radican.

Comment on this Article Below

(CLICK FOR COMMENTS RULES OR TO REPORT ABUSE) [an error occurred while processing this directive]

(CLICK FOR COMMENTS RULES OR TO REPORT ABUSE)

ALSO DISCUSS MORE SUBJECTS IN OUR PWTORCH FREE FORUM

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA!
VISIT OUR AFFILIATE - PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC NEWS & BLOGS:
VISIT OUR SISTER SITE - MMATORCH.COM

Upgrade to PWTORCH VIP: DETAILS & SIGN-UP INFO

(c) 1999-2009 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.