Greetings.
I’m told that because the WWE has been touring more often in places like Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe, besides North America, Vince McMahon has decreed that he wants the wrestlers, particularly the heels, to do away with politically incorrect nationalistic or ethnic putdowns, which have long been utilized by heels in the WWE and most other wrestling promotions for years, as a means of generating heat.
I’m all for giving peace a chance, as John Lennon used to advocate, but endeavoring to make professional wrestling politically correct is sticking a square peg in a round hole and, in the immortal friends of my old colleague, Rotten Ron Starr, tends to be sanctimonious bullshit.
I shouldn’t even be having to point it out, but in case Vinnie Mac and friends have forgotten, political incorrectness was the basis for the storyline that launched Hulkamania back in the day – when the insidious Iranian – The Iron Sheik was WWE champion during the height of the Iranian hostage crisis and patriotic American superhero, Hulk Hogan rose to the occasion and vanquished him.
The same was the case a few years prior to that, when another American icon, Bruno Sammartino, defeated another villainous Russian champion – Ivan Koloff, or later, when another American hero – Bob Backlund, defeated another Russian heel – Nikolai Volkoff, all of which enabled Americans to be able to wave the flag and glorify the stars and stripes.
By no means has wrestling been the only sport to fan the flames of nationalistic or racial division.
One of the most memorable and glorious triumphs in America history was the improbable triumph of the underdog American hockey team, at the height of the cold war, against the supposedly invincible Russian super team in the 1980 Olympic games. Another equally stirring episode was back in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, when African American track star, Jesse Owens, stirred American souls by winning four gold medals, much to the chagrin of Nazi leader, Adolph Hitler, who had been espousing white supremacy and ultimately using that as one of his pretexts for starting World War II.
Not to digress, but exploiting and capitalizing upon nationalistic conflict or rivalry is the foundation for virtually every type of international sports competition – be it the Olympic Games, the World Cup of Soccer or seemingly benign competitions, such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament or even the contentious Ryder Cup golf competition, which pits the best of Europe against the supposedly ugly Americans.
The same, I might add, has been the case in classic movies, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List, Casablanca as well as countless television shows and even the Bible, which has had ethnic heels, baby faces and all of that.
On a personal note, I can vividly recall the celebrated Canadian Stampede pay per view in the 1990’s, when the Hart Foundation, including my brothers Bret and Owen, my brothers-in-law – Jim Neidhart and Davey Boy Smith and my friend and former tag partner Brian Pillman – who were cast as heels in the States but were beloved in Canada, took on the American Dream team, of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Samrock, Dustin Runnels and the Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal).
The match took place on the fourth of July, but was in Calgary – the home of the Hart Foundation, which had whipped the pro-Canadian crowd into a frenzy. When the Harts won the match, due, I might add, to my interaction with Stone Cold, the twenty thousand or more fans in attendance exploded in jubilation – one of the most viral celebrations I’ve ever seen – which certainly reaffirmed the virtues of capitalizing upon nationalistic conflict.
In summation, it’s not political incorrectness which is causing deteriorating television ratings and lousy attendance at WWE house shows, it’s lame storylines, less than stellar matches and not enough compelling politically incorrect manifestations.
On that politically incorrect note, I’ll call this a wrap but will look forward to catching up with you next time for more candid comments on the wrestling scene.