Formats always need to evolve or die, and Cornette has attached
himself to a romanticized “old school” mentality towards the business, with its
roots firmly placed in the “carny” culture of years gone by. When the carnival
came to town, wrestlers would put on matches and “work” the “marks”, convincing
them it was real while maximizing profits. He mentions this mentality often in
the piece, thinking old carny strategies are the way to go to keep profits up
today.
But look, it’s 2009. And in the age of instant
communication, online “tribes”, Twitter, Facebook and blogging, everyone has a
platform (coming from me, the irony here is staggering), and almost all
information is open and available. And like many businesses in this era, in this
economy, you evolve or become extinct. So for all his accomplishments, Mr.
Cornette does not understand that his audience has become smarter, and demands
something that professional wrestling simply isn’t giving them in this day and
age. That’s why they’re leaving: not because they got burned out on the violence
in the matches, but because they got burned out on the same old, stale ideas. If
you insist on still “working” the audience like an old school carny who gives
them no credit (futile as it may be), you should at least start by understanding
who your audience is.
Don’t believe me? Check out this excerpt:
“Additionally, just who is it that ENJOYS this sideshow garbage? The same type
of people who go to rock concerts to punch and bash each other in the face and
beat each other up in the “mosh pit”–lower class, mentally challenged
college-age (but not attending) guys who piss and moan about their depression
and lot in life because they have neither the drive and determination nor mental
acumen to change it. Any normal fans who see this type of show or attend one
with these type of fans NEVER want to go to wrestling again.”
The entire story gets our highest
recommendation.
Wrestling News 
