This second of four conversations from CSR this weekend is talking about the controversy that broke out from the Ricochet vs Will Ospreay match in New Japan Pro Wrestling. The match caused Vader to speak out against it and the negative he feels its having on the business. Since the, fans and wrestlers have all flocked to social media debating the issue.
CSR’s Justin LaBar wrote a column on Friday about this topic, here’s an excerpt:
Ricochet versus Ospreay told a story best suited for their audience. I admit though that their match and other matches have a higher rate at putting the valuable art of selling at risk.
The art of selling is a major foundation on which pro wrestling is built. The match results are predetermined, but they have to make the audience believe in the physicality taking place. They have to sell the consequence and aftermath of each move.
The moment you stop selling is the moment everything becomes a trampoline exhibition of gymnastics. The art of selling is the glue holding all of the movement together to tell the story.
Ricochet and Ospreay did sell, quite well, at points of the match. On the flip side, there were also points of the match where suspension of disbelief was higher than normal.
The biggest example is in the 14-minute mark when Ricochet drops Ospreay on his neck with a Death Valley Driver on the apron and Ospreay instantly pops up and head scissors Ricochet to the floor. Now, they end up selling and laying on the floor before almost being counted out. But are we supposed to believe that Death Valley Driver actually meant anything if Ospreay was able to get off one spectacular counter immediately before selling the effects of it?
They sold and it worked in the context of this match and show. But what angers some of their peers, especially some veterans who come from generations before, is that this can be perceived as harmful to others who don’t work this style. If you watch this match and then watch another match that has a Death Valley Driver, the credibility of that move and the performer is potentially gone.
Matches with a high count of offense, countering and comebacks begin to set a ridiculous bar for fans who compare a Ricochet versus Ospreay match to let’s say a Roman Reigns or John Cena match.
If you watch Ricochet versus Ospreay and see what couldn’t keep each guy down and then watch a Cena match, at what point does the opponent have to pull out a gun and shoot Cena in order to keep him down? Dramatic example, I know, but the point remains.
It’s the same struggles with hardcore wrestling dating to the days of ECW. The audience sees a guy crash through one table. After a while, they want to see two tables. Then it’s two tables on fire. Then two tables wrapped in barbed wire on fire. Where does it end?
It’s the wonderful and dangerous potentials of scripted theatrics.
CLICK HERE to read the full column.
Professional wrestler Ronnell Hunt joins LaBar on this segment to debate the topic of what this kind of match does for the pro wrestling business. Watch below:
