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Professor Wrestling: MTV Jumps Into Ring

'Wrestling Society X' Makes Its Mark

POSTED: 10:18 pm PST January 31, 2007
UPDATED: 11:59 am PST February 2, 2007

Listen up!

Class is in session.

There's a new show on MTV. It's called "Wrestling Society X," which debuted this past Tuesday night. I caught the debut episode at my Parts Unknown palatial estate (five baths, 15 bedrooms, 78 masks), with Professor Junior at my side. He's 10, and was totally amazed. I'm 46, and really not a target for stuff presented by MTV. But if I had to grade it, I'd give WSX a solid B-plus.

The thing is a half-hour of non-stop action from wrestlers the big two (WWE and TNA) let slip through the cracks. Some of the guys you've heard of, like 6-Pac (Sean Waltman) and Vampiro. Some you may not have heard of: Teddy Hart (Stu Hart's grandson), Ricky Banderas and Human Tornado.

The setup is pretty intimate. The ring is basically in a warehouse/bunker, surrounded by screaming 20-something fans and a rock band. Hey, it is MTV after all. The first season -- slated to run 10 episodes -- was taped last November in California. That's right, first season. This isn't your daddy's wrestling show. It's not an open-ended promotion that has a new episode every week until the end of time (or the end of the promotion). It's for the MTV reality-TV fan, who just might have a half-hour to dedicate to professional tumbling. If the ratings are good, expect a second season. If they tank, you'll probably never see it again. That's life in the new media world.

As for the show, there are a few too many explosions and fake electrocutions for my tastes, but the action was rock-solid. Teddy Hart, for one, is spectacular.

Dr. Mike Lano, a wrestling photographer who has a FANTASTIC (and updated) slideshow in the sidebar in this column, was at the tapings.

"I give it a lot of chances," Lano said. " It's sort of a frenetic style with highspots ... mindblowing stuff ... pretty girls. It's got a real fresh mix. I (just) wish the show was more than a half-hour."

In other words, he loved it.

"This should capture people who are bored with things, and it should kick in the (rear) the WWE and TNA writing teams," Lano added. "This being the third national promotion, I see it as something that will dictate terms and cause a lot of headaches."

Let's hope so. The more competition, the better. While WWE "Raw" has been better in the past few weeks (thanks in large part to Shawn Michaels), Vince McMahon's circus has a tendency to sink into almost-unbearable ruts of rottenness. If another promotion keeps the big boys on their toes, it's fine by me.

Not everyone loves the show, though. Lano, George Schire and yours truly offer a weekly podcast in addition to this column, called "Old School, New School." Schire, God bless him, is an old-school hardliner. But he decided to watch this show, just to give it a fair shake. Uh, kids, he hated it. Gave it a good try, but hated it.

Here's what he had to say:

Professor:

I watched the full half hour! I want that half hour back.

Too much fluff! One high-risk move after another, and no way to even attempt to believe that it was supposed to be real. Why all the gimmicks? Ladders, electrical boxes, thumb tacks -- the list goes on and on.

Where are the ring outfits of a normal wrestler? No trunks, boots, etc. Every wrestler looked like punk-rockers or something from outer space.

It is nothing better or worse than what is being offered by WWE, TNA or ECW. The entire show made no sense to me.

I was totally NOT impressed. It is just another noisy, wild, out-of-control show. It's not for me.

I will go out on the limb, however, and predict the show will get rave reviews. I will also add that if WSX can even chip a little away at Vince's monopoly, I'll be happy.

Will I watch it again? I wouldn't place any money on that happening. You'd lose!

Man, that George Schire guy is great. He doesn't waver one bit on what he likes or doesn't like. A flashy, new MTV show wasn't going to sway him. I have to give him huge props for standing his ground.

Where do you stand on WSX? Did you see it? Did you like it? Hate it? E-mail me RIGHT HERE to give your opinion. In a few weeks, I'll publish the best letters on the subject. As you know, I love it when I have to do less work.

Before we go, a reminder to download THE LATEST EPISODE of our fabulous podcast, "Old School, New School." In Episode 18, Dr. Mike, George and yours truly talk more about WSX, we go thumbs up/thumbs down on The Undertaker, and catch up with Pampero Firpo and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the "Where Are They Now" segment. It's good stuff, kids. Miss it not! Download it RIGHT HERE!

That's it. That's all I have. The column is over. Give WSX a try. It's on MTV Tuesday nights at 10:30 EST. Yes, that means you'll miss the last half-hour of ECW, but what has ECW done lately to keep your business? Thought so.

Now scram!

Class is dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. Got a question, comment, complaint? E-mail him right here. )


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