Post by Jackie Lee on Jun 23, 2002 18:10:50 GMT -6
The Jaguar's Claws[/size][/color]
Welcome once again, to my column in GZW Hotwire magazine addressing the issues in wrestling today. I’m Jackie Lee, the first HKWF Hong Kong Champion, and colour commentator for GZW. As you know, this column is no holds barred, no nonsense, and the claws will definitely be out!
This week's topic: veterans returning to the ring. This is quite a phenomenon in professional wrestling, and happens a lot. And I know I'll have to acknowledge that I did it, before I get slated for writing about this. I did indeed return to the ring, but I'll cover that a little later on in this article.
I think returning to the ring is a big mistake. You'll never be as good as you once were, and will damage your legacy. When I wrestled against Albert Wuchie, that was constantly in the back of my mind, and I feared that I'd get mocked and slated by the wrestling world. The same must have gone through Chris Sharp's, Sebastian Covenant's and all the other guy's minds when they returned to the ring.
In my opinion, Chris Sharp in his prime would beat the Justin Sharp of now. But Chris was not in him prime when he took on Justin, and it showed. It was a damned shame, because I'd have loved to have seen Chris beat that little punk. Instead, we saw the harrowing occurances that ended up with Chris being paralysed, maybe permanently. The truth of the matter is that as one gets older, you're not as indestructable as you were when you were young. Sure, guys like Symon and Kid Kaos can throw their bodies around all day, and recooperate at the drop of the hat. But guys like Chris and me, they body just isn't as resilient! After my matches with Albert, I was stiff as a board and aching for days afterwards. And Chris, well he paid a high, high price for risking his body.
Of course, there's always an exception to rules. Sebastian Covenant returned to the ring, and took the HKWF heavyweight title away from Monarch. An amazing achievement for anyone, let alone a man well into his fifties! Covenant gained glory, prestige and the cheers of the fans on his return, and there's no doubting that. However, he cannot deny that he was not as good as he once was. It is a testament to his ability that he was still good enough to beat Monarch, but deep down, he must have known that he wasn't putting on as good a performance as he once did.
For me, returning to the ring was a hell of a buzz, and I can't deny that it was great to briefly reminise about my glory days. Nostalgia is a dangerous thing if you let it control you. It was great to go out there dressed in wrestling gear instead of a suit. The crowd watching you, and cheering or booing for your actions in the ring really is a buzz. And I don't deny that a wrestlers fans are still their fans once they retire, but I do feel that I wasn't the man I once was in the ring. I was slower than I used to be, and was damned lucky to beat a young man like Albert, but I cannot describe the buzz! It's more addictive than any drug...
I realise that after my recent actions, this is hypocrisy, but a world without hypocrisy would be a very prudish, paranoid and boring place. I'm gonna put my neck on the line here, and say I think it's a bad thing for veterans to return to the ring. Basking in former glory and riding a reputation are the actions of men who can't live in the present. And I guess so is commentating on something you used to do is as well.
Well that’s it for the Jaguar’s Claws this week, so until next time: Sayonara!
Welcome once again, to my column in GZW Hotwire magazine addressing the issues in wrestling today. I’m Jackie Lee, the first HKWF Hong Kong Champion, and colour commentator for GZW. As you know, this column is no holds barred, no nonsense, and the claws will definitely be out!
This week's topic: veterans returning to the ring. This is quite a phenomenon in professional wrestling, and happens a lot. And I know I'll have to acknowledge that I did it, before I get slated for writing about this. I did indeed return to the ring, but I'll cover that a little later on in this article.
I think returning to the ring is a big mistake. You'll never be as good as you once were, and will damage your legacy. When I wrestled against Albert Wuchie, that was constantly in the back of my mind, and I feared that I'd get mocked and slated by the wrestling world. The same must have gone through Chris Sharp's, Sebastian Covenant's and all the other guy's minds when they returned to the ring.
In my opinion, Chris Sharp in his prime would beat the Justin Sharp of now. But Chris was not in him prime when he took on Justin, and it showed. It was a damned shame, because I'd have loved to have seen Chris beat that little punk. Instead, we saw the harrowing occurances that ended up with Chris being paralysed, maybe permanently. The truth of the matter is that as one gets older, you're not as indestructable as you were when you were young. Sure, guys like Symon and Kid Kaos can throw their bodies around all day, and recooperate at the drop of the hat. But guys like Chris and me, they body just isn't as resilient! After my matches with Albert, I was stiff as a board and aching for days afterwards. And Chris, well he paid a high, high price for risking his body.
Of course, there's always an exception to rules. Sebastian Covenant returned to the ring, and took the HKWF heavyweight title away from Monarch. An amazing achievement for anyone, let alone a man well into his fifties! Covenant gained glory, prestige and the cheers of the fans on his return, and there's no doubting that. However, he cannot deny that he was not as good as he once was. It is a testament to his ability that he was still good enough to beat Monarch, but deep down, he must have known that he wasn't putting on as good a performance as he once did.
For me, returning to the ring was a hell of a buzz, and I can't deny that it was great to briefly reminise about my glory days. Nostalgia is a dangerous thing if you let it control you. It was great to go out there dressed in wrestling gear instead of a suit. The crowd watching you, and cheering or booing for your actions in the ring really is a buzz. And I don't deny that a wrestlers fans are still their fans once they retire, but I do feel that I wasn't the man I once was in the ring. I was slower than I used to be, and was damned lucky to beat a young man like Albert, but I cannot describe the buzz! It's more addictive than any drug...
I realise that after my recent actions, this is hypocrisy, but a world without hypocrisy would be a very prudish, paranoid and boring place. I'm gonna put my neck on the line here, and say I think it's a bad thing for veterans to return to the ring. Basking in former glory and riding a reputation are the actions of men who can't live in the present. And I guess so is commentating on something you used to do is as well.
Well that’s it for the Jaguar’s Claws this week, so until next time: Sayonara!
