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Joe Babinsack talks Jeff Jarrett's announcement

Posted: Apr 4th 2014 By: Joe Babinsack

WrestleMania is nearly upon us, but the WWE doesn't need me to sell their "Superbowl".

What intrigues me next week is the possibility that a big name gets involved in the industry, one with history, experience and deep pockets.

Some of that history is the same that lead us to TNA: which once boasted of a Kings of Wrestling (not the Hero/Castagnoli version) that was a bit disconcerting, and which did lead to drama, Dixie Carter and Vince Russo.

So I?m a little less exuberant about Jeff Jarrett, but intrigued nonetheless.

I?m intrigued because Jarrett has the background, the experience and the tie to Toby Keith that could make his endeavor more meaningful than most. I?m intrigued because if Jarrett is in, he could be motivated to be successful. He must be motivated, because the landscape already has a few promotions in existence already that are either going through the motions, pretending to be what they are not, and then another layer of solid but relatively unknowns that can?t seem to get the traction, can?t get anywhere near the notice, of a fan base that is so unlike the 1990?s that it is frightening.

The landscape of professional wrestling is scary because we?re living in an industry that is so used to the monolithic WWE, for a decade and a half, that all other wrestling is illegitimate in the eyes of the mainstream fans.There are so many aspects about a professional wrestling promotion that the best intents and an excellence in one or two aspects cannot spell success.
Having a strong cable TV station doesn?t guarantee success (ask TNA).

Having a roster of excellence doesn?t guarantee mainstream attention (ask ROH).

Having a mix of creativity and passion hasn?t attracted bigger audiences (ask CHIKARA).

To me, the one thing a promotion needs in this day, is something different in its approach.

Credibility is a joke in professional wrestling, because credibility was one of the first victims of Vincent K. McMahon, and credibility isn?t even a zombie in this modern era.

Brock Lesnar could provide it, but who?s really thinking that he?d break the vaunted Streak?

It?s hard to talk credibility because too many fans have no conception of it. I claim some understanding of it, because of my talks with Bruno Sammartino, and without spelling out his levels of disgust or criticisms or annoyances, I?ve learned from his mastery.

Professional wrestling is a performance, but it requires layers beyond just what goes on in the ring. In Old School lingo, that concept of kayfabe was so important, obviously because the practitioners of this form of ?magic? wanted to guard their secret.

But above that, there was a definite sense of approaching the fundamental concept of professional wrestling with a respect that just doesn?t seem to matter anymore. That lack of respect is so telling at every point of interaction, from the talent that won?t play along with the charade, from this generation of fans that never truly participated in it, from the support cast that themselves sneer at things, and worst of all, those so-called creative types that just don?t get it.

Professional wrestling these days is a TV show.

It?s all about filling time, playing with a static roster, running away from sports and credibility and pretending to be professional wrestling, when far too many decision makers don?t get it.
There?s more to be said, more to rant about, but at the same time, my intent was to suggest some ?draft picks? for a Jeff Jarrett promotion. I wanted to go all ESPN with this, with the grades that would annoy many (ala Bill Polian), with the selections much like an expansion team (no more than 2 from any promotion, pretending that they are established teams), and with an eye to building a solid roster.

But that?s the mentality of a modern day approach to the sport, even if I approach it from sports references.

Putting together a strong cast of talent isn?t a guarantee of success. If it was, then ROH would have made waves years ago, instead of seeing so many of its talent make waves in bigger oceans. Putting together a strong cast of talent didn?t do all that much for the NWA in the 1980?s. WCW had an extremely strong cast of talent in the mid to late 1990?s, and that exploded/imploded because and then because of it.

I?ve said for years that TNA in the mid to late 00?s had probably the best assemblage of former Champions, recent Champions and acclaimed talents. And where did that get TNA?

The problem with professional wrestling is that the modern version is way too static (despite the piles and piles of names that never had a chance, barely got a chance and failed in their chances despite their best efforts). The problem is that professional wrestling is built on ridiculous notions of parity, and too many faces all at the same level, and an amazingly short-sighted notion that talent gets their turn.

But then again, no one really gets their turn, and despite the negative (how can I work the planet ?Qward? into this) booking that sees Daniel Bryan succeed despite having every opposite-professional wrestling-common sense notion being involved, I?m not sure if any fan actually thinks Bryan gets any longevity in any potential Championship run.

So, to cut short my ?Draft? picks, here?s a list of guy?s I?d want to put on my roster. The almost all of these could be a centerpiece to a new promotion, with the right opponents, the proper booking and allowing them to run with their talents, attitude or look.

Uhaa Nation, Samoa Joe, Chuck Taylor, Michael Elgin, Dolph Ziggler, Zack Ryder, Michael Bennett, AR Fox, YAMATO, Kota Ibushi.

Sure, there are role players I?d suggest, guys like Jimmy Jacobs or Roderick Strong or even crazy ones like Marion Fontaine or sentimental favorites like Gregory Irons.

By the way, I list Zack Ryder because I know he would make the most of any opportunity.
I also list some top notch smaller Japanese guys for building a lighter weight Champion (throw in Ricochet and Johnny Gargano as well), and I absolutely avoided the nonsense of suggesting top New Japan names, because that ain?t going to happen.

But who could be a top pick, if I were choosing someone to build a promotion around?

Sting

Long-term, foolish. Short-term he could be someone that could get some mainstream recognition. Obviously the problem with Sting is that he?s more likely to cash in a more sure check from the WWE and go out with their good graces. The other problem is that he didn?t do much for TNA, and he basically put over Magnus to the chirping sounds of crickets.

Kurt Angle

Kurt is still one of the best on most of the days, and by most scuttlebutt, probably has the ties to Jarrett to land a top role. Angle remains great, but also has that scary side of his career that should not be ignored. Angle would be a better choice than Sting, since he has that elusive ?credibility? and his size allows a lot more interaction with whomever would be a long term focus.

Takeshi Morishima

I?ve always been a fan of the big, ole Terry Gordy lookalike from Japan, and Morishima has a definite size and different approach that would set him apart. He could be a monster heel that launches another Champion with a short term or long term run. Size and ability gives him ?credibility? and the big positive is that he is not a mainstream name, he does have the legacy of his Ring of Honor run to get the smart crowd behind him, and would likely have the motivation necessary to make a splash.

La Sombra

Rey Mysterio is just not on my list. Sorry. But there are a lot of talented Luchadores, with La Sombra being Dave Meltzer?s favorite, and rightly so with his talent, potential and ? well, size. Tying into the Hispanic market and that cultural affinity for professional wrestling is quite important. Having a guy who can be acrobatic, have a distinctly different style and has big match experience are all big plusses.

CM Punk

My initial take on Punk was no way. Too much of a mainstream figure, too far removed from his ROH days, but after further review, if Punk wants it, he would be motivated. Could he be gotten at a price that would be meaningful to both sides? That?s the big question. His style is too much of the same, but his resonance with the WWE as the undercurrent of fan discontent (whether or not something big happens with Bryan) could get the attention of a percentage of the WWE Universe, which would make him more valuable than most other options.