Definition: Smark - (noun) a phrase coined by Internet wrestling fans to describe a fan who enjoys pro wrestling despite or because they know that it is staged, as well as generally knowing the "ins-and-outs" of the (or "a") company and knowing many things about the industry or wrestlers collected by sources and are posted online. "Smarks" are generally looked down on by wrestlers as well as other wrestling fans for supposed inability to suspend their disbelief. Smarks may also be criticized for believing they know more than they do in reality about the workings of the wrestling industry.
I guess that's me.
I certainly have knowledge of some of the inner workings of professional wrestling on our local level, as well as a speaking acquaintance with more than a few wrestlers who labor in the sparse vineyards that are the working promotions entertaining fans from Tallahassee to New Orleans. I know the difference between a lazy and an all-out performance by a wrestler simply by watching and I can pretty much tell who has been trained to several degrees of separation to a "real" wrestler, and who has been legitimately brought along using more traditional methods under the supervision of seasoned professionals at or above the rank of "Journeyman."
I used this knowledge to write a book - "The Absolute Beginner's guide To Gulf Coast Wrestling" and sold copies of it at local wrestling shows. Though less than stellar in its performance, the book sold out all copies except for the two that were ripped to pieces by disgruntled wrestlers, one of which was flung in my face.
I certainly have knowledge of some of the inner workings of professional wrestling on our local level, as well as a speaking acquaintance with more than a few wrestlers who labor in the sparse vineyards that are the working promotions entertaining fans from Tallahassee to New Orleans. I know the difference between a lazy and an all-out performance by a wrestler simply by watching and I can pretty much tell who has been trained to several degrees of separation to a "real" wrestler, and who has been legitimately brought along using more traditional methods under the supervision of seasoned professionals at or above the rank of "Journeyman."
I used this knowledge to write a book - "The Absolute Beginner's guide To Gulf Coast Wrestling" and sold copies of it at local wrestling shows. Though less than stellar in its performance, the book sold out all copies except for the two that were ripped to pieces by disgruntled wrestlers, one of which was flung in my face.
"Smarks are looked down upon by wrestlers," says the Wiki. Most wrestlers who know me though, know I was simply trying to "put over" local area wrestling with that effort.
Professional wrestling seems to me to be the only performance art in the entertainment world where the artist may feel free to disrespect the patron (person who pays to see them perform) outside the context of the show. This year of 2009, I have seen more juvenile behavior from "professional" wrestlers than at any other time since I have been following the sport. It is as though select people have been trying to redefine "pro wrestler" to be a synonym for "immature, self centered egomaniac with delusions of grandeur."
I hope this effort to denigrate wrestling fails.
I remember Cameron Frost in XW-2000 years ago, coming out to the ring with the energy and enthusiasm of an atomic explosion. His work - the actual execution of a match against an opponent - was close to flawless, even then, some five or more years ago and now - as recently as last week, when he won the Ultimate Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, he seems to have grown impressively in skill, execution and presentation.
Mr. Frost is one on a long list of wrestlers whom I admire as not only professionals, but also as persons. Pretty much every one on that list knows who he or she is. Many of them do or have done things for charity that uplift the whole Gulf Coast area experience for those less fortunate. Others simply conduct themselves in a manner that bespeaks their style, their class, and their status as persons worthy of praise, respect or fandom.
Babyface or "good guy" wrestlers have it easy. All they have to do is look good, act friendly, kiss a few babies, hug a granny or three and stomp a mudhole all over the bad guy. Establishing a babyface identity is more difficult than simply being set against heels in matches. "Goodguydom" is a state of mind that requires being friends with everyone, like 'em or not. Pulling that off is not so easy to some, and a piece of cake to others.
Polynesian Prince, of All Pro Wrestling, comes off as a consummate babyface. He's personable. He's humble. He's from the islands. What's not to love? Truth is, in the short time I have known him, I have grown to respect him - for the talent he has shown so far and the awesome potential he has for the future. Should he ever turn heel, I will boo him louder than anyone. But he still will be a great guy, well worth a word of encouragement when no one is listening but him.
Smark's privilege - to be a fan of a wrestler for his ability to entertain, not just because his story calls for him to be popular.
I have preferences and prejudices where wrestling is concerned.
I intensely dislike "hardcore" matches. Bang a guy on the head once out of sheer heeldom, fine.
The "banger" is a heel and the "bangee" is a victim. I get it. Spend twenty minutes knocking down chairs in the audience, terrorizing little kids and their grannies while throwing trashcans at one another and you lose me. I see it as pointless, and an egregious violation of the trust we fans place in wrestlers "not to cross the line."
Seriously - pay ten bucks to see hooligans whack each other in the head with pie pans? That is so last decade.
Hardcore matches seem more like "Jim Jones kool-aide" than wrestling gospel to me and I find them boring and predictable. Other fans disagree vehemently with that opinion, which may or may not be a minority one. For me, though, if I know there's going to be hard core, I generally don't show up, where my counterparts might drive 50 miles to see one.
I know too many heels.
Death Row scares me to death in the ring. I totally believe he is homicidal when he is wrestling and I feel bad for anyone who enters the ring against him because they are just gonna die.
Bobby Doll and Uncle Jim cheat incessantly.
Brian Cage is an insufferable egomaniac.
Lord Humongous is big and bad.
Chris Tighe is . . . indefinable but a world class heel anyhow (as of the last time I saw him).
These entertainers are successful in their portrayal of "the bad guy."
Not one of them has ever given me grief on a message board or outside an arena.
Why am I a wrestling fan?
Good question.
Wrestling done right and wrestlers doing right entertain me. It is as entertaining to me as the sci-fi books I read or the movies I go to see. I expect a degree of excellence and I afford wrestlers a degree of celebrity in my eyes.
Someone told me recently that my being involved in pro wrestling (presumably as a fan because I do not wrestle) "makes me a target."
This seeming truism has been illustrated by behavior coming from the recently disenfranchised GAWF and its odd-duck spokesperson Steve Goins. And apparently unsatisfied with simple Christmas wishes, an incredibly lame display of assholeism coming from Brandon Blevins formerly known as Steve Cheetum, a ho-hum "retired" wrestler of limited imagination, bitter feelings toward wrestling and a house trailer vocabulary complete with 4th grade spelling.
What is sad is the shadow these and other "message board heels" cast on legitimate wrestlers and their legitimate on-line work.
I think it's getting close to time for real pro wrestlers in our area to start weeding out the fools. Bookers can do this by simply not booking wrestlers who don't have their act together - whether or not they work for free.
Promoters can instruct bookers that undesirable wrestlers be not booked.
Let's put "professional" and "wrestler" back together to form a proper noun that means something.
Who should decide who gets blackballed for poor behavior?
Wrestlers should.
Fans already do by avoiding shows featuring wrestlers they do not like.
Message board moderators make their own rules. Deleting messages that are sophomoric or stupid is just part of the job. Fans should avoid message boards they do not like and support boards that they do.
In my opinion, everyone should support the Gulf Coast Wrestling Reunion. Even if you're not allowed to attend (it's for workers and not fans).
Lastly, why am I a wrestling fan, considering what people put me through?
I'll have to get back to you on that one. I am still thinking it through.
