McPinions
By: Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey

Today's topic, which I think is very important, is fan interaction with wrestlers at shows. Whether you cheer, jeer, curse, praise or bring signs at a show, that's all great. One thing that I see rapidly increasing, and don't know why security isn't preventing it, are fans throwing garbage/ice/beer/paper at wrestlers.

I think tracing the roots of throwing garbage and nonsense at the ring started and was accepted at ECW shows for a time being. I can specifically remembering fans throwing steel chairs into the ring for the wrestlers to use. It even morphed into Styrofoam heads being thrown into the ring toward the end of Al Snow's tenure with the company. Security allowed it, and the wrestlers encouraged it. I can also remember numerous matches where soda or beer was thrown at the wrestlers, and security was very lax about it. ECW wasn't drawing a national audience, but WCW was, and when fans saw what was going on in ECW, fan interaction became more dangerous at WCW shows.

Without going too deep into it, I can remember many NITROS that ended in soda/beer/paper/paint cans and whatever else you can think of, thrown into the ring at the n W o. Security would try to prevent it, but rarely was it stopped for a good 5 months. WCW at the time wouldn't admit to encouraging it or even allowing it, but you knew that they weren't too bothered by it for a while, or else it would've stopped when it started.

Now you can say, how come he's making a big stink about it, WCW sucked for the most part anyway, so throwing garbage was a fan's way of disapproval. Not true. A fan's way of disapproval is not going to live shows or buying their merchandise or watching their show. By throwing stuff at the ring, I'd say about 50% never makes it, and hits a 40 year old mom taking her 2 young sons to wrestling for the first time. I'd say it also hits the elderly man, who started watching wrestling when Antonio Rocca and Lou Thesz were world class competitors, and wanted to see wrestling live again. By throwing stuff at the ring, it gives an impression that all wrestling fans are barbaric ignoramuses.

What got me started on this column was the recent behavior at JCW in Paramus, NJ on March 9th, and the last few USA Pro Shows that I've attended. Starting with JCW, for those not in the know, JCW draws anywhere from 100-400 fans based on who's there. It's more of a family wrestling show, as there aren't too many things that are racy. JCW has good wrestlers, who wrestle, and the story lines flow nicely and it's easy to follow if you missed a show. At this particular show, which had no metal or even string guardrail, about midway through the card, Josh Daniels and Reckless Youth were booked to fight Ace Darling and Inferno. Being the heels, Darling/Inferno were introduced first. Of course some fans were booing Darling/Inferno for their past "devious deeds," but one fan took it too far. There was a stupid man there, who should be used as a poster boy for contraceptives, who pegged Ace Darling in the back of the head with a cup full of ice. If you've never seen Ace Darling, he's about 6'0 and 225 lbs and is very muscular and has a big frame. He's also a great wrestler, but I'm digressing. Anyway the cup of ice hits Darling, and I thought Darling was going to rip this guys head off, but thankfully Darling conducted himself like a true pro, and didn't lay the guy out. Luckily Darling wasn't hurt, because a cup of hard ice could do damage, and if he turned around, it could've hit him in the eye. My problem with the situation, along with this waste of life, was that Ace Darling asked for security to eject the guy out of the building. Security just talked to him, and this guy was allowed to stay, with his friend, and curse their heads off for the rest of the show. With little kids in the audience, as a parent, would you want to go back to this promotion? Not being a parent I'm just assuming you wouldn't, because the message sent is, if you throw things, you'll just get a warning and be allowed to run your mouth for the rest of the show. I don't think JCW was expecting this, so it's not fair to blame JCW for this, but I'm sure they have a plan set up for the future, in case something like this happens again.

Moving on to the 2nd part of this feature, USA Pro has blatantly encouraged throwing things at the wrestlers. Knowing I was doing a feature on this for this newsletter, I counted during the DRS vs SAT match, 17 cups landed at ringside area (which doesn't count cups thrown that didn't even make it to the ring), plus the amounts of paper which I couldn't keep track of. The Elks is bigger venue than most indy shows, so cups won't always make it to the ring, ala WCW. In fact, I saw a 14-15 year old kid, sitting in the front, drenched in beer. He didn't look so happy. I'm sure when he comes home, after the show, his parents will be thrilled that he smells like stale Miller Lite. Secondly, what if one of the wrestlers got hurt? Most indy wrestlers are wrestling for the love of the game, and are already risking their health in the ring by wrestling. They don't need to be injured by some freak accident with garbage being thrown. Some fans really need to be smartened up, because if the wrestlers were allowed to whoop your ass by the promoter, and there was no fear of an assault lawsuit (cause you know the waste of sperm fan would sue, and win) they would do so in a drop of a hat.

Back to the USA show though, every heel had something thrown at him. Some heels even encouraged it. Whether it be paper or a drink, it needs to stop. By allowing paper or drinks to be thrown, it will eventually escalate into something else being thrown. Hell, just this past week of this writing, (March 11) an indy wrestler was shot by a fan at a show. Some fans will realize that paper/drinks aren't affecting the wrestler and may start to throw other things such as batteries, like in the WCW days. This is to every promotion, not just USA, but it seems that USA has the most garbage to clean up at the end of the night - Toughen Security and make an announcement barring debris from being thrown into the ring with the consequences being permanent ejection and banning. I'm surprised the New York State Athletic Commission hasn't said anything yet, about the fans behavior and security at some recent USA shows.

To sum it up, I go to many shows a month. At least one show has some moron throwing something. My message to get across to you, the reader is, next time someone throws something whether it be WWE, ROH, USA, JAP, JCW, SSCW etc, stand up and point the person out and ask security to have him removed. Make a stand against people that insult wrestling fans by doing something so stupid. Wrestling fans aren't thought to be the smartest people on the earth nor the safest, but why not try to make a difference? After all, it could save that 14-15 year old kid who has to explain to his parents why he reeks of beer.

-Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
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