wrestling / Columns

You Belong to the City: How Cities Affect Professional Wrestling

November 10, 2014 | Posted by Len Archibald

One of the more spectacular elements about professional wrestling that sets it apart from other artforms are the fans of wrestling themselves. We fans are rabid, loud, cynical, encouraging and incorrigible at the same time. These traits evolve and are bolstered on different levels depending on the city. Witnessing a wrestling show from Toronto is different from a show that emanates from Boston, which is wildly different from Chicago, which is another animal compared to New York, Tokyo or London. Fans are known as “smart hotbeds” or “mark hotbeds” and their vigor can essentially make or break a show or a performer. These fans share common elements of those who carry pride in their sports teams – obsessive to a fault to their heroes and demanding to the point of near insanity to those who do not meet their lofty standards.

As a wrestling fan born and raised in Toronto, I have witnessed – and participated – in my fair share of this ultra-excessive fandom. During the height of Hulkamania I booed my childhood ass off at “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff with 70,000 others at the audacity he had to steal Hulk Hogan’s entrance music at The Big Event in 1986. I lost my damn mind when Hogan entered Exhibition Stadium to exact his revenge on the man who betrayed him. Four years later I would embrace this temporary insanity with 67,000 at SkyDome and never sat down to witness the Ultimate Challenge between Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI. Fast forward twelve more years into the future when I was a part of a sea of those at the same venue who would welcome Hogan back with open arms and a hero’s welcome as he went face to face with The Rock at WrestleMania X-8 – who would be soundly booed of the arena.

Entire cities can change the perception of the industry or a performer to outside fans or even the promotion itself based on their participatory reactions. Some fans scoff at the notion of others who “try to get themselves over” instead of organically being part of the show. I am of the belief that a paying fan has the right to express him or herself independently. It is only when they express themselves in a manner that encroaches and interferes with the enjoyment of the show away from others is when I roll my eyes. But there are atmospheres and “characters” that can’t be denied and who are just as part of the show or the overall spectacle of that fanbase as anything else. Philadelphia’s “Hat Guy” became a staple of ECW shows until its demise. The gentleman whom I can only refer to as “Brock Lesnar’s Biggest Fan” has been at the front row of several of WWE’s major shows with an enthusiasm that is infectious. These are individuals who actually add to the enjoyment of a live event – put these like-minded fans together on a large scale and you get something akin to the RAW the night after WrestleMania 28, where “YES” signs seemingly flooded the arena and “YES” chants became so undeniable that John Cena himself had to acknowledge it.

There are a few things I attempt to point out to friends of mine who are either not interested in professional wrestling or mock me for my fandom to explain to them why I am in love with the artform. For those who scoff at wrestling’s choreographed nature, I highlight Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard, Mick Foley vs. The Undertaker or Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena. When my fandom is derided because of pro wrestling’s seemingly lack of emotional content, I present The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage or The Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs. The best way I have learned to “convert” my more intellectually-minded and existentialist friends onto the spectacle of wrestling is to bring them to the spectacle itself. Going to a live wrestling show can awaken a reverence within oneself, with the arena serving as a temple and its fans a loyal congregation that manifests emotion through noise. We call it a “pop”. Some cities tend to “pop” for specific characteristics of wrestling more than others.

The two WrestleManias I attended in Toronto were both near-religious experiences for me – and I do not consider myself a religious person. Being part of a sea of humanity to witness combatants and cheer – or boo them may seem superficial on the surface, but when you add in the story of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object for The Ultimate Challenge that placed Hulk Hogan against The Ultimate Warrior, there is a tangible and collective energy that cannot be denied. As much as I enjoyed my time at The Big Event in 1986, it wasn’t until I witnessed WrestleMania and all the hoopla surrounding it did I realize just how grand this artform is. Toronto has always been known as one of the anomalies of the professional wrestling world – “Bizzaroland” for some – as we boisterously cheer and boo who we feel deserves it. I don’t consider Toronto so much a “smarky” city – we are passionate, independent fans. Living in a hub of four million people, most clearly in touch with our past heritage but all aware of our fierce “Canadian-ness” I feel gives us Torontonians a perspective of the human spirit that baffles some mainstream wrestling commentators.

I was gleefully and willingly part of that crowd that welcomed Hulk Hogan back to WWE at WrestleMania X-8. There was no hidden motive or agenda to boo The Rock, or any attempts to “hijack” or be different for the sake of being different. The first time at SkyDome we witnessed the most popular professional wrestler at the time (of all time?) – LOSE and see a new road paved in the pro wrestling world. He hasn’t been where he was made a superstar in nine years and on top of that he returns to face the newly crowned biggest box office draw of all time. When Hogan was WWF Champion in 1990, he was still considered the closest to a breathing superhero the world had. He was a hero when he walked down as champion at WrestleMania. On the other side with a momentum and energy the business had never seen before is The Ultimate Warrior, who brought fans to the edge of a joyous riot when he became Intercontinental Champion defeating the Honky Tonk Man. This was a collision in the making; and no sides could be taken. We cheered for EVERYTHING during that match but didn’t want to see either lose.

Our outlook had shifted in a post-9/11 world. The world had experienced a devastating loss that crushed us. I always found it strange that the first WrestleMania after the tragedy would take place outside the United States. There was a global scale of fans in attendance, all together to bring the noise to say we have not gone away. From where I stood as I lost my voice helping to give Hogan one of the most impressive reactions he ever received as he “Hulked Up” against The Rock, I considered that we at SkyDome brought a hero back to life to display our power against those who wanted to bring death. The boos The Rock received was deafening, but The Rock respect had been earned. Yes, Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan would have brought box office as well, but there was a more palpable mainstream appeal to The Largest Arms in the World facing off with The Brahma Bull. In the confines of the Icon vs. Icon match, we as fans were able to simplify the breakdown of the match so a five year old could understand it through our reactions. The performers acted accordingly. In terms of the spectacle of wrestling meshing with the simplest story of a professional wrestling match – the cocky upstart vs. the grizzled veteran – our vocalized passion turned Rock vs. Hogan into as close to a “pure” catch-as-catch style of a match you could find. Everything was clearly outlined from the opening bass of the New World Order entrance music. Hogan was the returning, conquering hero. The Rock had ascended to the throne in the veteran’s absence and now we had a clash of the titans to see who really was the greatest of all time.

But we saw Hogan LOSE the last time he was here. There was a lot of returning fans from T-Dot who came to SkyDome to see him WIN. Our support was not going to go unnoticed. We were not going quietly into the night. Hogan was our “rage, rage against the dying of the light.” We conserved our energy. Edge is a hometown boy, but we couldn’t possibly give him everything we had against Booker T. Imagine how hometown diva Trish Stratus had to feel as the one tasked to wake the crowd back up after we tore the place apart. 67,000 Hulkamaniacs exhausted so much energy that we could only politely ignore a technically decent World Championship match between Triple H and Chris Jericho (and Stephanie McMahon.)

I have never been to Texas; but if I ever get a chance, I want to be there when a major show arrives. Dallas will host WrestleMania 32 and if those fans bring the heat like they had in the past, we will be in for a treat. Dallas – and Texas as a whole is known for their uber-passionate fans, known to bring moments to near riotous climaxes to matches. Fans were absolutely RABID for The Von Erich family and were united in their absolute hatred for The Freebirds. The big state is a first-ballot lineup from the Hall of Fame: Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, The Von Erichs, Dusty Rhodes, Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, Terry Funk and many more calls Texas their home.

Most consider WrestleMania X-7 to be the greatest pro wrestling show of all time. I can’t even begin to fathom what it would have been like to be there in person. To engage in what may be the loudest cheer of all time for Stone Cold’s entrance as he went to battle for the second time to meet The Rock. Austin was their guy. He had to prove he was still the best and display why he made more Money in WWE’s most important era than any other superstar in history. The Rock had become his equal and in some ways was on the fast track to surpassing the Texas Rattlesnake. A true clash of the best. Through WWE’s current output of new main eventers, we may never see the company at a point where there is a legitimate 1A and 1B star ever again. The Rock was once again literally drowning in an sea of boos that would make the Red Sea happy. The atmosphere was truly what could be considered a fever pitch.

The Attitude Era had reached its zenith with the meeting of its two biggest stars as total equals. On top of that, the Monday Night Wars had just ended THE WEEK BEFORE. Fans still had to have been through shell shock witnessing Vince McMahon AND Shane McMahon on the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. ECW had also ended. What the hell had just happened here? A one time global promotion that could have flourished in another universe where they were competent enough to win had suddenly vanished. A regional promotion – that grew into a national one – that was the heart and soul of this newfound anti-authority passion from the fanbase had disappeared with a whimper. The OWNER of this promotion was now the color commentator for Vince McMahon. Nothing made sense anymore.

So as the Astrodome fans highlighted why they are considered the most engaged in pro wrestling history, it seems as if hindsight makes the final moments of WrestleMania X-7 seem absolutely sane and sound in a warped way. The era was at its peak as one company consolidated its competition. All three companies had literally tried every conceivable attempt one could make to push the envelope. Everything had been done. Except for Austin to lose his way too in all of it. So why not? It was a good idea in theory; it would be shocking as shock factor and swerves helped sell the Attitude Era. It was the tragic second chapter, the Empire Strikes Back of the Austin/Rock Trilogy. Sure, in the long run turning the guy who brought so many new fans to the darkside could completely fail and turn away those fans he brought with him, but why not? It made sense because it was an illogical decision. The confusion in Austin’s win with Mr. McMahon on his side was perfect. In the opening moments, fans really did consider if McMahon found the light. I can’t imagine what it could have felt like to be there. The pro wrestling world was an inverted universe.

Take a poll of current pro wrestling fans and ask them what their favorite match of all time is and it would not be surprising to hear Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 in Houston more than once. Two of the very best, on their stomping ground giving the best performance they could possibly give to their peers and admirers. There was essentially no doubt that those in attendance was going to take part in one of the best confrontations in history. Shawn Michaels is considered the single greatest pound-for pound professional wrestler of all time in while The Undertaker is viewed as the single greatest big man in history; a face to face war in their home state would drive the crowd bonkers. Undertaker’s first Tombstone on HBK may be the best nearfall one will witness. My hairs are standing on end just thinking about being in attendance. I remember feeling that this was the day The Streak was done. The Undertaker had nothing left to prove. If you wanted to be respected in the industry, The Dead Man was the benchmark and if you impressed HIM, you were IN for life. I feel one of the reasons The Undertaker is respected is because of wrestling’s unwritten rule of respecting those who can take the most punishment. Sold as a force of nature, he had to take a ton of punishment from all sizes. The Undertaker had to adapt his grappling to the changing times – from the lumbering giants to the all-around athletes. Taker had to get rocked by all the behemoths of the WWF at the opening half of his career then suddenly adapt to Bret Hart, Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and Jeff Hardy. Texas fans take the notion of the underdog to heart as they love cheering someone who can get knocked back down and fight. The Undertaker, like Steve Austin had become a mythological symbol – a Pale Rider, an otherworldly form of divine judgment from the old west. Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, the human body cannot escape death. That is the coldest reality of life. Everyone had gone toe to tow with The Undertaker and he brought them all down. Some may have tired of the foregone concluding nature of The Streak – but that was the point. The Streak is a force of nature, and I’ve never seen anything we’ve done able to combat a tornado. You come to expect destruction and witness hopelessly as the winds tear everything apart. It’s a forgone conclusion.

Then there was the Heartbreak Kid. The San Antonio native started from humble beginnings, became a self-made rockstar, posed for Playgirl, became the face of a company and the changing face of an era. Through all this, Michaels’ capacity to “bump” may never be topped. Michaels went to wars with Scott Hall, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Steve Austin, Sid, Vader, Mick Foley, Triple H, and Kurt Angle. One year before meeting The Undertaker for the first time he retired Ric Flair. We no longer lived in a world where Flair would don his tights on a full-time basis ever again – that was a strange year.

So when Taker and HBK met at WrestleMania 25 we should have known it was a foregone conclusion. The Houston fans did not treat the match as such, cheering for damn near everything in sight and exhausted themselves so much in the moment that Triple H and Randy Orton had no chance in hell to follow up and re-engage the crowd.

I could write an entire two-part column just on the fans of Philadelphia. The stomping grounds of ECW hosts a contingent of fans that have affected the long term product of pro wrestling. In fact, the Philadelphia-based fan has been brought up as an example in the current split of the current wrestling fanbase. Fans from Philly are loud, rowdy and heel-centric. These are some of the most ruthless fans in the world and performers know they need to be on their best game or they will hear about it with vulgar chants. There are a group of fans who are absolutely against this philosophy and concludes their venom is disrespectful to the hard work of the performers. I think back to King of the Ring 1995 where the Philadelphia fans pretty much hated everything presented to them by the WWF and the loud “ECW!” chants that flooded the event.

Despite these opinions, Philadelphia has hosted some of the most iconic moments in professional wrestling history. The start of the Austin/Rock WrestleMania trilogy emanated from there. Shawn Michaels and Mankind served the Philly faithful a heated battle at In Your House: Mind Games. The final WWE show before the Brand Extension took place happened on the March 28, 2002 edition of SmackDown. Chris Benoit’s journey to the World Heavyweight Title and his historic (and now tainted) WrestleMania victory began in Philadelphia – one of the “smarkiest” cities as he went Broadway and won the 2004 Royal Rumble.

It is on my bucket list to visit Tokyo, Japan someday in my lifetime. Not so much because of the pro wrestling history from the city of the future, but so I can be truly engulfed in a culture that is completely different than what I am used to. I am always fascinated with how other cultures embrace certain facets of life; technology, media, art, politics, etc. and I believe Tokyo would provide me with a great culture shock.

It was certainly a shock to me when I viewed my first wrestling event from Tokyo and noticed the fans being…polite? There was some definite artistry going on inside the ring but I had never seen the crowd view a wrestling match the way the Tokyo crowd did. At first I had assumed boredom, but upon closer inspection I realized there was a great respect between the fans in attendance and the in-ring work. Then I saw Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi from their 2003 bout and the damn near most insane “spot” I had witnessed: Misawa delivering a Tiger Suplex on Kobashi from the top of a ramp. The fans (as I) lost my sanity as I am sure everyone believed Kobashi was DEAD and his neck was broken.

What would have been like to be in attendance when Muhammad Ali met Antonio Inoki in 1976? Ali had already been established as the premier pro fighter in the world and had achieved iconic – perhaps even a godlike status by this time. To step into the ring with one of Japan’s national hero must have created a buzz in the city like no other at the time. I’m sure the buzz continued long after the match, which is still debated to this day. The fight went the fifteen round distance, scored as a draw…and was poorly received. The crowd at the Nippon Budokan Arena threw rubbish into the ring and chanted “Money back! Money back!” The Budokan janitorial people took almost a full day to clean up the garbage that was hurled at the two ‘combatants’ as the result of their performance.

All this doesn’t even scratch the surface of iconic pro wrestling moments from Tokyo; there is the entirety of the Super-J Cup from 1994, the perfection of Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (and the tragedy thereafter) and then the other side of Japan…the deathmatch.

I will be watching tonight’s Monday Night RAW from Liverpool with great interest. In the wake of the backlash from the WWE Network being pulled from the UK at literally the last moment, it should be a show that will be filled with some of the most passionate, aggressive fans on the planet. To be promised the network and to have it pulled away with no warning has to be frustrating and insulting to UK fans. I will not be surprised to see and hear some of the most venomous fanatics in the world as they unite in protest against WWE and their treatment of UK fans. I can’t really fault them, as the UK has hosted some of the great moments in wrestling history and deserve better.

UK fans always bring the goods and has a capacity to turn even the most humdrum episodes of RAW and SmackDown amazing. Thank the UK for “Fandangoing” and giving William Regal an eternal place among the great wrestlers of all time, garnering an insane reaction anytime he works. London also gave us one of the greatest Intercontinental Title matches of all time, where the Wembly Stadium faithful shook the arena to its foundation as The British Bulldog defeated Bret Hart. They were treated to perhaps the last true callback to old school wrestling as John Cena and Shawn Michaels nearly went Broadway in an unexpected classic.

I am in full support of the many fans who would love Pay Per Views to come back to the UK, despite the obvious issue of time difference. Nonetheless, thank the UK crowds for making average shows feel more important each and every time. They have the dedication, the love, and the consistency in their attendances.

Of course, I cannot discuss wrestling cities without giving a shout out to The Big Apple. New York City is considered as WWE’s home base, where they sold out hundreds of shows at Madison Square Garden solely based on the back of Bruno Sammartino alone. NY is home to one of the smarter fans in the world and will not hesitate to heckle a performer if they are not meeting their lofty standards. The response the crowd gave for Dolph Ziggler’s MITB cash-in and World Title victory the night after WrestleMania 29 is the stuff of legend, and still gives me goosebumps. The reaction to Triple H’s return in 2002 is ungodly in its noise. If anyone wants to argue The Game’s popularity, direct them to that moment.

New York also gave one of the best unintentionally hilarious reactions as John Cena made his surprise return at the 2008 Royal Rumble. While no one expected Cena to show up, Madison Square Garden became unglued when his entrance music hit and Cena made his now iconic pose at the entrance – then reality set in. No, BOO THIS MAN NOW! It clearly showed that no matter what, a great, genuine surprise will always supersede the hatred for a performer in professional wrestling.

MSG hosted maybe the best 1-2 punch in WrestleMania history as Bret and Owen Hart began WrestleMania X with a bang – arguably the greatest opening match in the event’s history – while Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon revolutionized everything in mainstream pro wrestling with their Intercontinental Title ladder match. MSG would also host the image of Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero embracing at the end of WrestleMania XX – an image that is now difficult and in some instances, impossible to watch.

The most infamous moment in modern professional wrestling history occurred in Montreal, where Bret Hart was unceremoniously screwed out of the WWF. For the longest time since then, Montreal was a hotbed of gleeful rebellion, always letting WWE (especially Shawn Michaels) know how they felt about the incident. Of course, Michaels made sure to get a leg up, always playing up heelish tendencies in the city. Trolling the city with a false return of Bret Hart in 2005 during the build to his SummerSlam match with Hulk Hogan has to be one of the most ingenious ploys ever devised that illustrates just how well a performer can absolutely manipulate his/her audience. Montreal also served as the final stop in the Hulkamania resurrection tour, as Hulk Hogan received perhaps the longest, most consistent sustained cheer ever the night after WrestleMania X-8. Montreal fans encompass the very real emotional psychology involved in professional wrestling, some that cannot be compared to. They have had great moments and always speak their minds.

I have been to Chicago and have verbalized my undying love for the city. If there is one location I am determined to drown myself in the noise and atmosphere of a professional wrestling event, Chicago is it. It is on my bucket list and I have resolved that the next WrestleMania from the Second City will be my ultimate destination. Every time a major wrestling moment has taken place from Chicago, I have passed a knowing glance at my wife, who is more than aware of my single-minded nature. In my simple opinion (and this is where the fun debate will lie), it is Chicago that boasts the best professional wrestling city in the world, with fans who share New York’s boisterous volume, Toronto’s “bizzaro world” independence, Philadelphia’s overt “smartness”, Tokyo’s inerrant desire for respect and Dallas’ passion rolled into one windy mess of a metropolitan. The city’s fans have been rewarded for their spirit by bearing witness to some of wrestling’s most iconic moments.

It is dizzying and almost nauseating to think of the sheer number of truly game-changing moments that came from Chicago: The Wrestling Classic in 1985, headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper; the first in the Flair/Steamboat “Holy Trinity” of matches as the two clashed at the 1989 Chi-Town Rumble; WrestleMania 13 and in my mind the single most important match in WWE’s entire history, the Steve Austin/Bret Hart Submission match (listen to the loudest pop one will ever hear for a chairshot); Chris Jericho’s WWF debut and the loudest ovation for a “new” superstar; Hulk Hogan and The Rock meeting face-to-face for the first time; John Cena’s debut against Kurt Angle; the legit perfection that is Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk; WrestleMania 22, where Chicago’s anti-WWE output gave greater weight to Edge’s coming out party vs. Mick Foley, cheered Kurt Angle as a GOD even though he was a heel champion, cheered Mickie James like a goddess even though she was a crazed heel challenger to Trish Stratus’ Women’s Title and basically solidified themselves as heels booing John Cena – and sold absolute disbelief when he defeated Triple H to retain the WWE Title.

Two of WWE’s greatest PPV’s in the new decade took place in Chicago: Money in the Bank 2011 (and the only reaction I’ve heard that rivals Austin’s welcome at WrestleMania X-7) where CM Punk returned a conquering Straight Edge hero and broke through the WWE hierarchy, and Extreme Rules 2012, where not only John Cena and Brock Lesnar put together one of the most uniquely compelling matchups in WWE history, but where Chris Jericho and CM Punk had a near perfect callback to Attitude Era streetfights and where Daniel Bryan and Sheamus insisted through sheer will that, yes – they are still World WRESTLING Entertainment. It is common knowledge that wrestling shows tend to bring something extra when they visit Chi-Town. The first WWE show in Chicago after CM Punk’s exit was booked solely around the Chicago audience, or risk being cannibalized by the Second City audience. That kind of riotous passion, where a global company is so aware of a city’s potential harm to their own product cannot be placed into a proper context.

There are so many more cities to be mentioned: Los Angeles has been home to the past several WWE SummerSlam events and went bonkers during the Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior bout at WrestleMania VII that culminated my favorite character arc of all time as Randy Savage’s love affair with Miss Elizabeth came to a head. Atlanta hosted one of the more subpar WrestleManias lately, but the fans are always into everything – would Goldberg defeating Hollywood Hogan for the WCW Title been as big of a moment as it was if it didn’t take place at the Georgia Dome? Boston has always been a hotbed and was the start of the Austin Era as Stone Cold ascended to the WWF Title for the first time at WrestleMania XIV. They were also electric for the returns of Edge, Kevin Nash and Booker T at the 2010 Royal Rumble.

While the sunshine state had always had a history in professional wrestling with Championship Wrestling from Florida, some of the state’s biggest cities have recently become a major market for professional wrestling. Orlando hosted WrestleMania XXIV with a hot crowd for Shawn Michaels retiring Ric Flair and The Undertaker defeating Edge for the World Heavyweight Title. Miami hosted the “Once in a Lifetime” (Part 1) match between Miami’s own The Rock vs. John Cena. The crowd was – to pardon the pun – electric the entire night, opening the night in a sea of “YES!” chants and a near mutiny as Daniel Bryan lost the World Heavyweight Title to Sheamus in 18 seconds. Starting with Tampa and the influence of the Graham family, Florida shows have brought the spectacle unlike most other cities and whenever wrestling is in town, it is an event.

Greensboro (host of the first four Starcades), Charlotte, St. Louis and Memphis have always brought the fire from the fans south of the Mississippi with passion that was cultivated at the height of the territorial era to today’s fanbase and keeping the rich tradition of those locales alive. Mexico City and Tijuana treat their luchadores like rock stars descending from heaven south of the border. Calgary still has one of the loudest sustained reactions during the Spring Stampede 10-man tag main event.

Professional wrestling is unlike any artform because it is a living, breathing spectacle. Fans can participate in cinema, like dressing up and reciting The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but the movie does not react in kind. Neither does sculpture, painting or photography. Music evokes a rainbow of emotions – jazz and blues carry a raw, improvised nature that can speak to the listener, but that same listener cannot pour out his emotion to the music to allow it to react in kind. Dance and theater can use sound and movement to allow their audience to participate, but that participation will not alter the course of future performances and their companies. Professional wrestling is the only current artform that allows its audience a true outlet to express themselves freely – and that expression can completely alter the dynamic of what is presented to them. The Rock is a babyface until he arrives in Toronto to face Hulk Hogan, so he must change his offense and mannerisms to recognize that he is the villain. Bret Hart is a GOD anywhere he steps foot in Canada, but when he crosses the border into the United States, he is the most hated man on the planet and Stone Cold Steve Austin represents everything good. Professional wrestling is certainly a bizarre animal. As a traveling circus, each city it visits allows the animal to shift and change into a different species each time. What city and its fans will alter the next phase in the industry? Where will the next great debut or moment come from? The world is a continuously spinning sphere and wrestling will find new homes as long as the planet stays on its axis.

What wrestling cities and what city’s fans speak to you? Where do you feel the loudest, most passionate wrestling fans come from? Share your stories below!

Len Archibald is the former Executive Director of the Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival, and is a current movie reviewer for WLIO in Lima, Ohio.

Agree or disagree with me? Let me know on Twitter!
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