#SupportIndyWrestling

#SupportIndyWrestling

#SupportIndyWrestling is a hashtag of a phrase that I think many of us as fans of independent wrestling have used time and time again. The other night I pondered what the phrase actually meant. “Support Indy Wrestling.” It seems so simple, but in reality, it’s not as simple as you might think. Supporting indy wrestling goes beyond just being a fan…it requires certain things that perhaps a WWE or TNA fan wouldn’t even think twice about.

How can you, as a fan, support indy wrestling? I think the most important thing to remember is that these companies are NOT big corporate entities. Even ROH, who is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group, isn’t a powerhouse of cash flow. What’s my point? Don’t take advantage of these companies! Every bit of money they bring in is potentially money that could be going to the hard-working wrestlers that bust their butts to put on a fantastic show for you every night. That leads me into pirating of DVDs, videos, torrenting, etc… I’m sure you’ve heard or seen all of the warnings against pirating, especially from the film industry. Think about this: when you pirate just one independent wrestling company’s DVD, you cost that company approximately $20 in sales. That may not sound like much, but if 100 people pirate 100 DVDs, that company has just lost revenue in the amount of $2,000! For a small company, that could be a backbreaker even worse than anything Roderick Strong could throw. Oh and by the way, pirating is ILLEGAL. You can go to jail for it! Pirating anything independent wrestling related isn’t just morally wrong, it doesn’t help…support indy wrestling.

Now that I’ve talked about what you should NOT do, let’s get into something a little more fun, what you SHOULD do to…support indy wrestling. Spending money, quite frankly, is the best way to support independent wrestling. I realize the economy is bad and we’re all hurting, but if you’re a fan of something, work it into the entertainment budget. Many of your local independent wrestling shows charge admissions at the same price (or less) than a typical movie ticket. For that amount of money, you usually get a longer and more fulfilling show! You get more bang for your buck (no Young Bucks pun intended) from independent wrestling than you do in many other forms of entertainment. Find me a decent play that charges less than an independent wrestling show (especially from a very reputable indy company). Buy the DVDs, buy the shirts (I’ll get into this later), order the on-demand shows (maybe not the IPPVs), and spend some of your available income to keep your favorite companies alive and, hopefully, profitable which helps to…support indy wrestling.

Show your fandom. This isn’t the early 90’s anymore. We’re not going to school and being frowned upon for enjoying professional wrestling. There are a ton of options out there to wear pro wrestling shirts or purchase things to help you…support indy wrestling. With pro wrestling merchandise companies like: prowrestlingtees.com, onehourtees.com, barbershopwindow.com, highspots.com, defendindywrestling.com, twitter.com/Gimicks247, twitter.com/HEADLOCKgear, Smart Mark Video, RF Video, etc…it has become easier than ever to wear “cool” wrestling related clothing. Long gone are the days when your only wrestling t-shirt options were just some jacked up dude in his underwear. If you think wrestling has a poor perception with the public, help to make it better! Remember…wearing independent wrestling merchandise brings up talking points for a lot of people, and helps you to…support indy wrestling.

You have every right to complain when a company doesn't give you your money's worth, but be smart about it. So many people tear these independent wrestling companies apart on message boards, forums, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and every other social media site possible. For what? To get their opinion across? Everyone has a right to say what they want to say, but think before you write/talk. Every time you crush a wrestling company, especially an independent one, you could be chasing away a potential fan. For all the issues that ROH, DGUSA, & EVOLVE have had with IPPV, they have done other good things that go unnoticed. Why does the good get forgotten among many fans? Well, because people would rather absolutely blast something than to praise it. Don’t believe me? Go check out some product reviews. See how many of them are negative vs. positive. Ask someone in the restaurant industry what kind of feedback they most commonly receive. I’m not telling people not to criticize a company when they do something bone-headed, but for the love of God, remember that people might be basing their decision as to whether to watch the company based on what you’re writing. Tearing a company down and not talking about its positives, does not help…support indy wrestling.

Essentially, supporting independent wrestling is something that you have to decide how to do. I’ve given you some thoughts and ideas, but at the end of the day, whether you choose to do so appropriately, is up to you. Just remember, if you don’t…support indy wrestling…you won’t have any kind of indy wrestling to support for very much longer. None of these companies have the financial stability that the WWE has, but what they do have is YOU, so treat them with care.