I’m going to be honest with you.
I actually backspaced like eight different introductions to this for you, my new readers. Welcome to something that originally started as “Defending the Genre” and will probably stay that way until I come up with something significantly better.
What are you going to find here? Well, my friends, I’m glad you asked. Chances are, you’ll find me talking about CHIKARA, Resistance Pro, and various other topics on pro wrestling they’ll let me touch on. Chances are, I’ll be long winded, a little bit ridiculous, and hopefully you’ll keep coming back for more. So that brings me to my topic.
Why do I keep coming back? Why do I keep returning to familiar places?
There’s the logical idea familiar is comfortable and safe. Familiar is something that doesn’t stir the pot. That being said, that’s not why I’m going back to familiar places.
Despite opinions from others, I enjoy RESISTANCE Pro. I think a lot of the guys there have come a long way and a lot of the talent knows how to draw in a crowd. It’s never going to be the “sexy” pick of the Chicago indy scene, but it really should be. Guys like Jocephus Brody, The Two Star Heroes (Matt Knicks & Chris Castro), and Mr. 450 have grown in leaps and bounds. I think the promotion has hit a huge stride and the recent influx of new talent like Team IOU, Jake O’Neill, and Scotty Young have started to hit a good mix. The growth of their midcard has been great as well, and I know that there were a lot of complaints in terms of storytelling, but I haven’t felt that at all as much in recent months. It feels coherent and it’s quite entertaining to watch. Not to mention that some of their venues actually bring together a unique atmosphere that can’t be duplicated in just a fieldhouse or a high school gym.
The biggest thing, which I can’t help but mention, is the overwhelming feel of family there. You get the feeling in the atmosphere of the show that it’s not just building up to one person being showcased, but it’s a group that’s trying to put a whole show together that feels complete. The shows feel like it’s a bunch of people with a chip on their shoulders to bust their ass to put together a good show. You can pay money for an “all-star” show, and that’s fine too. I’m also a fan of going to shows to watch a lot of big names, but there’s something raw about Resistance that has kept me coming back for almost two years now.
And that brings us to CHIKARA. The mere concept of the “Ashes” saga has rightfully confused and left fans frustrated. There were promotions you had to follow to get the whole story put together. You had to follow YouTubes, Twitter accounts, bits and pieces of the story were scattered everywhere, glued together by the trust you had in a company that was known for long-term storytelling. Fans were rewarded at National Pro Wrestling Day, when CHIKARA finally emerged from its near eight month hiatus to…make us wait three more months for its official return.
The reality is that some fans are probably still unsatisfied. By being asked to deal with an angle that felt like it was less of a storyline for several weeks until various pieces came together, it alienated a percentage of the audience that just really wanted to know that their favorite company hadn’t completely fallen apart. It was a bold move for a company that doesn’t necessarily have the type of currency that can keep people coming back. The truth is that I’m often reminded that faith often can be rewarded in some capacity. CHIKARA fans who held out have now been rewarded with the return of their favorite company, with three shows already having been announced.
No matter what sort of pro wrestling you like, there’s something out there for everyone. Take some time, find out what works for ou and what doesn’t. Until next time, I’ll be enjoying (and defending) the genre.