An American Motion Sickness 5: Bright and Shiny

[Cult Icon]

Cult Icon here, welcoming one and all to the fifth edition of An American Motion Sickness, the column that won the heart of actress Kristen Bell (if only…). My pathetic hopes and dreams aside, I am glad to be back today with another column for you. Those looking for something similar to last weeks column will be disappointed to not find that today, but fear not, for I have another story planned for the coming weeks, as well as a direct sequel to last weeks piece. Enough about the future, let’s get into the present with another edition of rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrants of the week. You ready? Then turn it up and bring the noise.


Rants of the Week!


-Fellow columnists, I am asking, no begging you for an answer to this question...how in the blue hell has WWE not yet signed Petey Williams? It baffles me still that WWE didn’t jump up and sign him once TNA let him go in one of the worse releases in wrestling history. Seriously, it’s almost as bad as some of those releases WCW had back in the 90’s (the ones that included Mick Foley, Steve Austin and Undertaker to be specific). Williams was in my opinion one of the top three most talented guys in TNA, which is saying something considering some of the X-Division guys they have. Furthermore, the guy isn’t a head case in the slightest and consistently has great matches whenever he’s in the ring. You mean to tell me the WWE can’t use someone like him? Give me a break.


WWE, if you are reading this (which you aren’t I know) you should sign Petey right now and stick him on ECW. Can you imagine the matches that could happen between him and Evan Bourne, or him and Jack Swagger? Those would be great given time. Wouldn’t most fans love to see him in MITB? I know I would. If Petey does well in those situations, who knows where he can go. We won’t know though if WWE continues to sit on their ass and not do a damn thing about it. And I was beginning to think WWE was smarter than TNA…


-…which leads me to here. I tell you loyal fans, I am disgusted by the WWE in this instance. With Williams, there may be some excuse, but there is none here. How, I ask you, how has Jesse been kept off Smackdown for the past month or so? If I’m wrong with the date, well it’s cause its felt like a whole lot longer. Shame on you WWE, shame! As previously mentioned in my critically acclaimed Jesse column, the WWE has everything in place to let this guy succeed. Turn him heel, give him the Freebird gimmick, bring P.S. Michael Hayes back as his manager (which isn’t hard seeing as he’s head of creative on Smackdown) and see what the kid can do. Am I the only one thinking around here? I swear, until I start hearing either Free Bird or Badstreet USA playing over the WWE speakers, I am going to keep protesting for Jesse. Groan all you want people, but I am serious.


Ah, now I feel slightly better, though there’s still something missing (suck it Cena). Ah, that’s better. This ends another edition of rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrants of the week. Now let’s get to the main event.


Bright and Shiny


According to the memory of this Cult Icon (which ranges very far mind you), the term luster refers to something that is bright, shiny, luxurious, and perhaps even beautiful. The term mostly refers to certain objects, mostly metallic, but it can refer to society as well. For example, when a new person is introduced into a new group and hits it off, he becomes the new popular fad or thing. In short, he has luster. When this happens, another person in the group can sometimes be cast out or “tossed aside” if you will so more focus can be put on the “shiny new” object, in this case the new person. Now you may ask, why is this Cult Icon going on about possible personal experiences (I plead the 5th dammit!) which seems to have nothing to do with wrestling? Ah, this my friends is where you are wrong.


Let’s now take a trip back to 1981, back when the wrestling world had only one “lustrous” promotion, the NWA. Granted, the company had lost a lot of luster from over the years, but it was still back then the premier promotion in North America, as WWE was still just a northeastern territory at the time. The company was carried by three such men; the evil Harley Race, a ruthless do-whatever-it-takes style heel, Dusty Rhodes (fellow cult icon), a charismatic working class hero who captured the hearts of the fans. The third man was greater than both of them believe it or not; a wrestler of flashy style, he oozed of both charisma and wrestling ability. This man, of course, was Ric Flair. Back at this time, it looked like Flair was to become the best and most recognizable wrestler ever, leading the top promotion. In short, he was the guy who would carry on the luster of the NWA, if you will.


All that was tossed down the shitter in 1984, when WWE went from being territorial to being a national promotion. During this time, chairman Vince McMahon created Hulk Hogan, a bulked up charismatic “superhero” to carry the promotion. It worked, as Hogan became WWE champion that year and would become to the top wrestler in the world, despite the fact he didn’t have the wrestling ability Flair had. In short, Hogan became the “lustrous” one, getting known worldwide and doing everything from movies to Saturday morning cartoons. Flair meanwhile continued to work at a high rate, piling up title reigns an great matches throughout the 80’s. However, his hard work was overshadowed by Hogan, and unless you were a diehard NWA fan or a wrestling critic, you didn’t know how great Flair was doing. Flair had become the person out of the group, while Hogan was now the new thing on the block.


It didn’t get better for Flair once WCW started to come along, no matter what anyone says. Eventually, Flair would clash with his own management, who were more into certain wrestlers ranging from Lex Luger to even Rick Steiner at the time. It eventually lead to the point where Flair would be fired by WCW when refusing to become a mid carder and to change his gimmick. Unappreciated by management and the mainstream wrestling fan, Flair went to WWE, where he enjoyed a nice year with two WWE Championship reigns and a Royal Rumble victory. However, he was still overshadowed by Hogan, who was still around for part of 1992. The main example is at Wrestlemania 8, where Hogan main evented again Sid Justice (fellow cult icon) despite it being non title. Flair, the champion at the time, defended against Macho Man Randy Savage four matches earlier, in what appears to be a mid card like match, when they should’ve been in the main event. To be honest, WWE fans never caught on with Flair well due to not knowing who he was from NWA/WCW, proving even more that the luster was nowhere to be found. Flair left WWE to go back to WCW at the end of the year, and was to soon be followed by Hogan.


It was during this time that WCW became heavily successful, during the Monday Night Wars and the peak of wrestling popularity. You’d think Ric Flair had a lot to do with it? No. Once again, Hogan was put in the spotlight, despite now being a worse wrestler than before while Flair could still work wonders. Sure, Flair had success but none compared to Hogan. In short, WCW became hugely successful, while Flair remained in the mid card or with the Four Horsemen, never being a threat to the Championship. He would eventually get back, but this was of course during the dying days of WCW, once Hogan was gone and the company was basically gone. Yes, the hardcore fans did appreciate him, but he still didn’t get the credit for it. WCW’s success was given to Hogan, Eric Bischoff (who Flair clashed with on numerous occasions) and the nWo storyline. Most of the newer fans during that time had been brought in by the new storylines by Bischoff, and not by Flair. He wasn’t considered to be great, he was just seen as riding the coattails.


Finally, Flair would regain the luster in 2001, twenty years after he had first had it. He has carried it since, even though it could be considered illegitimate. While Flair is loved by most WWE fans today, many of them are kids who never saw Flair wrestle and don’t know a thing about him. Basically, it seems like the fans are just marks, cheering for whoever the “smart” fans cheer for. Do they really care or like Ric Flair? It’s hard to tell. Some us, myself included, who watched at least 10 years of Flair’s career can appreciate him and knew that he was one of the best when he retired last year. Did most fans know that? In my opinion, hell no. Most of those fans either didn’t see Flair, or cheered for Hogan during that time. Those who were Hogan fans and ignored Flair can be seen as giving sympathy cheers, a “we’re sorry we were idiots” ordeal. Flair doesn’t deserve a sympathy cheer, he deserved to have been recognized all those years ago, not now when it’s 20 years way too late.


In all honesty, I don’t have the right in my opinion to say he’s the best wrestler ever. I only watched him for ten years (98-08) in a period where he was at the end. I can’t say he’s the best wrestler I’ve ever seen, because he isn’t. The best I’ve ever seen is Bret Hart, whose work I have been able to see in his later years and on his DVD. I also think that Flair gets a free pass for not pushing guys like Shane Douglas, Mick Foley and Lex Luger while he was NWA/WCW booker in the 80’s and 90’s (all three men would go onto become the top guy in their promotions at one point). That doesn’t take away from his wrestling skill, I’m just saying. I think the point is, I am not worthy of giving Flair respect, and honestly, half the wrestling community isn’t worthy of it either. The man deserved your respect when he was doing his job at the best, but it was given to a steroid raging mediocre wrestler who never loved the business like Flair did, and never kept a company from collapsing like Flair did. So all I people, wrestling fans, that if you are what I just described, that you show your true colors instead of acting like the sheep you are. Because you don’t really mean it. Flair deserves better, and his true fans deserve better too. Luster does some wonderful things huh?


This concludes another edition of An American Motion Sickness. I am your host Cult Icon, thanking you for reading this column, and hoping I didn’t get too overemotional at the end. I hope you all enjoyed it, for I enjoyed writing it. My next column will be Monday, followed by a half column later in the week. Till then, I am your Cult Icon telling you all to go outside and play. Here ends the motion sicknesss.

[Martin Riggs]

Liked it. You've done better, (The Jesse column...) but this is by no means a poor showing, quite the opposite. I thought it was really good, although i do have one piece of advice... Proof read! And not just for spelling mistakes, i didn't catch any, but for the wrong words!...

Originally Posted by Cult Icon

To be honest, WWE fans never caught on with Flair well do to not knowing who he was from NWA/WCW

with Flair well due to not knowing

Originally Posted by Cult Icon

Did most fans know that? In my opinion, hell know.

In my opinion, hell no

Originally Posted by Cult Icon

and honestly, have the wrestling community isn’t worthy of it either.

and honestly, half the wrestling community isn't worthy of it either.

...it's just little things like that which brought me out of 'it' when i was reading, i was engrossed, as your passion shone through, but i kept getting pulled back.

Also, at the end, did you contradict yourself a bit? It seemed to me like you'd made this great statement for Flair, then said you can't really speak about him that much. Maybe i've misread, but that was the impression i've gotten. Let me know if i've misunderstood!

All in all, nice work, just check for those mistakes!

[Cult Icon]

d'oh. thanks for picking up on the mistakes johnny. i was so caught up in writing i mustve mistyped, usually im good with those. as for the end, what i meant to say was i dont feel i am worthy enough to give flair respect as i didnt see enough of his work over his career. i know alot from reading about him, but i havent seen it. it couldve been done a lot better, and ill try to do so next time.

glad you enjoyed that and especially glad you enjoyed the jesse column lol. thanx for reading and ill have something better next time

[Martin Riggs]

that's cool, yeah i get you now, okay. And don't worry about the mistakes, we all make them, i'm just pointing 'em out! haha now get working on that half column!

[J and Silent Dubb]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoomerang

Liked it. You've done better, (The Jesse column...) but this is by no means a poor showing, quite the opposite. I thought it was really good, although I do have one piece of advice...

Same opinion here. Twas a little short, even for a half column, but still very good.

Oh, I see some Brett Hart love too, which will surely get a thumbs up from 'Plan.

I too believe Flair carried NWA/WCW for years, and have much respect for the Naitch, but refuse to give a free pass for not pushing other talent. This doesn't mean I don't respect Flair and his work, just no free passes. However, that said Flair did put over new talent in his later years before his retirement, so what changed Flair's heart? I don't know and don't even claim to have a theory, but I do know that it made me respect Flair even more than I already had.

['Plan]

Bret Hart was the best wrestler ever?! YAY! I already love this column!!!

Seriously though my friend, I think you're beginning to get comfortable with your own writing and you're growing in confidence now, that much is evident. It's a good thing too. This was a cool column and an interesting read. I never knew about Flair until 2001 when he cropped up in WWE; I started watching in '98 and never turned to WCW once. Since his return to the spotlight I never got "it" as it were. I didn't understand all the hype nevre really checked his old matches out until my post 2005 return to wrestling. Now I can see why the hype is there and I fully understand why people call him the best ever; I went and bought the first 3 disc dvd they did for him, the one with the white case, and the matches on there really are literally awe inspiring. He was very talented and deserves the monicker of the best ever.

As has already been stated length was an issue here but otherwise I think you're good to go. My only advice would be to not declare your rants of the week as "over"; don't conclude what is basically an introduction as it detracts from the flow of your writing. Otherwise great stuff! Make the next a little longer and I think you'll have hit the nail on the head. Once there you can start thinking about writing truly outstanding and very creative work and then who knows where it'll take you! Good stuff.

[Cult Icon]

j-thanx for reading again. you r like my biggest fan now it seems lol. it is quite short this column, and the next one will definitely be longer. hope you enjoy it as well.

plan'-really glad you enjoyed this one and im glad you think im nearly reaching my full potential. im close i think, and the next one may be what im looking for in a column. im really glad you r enjoying the work and give the feedback. hope you two enjoy the next one.

thanx also to anyone who took the time to read and enjoy my work. hope the next one is better