Just One Match...

[Jay Cal]

What match would you point to on YouTube to get someone excited about indy wrestling?

Over the years I have taken many friends and family members to various indy wrestling shows. I would gather up the nearly 10 people who were WWF fans to UPW Events back in the day. I could only get one friend to go with me to Rev Pro, but had close to 8 friends to go to MPW and PWG. In the past few years I've brought my brother in-law and his family members to NWA Pro Wrestling & Mach-1 shows. I also have brought my future brother in law to a NWA Hollywood show and met friends at a SoCal Pro Show? Convincing WWF or now, WWE fans to come to Indy Wrestling shows is taxing. With lesser known names, its kind of harder to get them back an Indy Show, but only had one friend tell me she didn't like it.

Is there a match you can point to that you've used to convert WWE Fans? What about promotion? Youtube Links would be appreciated, but I want to know... what match helped you recruit friends to watch Indy?

[WaaTafuLiam]

For me, if it wasn't for Bart & AWS, I would've never even heard of indy wrestling. Sounds crazy but true. JRF1 was the one who turned me on to socaluncensored. As far as one match to convert someone ? Too many to choose from, but if I have to pick one, Super Dragon vs. Taro, mask vs. mask.

[IndyFedFollower]

Every time I've ever challenged anyone, whether they be a former wrestling fan or just one of those people who despise it altogether, to watch a single match and hold their stance I have them watch Dragon vs. Low Ki at ROH's Round Robin Challenge from 2002. The vast majority of those people, including the haters, have gone "wow, that was pretty damn awesome". Even the ones who said "whatever, it's still gay" were only saying it to save face while it was easy to tell they secretly enjoyed it.

[AOLStudios]

[Benjamin Tomas]

I honestly dislike the question, because no matter how good a match is, you can not capture the magic of independent wrestling if you take away the live experience. I can show someone match after match, but it will never give the feeling of being in the crowd and riding the ups and downs of emotion that accompany witnessing two(or more) skilled wrestlers working together to create art.

[eliteWade]

To me the key to why independent wrestling is great is the fact that its more interactive and up close and personal. Fans can pay a fraction of the price of WWE and somewhat be part of the show in a way. You can't beat that kind of entertainment.

[Marko]

Yeah, what Wade said. Especially when promoters care about what you want because they know that your admission money adds up with every body else's admission money to pay the workers and, hopefully, turn a profit. There are an awful lot of promotions in SoCal and, although some owners just want to rub their egos and promote themselves, there are ones who truly want to entertain fans.

Uh, point was that if you don't like one fed, there's no shortage of others to go to. Or something.

Um, maybe I should delete this post while I'm behind.

[Jay Cal]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Tomas

I honestly dislike the question, because no matter how good a match is, you can not capture the magic of independent wrestling if you take away the live experience. I can show someone match after match, but it will never give the feeling of being in the crowd and riding the ups and downs of emotion that accompany witnessing two(or more) skilled wrestlers working together to create art.

I guess that's a fair statement. I agree, Indy Wrestling is something better experienced live. And I've been fortunate enough to bring a lot of friends to indy shows over the years. But I guess what I wanted to know is what is your go to bargaining chip? How do you convince someone to go?

[Benjamin Tomas]

I've found that the most powerful bargaining chip is if the show serves alcohol. I know a ton of people who would not be swayed by a youtube video, but if the place served cheap drinks they'd give it a shot because worst case scenario they'd catch a buzz. I know that sounds like a joke, but it's 100% real. It was always easier to get people to go to the Galaxy or EWF than it was to get them out to Frank N Sons. Of course, I mean the indoor Frank N Sons, not across the street with Bart's unofficial, understood BYOB policy.

[BurningHeart]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Tomas

I've found that the most powerful bargaining chip is if the show serves alcohol. I know a ton of people who would not be swayed by a youtube video, but if the place served cheap drinks they'd give it a shot because worst case scenario they'd catch a buzz. I know that sounds like a joke, but it's 100% real. It was always easier to get people to go to the Galaxy or EWF than it was to get them out to Frank N Sons. Of course, I mean the indoor Frank N Sons, not across the street with Bart's unofficial, understood BYOB policy.

Same with Battleground, the Legion Hall bar serves hooch on the cheap for those who enjoy the booze.

[BurningHeart]

As for a match that I've used to show wrestling other than WWE was KENTA vs. Kenta Kobashi, and/or Davey Richards vs. Roderick Strong.

[creepy crawl]

I always show fans the PWG 6 man from a couple years back with Joey Ryan, Karl Anderson, & Scott Lost vs. The Young Bucks & Paul London.
Always seems to get a good reaction from friends and family members who are not really wrestling fans.