Backyard wrestling
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Backyard wrestling (or BYW), also used interchangeably with "backyarding", is a loose term used to describe the controversial practice of professional wrestling as performed by untrained fans (usually adolescent males) in an unsanctioned, non-professional environment. Though backyard wrestling was not unheard of prior to the 1990s, the modern backyard wrestling "craze" lasted from roughly 1998 to 2001, during a time when televised professional wrestling was enjoying a period of unparalleled popularity (see Monday Night Wars).
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[edit] Practice
Many of those who practice it embrace a style that emphasises risky highspots (which can involve diving or taking bumps from rooftops or ladders) and the liberal use of weapons in matches. These may include thumbtacks, barbed wire, tables, plywood, fire, glass, and light tubes. Even among participants who shy away from this, there still is a considerable level of inherent risk involved. Many professional wrestling moves require extensive training to perform correctly and safely, which few backyard wrestlers have received. These and other concerns are at the heart of the controversy surrounding the practice.
Backyard wrestling is so-called because it is often literally performed in yards, though most any location can host a backyard wrestling match, including parks, garages, playgrounds, vacant lots, warehouses, barns, and school gyms. It is common for backyard wrestling promotions, or "feds," to construct their own homemade wrestling rings. Wrestling on trampolines is also common, which allows for visually impressive moves to be performed with a minimal risk of injury. Others opt to simply perform matches on the bare ground. Backyard wrestling feds can be highly organized, and many tape their shows and maintain websites where media is available for download. The Internet proved instrumental in popularizing backyard wrestling during its initial boom period.
Backyard wrestlers are sometimes called "backyarders," or the more explicitly derogatory "yard tards." The term yard-tard is generally used to single out backyard wrestlers who are known for performing extremely high risk maneuvers.
[edit] Relationship to professional wrestling
Backyard wrestling is modeled almost entirely after professional wrestling, and many backyarders are dedicated fans of the sport. Backyard matches are usually "worked" in the same way professional matches are, with finishes booked in advance and participants going over highspots beforehand. Like in professional wrestling, backyard wrestlers can be seen communicating with each other during bouts. However, while hardcore wrestling matches are often criticized for lack of direction, the same may be said for much of backyard wrestling, especially considering the aforementioned lack of training. This can result in poor communication and, thus, a high risk of injury.
Backyard wrestlers often create storylines and gimmicks in their wrestling events, creating personas and styles of their own. These characters are usually modelled closely after inspirations in their favorite professional wrestling promotions. Connoiseurs to the sport often criticize backyard wrestling as more sloppy and not as well thought-out as professional wrestling, especially because of the tendency of backyard wrestlers to use more absurd gimmicks and storylines. Creativity and organization are also important issues in creating successful wrestling events, of which the majority of backyard wrestling inherently lacks.
[edit] History
In its history, backyard wrestling has changed significantly in terms of its professionalism, safety provisions, popularity, and hardcore style. Backyard wrestling tends to follow the trends of professional wrestling and changes in accordance with what is "the thing" in these wrestling entertainment companies. Although backyard wrestling has been often associated with the Mick Foley home video, backyard wrestling most likely began in the 50's emulating such stars as Gorgeous George, and later Bruno Sammartino, and Superstar Billy Graham. The earliest listed "official" backyarder is Jon "Justice" who wrestled from September 1985 until mid 2003, though this is unproven. [1]
[edit] Hardcore Phase
Backyard wrestling became infamous for its out-of-control and unregulated dangerous stunts. Teens frequently risked their lives in attempted dives, jumps, falls, and bumps. Many others would use sharp and harmful weapons, performing matches with flaming tables, barbed wire, and sharp metal tools like cheese graters. While these violent practices carry a more extensive legacy in Japanese wrestling promotions such as FMW, many attribute their stateside popularity to the rise of ECW and wrestlers like New Jack, Tommy Dreamer, and the Sandman.
These activities, which were also closely linked to the reckless nature of other teen-centered shows such as Jackass, were part of the "hardcore" phase of American professional wrestling, ushered in by the extreme style of promotions such as ECW, XPW, and CZW. However, when these promotions closed and/or toned down their extreme nature, backyard wrestling followed suit, leading to less dangerous activity. Because of this, the heavy bleeding and use of dangerous weaponry in backyard wrestling has now faded from popularity.
The "backyard wrestling craze," as it was, called finally came to a close in 1999-2000. Increased media attention[1] and reforms within the professional wrestling promotions themselves led to a generally unpopular view of wrestling and unprofessional stunts, leading to a decline in the popularity of backyard wrestling. This did not, however, lead to a total abolishment, as several popular Internet wrestling communities still feature active message boards dedicated to the practice of backyard wrestling.
[edit] Indy Scene
After 2000, many individuals changed and realized that the dangerous stunts they were doing had grave consequences. The Internet and television ("The Unreal Story of Pro Wrestling") was more supportive in that it led to the distribution of information on professional wrestling which helped many individuals discover the proper way to perform certain moves, for example. More wrestling schools and small independent wrestling companies formed at this time as well, accepting skilled backyard wrestlers.[2]
As a result, more of the younger indy wrestlers admit to having backyard wrestling experience, some claiming it is a hobby that they pursue while performing professionally. This does not reflect the majority of professional wrestlers, however, as backyard wrestling is often drastically different from that shown on television. Nonetheless, some indy wrestlers claim they continue backyarding because, whereas wrestling professionally means being told how, who, and where to wrestle by a booker or promoter, backyarders are their own bookers and promoters and can enjoy the freedom of wrestling their friends however they like for their own recreation. However, training in a "backyard wrestling environment" is often frowned upon by professionals, and the sport has a strongly negative connotation.
[edit] Controversy
Many backyard wrestlers cite Mick Foley as their inspiration, as a video of Foley's backyard wrestling exploits with his friends in college gained widespread attention after portions of it were shown on WWF TV which glorified it as his entrance into the company. However, Foley himself discourages the practice of backyard wrestling. While he made a career by distributing a video of himself doing dangerous stunts such as jumping off a rooftop onto a matress, he downplays what he did and says it is too dangerous. In his book Foley Is Good, Mick Foley recalls an instance where he was interviewed for a television piece about the growing trend for backyard wrestling. He claims that comments he made having viewed footage of a legitimate professional hardcore match were deliberately misrepresented and applied by the production company to a backyard vignette. Others who have heard the commentary find his story difficult to believe.
Some professional wrestlers and most, if not all, wrestling organizations discourage backyard wrestling in public comments, because it involves legal risk to the promotions in the form of lawsuits by individuals. The opinions of professional wrestlers differ in private. Several lawsuits have been brought against wrestling organizations, most prominently WWE, alleging that people have caused serious injury to others by imitating professional wrestling moves they saw on TV. As a result of this pressure, WWE now features prominent disclaimers during its programming which urges fans, "Don't try this at home."
Some professional wrestlers have admitted to practicing it themselves during their younger years. Those who have done so include the Hardy Boyz and Shannon Moore, among others.[3]
While many backyard wrestlers believe that backyard wrestling is good preparation for future exploits in professional wrestling given Mick Foley's career, prominent wrestling school operators have often stated their disdain for the practice. Harley Race, in particular, has said "I absolutely hate it" and "It's just absolute stupidity." [2]
One book that supports these matches is Backyard Empire, a backyard wrestling novel inspired by a true story. It argues that many of its backyard wrestlers used their local show as a springboard to become professionals.
[edit] Media Attention
Backyard wrestling, and its forefather, professional wrestling, both reached greater popularity during the late 1990s and were the subject of disdain from the media. It was a frequent topic for documentaries and televised news programs, often serving as an indication that the MTV Generation, as it had been dubbed, was among the most reckless, least guided, and most immoral of all teen generations.[4]
Although the implications of backyard wrestling on teen culture and on society as a whole compose a far more complicated debate, most media attention (and adults) in the United States feared that backyard wrestling was a degradation of society and of youth.[5]
However, since the loss in mainstream popularity of professional wrestling, media interest surrounding backyard wrestling has calmed down.
[edit] Media
[edit] Books
- Hutchinson, Alex. "Backyard Empire: Inspired by a true story."
[edit] Video Games
These two video games were published by Eidos Interactive and developed by Paradox Development through a relationship with Juggalo Championshit Wrestling (JCW), an independent wrestling promotion. The games feature many legitimite professional wrestlers involved in JCW. Despite their high levels of violence, they are cited as poor games.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Rather, Dan. "Dangerous Backyard Wrestling Becoming Popular Suburban Pastime." CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. 04/18/2001.
- ^ Putre, Laura. "Invasion of the Body Slammers: Backyard wrestlers try to break into the big time." Cleveland Scene. May 10, 2001.
- ^ Russo, Ric. "Young wrestlers show promise in a funky world." The Orlando Sentinel. 09/28/2000
- ^ Reilly, Rick. "Kids Are Trying This at Home!" Sports Illustrated 02/12/2001 Vol. 94 Issue 6, p98.
- ^ Daniel, Jeff. "DATING & DUKING : IN PRIME TIME: THANKS TO BATTLING CELEBRITIES AND BACKYARD WRESTLING MATCHES, OUR TV SETS HAVE BECOME PIXILATED BOXING RINGS WHERE WE WORK OUT OUR PERSONAL AGGRESSION." St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri). June 30, 2002. A&E. Pg. F1.
- ^ Burnett, Eric. "Try This at Home Backyard wrestling's homegrown heroes are immortalized on PlayStation." Cleveland Scene (Ohio) November 5, 2003.
