Talk:Backyard wrestling

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[edit] Video Games

can someone put a heading on video games? they are 1 of the more important thing —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.7.227.13 (talk) 06:11, 12 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Bias

I think this article may be a bit biased against backyard wrestling and seems to be based around the backyard wrestling, for a lack of a better word, panic that happened around 2000. Its not like every backyard wrestler is a complete fool who will do anything. --Hammy 11:56, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I've began the edit of the article. As I see it the main problem with the article is that it seems to focus on the stereotype of backyard wrestling while ignoring the fact that a very large portion (likely a majority and quite possibly a significant majority) do not fit the stereotype. If we could find some source material (studies and the like), we could make this article much more professional and fair. --Hammy 12:10, Mar 25, 2005 (UTC)

I agree that there's a problem with the article. That's why I added the controversy section a week or so ago; there was no voice given to the fact that backyard wrestling can be dangerous and most professional wrestlers do not support it. I specifically mentioned Mick Foley because in his second book, Foley is Good, he discusses his feelings about backyard wrestling in a fair and unbiased way, and recounts his experiences on a news magazine show (either Dateline or 20/20) which attempted to paint him as a supporter of backyard wrestling. That's one source. I also gave an internet source for the Harley Race quote. The "origin" section was originally the entire article, and I mostly left it alone, because despite what I believed to be some factual errors, I didn't feel like finding a ton of sources to disprove them. Anyway, I feel that the article should reflect what most associate with the term "backyard wrestling" as an entity, as opposed to just a group of friends protending to wrestle in their backyard. I used to do that, but I didn't consider it "backyard wrestling". When Harley Race answers the question partaining to the "backyard wrestling phenomenon" in the linked interview, there's no question as to what he's being asked about. --Chrysaor 22:42, Mar 25, 2005 (UTC)
A bunch of friends and I used to do the same thing and did it fairly organized and considered ourselves "backyard wrestlers." We however were not complete fools. That's not to say that we didn't do some risky things but for the most part it was reasonably safe. I think this article needs to articulate that there is a disconnect between the public's idea of backyard wrestling and what the reality of backyard wrestling is to most participants. I think if we JUST talk about the controversy and its dangers we're not giving a fully accurate pictures. Also on sourcing I was referring to the activities that a "normal" backyard wrester engages in and the prevalence in backyard wrestling of dangerous and idiotic actions. I agree that Foley (albeit pretty hypocritically) and Race were against backyard wrestling but we don't know what their attitudes were regarding backyard wrestling in the sense of a bunch of friends building a "ring" in their backyard and having fun in it compared to beating each other psychotically and setting each other on fire. Any thoughts on what the best way would be to expand the scope of the article if its needed? --Hammy 06:14, Mar 26, 2005 (UTC)
Well, the "Origin" section is pretty positive. Why not expand it? It'd be tricky to do without straying into POV, but if you'd feel better about the article, it'd be worth the time investment. --Chrysaor 03:16, Mar 27, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Backyard Wrestling, recategorized

I've gone to the trouble to relabel Backyard Wrestling under 'Fantasy wrestling' (a subcategory of professional wrestling), because it's not professional per se; it's the wrestling equivalent of a D&D LARP. Also, as it's done mainly in imitation of actual professional wrestling, It belongs here until and unless backyard wrestling becomes valid in its own right. Veled 17:44, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I agree. I didn't realize that caregory existed. --Chrysaor 01:30, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)
I don't agree. All pro wrestling is 'fantasy wrestling' and I've seen indy matches that were less professional and done worse than many backyard guys. Backyard wrestling is and always has been valid in its own right.
You miss the point. The fantasy aspect in this case is in the training, not the actual show. Backyarders think they can wrestle without training - that's fantasy. With training - it ceases to be fantasy in the training sense. Whether or not it leads to good shows or bad is irrelevant because that argument can apply just as much to WWE as it could to a backyard fed. Curse of Fenric 23:13, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I'm a Backyarder

I am a backyard wrestler myself and did not like the original form of this article. It did not point out any good things that can come out of backyarding such as experience for being a professional later in life, and the entertainment that comes out of it.

I am also a backyarder, but like most backyarders, I wouldn't do anything that would hurt me. I'd like to go into pro wrestling if possible, so if doing backyard wrestling will allow me to advance better as a normal wrestler, then I'll do it. I had a link about my backyard wrestling title on a page, and it was removed because it was backyard wrestling. I can understand why it was removed, but I feel that even still it deserves a mentioned. I am thinking of adding a page on backyard wrestling championships in general, so that the titles can get some coverage until i get a full-blown webpage set up. Thanks for the support everybody!

Actually, although your proposal sounds like a good idea, I would also appreciate more information on the trends and practices of backyard wrestling. What trends exist in the sport today? How has it changed? How is it usually conducted?--Screwball23 talk 18:03, 25 June 2006 (UTC)


If a trainer ever finds that you were a backyarder the chances of them training you is slim. At least in teh Uk and most of teh south in the USA. darkie

Don't believe that. There are few trainers in the US who would turn down anyone in shape who can pay. The big problem ex-backyard guys have is that training for the real thing is a whole lot different and usually much less fun.


Man, you have no idea what your talking about. most schools wont even take you in if you dont have some kind of experence, and how would you get that, YARDING! belive me, im trained. also, some one should redo this article, it shows nothing about the goods of BYW. myspace.com/pyroibw

[edit] Backyard Wrestling: My Point of View

I've written several stories and story lines about a fictional group of kids who participate in a backyard wrestling environment. This small town raised group of kids have their own championships, tournaments and even an arena to wrestle in. I've enhanced this fantasy world with the assistance of video games produced by the WWE by creating them and making their moves tell their own stories. As a fan of backyard wrestling (having only participated in three or four matches) this is what fuels my interest in the cult-like sport.

In the years that have passed that I have written these stories, backyard wrestling went from a form of entertainment for small town or big city kids that reached unprecedented heights back to an underground movement only kept alive by a minority of children today.

What I think this wikipedia.org article failed to articulate is the backyard wrestlers point of view, mainly focusing on the dogmatic views of current and former professional wrestlers and the concerns that they have. Little was focused on the wrestlers themselves, or that backyard wrestling has a longer history beyond the late 1990's (dating back to at least the early 80's, although not considered clubs but more or less kids just bouncing around on trampolines). Also, it should be noted that backyard wrestling is a reflection of the times that real pro-wrestling goes through. In the late 1990's, ECW's reach to popularity was because of its revolutionary style involving great use of weapons and the fact that it was stylized around a reality based wrestling show. Backyard wrestlers imitated this on matresses and occasionaly real wrestling rings in matches spanning from the TLC to the barefoot thumbtak/mousetrap matches, for championship belts either crudely constructed out of cardboard or professionally made by companies found on the internet.

Nowaday's as the hardcore phase has passed, WWE and other promotions like ROH have encouraged and reintroduced a "safer, technical style" used primarily by the likes of Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero (RIP) and other legends like Ted DiBiase and Bret Hart. These are traditional moves like armbars, headlock takeovers, and overhead wristlocks. Whilst it's popularity has faded (probably due to crap movie releases like Backyard Dogs), rest assured that it will change from "hardcore fanatics" to "technical wonders" despite the dangers of performing said moves are still there. It's just how it's done.


[edit] Links?

I think that the link given as an example of a backyard wrestling site is unnecessary and probably just advertising... ViperBite 21:47, 5 July 2006 (UTC) Well when I saw the links, I deleted them because yes, it is advertisment, though I did add a link to a backyard wrestling alliance due to the amount of federations listed on it. Im not sure if it was the greatest move, so feel free to delete it.Ecwnet 07:27, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lionel Tate

I dont think there is any reason to list Lionel Tate as see also, i see the link between the emulation of wrestling, but he wasnt wrestling under any BYW federation, and his "opponent" or the young girl in this case was not of "consenting age". Removing Link Kennykane 05:02, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

These are all reasonable technicalities, but do not forget that BYW is usually performed unsupervised, by younger children, who would not generally be considered of "consenting age" for many other activities, including sports entertainment. BYW is usually not done within a federation, and, in fact, Lionel Tate often represents the most common form of backyard wrestling. Those who form "feds" and attempt to create independent promotions are the minority of backyarders.
I added Lionel Tate primarily because of how important and how powerful his punishment brought down professional wrestling. Don't forget how many news programs stressed his crime and denounced BYW as the cause of such abuse.--Screwball23 talk 20:34, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
i see your point. -Kennykane 02:58, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
Disagreed. This page is about Backyard Wrestling, which, as I see it, is Professional Wrestling done by non-professionals as a hobby. "BYW is usually not done within a federation, and, in fact, Lionel Tate often represents the most common form of backyard wrestling." Do you actually take part in Backyard Wrestling, or even know ANYTHING about it? I feel like I know quite a lot about it, and the youngest it gets in Backyard Wrestling is around 15. And almost always done as part of a "fed". Liionel Tate was nothing close to Backyard Wrestling. it was murder via wrestling moves. -Alex 00:38, 8 September 2006
I agree with Alex. (I know a lot about BYW also.) June-gloom 22:42, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Another view

I want to talk about this issue - from the point of view of what (in my personal opinion) constitutes backyard wrestling;

  • Does not use a proper ring
  • Does not use a proper venue
  • No commitment to the craft of professional wrestling
  • No regard for personal safety or safety of others

Now having been in the presence of a proper trainer training wrestlers I know how important the craft is. One of the most important factors in pro wrestling is the "fantasy" aspect. Backyard wrestling has a history of throwing this in the bin - going for too much realism and not engaging in proper selling. This is an art form of sorts. Ric Flair has called Mick Foley a glorified stuntman - and the art of pro wrestling is at the core of that remark. Mick himself has admitted that he's not a classic mat wrestler. But that's why there is so much angst against backyard wrestling - hence the inevitable fact that anything said about backyard wrestling is going to have a slant. One way or the other. The safety factor comes with the art as well - like how to breakfall which is basic pro training. You can do a major injury to your back or neck otherwise.

There are still issues with backyard wrestling in Australia. In the effort to maintain a certain standard, the industry in the city of Adelaide really goes to town on wrestlers who have not trained with the recognised trainers. This is what creates backyard wrestling to begin with - a mentality like "our way or the highway". It's like a red rag to a bull. The result is that anyone who goes against the grain is labelled backyard - even if they are trying to do the right thing, especially in the face of this sort of BS.

I personally think that backyard wrestling needs to be reeled in. It has a negative effect on the pros. But the pros have to ease up and be more open than they have been. It seems to be happening in places, but there is still a lot of politics affecting the true talents - and I know of one very pertinent example of this in Adelaide!

Any thoughts on this? Curse of Fenric 13:07, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

I think your comments show a lack of knowledge of backyard wrestling. As a former backyard wrestler in the US, your last two criteria do not describe anything I was ever involved in and I'd be surprised if it had anything to do with most people's experience of backyard wrestling. I was always immensely concerned with the welfare of myself and others. If we felt we couldn't do something reasonably safely, we didn't do it. That's not to say I never did anything risky but teenagers often do a number of risky activities; its not specific to backyard wrestling. I also point out that falling down or "bumping" is not exactly a complex idea and is relatively simple to do. Obviously with more practice one would get better and with experience supervision you would get better quicker but its not rocket science. I also have a huge appreciation for the art of professional wrestling. In fact backyard wrestling increased my appreciation because once you understand the basics, you see how amazing some things that professionals do really are. I always attempted to have matches that "told a story" as wrestlers attempt to do. That's not to say I ever succeeded in telling a very good story :) but it was a goal. Whoever thinks that backyard wrestling is a way to get to the pros is probably insane but also anyone who says it has no value (not saying you said this) and who feels it doesn't respect or include the art of pro wrestling and who feels it is only unsafe either A) doesn't have any experience with backyard wrestling or B) has experience with a very limited subset of backyard wrestling.--Hammy 14:04, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
You underestimate me, Hammy. In fact I have seen backyard wrestling, and read reviews of shows. Now I will say that the backyard attitude I refer to has wained (as the article here indicates it was at it's height in the late 1990's) but it did exist. And there were injuries - major ones, and the devil may care attitude towards one's own safety in going for the look to try and replicate bumps like Mick Foley's from the top of the cage in 1998.
On breakfalls, you'd be surprised just how many trainees I've seen who stuff it up. Sure, in theory it's not rocket science - but in practice it's another story entirely. I can't do it properly for a start as much as I try and I know what's needed. And I'm nowhere near the only one.
But judging by your general attitude, I wouldn't classify you as a backyarder. You certainly don't qualify under the last two points I made, and that's a good thing. But a proper ring is essential. Do you know what a proper ring has over gym mats and matresses? The spring that the ring supplies. It forms a level of protection to the body that gym mats and mattresses can not provide. I'd be interested to hear what you know about that. Curse of Fenric 01:02, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
I have to disagree with the point made by Alex a while ago, if you are under the impression that the youngest backyard wrestlers are 15 you would be mistaken. I happen to know of a group of untrained teenagers that have been doing the practice of backyard wrestling since they were barely 13. And I mean backyard wrestling as extreme ruthless backyard wrestling. They have already been arrested for arsone due to the flaming table stunts they are involved with. Not to mention the use of blunt weapons such as sledgehammers, baseball bats and twisted ideas like ripping eachother apart with wire brushes. The concept of backyard wrestling also lures adults however this sort of adult backyard wrestling is usualy more light-hearted. Hobothug 01:59, 11 Febuary 2007 (UTC)
I think that interesting thing about this article is that the term "backyard wrestling" can cover so many different things to different people. I've seen these stupid deathmatch feds with preteens in them and I can't understand why they'd put themselves in so much danger. I can only imagine they are inspired to do that style by what they enjoy watching personally, which is unfortunate... I can see why they continue to do it; most groups are mostly social at the very core, and events are an excuse to hang out. All I can say is, within my fairly wide circle, a couple of consistantly active internet forums dedicated to backyard wrestling (one for the UK, one for the world in general), that kind of behavior/that style of wrestling is shunned and not made apart of the community (deathmatches/hardcore does happen, but is only usually accepted if it's done "properly", that is to say, with some degree of originality, safety or whatever). That's not to say these kids couldn't claim to be backyard wrestlers, though, by loose definition. We've had debates about whether most of the people in our community, people from around the world, really are backyard wrestling anymore; Usually there is a professional ring, often a decent venue, more and more people are formally trained (and thus pass training onto the newer guys)... But there is no paying crowd, no business, and the format of the shows is very laid-back. But it isn't Pro or Indy wrestling for sure. So Backyard wrestling is the most convenient label. Maybe we should pioneer the term "Semi-pro Wrestling". Alex 14:47, 18 August 2007 (GMT)

I am also a member of both the board mentioned above in Alex's post, and i have a feeling i know who he is. The fact is, backyard wrestling is seen as people want to see it, and unless you're a part of the two major community's, you couldnt possibly understand why it is what it is. The fact is, i used to train pro, but got fed up as the head trainer was an utter imbosile, and made me tear both my main pectorial muscles by forcing me to work constantly on weight machines at the age of 14. A few months later i took up backyard wrestling in a serious manner (i had been wrestling on my trampoline for almost 2 years), yet didnt realy see it as backyard, i saw us as ammature-pro's. My goal of this experience was to get better, and train the other two members to an appropriate level also. We wrestled every friday for two hours on 3 layers of regular gym mats. After posting videos of moves on youtube, i was steared towards the UKBYW forum, and what i shock i got there.

My first post was advertizing our first 'PPV' event, and i classed us as an indy fed; becuase i thought the whole forum would be about a bunch of kids hitting each other with weapons pointlessly, as most youtube BYW videos give the impression. I got ripped into immediatly for saying i was pro/indy, yet i couldnt see why. So i watched the media that got released on the forum, by the best group currently active. These guys wrestled on matts just like us, but they were so much crisper and cleaner than we were. a year on, i got a tryout for this group when my own one: CWE, closed down. i got in, and experienced backyard like i couldnt imagine it, this scociety that i was now a part of, accepted me and i improved LOADS.

Although some may read this little article, and deem it pointless. Its there to show that Backyard isnt just light tubes, tables e.t.c. I for one have only taken two table bumps, never taken a tube shot, never used barbed wire, never used razor wire, never used tacks, taken numourous chair shots (only one was decent), and taken a few wood bumps. All that over the course of 3 years, and im still a better wrestler that a lot of english 'pro' guys. The fact is, BYW has moved on from the crap it used to be, and is now a respectful activity that i by far prefer to the professional side of things. Joshwall

[edit] "Best Feds"

Unless is can be created in such a way as to conform to core Wikipedia policies of verifiability, neutral point of view, and no original research, there is no room in this article for a subjective and presumably self-serving section listing "best" federations. --Kbh3rdtalk 18:05, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Does there really need to be a list? I mean, they don't mean a thing to me or some others who read the article. Why put only them on the article? They are not the only backyard wrestling feds in the world that could be considered major. There is a fed called BCW in which Bryan Danielson won the BCW Heavyweight Champion. So why isn't that fed listed? I only know of BCW because of Danielson. There either needs to be list on a seperate page for all feds or no list at all. Mr. C.C. 16:32, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Underground Wrestling vs. Backyard Wrestling

There is a difference between underground and backyard wrestling. Underground wrestling has the make up of a independent promotion with a custom ring, trained wrestlers, somewhat promoted shows, and championships. Underground wrestlers generally don't wrestle for money. They wrestle because they like doing it. Backyard wrestling on the other hand only has championships and possibly shows. I have seen enough backyard and underground wrestling to know the difference. Some underground feds can get a decent crowd while others can't. Mr. C.C. 05:45, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

What? Jeez, now I remember why I stopped writing on this article; it's backyard wrestling fans like you that made it suck. In fact, I think you should stop writing the dumb comments, and leave the talk page alone. Seriously, underground vs. backyard wrestling? Who even asked? Backyard just means done by amateur wrestling fans, and if they want to get organized, invite all kinds of people, and make a custom-made ring, it don't make a difference.--Screwball23 talk 19:37, 19 August 2007 (UTC)
Hold on buddy, I am not a fan of backyard wrestling. So don't assume. It's makes an ass out of you and me. There is a difference. I have seen backyard wrestling and I have seen underground wrestling. Underground wrestling have trained wrestlers that don't wrestle for money. Yard tards do stupid moves like putting someone through a flaming table with light tubes on it. Since when do you own this talk page. People don't need your permission to post on this talk page. If you don't like it than you don't have to come around this page. Easy as that. Mr. C.C. 08:49, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Owen Hart

Excuse me but why is Owen Hart mentioned in this article? He has nothing to do with backyard wrestling, he died in an ENTRANCE accident, not wrestling. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Pigobenis (talk • contribs) 22:15, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Owen Hart

I agree, the mention of Owen Hart's death completely has/ had nothing to do with backyard wrestling. The statement, "After the death of Owen Hart people began to realise how unsafe backyard wrestling really is (even though Owen Hart wasn't a backyard wrestler, and didn't die in a wrestling accident.)" is completely subjective. If the writer of this article wanted to illustrate how unsafebackyard wrestling is, he/ she must cite another incident that made the news. --DavidD4scnrt (talk) 04:19, 26 March 2008 (UTC)