March 05, 2004 
This is the second in a series of articles on the subject of backyard wrestling. You can read part one here, part three here and part four here.
Hello and welcome to another edition of The Final Cut, the only column that packs more whack then a right hook hitting Ian Huntley. (OK, I promise to stop with the dodgy American talk show intros)
In last week’s column I wrote about the subject of backyard wrestling, a subject that most of you had an opinion on judging by the fact that I received the highest amount of feedback in my three years writing about professional wrestling.
Most of the feedback was from professional wrestling fans that agreed with the majority of the points that I had to say. But I did get some response from the backyard wrestling community as well. The replies I got from the backyard community was split, some agreed with me others insulted me.
So I have decided to reprint some of the feedback that I received over the past week or so concerning backyard wrestling. I was unable to print all of the feedback that I got, one piece arrived only minutes before I was meant to post this column and it would have been good to include it. Underneath each piece of feedback I will pen my own reply to the comments and points raised by my article, this should be interesting….
Alex Nowak Says: “I am alex nowak and along with some friends used to participate in backyard wrestling, we live in one of the worst areas for getting wrestling training. we love wrestling so we did that, but we now wrestle in our school gym and not one of us has been injured from backyard (our backyard style was actually more wrestling than weopans) and backyard has managed to train us to become better and more confident in our school gym.”
Dean Saliba Says: You do not actually mention whether your gym is a sanctioned training school or not so I will assume it is not. Not having a training facility in your area is still not an acceptable excuse to indulge in backyard wrestling in my view, and if you are wrestling in a school gym without a qualified trainer present then you are still ‘backyarding’.
Schools are slowly but surely being opened all over the country, I heard a strong rumour that Frontier Wrestling Association are looking to open wrestling schools in places that have been starved of them in the past such as Manchester. And with the surge of interest in professional wrestling thanks to The Wrestling Channel and the upturn in World Wrestling Entertainment’s story-lines more schools will be opening.
Jystln Knight Says: “Me and a few of my friends have a backyard “wrestling” thing going on. I took and old porch and put some mattresses on it, and we use that as our “ring.” I started it in an attempt to bring to life what I love, which is wrestling. It failed. These idiots don’t know how to plan matches, fake a punch or kick, or even do anything that doesn’t involve a weapon.”
“I made a rule for it: No suplexes. I hoped it would reduce danger, but I was wrong because they took it to mean no VERTICAL suplexes as they think everything else is a slam or something involving “taking your ass down.” Two of the brothers in this thing put on a match, where one just basically kept the other one on the ground and refused to sell any punch or anything. Another doesn’t know that hey, when you get hit, or something that resembles a hit, doesn’t have to actually make contact with your face for you to do anything about it.”
“These idiots just want everyone to see how they can “kick ass” and forget that it’s supposed to be entertaining to people looking on. They don’t even want to determine who wins. They just wanna keep going until someone gets tired. They fail to realize that people will get mad, they will always kick out, and matches will last for hours, as we’ve proven but they still don’t get it.”
“As soon as I’m old enough, have the transportation, and the job to pay for a wrestling school (which are at least an hour or so away from my house) I am done with this stuff. I was planning on building a wrestling ring in my yard just to say I have one, but everyone will want to do idiotic stuff with it, and I get sued. Screw that.”
Dean Saliba Says: You state that the nearest wrestling training school is about an hours drive from your house, that does not seem to be all that far to me, if you attend with a couple of friends you could even turn it into a day trip kind of affair.
Backyard wrestling is still just as dangerous no matter what type of rules and boundaries you decide to lay down, something that has been enforced by your email above. I think that you and your friends would be much happier, and safer, attending that training school you briefly spoke about.
Matt Wilko Says: “First of all it is quite apparent that you do know little about backyard wrestling other than what you have been exposed to in the media i.e. TV and what other wrestlers, promotions have said about backyard wrestling. Backyard wrestling comes with a stereotype of being hardcore and ultra-voilent, and thats what it is a stereotype because i’ve seen the majority of the backyarders in the UK and only about 5% of it is hardcore at all.”
“Dean Ayass obviously hasn’t researched before making statements either, while he is right in saying it takes virtually no talent to hit someone across the head with a weapon he is wrong in saying that thats all backyarders do because simply put it is false, psychology? There is plenty of psychology in backyard, i’ll go as far to say that some of the best wrestling matches ive saw have been backyard wrestling matches, held in a sports hall, no weapons, pure wrestling. I have the videos to prove it. I just find his claim that there is no psychology laughable.”
“I agree with some of what you said, and the channel 4 documentary “lock up your sons” was a joke, im on screen in it a few times and they went out of their way to make backyard look bad which is understandable anyway, the general audience wouldnt be entertained by wrestling so they produced a documentary about ultra-violence, stupidity and humour, cos i was pissing myself at some of the idiots all the way through it.”
Dean Saliba Says: Let me start by taking a quote from what you have written: “Backyard wrestling comes with a stereotype of being hardcore and ultra-violent, and that’s what it is a stereotype because I’ve seen the majority of the backyarders in the UK and only about 5% of it is hardcore at all”
OK, now you used the phrase “majority of the backyarders in the UK” in your email, my column was not directed at the United Kingdom branch of the backyard-wrestling club, it was aimed at Backyard wrestling the world over.
Go on the Internet and search for backyard federations. The majority of them that you find will boast about how they are the most hardcore and extreme federation in the world, they will have photos of their gruesome injuries and, more often than not, a list of the barbaric weapons that they will use.
I may not have an encyclopaedic memory of facts, figures and statistics when it comes to writing about backyard wrestling and yes maybe the documentary that I watched on Channel Four did enforce my opinion of backyard wrestling.
Your comment about Dean Ayass is also untrue, although I cannot say for sure what his knowledge of backyard wrestling is I do know that the FWA Manager does talk a lot of sense most of the time.
Unknown Says: “I don’t see much wrong with it as long as you don’t do the insane stunts wrestlers do i don’t think it matters if you likw just attack eachother i don’t 1do it much and i certainly wouldn’t recommend it.”
“And do you know what else gives people the urge to do it those WWE replica belts they will really give you the urge to do it i know if my friends were fighting there friends like to be the champ i know i would.”
“I don’t think those belts the WWE dish out makes it any better do you? If its on TV people are going to want to copy it but thats my view but i certainly wouldn’t do the fivestar frog splash or use weapons or even call myself a wrestler.”
“its common sense not to copy everything wrestlers do but i know there is crazy people that would i certainly don’t its to insane.”
“I do things like Walls of Jericho and Crossface and chokeslams on my bed and things i know i shouldn’t and ill properly be named STUPID after this but I don’t do it much anymore but im being honest.”
Dean Saliba Says: Copying things that you see from television or the movies is normal behaviour. When I was growing up they released the Karate Kid movies and most of my friends pretended they were Ralph George Macchio from the films and when Star Wars was vastly popular we had mock battles where we pretended to have those swords that we thought were light bulbs for the kitchen. But it was all good clean fun.
Horsing around is all part of that growing up experience but backyard wrestling is not horsing around, backyard wrestling leaps right over the line that divides horsing around and complete stupidity.
Owning a World Wrestling Entertainment championship belt may not turn you into a backyard wrestler but it will restrict your chances of dating again if you so much as think about taking it out of the house with you!
D.J. Hart Says: “Thank you! your column about those backyard wannabes was great! I trained for years to wrestle only to see it cut short by a heart condition and it really ticks me off to read or hear about some pissant with no more common sense than a turd claim that what they do is a “sport” and want the recognition as an athlete.”
“It is a disgrace to the men and women who have bleed and sadly sometimes died doing what they spent years training for [you already said that I know] and I would truly love to get them in the ring or whatever and give them a lesson in respect.”
Dean Saliba Says: I could not have put it better myself; I will leave it at that!
Cris Anarchy: “I must say that your article is filled with many errors and substandard points of argument. You state that, “Backyard Wrestling. Mention those two words to any professional wrestler/manager/journalist or the majority of wrestling fans and they will utter a sentence about how appalling these people are and how they are giving our industry a bad name.”
“Have you not heard of Mick Foley, Jeff and Matt Hardy, or Rob Van Dam? They all started in the backyard. They all do support the idea of it, I do agree that some people do take it too far occasionally, but they have no gripe against backyard wrestling in general. Managers do not account for anything. Journalists are also thrown out because they are always looking for the more disturbing article to write to draw attention, as you have obviously decided to go that
route as well. Also, if you haven’t heard, wrestling fans LOVE WRESTLING!!! I have not met one fan to this date that frowns or is disgusted by backyard wrestling.”
Dean Saliba Says: Ah that old chestnut. All you have to do is mention backyard wrestling in a negative light and they sling the same one quote at you. Mick Foley was never a fully-fledged backyard wrestler, his dive off the roof of THAT house was not part of some backyard wrestling federation pay-per-view it was for a film(s) that he and his friends were making.
I once sat in Upton Park, does that make me a West Ham fan? Whilst at Millwall I once called a referee a “blind f**ker” does that make me a hardcore football hooligan? If you give your girlfriend money to go to the shop shortly after having sex does this make her a prostitute?
You state that: “I have not met one fan to this date that frowns or is disgusted by backyard wrestling.” You cannot have looked that far then as most message boards I go to there is a heavy dose of people who despise backyard wrestling.
I will also disagree and say that managers do account for their views. Dean Ayass has so far been the only manager that I have known about who is man enough to stand up and let his feelings be known about backyard wrestling.
Maybe the other managers in the world are too scared of losing their jobs to make their views heard?
Cris Anarchy: “Your original “misconception” definition of backyard wrestling is correct, however your “correcting” definition, is as vague as the original definition you first described. The ability to broaden the area around the term does not make it seem more dangerous. It in fact shows your limited knowledge of the subject you are trying to bitch about. And as far as them building their own ring, since when are imagination and creativity frowned upon?”
Dean Saliba Says: There is nothing wrong with imagination and creativity and I never said that there was.
Let us look at the professional rings here for a minute. The professional rings that properly trained wrestlers use are made for wrestling; they have the correct type of padding and are designed to take falls in without injuring.
Now lets us take a look at a bunch of backyarders building a poorly constructed ring out of junk that they have either stolen or salvaged. That ring that they will have made is not designed to take most of the impact of a fall like professional rings. There is no correct padding underneath to absorb anything.
The home-made ring is not designed to take impact or to protect any of the people who step into the ring it is designed to look good.
Cris Anarchy: “Your attempt to ridicule Chris Lewis was also worthless. You assumed too much within reading his article. He is actually right in everything he said. You (journalists) know nothing of the sport. Have you yourself “worked a match with your mate”? I don’t think so. So, to down the mentality of those who have is ignorant upon your part. Also, whom do you know, and what are these kinds of people, that partake in backyard wrestling?”
Dean Saliba Says: My intention was not to ridicule Chris Lewis in anyway; my intention was to point out that his views were mildly hypocritical. He stated that journalists know nothing about wrestling but then steps into a ring, untrained, and attempts to wrestle.
I have never done this before in a column because I think images spoil the article but on this occasion I have decided to make a big exception. Below are a couple of images that I found on hardcore backyard wrestling web sites, the same hardcore backyard wrestling web sites that Cris Anarchy suggests do not exist.
[Images removed]
Cris Anarchy: “You also, and I am also finding myself baffled at this point, failed to mention that Chris Lewis also stressed the fact that safety comes first. You said that you researched his article, yet you failed to mention that? I thought you researched? I though a good reporter told all of the facts? If you are trying to report what is going on, tell the people the truth, not some bullshit half-ass crap.”
Dean Saliba Says: I thought Chris Lewis was being hypocritical enough with his comment about journalists knowing nothing about wrestling before stepping in untrained, me adding more comments from him about being safe would have only served to harden my point.
For the benefit of those who are unaware this is the quote Cris Anarchy is talking about:
“Backyard wrestling is great fun. Don’t get me wrong, there are dangers in doing backyard wrestling – great dangers – but if safety is first, then having the time of your life certainly has to be second on the list. Being someone that has done backyard (more like back-room) wrestling, I know that you can get hurt – I have done a couple of times, but luckily not seriously.”
“But the sheer feeling you get emulating your favourite superstars of the present or even the past is quite unique. It’s a constant rush of adrenaline when you’re working a match with your mate – just like on the “big boys” do on television.”
Cris Anarchy: “Furthermore, you belittle the mentality of backyard wrestlers, as being illogical (NOT ILLOGICALLY CHALLENGED, THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE), that they partake in an idiotic past time, and involve themselves in stupid antics or half-witted stunts. I invite you to come and meet some of the backyarders that I know. Most of them are very intelligent, quite logical, and are working towards being a teacher, which you seem to have failed to pay attention to in school.”
Dean Saliba Says: Isn’t it strange that you started off by arguing your point well but now you have had to resort to pettiness and making lame jibes about my spelling and my education.
You may not have realised it yet but with your immature insults you are only cementing the opinion that backyarders are bored idiotic half-wits with far too much time on their hands.
Cris Anarchy: “If you want to complain about that kids are risking their lives doing backyard wrestling, you might as well ask to have the world be rid of football, soccer, baseball, hockey, ect. Basically, any youth activity where adolescents could be injured should be banned.”
“Why hasn’t the NFL been sued when some child breaks their neck playing football in the local park? I myself injured my knee playing football in the front yard of my parent’s house. I was not in a professional football field, so does that make my actions idiotic, since I was playing “front yard football”? I don’t think so.”
Dean Saliba Says: With out stooping to your mentality. When was the last time a person broke their neck hitting a variation of a moonsault whilst playing American Football? I really do wish you would think before you type your reply.
The fact of the matter is that getting injured whilst playing football, soccer or basketball does not give that sport a bad name like backyard wrestling does. Backyard wrestling gives professional wrestling a bad name and drags it into the mud with them.
When a young person is injured and it turns out that he did it performing a high-risk move in a backyard wrestling “match” it is not backyard wrestling that gets the blame it is the World Wrestling Entertainment and the smaller Indy promotions that get the blame.
Cris Anarchy: “You say that you want backyard wrestling stamped out, as if it were a virus, a borderline epidemic. Bear in mind however, ” For every prohibition you create, you also create an underground.” -Jello Biafra-”
Dean Saliba Says: If you read the rest of the that quote you would have seen that I also said that this was never likely to happen
Cris Anarchy: “Forgive me, I suppose since I have done backyard wrestling I should only be able to quote someone from T.V. At least that’s what you think, right, since I’m involved with a ‘death hobby?’”
Dean Saliba Says: Wrong again my friend. Whilst I will admit that I did watch the Channel Four documentary about backyard wrestling and yes it did show backyard wrestling in the negative light that it deserved, but I also visited a number of backyard wrestling web sites and forums and spoke to a number of the people there before writing my column.
In my last column I quoted from Dean Ayass who is not only a very good manager and has a good knowledge of the business but he also likes Boothby Graffoe!
Cris Anarchy: “In the end, back away from trying to influence people about something you have NO IDEA ABOUT. If you feel it is wrong, and do not wish for your nephews and cousins to not engage in backyard wrestling, take it up with them. Do not try to demand other to stop what they want to do simply because you think it’s wrong. Ignorance is a plague, and you are quite infected.”
Dean Saliba Says: And you seem to be infected with a similar disease called stupidity. I think the only cure is a good hard knock to the temple! None of my family takes part in backyard wrestling because I have informed them of the dangers, as any decent person would do.
If you want to smash up your body and live out the rest of your life in severe pain or even in a wheelchair then that is fine with me, it is your life and you are free to do just that but do not connect yourself to wrestling. To call yourself a wrestler you should be fully trained by a professional trainer, not a bunch of wally’s in a garden on a couple of soiled mattresses.
Professional wrestling goes back hundreds of years and is a very noble and honourable sport and to be forced to have backyard wrestling associated with it is the biggest infection of all.
I will finish this column with a direct quote from Indy wrestler Bill Ding:
“I am very anti-backyard mostly because in HS some friends of mine got together and we tried it. We only played around and tried a few holds, which was stupid, I realize. We were wanna-be wrestlers pretending to be the guys we saw on TV. These kids today seem to have a death wish. All I can say is, find a school, get trained, and do it for real.”
Until next time.
