Brutal Bob Evans continues to show why he is the Yoda of today’s independent wrestlers. Here are some thoughts he shared on Facebook today:
“There are those that think WWE is waging a war on the wrestling world.
That’s a mindset that will cripple you forever if you let it.
WWE is not evil. WWE is just WWE. You can survive and thrive outside of the worldwide company.
How? Do what they can’t do.
They can’t go to every small town in America. They can’t shake every hand, hug every fan, touch every life.
They try, but they can’t. Because they can’t be everywhere at once.
Collectively we can. We can compete doing what they can’t do and doing it better than ever.
We can reach out and be a part of our communities. We can bring in quality people. We can use good-hearted athletes with tons of potential.
Or we can just wrestle, suck the town dry, and move on. The carny lifestyle.
I prefer to learn from the mistakes of the past. We can be a viable, resilient, middle-class wrestling society that creates and evolves.
Or we can wait for WWE and the other national companies to tell us what to do. To dictate to us.
We can buy into reality any way we choose. I choose the reality of caring and fellowship.
Competition? Yes.
Hard work? Necessary.
But a spirit of fellowship is NEEDED.
Serve first.
Realize you CAN do this business well.
Don’t let anyone intimidate you.
You got this.
WE got this.
I love you.”
One thing I’ve learned about the wrestling promoters of the past is that they were community minded. They were active in their communities not simply as wrestling promoters but as part of the neighborhood. Louisville promoter Francis McDonogh and his wife Betty were very active in the city they loved. They ran multiple charity shows and hosted orphans, newspaper boys, and local sports teams. They reached out heavily to female fans and often drew more ladies than men. They participated in charity drives and civic events outside wrestling. They hosted parties and events in their home. They were at the Derby, concerts, and other sporting events. Wrestling wasn’t just business; it was family. It was community.
The WWE cannot be community the way you can. You can connect with the fans in ways they can’t. You can learn their names. You can be a part of their charities and their causes. You can make a difference.