Let me start by saying I know nothing about RHW that you don't know. I've never exchanged emails, texts or any other form of communication with them. I don't know how they work, how their sales are or any other insider information. So this is merely one fan's perspective.
A year ago, RHW was my favorite producer by far. They had my favorite wrestlers, awesome action and the best-looking videos at a great price. As recently as August, Jose at LaSustanciaP called me the biggest RHW fan he knows. I chose them for my first “Casting the Cave” post, my first “Battle of the Wrestling Stars” post and based on the strength of their early 2015 slate, they won multiple 2015 Caveys for wrestlers and matches. However, I didn’t give them any of the Producer Caveys.
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| 2015 Cavey winner for Favorite Match |
And here we are in 2016 and things may have hit rock bottom. Why do I say rock bottom? The last two "releases" have been "encore presentations". This, of course, makes no sense as these videos haven't been out of circulation. More importantly, it says that they don't have anything in the hopper.
Wow.
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| My first favorite RHW stud |
Many wrestling video producers have gone up and down over the years. We're in a boom period now, but there have been busts. I'm not saying RHW is going away, but it's not like things run forever.
In RHW's case, specifically, all the things I loved have declined - talent, action and aesthetics.
It Starts with the Talent
I think about the guys who came through the RHW ring since it began. It's an unbelievable collection of hot athletic studs. I used to marvel at the quality of guys. I described it as the hottest frat on campus at an all-white college. With similar age, physiques and clean-cut looks, you could tell a RHW man.
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| So much homogeny, but it worked |
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| Only the hair color changes |
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| Just unbeatable |
Of course, it's easy to say, "Find better guys. Guys with charisma, talent and amazing looks." I get that it's not. And maybe RHW has a harder challenge than I think because of the style. It's easier to roll around a mat than convincingly work a ring. It's not like the action was ever flawless, but the guys tried and they all seemed similarly skilled.
My suggestions will not be so simplistic as just bring back old guys or find new guys. I'm sure they've thought of anything I would suggest. However, let's review the most obvious options - models, pro wrestling, recent college grads and MMA.
Alex R tells me male models will do anything for cash. There are more young, ripped guys aspiring to wrestle pro now that you don't have to be a steroid-infused muscle monster to make it. College grads have student debt. Most MMA guys are perhaps too ... rough-looking for RHW, but maybe there's one or two good looking ones without 1,000 poorly planned tattoos. All pathways that I'm sure they've tried.
I don't know if RHW can replicate whatever process they used to find Austin Cooper, Jake Jenkins, Alex Waters, Dash Decker and Bruce Ballard, but without wrestlers, there's no RHW.
Now, let's instead focus on the action. What should RHW do with the wrestlers once they're found?
Look forward, not back.
As a fan, I feel bad pining for past glory, but RHW makes me do it. They've put Austin and Ethan on top to the detriment of the new guys. Yes, putting the belt on Austin is safe, because he's reliable, but it's also a sign that their new, uniquely RHW guys are unworthy. Okay, they probably are unworthy, but it didn't have to be that way.
Build the uniquely RHW guys up instead of guys who I see all the time. Dash was a better king than Austin, because his reign said, "We've got the King of underground wrestling" as opposed to "Our studs aren't as good as outside talent."
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| There was only one place to see Dash |
Jax Brewer, Rex Bedford and Tanner Hill have all started out as punching bags. Bruce started out as the new Alex, but that switched around at some point.
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| Bruce quickly went from cocky stud to mid-tier |
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| Rex's debut didn't go so well |
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| Imagine if Ethan had squashed Dash in his first match |
RHW works best with competitive action between cocky jocks where both guys are bad boys who strut and trash talk when they're in control and suffer when they're not. I'd say Alex was a bad boy, not a heel. Dash was the closest thing to unstoppable, but he really wasn't a 'heel' except maybe against Colt Stevens.
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| Dash puts Colt Stevens down for the count |
Surprise me.
I liked going into RHW matches not knowing who was going to win. Now, you either know or don't care. I can't give examples without spoiling matches, but there are plenty of matches that turned out differently than I expected. I'd ban squash jobs and bring back the feeling that anyone can beat anyone.
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| Was this enough to put Alex away? |
What do you think? Do you agree with my premise? I know that some folks have praised RHW 2.0 matches, like KOTR 5 and others, so maybe you think I'm way off base. What about my conclusions? My suggestions? Got any more ideas?
Alex
A really interesting analysis! I don't watch as much online indie wrestling as I should, but I greatly trust your views and reviews on these matters. Hopefully RHW can get their groove back, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteRight away, I can 100% see that giving new talent to the old guard is like throwing fresh meat to the wolves. I imagine there's a segment who loves to watch matches like that, but it likely doesn't foster much in the way of growth for the new guys going forward.
I learned a few things from this one, myself, tonight. Thanks, man. :)
You're welcome. If they don't have any new guys, it won't make a difference, but I think it's just logical that you need to build guys up to make us fans of them.
DeleteI am too alarmed by the "encore presentations." I do want to give them the benefit of the doubt that they don't want to rush new releases, if they have any. But as it stands, sounds alarming.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to disagree with your recent assessment of the new products. I find their recent products, since category 20 or so, have vastly improved in terms of quality - the presentation, the wrestling itself, characters, trash talk, storyline, and so forth. My only qualm with them is that they do tend to overuse guys that appear in other companies, like Austin Cooper and Ethan Andrews. However, I do really like that they make them heels. Take Coop for example, most other companies tend to have him wrestler as a jobber. It's in RHW that I really got to see what he's capable of as a wrestler, and he's a damn good heel.
Thanks for the comment! I appreciate the counterpoint and respect your take.
DeleteI will say that Coop as Frey in Thunders Arena is not a jobber. I think he wins a lot and is competitive when he doesn't. BGE has him in both roles, so you have to hunt to see him as a heel. The Can-Am and Jonny Firestorm matches I have with Coop do use him as a jobber. Not sure about Cameron Matthews. Is that all? Just six producers for Austin Cooper? LOL.
Alex R:
ReplyDeleteDid anyone say...."let's get ready to rumble!!!!" Lol. They will do anything for cash. Those supplements do cost a lot of $$$$. They get the cash and then disappear. Or they don't focus on developing skills. The thing is that some might have dreams of becoming a star fast...that's not how the world turns. Or they want to have a regular life but still be some sort of celebrity. A couple of the guys you mentioned got married or had kids. Yep you read that right. So I doubt you'll ever see them again on RHW. That's the problem with talent. They are unreliable. That's why they keep Austin because he is reliable and they can count on him. Perhaps RHW could put motivate newbies to interact online with the bloggers and fans so we can put pressure on them to not be wusses and flame out. In the mean time I guess let's enjoy the hot bodies and hope that RHW can figure things out.
Appreciate the comment! Maybe RHW should pay you to recruit. ;)
DeleteAlex R:
DeleteHahaha that's funny . I probably would. No problem with that. I'll be "Ben" for them!!! That sounds awesome.
Alex R:
DeleteI also have to say that I understand your frustration. If I were at RHW I would listen closely to what you say because you are what is considered a Superfan, the base, the continuous buyer and talker. Your critique is meant not to hurt but to point out a potential deathly flaw in RHW. Which is that in wrestling just like in your stories people invest time to read and learn about a character. We want to see them again and again. Some we don't care about but others we do. In their case they also collect $$$ so it's even more important. You have been a fan of various of their guys but I can see your frustration with them... Poof... Disappearing. Perhaps they should hire you as their storyteller!
I don't know about that ... in football, there's a saying, "If you listen to the fans, you'll find yourself sitting with them." I know it's the same in comics, where the fans have lots of ideas, but it's usually a bad policy to follow them.
DeleteGood analysis...I agree with a lot your points. More than the lack of diversification of their looks, I would like to see 2 on 1 matches, some of the guys that wrestle barefoot, wrestling in jeans, some story lines, etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks Austin!
DeleteIf you haven't seen it, Alex/Jake/Josh was a really good three-way match. And some of the matches have a bit of storyline, depending on how much you're looking for.
Hindsight being 20/20, I wish that RHW had done two things:
ReplyDelete1.When they had specific talent (Dash and Alex being great examples) taped multiple matches at the same time.
Thanks for the comment AH. Loading up on matches is a great idea, although they might have done that and run out.
DeleteYour second point seems to have dropped off ... I only see the one.
Yeah, I had some trouble posting. Sorry. My 2nd point, was to not have wrestlers appear on consecutive catalog's. That way, there's a longer period of time before we see them wrestle again, and we don't get fatigued of seeing the same wrestlers over and over again.
DeleteBGEast is really good at that, but I think you need a big roster and backlog of matches to manage it.
DeleteThunders seems to flood the market with their guys in a "strike when the iron's hot mentality", but that's a huge risk unless you know you've got someone new and great coming.
Alex your post today was almost exactly what I've been thinking about RHW. I have been a fan of the company since it came on the scene. But I too have had some problems with their productions as of late; and I think the "Encore Presentation" of the old, fully available matches is absurd.
ReplyDeleteOn the quality of matches themselves, I will say this: the fundamental problem is the law of diminishing returns. Yes, they do still have hot bodies put on display. But the wrestling is often amateurish, and worse still, predictable. There is never any excitement over how the match will go. I can't remember the last time I was surprised by a match outcome. Also, I think they don't do story arcs very well. The heels aren't mean and the faces just lose. They haven't established multi-match storylines, of humilation and redemption, suffering and surprise. At least not in a long while. They need better scripting, and better direction to make the matches seem like fights. COMPELLING MATCHES MAKE IT SEXY. Sexy bodies can help, but action, chemistry, and not quite knowing what to expect are what make me want to watch a match for RHW or anybody else. And for God's sake: let a guy suffer in a submission hold for a little while before having him tap out. Or better yet, have the heel refuse to break the hold!
As for the "Encore Presentation" matches, I am a little befuddled. Other studios sometimes will put an old match on sale and on the front page so as to interest you in an old match, or a digitally remastered one, or one that wasn't available for awhile but now is, etc. But a full priced match, always available, to be billed as an encore presentation doesn't seem notable at all, except that it reeks of leftovers. Specifically, the Engel vs. Waters match wasn't even particularly memorable (I own it; see paragraph above). A better route might have been to post something along the lines of: "We're going to be taking a break for a few weeks. In the meantime please enjoy the chance to catch up on a few of our favorites you might have missed..."
I have no idea if RHW is in any trouble or perhaps just taking a little breather (which is understandable; I know these companies don't exactly have large staffs to help make and distribute their products). But a few things are slightly alarming: they are now offering a pair of Jake Jenkins' shorts up for sale; you can now rent their ring for your own use; and I think their recent products are not recently produced. Note: Austin Cooper is now significantly bulkier in appearances for other companies. Since he has been in several recent releases, I wonder when the last time they shot new matches was?
I have liked RHW, and I REALLY liked some of their wrestlers (including several who have not made appearances elsewhere). I hope they stay active, but I also hope they can satisfy an old fan's continued hunger for great, hot action by mixing it up a bit and keeping things fresh, in the pairings and on the mat. Better scripting, innovative pairings, and higher quality pro-style wrestling would keep my interest a whole lot longer. I would love their matches to do more than just confirm my suspicions. They have done a great job with the technicals (camerawork, lighting, etc). But right now it is often a boring play performed on an amazing set. Fingers crossed.
Alex your post today was almost exactly what I've been thinking about RHW. I have been a fan of the company since it came on the scene. But I too have had some problems with their productions as of late; and I think the "Encore Presentation" of the old, fully available matches is absurd.
ReplyDeleteOn the quality of matches themselves, I will say this: the fundamental problem is the law of diminishing returns. Yes, they do still have hot bodies put on display. But the wrestling is often amateurish, and worse still, predictable. There is never any excitement over how the match will go. I can't remember the last time I was surprised by a match outcome. Also, I think they don't do story arcs very well. The heels aren't mean and the faces just lose. They haven't established multi-match storylines, of humilation and redemption, suffering and surprise. At least not in a long while. They need better scripting, and better direction to make the matches seem like fights. COMPELLING MATCHES MAKE IT SEXY. Sexy bodies can help, but action, chemistry, and not quite knowing what to expect are what make me want to watch a match for RHW or anybody else. And for God's sake: let a guy suffer in a submission hold for a little while before having him tap out. Or better yet, have the heel refuse to break the hold!
As for the "Encore Presentation" matches, I am a little befuddled. Other studios sometimes will put an old match on sale and on the front page so as to interest you in an old match, or a digitally remastered one, or one that wasn't available for awhile but now is, etc. But a full priced match, always available, to be billed as an encore presentation doesn't seem notable at all, except that it reeks of leftovers. Specifically, the Engel vs. Waters match wasn't even particularly memorable (I own it; see paragraph above). A better route might have been to post something along the lines of: "We're going to be taking a break for a few weeks. In the meantime please enjoy the chance to catch up on a few of our favorites you might have missed..."
I have no idea if RHW is in any trouble or perhaps just taking a little breather (which is understandable; I know these companies don't exactly have large staffs to help make and distribute their products). But a few things are slightly alarming: they are now offering a pair of Jake Jenkins' shorts up for sale; you can now rent their ring for your own use; and I think their recent products are not recently produced. Note: Austin Cooper is now significantly bulkier in appearances for other companies. Since he has been in several recent releases, I wonder when the last time they shot new matches was?
I have liked RHW, and I REALLY liked some of their wrestlers (including several who have not made appearances elsewhere). I hope they stay active, but I also hope they can satisfy an old fan's continued hunger for great, hot action by mixing it up a bit and keeping things fresh, in the pairings and on the mat. Better scripting, innovative pairings, and higher quality pro-style wrestling would keep my interest a whole lot longer. I would love their matches to do more than just confirm my suspicions. They have done a great job with the technicals (camerawork, lighting, etc). But right now it is often a boring play performed on an amazing set. Fingers crossed.
Great thoughts, Mikey. Thanks for taking the time to share them.
DeleteRHW clearly has passionate fans, so it's a shame to see what it has become. My fingers are crossed for a resurgence, too.
So very glad that you brought this topic up! I also found the "encore" matches thing they've started to be a MAJOR slap in the face to the fans after an already long list of face slaps by the company.
ReplyDeleteIt would be one thing if they had been unreleased until now or they hadn't been available for a while, but just putting a new cover on them and releasing one every two weeks like they do with their new matches is really ridiculous and very frustrating.
For a while now I have felt that RHW has been increasingly heading towards obsolescence. It's lost almost all of its stars after it shifted to 2.0. Sure, it added three pretty boy hotties but they've all been led like a lamb to the slaughter against skilled veterans. For example, there is no way Tanner is going to be any kind of a challenge for Coop who has easily been in well over a hundred matches between Can-Am, RHW, Thunders Arena, BGeast, CameronWrestler, and Jonny Firestorm...not to mention he's monstrous in comparison. His arms are easily bigger than Tanner's thighs...and while that was probably my favorite match post 2.0, it would have been considered mid-tier back in 2014...which, btw, had some of the hottest wrestling action I've seen (KotR 2 alone STILL takes my breath away).
I've contended that they need Dash and Alex back...losing both of them (well, at least, them being on hiatus) dealt a huge blow to the company. When you only have so many in your roster that are exclusive to your roster you can't lose your top talent!
Also, as I've said for the longest time, STOP forcing the guys to wear squarecuts and knee pads and boots for every...single...match. I understand that it's partly b/c it's ring and not mat rasslin', but you can have them wearing skimpy outfits wrestling in a ring...we even saw Dash wear a tres, tres hot speedo in his match against Colt Stevens...why has Bruce with his PHENOMENAL legs and glutes not been squeezed into something like that?? Honestly, that's a crime against humanity!
In addition to all this are a few more problems: Eli Black still actively wrestles but he disappeared from RHW long ago...why?? On top of that you had talent like Brodie Fisher, Cody Nelson, Jake Jenkins, Lucas Payne, and Will Stanley all gone w/o a trace. I understand it's impossible to keep everyone around forever: people move, get older, lose the thrill of wrestling, etc., but it's just odd to me that RHW has lost so much of its talent while Thunders Arena, for example, has a phenomenal roster. RHW, on the other hand, has gotten down to six...SIX...two of whom wrestle for other companies and three of whom that can barely wrestle their way out of a paper bag!
Woo! Well, I have more to say, I'm sure but this is plenty for now...hopefully RHW will take notice and change course...FAST!
Cheers!
Thanks hoochiemoochie! I'm glad I posted this topic, too. There's obviously a lot of interest in it. The only producers that I know are aware of this blog are Thunders and Movimus. No other producer has acknowledged it in any way that I'm aware of. If they find it valuable, maybe someone like Jose will let them know how much everyone wants them to succeed.
DeleteIt's funny because I warned them about this and all they did was talk down like as if I didn't know what I was talking about. I LOVE RHW and I've e-mailed them dozens of time in regards to how I much I love RHW and how he could make it better, heck I'm the reason they even made a twitter and an instagram. But it pisses me off that they have the gull to present "encores" no one asked for and not even give an explanation for their dormancy.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to have come across your article talking about this because this proves that I'm not the only person who feels RHW is slipping.
FYI, they confirmed on Twitter that they're working on matches.
Thanks for the news. Good to hear they're working on matches. Hopefully they'll be good ones. If anything, I think this post has shown how much passion exists for RHW among fans. They have a great niche, so no one wants to see things like encore presentations and sub-par videos from them.
DeleteHopefully one day soon I can write a new entry about the rise of RHW from the ashes.
RHW will not take their fans seriously unless we let our opinions be known to them. I really want people to tell them through Facebook, Twitter, and Email how much of a slap in the face they've given us.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea. I recommend a positive approach that focuses on the passion for their brand and the desire people have to help and see it thrive. Obviously I'm a big fan of transparency, so it would be great if they were upfront with their situation.
DeleteAnother Encore match posted today. I wrote to them and actually got a reply. They claim that they have new matches planned for this year, beginning in March. I guess we'll see.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update! Hopefully they're being honest. March is right around the corner. Of course having a new match is only one issue. The other is the quality of the action and talent in the new matches.
DeleteI can't say it bugs me too much at this point. I mean, it's not costing me anything and with a hot new BGE catalog, Thunders' constant releases and having unwatched matches from CameronWrestler, UCW and Movimus on my iPad, I'm not really missing RHW at the moment.