Welcome back to Ringside where suplexes, clothesline, and chair shots are not the hardest bumps wrestlers take. Now issue 6 of Ringside focuses on 4 issues that parallel current wrestling today. These issues included washed up wrestlers, reassigned wrestlers, a wrestler getting his first contract, and the monetary struggles that independent wrestling promotions face. As a result of tackling these issues Ringside truly delivers a behind the curtain look into wrestling through 4 characters.
Dan:
Now the comic does an excellent job of showing four situations that occur in the wrestling industry. Starting with the character Dan who has become an enforcer to help pay his lover’s debts. This is due to him being a washed up wrestler due to injuries and burning relationships with various promotions. He has no other means except to be an enforcer to pay off the debt he owns. Furthermore, as an enforcer he is subjected to become involved in making sure drug deals go smoothly, which shows how desperate Dan is to pay off his debt that he is willing to risk his life and freedom for it. This capture what happens to wrestlers who are injured or have bad relationships with various companies they take odd jobs, like Dan, to get by.
Davis:
Now the second issue the comic captures is with the character Davis as he is reassigned to become a trainer in a developmental territory. Now this shows that a promotion can pull and replace any wrestler at any given time, as they are parts of a company. In Davis’s case he is lucky that the company needs him do to his experiences as a wrestler and being in the business for so long. This shows that once wrestlers reach a certain age promotions typically do not have much use for them as wrestler but can use them in other ways such as trainers. Also Davis’s character really pushes the idea that every match can be your last as a company can reassign you a position where you are not a wrestler anymore. Thus his character shows that and the idea that every wrestler will eventually have their dream end as his has.
Reynolds:
In Reynolds case the comic proves the idea that has been occurring in various wrestling promotions that hard work and the right attitude can lead to success. Now Reynolds attitude and paying his dues has earned him a TV contract. Now part of why he earned a TV contract is that the company views Reynolds as having potential and becoming a star in this business. This shows that promotions are always looking to make and bring stars into the wrestling business as it puts fans into the seats, which makes money. Thus showing that hard work and attitude is important but many decisions on who gets a contract is based on how marketable a wrestler is to an audience.
Hank / Indy wrestling:
The final issue the comic focuses on is financial issues wrestlers face. Now the major one is with Hank as his wrestling promotion is barely making it. As a result the wrestlers who work for him are not making any money. As the owner of the promotion he is also not making any money and is having tax issues. This shows that the wrestling business is not as profitable as it is made to seem as many wrestlers and people involved in the business are struggling to be paid. It shows, as is the case with Hank, sacrifices have to be made financially and personally in order to be part of this business.
Conclusion:
Now Ringside is a comic about everything but actual wrestling. Issue 6 addresses 4 issues ranging from a wrestler being washed up, a wrestler being reassigned, a wrestler getting his first contract, and the monetary struggles for an Indy promotion. All these issue occur in the wrestling world for both independent wrestlers and mainstream ones. As a result, Ringside issue 6 gives a glimpse into the struggles that various wrestlers face outside of the ring to be in the ring.
Love the insight into the Wrestling Industry.