The life of a wrestler is a difficult one as one decision can make you a superstar or end your career. Ringside issue 9 explores this very position as we see how Dan, Reynolds, Hank, and Andre’s decisions are impacting their lives and careers.
Good:
Ringside issue 9 enters new territory as we explore through Dan, Reynolds, Hank, and Andre how decisions determine your success in the wrestling industry. With Dan his decisions have gotten him black listed from wrestling promotions along with his lover’s problems have led him to become an enforcer. As an enforcer he made a wrong choice resulting in him attacking a business partner’s employee, which has created a mess for his employer. We see Dan’s employer telling him to get on his knees as he is being held at gunpoint. This captures how one wrong move can end your career but it can end your life, as that is the path Dan has taken in wrestling and ultimately in his life. While this is occurring Reynolds is in a similar position, at a lesser extreme, as he is an Acolyte and thinks that the hoods to their gear are impractical. Reynolds over hears the head of the wrestling company say the same thing, and he chose to speak up about it, but it only was interpreted as mocking and yessing him. This results in Reynolds being removed from being Acolyte #1. Much like Dan, Reynolds decision has affected his career as he has lost an opportunity by making the wrong choice. Both Dan and Reynolds’s decisions are not fiction as many wrestlers both in major and minor promotions have made the wrong choices that have cost them millions of dollars and their careers. As these choices are being made, along with the consequences of them, we see how decisions of the past affect the future in the wrestling business between Hank and Andre. Hank is operating a wrestling promotion that is struggling to get by. Yet he knows that if he could get Dan to return as the Minitour it would help turn his promotion profitable. That is why Hank calls Andre, Dan’s former manger, where it is revealed that Hank screwed Andre out of money after mentoring him. Thus we see Andre make it clear that he will only help Hank if they agree to trade pictures as Andre will get Hank’s favorite picture and Hank will get a picture of Andre to remind him of how he screwed him. After all of this is done then Hank will get Dan. This captures the reality of how actions in the past can have lasting effects on a wrestler or promoter in the future. In many ways this issue captures the reality of how the wrestling business works as to when you should speak up and when you should shut up.
The Bad:
Prior to this issue a non-wrestling fan could read the comic and understand it as the story was revolving around wrestling. This issue is the first that in many ways requires the reader to be familiar with some aspects of how the industry works. In particular, in realizing how a promotion works and the politics that go on with it, as was the case with Reynolds. While a non-wrestling fan could understand the issue they won’t fully understand the comic.
The Verdict:
Ringside issue 9 continues to explore the realities of professional wrestling. As we see it through the eyes of Dan, a washed-up professional wrestler, Reynolds who is at the start of his career, Hank who owns a struggling promotion, and Andre a former manger who is always looking for the next opportunity. With each of these 4 men we see how their choices and actions have affected their careers, which is a reflection on how the industry operates. Ringside continues to give comic fans an inside peek into how the wrestling industry operates.
You can purchase Ringside Volume 1 here.
