http://vimeo.com/69165195 (password: "whattooksolongkatz")
So a LONG-ass time after Jeff Katz funded his pet project on Kickstarter and took a bunch of money from people with absolutely nothing shown and no communication to anyone about it, we get a battle royale featuring people who who are now stars in bigger promotions, with different names, plus the usual parade of indy mainstays like Adam Pearce and Colt Cabana and such. Why Karl Anderson would be slumming it here is beyond me.
I found the concept interesting when we were first discussing it what feels like years ago, but the thing just looks low-rent and the camera work is horrid. It just comes across like a male version of GLOW, to be frank. The name changes wouldn't be so jarring but we KNOW who Colt Cabana is, and we know Chris Hero, and Chris Masters, and slapping silly new names and characters on them is just insulting. If you take Joe Indy and give him the evil priest gimmick (that was Gangrel, right?) then whatever because it's some guy who can build a new character for himself, but having Chris Hero go out and be Chris Hero but NO, it's Chris Hyde who is a totally different guy...just dumb.
No buys.
Some context on the whole thing please for those of us just tuning in?
ReplyDeleteif I remember correctly a kickstarter project made a couple hundred thousand dollars to fund an Indy promotion (which is a good idea if you ask me) then sort of disappeared into the nether.
ReplyDeletewhats the password on the video btw?
ReplyDeleteWait, you're telling me that a wrestling promoter is acting like a con-man?
ReplyDeleteI have to tell the press, this is huge!
Honestly, it is a shame. I like experimental projects and this being the new Wrestling Society X is pretty disappointing.
The way it was pitched it sounded like writing wrestling like a TV show, seasons with a set beginning middle and end, but then it just vanished and now virtually everyone on their roster is in TNA or WWE so even if this is better then Scott makes it sound, it's not going to be more then a few shows long.
ReplyDeleteI knew this wasn't going to be all it was cracked up to be when I saw some of the gimmick names. Colt Cabana as a stand up comedian makes sense, obviously, but calling him Punchline? Makes him sound like a third rate Batman villain. Their intentions were good with this one but too much went wrong. And seriously, Vimeo? Not even YouTube?
ReplyDeleteExtremely disappointing. I remember the trailer for the project a few years ago and it was pretty exciting. The name changes here are just so overdone and lame, although MVP as Lord of War is pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteIt has the same fake crowd as Wrestling Society X which is such a turn-off, because cmon NOBODY ever has cheered that hard during a fucking battle royale.
None of the wrestlers look thrilled at all to be there, as im sure they got stiffed on money as well. Lame "Hollywood" style camera shots. Total failure.
He started this project years ago, funded a shit-ton of money for it, disappeared with nothing to show for it, re-emerges years later and all we get to see is a WSX-like battle royale that's PASSWORD PROTECTED on fucking VIMEO. WHAT!?
What was Jeff Katz' intention? I get the feeling that he just wanted to produce a wrestling without actually using any of his own money. Unfortunately, he found a few gullible people dumb enough to give him money.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that Katz is paying everyone back the money they donated and will be releasing the videos as well.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, at least Wrestling Society X made it to MTV. That was a big accomplishment in itself.
ReplyDelete'Colt Cabana as a stand up comedian makes sense, obviously, but calling
ReplyDeletehim Punchline? Makes him sound like a third rate Batman villain.'
thats all kinds of awesome
I liked WSX, but this isn't really WSX. I think I remember that Lance Storm was an agent on this, or at least helping with promos? I don't get the point of most Kickstarter projects anyways, other than supporting say a musician you already have an emotional attachment to.
ReplyDeletevimeo > youtube
ReplyDeleteVimeo is often preferred by creative types for projects and showreels etc.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get the point?
ReplyDeleteIt's a way for creative types to directly interact with the audience without the middle-men of producers or studios.
What is good about that??
ReplyDeleteDirect fan/creator interaction enables fans to get exactly what they want and allows creators to make things that aren't "marketable".
ReplyDeleteBy making the audience the investor, you allow projects that wouldn't normally be able to be made...to be made.
It's all good.
I dunno… producer/studio and artist colaborations made some of the greatest albums ever. Any points of reference, in case I missed something?
ReplyDeleteThere are some things on Kickstarter that would not have been made if it weren't for Kickstarter.
ReplyDeleteSequels to videogames that were cult, but not commercial, successes. Things like another Ultima game, for instance.
Hell, a statue of Robocop was made in Detroit because of Kickstarter.
… why does anyone need a statue of robocop in detroit, a city that is in so much turmoil? Why not a kickstarter to pay that city's electricity?
ReplyDeleteBecause that's not the point of kickstarter. It's not about charity.
ReplyDeleteAnd the creation of the statue will lead to jobs.
Riiiiight… .
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm not saying it's the most worthwhile investment in the world. But if people want to support the production of a Robocop statue? We have a partially capitalist economy, and the spending of wealth on public art will create jobs.
ReplyDeleteThese are facts.