KM : Reading Topic : February 20, 1978 MSG

Quoted from: Eater of the Dead, February 20^th, 2021 22:41 GMT

Quoted from: louie.d, February 20^th, 2021 22:36 GMT

I love pro wrestling — and I must acknowledge that even back in the day I ‘knew’ it was a work — all that being said — the key to making ‘kayfabe’ work was being able to suspend belief!! Talk about stretching belief!!! All style and little substance, flabby Rhodes pinning Tanaka!! In a non-work, Tanaka would pulverize Rhodes in a NY minute while eating a slice of Lombardi’s pizza with one hand. Tanaka in a real fight is in the same super rare league as Race and Haku/Meng — and they would be no better than even money with Tanaka. Tanaka was known among his peers to have a pleasant disposition but one not to mess with. Jeez — I know it was all a work for box office — but I just want to gag seeing Rhodes beat Tanaka!! Oh brother!!

But back then was it known among the fans who was legit tough and who wasn't?

I think that is a multi level answer.

Strictly from "in ring" performance and the assured way they carried themselves, you could clearly see who was legit tough, who had elite skills, who had both.

There were also enough "in the know" who passed on knowledge.

In the case of Tanaka. he was built like a tank, strong as an ox, had legit martial arts skills, and anyone more than a casual fan eventually learned he was a top shelf amateur boxer in the military. You could see his legit skill and toughness.

I also had the good fortune of having a friend who did articles for newsletters and got to know the wrestlers on a personal level -- and who would talk about the respect Tanaka got for his legit toughness.

And then you have someone like Rhodes -- I know it was a business and the name of the game was to put fannies in the seats -- and Rhodes could do that.

Nevertheless, I always felt that the best way to make it work, kayfabe, was to have your top talent be those who you could really envision being the toughest around -- physical ability and skills to match. That is why champs like Thesz, Rogers, Bruno, Kiniski, Brisco, Funk Jr,, Race, Koloff, Gagne (early - not the old man who owned the company and kept the title far to long), Bockwinkle, and Backlund worked -- you really could believe they were the best. Ditto for the elite that my not have been champ of the big three - Johnny Valentine, Hodge, Bill Watts, Don Leo, Kowalski, Monsoon, BJ Mulligan, Wahoo, Brazil and of course Tanaka for example.

Those whose best assets were mic skills and/or gimmicky persona -- like Rhodes -- IMHO made it harder to suspend belief -- i.e., kayfabe

That is why I always cringe when I see results like Tanaka losing to Rhodes -- anyway -- that is the way this old brain sees things!!