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At this time of year it’s customary to make a list of resolutions for the New Year, things we want to change about ourselves or behaviors we want to change. And while we all could stand to lose a pound or two, or fifty, I decided to compile a list of resolutions pertaining to professional wrestling specifically.

Actually, to be completely honest with you, I came up with the title wrestle-utions first and thought it was so cool I just had to write an article using it. Happy New Year!

5 – In 2011 I resolve to… Support more independent promotions

Independent promotions are the breeding grounds for the stars of tomorrow. I am old enough to remember the old territorial days before the WWE gobbled them all up. Seeing different territories with their own unique rosters was a highlight of those days for me. Too often we like to shout that the product in the World Wrestling Entertainment is stale and boring. That they are all a bunch of juiced up muscle heads who don’t know the first thing about wrestling. Yet there are several quality promotions throughout the country that struggle to make it because of lack of support. I say it’s time to really get behind these organizations and put our money where our mouths are. I personally am a huge fan of Ring of Honor, but that is just one of many deserving promotions out there.

4 – In 2011 I resolve to… Be less of a Smark and more of a Mark

I always hear a lot of talk that wrestling isn’t as good as it used to be. And after many exhaustive hours of research that would put the CSI guys to shame, I think I have found the cause. The amount of dislike for the current state of wrestling seems to be in direct proportion to ones distance from their childhood. When we are young, wrestling seems so real to us. The feuds, the characters, the moves, all of it. We all start out as marks for the sport. Then we get a little older, we start to get a clue, and some of the magic goes away.

We see recycled storylines, we see moves that we’ve seen before, we see the ref get knocked out for the 1,000th time and we know something bad is about to happen. We become jaded. But we still hold onto that original love, so we become smarks. We still watch but we love to tear down the business, we love to point out all the flaws, all the blown moves. Well I miss the old days. I miss when I believed Hulk Hogan really was invincible, when Ric Flair was the coolest man in the world. I miss my heroes. And that leads me to my next resolution…

3 – In 2011 I resolve to… Appreciate John Cena more

I am going to throw down the gauntlet right here and now and say that John Cena is a victim of his own success. In this day and age of the “smarter than you” smarks, Cena doesn’t stand a chance. Why do you think it is that kids love, and I mean love, John Cena but he older fans can’t stand him? Is Cena any different than Hulk Hogan in the 80’s? In fact, to me, Cena is way better than Hogan ever was. He is one of the hardest working guys in the business. His mic skills are great and he consistently delivers promos that stand out from the other robotic deliveries of his peers. He is out there night after night putting on crowd pleasing shows. And while we may debate his in-ring work or his ability to tell a story with his matches, to millions of fans he is their hero. And that leads directly to my next resolution…

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2 – In 2011 I resolve to… Stop calling for John Cena to turn heel

John Cena is a hero to millions. Let me say that again, millions. He is a cash cow for the WWE. He guest stars on kids programs, stars in movies, and has his posters on countless bedroom walls all over the world. Once he turns heel all that changes. He is THE face of the WWE right now. And while there are those who will say that is exactly the problem, I say it’s fine. That is also why Cena will not turn heel anytime soon. He is adored by the kids right now, and that is who the WWE markets to.

And for all those who hate that, think back to when you became a fan and reread resolution #4 above. This is not like when WCW turned Hogan to jump start the nWo storyline. Hogan had lost the fans; the kids weren’t with him anymore. And while I concede that turning Cena heel certainly would add depth to his character it is not the right time for it. You don’t turn the biggest baby face in the company heel without someone to replace him.

1 – In 2011 I resolve to… Give TNA another chance

Much like a battered spouse, I am going believe that things can change and I am going back one more time. There are some aspects of TNA that I like. I usually enjoyed the Reaction program most weeks. I was sorry to see it was canceled recently. I think they should incorporate more of those “candid” interviews into the main broadcast. The talent is there on the roster, it’s just a matter of using them right. While I think it is lame to create another Four Horseman rip-off with Fortune, I will give it a chance. I want to see TNA succeed. I want the WWE to have some competition. So I will reset my brain, sit down on Thursday nights and watch TNA Impact! with an open mind. Who knows, I just might make it to Valentine’s Day before giving up again.

Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.

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