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So, time to open up a bit here, guys.
Last week, I retired the Smark to Death Podcast. Some of the reasons have to do with family, of course, but there are others as well.
Wrestling takes a lot of time. There is a lot of content to watch. If you want to be good, watch it all.
Last week, I retired the Smark to Death Podcast. Some of the reasons have to do with family, of course, but there are others as well.
Wrestling takes a lot of time. There is a lot of content to watch. If you want to be good, watch it all.
Frankly, I don't want to. It is so hard to watch AEW, NJPW, WWE, NXT, watch AND pay for PPVS, record a live show, run social, constantly engaged, and have other interests.
If you want to cover wrestling, have a social life, and have a personal life, you can't really.
If you want to cover wrestling, have a social life, and have a personal life, you can't really.
Wrestling ain't that serious to me anymore. I'm not willing to skip huge NBA playoff games that I watch for free for a wrestling PPV that I spend $50 on.
I'm not willing to consume all the content and be constantly consumed in social media to push my content.
I'm not willing to consume all the content and be constantly consumed in social media to push my content.
Its really hard to be that dedicated. I loved what I did and I was really good at what I did, but I don't want to do it in that space anymore.
With all of the sports that are playing at the same time these days, something had to give. It was easy to decide wrestling had to go.
With all of the sports that are playing at the same time these days, something had to give. It was easy to decide wrestling had to go.
This isn't a "I hate wrestling and so should you" kind of thread, but its just the reality here. I don't watch wrestling anymore. I really haven't watched more than 2 episodes of Dynamite in the last 4 or 5 weeks.
I'm just not interested. I've consumed many other things.
I'm just not interested. I've consumed many other things.
Lately, I've spent all of my time watching golf, the NBA, NBA talk shows, ESPN sports shows, etc.
Before I started covering wrestling on a podcast, I did that. Once I started S2D, I lost that which made me feel like I lost myself a bit. I really didn't like that at all.
Before I started covering wrestling on a podcast, I did that. Once I started S2D, I lost that which made me feel like I lost myself a bit. I really didn't like that at all.
The person you got on S2D was genuine. I was never pretending there. My enthusiasm and love of wrestling was genuine, too, but it was unfortunately a really temporary time in my life.
Now, did I do cool things? Yeah duh, but wrestling fandom is really expensive, y'all.
Now, did I do cool things? Yeah duh, but wrestling fandom is really expensive, y'all.
Covering wrestling is even worse. There is this crazy pressure you feel to cover EVERYTHING. WATCH EVERYTHING. GO TO EVERY SHOW!
I spent a ton of money going to Vegas, Chicago, shows around Texas, and was supposed to go to All Out last year, but my flight was cancelled.
I spent a ton of money going to Vegas, Chicago, shows around Texas, and was supposed to go to All Out last year, but my flight was cancelled.
I emailed Starrcast to tell them, nobody ever got back with me. Nobody got back with me to give me a refund for anything. Nobody got back with me to even deny a refund.
That day was the start of my descent from wrestling fandom, honestly.
That day was the start of my descent from wrestling fandom, honestly.
I felt like I lost 6 months of opportunities, honestly. I felt like I lost so much ground and I felt abused and worthless to Starrcast.
I supported them for 3 conferences, put them over huge, but ultimately, I was a nobody. I was just a mark they got $1500 from without a service
I supported them for 3 conferences, put them over huge, but ultimately, I was a nobody. I was just a mark they got $1500 from without a service
I'm not asking for pity, I don't care as much anymore, but I need to tell this story today because its hitting me heavy with this being All Out.
The year before I went to All In. All In was amazing, but I missed a friend's bachelor party for it. Why?
The year before I went to All In. All In was amazing, but I missed a friend's bachelor party for it. Why?
I made some choices thinking I could make it in the field, but I regret a lot of them. I regret skipping a bachelor's party for a wrestling show even though it was amazing.
I regret skipping football tailgates and college ball games for wrestling.
I regret skipping football tailgates and college ball games for wrestling.
I don't regret any of the content I made, but I regret that I gave in to the pressure to do things I wouldn't normally. In the same breath, I am glad I was able to use wrestling to visit Chicago and Las Vegas.
I also didn't even explore the cities because of wrestling.
I also didn't even explore the cities because of wrestling.
I didn't have enough time off to explore the cities for days. Now, a time that traveling isn't exactly smart and most things are shutdown, I think about it a lot. How would those trips be different if I took my wife and I there for leisure not expensive risks.
Life isn't without risk especially financial risk and ultimately, I'm happy I took them, but I regret losing myself and putting an interest I regained like 5 years ago over lifelong interests and once in a lifetime personal events.
So, as the wrestling podcast space started to get crowded (because seriously, there are way too many wrestling podcasts) I lost my motivation. I was competing for the same listeners as everyone else and unless I was willing to part with more money, I probably wasn't gonna grow.
I grew a great following, but I wasn't prepared to take the money and do this.
Also, running a podcast alone, recording a podcast alone... it sucks. It really sucks. Its not fun at all.
S2D started as a fun project with one of my good friends. It stopped being that.
Also, running a podcast alone, recording a podcast alone... it sucks. It really sucks. Its not fun at all.
S2D started as a fun project with one of my good friends. It stopped being that.
The show felt like work. I felt like I was working 24 hours a day. I hated it. I hated that I had to watch stupid WWE RAW or WWE Smackdown or AEW or NXT or whatever show is on on Saturdays instead of literally any other interest.
Ultimately, I really just lost my fandom.
Ultimately, I really just lost my fandom.
I'm not going to cover wrestling ever again. I don't really like it much. I burned myself out and forced my fandom away.
I have no one to blame except myself and thats kind of the worst part of it. I could have quit at the beginning of the year like I planned.
I have no one to blame except myself and thats kind of the worst part of it. I could have quit at the beginning of the year like I planned.
I didn't. I decided to come back to distract myself from COVID. Instead, I just forced myself to hate what I was watching multiple times a week and ultimately deciding that I just didn't want to do it.
I felt pressure to watch, record, and I just gave up.
I felt pressure to watch, record, and I just gave up.
I'm not upset I gave up. I'm really happy with my decision. I was nervous about posting this thread because its super negative and makes the message last week on S2D's account a bit.. different, I guess?
Idk. This is the internet, who cares, right? Its not real life.
Idk. This is the internet, who cares, right? Its not real life.
But I'm starting a new project soon. I have a team of 12-15 guys. I'm covering pro sports. No live shows, just audio or video when we can record. Yeah, we have a posting schedule, but if I wanna go watch a game and record after... I can. I can finally just go back to my loves.
I love pro sports. So much more than I ever loved wrestling. I've been diehard into pro and college sports for as long as I can remember and I'm excited to be a part of @shootingsportss.
I'm excited to just follow a no-pressure, passion project, with no expectations, just goals.
I'm excited to just follow a no-pressure, passion project, with no expectations, just goals.
