but green guys have to learn somehow!

I am tired of the excuse that the reason a wrestling card has sucky matches on it is because the “green guys need to work somewhere.” While that may be true, there is a sure fire way to work green guys so as to not but on a garbage show highlighted by one or two legitimate wrestling stars, or potential stars. Take a look at New Japan’s Young Lions for your inspiration. However, before going there let’s go over a few simple ground rules.

1) No one gets on a card because they sold so many tickets. Yes, it’s nice to have some money but we need to stop allowing a “wrestler” on a show because he or she is capable of finding people that will pay the entrance fee to see them in a wrestling ring

2) No one gets a gimmick. If you’re a good “wrestler” go out there and wrestle. Impress the crowd with your ability. Is that hard? Damn straight it’s hard, but if you’re good, you’ll do it. If you’re not good, your job will be to go out there and get destroyed by one of the other young guys that is good until you get better. 

3) You must have OFFICIAL wrestling gear including trunks or tights, and boots. Singlets are fine, Bam Bam Bigelow style gear is debatable…absolutely no t-shirts, sneakers, or combat boots. Honestly, it would be best if every green guy wore the same thing, or very similar things. Your ability is what makes you stand out, not a gimmick or your gear. You earn a gimmick and “special” gear once you prove you can wrestle. 

4) If the green guy isn’t worth PAYING, he isn’t good enough to be on the show. If you go to book someone because he’s free, you’re part of the problem in wrestling. If he’s free, he sucks, and so do you for booking him.   

5) No special entrance music for green guys, something generic is fine. Entrance music is for stars or at least low card performers that engage the crowd. 
 
If you run a show like this with your green guys, then you can use the excuse that the lesser matches were of poorer quality because of the green guys “having to work somewhere.” This way the crowd knows who and what the “green guys” are, and as such, don’t expect much from them. The few that take the opportunity and make the crowd care then earn their way out of the green guy spots. If a green guy is still in the green guy spot after a year, it’s time to let them go, or find another role for them. Tell students this on day one so you don’t have to struggle to tell them they aren’t cutting it as a wrestler. Oh, but one more thing, as a trainer or teacher, you should be going out and trying to find your green guys work any other place they can get it when you aren’t running a show. That’s how they get better. If you’re one of those idiots that tell a student they need to work only for you, get out of the business because green guys shouldn’t be teaching or training other green guys. 

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