Attendance at pro wrestling shows is down across the board, which isn’t surprising given our current economic climate. Lower gates mean less money, less money means less paydays. It’s harder than ever to make a living as an independent wrestler (or promoter, for that matter). If you’ve been on TV or you’re one of a very select few, you might be able to quit your day job. There will always be wrestlers willing to work for free (or peanuts) and there’s no shortage of promoters willing to take advantage of that fact. I believe that the days of the super-indie are almost over. Without the money for flights and hotels, promoters are going to have to focus on local, homegrown talent. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Essentially, I believe we’re going to come full circle and return to the way it was before The King of the Indies. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. The business has always been cyclical, so we shouldn’t be surprised by this downturn. I might be a pragmatist but make no mistake - I’m rooting for the success of independent wrestling. For my friends’ sake and for the business as a whole - I hope things turn around.