LONDON UNDERGROUND

Earlier this week, I decided my next editorial would focus on Paul London and the potential effects of his WWE developmental contract on his professional wrestling career. Today, I learned that he was given a Smackdown match against current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. Let it never be said that my timing isn't impeccable...

Over the Summer, independent sensation Paul London signed a WWE contract. With all respect to incredible promotions like NWA-TNA and Ring on Honor, there is no denying that this is the goal of nearly any young North American wrestler working from show to show and small paycheck to small paycheck. A contract means the possibility of actually making a living at wrestling. The vast majority who attend wrestling schools with dreams of superstardom never make it that far. Doomed to wrestle as a hobby and make their real wages in office jobs and coffee shops. That is not pessimism. It is a fact.

So, with that said, should fans of wrestling (not sports entertainment, but wrestling) be pleased that Paul London has debuted on WWE Smackdown?

In 2000, Shawn Michaels, at the time retired, opened a wrestling training school in Texas. While one would think Michaels would take it easy so not to aggravate his back injury, he must've gone to great lengths to inspire and train his pupils. After all, his academy produced superior athletes who have helped elevate the independent wrestling scene during the time WWE began to see it's ratings fall. 2001 was the perfect opportunity for the independents to make a massive impact, and they did so with names like Bryan "American Dragon" Danielson, Brian "Spanky" Kendrick, and of course, Paul London. These men, amoung others, forged remarkable matches in the indy promotion Ring of Honor.

London rose in the indy ranks when he captured the ETW television championship from Hobo Joe. Even more impressive, he was East Coast Wrestling Association's Super 8 Tournament champion. A prestigious award for incredible in-ring talent. No nods to "good talkers" who wouldn't know a wristlock from a wristwatch. Excellent wrestlers putting together excellent matches. Paul London was one of those wrestlers. He faced "Golden Greek" Alex Arion, "The Future" Frankie Kazarian, and Chance Beckett to capture the 2003 title. "This is, without a doubt, the greatest honor of my career," London exclaimed. His career had just begun, though. At twenty-three, London is a star on the rise. He poked his head into NWA with his high-flying match against Chris Sabin. I feel honored (if you will excuse the wordplay) to have viewed several of London's Ring of Honor bouts. A few days ago, I was able to watch Paul London vs. Bryan Danielson in a forty-minute two out of three falls match that took my breath away. London's lucha-libre manuevers would tip off even a wrestling novice as to who trained him. He had passion in his eyes from the start until the finish over a half hour later. It was beautiful. I hope to soon acquire a tape of London and Danielson's sixty-minute Iron Man match.

For those unfamiliar with London, he wrestles an interesting combination of strong style, technical, and utilizes aforementioned high-flying moves. His "London Star Press" is generally flawless from what I have seen. He reminds me of Eddie Guerrero, who can wrestle multiple styles and incorporate more than one in any given match. What's more, he's still so young. He can learn so much more and become even greater than he already is.

Months ago, Paul London signed a developmental deal with the WWE. Not surpising, considering London's classmates Garrison Cade and Spanky also received contracts not so long ago. He gave his farewell matches on the independent shows, worked on his style in WWE's farm Ohio Valley Wrestling, and about an hour ago, I watched London face the WWE Champion on Smackdown. It wasn't so much a "match" as it was a squash. London had no offense, and that is the way it was meant to be. He was fed to Lesnar. It happens. I'm not angry. Everyone must pay their dues if only to humble them on their arrival.

However, I fear that this is only the beginning.

Earlier this year, Spanky captured crowds with his cruiserweight style, comical antics and, if I may be so bold, boyish good looks. The Smackdown audiences popped for him and rightfully so. He could wrestle and wrestle well. Anyone who has seen him in the ring, even if only his WWE matches, knows this. Yet, he languishes in Velocity hell and appears on Smackdown only in cameos (like this week) or to spray chocolate on Mr. McMahon's suit. How entertaining.

Of course, Spanky may get his chance sooner or later. He's still young. He may get a few more shots in the coming months and years. Yet, because of the ridiculous McMahon obsession with big men, Spanky's full potential will probably never be reached in the WWE. Oh, I've no doubt loyalists will say that Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart weren't that big. To that I say that they were exceptions rather than the rule. Both are about six feet tall. Spanky is 5'7".

Maybe London has a better chance. He is about 5'11". Chris Jericho is about that tall (depending on who you believe) but Y2J has more mass and is dynamite on the microphone. London, as we have seen on Smackdown, is neither. Maybe the WWE, in a rare move, will look past his height and his mic skills to allow him the opportunity his wrestling talent alone justifies.

So, I return to my original question. Should fans of wrestling be pleased that Paul London is now on Smackdown? I don't know. If he is given the opportunity to produce long matches, preferrably on Pay-Per-View, and work with other strong competitors, we should absolutely be happy. Not only will London perform in the way he has before, but he will be doing so on a scale that will allow more fans appreciate his combination of grace and power.

I simply doubt that he will be given that opportunity. History shows me, however, that we may have seen the last of London's four star matches. He will need to tone down his act to better conform to what is often inaffectionately called the "WWE style." He will likely receive minimal time on PPVs, so we will not be privy to his consistently long matches and top-notch workrate. We will simply watch him on Smackdown and Velocity as he wrestles five minute matches. Nothing would please me more to be wrong in this case. Unfortunately, I fear that I am right.

London, on the independent circuits, wrestled many different shows and produced many different superior matches. In the WWE, he likely will not. I hate to nutshell an argument, but there it is. I can't blame Paul London for signing with the WWE, despite the loss to the indys and probably wrestling in general. Indpendent wrestlers, those who struggle in the so-called underground, sweat and bleed and injure themselves for the smallest of audiences and usually for low pay.

Though, is it such a bizarre notion that an incredible North American talent stay away from the big time to elevate alternatives to the WWE monopoly monster? Possibly the greatest non-WWE talent in this hemisphere is "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He has wrestled for a very long time, and has only seen glimpses of the then-big two federations. Yet, he may be one of the most respected and revered talents in the eyes of wrestling critics in America. Is it wrong to think that maybe someone, somewhere would turn down a WWE contract for love of pure wrestling and to spite what is fast becoming eye-rollingly ridiculous sports entertainment? I've watched WWF and now WWE loyally for twenty years. Yet, more and more, I want alternatives.

Does a wrestler prove his worth to himself by the size of the audience that sees him or by the quality of his performace? I want to believe it's the latter. I want to believe.